Place de la Republique, Paris,
“Tax the rich”, “Make the polluters pay”, “Keep it in the ground” (“Leave fossil fuels in the ground”)… A hundred climate activists performed this Friday morning on the Place de la Republique in Paris. Their goal: to demand the end of fossil fuels and solidarity between the countries of the North and the South in the fight against climate change. The rally took place on the sidelines of the summit for a new global financial pact, organized in the capital on the initiative of Emmanuel Macron.
Gathered in a large circle, the activists turned over large black leaves placed on the ground, symbolizing oil, to reveal the back, green in color, like the dollars needed to finance the fight against climate change. Among the activists, Mutisha came from Uganda to demonstrate against Totalenergies’ mega-pipeline project, Eacop, while a giant fake barrel was placed next to the central statue in the square, in a sign of opposition. “We must put an end to this project, which respects neither human rights nor the living,” insists Mutisha. Hundreds of people will be expropriated, while climate change imposes an end to fossil fuels. »
” Climate change causes us to lose more than 650 billion dollars every year, adds Soraya Fettih, campaign manager at the NGO 350.org. Civil society is largely absent from the summit for a new global financial pact. While the governments of the North are considering new levers to finance climate action and solidarity with the countries of the South, “this summit should not be one of communication and greenwashing”, adds the campaign manager. .
“Loans and insurance will not solve everything”
“Governments have been aware of this and have been negotiating for more than thirty years to put an end to fossil fuels. Meanwhile, our fields are drying up, the level of the oceans is rising. Loans and insurance will not solve everything, there are lives behind climate disasters. We just want the rich countries to respect their commitments, we can not wait more, “adds the expert of the NGO Climate Action NetworkHarjeet Singh.
“Climate change is already taking its toll. In India, we are experiencing one of the worst heat waves in our history,” said activist Disha Ravi, who decided to take action for the climate when she saw her grandparents running out of water. ‘water. Since June 15, 54 people have died in Uttar Pradesh and 44 in the neighboring state of Bihar. And the Indian meteorological services have warned that the heat wave will continue in a dozen states.
“We are the Uprisings of the Earth”
Among the citizens mobilized this Friday, many are those who show their support for the earth uprisings, the environmental association whose government ordered the dissolution on Wednesday. This is the case of Anna, 36, who drew their symbol on both cheeks: “We ask that governments finally act in the direction of history, we will not give up and we will always be there no matter what. he arrives to remind them of the urgency. “.
Further on, others hold up signs “We are the Earth Uprisings. It is “not possible” to “dissolve the Uprisings”, adds Sasha, 25. “We do not dissolve hope,” she said, repeating the watchword of the support rallies that took place all over the country on the evening of the Fête de la Musique.