SCM joins climate justice movement to ‘swarm’ financial district
SCM joined climate activists in making noise in the financial heart of Canada Dec 14 as part of a global day against the Canadian Tar Sands. The ‘noise swarm’ joins with actions around the world in support of Indigenous community leaders and the demand that Canada support climate justice in Copenhagen as well as the UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Attention is being focused on key financial targets and their funding of the devastating Tar Sands project. The message: Canada must sign a science-based, just treaty in Copenhagen; Indigenous rights must be defended; and the world’s people reject Canada’s tar sands and market climate solutions like ‘cap and trade’ as fundamentally unjust.
“Climate change hits Indigenous peoples hardest – it’s really a crime against humanity,” said David Ball, a Toronto demonstrator and General Secretary of the Student Christian Movement of Canada. “From the tar sands nightmare to the government’s refusal to respect Indigenous rights, we have to stand against this injustice and demand climate justice.”
Organizers say Canada has been and continues to be a major roadblock on international agreement on strong science-based targets because of the Tar Sands project in Northern Alberta, and point to the disproportionately harmful impact of the climate crisis on Indigenous communities.
“As the Indigenous Peoples of North America, we are here to tell the world we will not sit on the side lines as the American and Canadian governments systematically kill international climate negotiations,” said Clayton Thomas-Muller, Tar Sands Campaigner for the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), which called for today’s global solidarity actions.
Today’s ‘noise swarm’ – with participants bringing noisemakers of all kinds to disturb business-as-usual – is part of a global day of action with Copenhagen events linked to others in London (UK), Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver and all across North America. Alongside the IEN, the coalition organizing the day of action includes the Rainforest Action Network, Indigenous Peoples Power Project, UK Tar Sands Group and the Council of Canadians.
“The tar sands are a key reason why Canada has failed to take climate action,” said Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the Council of Canadians. “In the same timeframe that Harper promises to cut Canada’s emissions a paltry 3 per cent, tar sands emissions are expected to triple.”
About Indigenous Environmental Network: Indigenous Peoples empowering Indigenous Nations and communities towards sustainable livelihoods, demanding environmental justice and maintaining the Sacred Fire of our traditions. www.ienearth.org/cits
