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The Federal Assembly, Switzerland's highest political body, will be directly informed by scientists in a dialogue on the challenges of the climate and environmental crisis. This was announced this morning by the President of the Parliament, Irène Kälin, who invited all MPs to participate in a day specially dedicated to the issue on May 2^nd 2022. This is exactly what Guillermo Fernandez has been asking for 39 days: this Swiss citizen, father of three, has been on hunger strike since November 1^st to obtain such a commitment from the Swiss authorities. He welcomes this decision "with the hope that it will finally open a real space for discussion in Switzerland and support the ability of politicians to take courageous decisions for the future of our children". He will gradually start feeding again and is preparing for long-term action.

Bern, December 9, 2021

(Press release from the Parliament and the Academy of Sciences: here)

Guillermo Fernandez made his request on 1 November in a letter to Simonetta Sommaruga, Minister of the Environment, who never replied. The Parliament, which started its winter session on Monday 29 November, took the step this morning: its President Irène Kälin invited the Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences (SCNAT) to organise an information and discussion session for the members of the Parliament on the challenges of the climate and environmental emergency. Swiss scientists who are experts in the field and who have contributed to the drafting of international reports will be in charge of this event, the first of its kind in Switzerland. It is scheduled for May 2^nd 2022, between the spring and summer sessions of Parliament.

Members of Switzerland's highest political body will thus be able to seize the opportunity to update their knowledge on the subject, with the aim of strengthening their capacity to better understand the true dimension of the crisis and its stakes, and to take the necessary measures so that Switzerland can meet the commitments it has made in the framework of the Paris agreements, which it is far from meeting. After 39 days of fasting, Guillermo Fernandez, who has lost more than 20 kg and is very weak, said he was happy with the decision: "The scientific facts clearly indicate that we are sending our children into 'a hellish future', to use the exact words of UN Secretary General António Guterres. Many parliamentarians do not seem to be aware of this terrifying and urgent reality. Now we will know that they know. Whoever knows and does not act to save our children is not legitimate in deciding our future and especially not that of our children. “

26 Swiss-based scientists, members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), recently co-signed a letter in support of Guillermo Fernandez's request, stating that they "all agree that directly informing the Swiss Federal Assembly and Government of the scientific evidence of the unprecedented scale and severity of the climate and biodiversity crises we face is a reasonable request that should be honoured." They further propose to "continue a sustainable dialogue."

Based on the announcement made this morning by the President of the Parliament, Guillermo Fernandez decided to end his hunger strike and take time to recover his strength, so as to continue his long-term commitment to the climate and ecological cause as soon as possible: "The exposure of the truth to the Parliament by scientists is a crucial first step. The population will have to face existential challenges. They will demand that our political class assume its grave responsibilities with courage and generosity. I continue the struggle with all the living souls who care about the future of humanity, with courage, love and hope.”

Interviews: Mr Fernandez (French, Spanish, German, English or Italian)

Contact: media@fernandez-guggisberg.name | +41 77 443 96 21 | #PapaOnHungerStrike

Media resources: https://sites.google.com/fernandez-guggisberg.name/climate-terror/media

Dear international journalists,

In Switzerland, Guillermo Fernandez, a 48 year-old father of 3, has been on hunger strike for the last 29 days in front of the Parliament in Bern.

His demand: Addressing the Minister of the environment Simonetta Sommaruga, Fernandez demands the whole Parliament get a compulsory public training about the climate and ecological crises, given by scientists of IPCC, IPBES and other expert bodies, including the ministry's own offices (see his full demand here). Fernandez has vowed not to eat until such a training is scheduled, and is ready to die over this. In his own words: "I ardently desire to live, but to protect my children's future, I am ready to die."

Ignored by the authorities. This father of 3 has been wasting away for one month now on the doorstep of Swiss political power, with no official reaction from the authorities, neither about his demand nor his ordeal.

IPCC and IPBES make a stand for him. Today, Swiss-based authors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) released a joint open letter to the media, the Parliament and the executive, supporting Fernandez' demand and offering to organise such a training immediately. They conclude:

"Swiss climate policy and politics are admittedly insufficient and not in line with the long-term temperature goal agreed to by ratifying the Paris Agreement, and Guillermo Fernandez is already in his fifth week of hunger strike."

Letter available in English, German, Italian and French here.

A critical political window. Switzerland has a so-called "militia system" where politicians only work part-time and are therefore potentially even less informed than those of other countries. The Parliament sits only 4 times a year, for 3 weeks. Today was the beginning of their winter session, to last until December 17th. It is therefore a critical moment where the fate of Guillermo Fernandez and his demand might be decided.

