“A fossil fuel-free future is possible and we need to start now,” goes the rallying cry of around 400 cyclists furiously pedaling to bring that message across.
Cagayan de Oro cycling enthusiasts from all walks of life joined the Pedal for People and Planet campaign last Sunday. The three-stage event started at 6 o’clock in the morning from Rodelsa Circle to the Gusa Coastal Road, then to the Westbound Terminal and back.
Members of the Youth for Climate Justice-Cagayan de Oro (Y4CJ-CdeO) were on hand to volunteer their time and effort for this event.
“I am asking the local government of Cagayan de Oro City to support bicycling as an alternative mode of transport for students like me. We really need to put in place infrastructure like bike lanes and bike racks to encourage more people to use bicycles to go to school or even for work,” Lenin Amidala Corrales, a Y4CJ-CdeO member, said.
The third leg of the Asia-wide biking event calls on governments for a rapid shift to 100% renewable energy, with thousands of bikers in 24 coordinated bike rides in eight countries participating.
Here in the Philippines, there were participants in Metro Manila, Batangas, Camarines Sur, and Cebu City.
“The whole world must undertake a just and equitable shift to 100% renewable energy systems as rapidly as possible. All governments worldwide have to act now to make this transition happen,” declared Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of the Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development (AMPDD).
“We are here today to raise the call for a fossil fuel-free future.”
“Fossil fuel financiers justify (the) promotion of fossil gas as (a) transition energy and reliance on false technological fixes by citing various reasons such as the variability of solar and wind power, and the urgency to provide stable energy access,” Ian Rivera, National Coordinator of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), said.
“Such reasons have already been debunked by energy experts,” he added.
The APMDD has partnered with PMCJ in Mindanao to conduct this activity in Cagayan de Oro City and in Zamboanga City. The fourth and final leg of the Pedal for People and Planet for 2022 will be on November 6, this year with PMCJ Davao City also joining by then.
