Congratulations!

By Elizabeth May on 26 October 2009 - 7:44am

Thanks to all who joined marches, church bell ringing, gatherings, big and small.

The Fill the Hill rally really did “fill the hill.” We had rain and cold weather and some people did give up before the moment we actually spread out to fill the hill. From the stage before I spoke, I counted out a group of 50 and tried to figure out how many blocks of 50 there were. By this crowd counting method, I counted over 2,000 people.

The whole rally was organized by youth and young people served as MC’s and constituted most of the speakers. Canadian scientist and member of the IPCC, Dr. John Stone, also spoke.

The Halifax gathering on the Commons was in the rain as well, but it did not dampen spirits. Salt Spring Island had a fabulous gathering with everyone wearing snorkels to signify concern for sea level rise. Toronto at Queens Park, Victoria in Queens Square, Whitehorse around the Parliament, and on and on.

Many of the great Canadian photos can be found on the www.350.org website. Just going through that site is inspiring. There were over 5,200 actions in 181 countries. Photos take you from India to Botswana to Amazonia. All with one single message: Act now to get carbon down to 350 ppm.

Read Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken. Then look at those photos. This is it. The largest public mobilization in the history of humanity. All to ensure humanity will have a history, and a future.

The work has only begun. The countdown to Copenhagen is on and the leadership is not in our Parliament Buildings. It is in the streets, on campus and in high schools.

Write to media, blog, phone, send emails. Demand change.

Thanks to all for being part of this wonderful event.

Comments

Church bell ringing?

Submitted by Michael Vaillancourt on 26 October 2009 - 9:46am.

I attended the Queen's Park rally, albeit a few minutes late. The first speaker I heard was a representative of the United Church of Canada. She made the assertion that many of the people at the rally were people of faith. I was disappointed that a particular religious organisation was given this platform to promote itself.

The turnout at Queen's Park was less than impressive. Environmental Defence got more people out to support a ban on BPA in baby bottles...

a glance at...

Submitted by Daryl Vernon on 26 October 2009 - 9:59am.

...http://www.torontoclimatecampaign.org/node/23 tells me that that 1st speaker probably was the mother of this party's candidate in a recent Toronto Centre by-election and prior shadow cabineter, to whose blog I recently contributed a few controversial comments at http://www.christindal.ca/2009/08/31/claire-hoy-still-making-stuff-up/#c... (would be interesting to have Chris reply one day, or the Moderator herself via Chris)

But how on earth could Michael be dismayed that anyone from anywhere speak favourably on his side of an issue? I doubt there was denominatinal advertisement at the rally or in the speech. Simply mentioning the name of an organization one represents, how would that be offensive? As with the religious school debate, who for the most part cares who speaks up on your side, as long as the results are positive. See the blog comments I mention above, and you'll see lots of problems with the UCC. But that, as with the RCC in Ont. ed., and with other traditions, stops me not one whit from validating their open participation, in their own names, in that "public square".

Faith

Submitted by Bram Kivenko on 26 October 2009 - 10:21am.

Michael, were all organizations, religous or not given the same opportunity to make a speech? I probably wouldn't have a problem in that case. Or if the church itself facilitated the event some how, I guess they have the right to say what they want to the exlclusion of other organizations. Presumably you are referring to whether it is ethical to monopolize the discussion (rather than lawful)? If that's the case, I probably agree, but is this unexpected?

I also feel it presumptuous for them to claim how many people are of faith in a crowd of diverse individuals. But it's not like that's a new tactic for religions to employ.

Re: Faith

Submitted by Michael Vaillancourt on 26 October 2009 - 12:00pm.

I'm not sure how it was organized, but I was surprised to find the UCC speaking. It created an us-and-them dynamic, and the purpose was to get individuals out to show support for efforts to combat climate change. I'm not saying they definitely should not have been allowed to participate, but it isn't clear whether groups representing other faiths and worldviews were given an opportunity to participate. For example, the Humanist Association of Canada or Freethought Association of Canada could speak to science and reason, and how we ought to listen to what the scientists are saying. The UCC representative's statement about the worldview of the crowd was inappropriate in my view, but not surprising.

UCC, 350, and KAIROS

Submitted by Erich Jacoby-Hawkins on 26 October 2009 - 8:30pm.

UCC is a key member of KAIROS, who shares many, many values with the GPC and is doing some really good work on environment, social justice, fair trade, poverty, etc.

Saying that there are many people of faith in the audience should not be offensive to anyone (including an atheist like me). It's probably true - she probably recognized faces in the crowd and among other speakers, and may have had faith groups she knew present. Statistically, any random group of Canadians will be about 72% Christian - it would take a very skewed group to have no-one of faith present.

