Due to the recent Daesh strikes in Paris, the French government has announced it will forbid large demonstrations connected to the international climate conference in November and December. European left-wing youth organizations find this decision shocking and demand the French government to allow these demonstrations.
Like questions of war and the dangers caused by fascist organizations such as Daesh, climate change is one of the most burning issues of the day. These issues are very much interconnected, as the chaos and poverty caused by climate change offer a basis for the operations of fascist organizations such as Daesh. As such, all effort is needed to find a binding, international climate agreement.
Climate change cannot be fought without a wide consensus and solidarity, not only among the political elites but also among the wider civil society. As left-wing youth organizations, we believe it is essential that the civil society is allowed to participate in the climate agreement process, not only through NGOs but also through demonstrations of public will for a binding, forceful climate agreement.
Fascist organizations like Daesh wish to create an atmosphere of fear and discord, where various governments would offer more tools for Daesh’s propaganda by limiting the essential civil freedoms of the people in their countries. Freedom of speech and right of demonstration are essential democratic values, and giving up on them would thus play right into Daesh’s hand.
We call on the French government to not only allow again and offer its utmost support to the climate marches, but also to guarantee the freedom of speech and protest during the coming months, as large decisions are made concerning not only the issue of environment but also the correct way to respond to the crisis in the Middle East and the issues of war and social control, Such decisions cannot be made without the right of the people to voice their opinion.
Vasemmistonuoret, Finland
Ung Vinstri Græn (UVG), Iceland
Unga Tjóðveldið, Faroe Islands
Federazione Giovanile Comunisti Italiani, Italy
Linksjugend Solid, Germany
Socialistisk UngdomsFront, Denmark
Νεολαία Συριζα, Greek
Νεολαία Συριζα lisätty allekirjoittajiin 10.12. 2015.