Fernandez' life in their hands. Fernandez has already lost 16.3 kg. His morale is good thanks to the heart-warming public support he's been receiving. But while his health is good so far, major health accidents potentially resulting in death will start to be real possibilities around Christmas, and cannot be ruled out before that.

Guillermo is a lovely and eloquent man, he's easy to talk to and available for interviews on the phone or Zoom in English, French, Spanish, Italian and German.

MORE INFORMATION

• Fernandez’s website

• Social media (Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Insta)

• Previous press releases

• His petition

• Photos

• Please send media requests to Ana at: media@fernandez-guggisberg.name or +41 77 443 96 21

Switzerland / Bern / Bundesplatz, 17 November 2021

Almost 300 people gathered in Bern, the Swiss capital, in front of the Parliament, on Saturday 27 November for a candlelight vigil in support of Guillermo Fernandez. This Swiss father of three has been on hunger strike for 27 days. While the risks to his health are increasing considerably and he has put his life in the hands of Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga, Head of the Environment Department, Fernandez continues his action and has still not received any official reaction from the authorities. Noting that Swiss politicians are not educated to grasp the stakes of the climate and environmental crisis and take the necessary measures, Fernandez is calling for Parliament to receive mandatory training from scientific experts. He has vowed not to eat again until his demand is met and is prepared to die for it.

As on every Saturday since the beginning of November, at 4.30 p.m., a crowd gathered on the Bundesplatz in Bern to show their support for Guillermo Fernandez. While there were only a few dozen people at the beginning of the month, there were already 130 last Saturday and almost 300 this afternoon, coming from all over Switzerland.

The mobilization is getting organized and strengthen around Fernandez, and individual initiatives are multiplying, while the authorities have not even seen fit to give a simple acknowledgement of receipt to his request. The request is very simple: Noting the inability of the political spheres to define an action plan to tackle the climate and ecological crisis, despite the alarming reports of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), the IPBES (Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) and the WMO (World Meteorological Organisation), Fernandez is asking that the Swiss parliament be given compulsory training on the subject by the scientific experts who authored these reports, as well as by experts from the federal offices concerned. He also asks that this training be disseminated to the Swiss population.

The failure of the Glasgow Climate Conference (COP26), which ended on 13 November with no commitment from the main players to eliminate fossil fuels in the long term, makes Fernandez's request even more relevant and urgent. Faced with the failure of this conference, Ms Sommaruga said she was "angry". Yet she has not given Fernandez any response to his letter, which he sent on 1^st of November, putting his life in her hands.

The stunned silence of Sommaruga and the Swiss authorities only reinforces the feeling that the Federal Council and the Swiss Parliament are not fit to deal with the climate crisis and that, as Parliament prepares to begin its winter session, the time has come for Fernandez's request, who said: "I long to live. But to protect the future of my children, I am ready to die", should be granted without further delay.

Fernandez is available for interview requests in French, Spanish, German, English or Italian.

Contact: media@fernandez-guggisberg.name - +41 77 443 96 21 - #PapaOnHungerStrike
Media resources: https://sites.google.com/fernandez-guggisberg.name/terreur-climatique/news-medias.

To know more about #PapaOnHungerStrike:

• Fernandez’s website

• Social media (Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Insta)

• Previous press releases

• His petition

• Photos

• media@fernandez-guggisberg.name

• +41 77 443 96 21

Swiss father of 3 Guillermo Fernandez is on his 26th day of hunger strike in front of the Swiss Parliament and has still received no official reaction from the Federal authorities. Fernandez demands the Parliament get compulsory training on the climate and ecological crises directly from scientists. He vowed not to eat until his demand is met, and states he is willing to die over this.

Swiss father of 3 Guillermo Fernandez began a hunger strike on November 1st in front of the Swiss Parliament in Bern.

He’s asking the minister of the environment, Mrs Simonetta Sommaruga, to convene the Parliament so they receive in-depth training about the climate and ecological crises from scientists of her own Federal offices, as well as from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The training should also be filmed and broadcasted for the benefit of the Swiss public.

Fernandez has stated he is ready to go to his death over this demand.

“I ardently desire to live. But to protect the future of my children, I am ready to die.”

He says he has never been an activist, nor part of any party nor movement, but “When I read the conclusions of the last IPCC report, which came out on my daughter’s birthday, I felt my soul shatter. I suddenly could picture what her future will look like if we do not turn things around, and it was Hell. I decided to do anything in my power to stop that.”

The authorities have not reacted to his hunger strike so far. The minister visited him informally on Parliament square on November 17th to share a cup of tea, but they discussed superficial matters and neither his demand nor his hunger strike.

In the meantime, Fernandez has received visits from several IPCC authors, Nobel Prize Jacques Dubochet, and religious leaders, who expressed support. Mobilisation is growing around him, with candlelight vigils taking place every Saturday. This weekend's vigil coincides with Fernandez’ 48th birthday, and is expected to gather several hundred people.

