Experience at the "Global Day of Action for Climate Justice" march at COP26 Glasgow, 2021

Experience at the "Global Day of Action for Climate Justice" march at COP26
Glasgow, 2021.

(Earlier published in Sanket, Dec 2021)

Climate change, one of the most pressing global issues of the present times, is progressing at a pace much faster than one could’ve expected. Climate scientists have issued a code red warning for humanity as destructive droughts, floods, fires and famines can devastate the lives and livelihoods of millions.

For decades, the more affluent nations, the Global North in particular, that have contributed the lion’s share for causing the climate crisis, have accumulated huge wealth from heavily polluting activities depleting natural resources and have refused to do their part to reduce emissions. Subsequently, now that the situation has slipped out of control, they are trying to shift the burden onto the poorer nations, failing to meet their promises on climate action, whilst continuing to exploit the planet’s resources.

Not to mention, the interests of the state and corporates never fail to slide into alignment with profitable projects which involve “not so environment-friendly” practices such as massive deforestation, overuse of fossil fuels, etc. By transforming vast amounts of natural resources into profitable commodities, capitalism has managed to generate an unparalleled amount of monetary wealth but has not bothered to care about the mother earth, thereby threatening the sustainable existence of her rivers, ocean, land, wildlife and the people of her soil.

The UK recently hosted the 26th UN Climate Change Conference at Glasgow from October 31 to November 12. The COP26 (Conference of the Parties) was attended by the countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The objective of this global summit was acceleration of action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC.

While the world leaders were busy setting ‘future goals’ in the conference, the indigenous people who are the frontline sufferers of climate calamity raised their voices by marching across the streets of Glasgow. About a million people marched through the city on the 6th of November, 2021 commemorating the "Global Day of Action for Climate Justice’, seeking climate action ‘now’. It was an Indigenous-led rally demanding systemic climate justice, calling on global leaders to urgently address the climate crisis. The demands also included reparations for Indigenous communities, no new fossil fuel investments, and investments in renewable energy.

Lenin said, “It is more pleasant and useful to go through the 'experience of the revolution' than to write about it.” I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to witness history in this protest march.

The global assembly in the march, cries for demand of social and climate justice, slogans like "El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido" being raised made my heart glimmer with hope. I was elated to see the representation of the Indian Farmers’ Protest supporters in the march, their placards demanded revoking the anti-farmer farm laws in India and stopping corporate exploitation. However, something that attracted my attention was that the police was barricading none but the red flags; at this juncture I felt it is high time we dare to loudly accuse capitalism as the very cause of climate change and ask what the alternative to capitalism should actually be. Turning my visions into reality, placards flashed in front of my eyes which read: “Capitalism is killing the planet, fight for a socialist alternative.”

The indigenous people, the people of colour shouted - “De-De-De colonize, De-De-De colonize. We don’t want your black money, we wanna save the world honey”. They sent a strong message proclaiming the need to put an end to capitalist colonisation and made it a point that the fight for climate justice isn’t independent of the fight for social justice. The speeches of the indigenous activists from Amazon, Global South, Mexico and more, made me remember Swati Lal's piece in "Learning English" book – “The Gifts of the Wise”. The March went ahead amidst the rain and cold. Colours of nature welcomed the people of colour with a rainbow across Glasgow sky. 

Attempted to capture the colours of the climate action march through the lenses of my camera. It has been an unbelievable experience to walk the roads of Glasgow and meet comrades across the world.