Climate March 12th November 2022

As part of the response to the COP 27 event in Egypt, groups around the world, including the UK, met to hold a Climate March on Saturday 12th November. Portsmouth was our nearest city and I decided to take part. This was my first Climate March and it was something I had wanted to do for a long time but, despite asking like-minded friends and members of various Eco groups, I have never managed to have someone to accompany me and I was not feeling brave enough to go on my own! However, since joining the Gosport and Fareham Friends of the Earth, and in particular the Trees and Bees group, I have met a great group of committed people who have made me welcome and who were also going to the March. I plucked up the courage and arranged to join them there. On the way I met people I knew from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, so I already felt in good company.
    As this was my first march I was unsure what to expect.  To be honest I had anticipated that there would be more people in Guildhall Square but nevertheless it was encouraging to see the passion and commitment of those attending. It was also good to hear a range of speakers and especially people from Sudan and Bangladesh, who are suffering at first hand the worst effects of climate change and yet have done the least to contribute towards it.
    Once the first speeches were finished we then marched from Guildhall Square up to the Commercial Road precinct and back again. I confess that I felt nervous walking through the busy shopping area as I wasn’t sure what reaction we would get from the shoppers, but it was nevertheless uplifting to be part of a group of environmentalists who want to see a change for the better, to save our planet from its current path of destruction. 
    Once we returned to the Square there were more speeches and a sterling performance on the Guildhall steps by the GFFoE group, who put on a King Canute play to emphasise climate change issues and its challenges, exacerbated by the attitudes of leaders and industrialists.
    It can be easy to become disheartened by the inaction of the world’s Governments in the face of so much scientific evidence about the harm that we are causing to the earth. As individuals we can often feel powerless. By taking part in the march I felt that I was doing something practical to voice my concerns. Seeing the number of people and groups who feel the same way and are battling to keep these issues on the political agenda was encouraging. If you have not been on a march before I encourage you to give it a go! The more of us who can show that we care the better.
​
Elaine Johnson

---