Jakarta – Dozens of environmental activists grouped under the Alliance of Earth Our Home held a street rally on Saturday
in the North Sumatran provincial capital of Medan to call on world leaders to take action to save the earth from climate change, the impacts of which have been felt by millions of people worldwide.
"We represent members of 48 organizations in North Sumatra. We hope that the world leaders who are meeting [in Paris] will be able to make a decision for the future of our earth," said Saurlin Siagian, one of the activists as reported by tribunnews.com.
Equipped with banners to voice their aspirations, the protesters marched along the streets of the city. The banners featured statements such as "Act for the Earth; Voice for Reform".
Participants of the demonstration included green activists, faith-based representatives, youth organizations and local residents.
Representatives of governments from across the world have gathered in Paris since Nov. 30 for the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, COP21. The meeting is expected to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on the climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 20C.
Environmentalists say that climate change is the greatest existential threat faced by humanity and have blamed it for various phenomena including bad weather, disease outbreaks and the loss of small isles. (bbn)