Global Day of #StopEACOP Action with Fridays For Future Nagoya

On 22 February, Fridays For Future Nagoya (FFF Nagoya) led the #StopEACOP protest in Nagoya City with speeches outside the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Nagoya Sakae Branch and Nagoya Branch and a march between the two. To describe this demonstration in one word: outstanding.

Attention to fill the information gap in public

It wasn’t just the red coveralls that stood out. Of course, the coordination was an excellent choice by the protest #StopEACOP, as the prominent color drew curious looks and earned the passing Nagoya population a chance to learn about EACOP.

Wednesday’s #StopEACOP was an international demonstration held in various cities around the world to protest the construction of the world’s largest crude oil pipeline, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). Held in four cities in Japan, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Sendai and Tokyo, this opportunity was important for the Japanese to learn about the accountability of Japan’s banks, as the pipeline is not known in Japan. While some Japanese banks have officially distanced themselves from the project, banks like Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and MUFG Bank (Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group) continue their association.

We talked about why there is a gap in the information in Japan before, that terms like EACOP and Matarbari are not more well-known. This was again reflected in the staff of the Mitsui Sumitomo bank themselves. The FFF members attempted to give out flyers in the bank, but were refused by the staff’s confusion about EACOP.

Outstanding youth leaders, contagious motivation

The passion of the FFF Nagoya members caught my attention too. You can’t help but feel invigorated when participating in FFF events. What doesn’t convey from the lack of numbers in Japan’s climate action photos is the positivity and hope for a better world. The protest held by FFF Nagoya is no different, with the climate action calls and speeches made with conviction. It is even somewhat mottainai that not more people could be inspired by it.

I am reminded again of the importance of FFF Japan’s presence. For sure, the climate actions the groups organize are crucial to raising climate crisis awareness. But the groups are also essential contact points for individuals who want to do something but often feel isolated or overwhelmed. And there is no barrier to participation, as FFF members are welcoming.

And while it might sound strange even to have to say it, the protest was fun! It might very well be the hallmark of Fridays For Future Japan, and one of the reasons why I think the fight against the climate crisis in Japan sustains.

Look for the next FFF event: 3 March Global Climate Strike!

This Friday, 3 March, the world will march against the climate crisis again, and there will be multiple events, protests, and marches around Japan. Check out out the newly established page on Fridays For Future Japan website, with the theme “The Climate Crisis can be stopped.” More details will no doubt continue to be added in the next few days. Do find your nearest FFF group to join on this Friday!

More about the climate crisis in Japan