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#ParisGoesBrussels bike tour with Eiffel Tower en route to Brussels - Parents for Future climate protectors call for compliance with the Paris climate agreement
Brussels/Cologne/Leipzig - The Eiffel Tower has already cycled 848 kilometres - through ice and snow, threatened by water cannons and carried by around 500 cyclists to date. There are still 220 kilometres to go. On Wednesday the 2-meter-high symbol will arrive in Brussels when EU policymakers meet - a symbolic activity by Parents for Future Germany, Parents for Future Global and many other climate groups to call for compliance with the Paris climate agreement.
From December 9-11 there will be several press events with the Eiffel Tower
(initial dates at the end of this press release)
"We have received overwhelming support from all over Germany," says Talina Sondershaus (Parents for Future Leipzig). Only 4 weeks ago the Leipzig local group came up with the idea for this tour. "Actually, we first thought that this wouldn't work, especially in Corona times. But then more and more people from all over Germany said, "Yes, I'll join you," says Sondershaus, who is also responsible for organising the route: "The people en route are totally dedicated to get the Eiffel Tower to its destination. They don't let rain, snow and track closures stop them and cycle until deep into the night."
In the Dannenröder Forest, the police threatened the Eiffel Tower and our cyclists with water cannons. As member of civil society this was a shocking experience, as one cyclist summarised his experience: "The 'Danni' was a revelation for me. I had not thought it possible that in the 30th year of German unification one would again cut aisles through the forest with barbed wire with grim-faced people in uniform. Never before anyone had pointed three water cannons at me setting umpteen helmet-wearers in motion."
Profit stands above people in this capitalised society," says Jada Kennedy (Youth for Climate), who will cycle the route in Belgium. "It's time to stop the polarising and unite with and for the people, for a liveable future", Kennedy explains her commitment to climate protection and #ParisGoesBrussels. Malte Kleinwort (Parents for Future Bonn) will also hand over the Eiffel Tower in Brussels: "The time for 'sunshine' policy is over!"
So far, around 500 cyclists have biked the Eiffel Tower with a lot of energy and commitment, and many more people have supported the organisation.
The core organisation team in Leipzig consists of twelve Parents, who plan the tour in a network with Parents from all over Germany and internationally – like all the other participants on a voluntary basis, alongside work and family.
14 daily stages
The longest distance between Limburg and Bonn was 136 kilometres. The last 6.5 hours had to be driven in the dark and in the cold. Arrival was only just before midnight.
Between Jena and Erfurt, more than 250 cyclists supported the action.
In compliance with Corona regulations, one cyclist rode the longest way in several routes from Leipzig to Cologne.
The onset of winter hit the tour in Eisenach, so that the Eiffel Tower and its supporters had to cycle through ice and snow for two days, partly on uncleared paths.
In the Dannenröder Forest, the police threatened the Eiffel Tower with water cannons.
Together with the Eiffel Tower, the 'Parents For Future Global's statement to the EU-Summit' is part of the luggage. It has been signed by 35 parent groups from 25 countries and will be handed over in Brussels. You can find the statement here: https://parentsforfuture.org/Make_Paris_Real
Start: November 26 in Dresden, arrival: December 9-10 in Brussels for the EU Summit
Thursday, December 10:
13:00 - 14:00: Meeting with German MEP Anna Cavazzini
17:00 - 18:30: Demonstration together with Rise for Climate close to European Council
Further meetings with EU politicians are scheduled or requested. We will inform you as soon as possible.
he Paris climate protection agreement is now five years old, and with Fridays for Future we as Parents for Future for more than two years have been calling for its consequential implementation to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
Shortly before the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Paris agreement by 195 countries, the European Council is meeting and will decide on the concrete climate targets for the EU until 2030. With the recently adopted EU climate law, the European Parliament has set a clear signal for ambitious climate protection - now the countries of Europe must follow suit and take a clear position: Implement the climate agreement at last! Make Paris real!
The bike tour is part of the global For Future campaigns #MakeParisReal and #FightFor1Point5.
Staging points of the bikers and further information:
https://leipzigfuersklima.de/en/projects/paris-goes-brussels/
https://leipzigfuersklima.de/presse/mitteilung-4623005
Parents for Future is a grassroots global network of parent-climate activists inspired by the Fridays For Future movement. It has worked for almost two years for intergenerational climate justice and collaborates closely with youth climate activists, supporting their demands. It envisions a healthy planet where all communities live in harmony with each other and nature. It currently includes hundreds of groups and thousands of parents taking grassroots action.
PARENTS AROUND THE WORLD STAND WITH YOUTH STRIKERS ON GLOBAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION
"You can't expect a mother to do nothing when their child's whole future is at risk."
Parents across the world will be joining youth climate strikers taking part in a global day of climate action on 25th September 2020. Parents from countries including Brazil, Nigeria, India, Australia, Poland, Israel, UK, and Germany, will be taking part in the day to support their children in the fight for climate action.
These parents are part of the Parents for Future Global network, which consists of 130 groups in more than 27 countries.
Rowan Ryrie of Parents for Future UK who is helping to organise a shoe strike action in Oxford on 25th September to visually represent the impact of the climate crisis on future generations said:
"We need brave leaders to act decisively based on scientific advice and to think long term - beyond the next election and forward to what legacy today's generations are going to leave to our children? I have two young children and my love for them is what motivates me. For the children of today and for all those yet to come we need to focus on the CO2 curve as well as the Covid curve."
In Brazil, parents are demanding that the Brazilian government urgently and effectively fight fires in the Amazon and the Pantanal and reverse the dismantling of the enforcement structure to combat illegal deforestation.
