Agence France Presse reports that, “Thousands of leftist activists and Mexican peasants took to the streets Tuesday…”
“Waving rainbow and green flags, the demonstrators beat drums and played flutes as they set off on a 20-kilometer (12-mile) march from the center of Cancun to the guarded luxury hotel where talks were underway.”
“The peasant activists have been particularly upset about an expected role of the World Bank and free markets in distributing the billions of dollars in aid being pledged by wealthy nations to the most vulnerable states. Many demonstrators also want a continuation of the Kyoto Protocol, whose requirements run out at the end of 2012, faced with the growing likelihood that a new treaty will not yet be in place.”
“Protesters said they were opposed to any violence. Police official Veronica Fajardo said that some 5,000 to 6,000 police would patrol the streets…”
“More than 30 similar demonstrations were taking place across North America for those who could not come to Cancun.”
The Associated Press adds that, “On Tuesday, hundreds marched from downtown Cancun toward the heavily guarded beach resort area where the conference is taking place. About a dozen protesters managed to get inside the conference complex, marching briefly through a meeting hall before being escorted away by security.”
And the People’s Daily Online in China reports that, “Thousands of peasants led by the international movement, Via Campesina, protested on Tuesday in Cancun… About 3,000 peasants protested on the highway that goes from the center of Cancun to the International Airport…”
“The majority of protesters support the agreements from the People’s World Conference on Climate Change, which was held in April in Cochabamba, Bolivia.”
“The agreements from Cochabamba state that the International Monetary Fund should not manage funds from developed countries to the countries most affected by climate change. They also ask that all countries accept the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Mother Earth.”
The Council of Canadians joined this march yesterday and contacted all mainstream Canadian media about the action. Only the CBC was interested, but they were separated from us by the police blockade across the main highway.
For our blog on the march, please go to http://www.canadians.org/campaignblog.
Brent Patterson, Director of Campaigns and Communications, Council of Canadians
www.canadians.org
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