The summit to reform global finance in the service of the climate ended this Friday, June 23 in Paris. About forty Heads of State and Government met. Activists from all over the world also gathered, Place de la République, in the heart of Paris to ask them to act.
More than 350 people, including the young Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, gathered Friday, June 23 Place de la République in Paris. For these activists, it is now a matter of life or death, there have been enough promises and action must be taken. Activists gathered to call on the 40 or so heads of state and government present to end the fossil fuels that cause climate change. For them, the rich and developed countries are historically responsible for global warming, while the poor countries, the least responsible, are those who pay the heaviest price.
” Somalia faces its worst drought in 40 years. Families, farmers, have lost everything and had to leave everything because of the impact of global warming. Last year, 33 000 people died of starvation. Half were children under five. It is one of the countries which has contributed the least to climate change, but which suffers the most from it. “laments Walter Mawere, who arrived from Somalia.
A symbolic action
To the sound of “Jerusalem”, an Afro-pop success by South African DJ Master KG and other hits, the activists present defined, by means of a yellow rope, a circle occupying a quarter of the monumental square in the center of which lay three dollar signs, made up of more than 450 black cards. Around 9 a.m., these boxes were gradually turned over to reveal their green reverse side, changing the color of the entire signs, marking the high point of the mobilization made at the call of environmental associations Fridays for Future, 350 France, Avaaz And Glasgow Action Team.
” It’s a cardboard ola “, describes Anne Cormille, 22 years old. “ The picture is quite clear : it is to move from dirty finance to green finance », explains the geosciences student who regrets that the Paris Summit ” does not even mention stopping the financing of fossil fuels », Yet the source of the climate problems to which it intends to respond.
So to help poor countries cope, Harjeet Singh Ardjit Sing, from the network of international NGOs Climate Action Network (CAN) calls for a polluter pays principle. ” A bunch of oil companies have done record profits Last year : 200 billions of dollars ! You imagine yourself ? The same companies are responsible for the problem from the start. There are no excuses. The money is there, you just have to put it in the right place “, did he declare.
The Total company targeted
” Unlivable planet, States, guilty lobbies ” or “ Keep it in the Ground » (leave them – the fossil fuel sources – in the groundin French), were the slogans repeated in chorus by some singers and all the participants on a background of techno-electro music.
Between the banners and the dollar sign spread out across the square, a false tip targeted in particular the French company Total and its oil projectEACOP, in Uganda and Tanzania, accused of amplifying the climate crisis to the detriment of local populations.
” We cannot ask the leaders to mobilize and at the same time totally condemn the current summit, said Soraya Fettih spokeswoman for 350.org. ” What is clear is that this summit will not lead to any binding and strong decisions “, she lamented.
Also to listenToday the Economy, the Portrait – Hyacinthe Niyitegeka, a “quiet force” for the climate
(And with AFP)