By AFP - Agence France Presse
Left-wing voices want to be heard at G20 summit in Rio
Rodrigo ALMONACID
Che Guevara is seen in a printed T-shirt worn by Miguel Hernandez as he walks through the streets of Rio de Janeiro, where left-wing activists hope to make their voices heard at the upcoming G20 summit.
Hernandez, a 33-year-old Venezuelan who campaigns for human rights and the environment, was in the city in response to a call from Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for civil society to speak out ahead of the summit that will take place on Monday and Tuesday.
“The movements are discussing what caused the whole climate crisis: industrial development, capitalist development,” he said.
“They are looking for proposals to stop or control” these problems, he said.
Lula, who grew up in poverty, is advocating a Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, which he will officially launch at the summit on Monday.
Before that, he will take part in Saturday's closing session of the three-day G20 social event that his government has organized in Rio for 40,000 activists in an open-air square not far from where the summit will be held.
At this closing session, Lula will receive a document with the demands formulated by civil society groups with the idea of integrating them - or at least the issues - into the final declaration of the G20 leaders' summit.
- Fear of Trump
The issues addressed are as diverse as the faces and voices speaking out on them at the Social G20.
“It's very important to know that we are being heard in some way,” said Maiara Viana, a 25-year-old teacher.
Indigenous peoples, black communities, students, trade unionists, young people from Brazilian favelas, and LGBTQ activists spent days debating a range of topics, including strategies to confront racism, inequality, and imperialism, as well as protecting access to water and gender rights.
The evenings of the G20 Social were dedicated to vibrant music festivals.
“I hope that everything we have approved will be taken forward and carried out because we have come to debate, listen, and address issues that are important for society,” said Claudio Oliveria, a 62-year-old security guard.
Although the atmosphere was colorful and varied, many were alarmed by what they saw as a short-term threat: the return of Donald Trump as US president within two months of his election victory.
Trump ran a campaign of climate change skepticism, trade protectionism, opposition to what he considered a “woke” gender policy, and distrust of international organizations.
“There's going to be a very big change,” said Elisangela da Silva, 45, who works in urban agriculture in northern Brazil. “We'll see how it goes, but I don't think good things will come of it.”
“We're a bit on our guard, but in the face of any kind of threat, we'll also step forward,” she said.
raa/rmb/sst
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