OTTAWA -- Inspired by the actions of one 16-year-old Swedish girl, students in 50 towns and cities across Canada will join hundreds of thousands of students around the world, to strike on Friday in defence of their future.
What began as a lonely protest by 15-year-old Greta Thunberg, has now morphed into a global phenomenon – Fridays for Future Strikes – supported by hundreds of thousands of students. Greta may have been alone for a month and for many Fridays after that, but now she has galvanized young people to give voice to their fears and frustrations, even confronting politicians they perceive as inactive on climate change.
“Imagine being a child and suddenly realising that your prospects in life have been potentially irreversibly compromised by the adult world’s refusal to take decisive action on the climate crisis. What would you do?” asks Green Party Leader Elizabeth May (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands).
Grade 7 student, Rebecca Wolf Gage was inspired by Greta to reduce her carbon footprint by making significant lifestyle changes; in addition to striking on Fridays she’s also organizing climate information sessions for students at her school in Victoria, BC.
“These kids are asking us to be adults, to step up and save the planet,” said Racelle Kooy, Green Party candidate for Victoria, B.C. who is a long-standing supporter of the student strikes there. Ms Kooy and David Merner, Green candidate for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, will join students protesting at the B.C. legislature in Victoria this Friday.
In Quebec nearly 140,000 students from schools, colleges, CEGEPS and universities will take to the streets. “Young people see it very clearly, it is not by buying an oil pipeline (Trans-Mountain) in the west and allowing a gas pipeline in the east (Saguenay Energy Project), that we will get out of the climate crisis,” said Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada, Daniel Green who will march with students in Montreal. “The students' request is clear: “governments must adopt climate legislation that will force the achievement of the targets recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.” The Green Party supports this demand to limit global warming to 1.5°C by reducing CO2 emissions by 45% by 2030" and reaching a "net zero" of emissions by 2050.” Green party candidates and members will join students in Laval, Quebec City, Saguenay and Chicoutimi.
Other Greens getting out to support the students from coast to coast include:
Vancouver, BC - Amita Kuttner, Green candidate: Burnaby North-Seymour;
Nanaimo, BC - Paul Manly, Green candidate: Nanaimo-Ladysmith
Regina, SK - Dale Dewar, Green candidate: Regina-Qu’Appelle
Calgary, AB - Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes, Leader of Green Party of Alberta
Winnipeg, MB - David Nickarz, Green candidate: Wolseley
Winnipeg, MB - James Beddome, Green candidate South-Centre
Quebec, QC - Green candidates: Dalila Elhak, Marcarena Diable and André Voyer
Halifax, NS - Richard Zurawski, Green candidate: Halifax West
Halifax, NS - Lil MacPherson, Green candidate: Dartmouth-Cole
Bridgewater, NS - Thomas Trappenberg, Green candidate: South Shore, St. Margaret’s
Fredericton, NB - Jo-Ann Roberts, Deputy Leader of the Green Party
Charlottetown, PEI - Darcie Lanthier, Green candidate for Charlottetown
“We are in a crisis, and these young people, our children, our grandchildren are speaking out and we need to listen. The Green Party of Canada is listening, and we support the students,” said Ms. May.
Check our website: greenparty.ca for additional events involving nominated Greens.
View cities around the world where climate strikes are taking place:
https://cop24climatestrike.com/event-map/
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For more information or to arrange an interview contact:
Rosie Emery
Press Secretary
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