Organizers had expected to attract around 200,000 protesters to the Paris march, which was slated to occur along with other rallies in cities around the world.
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AMY GOODMAN: But now French authorities are threatening to curtail the public demonstrations and marches in the wake of Friday’s attacks.
For months their websites have been calling “the people” to join in their crusade, saying, “On the eve of the biggest U.N summit of the decade in Paris, the climate movement is taking to the streets”.
With less than two weeks to go before the conference, France is looking at banning rallies so as to avoid the formation of large crowds, which may be easy targets for such attacks.
Alix, welcome to Democracy Now! During that time, he was asked with increasing frequency whether the NEB – which is charged with reviewing proposed border-crossing oil and gas infrastructure in Canada before the federal government decides on approval – would start to consider climate change as part of its analysis.
“What happened is still quite fresh for the French people and they want to make sure the right decision is taken”. We’re looking into options.
Valls said the safety of demonstrators was paramount, and security forces would have to “concentrate on the essential” – the conference itself.
“I’m concerned that not holding that march will be crushing the spirit of hope that we had coming into this event”.
“We do not expect, under any of the possible outcomes, that the world will do a U-turn on clean energy investment trends”. So we hope that the message will be sent across to everyone. People are still very willing to come to Paris. The official United Nations side-event area, known as the Climate Generations Area, is set to be located near the talks in Le Bourget, and appears to be going forward as planned. Saving lives on the other hand is more important. The climate movement is also a peace movement, and they will express the support to the French people.
A former Indian foreign secretary and special envoy for climate change has warned, however, that no global agreement will be successful unless it is seen to be fair by the majority of the parties involved.
However, organizers of the marches are determined that their voices will be heard during the leaders’ summit, if not via mass marches then through more creative ways. “We will stay afloat”.
French campaigner Nicolas Haeringer, in a press statement issued yesterday, said climate change advocates would not be silenced.
ALIX MAZOUNIE: This is a major concern, indeed.
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“We reaffirm the below 2C degree climate goal”, it said, underlining a “determination” to adopt a deal with legal force. They’re fueling terrorism. They’re fueling the social instability, you know, the world of unrest in which we live today.