Next week, meters away from Fernandez, the Swiss Parliament is set to start its 3-week winter session. Such sessions occur only 4 times a year in Switzerland, where Members of Parliament only work part-time in a so-called “militia system”.

As of 26.11, Fernandez has lost 14.6 kg but says he is still in good health so far. But the probability of severe complications and of death rises sharply after 60 days. It is so clear that these 3 weeks will be critical for Fernandez’ demand, as Christmas draws nearer and he gets weaker every day.

Fernandez is available for interview requests in French, Spanish, German, English or Italian.

To know more about #PapaOnHungerStrike:

• Fernandez’s website

• Social media (Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Insta)

• Previous press releases

• His petition

• Photos

• media@fernandez-guggisberg.name

• +41 77 443 96 21

News from Guillermo

After 20 days without eating, Guillermo has lost 12.6 kg. His form is good, his morale and his determination to go to the end are intact.

The first serious health problems can occur after three weeks without food. Death can then occur at any point over a very long period.

Examples of people who have died on hunger strike include Martin Hurson (46 days) and Bobby Sand (66 days), political prisoners in Ireland, and Ebru Timtik, a Turkish lawyer who died last year in prison after 238 days without food.

• More photos here

What exactly is Guillermo asking for?

Guillermo has vowed not to eat again until the Federal Assembly has been convened to a training session on the climate and ecological crises, given by researchers from federal offices, the IPCC, IPBES, and the World Meteorological Organization, and filmed to be shared with the population. He addressed his request to Mrs. Simonetta Sommaruga, head of the Department of the Environment.

Once the Federal Assembly is properly informed, Guillermo hopes that it will mandate the Federal Council to commit Switzerland to the following objectives Declare climate emergency, Emissions neutral by 2030, Climate and social justice, Ban on fossil finance, Proactive climate diplomacy.

"I want to live, but for my children's future, I am willing to die."

References

[1] https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/fr/home/themes/climat/en-bref.html; Switzerland's emissions should include those from the consumer products it imports

• More pictures here

Guillermo asks Mrs. Sommaruga, the Federal Councillor in charge of the environment, to convene the Federal Assembly for an official and public information session on the climate and ecological crisis, given by scientists from the FOEN, the IPCC, the IPBES and the World Meteorological Organization.

He vowed not to eat again until this session has taken place, and announced that he is ready to die over this simple yet vital request. He hopes that the Federal Assembly, fully aware of the urgency, will then mandate the Federal Council to commit Switzerland to carbon neutrality by 2030 in a socially just process, including an immediate ban on fossil finance and proactive climate diplomacy.

• More pictures here

En revanche, une réaction de la Conseillère fédérale est parvenue à Guillermo par voie de presse interposée, grâce à l’intervention du journal La Liberté.

N’ayant rien d’autre à se mettre sous la dent - calembour assumé - Guillermo a choisi d’y répondre point par point ci-dessous.

Porte-parole du DETEC: "La conseillère fédérale éprouve de la compréhension pour l'impatience et la soif d'action des citoyens et des citoyennes face au dérèglement climatique qui progresse"

Guillermo: “L’impatience et la soif d’action sont les émotions que ressentent des jeunes gens sur le point d’aller en week-end ski. Ces mots sont vides de sens et infantilisants. Beaucoup de gens sont complètement terrifiés, ils ne demandent qu’à agir avec courage et faire les sacrifices nécessaires pour sauver le futur, si seulement ceux qui nous dirigent nous offraient cette possibilité. Le peuple mérite un discours honnête, à la Churchill, qui pendant la guerre n’offrait que «du sang, du labeur, des larmes et de la sueur». Mais au bout, la lutte solidaire pour la victoire. Et la vie.»”

Porte-parole du DETEC: "La cheffe du DETEC est elle aussi animée d'une volonté d'agir au plus vite, car elle est persuadée que nous n'avons plus de temps à perdre, poursuit la porte-parole en précisant qu'un nouveau projet de loi sur le CO2 est à bout touchant.”

Guillermo: Sauf erreur, le projet de loi mentionné ici est justement celui duquel il a récemment été révélé qu’il était incompatible avec les objectifs de l’Accord de Paris. Résumé de l’affaire: ce projet a été commandé à ses offices par Madame Sommaruga qui en a énoncé certains prérequis. Ses offices ont ensuite rédigé un document interne montrant que ces prérequis empêchaient d’atteindre les objectifs des Accords de Paris. Puis ce document a été fuité à la presse par un ou une scientifique de l’un de ces offices, qui souhaitait lancer l’alerte.

