Paris climate change conference

PARIS — There was a pair of shoes from Pope Francis and sneakers from the United Nations secretary general, Ban-Ki Moon. Most were from ordinary citizens, like Gloria Montenegro, a 65-year-old Parisian, who left two pairs.

All together, 11,000 pairs of shoes were on display in the Place de la République on Sunday morning in a silent demonstration – in place of canceled marches and other events – of support for action against climate change.

The installation represented “a collection of millions of steps marching toward the same direction,” Ms. Montenegro said.

But the meaning extended beyond support for the climate negotiations about to begin here on Monday and run through Dec. 11. For people like Ms. Montenegro, the shoes also represented her will to find an alternative way to be heard after the French government banned a march and other planned demonstrations in the capital in the name of security following the terrorism attacks on Nov. 13 that killed 130 people.

“The COP has changed,” Ms. Montenegro said, referring to the climate change conference. “It starts with an atmosphere that is not the atmosphere of freedom we usually find in Paris.”

The “Marching Shoes” installation was meant to show the commitment of French people on climate issues, said Emma Ruby-Sachs, deputy director of Avaaz, a global organizing movement that began the shoe collection.

The pairs, laid out side by side, were displayed near the 31-foot bronze statue of Marianne, the central monument of the square where flowers, candles and messages have been left in tribute to the victims of the attacks.

Some of the pairs were decorated with flowers, and others wore messages such as “Stop to ecocide” and, “If we have to fight for something, let’s fight for climate.”

Mr. Ban sent a message, too. “As the world gathers in Paris to stand up for climate action, let us also stand in the shoes of all the victims of terrorism, war and persecution,” he wrote on a piece of paper displayed next to his shoes.

The installation was one of several demonstrations organized worldwide after the French minister of foreign affairs, of Laurent Fabius, announced on Nov. 18 that the Climate March would be canceled.

CoalitionClimat21, a group of 130 nongovernmental organizations, started March4Me, a platform that allowed Parisians to connect with people abroad so they could march in their stead. Marches took place on Sunday in places like Berlin, London and Melbourne, Australia.

In Paris, Françoise Ploquin said shoes represented an appropriate symbol of sustainable development. “People should walk more, take the car less,“ Ms. Ploquin said. “We’d stop the global warming much more quickly and efficiently.”

The shoes were removed at noon, shortly before skirmishes broke out in the square between pockets of demonstrators and the police.

Structure of the Lead：

     WHO- People in Paris

     WHEN- 2015.11.30

     WHAT- Using shoes to protest

     WHY- Climate change

     WHERE- Paris

     HOW- Protest

Keywords:

1. ordinary 平凡的

2. display 展示

3. march 抗議遊行

4. against 反對

5. extend 提供

6. lay sth out 鋪開

7. nongovernmental 非政府

8. sustainable 可持續的

9. skirmish 小衝突

10. demonstrator 示威者