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Pranansayar Canal Cleaning Campaign, Civic Rally Demanding Fossil Fuel Free Climate Justice in Satkhira

Pranansayar Canal Cleaning Campaign, Civic Rally Demanding Fossil Fuel Free Climate Justice in Satkhira



Attendees participated in a canal cleaning drive, tree planting initiative, and civic rally in Satkhira.
 
Date
September 15, 2023

Location
Radhanagar Pransayar Khalpad, Satkhira City, Bangladesh.

Organizers
Waterkeepers-Bangladesh, Brati, Sundarbans and Coast Protection Movement, SoDESH, Satkhira District Citizen Committee, Nature and Life Club, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, District Committee

Introduction
In response to the increasing demands from international organizations and communities affected by climate change, a significant development emerged during the 2023 COP-27 conference. Representatives from more than 80 countries collectively pledged to phase out coal-based energy systems. This commitment signifies a substantial shift in global efforts to combat climate change. Previous initiatives aimed at climate change mitigation, proposed by various international organizations, including the United Nations, encountered opposition, primarily driven by the protection of economic and business interests, particularly among affluent nations. These oppositions hindered the realization of critical climate action plans.

Global Day of Action and Fossil Fuels for Climate Justice
Amid this backdrop, the 'Global Day of Action and Fossil Fuels for Climate Justice' program was globally celebrated on September 15, 2023. This day served as a platform to advocate for climate justice without reliance on fossil fuels. As part of this global movement, a series of events took place at Radhanagar Pransayar Khalpad in Satkhira City on Friday, September 15, 2023, commencing at 10:30 AM.

Event Highlights
Inauguration: The program was inaugurated by Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Fatema Tuz Zohra, and was organized collaboratively by Waterkeepers-Bangladesh, Brati, Sundarbans and Coast Protection Movement, Swadesh, Satkhira District Citizen Committee, Nature and Life Club, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, and the District Committee.

Leadership
The event was convened under the chairmanship of Azad Hossain Belal, representing the District Citizens' Committee, and moderated by human rights activist Madhav Chandra Dutt. The advisory editor of Dainik Patradoot newspaper and former president of Satkhira Press Club, Abul Kalam Azad, and Dr. Subrata Ghosh, the health and population affairs secretary of the district Awami League, were prominent participants.

Diverse Participation
The event witnessed the participation of influential individuals, including Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, Coordinator of Sundarbans and Sub-Kuls Protection Movement, Dulal Debnath of Bangladesh Environment Movement, Jubo League Leader Pradeep Dutta, Journalist Zakir Hossain, Joint Member Secretary of District Citizen Committee Ali Noor Khan Babul, Development Researcher Asif Iqbal, General Secretary of Women's Parishad Jyothsna Dutta, development worker Sardar Ghiyas Uddin Ahmed, Mahua Manjuri, Sheikh Afzal Hossain, President of Nature and Life Club Adv. Muniruddin, District Art Academy General Secretary Mosfiqur Rahman Milton, Nature and Life Club General Secretary Abdus Samad, Mahila Oikya Parishad Rupa Basu, Sangeeta Das, and District Citizen Youth Committee convener Salauddin Rana, among others.

Key Messages
During the civic gathering, speakers highlighted several pressing issues and concerns related to climate change:

Global Indifference:
Many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and China, were cited for their continued reliance on fossil fuels and the construction of new gas fields despite their commitments to combat climate change. This behavior was perceived as a sign of indifference to climate change mitigation efforts.

Political Posturing:
Big-power countries were criticized for their tendency to use climate change as a platform to assert their global leadership, even as they continued practices that contribute to climate change. They were seen as prioritizing their economic and military interests over meaningful climate action.

Call to Action:
The primary demand emerging from the gathering was a call to cease the use of fossil fuels and transition towards renewable energy sources to address the looming climate crisis. Specifically, coal usage was singled out for immediate cessation, with an emphasis on the inadequacy of gas and LNG as solutions to the climate and energy crisis.

Financial Responsibility:
Participants stressed the importance of discontinuing the financing of gas and LNG projects and called for the rapid and substantial allocation of climate finance to support climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.


Conclusion
The Global Day of Action and Fossil Fuels for Climate Justice event held in Satkhira City, Bangladesh, highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change and the need for decisive action to transition away from fossil fuels. It showcased a collective commitment to climate justice and a determination to hold nations accountable for their contributions to climate change. The event served as a platform for advocacy and a call to action, emphasizing the imperative of renewable energy adoption and adequate climate financing as critical steps toward a sustainable and climate-resilient future.
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