D8 – Canadians for Kyoto
Posted by Peter Endisch on December 19th, 2007 at 01:32 PST (Events, Global Climate Change)
December 8th – Global Day of Action on Climate Change
That was the day that marked the half way point of negotiations on the future of fight against Climate Change in Bali, Indonesia. This was a historical moment – UN meeting with 190 nations, with 10,000 delegates, journalist, envoys and other people related to the event, to hammer out the successor to the Kyoto protocol, which expires in 2012.
To mark the occasion, grassroot groups, together with established NGOs (non-governmental organizations) all around the world put on rallies to pressure the governments into real action on climate change. Rallies took place in 37 cities in Canada and in 84 countries around the world. Impressive feat! The day of global action – D8 – as it became known, was the biggest global rally on climate change to date.
In Vancouver, I’ve been approached by the Western Canada Wilderness Committee to put on the event. This was a great honour, because I am a newcomer on the environmental scene and have never organized an event or spoken publicly before. After some thought and getting the endorsement by Ryan Windsor, the founder of WEAN – a group I organize together with Ryan – I agreed.
Needless to say, organizing the event was quite an experience. It was not an easy job, and I have practically worked full time on it for three weeks, on top of my 9-5 job. However it was an experience well worth it. Thanks to the help of our partners and few dedicated individuals, we pulled it off. We were able to get David Suzuki to come out and speak, and we had a slew of great speakers. We also engaged people in innovative ways – such as texting Harper via cell phone – to get the message across to our government that Canadians want change and real leadership on Climate Change.
Canadians for Kyoto was a total success. I actually managed to sound coherent :) as an MC, and people really loved the event. We had excellent media coverage, and made top news! on TV and several news radios. I was also interviewed by few newspapers.
As a consequence of organizing the event, I have forged some invaluable relationships with other grassroot groups all across Canada and we are all itching to get going on the issue of Climate Change in the new year.
I could not have been pleased more. We pulled it off!
Here are some stats and info about the event
Around the world on December 8, a global climate movement took to the streets. Highlights of demo sizes include: Uganda: 2000, London: 6000 (in the rain), Jordan: 200, Athens: 5000, Istanbul: 5000, Dubai: 1300, Senegal: 500, Delhi: 1000, Belgium: 4000, Athens: 5000, Sweden: 1000, Paraguay: 500, South Africa: 200, New Zealand: 2000, China: 20 different universities, Delhi: 1000, Manila: 700, Tanzania: 200, Germany: 10,000, Taiwan: 10,000.
Below are highlights we have had reported in from December 8 actions across Canada. These numbers have the potential to grow dramatically for future demonstrations as we keep organizing. Note that these reports are incomplete, as they were obtained as the events were going on. The numbers ended up probably even bigger
COLLINGWOOD, ON
We gave out 1700 energy efficient light bulbs and a To Do List for people to have in their homes. The event was very successful.
EDMONTON, AB
We had over 150 out for a very cold climate funeral in Edmonton. Lots of media coverage, the raging grannies, a real priest, much music and more. You can see pics up on our face book site: http://www.facebook.com/album
FREDRICTON, NB
45 people showed up to the rally
CORNER BROOK, NFLD
Check out www.wecnl.ca for photos and videos on the Corner Brook event for Global Climate Action Day
GUELPH, ON
Between 200 and 300 came out to protest in Guelph, with lots of signs and enthusiasm on a cold cloudy day. Our event Cool the Planet was supported by Council of Canadians, Wellington water watchers, Guelph Urban Forest Friends, Guelph Environmental Leadership, Guelph Civic League, Guelph Peace Community , Voice of Women and the Unitarians. The UN flag will fly at City Hall all week and we are keen to do another event on Feb 2nd (SPP), March 22nd (world water day) and April 22 (Earth Day). Dave Sills and James Gordon and Katherine Wheatley , all local folk singers, gave us good songs.. and we had dozens of signs and tea towels with messages like.. “The light is Red. Stop Climate Chaos!” and “No subsidies.. Tax Carbon now!” and “No wars, No warming!” http://guelphnow.ca/npps/story
LONDON, ON
We had 350-400 at noon for the rally listening to speakers. (newspaper said 75) We had hundreds visit our ‘eco lounge’ over the 4 hours.
