UPDATE: Thousands of climate protesters have taken to the streets in Belem, Brazil, demanding urgent action from world leaders during the UN climate talks taking place this week. The protest on July 15, 2023, is the largest so far, with demonstrators marching approximately 4 kilometers near the main venue for the talks, known as COP30.
Protesters donned a striking array of outfits, with many wearing black dresses to signify a funeral for fossil fuels and others in red shirts symbolizing the blood of those fighting to protect the environment. High-energy sound systems on trucks blasted messages as activists from various environmental and social movements united to amplify their demands for change.
Marisol Garcia, a Kichwa woman from Peru, led one of the groups, expressing that the participants aim to pressure world leaders into making “more humanized decisions.” Earlier protests during the week had already disrupted the talks, including a tense incident on Tuesday that resulted in minor injuries to two security guards.
Youth leader Ana Heloisa Alves, 27, described the event as the most significant climate march she has ever participated in. “This is incredible,” she stated. “You can’t ignore all these people.” Alves is advocating for the protection of the Tapajos River, which the Brazilian government plans to develop commercially, with her group proclaiming, “The river is for the people.”
Pablo Neri, coordinator in the Brazilian state of Pará for the Movimento dos Trabajadores Rurais Sem Terra, emphasized the need for broader participation in the climate talks. “Organizers should involve more people to reflect a climate movement that is shifting toward popular participation,” he said.
In a pointed critique, demonstrator Flavio Pinto, dressed in a brown suit and an oversized American flag top hat, targeted the United States for its absence at the talks. His sign read, “Imperialism produces wars and environmental crises,” while he fanned himself with fake hundred-dollar bills featuring former President Donald Trump’s face.
As the marchers formed a vibrant sea of red, white, and green flags, onlookers gathered to catch a glimpse of the powerful display, with one man exclaiming, “Beautiful,” as he leaned over a railing, smartphone in hand.
The climate talks are set to continue until Friday, July 21, 2023. While analysts remain skeptical about the potential for major new agreements, there is hope for progress on prior commitments, particularly regarding financial assistance for developing nations to adapt to climate change.
Protesters expressed a renewed sense of freedom to demonstrate, contrasting the more restricted environments of previous climate talks held in countries like Azerbaijan and Egypt. As the global climate crisis intensifies, these displays of solidarity are resonating across borders, making the urgency for action palpable.
Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops and the world watches the outcomes of these pivotal discussions.
