At a time of year when solidarity and love for one’s neighbour are celebrated, the climate justice collective reminds us that “everyone must join the resistance because the climate crisis caused by governments and companies is putting everything we love at risk”.
On the evening of December 7th, Climáximo supporters turned off the Christmas lights on a street in the Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques area, on Avenida da Liberdade, on a street in Baixa-Chiado, and on the Christmas tree in Terreiro do Paço, lighting up the latter with decorations bearing the message “climate resistance”. At the site, the spokesperson for the action – Maria Mesquita, 22, an after-school programme animator – alerted visitors and families present to the danger that the climate crisis poses to their lives and those of their families: “Just over a month ago, 250 people died in Valencia in catastrophic floods caused by the burning of fossil fuels. In Valencia, hundreds of families will have an empty place at their Christmas table. They, the governments and companies that continue to burn fossil fuels, are turning the planet into a veritable hell. And we, the ordinary people, must resist and stop them, now. What kind of world are we heading towards?”
In a statement, the collective said it took this action to “urge everyone to listen to the most important message of this decade and join the climate resistance, because we are running out of time. They, the governments and companies, have declared war on society and the planet, and every climate catastrophe is further proof of the abyss into which they are leading us. At this time of year when we practise solidarity, we must ask ourselves: what are we really doing to safeguard the lives and common well-being of our families, friends, neighbours and communities? Are we going to consent to this system, or are we going to resist and participate in the collective struggle for a dignified life on a habitable planet?” In her speech at the event, Maria Mesquita concluded with an appeal: “the best gift you can give this Christmas is to join the resistance”. The spokesperson also assured that “the necessary safety precautions had been taken” and that “there was no damage” to the light installations.
Climáximo, which organised the march and action “Stop While We Can” on November 23rd, attended by around 300 people, calls on “all those who know that it is necessary to join the resistance now” to participate in the “Climate Resistance Training” on December 14th.