The point in mentioning it is to counter the myth that Christians are all right-wing climate change deniers. That's an important message to get out there, one I'm alwyas happy to hear. Atheists, Humanists, and the rest of our ilk certainly can't do this alone, especially not in a democracy.

I don't think any sincere group would have been turned away from participating and announcing their presence and support.

I'm a big fan of our Key Green Value of Diversity.

Erich Jacoby-Hawkins, Barrie ON - although I'm on Cabinet (Nat'l Rev. and Ecol. Fiscal Reform), views here are my own and may not reflect official GPC positions. Please visit www.ErichtheGreen.ca

UCC at 350 and "Church bell ringing"

Submitted by Michael Vaillancourt on 27 October 2009 - 9:25am.

As usual, I find Erich's post persuasive. It is good to see church organisations involved with efforts like KAIROS, and I agree that their involvement is beneficial - the more voices in support of efforts to stop global warming the better.

A few of the responses suggested I was offended by the UCC's participation. That isn't the case, though as I say I was disappointed (or dismayed may be a more accurate reflection of my feelings) to find the UCC associated with the event. I don't say they should not be permitted to participate, but I don't have to like the fact that they did. It was a PR opportunity for the UCC generally, and religion/faith is not something I support. I'd prefer it if there was less of it. That is my personal view, and I was motivated to express it as Elizabeth was motivated to congratulate the church bell ringers. The next time I attend such an event I will not be so surprised to see church involvement. Perhaps I'll join in with the PR and bring a sign with the message "You can be Green without God". :)

Make allies not enemies; ring the bells together!

Submitted by Matthew Piggott on 26 October 2009 - 10:08am.

I see nothing wrong with a United Church representative making a statement at a climate change event. It is hard for me to say more without having been there myself or having more detailed information on organizing. I will say, however that if a community of faith wants to help organize for climate action then we should work hand in hand.
Kind of like this group:
http://christiansandclimate.org/

See my signature below, it includes, "people of good faith."
(That's small-f, not big-F, haha!)

In Kitchener-Waterloo the event that was organized by 350.org was non-partisan but included a local United Church as the rain meeting spot. Turns out we needed it but from what I gathered none of the 100+ people felt uncomfortable meeting/speaking in the church sanctuary. Speakers included a professor of ethics(a teacher of secular faith?).

This could probably morph into a larger discussion of our society's obsession with stereotypes and images of certain groups whether they be of faith, ethinicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc.. etc... But I'll leave that for another thread.

And while we're at it, have you heard what they're saying about that other sketchy group, "politicians"?!?!!?

Matthew Piggott
Kitchener Centre

"People of good faith, figuring out where we are, not falling victim, making choices, based on our values, with the best available information." These views are my own and do not represent the official position of the Green Party of Canada.

It was a hugely successful global event

Submitted by Darcy Higgins on 26 October 2009 - 11:02am.

Agreeing with Matthew.

Great to see Elizabeth and many Greens at the rally in Ottawa - and congrats across the country.

Time to make allies folks.

Let's build the greatest coalition that ever was.

Darcy Higgins

Green candidate speaks in Winnipeg

Submitted by Scott Harrison on 26 October 2009 - 3:42pm.

Here is a Video produced by the a Green party member from Winnipeg. The Candidate is Jacqueline Romanow who is running in Winnipeg Center. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l726rBDACPc

Please check it out.

Scott Harrison

Video of the Moderator

Submitted by Chris Tindal on 20 November 2009 - 2:36pm.

Sorry this is so late friends, but here's a video of the Moderator's comments at the Queen's Park rally. Form your own opinions about if these comments were helpful and appropriate -- I believe they were.

http://www.christindal.ca/

Nothing offensive in this video

Submitted by Matthew Piggott on 20 November 2009 - 3:25pm.

It's great that we've now been given the chance to see the event in question.

With regards to faith communities she used inclusive words like "IF you are part of..." rather than "you SHOULD be part of a church..." to address this problem. Nothing wrong there. Look as well how she began as well, "each of us has our own reasons for being here..." How is that not inclusive?

Also, I think her point was to frame climate change as a moral issue. Isn't that what Al Gore was trying to do in "An Incovenient Truth"?

I also disagree that this was undeserved "promotion." It seems the United Church will be taking some concrete steps including having a hunger strike on the front porches of Jim Prentince and Stephen Harper. Let's give credit where credit is due.

I'll say it again, make allies not enemies, or you'll end up having a revolution all by yourself ;)