Grassroots Global Justice Alliance joined the MST (Landless Movement), La Vía Campesina, and other social movements from Brazil and across the world in the streets of Rio de Janeiro yesterday to protest the theatrics of the UN Rio+20 Summit that officially kicked off yesterday. The march lasted into the evening, and turn out was estimated at anywhere from 50,000 to 80,000 people who came out to reject the “green” economy and call out big companies and banks like Monsanto and Cargill for their collusion in the climate crisis, and to call for solutions that cool the planet. Keep a look out on the GGJ website and blog for more photos and reports.
In the morning, GGJ also marched with La Vía Campesina, the World March of Women, Friends of the Earth, local Brazilian community groups and indigenous representatives from across the country attempted to deliver demands to the UN Summit. The march was met with a wall many layers deep of cops in full riot gear, tanks and helicopters, and managed to close the main road to Rio Centro and force participants to enter through a side route. To show solidarity with local communities, the march went through the Autódromo neighborhood, which is located directly next to the site of the UN summit, and is facing threats of displacement for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Stay tuned to the GGJ website, blog, and Climate Connections for more photos and reports.