OTTAWA, ON
Ottawa’s action brought out 500 people, and featured speakers included NDP MP Paul Dewar, Liberal MP John Godfrey, Canadian Labour Congress Vice President Marie Clarke Walker, Sierra Club of Canada Executive Director Stephen Hazell, Climate Action Network Executive Director Graham Saul, Ottawa City Councillor and Author Clive Doucet, CYCC National Director Barbara Hayes, Indigenous Environmental Network activist Clayton Thomas Muller, Mamby Fofana from Mali, Christine Jones co-chair of the Canadian Peace Alliance and chair of ACT for the Earth, and Dylan Penner from the Stop Climate Chaos coalition. We did a call in to John Baird’s office from the steps of Parliament Hill.
PHOTOS: http://picasaweb.google.ca
VIDEO: http://youtube.com/watch?v
MONTREAL, QC
Several hundred participated in the Montreal climate march.
NELSON, BC
About 50 people in Nelson, and all wrote letters to Stephen Harper. Captain Climate was there, and had a battle with Evil C02 guy. The crowd sang the excellent Climate Christmas carols.
PETERBOROUGH, ON
Around 80 people showed up for the rally
REGINA, SK
In Regina, SK, with a temperature of minus 20 degrees, between 150 and 200 people listened to speakers for one hour speak on the need for action against climate change now.
SALT SPRING ISLAND, BC
200 people came to our event on Salt Spring (population 10,000), so that represents about 2% of our population
ST. JOHN, NB
35 people attended the rally.
TORONTO, ON
More than 3,000 people of all ages rallied at Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown Toronto on December 8th to participate in the climate change global day of action, and then went on to march to Queen’s Park to call on government to implement meaningful policies to reduce emissions in Canada. The next event of the Toronto Climate Campaign will be a Bali Report Back meeting on January 26th, 2008.
VANCOUVER, BC
Vancouver’s protest had a turnout of 600, and featured Dr. David Suzuki.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=77127&id=797755365
http://picasaweb.google.com
http://ubc.facebook.com/video/
WINDSOR, ON
50 people turned up.
WINNIPEG, MB
About 50 people came out and froze their butts off! i have also asked others to send pics.
Media Coverage
Please note, that several media outlets have incorrectly stated that “50 cities around the world” had protests on December 8. The reality is that we had nearly that many in Canada alone, with actions taking place in over 87 COUNTRIES. Many other countries also had actions in more than one city. Please write letters to the editor if you see this to correct your local media, and encourage them to visit climatechaos.ca and globalclimatecampaign.org for their fact checking.
National
http://youtube.com/watch?v
Toronto/Edmonton/Vancouver
http://canadianpress.google
Regina:
http://www.canada.com/reginalea
Montreal/National:
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story
Toronto/Global:
http://www.thestar.com/News
Cornerbrook, NL
http://www.thewesternstar.com
Kingston:
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleD
Demonstrators tell Ottawa: We want `Kyoto now’
http://www.thestar.com/News
Hundreds across Canada rally to demand Ottawa take action on climate change
http://metronews.ca/storyCP
Anti-Climate Change Rally Held At Queen’s Park
http://www.citynews.ca/news
T.O. joins world for climate rally
http://www.torontosun.com/News
David Suzuki (the Nature of Things) calls the government’s spin on climate change “humiliating” and “ludicrous”
http://www.thestar.com/News
The former editor-in-chief of CBC news discusses the damage done by Canada’s climate policy to our international reputation:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoin
The Fossil of the Day Award site:
http://www.avaaz.org/fossils
Worldwide protests call for urgent action to fight global warming
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS
Bali turns up the heat: Canada, U.S. accused of undermining international effort to cut global-warming emissions
http://www.torontosun.com/News
Opposition rips Harper on Bali stance
http://www.nationalpost.com
Canada accused of undermining climate talks
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet
Canada could “derail” climate talks: activists
http://www.canada.com/ottawacit
No report coverup, PM says
http://www.canada.com/ottawacit
David Anderson . Climate change leadership
http://www.canada.com/ottawacit
Demonstrators ski, march, eat fire to protest climate change
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story
Hundreds protest Harper’s climate change position
http://www.theglobeandmail.com
Stopping Climate Chaos
http://www.achannel.ca/ottawa
Canada signing climate treaty without U.S. like ‘unilateral disarmament’: Baird
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story
McGuinty slams Harper’s climate stance
http://www.thestar.com/News
No climate deal without U.S. signing: Baird
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet
Canada climate hypocrite, UN envoy says
http://www.theglobeandmail.com
Business gets a voice on Canadian delegation at Bali: Environmentalists and MPs excluded by Ottawa cry foul over federal government’s decision to give executives a place at the table
http://www.theglobeandmail.com
