This past Saturday, Oct. 24th, I got up before dawn to take part in the local 'Marathon Climatique', one of at least 4000 events on Climate Change that took place that day around the world. This one was under the auspices of 350.org which hopes to move the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere back under 350ppm where it will hopefully stabilize.
There not being any real public transit in Lomé, I hiked out to a main boulevard and then paid a guy to carry me on the back of his motorcycle to the Tokoin-Casablanca neighbourhood. This is a big part of the transit 'system'.
There, a big crowd was already forming outside the offices of JVE, Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement.
Seven guys stripped off their shirts and got painted up on their chests to spread the word about that CO2 concentration goal.
This is a small portion of the crowd, lined up in the JVE courtyard to get their Tshirts.
After they all got organized, we headed out to the main road and just headed downtown, blocking the road and pissing off the traffic, with no apparent police assistance. This being Togo, JVE had worked hard to get this put together but the powers that be apparently thought that 2 firefighters and about 4-6 police was enough for hundreds of people in the streets.
We jogged slowly but continuously down to the beach, along and then up again to the university. Only 20 minutes into the run we were hit by heavier and heavier rain, eventually of monsoon proportions. I chatted with several other participants, desperately trying to understand their French (no fault of theirs, my comprehension skills are terrible). I felt a bit odd at times, being one of only three non-blacks in the crowd of hundreds. The others were a French volunteer riding in a truck of camera crews and her friend who also ran.
Along the way I saw this banner from local disciples of the Supreme Master Ching Hai, who advocates a vegan diet to save the planet. I've been interviewed for their Suprememaster TV channel and eaten at their restaurants back home, near San Francisco and recently in Paris. They're everywhere!
Eventually we got to the University of Lomé campus where a PA system was waiting, as well as water and sandwiches. Unfortunately, the rain didn't let up and there was little shelter. Lines formed for the drinks and sandwiches but people started to push a little and the police or soldiers (I don't know, they were in fatigues and boots) took off their big belts, folded them over and started swinging at anyone who didn't back off.
If you look carefully at this guy's right hand, you can see his black belt ready for action.I was asked to pose for a photo with a group of other participants, none of whom I had met at all, presumably because of my novelty value.
After about 30-45 minutes, I was getting cold and very hungry, not having eaten for about 5 hours, so I walked the 1o minutes into my neighbourhood just outside the university gates.
Overall, it was a good experience. A very public environmental event took place, although I don't know the level of awareness of Climate Change among many of the participants and whether they are interested in taking actions to keep emissions down (like not running a smoking scooter). The energy was great, with lots of singing, chanting, and dancing, despite the rain and the long slog. The organizers estimated that 3000 people participated in several locations across Togo. It's hard to say, but certainly several hundred people were here in Lomé. If that was happening all over the world, then maybe this Copenhagen summit will be the one to lead,finally, to real binding action.
No comments:
Post a Comment