More than 35,000 citizens shouted for climate justice at Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall on Monday.
The large-scale climate action "Climate Justice March," which took place in three years since 2019, was joined by more than 400 organizations, including the "September Climate Justice Action Organizing Committee," environment, labor, animal rights, farmers, the disabled, women and religion.
The Gifu Justice march lasted about 5km from Sungnyemun Gate to Seoul City Hall, Gwanghwamun, Anguk Station, and Jonggak Station.
Non-violent demonstrations called "DIE-IN" continued for about five minutes near Gwanghwamun. This means "lying like death," and it is a protest that expresses citizens' intention to lie on the ground and respond to climate disasters and climate inequality.
Prior to the march, a declaration calling for climate justice and a presentation by citizens representing all walks of life were made.
Ha Tae-sung, chairman of the Samcheok Coal Power Fight Committee, said, "I went to the election office to ask for the suspension of coal-fired power plants. However, the return answer was, "I can't do it because there is no law." Therefore, the Samcheok Coal Fire Fighting Committee is receiving 50,000 citizens' signatures to enact the De-coal Act," he appealed for participation.
The national petition for the enactment of the De-coal Act is being held on the official website of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. The deadline is until the 30th of this month, and more than 14,000 people have participated as of 6 p.m. on the 24th.
In addition, various voices resonated in the square. Park Yong-joon, chairman of the Hansalim Production Nature Association, said, "The farmers themselves gathered here with you to protect their food with desperation. The climate crisis is a crisis of agriculture and a crisis of life," he said, complaining of agricultural damage caused by unusual weather conditions.
Moon Ye-rin, an activist for the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, said, "There seems to be no connection between climate disasters and the disabled, but if you look closely, it is not at all."
A resident who lives near a nuclear power plant said, "It is said that we will respond to the climate crisis by creating more nuclear power plants, but it is absolutely not at all. "The agricultural water is being contaminated and a lot of hot water is being sent out," he said. "It is dangerous and not just." "To build more waste without a way or place to dispose of it is to postpone responsibility," he pointed out.
Kim Bo-rim, a youth climate action activist, said, "The government is putting the blame on individuals," adding, "Let's demand a structure that protects the parties from the crisis, not a structure of exploitation and inequality caused by huge carbon emissions."
Writer: Youngjun Kim
(Picture from Unsplash)
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