Protesters demand system change not climate change

Protesters around the country marched on 29 November, to demand action to tackle climate change. Organisers claim 50,000 demonstrated in central London with thousands more on the streets in Cardiff, Bristol, Edinburgh, Belfast, Southampton and more.

The protests coincided with the start of a United Nations climate change summit in Paris (see page 3) with campaigners claiming that a total of 785,000 people marched in 2,300 cities in 175 countries. This included hundreds in Paris itself who were tear-gassed and arrested by police as the recent terrorist attacks in Paris were used to ban the proposed demonstration there.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn spoke at the London demonstration and received the best response but not one speaker called for public ownership or planning as a way to stop global warming.

In contrast, Socialist Party members called for ‘System change, not climate change!’ with leaflets, a special edition of Socialism Today on saving the environment. 50 copies of the Socialist were sold. They also met many protesters interested in the ideas and activities of the Socialist Party.

Scott Jones