Day 5, Let a Thousand Cancuns Bloom (12/7 Day of Action)

Simple is the opposite of the Thousand Cancuns actions coordination today. Just within Cancun city limits, 3 actions unfolded: a shorter outside march & die-in, a 6+ hour long outside march & People’s Assembly, and an inside press conference & rally to join the outside People’s Assembly. The US grassroots climate justice delegations of GGJ, IEN, Youth for Climate Justice, media team & funder group all had to choose which action to attend. Since I was one of a few with UN accreditation, I volunteered to be on the inside action, and thus assigned to be a spokesperson for GGJ. And the press conference panel line-up was stunning—heads of social movements from Brazil, France, El Salvador, as well as State ambassadors from Uruguay, Nicaragua & Bolivia, an indigenous & youth leader… plus me! And as soon as we finished our messages of international solidarity for climate justice, we headed out the door chanting “No no no no no REDDs, no REDDs”. It sparked the attention of UN delegates, the bored press, and the UN security team. Security guards escalated on us by yanking away our badges (so we can no longer go into the UN space) & hauled us away on a “special” bus that could have led to terrible places but turned out to be just outside the UN Cancunmesse building. So we reunited with the La Via Campesina long march—and I felt stronger to be outside with friends.