March in Copenhagen urging world political leaders to stop talking and act now. Credit: Nasseem Ackbarally/IPS

By Raúl Pierri

COPENHAGEN (IPS/TerraViva) – The sun came out in Copenhagen Saturday for the first time this week. But even though its rays were too weak to temper the bone-chilling cold, it shone brightly over the 5,000 people who braved the weather to participate in a demonstration organised by Friends of the Earth International (FOEI).

“Flood for Climate Justice” was the slogan that gathered activists from more than 20 countries around the world, and from a wide range of social, women’s, peasant and environmental organisations, along with dozens of young local people, who came out to voice their opposition to the carbon offsetting “solution.” Continue Reading

Via Campesina's Alicia Muñoz. Credit: Stephen Leahy/IPS.

By Daniela Estrada

COPENHAGEN (IPS/TerraViva) Chilean activist Alicia Muñoz of Via Campesina, the global movement of small- and medium-scale farmers, rural women and indigenous people, has been in Copenhagen for a week taking part in different activities in Klimaforum, the civil society meet held parallel to COP15.

“It is very clear to Via Campesina that we have to apply pressure for an agreement to be reached, because we know the negotiations are not coming up with positive results,” Muñoz, one of the few Chilean activists in Copenhagen, told TerraViva.

“The people cannot continue to pay for this problem,” said Muñoz, president of the National Association of Rural and Indigenous Women (ANAMURI) of Chile. “We are completely sure that this demonstration will have an influence on the world’s leaders,” added the activist, recalling the record of battles she says have been won by Via Campesina.