COP27: activists ignore the “manifestódromo” and march through the event venue

More than 500 climate activists, according to estimates NGOmarched this Saturday inside the compound of the COP27 to call for more climate justice and the protection of human rightsafter a “majority consensus” not to use the space authorized by the Egyptian presidency for protests.

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Environmental organizations estimate that more than 500 people mobilized in Sharm el Sheikh in different protests that took place this Saturday at the climate summit of the UN that these days is celebrated in the Egyptian city, where they demanded financing commitments to repair the damages and losses caused by climatic impacts, as well as maintaining the objective of not exceeding one and a half degrees of global warming.

As the Greenpeace mobilization coordinator explained to EFE, Pablo Chamorromost of the actions and marches occurred inside the compound of the COP27after a “majority consensus” by civil society not to use the place that in this climate summit -unlike the previous ones, where it was possible to protest in the street- had been reserved for protests.

“We are very limited in terms of freedom of expression by the guidelines established by the UN” to protest within the official zone of the summit, rules that for example prevent pointing out specific governments, Chamorro explained.

The rules do not differ from those normally established by the UNFCCC -the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change- for protests within a climate summit, he qualified, but the usual thing is that the mobilizations take place in the street, so that the activists can claim what they consider.

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“Everything was very limited in time, space, slogans…”, for his part, Pedro Zorrilla criticized from greenpeacewhile the young activists who participated in the march also complained about the lack of freedom to raise their voices and demand climate action from the countries gathered in the COP27.

“We ask the countries of the Global North to pay for the losses and damages caused by the climate change”summarized to EFE the Indian activist Janmejai Tiwaridelegate of Global Young Greenswho claimed to be satisfied with the number of people mobilized this Saturday along with his group in Sharm el Sheikh, although he believes that, if they had been able to demonstrate in the street, there would have been “many more”.

climate justice “cannot be achieved without human rights”, sentenced Tiwariwho claimed “release all the political prisoners in Egypt”, which is estimated to be around 60,000 incarcerated.

It also spoiled the presence of more than 600 fossil fuel industry-related delegates at COP27, an investigation by Global Witness.

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“We do not see that enough pressure is being put on mitigation actions”explained Pablo Morente Acale, who has traveled to Sharm el Sheikh together with the Spanish delegation, representing the Youth Council of Spain.

“We ask that the debt of the vulnerable countries in the face of the climate crisis, so that they can strengthen their economy”, said, just like “more proactivity and forcefulness in negotiations”in addition to streamlining processes such as loss and damage and considering aspects such as mental health, for example, since climate change has meant that young people have lost the ability to project their future.

What they would like, he added, is that these demonstrations, which “They seem somewhat symbolic but they have a lot of power in a space like the United Nations”part of the delegations of governments, scientists and others will also join.

Climate activist Irene Vivas, who is in the COP27 with the delegation of Young European GreensHe also expressed the importance of protesting despite the fact that “the Egyptian government does not want” them to be “in their streets” to exert pressure in the climate negotiations.

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In his case, he spoke out to demand the protection of the 1.5 ºC objective, commitments on the part of the rich countries and, specifically, of the European ones, regarding the mechanism of losses and damages and that “human rights are respected wherever a summit is held.”

A demonstration led by Sanaa Seif, sister of the imprisoned British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdelfatah, sentenced in 2021 to five years in prison for “spread fake news” after previously serving a sentence of another five years for organizing a protest.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.