Clara Ramos, a mother of two kids, from Parents for Future Brazil said:
"Brazil has been evolving a lot in the fight against deforestation over the last 15 years and this process has been interrupted by the current government. This puts at risk the Paris Agreement, by which Brazil has committed to zero deforestation by 2030. The global strike is an opportunity to bring these serious problems to the attention of Brazilian society."
In Poland, parents are pushing for their government to declare climate neutrality, to move away from coal by 2030, stop deforestation and to take care of water resources.
Kamila Kadzidłowska, a mother of three kids, from Warsaw in Poland said:
"I believe that my responsibility as a parent is not only to take care of my children today, but also to care for the world in which they will live in 20... 40 years. This means putting pressure on politicians whose decisions nowadays have a key impact on the future of my children."
In Australia, parents are campaigning for a shift to renewable energy and an end to fossil fuels.
Leanne Brummell, a mother of one, from Australian Parents for Climate Action said:
"You can't expect a mother to do nothing when their child's whole future is at risk. Australia's plan for a gas led recovery puts the whole world in danger and there are many parents in Australia determined to ban fossil fuels."
Parents from Israel are also calling on leaders to do more for the sake of the next generation.
Chen Gazit-Naor, a mother of two from Parents for Climate Israel, said:
"The time to act is now. We want every leader in the world to take responsibility and start making hard, life-changing decisions: stop corruption and pollution. We need leaders who use their voice and advocate for climate and biodiversity and be part of the solution to help protect the children's future."
The day of action, initiated by Fridays For Future, will involve a range of Covid-safe forms of action adapted to the local situation and all focussed on calling for urgent climate action as part of Covid-19 recovery plans. The action that parents will take depends on their individual country contexts and includes protests in city centres and local communities, creative protests, individual actions, litter picks, letter writing initiatives, and school-focused actions.
Parents For Future Global are also encouraging online engagement with Olafur Eliasson's new project Earth Speakr, which enables young children to record their own messages and encourages adults to listen to the voices of children.
The parents are also hosting an online event on 24th September so that interested parents and journalists from around the world can hear first-hand about parent-climate activism. Climate parent activists from Brazil, Nigeria, India, Australia, Poland, Israel, UK, and Germany will be speaking about their experiences at this event.
PARENTS CALL ON THE EU TO SHOW GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ON GREEN RECOVERY FOR THE SAKE OF THE NEXT GENERATION
177 parent groups from 32 countries around the world call for courageous action in a heartfelt open letter.
As the EU Summit opens on June 18th 2020, 177 parent groups from over 32 countries worldwide have called on the EU to agree and fund a transformative green recovery package for the sake of the next generation.
In an open letter, coordinated by Parents For Future Europe, and addressed to the leaders of the European Council, European Commission, and the European Parliament, the parents say:
"Our children and future generations are facing an uncertain future due to the climate crisis and accelerating biodiversity loss. The COVID-19 crisis has exposed the dangerous fragility of global socio-economic systems, particularly in the context of a rapidly depleting ecosphere. Our socio-economic system must take a leap forward towards resiliency and sustainability."
In specific, European parents request the European Parliament "our elected representatives" to address the European Council and compel it to use this single opportunity to dedicate the stimulus funding to an ambitious and transformative ecological recovery, a true Green Deal. Stephanie Cunningham, mother of two, from climate-parent group Parents for Future Global/Italia says: "Equitable and sustainable development is possible and is a responsibility the EU institutions have to their citizens."
The letter points out that the money spent will become the "debt of our children" in addition to the "massive environmental debt" that they are already faced with. It calls on the EU to ensure that their Covid-19 recovery package is "an investment rather than another cost to our children's future."
As Christian Zauner, a father from Parents for Future Global in Austria, said: "We believe that the EU institutions have a responsibility to their citizens to promote a just and sustainable global development to secure the future of all our children. The EU's planned funding for the reconstruction of Europe after the COVID-19 crisis must be an investment in a viable, economically sound and grandchildren-proof future."
As well as being signed by 13 EU country parent groups, the letter has attracted signatories from parents' groups in 19 non EU countries who want to encourage the EU to take stewardship and believe that the EU is in a unique position to do so in a historical moment where democracy and internationalism is at threat. Such governance would send a clear policy signal not only to European, but Global markets, as the European Union is the second largest market in the world.
Amuche Nnabueze, mother of three from Sculptedbasket Project/Parents for Future in Nigeria said: "As a parent with great concern for the future of my children and their generation, in this part of the globe, it is really important that the EU take a positive leadership stance and adopt a real Green Deal at this critical moment in history. Although perhaps not expressed often enough, this is extremely important for us climate activists in Nigeria as well as the entire global south because this generation looks up to the EU and the global North for positive leadership that can inspire the rest of the planet to implement a sustainable recovery plan".
Flavio Queiroga, father of one from Famílias pelo Clima - Parents For Future, Brasil says:
"It's important that Europe, as a social and economically privileged society and the cradle of this very economic system, starts the inevitable change towards a new relationship between humans and the environment. A change that supports humans now and in the future, and allows other beings to live and prosper as well. Over history, Europe has been seen as a model by many cultures. Now, more than ever, we need its leadership for an equitable and sustainable future."
Of central concern to parents is Intergenerational Justice. If incremental changes are not made now, the result would be significantly more disruptive changes on the road ahead. "Given this, we are really at a crossroads and the road you choose will determine whether or not our children will enjoy a quality of life when life itself is at stake".