On Monday's "Today" show, NBC's Amy Robach sat down with a French climber who was arrested for scaling the "New York Times," building to promote his belief that global warming kills more people every day than 9/11.
The "Today"' show graphic bragged it had an exclusive with the global warming alarmist, Alain Robert, and while Robach did note the criminal charges being brought against him, she never challenged Robert's assertion that climate change was deadlier than al Qaeda.
AMY ROBACH: What is it about scaling skyscrapers that makes you so passionate?
ALAIN ROBERT: This is something a bit different, but most of all, you know, now since nearly a year, I have decided to fight on global warming, and that's the reason why I have decided to climb the "New York Times" building.
ROBACH: Yeah this climb was different than others, because the other times, you did it perhaps just for the thrill of it. This time you did it with a message. Tell us about this organization and why it's so important to you.
ROBERT: In fact, you know, actually, global warming is killing more people every week than 9/11, so which is a big amount of people.
The following is the full interview as it occurred on the June 9, "Today" show:
AMY ROBACH: He is a real-life Spider Man. Traffic came to a standstill in Manhattan last week when Frenchman Alain Robert climbed the 52-story "New York Times," headquarters with no rope, no harness, just pure grit. A professional climber, Robert says he has scaled more than 80 buildings across the globe and here in the Big Apple. He has now been charged with reckless endangerment, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct and is out on bail. Alain's manager is Julie Cohen. Alain, Julie, good morning to both of you.
ALAIN ROBERT: Good morning.
JULIE COHEN: Good morning.
ROBACH: Alright, a lot of questions here. A lot of people think, you know, why? You describe actually, "Climbing is my passion, my philosophy of life" on your Web site. What is it about scaling skyscrapers that makes you so passionate?
ROBERT: This is something a bit different, but most of all, you know, now since nearly a year, I have decided to fight on global warming, and that's the reason why I have decided to climb the "New York times" building.
ROBACH: Yeah this climb was different than others, because the other times, you did it perhaps just for the thrill of it. This time you did it with a message. Tell us about this organization and why it's so important to you.
ROBERT: In fact, you know, actually, global warming is killing more people every week than 9/11 so which is a big amount of people, and you look at the weather today, once again, it's going to be record you know. Above, nearly 100 degrees for a night. So actually, the global warming is killing and the government are not doing that much on the matter. So that's why I have decided that I was, I was having to give a little bit of my time to fight on global warming.
ROBACH: A little bit of your time. Why don't you use protection? Why don't you use harnesses? I mean, that's got to be pretty scary, right? What are you feeling when you're climbing up that building?
ROBERT: No. The, the thing is, you know, from the beginning, I did start to climb, year 1975, and I have nearly always climbed the same way, you know, many not using any safety devices.
ROBACH: Julie, you've been with Alain for a while. You were down below. You recorded some of his preparations the day before. What does it take to get something like this together?
JULIE COHEN, MANAGER: It takes quite a bit of preparation, mostly because we want to be very careful so that he's not putting anyone ever in danger, and we have to, you know, do our research and find out --
ROBACH: Well, and speaking of that, I mean obviously, we numbered or we listed the number of charges you're facing right now, and a lot of people are saying, you know what, this was not just, not just unsafe for you, but unsafe for everyone on the ground below.
ROBERT: It's not, it's not the truth. You know, climbing the "New York Times," it's climbing a ladder. This, I told already everything to the media.
ROBACH: So you had no reason to believe, at all, you could fall?
ROBERT: I am, I am living some world record. Meaning that I did hardest route, for solo, on the planet. So you think that by climbing a ladder, I injure people? I don't think so.
ROBACH: Well I mean, what are your expect-, what do you expecting to say in court? You're back in court on Wednesday, facing these charges. What are you anticipating?
ROBERT: This is my lawyer, you know, is going to defend me, is an expert. First of all, you know, okay they are charges me for criminal trespass. Trespassing is entering inside the property. So there is no criminal trespass. But disorderly conduct, you know I did the best I could do, meaning that I did climb at 11 o'clock which there was not much traffic instead of climbing during the rush hour.
ROBACH: I want to speak a little bit about the message. You talked about the sign you unfurled. And it said, "Global Warming Kills More People Each Day Than 9/11." Did you at all anticipate, just how sensitive that is here in the New York area and how upset some people were at seeing that sign at all, and was there a better message to get that message out than climbing up, scaling up this building?
