Organizers hope the qathet region’s participation in the global climate strike on September 24 will draw broad community participation and interest.
Working together on local climate action events such as this are: Climate Action Powell River, Council of Canadians Powell River, Brooks Environmental Club and qathet Fridays for Future. On September 24 at 12:30 pm in front of Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons’ office at 4675 Marine Avenue, people are invited to gather to show their concern for what has been declared as a global climate emergency. Simons is being invited to participate.
Local climate activist Elena Martin says she has been inspired by Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager who became an international face in the efforts to create awareness about climate change.
“She incited the whole globe to strike on Fridays for the future,” adds Martin. “She inspired me. She came in the same year my son was born, and in the very beginning of my motherhood, I became more aware of the climate, and I soon became very worried about my own son’s future.
“I listened to all of Greta’s speeches at the international climate conferences. Last year, on September 25, there was the very first climate strike here, and there it started. I’ve met a lot of people in the last year in Powell River who joined.”
For the September 24 event, organizers are putting out an invitation to all concerned people to attend. Martin says there is a Facebook event listed at the qathet Fridays for Future page. She adds that organizers are asking people to bring signs, masks and friends to the climate strike.
“We already have banners and signs, but we are encouraging people to bring their own signs for the event,” explains Martin.
Open mic
Climate Action Powell River member Arlette Raaen says there will also be opportunities for people to speak at the climate strike. There isn’t a keynote speaker, but it is hoped there can be an open mic for people to share their concerns.
Raaen says there will also be an invitation to representatives of Tla’amin Nation to help with opening.
The event, which will continue for at least an hour, has been scheduled for lunch time, so hopefully, people can break away and participate, says Martin. Students from Brooks Secondary School, who have a professional development day, are also coming and may have more endurance and stay longer, she adds.
Raaen says one of the hoped outcomes of the climate strike is that people will write their names on a sign-up sheet, similar to what was done at a recent Council of Canadians climate rally at Willingdon Beach.
“We want to raise awareness, but also to identify who our collaborators are in the community, to stay in touch,” adds Raaen. “We want to develop that network. We know the majority of people now are very concerned about what is happening with the climate. If we can mobilize ourselves together, we can make a real difference in the outcome.”
Climate Action Powell River member Jack Anderson says international solidarity is important.
“We want to get the message out that it is a global movement, not just a few people in Powell River,” adds Anderson.
Raaen says it is important for the groups concerned about climate change to coalesce and to get the person-power together to run events. She says the four groups helping organize the climate strike are in the process of collaborating and this is the first event where they have come together to organize jointly. She said the united groups can be a more powerful front and help grow the movement.
Anderson says now is the time to take action.
“It’s really critical,” explains Anderson. “The United Nations secretary general called it a code red alert.”
To further contact with the community, Climate Action Powell River has created a new website at [email protected].
