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Anexo 6- Informe y Valuacin del Klimaforum10

Response to FOEIs letter: About the Klimaforum 2010 in Mexico, parallel to the COP 16

Dear Sebastian Valdomir, Isaac Rojas, Joseph Zacune and Martn Drago;

We acknowledge your concerns regarding the preparatory process of the Mexican Klimaforum10-initiative. As such we would like to engage with FoEI and other partners in a dialogue to resolveeventual misunderstandings and conflicts of interests where Klimaforum Denmark (Klimaforum09)has played a role. We would also like to emphasize that the Klimaforum10-initiative is a processfully in the hands of Mexican grassroots organisations and civil society groups, who are the rightfulprincipal organizers of such a forum. The Klimaforum10-initiative has been Mexican right from thebeginning.

It is understandable that the federation stands by its local member groups. However, it seems lessunderstandable how FoEI International Program Coordinators in such a prompt manner can use itspower to disregard the efforts of hardworking people trying to arrange a parallel forum towards theCOP16

It is our opinion that FoEI International Program Coordinators could have made an attempt toaddress Klimaforum09 regarding the concerns you had about the organization of theKlimaforum10-initiative in Mexico. As part of the international Advisory board of Klimaforum09 youalso had the opportunity months ago to address the problems you are now raising and influencethe initiation of the Klimaforum10-initiative. Had FoEI International Program Coordinators felt theprocess was forced consensus, you had the possibility to address the matter in December or early2010.

FoEI should know very well that Klimaforum09 was a space for the peoples and not for thehegemony of large NGOs, as you write in your letter. This being said Klimaforum09 did howevercreate a deep gap due to different measures taken by Klimaforum09 and/or individual Danishmember organisations, which created a situation that squeezed CJA out of the forum. Thisis deeply regrettable and should not be repeated. The steps taken that lead to squeezing out CJAwas never a formal decision nor was it a unanimous decision taken by the Klimaforum09 board inagreement. Internal disagreements in Klimaforum09 resulted in addressing this situation in a veryinappropriate / unfortunate way. Regardless, Klimaforum09 was never a place for largeNGOs. Quite the opposite Klimaforum09 was aimed at reaching out also to local grassrootsnationally and worldwide - grassroots that are not part of global movements and networks andtherefore they are often neglected in such processes. As far as we are informed the Klimaforum10-initiative has the same approach.

We urge FoEI and other networks not to let past gaps, disputes and misunderstandings primarilyamong Danish groups come in between a common global mobilisation for Cancun. Additionally, wewould like to correct one misunderstanding: the Klimaforum10-initiatvie has no relationship with theDanish government.

The meeting in Cochabamba was not the best circumstances in which to create a commonunderstanding between FoE Mexico and Klimaforum10. It was merely a battlefield of opinions, aswe have come to understand. Perhaps FoEI International Program Coordinators could have madean effort afterwards instead of merely disregarding the other process. As Klimaforum09 we seeour role as bridging the divide rather than seeking clashes. We hope that FoEI and other globalmovements are pursuing the same agenda. After all, we are all working to achieve the same goal.

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We all build on a common foundation of climate justice and social justice, which should be a strongbasis for fruitful collaboration and strong global mobilization.

We believe that it is a shame that FOEI has decided in such an unilateral way that it would not beright to support Klimaforum10 in Cancun as FoEI.

However, we also acknowledge that we, as Klimaforum09 should have consulted with you and FoEMexico, as well as our other international allies at an earlier stage. We believe that the preparatoryprocess of Klimaforum09 in Denmark and the subsequent mobilisation for Cancun have taught allof us including our international partners and allies that more open communication, consultationand dialogue is the way to proceed in order to achieve an open and democratic forum in Mexico2010.

Hopefully we can remain united in order to build a powerful movement in the run-up and beyondCancun.

Warm regards,

On behalf of the Danish Board of Klimaforum

Mathilde Kaalund-Jrgensen and John Holten-Andersen