November 29th 2015 Paris Global March for Climate Justice Cancelled
COP 21 is the reunion of government representatives and officials largest in numbers ever to be organized. At the very least, this demonstrates an understanding of the seriousness of the environmental challenge the world is now facing. The fact that we are facing possible extinction by the end of this century is now starting to become mainstream knowledge thanks to the scientific work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other organizations committed to planetary survival. We are faced with this new understanding on an international level, on the radio, in conferences, films, and books. People from all walks of life are experiencing the effects of climate changes. Many amazing people are now engaged in the struggle for climate and ecological justice on a global scale.
COP 21 is the reunion of government representatives and officials largest in numbers ever to be organized. At the very least, this demonstrates an understanding of the seriousness of the environmental challenge the world is now facing. The fact that we are facing possible extinction by the end of this century is now starting to become mainstream knowledge thanks to the scientific work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other organizations committed to planetary survival. We are faced with this new understanding on an international level, on the radio, in conferences, films, and books. People from all walks of life are experiencing the effects of climate changes. Many amazing people are now engaged in the struggle for climate and ecological justice on a global scale.
In Paris, in light of the recent terrorist attacks, the planned climate justice march was cancelled. During this last week, 10,000 shoes from civil society were donated to the non-profit organization Avaaz. In a creative, radical and peaceful address to climate justice, a portion of them were then placed in a small area of la place de La République in a symbolic absence-presence manifestation of a concerned public. This installation was moving and powerful, inspiring, while sending a real message to all the governments officials meeting in Paris this week.
The symbol of the shoes was striking on a number of levels. This activist-artwork was beautiful, colourful, and with a profound message. Although shoes come to represent the absence of individuals, the viewer is left with a sense of their individual characters. This performance artwork represents the literal metaphor of taking a step forward.
After a flood of international media reporting on the local events, at 11:30 am there was a well-organized legal human chain 50 meters from la place de La République on Voltaire street. It was safe and performed in an atmosphere that was playful, yet, heartfelt, peaceful and deeply engaging. This human chain was performed for one hour, after which tensions began rising between organizers and police officers.
After a flood of international media reporting on the local events, at 11:30 am there was a well-organized legal human chain 50 meters from la place de La République on Voltaire street. It was safe and performed in an atmosphere that was playful, yet, heartfelt, peaceful and deeply engaging. This human chain was performed for one hour, after which tensions began rising between organizers and police officers.
In my opinion, one hour was not just enough for people to express themselves. Nevertheless, after one hour of peaceful protest, people cleared the streets. A short while later, a group of people on colourful bicycles came through rue Voltaire to express their climate concerns. The police force was everywhere.
Around 2:30 pm, a creative and more radical group arrived on Voltaire street. I say more radical because they were protesting illegally, but I use this world in the most respectful way. They were protesting and opposing the lack of freedom of expression and constraints imposed by the government at this time of morning in the streets of Paris. The message they were chanting was anti-capitalist. This movement, lead by musicians, enchanted with their entrancing drumming, pink costumes full of humor, wild energies and playful dances.
The ritualistic procession was peaceful. The small group of people were marching towards la place de La République. There was maybe 130 people behind the drum band. This inspiring group of young people engaged in civil disobedience clearly disagreed with their governments state of emergency. These control tactics which have been justified by the recent terrorist attacks. This group of citizens were expressing their beliefs that the lack of freedom of peaceful protest were simply unjustified. They were also making the obvious link between corporate dictatorship and climate catastrophe. I found the strong, determined and creative energy of the leader of the band to be extremely sexy.
I was hoping to follow the procession and keep shooting. My filming and downloading needs forced me to stop in a cafe for a while to organize the footage I had been shooting all morning. When I was ready to start filming again, which was maybe 25 to 30 minutes later, I started walking towards La République, and realized that the peaceful demonstration had turned into a scary unsettling situation. Policy officers were everywhere dressed in war like attire. I saw something fired into the air twice. From outside of It looked like a pink shooting star and I can only imagine it was to create smoke, chaos and confusion. The public was controlled. I was feeling nervous. When I arrived at the police line-up, they said that protesters had been throwing glass at them. Nobody could walk in or out of la place de La République. I have never seen such an intense scene of police control in my entire life.
I don’t know exactly what happened. The people I saw walking on Voltaire street were clearly peaceful demonstrators, marching non-violently and wanting to be heard. How can a peaceful demonstration that was full of creative spark turn into something so dark and scary? I was later told by Parisians that in the past peaceful demonstrations had been made to be transformed into violent demonstrations by agent of the police force acting as Agent Provocateur. These agents are part of the police force, they are undercover agents who infiltrate the peaceful protest to manipulate the mood, and finally the images the world will see of the protest end up being those of violent protesters, which actually are the police in disguise.
It is hard to say how the various factions will influence each other. How the imagination of the social fabric, and its various expressions, or lack of, will influence or not, the corporate pressured global governmental discussions at COP 21. Though all of this unraveling confusion, creativity and the human spirit continue to be the strongest tools to inspire and attract the positive attention we need to solve these pressing global problems.
It is hard to say how the various factions will influence each other. How the imagination of the social fabric, and its various expressions, or lack of, will influence or not, the corporate pressured global governmental discussions at COP 21. Though all of this unraveling confusion, creativity and the human spirit continue to be the strongest tools to inspire and attract the positive attention we need to solve these pressing global problems.
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