With at least 39 events planned across 20 countries just today – it set the tone for what promises to be a bold and beautiful week of climate action.
Here are a few highlights by continent:
Africa
There were marches in both Accra, Ghana and Douala, Cameroon to show the resolve of locals against the fossil fuel industry which is causing severe climate impacts to their lives and livelihoods. Citizens in Nigeria also took to social media to call for an end to Shell’s exploitation of its oil and people.
Ghanaian youth standing with the world in calling for a #FossilFree economy #GDMAfrica2017 @NAkufoAddo pic.twitter.com/Fnd3qtnbsx
— princepapa (@princepapa1) May 5, 2017
By abandoning fossil fuel investment, we will be saving millions of lives every year : Ghana #GDMAfrica2017 #GdM17 #fossilfree @350Africa pic.twitter.com/EH0BuV4OpP
— princepapa (@princepapa1) May 5, 2017
Meanwhile in South Africa the Global Divestment Mobilisation kicked off with a light display spelling out divestment messages near filling stations in the Sun Valley area. Students and staff at Stellenbosch University used today to start conversations about divestment across campus.
Local residents call for the City of Cape Town to divest from fossil fuels #350africa #fossilfree #climatechange #gdmafrica2017 pic.twitter.com/0TD1EMc191
— Jennifer Bruce (@jenbruce1) May 5, 2017
Australia
In Australia, the #StopAdani campaign set its sights on CommBank after persuading Westpac to rule out funding the giant coal mine. Hundreds of people turned up at CommBank branches in Canberra & Brisbane to divest from the Adani megamine.
Asia
In the Philippines, PMCJ actions kick off and run until 13th May, with the message: Coal Is Not The Answer – Divest From Coal Now!
Indonesia started out with a public talk in Jakarta to start building the foundations for a #FossilFree movement: “Clean, Safe, Renewable. Why Not?”
Acara livestreaming kami juga diikuti oleh penduduk Indramayu di tiga titik. | #energibersih #fossilfree https://t.co/MLhpmn9qkP pic.twitter.com/prtdEreB9w
— 350 Indonesia (@350Indonesia) May 5, 2017
The event was live streamed back to communities throughout Indonesia.
Nobar live streaming acara clean energy @350Indonesia di desa Mekarsari terdampak PLTU 2 Indramayu @walhinasional @Dandhy_Laksono pic.twitter.com/1EmIuN3t5o
— WALHI JABAR (@walhijabar) May 5, 2017
United Kingdom
Already today British divestment activists had a ‘Pyjama Party’ in Wolverhampton calling on the local council to ‘Wake Up and Divest’; local communities in Lancashire affected by fracking have called on investors to ‘stop destroying our communities’; and several other actions took place outside Barclays bank branches denouncing its role in financing fracking companies.
And the Quakers in Britain have announced 19 new divestment commitments from Area Meetings while 3 Church of England bishops and several clergy have written to the Church of England calling on them to make their pension #fossilfree.
3 Church of England bishops and clergy among signatories today calling for #fossilfree pensions from @synod https://t.co/ZK10DZs1mK #divest pic.twitter.com/zVVjcABJ1J
— 350.org Europe (@350Europe) May 5, 2017
Other events took place today in Aarhus, Denmark; London, UK; Uppsala, Sweden; Taipei, Taiwan; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Lausanne, Switzerland; Ibadan, Nigeria; Santiago, Chile; Alexandria, Egypt; Japurá, Brazil; Lisbon, Portugal and Madison, USA;