Thousands march in French cities to demand action against climate change

 

Environmental activists gather to urge world leaders to take action against climate change in Marseille, France, September 8, 2018. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

 

PARIS (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in France's main cities on Saturday to demand action against climate change and to show support for former environment minister Nicolas Hulot who quit in frustration over the government's approach.

 

Police said as many as 18,500 protesters took the streets in Paris joining a global campaign dubbed "Rise for climate" and a French one launched in support to Hulot who quit on Aug. 28. Non-governmental organisations estimated turnout at as many as 50,000.

 

Hulot said he felt lonely at the ministry. "Who would be efficient on his own? Where are my troops? Who is behind me?," he said in a radio interview in which he announced his resignation.

 

Thousands also marched in cities including Marseilles, Strasbourg and Toulouse.

 

The departure of Hulot, who was one of the most popular ministers, was a blow to President Emmanuel Macron, whose popularity has slid in recent weeks after a post-election honeymoon period.

 

Hulot's inclusion in the cabinet in mid-2017 was seen as a way to sustain the green image France had earned 18 months earlier by brokering the Paris Agreement to combat greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Macron, however, has watered down Hulot's initiatives on issues such as reducing reliance on nuclear energy and the banning of the weed killer glyphosate.

 

Opposition leaders such as former left-wing presidential candidates Jean-Luc Melenchon and Benoit Hamon joined the protests in Paris and in Marseilles.

 

Hulot himself has thanked supporters via his twitter account.

 

"Citizens gathering everywhere in France and in the world have the power to drive change for our children's future," he said on his twitter account.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-09

Must have been awful smell,French not famous for bathing habits.

3 hours ago, marko kok prong said:

Must have been awful smell,French not famous for bathing habits.

Guess who invented the bidet?

OK people we will all gather on one side of the world ,causing a slight change in the axis of rotating thus bringing the climate back to 1957.

58 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Guess who invented the bidet?

Was it invented for washing or to "get off" via water pressure ?

Just have a mass 'pray in' and god will fix it next week.

As soon as he has got around to forgiving all the priests who have been enjoying little boys, oh, hold on, that's going to keep him busy for quite a while.

Or next week at a set time all around the world everybody can shout  go away nasty plastic and global warming.

??

Edited September 9, 20187 yr by overherebc

5 hours ago, marko kok prong said:

Must have been awful smell,French not famous for bathing habits.

That may be true but think how much they save the planet on not having to heat hot water compared to us super clean Brits

Poor French sheeple. The shepard elite dogs do a 'great' job. Of course the shepard looks the other way as usual.

1 hour ago, Esso49 said:

That may be true but think how much they save the planet on not having to heat hot water compared to us super clean Brits

The big thing I miss when travelling out of Thailand is the 'bum-gun'

 

The French should quit making perfume, those pigs make a lot of methane, also maybe the wine industry is at fault. Hmmm, Oh quit driving cars and trucks, buy electric.    Oh and please stop it with those forest fires as that does not help at all.

Sarcastic Geezer

22 hours ago, marko kok prong said:

Must have been awful smell,French not famous for bathing habits.