A tectonic shift in climate politics just happened. Millions of people mobilized to demand climate justice, a just transition, and a Green New Deal. The recent climate strike was the largest climate protest in history, with an estimated 7.6 million people participating on every continent around the world from September 20-27.
B.C.’s groundwater is under threat.
Exports of bottled water from B.C. to the United States increased 1,460% between 2008 and 2018. This is an outrageous trend that has to end.
Municipal governments throughout B.C. and First Nations have just passed a resolution calling on the B.C. Premier John Horgan to stop issuing water licences to commercial water bottling operations in the province.
The resolution passed after Council of Canadians supporters like you and thousands of other B.C. residents flooded mayors’ and city councillors’ mailboxes, pushing for its adoption. Thank you to everyone who took action!
The Council of Canadians mourns the passing of Graeme Gibson, author, educator, activist, friend and founding member our of organization. Gibson passed away on September 18, 2019. “Graeme was a fighter for environmental justice and for the planet. His passion for the natural world informed his life’s work,” said Maude Barlow, Honorary Chair of the Council of Canadians. “We will miss him very much.”
As reported by the Guardian, long-time Council of Canadians activist and former Board member Leo Broderick “often gets up on a soap box, but never tries to put himself on a pedestal.” Broderick was one of three inductees into the Order of Prince Edward Island. He accepted his award at a ceremony earlier this week.
This week, Council of Canadians Honorary Chairperson Maude Barlow is in the Atlantic, speaking in East Coast cities about her new book, Whose Water is it, Anyway? Taking Water Protection Into Public Hands.
The multi-city tour got underway in Ottawa on September 16 where more than 100 people came to the event wanting to know more about what they could do to protect water in their city. Ottawa recently announced it will ban single-use plastics, including bottled water, by 2021. Many of those attending the book tour launch want to the city to go even further and signed up to work together to have Ottawa designated a Blue Community.
Youth are calling on everyone: young people, parents, workers, and all concerned citizens to join massive climate strikes and a week of actions which started on September 20. Join an action for climate justice in Canada on September 27.
The Winnipeg Free Press recently published a book review of Maude Barlow’s new book Whose Water is it, Anyway?: Taking Water Protection Into Public Hands. Written by Matt Henderson, the review explores the book’s themes and concludes it “provides a blueprint for the work and pathway for hope.”
Any time now, B.C. Premier John Horgan and Minister of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations Doug Donaldson will decide whether to extend the Coastal GasLink (CGL) permit to continue clearing a right-of-way for a proposed pipeline intended to run from Groundbirch to Kitimat in British Columbia. Add your voice! Join in showing solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en and send an email to demand that the permit not be extended.
The Council of Canadians supports the demand of the Rotinonhseshá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke that no development occur on Kanehsatà:ke Kanien’kehá:ka ancestral lands without their Free Prior and Informed Consent. The Canadian government has an obligation under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to respect the right to Free, Prior, Informed Consent on decisions that impact First Nations.
The Council of Canadians is working to dismantle colonialism within Canadian society and from all levels of government and public institutions and we reject the ideologies and instruments of colonialism, racism, and misogyny, both past and present.
Kanehsatà:ke Kanien’kehá:ka ancestral lands are under threat from private developers, municipal governments and transnational corporations. The Federal government must place a moratorium on all such development and enter into meaningful negotiations as soon as possible.
Amnesty International Canada is sounding the alarm about the violation of people’s right to freedom of expression, saying critics of Alberta's oil and gas industry face threats, intimidation and violations of their human rights under Premier Jason Kenney's government. The Council of Canadians shares these concerns.
Kenney ran on a promise that included plans to establish an “energy war room” and hold a public inquiry into the alleged foreign funding of groups who oppose or criticize energy developments in the province.