MORE THAN 1,000 demonstrators formed a human hourglass on Sandymount Strand in Dublin on Saturday afternoon in an effort to send a message to the Government that time is running out for agreement on a new treaty on climate change.
The demonstration was organised by Stop Climate Chaos, a coalition of organisations including Oxfam Ireland, Action Aid, Christian Aid, Concern and Trócaire, among others.
The event was the biggest demonstration the coalition has organised since it was set up two years ago. It has promised to host bigger events leading up to a summit of world leaders later this year in Copenhagen aimed at finding a deal to replace the Kyoto accord.
Jim Clarken, chief executive of Oxfam Ireland, said Stop Climate Chaos hopes to stage demonstrations in other European countries with the help of partner bodies.
The outline of an hourglass was formed by people holding pieces of blue paper which were distributed in the Metro freesheet on Friday. Demonstrators on the inside of the figure, holding red sheets aloft, ran through the narrow gap in the centre, in a representation of sand running through an hourglass.
Participants held the shape for a few seconds and then scattered in all directions, representing the hourglass exploding.
“Ireland must play its part and show it is ready to do its fair share to tackle climate change,” said Garvin Harte, a spokesperson for the coalition. “Of the 190 countries in Copenhagen, Ireland will be one of the very few represented by a Green Party minister. Our message to John Gormley is, ‘Don’t go to Copenhagen without doing your homework. Bring us a climate law at home that would help Europe lead the way.’ ”
Clarken said climate change was going to have the most devastating effect on people in developing countries, and pointed out that there is evidence that those effects were already taking place.
He said the success of the demonstration, and the fact that members of the public took part instead of environmental groups, showed that Irish people were committed to combating climate change.
“The main aim of today was to put climate change at the top of the Government’s agenda,” said Colin Roche, policy and advocacy co-ordinator for Oxfam Ireland. “Climate change is a deeper, more serious, more urgent issue than the economic crisis.”
Ireland was not currently on track to keep to the Kyoto Protocol agreements, he added.
“Rich countries are dodging their responsibilities and focusing on what they can get away with in the negotiations, rather than on what we need to achieve collectively to secure a safe climate and a fair deal,” said Niamh Garvey of Trócaire.
Many people walking on the beach stopped to take part in the protest.
A teenager asked an organiser what the protest was for. “Stopping climate chaos? Oh, I agree with that!” he said, before joining in.