Teen environmental activist Greta Thunberg speaks at Vancouver climate rally
Credit to Author: Tiffany Crawford| Date: Sat, 26 Oct 2019 01:08:31 +0000
International teen climate activist Greta Thunberg is in Vancouver today to speak to a crowd of thousands at a post federal election climate strike.
The 16-year-old from Sweden delivered remarks from the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery following a march around the city’s downtown core.
This demonstration is organized by Sustainabiliteens, the Vancouver youth group that has been staging Fridays for Future rallies inspired by Thunberg, who began going on strike from school on Fridays to protest government inaction to deal with the climate crisis.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg marches during a climate rally in Vancouver on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.
Greta Thunberg delivered a speech from the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery Friday afternoon, saying those in power must understand what they are doing to future generations, and that they must work to ensure their children have a safe future.
“But they are not doing that,” she told thousands of people attending a climate rally in Vancouver on Friday. “As it is now, it feels like they are doing the opposite.”
Thunberg said adults “change the subject” when the climate comes up.
People march in downtown Vancouver, Friday, October 25, 2019 to protest the state of the global environment and listen to speakers, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The 16-year-old expressed her amazement at the size of the crowd, sharing that police said there were 15,000 people in attendance.
“Together, we will make a change,” she said to cheers and applause.
The full text of her speech is available here.
The march has ended, and the group has returned to the Vancouver Art Gallery for another round of speeches, including the highly-anticipated remarks from Greta Thunberg. The teen activist is expected to address the crowd shortly.
School strike week 62 Vancouver, BC. With Severn Cullis-Suzuki!
Police say 15 000 people. #climatestrike #fridaysforfuture #schoolstrike4climate pic.twitter.com/9gg3E17HLF
One imagines she’ll talk mostly about climate change, but perhaps she’ll also comment on the new beetle that’s been named in her honour? Apparently it has two pigtail-like antennae. The tiny beetle is only about 1 mm long, but as Thunberg herself says, you’re never too small to make a difference.
Attending Climate strike in Vancouver today! David Suzuki speaking and Greta Thunberg due to speak later after the match. Great energy! pic.twitter.com/0nCeom2xpc
They are off! More than 8,000 students and their supporters, according to a Vancouver police estimate, have begun their march through the downtown core. They plan to return to the art gallery where Thunberg is expected to address the crowds.
Earlier at the art gallery, group of youth announced they have launched a court case to sue the Canadian government for climate change related harms..
Climate activist Greta Thunberg marches during a climate rally in Vancouver on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.
Some of the young people travelled to Vancouver from other cities for the chance to see Thunberg. On social media, many people wrote welcoming messages for the environmental crusader, and photos were posted of young people crowding on the SkyTrain on their way to downtown.
Newly elected Independent MP Jody Wilson-Raybould attended the rally, tweeting that there is a need for climate action.
Climate Strike rally happening at the Vancouver Art Gallery, with Greta Thunberg. Vancouver showed up again to stress the importance of #ClimateAction now—no excuses! 🌎 ps: was nice to meet my friend, Eva, the artist. pic.twitter.com/p3yNzrHUg3
Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg attends a student-led climate change march and rally in Vancouver, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.
People of ALL ages, not just young people, here in Downtown #Vancouver to hear @GretaThunberg. In numbers impossible to deny, here & all over the world, fighting for the future. #ClimateCrisis #ClimateStrike #ClimateStrikeVancouver #YVR pic.twitter.com/WJVMbgvScI
Also attending were Indigenous leaders and climate activists David Suzuki and his daughter Severn Cullis-Suzuki, who, like Thunberg, gave an impassioned speech to a group of leaders at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 when she was a child.
The court challenge calls on Ottawa to stop conduct that violates their charter rights and to implement a plan that reduces Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions “in a manner consistent with what best available science indicates is needed for the federal government to protect young Canadians, do its fair share to stabilize the climate system, and avert the catastrophic consequences of climate change.”
Crowd members look on as 15 young people announced their plans to sue the federal government because of the impact they say global warming is having on their lives during a press conference at a climate rally in Vancouver on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.
