On September 21st, thousands of rallies, marches and protests will take place delivering the biggest ever global demonstration for climate action in history. The largest will be in New York where upwards of 100,000 people are expected to come together to demand leaders take action in advance of a UN climate summit that takes place two days later.
“There’s a vast latent constituency of people out there who are alarmed about climate change. But for years, nobody has put up a banner that said ‘this is the time, this is the place, to show you care.’ The People’s Climate March is that banner, and we’re seeing a phenomenal response to it,” said Ricken Patel, Executive Director of the 38-million member civic organization, Avaaz.
More than 2,500 “People’s Climate” events are now planned worldwide in 150 countries .
Highlights include:
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In rural Papua New Guinea, students from a primary school will march to a nearby lighthouse which has recently become semi-submerged due to rising sea levels.
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The border between Vancouver and Seattle will be the location of a truly international rally where thousands of people will link hands across the boundary line to show that climate change knows no borders.
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In Lagos, plans are underway for a historic climate march through the streets of Africa’s largest city. They will be joined by solidarity events in rural areas throughout Nigeria.
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In Tanzania, the Maasai plan to march calling for action from their ancient homelands in the Serengeti.
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In London environment organisations and faith groups are combining forces to create what will be a historic march through the city to the steps of Parliament.
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In Rio, thousands are expected to march on the beaches of Ipanema, while images will be broadcast on the statue of Christ the Redeemer in the week building up to the march.
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In Australia, an epic Climate March will convene in Melbourne afterwards a group will walk 700 km along the eastern seaboard to the nation’s capital Canberra arriving at the Parliament, to raise awareness about climate impacts.
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In Bogota, Colombia, over 10,000 people are expected to join the march through the capital calling for action.
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In New Delhi, thousands will take over the streets on September 20 to demand a renewable energy revolution.
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In Berlin, a silent parade, a stream of cyclists and a march for children will converge on the Brandenburg gate.
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In Paris, local groups will create the “Paris Marche pour le Climat,” with parades, marches, and bicycle rides planned across the bridges of the Seine.
Over 30 celebrities have also begun showing support for the march, including Freshlyground, actors Emma Thompson and Edward Norton, ‘City of God’ director Fernando Mereilles, as well Argentine footballer Lionel Messi .
The worldwide mobilisation and march in New York City will take place just two days before world leaders are set to attend a summit hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The summit is designed to build momentum for national and international climate action, including a new global climate treaty that will be finalised in Paris next year.
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p dir=”ltr”>“The scale, pace, and power of the organizing happening right now is something that we haven’t seen before,” said May Boeve, executive director of the international climate campaign, 350.org. “People realize that we can’t leave the fate of the planet up to our politicians. We need to come together, raise our voices, and apply pressure where it counts.”