Subject: RE: Video forestry message for COP-17
From: Amitabh Desai <[email-masked]>
To: John Podesta <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 12:22:55 -0400

Ha. He has been relentless with this request. Feel free to refer him to joey or me or terry or any of the (numerous) folks he has approached on this already. 
It is sad and disingenuous he would even include a line like this: "We know that Wangari would have wanted to the President do this." 

-----Original Message-----
From: John Podesta [mailto:[email-masked]] 
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 12:13 PM
To: Amitabh Desai
Subject: Fwd: Video forestry message for COP-17

Fyi. The route around the system begins.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: D. James Baker <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, Nov 3, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Subject: Video forestry message for COP-17
To: [email-masked]

Dear John,

I understand that you will be helping out with the Foundation on a temporary basis - I'm very glad to hear that!  I wanted to bring to your attention a wonderful opportunity for the President that is coming up with the UNFCCC Framework Convention, COP-17, in Durban.  We have asked his office through Joey Schlichter whether it would be possible for him to  deliver a video message on the importance of forests in climate for Forest Day 5 (December 4) at COP-17 in Durban, but have not received an answer yet.  He has done this at each of the previous Framework Conventions in the last few years.  But this year is a special time and place for such a message, particularly in light of how the President could inspire people to honor Wangari Maathai's legacy. With 12 million climate refugees in Africa in need of assistance there is no better time and place to advance real plans so that the world can take action.  We know that Wangari would have wanted the President to do this.

Sorry that the timing is so short, but I know you understand the urgency.  We have attached some suggested talking points for a message.  A number of organizations gave very positive feedback about the President's previous messages and have also requested that his message be broadcast for COP-17.

Please advise of any questions that you may have, or additional information needed.

Jim

--
D. James Baker
Director, Global Carbon Measurement Program The William J. Clinton Foundation [email-masked]
Cell: (215) 939-2021