By Chuck Baclagon
Barely a week after the Eco Walk that gathered more than 3000 to the streets to demand climate action, communities again have taken the streets to declare that now is the time for energy transformation.
Climate change exacerbates every social injustice that has been and is being fought by a myriad of social movements for generations. On October 10, communities and civil society stepped up their climate campaigns by joining Reclaim Power, a collaboration of social movements, international networks, NGOs and grassroots organizers, working on every continent to highlight the connection between energy systems and climate change.
Pagbilao, Quezon: Laudato Si’s momentum is felt especially in places like the province of Quezon where again the church lead delegates from different parts of Quezon Province celebrated Mass and organized Eco-Walk for Climate Justice in Pagbilao.
Bataan, Zambales: Anti-coal communities picketed in front of the 140 MW Petron and the 600 MW SMC Coal Plant in Limay, Bataan.
Batangas City: The people of Batangas have spoken –-they do not want coal in their province. This was their call as they went out on the streets to rise up against coal and mining.
Cebu City: Philippine Movement for Climate Justice-Cebu take to the streets to make their call for drastic energy transformation known.
Davao City: Youth for Climate Justice Davao, together with Sanlakas Youth, support the fight for energy Transformation.
General Santos City: Hundreds of parishioners and community leaders from different parts of the SOCSARGEN Region gathered in Lagao Parish Church, to discuss climate justice and dirty energy.
Iligan City: Community leaders campaigning to protect Panguil Bay, in Iligan from three coal fired power plant projects that threaten to endanger the health and livelihood of the residents along its coast, light candles to call for cancelation of coal projects.
Students of Mndanao State University-IIT chapter during also used the opportunity to sign up pledges for energy transformation.
Lanao Del Norte: More than 30 youth from fisherfolk and farmer communities held a walk for the cancellation of coal projects in Mindanao.
Metro Manila: Climate activists lead by the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, swarmed to Mendiola to confer the “King Coal” Award to President Benigno Aquino III, for ranking as the highest among Philippine presidents in terms of coal projects ushered and approved which numbers to 59 coal- fired powered plant projects and a number of coal mining projects making it 118 all over the archipelago.
Tacloban City: As the rebuilding commences in Tacloban so are its conviction to demand climate justice as the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, Freedom From Debt Coalition and Sanlakas hold a public teach-in on climate change.
Western Mindanao: Anti-coal communities in West Mindanao hold a candle-light vigil for Reclaim Power.
Zamboanga del Sur: Sanlakas and Philippine Movement for Climate Justice-Zamboanga, distributed leaflets and other handouts while moving around the city to inform the people about the campaign.
Several mass actions were also held in 30 sites in provinces host to coal power plant and coal mining projects. While Indonesia also held Reclaim Power actions in Jakarta.
Jakarta: 350.org Indonesia with Walhi, JATAM, KruHa, Sawit Watch, AKSI, PUSAKA, Solidaritas Perempuan and MANUSIA (Indonesia Anti-Nuclear Society) gathered in a joint action for Energy Transformation.
The impacts of climate change challenges everyone to speak truth to power by reclaiming it in both the energy and political arena. The few hands that control power in terms of energy are also the same few hands that control political power in developed and developing nations alike to quench its deadly addiction to economic growth at all cost powered by fossil fuels that not only impacts the communities where they are extracted but contribute to greenhouse gasses that causes global warming, we only owe it to ourselves and to the future that we struggle now more than ever for climate justice.