Thousands march across Wales to end climate change

By Dave Reid and Gareth Bromhall

Thousands across have marched to protest at the inaction of the world’s capitalist politicians to prevent catastrophic climate change.

Well over 1000 marched from Cardiff City Hall to the Senedd.

Socialist Party Wales and Socialist Students had large and lively contingents shouting “Our planet is not for sale” and “Socialist change, not climate change”.

In Swansea over 300 gathered in Castle Square, Swansea to protest against the inaction of world leaders at COP26.

Socialist Party Members and Socialist Students intervened boldly and in force, with our slogan of “Socialist Change to End Climate Change” being well received, particularly by the youth on the March.

Being the only organisation involved, literally flying the flag, for the need for socialist change clearly set us apart from other groups and this was reflected when several young people, upon seeing our material handed back other placards do take up our own. 

At the rally at the Senedd there were many good speeches but it was Socialist Party member Katrine Williams speaking on behalf of Cardiff Trades Council who put forward the most clear course of action to avoid climate change: “We need to nationalise all the energy companies so that we transition to fossil-free energy production, insulate our homes and transition to heat pumps instead of gas boilers.

“So instead of this Tory government giving £400m in subsidies to Shell and BP we should nationalise them and close down their fossil fuel operations.

“We need to nationalise steel so we can safeguard jobs in Port Talbot and transition to hydrogen-powered steel production.

“We need the Welsh government to nationalise public transport. Instead of subsidising the profits of Stagecoach, Arriva and First who then charge sky high fares we should use those subsidies to provide free public transport.

“And we can also pay a decent living wage to transport workers. We can show the bus drivers at Stagecoach and Arriva who kept public transport going all the way through the Covid crisis how valuable their work is by paying them a decent wage.

“So we have to say loud and clear that we support the bus drivers at Stagecoach and Arriva who have to take weeks of strike action to fight for just £10.50. We stand for a minimum wage of £15 an hour.”

_{This article was altered on November 6th to add details of the Swansea protest}