Cali, October 20, 2024 . The traditional “Black and White Carnival” arrives at the COP 16 to decorate the ancestral traditions and exalt the regions, the territory and of course the customs of women, youth, peasant children, Afro-descendant peoples, indigenous peoples, environmentalists, trade unions, academics and defenders of nature.
All of them will carry out a carnivalesque plantón that represents the voice of the people who promote a change of mentality to protect one of the most valuable resources such as Biodiversity. This will be one of the points with which will open the historic green zone of the COP 16 that from Monday October 21 will put the capital of Valle del Cauca in the center of the global conversation on biodiversity issues.
Unrepeatable moments and scenarios at Green Zone
The launch of the Green Zone is scheduled to begin at 5 in the afternoon on the emblematic Bulevar del Río, on the stage known as 'Parima Farallones', located next to the La Ermita church. To this colorful display of the Black and White parade Blancos, in the middle of the musical rhythms of the caravan, the different social actors who are part of the guardians of biodiversity will be integrated.
Both parades, the Negros y Blancos Carnival parade and the Plantón Carnaval, will walk along the boulevard of the Cali River. Once they arrive at the Farallones stage, located next to La Ermita, they will be welcomed by the Minister of Culture, Juan David Correa.
Afterwards, the protocol ceremony will begin to give way to representatives of the national and local government, who will share with the public their perspective and what this Green Zone means for the World Biodiversity Conference.
Among the local and regional authorities who will accompany the opening of the Green Zone are the mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder and the governor of Valle del Cauca, Dilian Francisca Toro. After their speeches, they will give way to the reading and delivery of proclamations, a series of recommendations and specific actions that arise from the communities to strengthen their participation.
In this way, a document will be delivered to the Minister of Environment, Susana Muhamad, with the proposals and recommendations developed collectively, which are the result of previous consultations with organizations and grassroots leaders. These documents reveal the perspectives, concerns and concrete suggestions of the communities and provide different messages that revolve around the need to protect biodiverse ecosystems and promote sustainable development policies, as well as strengthen the participation of local communities in environmental decision-making.
The National Government, along other members of the local and regional government will preside the central act that welcomes the COP de la Gente in the Zona Verde, located in the Bulevar del Río in the heart of downtown Cali.
Cultural Exhibits at Green Zone
At the close of the event, a main show will be held. Different ecological and cultural events and artistic presentations will take place. The sounds of nature will begin to take over the place with 'nature speaks to us'. An impressive voice, through a powerful dialogue, will talk about what is happening on the planet, the urgency of taking actions that contribute to environmental care, and of course, the explanation of biodiversity as an essential pillar of our existence.
Then, the singer-songwriter born in the Colombian Pacific, Ikandra, with her powerful voice, will enter the stage and perform the Green Zone song and a song of her own. After this presentation, the lights of the seven districts will be turned on and the organizers will proceed to explain what each one consists of.
A children's show will accompany the lighting of the lights that will illuminate the flower of Inírida at the entrance of the Pacific district. At the same time the lights of the districts will meet at a focal point as a symbol of the unity of the Green Zone. Subsequently, a light show will illuminate the entire stage.
Finally and to conclude the great evening, the audience will be offered a show with rhythms, dances and colors of biodiversity with a surprise show, as well as a night full of music with a great concert with the participation of artists from the region, which will exalt the beauty of local music, mixed with urban sounds.