On September 24th, the National YWCA of Korea participated in the ‘924 Climate Justice March’ held at Taepyeongno from City Hall Square to Gwanghwamun. Alongside nationwide YWCA activities called ‘RE100 Climate Justice Action’, YWCA Korea advocated the assertion, “We cannot live like this. Listen to the voices of young women in the local communities!”
During the 924 Climate Justice March, the YWCA Korea, together with more than 400 organizations and individuals totaling over 35,000 people nationwide demanded a just transition to overcome climate disasters, including activities from YWCAs in 12 regions such as Goyang, Ulsan, Bucheon, Seongnam, Sejong, Suwon, Uijeongbu, Incheon, Jinju, Jinhae, Cheongju, and Pyeongtaek. They called for discontinuing nuclear power and fossil fuel (coal-fired power generation) and expanding the use of renewable energy while urging the realization of care ethics amid climate disasters.
Following the main rally titled ‘Climate Disaster, We Cannot Live Like This,’ which took place from 3 PM, the YWCA Korea led a climate justice march from 4:30 PM, covering Taepyeongno, Gwanghwamun, Anguk Station, Jonggak Station, Euljiro-1(il)-ga, Namdaemun Market, and back to Taepyeongno for about 2 hours. Positioned at the forefront of seven out of ten divisions, the participants warned about the climate crisis during the march and conducted a ‘die-in’ protest lying on the road.
Prior to the 924 Climate Justice March, the YWCA Korea launched a nationwide campaign, ‘YWCA RE100 Climate Justice Action’, throughout September. This campaign aimed to encourage immediate climate justice by urging participation in the ‘924 Climate Justice March’ in the current context of facing summer climate disasters in South Korea. The campaign unfolded as a nationwide effort involving individuals, local communities, and the entire country.
The ‘From me RE100: Climate Justice Online Protest’ was an SNS campaign allowing individuals to voice their feelings about the climate crisis in their own lives. As part of the ‘September Climate Justice Action,’ the ‘Our Y Climate Justice Screen & Mic’ event featured the screening of the documentary “Eating Our Way to Extinction” by Otto and Ludo Brockway in 23 regions (Geoje, Goyang, Gwangmyeong, Gwangju, Gimhae, Namyangju, Namwon, Nonsan, Donghae, Sacheon, Seogwipo, Sokcho, Suncheon, Ansan, Yeosu, Ulsan, Uijeongbu, Incheon, Jeonju, Jeju, Cheongju, Chuncheon, and Pyeongtaek). The screening was followed by discussions with local residents on climate response.
Additionally, the ‘Local Y Climate Justice Press Conference’ saw participation from 10 local YWCAs (Gunsan, Gwangju, Namyangju, Daejeon, Mokpo, Busan, Seongnam, Incheon, Jinju, Pyeongtaek), conducting a press conference advocating climate justice.
Furthermore, the National YWCA of Korea designated the ‘924 Climate Justice March,’ where over 400 organizations converged in Seoul, as the ‘Korea RE100 Action.’ They declared their participation in the ‘September Climate Justice Action’ from youth, women, and local positions and announced the ‘YWCA September Climate Justice Action Participation Declaration.’ Through this declaration, the YWCA Korea demanded “effective carbon reduction through the discontinuation of nuclear power and fossil fuel use, a just transition in related industries, and the realization of care ethics amid climate disasters.”
The YWCA Korea, joined by 52 regions nationwide, aims to continuously and collectively pursue the climate justice movement to create a South Korea where justice, peace, and life prevail amid the unjust climate disaster era.
