Website:
https://climatestrikecanada.org/en/home
Contact:
Genevieve Langille (Student Activist in London, Ontario) genvlangille@gmail.com
Related Groups:
Mission:
Climate Strike Canada is a national network of Canadian students that organizes protests to demand climate action. This is the link to their website: Climate Strike Canada where you can find their demands.
The students in Canada are inspired by the numerous First Nations, Métis, and Inuit climate activists who have been voicing their concerns for much longer. The Climate Strike Canada movement is based around the Fridays For Future movement started by Greta Thunberg, the sixteen year old from Sweden, who was nominated for a Nobel prize for her work protesting international inaction on the current climate crisis. Other chapters of climate protest networks exist in almost every country in the world and they can be found through 350.org.
Students and citizens are mobilizing across the world to demand systematic change that deals with the imminence of the climate crisis and to demand politicians ratify policies that effect real change. They believe this is their only hope for a future.
After you have read this introduction, click the blue “View Coming Events” calendar button and you may find opportunities to participate in saving our world. If your group is planning a relevant event, we welcome your contribution to the calendar.
And join the discussion! Please wait a few seconds for the comments to load at the bottom of this page. Then read the ideas other people have shared and reply or add your own knowledge. Thanks!
Keep us posted on where to go to participate. I think there are some smaller vigils that also take place at the provincial legislatures on Fridays, no?
Australians are seeing global warming up close
A teenager whose family home burned down in the New South Wales bushfires has delivered a message to Scott Morrison at a climate emergency protest outside the Liberal party headquarters, saying: “your thoughts and prayers are not enough”.
That’s a great example of a reason to strike for climate action!
It’s just unacceptable’: Youth suing Ontario government over climate change
CBC Kids News. Published Nov. 27, 2019
Sophia Mathur is taking her climate fight to the next level.
The 12-year-old from Sudbury, Ont., who was recognized earlier this year for being the first Canadian kid to skip school and strike for the climate, is challenging the Ontario government to do more.
She’s part of a group of young people who are suing Premier Doug Ford’s government for not going far enough to fight climate change.
“Doug Ford is not doing enough to protect our future and it’s just unacceptable,” Sophia said.
If this story sounds familiar, you’re not wrong.
Last month, a group of young Canadians announced they were suing the federal government for the same thing.
Sophia is one of seven applicants taking part.
“It’s my future, it’s the future of children, and it’s unfair that some governments aren’t doing enough to take action on this,” she said.
The group is backed by the environmental organization Ecojustice and law firm Stockwoods LLP.
The kids and teens claim that the policies on climate change brought forward by the Ontario government are not enough to secure their future.
They say that violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees “the right to life, liberty and security of the person.”
Zoe Keary-Matzne, 13, is also part of the group challenging the government.
“This is the only planet we have and it’s the only known life in the universe, and we keep continuing to harm all that life,” she said.
What the Ontario government is doing to fight climate change
The Ontario government is promising to reduce emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
That’s a big change from the previous government’s more ambitious promise to reduce emissions by 37 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, which Ford cancelled.
The government also cancelled the plan that encouraged businesses to reduce emissions, called cap-and-trade.
They are hoping to cancel the federal carbon tax, which is believed to be the most economical way to reduce emissions, because it creates incentives to do so.
Andrew Buttigieg, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, defended the government’s action on climate change.
He said the government is working to find ways to reduce emissions while maintaining a healthy economy and “without additional taxes.”
The case has yet to be proven in court.
With files from Nick Boisvert and Andrew Chang/CBC News
I noticed that Vladimir Putin was asked what he thought of Greta Thunberg. He said he was “not enthusiastic.” His explanation was that she, and other naive kids, were not “realistic.”
Absurd! Realists look at what is happening around them and what scientists say will inevitably happen unless we make radical changes. It’s in Russia where the most permafrost is melting.
These kids are the true realists.
Climate strikers protest mass consumerism on Black Friday
By CBC Kids News Nov. 28, 2019
Climate strikes were held around the world on Nov. 29
Once again, thousands of young people across Canada skipped school to take part in climate strikes today, but they did so in front of a slightly different backdrop.
Today’s strike fell on the same day that thousands of shoppers were cashing in on big savings through Black Friday events.
“So many people go shopping,” said Kaya Mckergow, 13, from Halifax. “It takes a lot of fuel to import the clothing and everybody in their car. It’s just really [harming] the environment.”
Kaya was one of about a hundred protesters in Halifax who marched to the city’s biggest shopping mall, the Halifax Shopping Centre, and went inside.
The crowds of shoppers were much bigger than the climate strikers, but many people stopped and watched as they chanted and held up signs.
Adding to their usual message to world leaders to take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they also targeted stores that encourage people to buy more.
“Some people don’t realize that climate change is a real problem … and they’re contributing,” said Kaya.
No one at the Halifax Shopping Centre was available to comment, but a spokesperson sent a statement to CBC Kids News, saying the “Halifax Shopping Centre is committed to creating a better world for future generations.”
It went on to explain that the mall has a number of initiatives that help stores “trying to make better choices for the environment.”
Lauren Davis-Whatley, 12, said it’s up to corporations to do more.
“Corporations aren’t paying attention to things that are ruining the Earth,” she said.
She suggested people do things like go vegan, try to buy second hand and use less plastic.
“Consumerism is a big problem that people don’t realize,” said Kendra Ridgley, 18.
“I think Black Friday influences people to buy things they don’t necessarily need. And people don’t see all the waste in the world.”
In Toronto, organizer Alienor Rogeout, 20, led a group of strikers through the downtown core, past the Eaton Centre, a massive mall that’s home to hundreds of stores.
The mall has extended its hours to allow shoppers more time to buy goods.
Rougeot said the strikers were calling out businesses to offer more sustainable options and asked people not to buy into the marketing.
“We’re not blaming the people going in, but if you can afford it, don’t buy today,” Rougeout told CBC Kids News ahead of the strike.
According to a survey by the Retail Council of Canada, 43 per cent of respondents planned to make purchases on Black Friday.
CBC Kids News also reached out to several Canadian retailers for comment, such as Winners, Roots and Mark’s Work Wearhouse.
Not one responded to the request with a comment or interview.
With files from The Canadian Press