Cathy Boies Parker, a lawyer with Arvay Findlay, told the crowd that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the fundamental rights and freedoms, and the plaintiffs say there is no more of a fundamental right than the right to a stable planet.
“That’s what makes all the other rights and freedoms we have possible to enjoy,” said Boies Parker, as the crowd cheered loudly.
“So what they have said in their lawsuit is that the federal government’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and their failure to regulate them to a safe level has interfered with their life, liberty, and security…”
Crowd members look on as 15 young people announced their plans to sue the federal government because of the impact they say global warming is having on their lives during a press conference at a climate rally in Vancouver on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.
The youth are particularly vulnerable to climate change and they are losing their right to grow up in a stable environment, Boies Parker added.
David Suzuki also spoke to the crowd and offered his support to the youth suing the federal government.
David Suzuki speaks in downtown Vancouver, Friday, October 25, 2019 during an environmental protest that included Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
“Greta has pleaded with politicians to listen to the scientists being ignored even as their messages have become more robust and more urgent,” he said.
“Young people are marching and protesting because they and their future have become collateral damage from continuing political support for the fossil fuel industry so the industry can carry on as business as usual. So now it is time to bring the fight to the Canadian courts.”
Albert (speaking) and 14 co-plaintiffs to the right are suing the federal government for “actively and knowingly contributing to climate change, and not protecting their Charter and public trust rights from harms caused by the climate crisis,” according to a news release. pic.twitter.com/pkCfbYgrcD
Vancouver police spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison anticipated a large crowd. He says there will be officers along the three-kilometre march around the downtown core to “facilitate the peaceful process,” but they do not expect any problems.
Addison added that anyone driving downtown Vancouver should expect traffic disruptions.
VPD anticipates a large crowd and traffic disruptions for this morning’s climate change rally and planned march with Greta Thunberg at the #VanArtGallery. Expect major delays in the downtown core throughout the morning. Follow #VPD Twitter for significant updates. #VanTraffic
TransLink spokesman Ben Murphy also says they are anticipating large crowds and will have additional staff and all SkyTrain cars running. Additional SeaBus sailings and bus services will be added as required, he said.
Earlier, Ocean Wise hosted a “We stand with Greta” pre-rally and sign-making event at 9 a.m. on the plaza outside the Vancouver Aquarium.
Crowd members look on as 15 young people announced their plans to sue the federal government because of the impact they say global warming is having on their lives during a press conference at a climate rally in Vancouver on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.
Five things about Greta Thunberg’s visit to Vancouver
‘Power of Greta’ aims to bring teen climate activists together in Vancouver
Youth to sue Canadian government for climate change harms
Before Greta, there was Severn, the B.C. girl who silenced the world
Samantha Lin, an organizer with activist group the Sustainabiliteens, hopes Thunberg will pressure federal leaders to work harder to reduce emissions.
Samantha Lin near her home in Vancouver, BC, October 23, 2019.
Thunberg arrived in the U.S. in late August after crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a sailboat. She has since been travelling across North America in an electric Tesla Model 3, provided by Arnold Schwarzenegger, to meet with leaders and support local climate activism.
Greta Thunberg arrives in New York after her 15 day boat trip across the Atlantic Ocean.
Thunberg joined a the global Sept. 27 climate strike in Montreal which drew an estimated half a million people. That same day more than 100,000 marched through the streets of Vancouver. Millions more joined the global strike in cities around the world.
The teen has braved several adventures so far in Canada, including a trek to a snow-covered glacier in Jasper National Park to learn from the scientists who study the ice, and a rally in Edmonton at the Alberta Legislature, where she was met with an estimated 10,000 supporters. There she also faced a counter protest from the pro-pipeline group United We Roll.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg, left, and John Pomeroy, director of the Global Water Futures program at the University of Saskatchewan, are shown during a visit to the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg speaks outside the Alberta legislature in a climate strike in Edmonton on Friday, Oct. 18.
On Friday, there could be a large turnout as several of B.C. largest school districts, including Vancouver and Surrey, are closed for a professional development day.
ticrawford@postmedia.com
-With files from Nick Eagland and The Canadian Press