Hundreds of Yangon activists join Global Climate Strike

23 Sep 19 - Source: Myanmar Times - Hundreds of people marched in downtown Yangon on Sunday as part of the Global Climate Strike to demand that action be taken to address the worsening effects of climate change around the world.

At least 200 protesters gathered in front of Bogyoke Market and marched to Sule Pagoda and Maha Bandoola Park across from Yangon City Hall.

They carried signs calling for a concerted effort by government and business to deal with the global crisis, and urging the government to put a stop to big infrastructure projects, such as the Myitsone Dam in Kachin State, which could damage the environment.

"We have just mentioned some of the facts that lead to the climate crisis in our country," said Ko Kyaw Ye Htet, one of the protesters. "We plan to conduct a nationwide strike."

September 20 to 27 every year is recognised as the Global Climate Strike, the biggest campaign of its kind.

In Myanmar, more than 70 people have died and nearly 200,000 people have been displaced by flooding and landslides during this year's monsoon due to the worsening effects of climate change.

According to the global climate risk index 2019, Myanmar in the past two decades has been one of the three countries most affected by storms, floods, and heat waves.

Scientists warn that climate change will lead to more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, floods and other extreme weather.

Myanmar is a signatory to the Paris Agreement, a pact that was signed in 2016 within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and deals with greenhouse-gas emissions, adaptation, and finance.

At least three million people have participated in climate change protests that started around the world on Friday, according to media estimates.

​Source Link: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/hundreds-yangon-activists-join-global-climate-strike.html