Dear Ministério do Ambiente e Ação Climática,
18.07.2023
Today with their last breath, Merpeople from Ocean Rebellion are delivered a letter to the Portuguese Environment Ministry to demand a meeting on water and ocean protection in Portugal. This comes as the world has its hottest June ever for land and sea, with ocean temperatures setting new highs for the third month in a row.
Ocean Rebellion deliver the letter to the Ministry
Ocean Rebellion has escalated and plans to escalate its nonviolent civil disobedience campaign over the year to put pressure on the Portuguese Government to take drastic climate action.
In March, the Merpeople lay dead on the urban beach steps of Terriero de Paco as part of the Water Day procession. Now the Merpeople are increasing their action by targeting the Environment Ministry. If the ministry does not respond to or meet the request for a meeting, Ocean Rebellion will continue to escalate their actions against them.
This performance is part of a series of events by the sister group, Extinction Rebellion, as it relaunches this month (As mentioned in the Expresso, Observador and Sapo).
The fate of the Ocean depends on us all.
Our interventions depend on your support.
In this action, Ocean Rebellion were joined by Extinction Rebellion co-founder Robin Boardman, 25. He says:
“We must rise up when our world is collapsing. It’s the only chance we young people have for a future. The Portuguese Ministry must meet our demands to create a habitable future. This is a national security crisis. The survival of the Portuguese state is at risk, the trinity of deadly drought, mass crop failure, and uninhabitable heat are upon us.”
Ocean Rebellion member, Ana Maria Valinho, a national and international aid nurse, adds:
“Portugal’s lack of water security is a national health crisis”
Ocean Rebellion member Danilo Morreia, a union leader and call centre worker says:
“We need a just transition that helps workers get out of high pollution seafaring industries”
Ocean Rebellion demands that the Ministry:
– Tell the truth about our dying oceans.
– To stop biodiversity loss, cruise/shipping emissions and deep sea mining by 2025.
– Have a Citizens Assembly on the water crisis in Portugal.
Extinction Rebellion is asking concerned citizens to join them in their nonviolent rebellion for an upgraded democracy. You can sign up to the Rebellion here.
The fate of the Ocean depends on us all.
We’ll let you know what we’re doing to help.
