Stilt walkers dressed in animal costumes interrupt Justin Trudeau’s speaking event in Charlottetown, PEI to protest the governments purchase of the massive Kinder Morgan tar sands pipeline. Credit: CBC.
On September 8, people across Canada are gathering for a global moment to demand real action on justice, jobs and the climate. In Canada, that means moving beyond tar sands and rejecting projects like Kinder Morgan’s TransMountain, Line 3 and the Teck Frontier mine.
We know that real action on climate change rises from the grassroots up. We can see it in community and Indi genous-owned solar energy projects like Lubicon Solar, in the cities, towns and entire provinces standing up to massive fossil fuel projects, and in the frontline opposition to dangerous pipelines like Kinder Morgan and Line 3.
Unfortunately, our federal government is ignoring that leadership, putting the interests of Big Oil and billionaire CEOs ahead of the needs of people and the planet. That’s why, in September, we’re rising for real climate action.
In mid September, one week after Rise, Members of Parliament from across Canada will headed back to Ottawa. Before they go, we are sending them off with a message: climate leadership means keeping fossil fuels in the ground, accelerating a just transition to 100% renewable energy, and doing it fast and right – in a way that protects working people.
Here are some of the events that are happening in Canada!
Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
Photo: Kitchener-Waterloo residents holding a large banner reading “Governments grant permits, communities grant permission – Justin Trudeau”. Credit: L Lanteigne.
Organizers in Waterloo are planning a mass mural mobilization at the iconic Waterloo Town Square to send a strong message for climate leadership. In the wake of escalating climate disasters around the world and across Canada, they will initiate a die in and chalk around the participants’ bodies to incorporate into the mural. Their event will profile community leaders, including Myeengun Henry, a local indigenous Elder, and many others.
Waterloo is represented by Liberal MP Bardish Chaggar, the House Leader, who sits directly beside Justin Trudeau in the House of Commons. They’ll be sending Chagger back to the hill with a clear message: real climate leaders don’t buy massive, climate-wrecking pipelines.
Tofino, British Columbia
Photo: Beach Rally at North Chesterman Beach organized by Friends of Clayoquot Sound. Photo Credit: Friends of Clayoquot Sound.
On Wednesday, Sept 5, just ahead of the Rise day of action, Melina Laboucan Massimo, a powerful Cree woman from the Lubicon Cree First Nation will headline a speaking event at the Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre. The event will also include and local representatives from Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks, Friends of Clayoquot Sound, and Surfrider Pacific Rim, who will be talking about about climate change, tar sands, tankers and real climate solutions.
Then, on the eve of Rise, There will be a jazz-funk concert called ‘Now is The Time!’ to awareness about issues impacting salmon including tankers and climate change.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Photo: People in Winnipeg, Manitoba join the Totem Pole Journey to resist the massive Energy East tar sands pipeline.
In just a few days, organizers with the Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition are hosting a pre-Rise art build to create banners, puppets, and cut outs that will be used as part of the Winnipeg mobilization.
These organizers will be putting the spotlight on Line 3, and the incredible Indigenous led resistance including the Spirit of the Buffalo Camp situated along the route for the Line 3 pipeline.
Line 3 is an Enbridge oil pipeline was built in 1961 and has a horrible track record of ground and water contamination. Enbridge wants to abandon this pipeline and build an entirely new corridor, through the heart of Minnesota’s best lakes and wild rice beds, and through Treaty One, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dene, Dakota and Oji-Cree Nations and the homeland of the Métis Nation.
Guelph, Ontario
Photo: Young people march in Guelph for #DefendTheWater, a national day of action in solidarity with First Nations and communities on the frontlines of the Kinder Morgan pipeline. Credit: Fossil Free Guelph.
The organizers in Guelph – whose land resides on part of the territory of the Attawandaron or Chononton People and part of the treaty territories of the Mississaugas of the New Credit – are planning a number of captivating events on September 8th.
There’s an amazing lineup of speakers and performers, including a spoken word artist, and representatives from organizations such as Wellington Water watchers and from Fossil Free Guelph, the local campus divestment campaign. Local First Nation drummers will be there to ground the event in local Indigenous ceremony, and participants will join these drummers in Guelph’s market square for a unifying water dance. Guelph Municipal Council candidates will then sing their commitment to climate justice.
The community wants to drive home the message that being a climate leader means building a fossil free world that works for the many, not the few, by demanding local leaders, including municipal candidates, and provincial and federal members of parliament, walk the talk on climate action.
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If you are inspired to attend or host an event in Canada visit riseforclimate.org/Canada