Lower Mainland People’s Assembly Calls for Climate Justice and Immediate Action to Prevent a Climate Change Catastrophe!

Over 75 people gathered Tuesday evening at SFU’s Harbour Centre for Metro Vancouver’s first “People’s Assembly on Climate Justice”. Last night’s participants are determined to build the movement here through an ongoing series of such meetings combined with dramatic actions to highlight their demand for Climate Justice. The first such mass direct action is already planned for Saturday December 11 at 12 noon, beginning at the Howe Street exit of the Waterfront Skytrain Station.

“We have all been sandbagged on climate change by the Harper government – and the provincial government as well. Now is the time to turn the tables on the climate criminals,” said Surrey Council of Canadians member Karin Johnson.

Following an action in October where sandbags filled from the South Fraser Freeway pre-load were used to raise a North Surrey dike, it is anticipated that one or more downtown locations will be the target this time.

“We are going to have to turn up the heat, if we are going to turn down the heat,” Delta Council of Canadians member Bob Ages told the gathering, “We will follow in the footsteps of the thousands in the civil rights movement who engaged in peaceful civil disobedience and would not back down in their fight for justice. Is the survival of humanity itself a cause any less worthy of our support and commitment?”

Speakers at Saturday’s action will include Harold Steves, the former provincial cabinet minister credited with creating the Agricultural Land Reserve which is now threatened by massive freeway projects. He will be joined by Irene Lazinger, past president of the BC Teachers Federation and newly elected secretary-treasurer of the BC Federation of Labour. The BC Federation of Labour Convention last week adopted a resolution condemning the Senate’s killing of the Climate Change Accountability Act and supporting the movement for Climate Justice. Ms. Lazinger declared, “Our delegates’ overwhelming support for the resolution on Climate Justice marks an important new stage in labour’s active engagement in this crucial struggle to save the planet.”

Inspired by the April 2010 World's People Conference on Climate Change and Mother Earth Rights in Cochabamba Bolivia – attended by over 35,000 - the Climate Justice Movement brings together environmentalists, social justice advocates, labour unions and indigenous communities in common cause.

The Assembly and Mass Direct Action are organized by three Lower Mainland chapters of the Council of Canadians, the Canada-Bolivia Solidarity Committee and GatewaySucks.org.