The world is waiting with baited breath.

Outside the Bella Center, video just captured police beating protestors. Inside, here is Ben Wessel from Sustain US Youth Delegation in an emotional plea to people throughout the United States and around the world.

And here is what Alden Meyer from the Union of Concerned Scientists, who is in the midst of the negotiations and has years of experience in global negotiations, has to say about where we stand and what can be done.

Meanwhile, Senator John Kerry gave a speech inside the Bella Center (.pdf - short video here). Reportedly, he was the only U.S. Senator authorized by Majority Leader Reid to attend the Copenhagen events given the ongoing health care debate.

Over 17 years, we have been pursuing an urgent goal. Meanwhile, two constants have remained -- the urgency of the science that says we must ask, and the determination of the people who says we must get this job done…We know that in one day, with one agreement, we can put the world on a safer path. In the coming hours and days, the world expects us to get this job done…It is crucial that we get started…Just last week the EPA sent a wake up call to Capitol Hill – if Congress won’t legislate, the EPA will regulate…If you are not willing to lead…please get us out of the way.

He also said:

America will honor the bedrock principle of common but differentiated responsibility “ and agreed that “there is an inconsistency in asking other countries to grow differently than we did in the industrialized world….But for developing countries, winning the right to repeat our mistakes will be cold comfort if it leads us all to climate cat – especially if there are technologies available to help them develop sustainably… We must all hang together, or assuredly we will all hang together separately.

And just moments ago this came across the transom from a reliable source on one of many listservs buzzing:

President Obama is telephoning world leaders ahead of his one-day trip Friday to the climate summit in Copenhagen, as part of his effort to show leadership even though he can't come with shiny new legislation in hand. We’re told today that folks in Copenhagen are trying to paper something over, to avoid collapse. Administration officials have been lowering expectations, but still need to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment the LAST time the president made a pitch in Copenhagen, and Team USA came in last among finalists for the Olympics. The goals now are vague and modest: the U.S. would be happy with some agreement (a piece of paper, actually -- it won't be binding), calling for 'meaningful' steps to reduce emissions for both developing and developed countries, with transparency (disclosure of data) and verification. Secretary of State Clinton arrives ahead of the president to set the stage. Obama will be gone before the result is known: We're told to look for final action on Saturday.

Stay tuned, act now on urging President Obama to deliver in Copenhagen and see this letter to Obama from a broad range of groups nationwide urging more commitment on finance.