ºClimate Day

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.

Everybody’s Talking! Featured in the University of Guelph news!

// October 7th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // In The News, Media, Word on The Hill

Here we are featured in the University of Guelph press!

Guelph Student Aims to ‘Fill the Hill’ on Climate Action Day

October 07, 2009 – News Release

A University of Guelph student is spearheading a national initiative to get thousands of people to gather on Parliament Hill on Oct. 24 to push for action on climate change.

Climate Day: Fill the Hill will be the largest event to take place in Canada as part of the International Day of Climate Action, said organizer Gracen Johnson. The 20-year-old environmental advocate and U of G international development student is urging people from all backgrounds and all parts of the country to carpool, charter buses, take trains or use any other form of sustainable transportation to Ottawa and help make history.

“By coming together on Oct. 24, Canadians from all walks of life can make their voices heard on the most important issue facing our planet,” said Johnson, whose activism was inspired by hearing David Suzuki say that the only way to affect legislative action on climate change is to fill Parliament Hill with concerned citizens.

“It’s not intended to be an angry finger-wag at the government,” she said. “We just want to show our politicians that Canadians not only support them in making some difficult and brave choices in order to do what’s right, but we also insist they do what’s right, rather than what’s easy or politically expedient.” (more…)

Template Press Release for Trekkers

// October 3rd, 2009 // Comments Off // Media, Press

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[DATE]

LOCATION – [NAME] of [LOCATION] have announced that they will make the trek to Parliament Hill on October 24 for C-Day: Fill the Hill, the largest citizen mobilization movement on climate change in Canadian history.

[YOUR QUOTE]

October 24 is the International Day of Climate Action. 350.org is assembling thousands of rallies around the world. C-Day: Fill the Hill will be among the largest globally. (more…)

Press Release: C-Day Flashmob September 21

// September 17th, 2009 // Comments Off // Media, Press, Word on The Hill

Please read and distribute this press release!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 17, 2009

Toronto, ON – C-Day: Fill the Hill will stage a flash mob at Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square at 12:18pm on September 21 to urge world leaders to commit to science-based targets on greenhouse gas emissions. (more…)

Journey to an Activist – Student Amasses Thousands for Largest Canadian Rally on Climate Change

// September 11th, 2009 // Comments Off // Blog, Media

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.

Embracing the word ‘activism’ has become an act of faith.

Her transition from local advocate to national campaigner was very quick. It happened while watching George Stroumboulopoulos interview David Suzuki on The Hour, a popular CBC talk show. Suzuki quoted a “former prime minister” who claimed that the only way to affect legislative action on climate change is to fill Parliament Hill with concerned citizens.

“As I watched David Suzuki recite that quote, the effect was immediate,” says Johnson, a native of London, Ontario. “I had been trying all my life to be a good steward of the earth. Yet, there he was, telling me exactly what I needed to do if I actually wanted change. I sort of sat stunned once the clip was over, imagining what I now must do.” (more…)