France: Sidewalk human chain proposed for route of banned Paris Climate march on Sunday

Activists announced this action in a media release (fr) on Tuesday 24 November, to get around the ban on marching declared by the French state. The state of emergency declared and then extended after the Paris attacks resulted in the French state prohibiting mass marches in Paris and cities across France.

Activists claim freedom of assembly is too important at this critical time of the UN climate conference when we have a climate emergency and citizens voices need to be clearly heard, despite the increased security and risk of terrorism. The coalition of organisations organising the November 29 and December 12 mass protests in Paris vowed to maintain their mobilisations although in altered form.

"The world that we defend is that of peace, justice, the fight against inequality and against climate change." declared the media statement.

The activists highlighted that if the prohibition was due to security, why ironically were sporting events and christmas markets still being held. Indeed in recent days a high level terrorism security alert in Brussels resulted in the closure of the Brussels metro, schools and universities with few people on the streets.

"The reality is that we are in a climate emergency." said the statement. "More than ever, civil society, for unity and solidarity, has the duty to hear the citizens' demands during the COP21. That is why we will be mobilized this Sunday, November 29th in Paris and other cities in France. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of people will march from Durban to Sao Paulo via New Delhi and London."

"For climate justice, and for peace, and also to help provide for the victims of the attacks, we will form in Paris a human chain on sidewalks between Place de la Republique and Nation on the Boulevard Voltaire through the Bataclan and Rue de Charonne."

"To all those who want to prevent us from expressing ourselves, we say with unity and solidarity we want to live together on a just and livable Earth."

In a symbolic action the Place de la Republic will be covered with shoes that symbolize the footsteps of those who were to participate in the march for the climate in Paris, but have been prevented by the state edict.

The statement outlines other alternatives for Parisiens to participate in the global marches on November 28 and 29th. These include using the march4me.org website, due to be available on Wednesday 25 November, to allow all those who can't march to be represented by others in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe. Organisers are also working on a common symbol that people can use to post in cafes and bars, in windows or to wear.

The human chain mobilisation comes the day before the UN climate conference starts at the Le Bourget conference centre on the northern outskirts of Paris.

John Englart (@takvera) and his teenage daughter are in Paris to report on the United Nations COP21 climate talks (including for Australian citizen journalist site Nofibs), and in particular what role Australia plays in those negotiations.