Amateur hour in Jo'burg/Yo. Mr. Bond?

[pms]

> As part of the G77 group of developing countries, South Africa was not
> directly represented in the energy negotiations. The G77 position was
> presented by Venezuela. This oil-producing South American country took a
> hard-line stance, siding with the US, Japan and the Organisation of
> Petroleum Exporting Countries against setting any renewables targets or
> reducing subsidies for the fossil fuel industry.
>
What sort of subsidies are they talking about?  Also Patrick, on the audio
snippet I heard it sounded as though the real uproar started right after
Powel mentioned a country in the area which didn't respect human rights or
follow international law,  then a coupla seconds went by and to me it
sounded like stunned silence in reaction to a US official even bringing up
international law at this moment in history, followed by said uproar?  Was
that impression mistaken?

Paula