operation punch of environmental activists at the summit “Save the common good”
Activists from the ANV-COP 21 disrupted the summit “Summit of the common good” on May 19, organized by the Toulouse School of Economics. They intended to point out the “green marketing” of large companies invited to express themselves on climate issues.
The operation was obviously well prepared by activists from the ANV-COP 21 (Nonviolent Action Cop 21) and Extinction Rebellion, an organization for the preservation of the environment. Their goal: “Common Good Summit” organized over two days by Toulouse School of Economics at Toulouse Capitole 1 University. Among the guests, two Nobel Prize winners, including the economist Jean Tirole. But also, representatives of large groups such as ExxonMobile, BNP Paribas or Amazon. From the beginning of the round tables, the activists intervened to denounce what they support as “greenwashing”, understand green marketing.
Among the companies targeted, ExxonMobile. Its President for Europe being invited to speak at the summit. According to the ANV-COP 21 press release, activists “targeted the lobbying activity of the company, which has invested colossal sums to defeat bills aimed at limiting greenhouse gas emissions. They also limited the hypocrisy for an oil company of claim to achieve carbon neutrality while having a fossil fuel extraction activity.
Mireille Bruyère, teacher-researcher and economist at Jean-Jaurès University, participated in this punch operation. For her, things are clear: “It’s greenwashing (green marketing), it’s a communication operation with the collaboration of the TSE. It allows large companies which are champions in terms of global warming, to explain that they are doing everything “it is necessary for the ecological transition. The purpose of this action is to point out this lie. The measures they are putting in place are anecdotal, while they will continue to warm the climate. It is a double discourse that we denounce. It it is absolutely necessary to decrease, to produce less, to relocate. Obviously, all this goes against these big companies whose raison d’être is to make a profit.”
At the beginning of the afternoon, around fifty activists gathered in front of Congress to continue to state this summit, synonymous for them with “greenwashing”. The rally ended with a “die-in” (mevent consisting of lying down on the public highway while simulating death) and in peace.
But the activists did not stop there. Tags have been inscribed on the facades of the Toulouse Capitole 1 University. As evidenced by this tweet from the Extinction Rebellion Toulouse association.
At the time of publication of this article, the organizers of this summit have not reacted definitively to this operation. Neither on the Toulouse School of Economics Twitter account nor on its website.