UN Climate Change Conference (COP28): Protesters under heavy surveillance struggle to make their voices heard | COP28: Climate Summit in Dubai

Hundreds of people from all over the world united their voices, Saturday, during a rare demonstration in Dubai, on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), to demand an end to the use of fossil fuels and a ceasefire in Gaza.

With bullhorns in hand, activists tried to make their voices heard before global decision-makers gathered in the United Arab Emirates to attend the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The demonstrators raised environmental protection banners painted in the colors of the Palestinian flag, and chanted Climate justice And Ceasefire now.

The people in Israel and the Hamas are invited to the United Nations Reunion, which will take place on November 30, or the people of the world who have entered the Mardi Prochain to join a new accord in order to advance the progress of the lottery. Global Warming.

It’s the same fight, it’s the same thing, it’s colonialism, it’s genocidebelieves Mexican activist Esavella Lopez.

I stand in solidarity with all the oppressedIn turn, American Claire Charlo launched the Just Transition Alliance.

I sympathize with everyone who is experiencing genocide now, because it happened to us in the United States in 1492.It continues in reference to the discovery and conquest of America.

Numerous restrictions on demonstrators

Protests are rare in the UAE because they must receive official permission from the state. UAE authorities often ban gatherings they deem appropriate The disruptors.

However, the demonstration on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) took place on Saturday without a permit from the Emirati authorities, because activists gathered at the place. Blue area. This area, where the negotiations and main events of COP 28 take place, is under United Nations control for the duration of the international conference.

althoughUnited nations Demonstrations are permitted on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), but are subject to numerous restrictions. In doing so, the activists gathered on Saturday were unable to name countries, individuals, leaders or companies in their activist activities at the COP site.

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A pro-Palestinian protester said he was forbidden from saying that From the river to the sea. This expression is used by pro-Palestinian supporters, who are mobilizing to demand a single state on the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Some Jews hear in this call a clear demand for the destruction of Israel.

Separately, a small group of demonstrators who were protesting the arrest of activists by UAE authorities – one from Egypt and two from the UAE – were not allowed to carry signs with their names written on them.

This is a shocking level of censorship in a field where basic freedoms such as freedom of expression, assembly and association are guaranteed to be protectedannounced toNews agency Joy Shea, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, specializes in the United Arab Emirates.

Furthermore, Dubai locals are not allowed to cross the border Blue areaHe was excluded from the demonstrations. It is this restriction that worries Sebastian Dweck, a lawyer in the field of human rights and environmental law.

This represents a big problem. Without the voice of civil society, without the voice of these demonstrations, we are having very weak discussions. It is the role of civil society to move forward, reminding us of the importance of true respect for science, even if it inconveniences stakeholders.

Diplomatic ballet

Alongside these protests, negotiations continued at COP 28, and the final draft text contains options for divesting or reducing fossil fuels.

We must realize that it is a historic and unprecedented situation for the text of the Conference of the Parties to include a draft agreement on the phase-out of all types of fossil fuels.“, explains Roman Ewalin, Head of International Policy at International oil change.

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Canadian Environment Minister Stephen Guilbault, who plays a key role in the discussions, was relatively optimistic, telling the newspaper:France Press agency Be fairly confident that fossil fuels are mentioned in the final text.

Moreover, demonstrators briefly organized a Sit-ins At the OPEC pavilion due to a leaked letter calling on the organization’s member states to reject any attempt to include the gradual reduction of fossil fuels in any summit text.

With information from Elissa Syrett, The Associated Press and AFP