Climate change protesters 'die for earth'

A short march from Masjid Jamek to Daratan Merdeka rallying for policy reforms to curb climate change ended with some 100 people symbolically “dying” around a “dying earth”.

Under the afternoon sun, Klima Action Malaysia (Kamy) member Reza Abedi narrated the impact of climate change and its primary causes.

“A third of the world's soil is already degraded.

“Causes of soil degradation include chemical-heavy farming techniques, deforestation that increases soil erosion, and global warming,” said Reza, surrounded by the group who lay on their backs covered with placards.

At the centre stood their symbol of a dying earth - a person wearing a 'bloodied' shirt and face covered by a globe tainted red.

The person was chained to another individual wearing a similarly 'bloodied' dollar sign necklace that symbolises capitalist greed - attributed by the group as a major cause for environmental destruction - particularly through uncontrolled logging and land reclamation activities.

Photo: Kamy member Wong Chang Fu.

Another Kamy member Wong Chang Fu said the turnout today was a hopeful sign that more people could be made aware of climate change issues.

“Think about it like an ‘illegal pyramid scheme’ if you will,” he quipped in pointing out how one person could potentially share the message to hundreds of others.

“I am hopeful because our action has created hope for young people including myself,” he said.

Part of the group’s set-up today included miniature tombstone replicas mourning the recent deaths in Kuala Koh and Pasir Gudang, which were linked to impact of environmental pollution.

There was also a miniature tombstone in honour of Tam, Malaysia's last male Sumatran rhinoceros, which died on May 27 at the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary in Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Lahad Datu.

Earlier during their march, under watch by the police, the group highlighted their main rallying cry for action against a "climate emergency" in Malaysia and around the globe.

Among others, it was highlighted how rising temperatures has led to rising sea levels and there are currently parts of the world experiencing an unexpected heatwave.

Closer to home, the cool cloudy morning around Kuala Lumpur quickly made way to rising temperatures as the rally-goers gathered and peacefully dispersed at around 1pm.

Seen among the crowd were students, parents with children, the elderly and a passer-by tourist who noted that she had rallied for the same cause while in university 40 years ago.

Among groups that participated in the third climate change rally by Kamy include Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka Malaysia) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia. - Mkini