Current Struggles in Defence of Rights
Huge Climate March and Rally in Vancouver
Tens of thousands of people participated in a huge climate rally and march in Vancouver on October 25.
Long before the scheduled start time, groups and individuals began converging on the rally site, a central square in downtown Vancouver, bringing with them colourful banners and hand-painted placards. Most prominent were thousands of students participating in a Friday school strike for climate, along with large numbers of non-student youth.
There were people of all ages and backgrounds, including mothers with babies or toddlers, seniors, workers, faith groups, community organizations, the differently abled, national minorities and Indigenous people. Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg was present.
There was lots of singing and chanting of slogans such as “Climate Justice Now!” “No Justice. No Peace!” and “The Seas Are Rising and So Are We!” There were a number of Idle No More banners as well as “There Is No Planet B,” “System Change Not Climate Change” and several opposing the pay-the-rich mega projects Site C Dam and TransMountain Pipeline.
The banner “For a Modern Canada that Defends the Rights of All. All Out to Build the New” was appreciated, with numerous pictures taken of it. An Indigenous woman welcomed everyone and there were several other Indigenous speakers. A striking worker at the Georgia Hotel, across the street from the rally, brought greetings of support.
Speaker after speaker urged everyone to unite in order to fight climate change. A number of Chilean flags were held aloft in tribute to Chileans killed and wounded in the brutal violence unleashed by the U.S.-backed Chilean government against the people.
Renewal Update was widely distributed and many people wanted to have discussion about a wide range of concerns, including war and peace, trampling on rights by governments in service of the rich, and the necessity for change.
(Photos: J. Chiu, Khelsilem, Meggster)
This article was published in:
Renewal Update No. 45, October 26, 2019
Article Link:
Current Struggles in Defence of Rights: Huge Climate March and Rally in Vancouver
