{"id":240,"date":"2015-12-12T21:02:32","date_gmt":"2015-12-12T21:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.swarthmore.edu\/cop21\/?p=240"},"modified":"2022-03-09T21:39:19","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T21:39:19","slug":"from-le-bourget-to-the-streets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.swarthmore.edu\/cop\/2015\/12\/12\/from-le-bourget-to-the-streets\/","title":{"rendered":"From Le Bourget to the Streets"},"content":{"rendered":"

While diplomats and negotiators attempted to come to an agreement this morning in the suburb of Le Bourget, thousands gathered across Paris for a series of demonstrations to mark the conclusion of the conference. These demonstrations\u2019 fate has been in flux over the past month following the attacks in Paris, following with the French government imposed a State of Emergency and <\/span>banned nearly all demonstrations.<\/span><\/a> Coalition Climat 21 (which includes organizations like 350.org and Avazz) was unable to gain authorization for two demonstrations. A planned march on November 29th the weekend before the COP and what organizers said would be the largest ever civil disobedience today (Saturday 12 December) to conclude the conference. Potential demonstrations faced threats of tear case and clashes with police.<\/span><\/p>\n

A smaller action did take place on November 29th, but the 10,000 participants were a far cry from the hundreds of thousands expected. Actions organized by 350.org and Avaaz included a human chain through the downtown the placement of <\/span>thousands of pairs of shoes<\/span><\/a> – including ones from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Pope Francis – at the Place de la Republique to symbolize the people who would have joined the march. A peaceful march in Paris that day clashed with police in riot gear <\/span>using tear gas on protesters<\/span><\/a>. Nevertheless, over 800,000 people around the world marched in solidarity as part of the Global Climate March.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the protest ban, Coalition Climat 21 planned a mass civil disobedience action, though the ban deterred many, leading to lower interest than expected. Nevertheless, the coalition trained thousands of activists this week in preparation for the action and for the likely scenario of arrest. <\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/twitter.com\/350\/status\/675647112906981376\/photo\/1<\/a>
\nHowever, early this morning, the government decided to officially authorize the demonstration. A mass text sent from Coalition Climat 21 at 6 am this morning read: \u201cBREAKING: massive mobilisation pushes French Gov. to PERMIT #D12 #redlines action. We didn\u2019t accept demands to change plans & prevailed. See you on the streets.\u201d In the end, an estimated <\/span>15,000 people converged<\/span><\/a> within sight of the iconic Arc de Triomphe on Avenue de La Grande Arm\u00e9e at noon wearing red to form red lines to symbolize the \u2018red lines\u2019 demanding negotiators and political leaders not cross (one references repeatedly during the COP was the need to keep warming well below 2 degrees Celsius). Banners read, \u201cIt\u2019s up to us to keep it in the ground\u201d and \u201cCrime Climatique \u2013 Stop!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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1000s sit in under the Eiffel Tower demanding real #climatejustice<\/a> and chanting #keepitintheground<\/a>. It\u2019s up to us! pic.twitter.com\/Q0NISbpUvT<\/a><\/p>\n

— 350 Europe (@350Europe) December 12, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n