NGO Access Reduced Even Further (Yes, it is Possible)

Okay, so today I was chosen as one of 12 youth delegates from YOUNGO (Youth NGO’s) to represent the 2,000 UN accredited youth delegates in the Bella Center.  I got the call this morning, headed out immediately, and have been in the Bella Center since around noon.  Since then I have been hanging around delegation offices trying to get meetings with US Congresspeople, sitting at the green blocks outside the Plenary, blogging at computer centers, and just generally walking around the Bella Center trying to get interviews while carrying around my sign declaring that I am fasting for 24 hours for climate justice.  Nothing that I think is inappropriate behavior for an NGO representative.  Except, apparently, it is.

NGOs express frustration over exclusion in protests, open letter to UN

About half an hour ago I was sitting outside the plenary hall talking to some people who were hanging around when I was approached by a Danish police officer who told me to follow him as I was not allowed in that area.  I did as I was told, given that resisting UN security or Danish police would probably not do any good, and followed him out into the eating area near the green blocks outside of the Tycho Brahe Plenary where I attempted to stay and get some work done.  However, the police officer stated that I also couldn’t be there and escorted me to the Youth Arcade/NGO booth area and informed me that is the only place that I am allowed to be in the Bella Center, that I cannot even go visit the YOUNGO delegation offices.

Now, for those of you not familiar with the Bella Center I am basically stuck in the middle of nowhere away from all the press , negotiations, and excitement.  I might as well be outside the Bella Center working with other youth activists.  More on the outcomes of this whole situation later, but I thought you all should be informed of just how civil society is being treated by the United Nations.