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.

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.

‘350’ refers to parts per million of C02, which leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Climatologists warn that runaway global warming will be catastrophic to humanity and involve widespread species extinction and the flooding of coastal communities.

C-Day: Fill the Hill began with University of Guelph student Gracen Johnson. After hearing David Suzuki quote a former prime minister that filling Parliament Hill with concerned citizens can cause legislative change, Johnson committed to doing just that.

Together with a network of volunteers and partners, C-Day: Fill the Hill is engaging Canadians of all ages, from all walks of life, to tell elected representatives to take meaningful, genuine and concrete action on climate change.

The timing is crucial. From December 7 to 18, world leaders will come together in Copenhagen to try to forge a historic agreement to address the challenges of climate change.

For more, visit www.climateday.ca.

- 30 -

Media Contact:

Hilary Best
hilary@climateday.ca
416-846-9787

Chelsea Vickers
chelsea@climateday.ca
613-883-0349

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.”

The campaign, 350.org, is networking thousands of actions in iconic places around the world to take place on October 24th. Their namesake is 350 parts per million, which leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Events range from underwater demonstrations in the Maldives to a “circle of hope” at the White House in Washington.

In Canada, 350 local residents of Whitehorse will join hands and form a circle around the Yukon Legislature. In Vancouver, the Cambie Bridge will be closed to cars as 350 people take part in a salsa dance for the planet. In Calgary, the “Nightmare Before Copenhagen” costume parade will travel along the Bow River, while other events are planned in Montreal, Halifax and in communities across Canada.

“October 24th is for every Canadian who is concerned that Canada is falling behind other countries in creating clean energy jobs and reducing global warming. We are asking Prime Minister Harper to do more to protect our kids,” said Tzeporah Berman of PowerUP Canada.

In Ottawa thousands of mostly young people from across the country will converge on Parliament Hill (many arriving in buses, paid for by door to door donations and bake sales) to demand stronger action on climate change and they will be joined by an additional 1000 youth who will be attending the Power Shift Canada conference in Ottawa organized by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition.

“Canadian youth are embarrassed by our federal government’s do-nothing approach to climate change,” said Gracen Johnson, Director of C-Day: Fill The Hill. “On Saturday we’ll make our voices heard on Parliament Hill, and the time after that, at the ballot box.”

“At Power Shift Canada we are going to send a message to our elected officials that if they don’t support action on climate change, we’ll elect politicians who do,” said Amber Church, National Director of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition.

“Effective climate action means addressing Canada’s tar sands and coal fired power while building an equitable green energy economy,” said Andrea Harden of the Council of Canadians.

Canada is among the top 10 polluting nations in the world and has the worst record among G8 nations on reducing domestic emissions. Consecutive federal governments have failed to grapple with the challenge and the current government continues to put off rules to control Canada’s expanding emissions.

Partner organizations taking part on October 24: 350.org, Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, Powershift Canada, Council of Canadians, Green Party of Canada, KYOTOplus, C-Day: Fill the Hill, Climate Action Network-Canada, Oxfam Canada, Kairos-Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, PowerUP Canada, Sierra Youth Coalition, West Coast Climate Equity, Cowichan Carbon Busters, Ontario Council on International Collaboration, Institute for Sustainability Action and Education, Vegetarians of Alberta, Step It Up Alberta, Sisters of St. Joseph, David Suzuki Foundation, Indigenous Environmental Network, Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network

Canadians join international day of action against climate change
Global TV

Media Advisory: Award-Winning Filmmaker, Rob Stewart (Sharkwater), to Emcee C …
Market Wire (press release) – ‎Oct 22, 2009‎
What: C-Day: Fill the Hill – The largest citizen mobilization movement on climate change in Canadian history, held in alliance with 350.org’s International …

Unprecedented number of Canadians to take part in world’s largest political …
Canada NewsWire (press release) – ‎Oct 22, 2009‎
“Canadian youth are embarrassed by our federal government’s do-nothing approach to climate change,” said Gracen Johnson, Director of C-Day: Fill The Hill. …

Students look for allies to fight climate change
Belleville Intelligencer – Luke Hendry – ‎Oct 21, 2009‎
Marysville’s Stephanie Whalen and her brother, Justin, are organizing bus trips for what’s being called “C-Day: Fill the Hill,” a peaceful rally intended to …

Students encouraged to Fill the Hill in Ottawa
Ontarian – Guelph,ON,Canada
On Oct. 24, Parliament Hill in Ottawa will be swarmed with people … Gracen Johnson, a 20 year-old environmental advocate and international …

Fill the Hill event to draw attention to climate change
Guelph Mercury – Guelph,Ontario,Canada
Gracen Johnson, a third-year University of Guelph student, and Aiden Abram, an alumnus of the university, are organizing Fill the Hill, an event aimed at …

Guelph Student Aims to ‘Fill the Hill’ on Climate Action Day
Canada Views – Ottawa,Ontario,Canada
… said organizer Gracen Johnson. The 20-year-old environmental advocate and U of G international development student is urging people from all backgrounds …

Making mischief will matter: Grassroots action heats up in lead-up to Copenhagen climate summit
Now Magazine, Toronto, Ontario
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….

Climate Day in Canada: Fill the Hill in Ottawa
thegreenpages.ca
Ottawa – On October 24, thousands of Canadians will converge on Parliament Hill to effect legislative action on climate change…

Media Advisory – Over 100 demonstrations organized across Canada …
Canada NewsWire (press release) – Toronto,Ontario,Canada
Where: The Royal Theatre in Toronto When: Monday September 21st, 7:30pm – Toronto, ON: C-Day Fill the Hill…tck tck tck – demonstration Where: Yonge …

Journey to an Activist
thegreenpages.ca
Gracen Johnson avoided the label ‘activist’ for most of her young life. Now, at 20, the University of Guelph student and self-described environmental advocate, finds herself at the helm of Canada’s largest citizens’ mobilization effort on climate change….

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.”

Highlight activities include Dance Party for the Planet; 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; a t-shirt banner; children’s activities; live music, entertainment and speakers; as well as a group photo to bring home the 350 message.

‘350’ refers to parts per million of C02, which leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Climatologists warn that runaway global warming will be catastrophic to humanity and involve widespread species extinction and the flooding of coastal communities.

C-Day: Fill the Hill began with University of Guelph student Gracen Johnson. After hearing David Suzuki quote a former prime minister that filling Parliament Hill with concerned citizens can cause legislative change, Johnson committed to doing just that.

Together with a network of volunteers and partners, C-Day: Fill the Hill is engaging Canadians of all ages, from all walks of life, to tell elected representatives to take meaningful, genuine and concrete action on climate change.

The timing is crucial. From December 7 to 18, world leaders will come together in Copenhagen to try to forge a historic agreement to address the challenges of climate change.

For more, visit www.climateday.ca.

- 30 -

Media Contact:

Hilary Best
hilary@climateday.ca
416-424-1259

Chelsea Vickers
chelsea@climateday.ca