Philippines delegate Naderev (Yeb) Saño, announces his decision to go on hunger strike on the first day of the COP19 Climate Change Summit in Poland, 11 November 2013. Making an impassioned plea for action by the conference, he said that he would be fasting in solidarity with his country-folk until action to prevent climate change is forthcoming. Saño received a standing ovation after describing the hardship suffered by Filipinos, including members of his own family, due to the colossal typhoon Haiyan which recently hit his country..... ...He was agonizing over the fate of his relatives and had spent two days gathering the bodies of the dead. He asked people to sign a petition demanding progress and disappeared into the talks. About 200 people joined him on his fast. After seven days without food, on 19 November 2013, he surfaced from the negotiations for a photo call to find that the petition he authored on Avaaz already has 650,000 signatures. His words were Its a difficult time for the planet … we are deeply moved … I am standing here with hundreds if not millions of people … we are heartened … thank you … I am feeling well … I never used the word hunger … I dont think we should wait for the politicians … we need [to do] something urgently. Members of the delegation said that they are 100% behind him as he helped put the issue on to the world stage and many people supported him in his cause. A member said that Saño is always in high spirits and energetic. The goal of the said petition is to reach 1 million signatures which will be given to the negotiations at the international climate talks. He and climate activists are pushing for greater reductions in carbon emissions, as well as funds for countries vulnerable to dangerous climate change impacts. His petition has gathered support from major environmental organizations such as MoveOn and Friends of the Earth. American students from the Sierra Club, European activists and officials of major environmental groups like the Climate Action Network International have also joined Saño in solidarity. Ashok Chandwaney, a Sierra club delegate, said that Yaño “inspires us to act; we fast in solidarity with him, because thats what we can do. We ask those who make decisions about climate -- here at COP 19, back at the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and around the world -- to listen to him, summon their courage, and dial up their ambition for the work we must do. Saño is also a visiting lecturer at the College of Social Work and Community Development and a technical consultant at the Ateneo School of Government. Wiki youtu.be/7SSXLIZkM3E
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 15:32:56 +0000