ºClimate Day

Stripping for C-311

// November 25th, 2010 // Comments Off // In The News, Media, Miscellaneous, Press

Killing Bill C-311 was NOT COOL – - see us featured in the Globe & Mail and CBC’s Power & Politics (start at 1:55:00)

Here’s a little press release for you all:

Students bare all to urge action on the shutting down of the Climate Change Accountability Act, Bill C-311

Guelph, ON – On November 16, the Senate voted down Canada’s only piece of climate legislation, Bill C-311, in a snap vote without debate. This Climate Change Accountability Act would have had Canada commit to science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets and implement measures to meet such targets. The Act was passed in the House of Commons twice – first before the 2008 election – thanks in part due to fierce support of Canadians nationwide. Outraged by the loss of this bill in the Senate, students at the University of Guelph organized a public ‘strip mob’ to call attention to the matter.

“The killing of Bill C-311 undermines Canadian democracy,” said Gracen

Johnson, an event organizer. “Canada has embarrassingly weak carbon reduction targets without even a plan to meet them. Bill C-311 was our chance to restore some dignity on the international scene; dignity that has been evaporating under the Harper government as was made clear by the loss of our seat on the UN Security Council.”

The death of Bill C-311 comes at a critical time, as Canada takes part in the UN Climate Conference (COP16) in Cancun, Mexico from November 29 – December 10.

“Rather than showing leadership, Canada is heading to Mexico with no plan. Not only do we not have targets that will adequately mitigate dangerous climate change, but Canada does not even have sufficient policy in place to achieve those minimal reductions in greenhouse gas emission,” says Yvonne Su, fellow organizer and videographer. “It’s unacceptable.”

In a spontaneous burst of music, dancing, and undressing to undergarments, these students had a campus eatery in startled fits of laughter and cheering. The event was caught on film and has been spreading virally on Youtube and Facebook since, accruing 1200 views in a matter of hours. The video calls on Canadians to contact their MPs and Stephen Harper and express their disappointment in the loss of C-311 and the need for a national climate action plan.

“Canada has nothing to put on the table in Cancun, except for maybe a coupon for dirty oil and a dead duck,” says Johnson. “The sooner we can change that, the sooner we can call Canada a leader once more. I want to be proud of my country again.”

Canadians from all backgrounds have been expressing dismay over the Senate’s decision to kill Bill C-311. Rick Mercer dedicated his regular ‘Rant’ to the topic on November 24^th, calling the move, “so undemocratic nobody actually believed any Canadian government would do it.”

Watch the video.

C-Day Media Advisory

// October 23rd, 2009 // Comments Off // In The News, Media, Press

Ottawa, ON – On October 24, thousands of Canadians will converge on Parliament Hill to effect legislative action on climate change prior to the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen this December. This rally is called C-Day: Fill the Hill (www.climateday.ca), and is being organized by a Canadian citizens’ collective exemplifying new-age grassroots mobilization.

The C-Day rally is Canada’s largest among more than 4,000 networked worldwide on the International Day for Climate Action, established by 350.org. C-Day: Fill the Hill has partnered with KYOTOplus, Oxfam Canada, Power Shift Canada, AVAAZ and the Canadian Federation of Students, to name a few, to assist with programming and recruitment.

Programming highlights include a 1000-person flash dance by Power Shift Canada; collective mobile messaging to Environment Minister, Jim Prentice; a GreenFinger Photo Shoot, where photos will be sent to world leaders when they meet in Copenhagen in December; children’s activities; live music, entertainment and speakers; and our grand finale human hourglass to bring home the 350 message. (more…)

Unprecedented number of Canadians to take part in world’s largest political demonstration against climate change

// October 23rd, 2009 // Comments Off // In The News, Press, Word on The Hill

by Tzeporah Berman

Canada 2nd only to U.S. in number of activities planned for global day of action

OTTAWA, Oct. 22 /CNW/ – Tens of thousands of Canadians from all walks of life and from every province and territory will hit streets, auditoriums and Parliament Hill this Saturday, joining millions of people taking part in more than 4000 events registered in 169 countries, in support of stronger federal action and a global agreement on climate change in the weeks before the landmark UN summit in Copenhagen.

Canada is second only to the United States in terms of the number of events planned.

“We are sending a simple message to Canada’s political leaders that with mere weeks before Copenhagen, the time for games is over,” said May Boeve from 350.org. “Canadians want bold action to force down Canada’s greenhouse gas pollution, with real targets and real timelines that respect the safe limits on greenhouse gases established by the world’s scientists.” (more…)

Press Release – Pass it on and make a pitch to your local media!

// October 9th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // In The News, Media, Press

Largest National Climate Change Rally to Fill Parliament Hill on October 24

Français ici.

Ottawa, ON – On October 24, thousands of Canadians will converge on Parliament Hill to effect legislative action on climate change prior to the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen this December. This rally is called C-Day: Fill the Hill (www.climateday.ca), and is being organized by a Canadian citizens’ collective exemplifying new-age grassroots mobilization.

The C-Day rally is Canada’s largest among over 1700 worldwide on the International Day for Climate Action, coordinated by 350.org. C-Day: Fill the Hill has partnered with KYOTOplus, Avaaz, Oxfam Canada, Power Shift Canada, and the Canadian Federation of Students, to name a few, to assist with programming and recruitment.

“We hear of more people coming every day and we have been developing an efficient system of regional networking,” says C-Day Founder, Gracen Johnson. “On my own campus at the University of Guelph, our Fill the Hill sign-up and information session was the largest student-organized meeting I’ve ever attended.” (more…)

Featured in NOW Magazine

// October 8th, 2009 // Comments Off // Media, Press

We’ve got wheels and we’re rolling downhill! The story is picking up.

Here’s what NOW Magazine of Toronto is saying:

Since the pen is said to be a mighty weapon in the right hands, next week’s Blog Action Day is a potentially arresting innovation of another kind. The intent is to unite the world’s bloggers around a common climate theme for one day on October 15. If writers and readers unite, the combined audience of the blogosphere’s outpourings could be mammoth.

The following week, October 24 is International Day of Climate Action, and the big push is for a large “fill the hill” action on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Check out climateday.ca. for info on Ottawa, and 350.org for Toronto plans.

Read the whole article here.