Rowdy opposition on the streets is unlikely in the oil-rich Gulf state, where freedom of assembly is banned. ‘Qatari civil society is weak,’ explains Friends of the Earth’s Asad Rehman. ‘Any marches that do take place are likely to be processions of schoolchildren.’
Many justice organizations won’t be making the trip this time. Campaigners are demoralized by the abject failure of UN negotiations to slow the pace of climate change, and cash-strapped after forking out for the Rio sustainability summit in Brazil in June.
