Paris Blog 3: The 'marching shoes' and calls for climate justice

Cardinal Hummes with campaigners by the shoe display

The mood in Paris today was tense on the eve of the UN Climate talks - COP21. The Paris climate march was banned by the French authorities in the wake of the terrorist attacks two weeks ago, but there were lots of whisperings these past few days that somehow all the those climate campaigners who travelled to Paris especially for the 29 November global day of action would somehow have space to voice their plea for climate action.

The Columban JPIC group of myself, Fr Charles Rue and Julia Corcoran decided to follow up on a whisper - you couldn't call it a firm plan - to go to Boulevard Voltaire where campaigners might just be lining up between 1 and 2pm and standing quietly while holding hands. A silent protest with no banners might be allowed by the police. Well, it was tolerated by the police to a point. When we emerged at 12.30 from the St Ambroise metro on the Boulevard Voltaire, opposite St Anselm's Church, the line up was already in place. We could see placards as far down the road as the eye could see in both directions and several brass bands playing. It was an exuberant gathering of around 10,000 people on a cold day. In fact, there were plenty of banners and chanting, with waves of cheering moving along the line, directed by cyclists. It was a relief not to feel the frustration of missing out on the day of climate advocacy. And there was little the police could do with so many people passionate about their cause without the danger of escalation.

We walked towards Place Republique to choose a spot, and to seek out the display of shoes representing those who would have liked to march in Paris, when the mood was suddenly tense and riot police appeared from side streets. In fact we were opposite the Bataclan club amidst masses of flowers and tributes to those killed on its dance floor, and there was a sudden appreciation of the mood in Paris since the killings, especially with so many heads of state arriving in the city for COP21. The police eyed closely some groups who had started marching but generally appeared to resist stepping in. Police officers were even down in the subways ready to go into action quickly, but restraint was shown. Yes, there was some teargas fired later in the afternoon and some arrests made but don't let the media tell you the day was all about conflict between climate activists and police. It was localised and involved a tiny group of the most militant protestors.

In Place de La Republique free and hot vegetarian food was offered to climate campaigners by amazingly friendly people, and of course, there was the exhibition of the 'marching shoes' to view. This was a display of more than 10,000 pairs of shoes donated by Parisiens after the cancellation of the Paris climate march as a symbol of all those who wanted to march in Paris but could not. Pope Francis agreed that a pair of shoes bearing his name should be in the display, alongside those of his close friends Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, President of the Pan-Amazonic Church Network, and Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. One tiny shoe tied around a lamp post said, "Please secure my future."

The event was supported by the Global Catholic Climate Movement and Cardinal Hummes laid his shoes in person this morning. This initiative was a silent and powerful statement against violence, for the upcoming Paris Climate Summit is, in a sense, a peace summit -- perhaps the most important peace summit that has ever been held. We need global solidarity more than ever right now, and that is, really, what this movement is all about. Even as climate change fans the flames of conflict in many parts of the world -- through drought, flooding, displacement, and other compounding factors -- a global movement that transcends borders and cultural differences is rising up to confront this common threat.

The exhibition in Paris was one of more than 2,300 events in 150 countries around the world as part of the Global Climate March on the eve of the Paris climate talks. Let's hang on to that solidarity and love as the negotiators get down to business tomorrow. Let's keep COP21 in our prayers these next two weeks.