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Edmonton rally calls for action on climate change
While thousands of demonstrators marched in the streets of New York City to demand action on climate change hundreds in Edmonton also rallied to support the cause.
Organizers of The People’s Climate March Edmonton said they were looking for the Canadian government to start investing in renewable energy.
“We really want them to move forward with sustainability, renewable resources. We want the federal government, Stephen Harper, to do something about this,” event facilitator Stephanie Wilson told CTV News.
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Climate change march, edmonton
Hundreds attended a rally in Edmonton calling on the government to take action against climate change.
“He should be a leader for all Canadians. He shouldn’t be fiddling around with the different opportunities that he has with corporations.”
Wilson said she was disappointed that Harper would not be at the UN climate summit in New York this week.
It was a sentiment that Mike Hudema from Greenpeace Canada echoed.
“Climate change is affecting people all over the globe right now. It has the potential to end life on our planet if not addressed. The fact that our Prime Minster can’t find the time to be there is a national disgrace.”
Harper isn’t the only leader opting out of the event, where leaders will discuss climate policy, but will not make any legally-binding agreements.
A list of speakers provided by the UN shows that leaders from China, India, Russia, Australia and Germany are also sending other government officials in their place.
Regardless, Hudema pointed out that UN climate chief, Christiana Figueres, said three-quarters of fossil fuels need to stay in the ground.
“A lot of tar sands projects simply can’t go ahead if we are going to address this global crisis," he said.
However, Hudema also said he was hopeful that things were going to change.
“Already things are changing and countries are already starting to take action.
“It is just Canada and a group of other countries that are really holding back progress and that is what we need to change.”
Edmontonian Neil Lizotte runs a website that focuses on eco-inventions and agreed that it was time the government start looking to other energy sources.
“We have eco-friendly technologies that will soon be replacing fossil fuels. I think it is a waste of time and money to be making pipelines and increasing fossil fuel uses when we know that we have to lower our emissions not increase them.
“We're investing billions of dollars into fossil fuels and they are getting us in trouble - serious, serious trouble - and yet we are investing pennies in inventions that can replace them,” he added.
Wilson said she believed things would change as citizens became educated on the issue.
“Climate change in general is a really huge subject and people should be more aware of what is happening in a global basis and in a local basis because there has been so much that people don’t know about.”
Protesters march against climate change in Vancouver
BY FRANK LUBA, POSTMEDIA NEWS SEPTEMBER 21, 2014
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Protesters march against climate change in Vancouver
People gather at the CBC building as part of a rally for climate change in Vancouver on September 21, 2014.
VANCOUVER — Veronica Alice was inspired Sunday by what she saw online of the massive People’s Climate March in New York.
So when the 51-year-old Sunshine Coast resident, who was in Vancouver for work, finally heard about a local version of the call for action on climate change she joined the throng of people that filled the Hamilton Street plaza in front of the CBC building.
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CLICK HERE to view photographs from the march in Vancouver, and others around the world. If using a handheld device, tap the image above and swipe.
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The New York march was reported to have attracted 310,000 people in advance of the UN Climate Summit there on Tuesday.
Alice called the Democracy Now coverage of the event “awesome.”
“They were there for all the right reasons,” said Alice.
The sentiments were similar in Vancouver, which was just one of many events held in more than 130 countries around the world.
“It’s the system that got us in the mess,” said Alice. “It’s the system that needs to change. Hopefully, at some point our government officials will listen. They’re supposed to represent the people, not corporate interests. It’s a serious problem.”
The mood in Vancouver Sunday was serious, but also joyous, with a crowd that included everything from babies and their parents, to teens, middle-aged boomers and seniors.
Kids coloured chalk pictures on the sidewalk, while speakers talked in between musical performances before the crowd left the plaza for a march through the city.
The turnout was surprising considering the event was loosely organized by a new grassroots group called Climate Convergence.
Vancouver resident Shirley Samples, one of the organizers, said talk of the People’s March in New York was the inspiration for Vancouver.
