In a statement, the movement asks society to “stop the normalisation of the violence of the climate crisis caused by Governments and companies”, recalling the recent floods in Valencia, Spain, as an example of the impact of climate change.
The objective of Saturday's action is to create a "massive popular mobilisation" to “dismantle the fossil industry and implement a transition plan based on social justice and that respects planetary limits”, say the activists.
According to the collective's spokesperson, Inês Teles, the holding, in Azerbaijan, of yet another edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) had no impact on Portuguese public opinion, nor on the government's actions.
“The trivialisation of the collapse is total, while Governments and fossil companies have carte blanche to expand their arsenal of carbon bombs, perpetuating attacks in a war against humanity and the planet", accuses Inês Teles, in the movement's statement.
COP29 has been marked by “empty discussions”, in the context in which a “climate denier” was elected president of the USA and the approval of the State Budget in Portugal which “treats the climate crisis as a footnote”, he further accuses the activist.
Saturday's demonstration, which starts at 3pm at Praça Paiva Couceiro, includes the holding of popular assemblies to discuss the issue, with the blockade of Praça do Chile expected to "break the catastrophic normality" in which the country lives and "make space in society for the urgent discussion that is not happening in the centers of power”, say the activists.
The ultimate objective is to discuss “how to act together in the face of the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced”, highlights the movement, highlighting that climate, environmental and social issues “are not only interconnected”, but “are, in fact, the same thing, and affect all people living in this historical moment.”