Cuban leader, Joel Suarez, said to Real World Radio “We hope this becomes a space to join people from local churches, villages, organizations and everyone who is realizing the problems we face and wants to join our struggle.” The member of the Martin Luther King Center from Cuba and the Coalition of Popular Movements from the Americas (COMPA) hopes that this new platform can join their work with that of other social movements and organizations.

He made reference to Friends of the Earth International, the World March of Women, Jubilee South, Via Campesina, the Hemispheric Social Alliance and COMPA itself, organizations that agreed to build a movement to combat climate change, and that is the reason why they are in Cochabamba.

With reference to the Conference which is being held in Cochabamba, Suarez highlighted that the main political message raised is that capitalism is the fundamental cause of the current crisis. “Despite political, geographical and sectoral differences, the movements agree in that the problems we are facing are related to the predatory nature of the capitalist system, and as indigenous people and feminists would say, a racist and xenophobic nature as well”, he said.

He also stated that we cannot expect much from the multilateral spheres like the UN and governments, because of the weight of the influence of developed countries in official conferences on climate change.

Suarez added that Cochabamba is reaffirming the need for popular mobilization to pressure the decision makers. “We have to mobilize people”, the Cuban leader said.

Several social movements and organizations working together to combat climate change also work with ALBA governments, especially Bolivia, to join forces.

The Cuban activist also made reference to the relationship between movements and national governments. “It is inevitable that if we want to save the Earth we should try to sit at the table with everyone. We have to be patient, we have to listen to each other, accept our differences, but let´s not think that everything is nice here, there are conflicts”. “However, we have to move forward, try to reach agreements, even though small ones”, the leader concluded.

Joint production between Real World Radio and Radioagencia Noticias do Planalto.

Photo: RMR/RNP