We’ve got actions planned in Austria, Scotland, England, Croatia, Belgium and more.
On this page we are showcasing all the actions that’s happening around Europe, so make sure you bookmark the page and keep checking for more news!
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YFoEE Rio+20 actions around Europe
Germany
Ruth and her friends organised a mini-action with a workshop to map out the corporate influence on UN institutions. Their ‘banner garden’ was part of the local Occupy protest camp in Kassel, Germany. They also painted t-shirts and plenty of banners denouncing the lack of ambition at Rio, and calling for more action from the civil society.
Ireland
Our Irish crew has done another set of photographs: Sian and Grace mainly focused their messages on how the politicians involved with Rio+20 seem to have forgotten exactly why there is an Earth Summit in the first place. As Sian and Grace explained, the politicians have been squabbling over their own selfish ends, seeming to forget that the reason that they are in Rio is to prevent a world catastrophe which will effect every individual on earth. They instead are focusing on capital gain, supporting more corporations and literally sacrificing the Earth with their inaction.
Scotland
As Young Friends of the Earth Scotland we wrote our messages for Rio on some paper to share all of you – like most of the world, we think that corporate capture of the UN and the increased power of the financial sector is having a detrimental impact on planet and people. And the ‘green economy’ being promoted at Rio is actually an alibi for the same-old green economy – so good thing that people like Kumi Naidoo are declaring the time ready for more civil disobedience.
In Edinburgh, we’ve decided to target HSBC in particular as a bank that has been involved with lobbying the UN during negotiations, and branding their investment policies as ‘green’, when in reality they, along with all the world’s major banks, are at the forefront of hurtful speculation, investing in unconventional fossil fuels, and advocating financialisation of our common resources as a solution to climate change and environmental destruction. With so many ludicrous claims on behalf of the bank concerning how ethical and green they are, it wasn’t hard to produce a flyer of our own “HSBC: Banking Set to Privatise the Last our Resources”. We printed some copies, and tomorrow (21st June) we will distribute them to customers outside the bank as well as hide them amongst their own promotional materials. The ‘brochure’ contains some information about what banks like HSBC are up to and what their involvement might lead to.
We’ll let you know how it goes!
Austria
Global 2000 Jugend (Young Friends of the Earth Austria) got together a team of five people to make these photos, with their message to the Rio+20 summit that the earth shouldnt be for sale!
Check out more on their facebook page.
Ireland
We are starting our action photo page with a powerful reminder by Jonathan Victory from Young Frien ds of the Earth Ireland about the fact that our demands are indeed not radical – we ask for what’s needed in order to live on a sustainable and peaceful planet. Those who push for unsustainable economic, social and environmental policies are risking the future of people and the planet for short-term profits, and therefore are the real ‘radicals’:
Netherlands
Koen, Paulien and Eva from the Board of JMA (Young Friends of the Earth Netherlands) took this shot during their latest board meeting. Quite a clear message- Our climate is not your business!
Keep sending us your photos!
Click here to find out more and to take part in a Rio+20 action.