About 1,000 citizens joined a massive rally here to demand the country ‘Break Free’ from fossil fuels and shift to renewable energy.
It was organized as part of Break Free, a global wave of people calling for an end to dirty energy. It was the first of its kind held in the country. Various events have taken place in over 40 countries around the world.
“There is little chance for citizens to have a say, especially about the environmental,” Yeon-ju Seo, a mother of a nine-month-old girl from Gyeonggi Province, said. “Climate change isn’t just a problem of an individual, city or a country, but it matters to all of us. That’s why I decided to stand up together with other people.”
Greenpeace activists create light paintings in front of the Dangjin Coal Power Plants.
Participants gathered from all over the country like Seoul, to strongly oppose the government’s plan to build two more coal-fired power plants in the city, which already has 10 units of them. Their total capacity stands at 6,040MW, the world’s largest coal plant.
Dangjin Citizens, united against fossil fuels, holds a massive banner. The banner reads, “Stop the Coal”.
Politicians as well as representatives from the event’s co-organizers gave speeches at the rally, denouncing the expansion of coal-fired power plants. Jennifer Morgan, the Executive Director of Greenpeace International, also joined them through a video message to participants.
The event was co-organized by Dangjin Citizens’ Commission Against Power Line & Coal-Fired Power Plant, Greenpeace, Korea Federation for Environmental Movement, GEYK, and 350.org East Asia