ICOG call for active participation in the International Day of Environmental Struggle on November 16, 2024
November 11, 2024: Dear colleagues, The worldwide development of ongoing environmental destruction is alarming. Global warming has caused a climate catastrophe that has already brought immeasurable suffering to millions of people. Droughts, floods and hurricanes have increased to an unprecedented extent. Thousands lost their lives, as in Africa, Asia and the USA, and many lost their entire livelihoods.
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Over 200 deaths and major destruction caused by heavy rain and floods are currently being reported in the Valencia region of Spain. Automotive colleagues are accusing the regional government and employers. They warned people too late. Employers prevented workers from getting to safety in time despite the red alert that had been announced. We stand in solidarity with the tens of thousands of protesters.
Immeasurable environmental destruction with long-term poisoning and radiation are the consequences of imperialist wars such as those in Ukraine and the Middle East. One result of global environmental destruction and wars is the growing number of 120 million refugees worldwide. The accelerated extinction of species and the destruction of vast primeval forests threaten the existence of the entire human race. The recent world conference on this in Colombia ended in a debacle.
International traffic and the car industry are making a serious contribution to this development through their emissions. Instead of doing everything possible to reduce CO² emissions, leading car companies are sticking to the combustion engine. The switch to electromobility is necessary and practicable. However, this is only sustainable on the basis of renewable energies. In addition, private transport must be massively restricted and local public transport expanded at an accelerated pace.
In the intensified competition for international sales markets, the protection of the natural environment is being subordinated to profit interests.
Reactionary agitators and fascists trivialize the development and deny the transition to a global climate and environmental catastrophe. After Trump's election as US president, he will certainly withdraw from the global climate agreement.
The exploitation of raw materials such as lithium for battery production is being driven forward on a massive scale. In Loznica in Serbia, tens of thousands of people have already developed resistance to this.
It is time to act! Automotive workers and their families must take responsibility!
From November 11 to 22, 2024, the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan. We are taking this as an opportunity to raise our voices. There was a lot of talk about environmental protection at the last world climate conference. In fact, the meeting was used by leading oil and energy monopolies for their business. CO² emissions continue to rise. This is now continuing at the COP29 in Baku. That is why we are targeting the international monopolies, corporations and banks. Instead of ruthless exploitation and the burning of valuable raw materials, it is necessary to take all feasible steps in the fight against the global environmental catastrophe and its effects. However, this is not possible without the fight for a world without the exploitation of people and nature.
We call on automotive workers and their families to take part in this year's activities for International Environmental Struggle Day on 16 November 2024 and to organize further protests and activities themselves.
Come to Rotterdam in the Netherlands for the Europe-wide protest action on November 16. Meeting point 2 pm at the square in front of the central train station.
Long live international solidarity!
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