ROBERT: No, you know, I'm going to tell you why. It's because, okay, I feel so sad, you know, about what's happened in New York seven years ago, you know. I pay a lot of respect to the victims, to the people who have lost husband or daughter and son, but the thing is, you know, to emphasize how important is, is the fight on global warming--
ROBACH: Right.
ROBERT: --I needed to have a very strong message.
ROBACH: Right. Well you certainly got that message out loud and clear. Alain, Julie, thanks so much for being with us.
COHEN: Thank you.
—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.




















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
AMY ROBACH: What is it about
June 9, 2008 - 15:18 ET by USA4freedomAMY ROBACH: What is it about scaling skyscrapers that makes you so passionate?
Better question: What is it about scaling skyscraper that make you an authority on anything.. except being a idiot??
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Romney / Jendil 2012 (if,we survive)
Anybody know who finances
June 10, 2008 - 09:05 ET by misterbee241Anybody know who finances these nut-cases? How do they travel around the world to be interviewed by media dimwits for doing something stupid and of no consequence, and which means nothing to anybody, and who pays for it? It's obvious they dont have real jobs or responsibilities. Just curious.
There is none so blind as they that won’t see. Jonathan Swift 1667-1745
Global warming hysteria in
June 9, 2008 - 15:27 ET by forestGlobal warming hysteria in the form of the biofuel scam may very well be killing thousands of people.
New motto for the main stream media.
June 9, 2008 - 15:27 ET by WR JonasAny time , any place , any lie to promote liberalism.
Another empty-headed robot
June 9, 2008 - 15:27 ET by bigtimerAnother empty-headed robot working for NBC...
Anybody with a brain would of asked what proof do you have any of your statements about more people being killed a day than were on 9-11...which the statement alone is infuriating to any normal person with a brain that works, let alone how the majority of the families that lost a loved one on 9-11...
Nope this numb-skull makes some asinine statement and that's enough for the green network...simple as that.
These leftist simpletons are mind-bending.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Another empty-headed robot
June 9, 2008 - 23:26 ET by merlin61Why they had this idiot on at all is just plain
stupid. All they did was provide him with more
publicity. He definitely has no facts to back up
his moronic comments, but they treat him like he's an expert or scientist on global warming. More
blathering about nothing is what this is. These
shows are getting so obnoxious, I can't stand watching t.v. anymore. They have so much time to fill with utter nonsense its just brain-wasting.
The only things I watch
June 10, 2008 - 09:08 ET by misterbee241The only things I watch anymore is whatever is on Turner Classic Movie channel and Ax-Men and Ice Road Truckers on History channel. I dont even watch FNC as much as I used to. The rest of it is just obnoxious tripe and garbage.
There is none so blind as they that won’t see. Jonathan Swift 1667-1745
Questions for Mr. Robert
June 9, 2008 - 15:38 ET by r22weissWhat are your qualifications and education on climate change?
Follow up question one: Where are your statistics that
prove global warming kills more than 9/11?
Follow up question two: Are you aware that the Northeast United States get's these things called heat waves every year?
"And it said, "Global
June 9, 2008 - 15:46 ET by ckc1227"And it said, "Global Warming Kills More People Each Day Than 9/11."
Global warming could kill 1,000 times as many, and we still wouldn't be able to control the weather.
This is actually
June 9, 2008 - 15:49 ET by MidAmericaThis is actually funny. One of the hazards of what this guy does is he almost always gets arrested. But by claiming he is doing this to promote awareness of global warming he automatically gets free promotion from the media which will also lighten the attitude of the local authorities to really throw the book at him. Very clever.
Liberalism Kills
June 9, 2008 - 15:51 ET by mattmLiberalism is responsible for millions of abortion deaths (including the would-be mothers who die of complications arising from legal abortion).
Liberalism is responsible for the appeasement mentality that enabled murderous dictators and tyrants while criticizing those, like Reagan and Bush, who know that sometimes you have to fight.
Liberalism is responsible for the envronmental extremism that has kept millions of people in poverty and has allowed disease and famine to spread misery and death.
I would put the death toll of liberalism over the last 100 years at a minimum of 200 Million.
Just another example of
June 9, 2008 - 16:04 ET by motherbeltJust another example of someone claiming a "fact" with absolutely NO support, with the implication that it's up to others to prove him wrong if they don't agree.
As Mary Mapes replied when asked if she shouldn't be sure something is correct before disseminating it..."No, I don't think that's the standard."
Dumbfounding...
