Democracy Now!: Wed., Dec. 16, 2009

World leaders are arriving as the climate summit formally enters high-level talks. US negotiator Todd Stern said he foresees no change in President Obama’s offer to cut emissions by 17 percent percent of 2005 levels. New York Times reporter Andrew Revkin explains that "there is an epic fight over words." Meanwhile, police shot tear gas and arrested over 200 people, and the UN suspended several groups and barred members from re-entering the conference. Nigerian Nnimmo Bassey talks as he was being removed by security. Bolivian president Evo Morales decries the money spent on war vs. climate change, and Indian political activist Sunita Narain says, when it comes to the climate, "If Bush was in kindergarten, Obama is in the first grade." "Democracy Now!" is a daily independent newshour.