'... if not us, then who? If not now, then when? If not here, then where?'
'Madam chair, we have never had a typhoon like Bopha, which has wreaked havoc in a part of the country that has never seen a storm like this in half a century. And heartbreaking tragedies like this are not unique to the Philippines, because the whole world, especially developing countries struggling to address poverty and achieve social and human development, confront these same realities.
'I speak on behalf of 100 million Filipinos, a quarter of a million of whom are eking out a living here in Qatar. And I am making an urgent appeal, not as a negotiator, not as a leader of my delegation, but as a Filipino.
'I appeal to the whole world, I appeal to the leaders from all over the world, to open our eyes to the stark reality that we face. I appeal to ministers. The outcome of our work is not about what our political masters want. It is about what is demanded of us by 7 billion people. I appeal to all, please, no more delays, no more excuses. Please, let Doha be remembered as the place where we found the political will to turn things around. And, let 2012 be remembered as the year the world found the courage to do so to find the will to take responsibility for the future we want. I ask of all of us here, if not us, then who? If not now, then when? If not here, then where?'
Naderev Sano, the lead negotiator
of the Philippines delegation speaking
at global climate summit in Doha, Qatar,
December 12, 2012 after the deadly
Typhoon Bopha