June 9, 2008 - 17:14 ET by Cortillaen"I have decided to fight on global warming, and that's the reason why I have decided to climb the "New York Times" building." You... but that... but it isn't... how... what... gah! To come up with a line of (un)reason like that, I wonder if this guy got his brain at the local Salvation Army. Even if you accept the claim that global warming is established fact (please don't be that ignorant) and that said warming is directly causing more than three-thousand deaths every day, how, pray tell does climbing a building help solve the hypothetical problem? "Well you certainly got that message out loud and clear." <sarc> Right, because nobody in the media would be pushing AGW without this idiot's illegal stunt... </sarc>
www.rhjunior.com Great comics with a hefty dose of Christian and anti-nutjob goodness.
"With your mind as high as Mt. Fuji you can see all things clearly. And you can see all the forces that shape events; not just the things near to you." -Miyamoto Musashi
"ROBERT: In fact, you know,
June 9, 2008 - 19:19 ET by Clear thinker"ROBERT: In fact, you know, actually, global warming is killing more people every week than 9/11, so which is a big amount of people."
Now that my dear friends, is FUNNY!
"Abstain from McCain"
He's French...
June 9, 2008 - 19:43 ET by jjkHe's French so he should have surrendered when asked the question!
And even as they
did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over
to a reprobate mind,
Then they will be
called liberals!
At least he should be well
June 10, 2008 - 07:57 ET by Hero SquadAt least he should be well practiced when the authorities arrest him. Don't they teach surrender at French elementary schools?
FOR SALE: French Army rifle. Excellent condition. Never fired. Dropped once. Call Hans for details.
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
" FOR SALE: French Army
June 10, 2008 - 09:11 ET by misterbee241"
FOR SALE: French Army rifle. Excellent condition. Never fired. Dropped once. Call Hans for details. "
Now that right there is funny, I dont care who you are. :)
There is none so blind as they that won’t see. Jonathan Swift 1667-1745
He probably couldn't get AIR Time in France, saying that BS
June 9, 2008 - 20:08 ET by JayTeeC'mon MSM people.....get a Grip on Reality.
How much CO2 did he Burn getting to America from France ?
Average Temp last 60 years, first Week in JUNE, 59.2 degress, Seattle.
Average Temp first week in JUNE, 2008, 52.5 degrees, Seattle
High Temps are 10 -15 degrees below average the last few weeks in Washington St, Snow in the mountains predicted all this week..... but it is HOT in NY, so the WORLD is warming. These People need to take a Trip....When is the Next Polar Bear Survey in the Artic ?
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
JT... You are so
June 9, 2008 - 20:27 ET by bigtimerJT...
You are so right....as long as it is the east coast that is all that matters...
Always has been... unbelievable to the rest of the country out here how elitist they sound... I can' wait til the cold front hits them....if it does...then of course they will say global warming induced again....and again...and again...
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
opie & anthony were rooting for the guy to fall and die
June 9, 2008 - 20:51 ET by lunaticcringeradioif it were me, i'd be pouring hot bacon grease down on the guy once he got to about floor 50.
lunaticcringeradio
Such a waste... of good
June 10, 2008 - 08:00 ET by Hero SquadSuch a waste... of good bacon grease.
Maybe skyscraper designers should include around the middle of their structure a section of smooth marble that's 20 feet high and goes completely around the building. Unless he's got suction cups, that's as high as he'll get.
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
Excellent idea, HS. It
June 10, 2008 - 12:22 ET by MassConservExcellent idea, HS.
It would act like a kind of Vaseline-coated aluminum foil barrier that people wrap around their trees whenever there's a gypsy moth caterpillar invasion.
Or how about one of those
June 12, 2008 - 11:02 ET by Hero SquadOr how about one of those cones that people use on their birdfeeders to keep the squirrels away?
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
TWO People Climbed that Building..where is # 2 ? what's his msg
June 9, 2008 - 21:07 ET by JayTeeDoesn' the 2nd Guy have a message that NBC is interested in ?
We got Heroes over in Iraq.....who do MORE Dangerous Things than this, EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK !!
How about letting them on "NBC Today" to get some AIR TIME ?
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
Never trust the French!
June 9, 2008 - 23:18 ET by jefflebowskiWhat a disgusting lot!
Jeff Lebowski
www.angrywhitedude.c...
Nationality
June 10, 2008 - 13:09 ET by JasonCNationality notwithstanding, I don't think I trust anyone crazy enough to free-solo climb Taipei 101 and the Sears Tower...
http://www.chinadail...
Il y a la merde quel remort produit quand il a mange trop stupidite.