Climate Change March: How Pope Francis' Shoes Came to the March

Paris was to be the gathering site of thousands of protesters from all over the world wishing to join the call to the world leaders, who are meeting in the COP21 summit, for a strong agreement toward addressing pressing climate change issues. The recent Paris attacks, however, made a detour necessary for protest plans. In view of security concerns, French authorities decided to ban all large protests, especially in Paris.

Not to be deterred, protesters led by Avaaz.org organised an event of protest shoes, where donations of shoes by those who wished to take part in the rally were piled high at the Place de la Republique in Paris. Among the shoes in the pile are a pair that the Vatican sent to represent Pope Francis, who is on travels in Africa, and from UN Sec Gen Ban Ki-moon.

Although fears from the Paris attacks are still fresh in people's minds, the urgency of making a clear statement to global leaders that they ought to take stock and take global environmental degradation seriously weighed far more heavily. Pursuing protest through use of the marching shoes was both a relief and an inspiration to many. Christo Lemeunier, a French artist who volunteered for the shoe event, aptly says, "Suddenly there is imagination from people."

Avaaz.org campaign director Iain Keith says: "This is a way of symbolically and powerfully joining the climate march and each pair of shoes shows the determination of Parisians to have their voices heard on climate change."

Despite the ban in Paris, thousands still took to the streets and, on Sunday, tear gas exploded when the unauthorised protests took a violent turn.

New Zealand, Beirut, Brazil, Mexico and even Yemen joined the thousands upon thousands of protesters all around the world in a clear joint call for sustainable, responsible and bold solutions to rapidly increasing global warming.

Marchers in front of the White House held signs saying: "Preserve our home", "Don't nuke the climate" and "Keep it in the ground"(reference to fossil fuel).

Nepalese marchers also wished to be heard: "Climate terrorism ends here" and "Save our Himalayas."

UK protesters were joined by those who had intended to be in the Paris protests.

Netizens also did their fair share, including #ClimateChangeMarch and #COP21 on social media and YouTube's #OursToLose petition.

In late October of this year, personalities in the fashion industry had an early start with the People's Pilgrimage march across Brooklyn Bridge. The event was headed by model-activist Cameron Russell and joined by fellow supermodels Lily Donaldson, Bella Hadid, Toni Garrn, Grace Bol, Arlenis Sosa, Aya Jones, Stella Maxwell, and Barbara Palvin. Cameron's #RunwayToParis advocacy on Instagram and Twitter joins the many voices reaching out to COP21.