COCHABAMBA, Bolivia.— Yesterday, October 12, Cuban Minister of Foreign Relations, Bruno Rodríguez, highlighted Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez’s active role in the struggle against climate change, while calling on industrialized nations to take responsibility for ecological damage they caused.
”The philosophy of plunder must cease and the philosophy of war must end,” stated Rodríguez quoting Fidel during his speech at the close of the II People's SummitonClimate Change.
The Cuban Foreign Minister called on participants at the event, which began on October 10 in Cochabamba, to establish agreements centered on the importance of defending the rights of Mother Earth and the danger threatening the survival of the human species, if action to combat climate change is not taken.
According to Rodríguez the region “will not accept a new climate agreement which does not recognize the historic responsibilities of developed countries and transnationals,” and called on industrialized nations to pay their ecological debt.
Regarding the creation of the International Environmental Justice Tribunal in defense of Mother Earth, which will prosecute environmental crimes, he noted that the entity must be democratic and defend the rights of sovereign governments.
At another moment during his speech, Rodríguez denounced the fact that the Greater Homeland is facing threats not only from climate change but also national oligarchs, who are attempting to impose neoliberal policies on progressive governments.
He reiterated Cuba’s solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution, people and government of Venezuela and with President Maduro, leading the civil-military union.
The Cuban minister also expressed support for President Rafael Correa, currently facing destabilization attempts in Ecuador, noted Cuba’s solidarity with the people of Brazil and their leader Dilma Rousseff; with Bolivia’s petition for access to the sea; and with Argentina in its dispute over the sovereignty of the Malvinas islands.
Bolivian President Evo Morales recalled the arrival of the Spanish to Our America 523 years ago, intent on invading and plundering the region’s natural resources, which he noted, have always been defended by the people. Ecuadorian President, Rafael Correa, warned, “Ironically, the least polluting countries are the most concerned, while the biggest contaminators continue to implement their policies.”
If the situation were reversed, they would have invaded us a long time ago to demand compensation, he stated according to PL.
Likewise, Nicolás Maduro, President of Venezuela commented that only the conscience of the people will save the planet from the effects of climate change and selfish capitalism.
Maduro announced that his country and Cuba will establish a working plan for the period 2015-2030, in order to fulfill the 17 Sustainable Development Objectives outlined by the United Nations for the next 15 years.
For his part, Colombian Mayor, Gustavo Petro, called on social movements to establish a common platform to put pressure on world leaders during the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Paris at the end of the year.
The Second People's SummitonClimate Change took place October 10-12, with delegates from 54 countries participating in the event, during which the agenda drawn up in the 2010 edition was reviewed. Divided up into work groups, attendees also discussed the threats posed by capitalism to Mother Earth, the construction of “good living”, the struggle to protect the environment and the value of life.
The Declaration of Tiquipaya was approved during the event, which includes the creation of an International Environmental Justice Tribunal which is designed to observe, monitor and prosecute states which are destroying the planet.
