Climate Change Rally
By Roisin Guyett-Nicholson | Nov 20 2015
Students are being encouraged to attend a climate change rally in Dublin this month. The demonstration will be held on Sunday 29th November, the day before the United Nations host a climate change summit in Paris. Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be in attendance alongside other world leaders.The rally is being organised by Stop Climate Chaos, a coalition of different organisations focused on “campaigning to ensure Ireland plays its part in preventing runaway climate change.” Groups involved with the campaign include An Taisce, Concern, Trocaire and Eco Unesco.The event will begin at 2pm outside the Customs House. The organisation is keen to get students involved. Ciara Kirrane, the coordinator of Stop Climate Chaos, says that “we want to show that it's people power, not the actions of world leaders that will truly address the climate crisis.” The involvement of students is an important part of the campaign.The timing of the rally is also vital as it will occur on the eve of the UN’s summit. Kirrane states that “it's important to hold it on this date because media attention will be focused on the world leaders arriving in Paris on 30th November.” She further notes that “we want to make clear that governments don't lead movements - people do.”The Dublin rally is part of a wider system of events across the world, two of which will be held in Cork and Belfast also at 2pm. A number of similar events on the same day will be held in countries as far away as Australia. Kirrane stated that the involvement of the organisation in a number of different countries is encouraging. She says “hundreds of thousands of people around the world will take to the streets in over 1500 events in almost 70 countries showing the strength of the climate movement.”A number of UCD societies have already confirmed their attendance at the Dublin rally, including UCD Sinn Fein. Both EcoSoc and UCD Volunteers Overseas are promoting the event among their members. Despite the attendance of the some UCD political parties, Kirrane claims that they “explicitly did not invite any political parties to participate.” This is part of the organisation’s aim to make sure the event stays focused on the people contributing and not on the political advantage.Stop Climate Chaos are hoping to have over 1000 people in attendance so that they can “send Enda to Paris with demands for climate action ringing in his ears.”