Last month, Kevin Conrad became somewhat famous representing Papua New Guinea at the Bali climate talks. Confronted yet again with U.S. intransigence, Conrad said:

I would ask the United States, we ask for your leadership. But if for some reason you’re not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of us. Please get out of the way.

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The way the story’s been told, Conrad’s bold moral cry shattered the wall of U.S. indifference and broke the logjam.

Naturally, the reality’s a bit more complicated and the U.S. is not the clear (or only) villain. Andy Revkin interviews Conrad and gets the full story on Dot Earth.