“For a country that faces some of the world’s strongest typhoons and environmental disasters, the criminal culpability will always lie with politicians who fatten their pockets at the expense of every life, home and livelihood lost and damaged.”
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt — “There is no climate justice without human rights. And justice means accountability from past and present dictators and their families who deny all human rights abuses under their regime!” shouted Eufemia Cullamat, indigenous Lumad leader from Sandugo – Movement of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for Self-Determination, in a November 16 protest action inside the COP27’s Blue Zone.
Cullamat, together with other Filipino civil society groups and climate activists attending COP27, the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, sought to bring attention to the unremitting attacks against environmentalists, indigenous peoples and human rights defenders in the Philippines.
“From the martial law era of the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., to ex-President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, and up to today’s Marcos Jr. government, all their climate actions are a farce as they are done without a safe civic space and real democracy,” Cullamat added.
“Fascist dictatorship, corruption and the destruction of natural resources go hand-in-hand,” said Jon Bonifacio of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment. From Marcos Sr. to Marcos Jr., we will never forget the million-dollar mega-dam projects, illegal logging, the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining and the continuing entry of foreign investors to exploit and profit from our resources and environment,” he added.
According to Bonifacio, the sad reality is that on top of these projects being brazenly riddled with corruption and cronyism, these never lead to any real national development. “We will never forget the injustices of past and present strongmen who siphoned our country’s coffers and drowned the Filipinos in trillions of debts,” he stressed.
“For a country that faces some of the world’s strongest typhoons and environmental disasters, the criminal culpability will always lie with politicians who fatten their pockets at the expense of every life, home and livelihood lost and damaged,” he exclaimed.
“Climate actions must be centered on human rights and justice,” Ana Celestial of People Rising for Climate Justice emphasized. “This is why denying the atrocities under the Marcos Sr. martial law era, the killing spree of land and environmental activists that Pres. Duterte enabled, and the historical distortion that Pres. Marcos Jr. peddles — all these must be met with all forms of resistance,” she said.
“Impunity breeds people’s resistance, not climate solutions,” Celestial said.
“Are international corporations and rich countries supporting these fascists and dictators in exchange for investments and concessions for multinational mining, logging, extractives and agribusiness plantations in the Philippines?” Celestial asked.
“Climate justice, economic justice and human rights don’t occur in silos. This is why our call, Never again! Never forget!” is a timely and crucial amplification inside these international climate conferences and global platforms,” she ended.
The November 16 protest action was part of the Asian Day of Action for Climate and Economic Justice at the COP27 Blue Zone Courtyard. Various groups and activists from Indonesia, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, and other Asian countries attended the protest.#
| Reference: |
| Ana Celestial |
| People Rising For Climate Justice |
| Whatsapp +639701507609 |