Pour moi, cette histoire montre la chose suivante: les ambitions, les compétences ou le courage de Madame Sommaruga ne sont malheureusement pas à la hauteur pour guider la Suisse sur le chemin de la survie. Ses propres scientifiques, qui connaissent intimement le problème, sont tellement paniqués qu’ils sont prêts à risquer leur carrière pour alerter la population. Il est vital que ces scientifiques puissent informer eux-mêmes de vive voix et en détail notre Assemblée fédérale, et à travers elle, toute la population. C’est tout ce que je demande à Madame Sommaruga. C’est la raison pour laquelle je remets ma vie entre ses mains.”

Porte-parole du DETEC: "Les membres des Chambres fédérales connaissent la situation climatique, dont ils ont débattu à de nombreuses reprises.”

Guillermo: “Beaucoup de gens pensent connaître la situation climatique car ils savent qu’”il y a un problème”, et ils s’arrêtent à ça. Même avec une bonne connaissance des faits, s’ouvrir viscéralement à toutes les implications est très dur.

Si leur compréhension est aussi bonne que celle qu’ils ont eu pour la préparation aux pandémies, annoncées depuis au moins 15 ans, ou l’approvisionnement électrique de la Suisse, nous allons à l’évidence en enfer en maillot de bain.

Nos émissions vont nous condamner à l’enfer sur Terre, et les membres des Chambres fédérales continuent à se comporter comme si tout était sous contrôle. Il ne s’agit plus de débattre mais d’agir avec urgence et courage.

Même les scientifiques, qui sont formés pour rester rationnels et froids, sont en train d’être gagnés par la panique. Un sondage récent publié dans le journal scientifique Nature montre que 88% des auteurs du GIEC considèrent que le dérèglement climatique est une crise, et qu’ils s’attendent à voir des impacts catastrophiques du changement climatique pendant leur vie. 60% d’eux pensent même que le monde va vraisemblablement dépasser les 3 degrés de réchauffement d’ici 2100! Les scientifiques sont terrifiés!

Nous en sommes à la COP26 depuis que les pays se sont mis d’accord pour réduire leurs émissions annuelles. Cela fait 26 COP, qu’année après année, les émissions annuelles augmentent au lieu de diminuer, y compris celles de la Suisse. Au rythme actuel, le budget carbone permettant au monde d’avoir une vraie chance de rester sous 1.5C de réchauffement sera épuisé en 2027. C’est ce que rappellent avec urgence des climatologues, notamment suisses, à la COP.

Alors qu’est-ce qui nous montre que les membres des Chambres fédérales ont enfin compris, alors qu’ils succèdent à 30 ans d’échecs? Leurs actes? Ils n’en donnent pas l’impression.

Le GIEC écrit: “Unless there are immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming to close to 1.5 °C or even 2° C will be beyond reach.”

La population suisse a-t-elle été appelée à se mobiliser pour effectuer des réductions immédiates, rapides, et de grande ampleur de nos émissions? Non. Rien ne suggère que nos élus aient dans leur majorité compris la situation et soient prêts à agir.

J’ai déjà eu face à moi des élus Verts qui n’étaient pas au courant des prévisions les plus importantes du GIEC. Depuis que je suis sur la Place fédérale, une parlementaire verte mieux informée est venue me voir et me dire qu’elle commence à craquer psychologiquement face à cette impression de hurler dans le vide. Un député UDC, en revanche, m’a confié être convaincu qu’on va vers l’apocalypse, et s’être en prévision procuré un fusil et des boîtes de conserve.”

Porte-parole du DETEC: “Il est dès lors important qu'ils soutiennent des mesures concrètes pour permettre à notre pays d'aller vers le zéro net", ajoute-t-elle.

“Voilà encore des mots creux qui ne sont pas à la hauteur de la gravité du moment. Le monde est aujourd’hui dans une situation bloquée. Aucune nation n’ose être la première à faire les actions nécessaires. Ce que je désire pour la Suisse, c’est que nous soyons les premiers à arrêter d’utiliser les énergies fossiles, et que nous soyons neutres en carbone dès 2030. Pour être exemplaires, crédibles, et être les premiers à expérimenter les solutions sociales et techniques qui permettront aux autres de le faire. Ensuite, nous pourrons les exporter à tous les pays à qui nous auront ouvert la voie.”

----

Guillermo ne se ré-alimentera pas tant que l’Assemblée fédérale n’aura pas été convoquée pour une sessions de formation obligatoire et publique sur la crise climatique et écologique, dispensée par des chercheurs des offices fédéraux appropriés, du GIEC, de l’IPBES et de l’Organisation Mondiale de la Météo.

Si sa demande n’est pas entendue, il est prêt à aller jusqu’à sa mort. “Parce qu’il y va de la vie de mes enfants, je suis prêt à risquer ma mort.” conclut-il.