琉璃神社 was just one of the hundreds of locations across the world to participate in the Global Climate Strike on Friday (Sept. 24).
Nearly 50 people rallied outside of city hall before marching down Bernard Avenue and delivering a letter demanding climate action to 琉璃神社-Lake Country MP-elect Tracy Gray鈥檚 office.
鈥淲e thought it was important to get out here because although climate activism isn鈥檛 thriving in 琉璃神社, we鈥檙e still here and we still gotta make some noise,鈥� said Ben Cuthbert, a member of Fridays for Future 琉璃神社.
The event was a collaborative effort between Fridays for Future 琉璃神社, Okanagan Climate Hub, Extinction Rebellion 琉璃神社 and 350 Canada.
鈥淚鈥檓 so glad the youth are here, because we鈥檙e here for you,鈥� said Tracey Davis of Okanagan Climate Hub.
Devon Murray, a 13-year-old student at Dr. Knox Middle School, said that she was overwhelmed by the number of people in attendance.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so upsetting to see that we still have to talk about this, that I have to skip school, make posters and do all this work just so we can be heard, addressed and it鈥檚 not fair,鈥� said Murray, who credited her teacher, Ms. Dominelli, for inspiring her to take action against climate change.
鈥淲e have it easy 鈥� there are so many people that have it so hard. It鈥檚 just so unfair. I鈥檓 just so happy to have everybody here,鈥� said Murray.
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At around 11:30 a.m., the crowd gathered outside of city hall, where they made posters with messages that included 鈥淭here is no Planet B,鈥� 鈥淪mokanagan = Climate Emergency鈥� and 鈥淐limate Action Now.鈥�
Short speeches were made and the crowd made their way towards Bernard Avenue at around 12 p.m. Equipped with their signs and a giant banner that read 鈥淐limate Emergency, Act Like It,鈥� demonstrators repeated chants as they walked, such as 鈥淯proot the system鈥� and 鈥淐limate action is what we need, not billionaires and corporate greed.鈥�
The group marched down Bernard Avenue, drawing the attention of on-lookers and halting traffic along the way. At the intersection of Bertram Street and Bernard Avenue, the crowd looped back down Bernard before turning onto St. Paul Street, where Gray鈥檚 office is located.
鈥淚 just want to know that Tracy understands just how seriously this emergency needs to be taken,鈥� said Cuthbert.
鈥淎lso, I really want to hear her acknowledge that all these crises 鈥� Indigenous law rights, racism, sexism, unequal COVID vaccine distribution 鈥� all these crises and issues are all tied together. You can鈥檛 talk about one without talking about them all. I just want to hear her acknowledge that.鈥�
While Gray wasn鈥檛 present at her office, Cuthbert taped a letter demanding climate action on the building鈥檚 entrance. The letter, signed by Fridays for Future 琉璃神社, reads as follows:
鈥淒ear Tracy Gray, MP, This summer, the Okanagan was on fire. We can鈥檛 go on like this. As our voice in Ottawa, will you:
- Recognize that we need to cut emissions immediately and work to end the extraction and burning of fossil fuels?
- Work for a just, global COVID-19 recovery by fighting to end IP restrictions on vaccines?
- Condemn state violence against land defenders and environmental activists, and respect and listen to Indigenous peoples?
鈥淓verything is connected. We are counting on you to fight for our future.鈥�
Kyle Rogers, a first-year political science student at UBCO, said that he hopes that Gray recognizes that climate change is a real issue.
鈥淐orporations aren鈥檛 going to do anything unless they鈥檙e forced to. They鈥檙e incentivized to make the most money,鈥� said Rogers. 鈥淎t the moment, climate action isn鈥檛 in business鈥� best interest. I鈥檇 encourage her to make it so that is in their best interest.鈥�
When reached for comment, Gray said she doesn鈥檛 comment on correspondence received from constituents or protests but added she has 鈥渂een clear that in Ottawa I will fight to end the Liberal鈥檚 hypocrisy on the environment.鈥�
Editor鈥檚 note: This story was updated at 6:30 p.m. with comment from MP-elect Tracy Gray.
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aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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