'Change Attitude, Not the Climate!' - SCM calls for urgent action on climate justice
It’s time to change attitude, not the climate, a cross-Canada network of student spiritual activists announced on the opening day of Copenhagen talks, as they hit the streets to raise awareness of climate justice and garner support.
(Members of SCM Canada’s cross-country student leadership – and SCMers from York and UofT SCM local units – hit the streets of Toronto to launch SCM Canada’s climate justice statement and invite students to pledge their support)
Visit SCM’s Climate Justice Webpage for more info and to sign the statement
Canadian students join global actions demanding climate justice action in Copenhagen
Leaders of the Student Christian Movement of Canada (SCM Canada), a cross-country ecumenical movement founded in 1921, gathered at University of Toronto demanding urgent action from the Canadian government on both climate change and its impacts on the world’s most marginalized and oppressed.
“We need the government on board to take bold, comprehensive action on climate change, now,” said Sheryl Johnson, elected Co-Chair of SCM Canada. “We have a responsibility to the oppressed, to future generations, and to the God’s creation, the Earth.”
The SCM used the opening day of Copenhagen to launch a Solidarity Statement on Climate Justice, which links issues of sustainability with the group’s long-standing activism around anti-oppression, including racial justice, Indigenous solidarity and antipoverty – all from a perspective rooted in their faith.
“We want to raise awareness about Canada’s lack of action to address climate change, and to help garner support,” said Chris Miller, elected Eastern Coordinator on the SCM’s board. “Being part of cross-Canada and global actions gives me a sense that it’s more than just our group on the streets this morning.
“We walk hand in hand across the world, as we join this movement, this force for lasting change. We’re asking foundational questions about humanity’s relationship with creation and the universe.”
The energetic group launched the cross-country Climate Justice manifesto with prayer, candles, singing with live music, and inviting passers-by to sign the statement. Despite some jokes about global warming amidst falling snow, most students were well-informed about Canada’s inaction on climate change at the current global talks in Copenhagen and expressed hope for a new approach.
“Climate change is not only an environmental crisis,” said David Ball, General Secretary of SCM Canada. “This is a fundamental issue of oppression. It is a complete injustice that climate change will hurt the most marginalized people in the world hardest, especially Indigenous people.”
SCM Canada is connected to more than 100 other national SCM movements worldwide, many of which are at the frontlines of the climate crisis. For instance, SCM students have been directly impacted by disasters and flooding in Philippines and Indonesia this year, wildfires in Australia, and are at great risk in coastal areas such as Bangladesh or drought-hit regions.
The Student Christian Movement of Canada is a student-led grassroots network of social justice activists. It’s members – students and other young adults from many denominations across the Christian spectrum, and other faith backgrounds – are involved in local work of social justice, community and spirituality on campuses across the country, from Victoria BC to St John’s NL.
(SCMers gather for Climate Action Day, October 24 on Parliament Hill, Ottawa)
