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FRANCE-ENVIRONMENT-CLIMATE-PROTEST
Thousands march for climate in Paris despite ‘yellow vest’ unrest
PARIS, Dec 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Up to 25,000 people marched through Paris on
Saturday urging greater action on climate change, despite fears that their
protest would be scuppered by “yellow vest” demonstrations. Police estimated
the number of green activists heading onto the streets at 17,000 while
organisers counted 25,000 urging world governments to better protect the
environment.
The numbers were similar to previous climate marches in Paris, despite
sporadic violence in the city on Saturday among thousands of “yellow vest”
demonstrators who want more help for France’s poor.
Organisers had to change the route of the climate march, marching instead
from Place de la Nation to Place de la Republique, due to the yellow vest
demonstrations, but refused a request by Interior Minister Christophe
Castaner to postpone it.
“It was unthinkable to cancel this march. It’s important to talk about
problems related to the end of the world as well as the end of the month,”
Elodie Nace, a spokeswoman for green NGO Alternatiba, told the crowds.
Thousands also marched in other French cities, including an estimated
10,000 in Marseille, 3,500 in Montpellier and 3,000 in Lille.
The “yellow vest” movement has been spurred by anger in small-town and
rural France at rising car fuel taxes which were aimed at helping the country
transition to a greener economy, but which protesters say hurts the poor.
But green activists at the climate marches urged people to find solutions
for both environmental problems and the financial struggles of France’s
poorest.
“Yellow vests, green vests — same anger,” they chanted.
Some “yellow vest” activists, clad in their emblematic high-visibility road
jackets, joined the Paris march after breaking off from their own
demonstration.
Marches had been organised in more than 120 towns across France to mark the
COP24 climate talks in Poland.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0851 hrs