Ahead of Paris Climate Talks, Filipinos to march for climate justice in Quezon City, major PH cities
MANILA, 25 November 2015 – The Global Climate March planned in Paris, on the eve of the UN climate talks, has been banned due to security concerns. But 50 other major marches will push through worldwide, including in the Philippines.
A broad group of social movements, trade unions, NGOs and religious groups across the country are now holding a week of action for climate justice, the highlight of which is this Saturday’s March for Climate Justice Pilipinas in Quezon City.
Broad support
Six marches carrying climate-related themes – energy transformation; right to food, land and water; justice and reparations for affected peoples; protect our common home (after Laudato Si); jobs and just transition, and youth – will set out in major highways in Quezon City to converge at the Quezon Memorial Circle in the morning of Nov. 28. Organizers are expecting at least 10,000 to join the event.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has also issued a memorandum encouraging colleges and universities to join the march.
The March for Climate Justice has also received support from prominent personalities. National youth Commission Commisioner-at-Large Jose Sixto "Dingdong" Dantes IV has also been quoted as supporting the march in behalf of the youth, including his newborn daughter.
Various entertainment celebrities have also lent their support, including Alden Richards, Martin Nievera, Luis Manzano, Sam Milby, Ai-Ai delas Alas, and Arnel Ignacio.
Week of actions nationwide
Aside from the major marches, more than 2,000 events will be held in over 150 countries from November 28 to 29, the weekend before the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. All these will be held to call on world governments to come out with a fair and just new global agreement in response to the climate crisis.
In the Philippines, the week of actions for climate justice include the following key events:
November 24-28, Southern Luzon to Manila: The People and Environment Against Coal-based Energy (PEACE) Caravan, led by coal-affected communities, to stop the proliferation of coal and transform the energy system in the country. It will start from Semirara and Caluya Islands, Antique; going to San Jose, Mindoro; Quezon; Batangas; Laguna; and finally in Malacañang.
November 28, Eastern Visayas: Mobilizations in the Leyte cities of Tacloban and Ormoc will be held to remember those who lost their lives during super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
November 28, Cebu: The People’s Climate March Sugbu/Cebu will start at mid-afternoon at the Fuente Osmeña Circle to Basilica del Santo Niño, where a mass for the environment will be held and a unity statement will be read.
November 28, Mindanao: Simultaneous mobilizations will be held in the Mindanao cities of Davao City, Davao del Sur; Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental; General Santos, South Cotabato; Malaybalay, Bukidnon; Ozamis, Misamis Occidental; Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur; and Tangub, Misamis Occidental.
November 28, Quezon City: The March for Climate Justice Pilipinas to Quezon Memorial Circle.
November 29, Manila: A march and mass will be held at the Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate, led by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila and the Global Catholic Climate Movement.
Other activities will be held in Antipolo; Baguio; Baler, Aurora; Bacolod and San Carlos, Negros Occidental; Catbalogan, Samar; Ibaan, Batangas; Imus, Cavite; Dumaguete; Jaro, Iloilo; Las Piñas; Mandaluyong; Palawan; San Fernando, Pampanga; Tagbilaran, Bohol; and Tuguegarao.
