“I’m freezing, but that’s better than global warming!” said Naomi Wilson, Dalhousie international development student and concerned citizen. It was a sentiment shared by over four hundred people who rallied at the Halifax Commons Pavilion Saturday afternoon. October 24th marked the International Day of Climate Action, and despite the wet, wind, and cold, hardy Haligonians gathered to raise their voices and numbers to demand action on climate change by government and business, leading up to the Copenhagen climate talks this December.
Individuals, families, the young and old, students, community groups, and their pets arrived wearing climate change fashion, carrying banners, drums, and signs while speeches, live music, and demonstrations were presented. Guest speakers included Halifax MP Megan Leslie, District 12 Councillor Dawn Sloane and meteorologist Richard Zurawski. Both Mayor Kelly and Premier Dexter were invited, but were not in attendance.
A powerful youth demonstration was led by HEAT! (Helping the Earth by Acting Together) a Youth in Action group born from Adventure Earth Center summer programs. The youth held large photos of themselves as infants in 1995, demanding why little to no action on climate change has happened since then - when the world publicly acknowledged that humans cause climate change. HEAT demands strong and immediate climate action and refuses to accept future catastrophe due to lack of leadership by those presently in power.
“We may not be allowed to vote today, but we are all human beings!”said the HEAT group collectively. The group wrapped-up with a catchy and clever rap song and sing-along; the crowd responded with roaring applause.
Over 5200 demonstrations in over 170 countries had 350 as the core theme. Scientists agree that 350ppm (parts per million) is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. A series of studies show that the planet faces both human and natural disaster if atmospheric concentrations of CO2 remain above 350ppm. Currently the global average of CO2 is 390ppm – due mostly to fossil fuel burning; it’s the major reason why ice is melting, drought is spreading and forests are dying (350.org).
The Halifax demonstration closed at 3:50pm with all participants standing shoulder-to-shoulder to form a giant 350 on the ground as a photo was taken from the top floor of the Atlantica Hotel. Such grand variations of the 350-theme were launched around the world to send a clear message to all parties meeting in Copenhagen for climate action, rather than talk, in December.
For more information consult 350.org, videos on youtube.com, and more upon a myriad of social media sites.
The Halifax Day of Climate Action is organized by the Halifax Climate Action Coalition which includes Oxfam, Council of Canadians, Ecology Action Centre, KAIROS, United Church of Canada- Maritime Conference, Sierra Club- Atlantic Chapter, Lutheran Justice Group, Nova Scotia Environmental Network, Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax, and Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council.
