08) GLOBAL MARCHES CALL TO SAVE THE PLANET
PV Vancouver Bureau
People around the world protested for action on global warming on Nov. 29, the eve of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Paris.
Despite cancellation of the day’s flagship Paris event, the Global Climate March still broke records as the largest climate mobilisation in history. More than 2,300 events were held worldwide, beginning with a demonstration of an estimated 45,000 people in Sydney, Australia. The largest action in Canada saw over 5,000 take to the streets of Vancouver.
Organizers report that over 785,000 people took part in 175 countries, calling for a clean energy future to the planet. The March was front page on media platforms worldwide, and the impact was felt at the summit in Paris.
Many countries, from Bangladesh to Ireland, saw the largest climate marches in their history. In Australia, 120,000 people marched, in India, over 100,000. Small groups of people held events in a wide range of circumstances. Even in Sana'a, Yemen, organisers went ahead with their march despite bombs falling close to the route.
In France, massive planned marches of over 500,000 people were cancelled, but organizers collected and displayed over 20,000 shoes of people who wanted to march - including Pope Francis and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon - at the Place de la Republique, on the doorstep of the climate talks. Protesters did form a human chain along the three km. route of a march that was banned under the state of emergency declared by the Hollande government following the Nov. 13 terror attacks. About 100 people were arrested in clashes after riot police fired tear gas.
In his opening address to world leaders, Ban Ki-moon stressed: “The peoples of the world are also on the move. They have taken to the streets, in cities and towns across the world, in a mass mobilization for change… They expect each and every one of you to show leadership equal to the test. History is calling.”
These days, capitalist leaders often talk about becoming “the greenest government ever.” But in most cases, slavish devotion to the profits of the big energy monopolies has trumped investment in a sustainable future. Austerity cuts have devastated public services, workplace safety, affordable housing, and clean energy programs.
This must change, and very soon. Scientists estimate that current levels of emissions from burning oil, gas and coal would warm the planet by 3.5ºC over the next 60 years. The consequences include rising sea levels that may submerge many of the world’s biggest cities, ferocious hurricanes and typhoons, and more severe droughts.
The message from the streets is that the world leaders gathered at COP 21 in Paris need to agree on an urgent action plan. The next issue of People’s Voice will include analysis of the outcome of this crucial conference.
(The above article is from the December 1-31, 2015, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)