“As soon as I heard that, I knew were going to have a march here,” she said.
She was too busy Sunday to watch what was going on in New York, but was impressed by the turnout there, which was three times what had been expected.
“Wow, that’s awesome,” said Samples, 55, a retired mother of two.
Samples got involved in Sunday’s event “to empower people.”
“I believe people in our country — for whatever reason — don’t feel that what they say or do makes a difference to the politicians,” she explained. “In any major issue that has ever faced people, the planet or anything, it’s people being on the street that matters.”
Like others, Samples is disappointed that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is apparently not attending the upcoming UN summit on climate change.
“I think us being on the streets of Vancouver, even if there was only 100 of us, is still a message that there are people who don’t like what you (Harper) are doing and want better. This is just the beginning of the movement.”
Events similar to Vancouver’s were held across Canada, but also in London, Berlin, Paris, Rio and Seattle.
march in downtown Toronto to draw attention to climate change
climate change rally Toronto
Hundreds rallied to draw attention to climate change in downtown Toronto on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014.
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Josh Dehaas, CTV Toronto
Published Sunday, September 21, 2014 4:20PM EDT
Last Updated Sunday, September 21, 2014 4:39PM EDT
Hundreds took to the streets of downtown Toronto Sunday afternoon to draw attention to climate change.
The protesters march through Yonge-Dundas Square and ended at City Hall for a rally, where speakers demanded world leaders take more action on the world’s changing climate.
The march was part of a global protest – called the People’s Climate March – that saw thousands turn out in cities around the globe, including Melbourne, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Berlin. More than 40,000 people turned out in London, while the largest march in New York City was joined by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore.
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The marches are meant to coincide with a UN climate summit taking place in New York on Tuesday.
While Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be in New York later this week to deliver a speech to UN General Assembly, he has been criticized for deciding to skip the summit, sending Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq in his place. Both U.S. President Barack Obama and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron are scheduled to speak at Tuesday’s climate summit.
Among the crowd in Toronto were First Nations leaders, union representatives and politicians, including New Democrat MPP Peter Tabuns and New Democrat MP Craig Scott.
Glen Murray, who is Ontario's Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and a Liberal MPP from Toronto, attended the rally in New York.
Rallies also took place in several Canadian cities, including Montreal, Winnipeg and Vancouver.
Another view of the people's climate march at Toronto City Hall. In the crowd with @PaulaFletcher30 & @CraigScottNDP pic.twitter.com/Nh6fevTwBX
— Peter Tabuns (@Peter_Tabuns) September 21, 2014
First Nations blessing starting the People's Climate March in Nathan Phillips Sq in Toronto pic.twitter.com/BeikQHiK3O
— Craig Scott (@CraigScottNDP) September 21, 2014
People's Climate March, YYZ edition, on this unusually warm September day pic.twitter.com/aJtbgEYXY5
— Lisa Vanlint (@LisaVanLint) September 21, 2014
Nice crowd at Toronto's version of People's climate march. C'mon Cda, let's set targets & become part of the solution pic.twitter.com/XXSNWhxApi
— Jim Stanford (@JimboStanford) September 21, 2014
The beautiful marchers at @Peoples_Climate #Toronto #PeopleClimateTO pic.twitter.com/GuClARCvZs
— Puninda (@puninda) September 21, 2014
Marching down Yonge St. in #Toronto #PeopleClimateMarch #ClimateChange #PeoplesClimate @350 pic.twitter.com/UMT4QZgydQ
— Felix Whitton (@felixwhitton) September 21, 2014
Photo: In the intersection turning south now. #Toronto #PeopleClimateMarch #TOpoli pic.twitter.com/H3XW8zn6Um
— Ritika Goel (@RitikaGoelTO) September 21, 2014
"Climate change is bad for our health." Ready to go with my sign! #Toronto #PeopleClimateMarch #topoli #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/s59z54Q44G
— Ritika Goel (@RitikaGoelTO) September 21, 2014
Protest for #ClimateChange at Yongedundas square pic.twitter.com/LkMgMkobdI
— The Real CatNiss (@CathyNissen) September 21, 2014
Largest-ever' climate-change march rolls through NYC
Alia E. Dastagir, USA TODAY 7:39 a.m. EDT September 22, 2014
Accompanied by drumbeats, wearing costumes and carrying signs, thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Manhattan and other cities around the world on Sunday to urge policy makers to take action on climate change. (Sept. 21) AP
EPA USA CLIMATE MARCH NEW YORK
(Photo: Peter Foley, epa)
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NEW YORK — More than 300,000 people marched through the streets of New York City on Sunday in what organizers called the largest climate-change demonstration in history.
