Written by Lavanya Julaniya, CYCC Intern
Climate change poses the biggest challenge of this century. For so many of us, it is already a fight for survival!
Coming from a third world country, India, is one of the worst hit due to climate change. Its devastating impacts are sparing none and are only becoming further visible with time. Struggling to get access to water on a day to day basis or withstanding the unbearable heat which is killing more and more people every single year. To the farmers committing suicides due to lack of water or the islands submerging in Sunder bans.
Climate change is so evident.
It makes me realize the kind of role I need to play in a country so severely impacted by climate change.
However, coming to Canada and working as a G20 campaigner and coordinator with the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition has opened my eyes to hope. Over the past 6 weeks, I have interacted with brilliant minds that are so driven to stop climate change. The level of energy and activism has inspired me and further motivated me to go on pleading for the cause. These young people are pushing hard to make a difference in their communities.
The Canadian government has spent approx $1.3 billion on security to host the 3 day G20. It hasn’t brought any advantage to the average Canadian. The people I interacted with are even disgusted to pay taxes which go into financing high level security events. Three years’ worth of vastly improved health facilities for women and children, $1000 tuition cuts for every student in Canada, 11,000 new construction jobs is what $1 billion could buy, they tell me.
During my time in Toronto, I have witnessed massive movements to resist the policies supported by the G20. It dawned on me that even in an industrialized country like Canada, the citizens are indeed unhappy with the present state of development. They are arguing for Harper’s government to put climate change as an agenda on G20, something the Canadian government is ignoring for so long.
So, what point is the present development if are just moving backwards?
This June 23rd 2010 was deemed as the environmental and climate justice day of action in Toronto. I witnessed probably the greatest march for climate justice in history.
Climate justice organizers and campaigners took a toxic tour of Toronto to expose institutions responsible for the environmental and social impacts of Canada’s extractive industries at home and abroad. The country is also home to 75% of the mining and exploration companies and is home to the destructive Tar sands project in Alberta. The tar sands project in Alberta is the largest industrial project in human history but also the most destructive and unsustainable form of development. It is already spelling disasters for communities.
It was a peaceful demonstration and witnessed hundreds of gathering. I had the privilege to speak with climate activists who so desperately want to bring an end to the mining abuses. Or grandmothers who are worried about the future of their grandchildren. There were people who had flown in from across the country to voice their opinions and take part in the protest. I chatted with students who are so fired up, wanting to bring about a revolution and shouted slogans in an attempt to attain environmental and climate justice.
We also danced to the beats of the Samba band during the march and rapped to, “G8 G20, they few, we many”.
There were several colorful floats and banners displaying the BP oil spill and whether humanity comes first or profits.
People had come dressed up as corporate zombies, clowns. I myself came dressed as an oil sledge to protest against the oil sands and its impact on the planet.
The toxic tour also stopped at various key locations: a branch of RBC, the court house and the Canadian Mining hall of fame. There were climate witnesses too, from Guatemala, Kenya, Alberta and British Columbia who talked about the devastating impact of climate change and the mining abuses. It is eventually, the marginalized communities who have to deal with climate change the most, even though their contribution to it has been the least.
It’s remarkable though, how the climate movement has brought together the youth from across the world. It made me further appreciate the fact that our voices do matter. And what eventually matters is how we use them.
There was an amazing wave of energy flowing thorough the march. I felt so proud that I was out there on the streets being a part of the movement than sitting on my comfortable couch at home.
I walked away with experiences of a lifetime.
ANOTHER WORLD IS INDEED POSSIBLE
