Thousands of indigenous people join climate change rally in nothern Bangladesh

More than three thousand people, the majority from indigenous communities (or adivashis) have taken part in a rally in Mymensingh, northern Bangladesh, to protest at the impact that climate change has been having on their native forest lands.

In a colourful parade through Mymensingh, many participants wore traditional costumes and were accompanied by musical groups playing flutes, horns and drums.

Participants carried banners criticizing industrialized nations, responsible for most of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions, for causing climate change and urging them to compensate poorer countries like Bangladesh for the negative impacts that had caused.

Others chanted slogans demanding the protection of their rights as indigenous peoples. Some carried banners highlighting the serious problem of landgrabbing of customary land by influential groups.

One main aim of this event is to highlight the problem that indigenous people are facing, said Michael Mrong, executive director of the Society for Biodiversity Conservation, one of the event organizers and participants.

Climate change is another big problem facing people here. Indigenous people live in forested areas and the forests are being destroyed by weather patterns, affecting their natural environment.

Climate change impacts these groups the most. Thats why they believe is so important for them to attend this event.

The climate change protest was organized by Oxfam and its key partner, the Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL), ahead of the United Nations conference on climate change in Poznan, Poland, next month

Its the latest in a series of large-scale campaign activities across Bangladesh to highlight how climate change is affecting individual communities.

In the last few years Bangladesh, already prone to cyclones and other weather-disasters, has seen an increase in the intensity and frequency of climate related problems. Changing conditions have meant weather-related disasters have become less predictable and more difficult to manage. A lack of information and resources makes it harder for the poorest communities to prepare or respond to increased hazards.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• climate
• change
• environment
• g8
• indigenous