With banners, flags, floats and drums, protesters at the "People's Climate March" overwhelmed midtown Manhattan in flocks of vivid color, demanding action ahead of the United Nations Climate Summit this week.
"I'm totally passionate about our planet and what's happening with our life here," said Heather Snow, 57, a massage therapist from Wilmington, N.C. "The whole Congress, everyone has gone insane, and it's time to end the insanity. I don't know how, I don't know when, but it's got to happen soon. We're running out of time."
Heather Snow, 57, says the most pressing environmental issue we face today is war. #PeoplesClimateMarchpic.twitter.com/6zzo2mlIQp
— Alia E. Dastagir (@alia_e) September 21, 2014
The massive march kicked off at 11:30 a.m. on the ritzy Upper West Side along Central Park before winding its way through the city on a two-mile route. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, former U.S. vice president Al Gore, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and actors Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio joined thousands of protesters at the march.
Ban announced last week that DiCaprio was named U.N. Messenger of Peace for his commitment to environmental causes.
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Protesters chanted, "What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!" They carried signs with messages that read: "Go Solar," "You Control Climate Change" and "There Is No Planet B."
More than 1,100 organizations endorsed the march, organized by a coalition of groups including 350.org, Avaaz, the Sierra Club, Climate Justice Alliance and the Service Employees International Union.
The march is the first in a series of events held around the world this week to shine a spotlight on global warming ahead of the U.N. summit Tuesday. President Obama and world leaders from government, finance and business will be at the U.N. to announce initiatives meant to move the world toward limiting global warming.
People fill the street during the People's Climate March in New York. Tens of thousands of activists walked through Manhattan warning that climate change is destroying the Earth.People fill the street during the People's Climate March in New York. Tens of thousands of activists walked through Manhattan warning that climate change is destroying the Earth. (Photo: Mel Evans, AP)
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People fill the street during the People's Climate March in New York. Tens of thousands of activists walked through Manhattan warning that climate change is destroying the Earth. People protest for greater action against climate change during the People's Climate March in New York City. A blindfolded puppet representing Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is carried as thousands of people march in a climate change rally in Melbourne, Australia. From left to right, primatologist Jane Goodall, Former U.S. vice president and environmental activist Al Gore, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and French Environment Minister Segolene Royal participate in the People's Climate March. A large banner is carried on the streets of New York for the People's Climate March. Particpants walk in the climate march along Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro. Protests calling for curbs in greenhouse gas emissions were scheduled for Sunday in 150 countries ahead a U.N. summit on climate change. The Amazon rainforest, mostly located in Brazil, produces about 20% of the earth's oxygen but is threatened by deforestation. Protesters take part in the 'People's Climate March' in central London. People protest for greater action against climate change during the People's Climate March in New York City. Demonstrators gather in New York's Central Park before the People's Climate March. Marchers come down Sixth Avenue during the People's Climate March in New York. Activists mobilized in cities across the globe Sunday for marches against climate change, with one of the biggest planned for New York, where celebrities, political leaders and tens of thousands of people were expected. The march comes before the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon convenes a climate change summit of 120 world leaders. People protest for greater action against climate change in New York City. British actress Emma Thompson, right, gestures towards British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood during the "People's Climate March" in central London. A downpour fails to dampen the enthusiasm of locals carrying green heart placards while participating in a march to demand urgent action on climate change in Brussels. More than 100,000 people march through Midtown Manhattan as part of the People's Climate March, a worldwide mobilization calling on world leaders meeting at the United Nations to commit to urgent action on climate change and 100% clean energy in New York. Actor and activist Mark Ruffalo takes questions before the start of the People's Climate March in New York. The event was billed as the largest march on global warming. Demonstrators make their way down Sixth Avenue during the People's Climate March in New York. A large Mother Earth float is rolled along 42nd Street in New York during a climate change march. Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Manhattan and other cities around the world on Sunday to urge policy makers to take action on climate change. People with green hearts painted on their faces participates the People's Climate March at Ipanema beach, Rio de Janeiro. People march during a demonstration to demand urgent action to stem climate change in Bogota. Enviromental protesters form the words "Beyond Coal + Gas" during a meeting in a park in Sydney as part of a global protest on climate change. Sunday's march in New York, which called for drastic political and economic changes to slow global warming, was organized by a coalition of unions, activists, politicians and scientists. People protest for greater action against climate change during the People's Climate March in New York City. Bird-shaped kites are held in the air as demonstrators make their way down Sixth Avenue during the People's Climate March. Similar gatherings scheduled in other cities worldwide, come two days before the United Nations Climate Summit. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon takes questions after participating in the People's Climate March. He is among those advocating fellow policy-makers to take global action on climate change. A costumed participant in the People's Climate March in New York. A demonstrator takes part in the People's Climate March in New York. Marchers fill Sixth Avenue during the People's Climate March in New York.
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The U.N. says 125 nations will be represented. It's the first time in five years that world leaders have gathered to discuss climate change.
The U.N. summit aims to get world leaders to pledge emission cuts that could become part of a global agreement to be approved at U.N. climate talks next year in Paris.
Secretary of State John Kerry will deliver keynote remarks at the summit's opening event. He will showcase climate action that the USA is taking at home and present his vision for advancing a global low carbon economy, his office said Sunday.
The People's Climate March and the summit are part of Climate Week NYC, an annual event "to get people together to make the business case for climate action," said Sylvain Biville of the Climate Group, which organizes the week. The Climate Group's goal is "a prosperous, low-carbon future," which the group says will be achieved by "a rapid scale-up of low carbon energy and technology."
This year's Climate Week events follow a series of scientific reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that conclude global warming is "unequivocal" and that it is extremely likely that human activity has been the dominant cause since the mid-20th century.
According to the IPCC, the world is on a path to exceed a 3.6-degree Fahrenheit rise in temperature, the limit that countries have set to ensure that the world would not suffer the worst effects of climate change.
On the streets of New York on Sunday, the marchers were led by indigenous groups from around the world. Organizers say many of these indigenous people are often the first victims of climate change.
At 12:58 p.m., protesters raised their hands above their heads and quieted for a moment of silence to honor them.
Ezra Silk, 25, of Portland, Maine, said the USA has to take action on climate change if it wants to protect the nation's democracy. He pointed to Syria as an example of how climate change can contribute to a country's collapse.
"There was the worst drought in its modern history," said Silk, co-founder of The Climate Mobilization, which advocates a World War II-scale intervention on climate change. "It caused a major upheaval when all the farmers came into the cities. There was a tyrant, who then oppressed his people, a civil war broke out, destabilizing the entire region, and a group like ISIS has come to the forefront. I mean that's the embodiment of what America is not about, and that's what collapse of civilization would look like."
Many families brought their children to the march, pointing to them as the reason the tide must change.
Robyn Moore, 39, was at the rally with her husband, Martin Moore, 40, their daughter, Charlotte, 4, and son, Henry, 15 months. Charlotte wore a simple drawing of the earth around her neck, her hair adorned with leaves.
"We're here as a family for the future of our kids," she said. |
