Paris Turned into Sea of Shoes in Protest at Climate Change Demo Ban
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Campaigners left an astonishing 20,000 pairs of shoes around the city on Sunday, in a symbolic nod to global protests taking place against climate change today before the UN climate change talks held in the French capital on Monday.
Climate change protesters in Paris have found a moving way to get round the city's ban on public gatherings after the terrorist attacks - by laying pairs of shoes in the city's streets.
The event, organized by non-governmental organisation Avaaz.org, is being held to symbolise the people who had hoped to take part in the gathering.
Amongst the countless pairs of ordinary shoes, there were also reportedly donated pairs from the Pope and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood.
Some actors and actresses also lent the protest a pair of their shoes, Mirror reported.
French artist Christo Lemeunier, 68, a volunteer for the shoe protest, said he wasn't surprised by the response.
"Suddenly there is imagination from people."
Several social media commentators have noted that the majority of the shoes are facing towards the Bataclan theatre- where 89 people were murdered by ISIL affiliated terrorists on November 13.
Earlier this week, UN chief Ban Ki-Moon told Canadian news that the attacks shouldn't detract attention from the summit taking place this week.