Panel on struggles for the Environment marks the beginning of the 5th International ILNSS’ Meeting
Activity participants shared experiences of mobilizations in defense of the climate and its sustainability
The 5th Meeting of the International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggle began on September 10th in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil.
With representation from 16 countries, including Ukraine, Palestine, France, United Kingdom, Poland, Spain, Catalonia, Italy, United States, Togo, Angola, Botswana, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Brazil, the opening had an exciting act with songs by fight of different ideological currents, with participants chanting A Internacional, Bella Ciao and A Las Barricadas.
The night announced a series of activities to exchange experiences and strengthen the organization of the international working class, which is experiencing an important moment of debate against capitalism and its effects, attacks on rights, privatizations, layoffs, wars, climate change and so on. other topics that affect the future of humanity.
The panel on Environment featured Cybèle David, Nara Cladera, Baptiste LS, Jerome Bonnard and Juan Rodriguez.
Cybèle highlighted the importance of the topic being discussed and worked on in the trade union environment, reporting that in the French trade union center Solidaires the topic has been present for many years, with a real acceleration in awareness with the covid-19 pandemic.
Baptiste LS shared about an important fight to defend a common value: water. “We were deployed in the second wettest area in Europe, which is in Saint Solines. We fought and faced harsh police repression, who attacked activists with weapons and war contingents.” This fight is that of thousands who denounce the damage caused by so-called artificial basins.
Jerome Bonnard intervened shortly after Baptiste on the same subject, stressing that “these basins are built with 75% public money and serve only the private sectors, which keep the money. A classic of the capitalist system", he added.
Juan Rodriguez shared the process of struggles in Ecuador with the outcome of the popular plebiscite that decided to suspend oil exploration in the Yasuni National Park, an area of Amazon rainforest on the border with Peru. "One of the biggest causes of climate change is carbon emissions and oil extraction is responsible for 32% of these emissions", said the leader.
Interventions closed the activity that expressed the importance of international solidarity and class unity to seal the ongoing commitment to a more just and sustainable future for humanity.
