Greater Victoria students ditch class to strike for action on climate change
More than 300 middle and high school students from across Greater Victoria walked out of classes to take part in the “Our Earth – Our Future” strike for climate action on Friday.
The student strike was organized by two Vic High students who say they are rallying for all climate injustice, from old-growth logging in Fairy Creek to the plight of the endangered Southern Resident Killer whales. They say by holding the rally, youth will feel empowered to speak up and demand an end to the catastrophic effects of climate change.
“When we speak, it’s so important that we are heard by other people,” said rally co-organizer Solange Dorsainvile. “If it means we have to leave school and be on the streets so people can hear us, that’s what we have to do, because its our future and our children’s future.”
After acknowledging the territory and unceded rights of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ speaking peoples, the group marched to Victoria’s Centennial Square.
Once there, students heard speeches from activists about the need to protect old-growth forests as a means sequester carbon and mitigate the effects of climate change.
“We’re fighting Canada’s lack of action against climate change,” said rally co-organizer Talia Collins. “It’s so frustrating to see all this talk about climate change and climate action, but no real action and no real laws are being put in place.”
Collins says she wants to see an end to fracking and is calling for an end to oil tanker traffic in the waters off Vancouver Island.
“We don’t see any real action, but we hear lots of talk from the NDP, we hear lots of talk from Trudeau, but I’m not seeing any true action,” said Collins. “It’s very frustrating, and as someone who can’t vote, it doesn’t seem like democracy to me.”
Collins says events, like the student strike, are important because they bring a diverse group of young people together to talk about the damaging effects of climate change.
Collins says she is calling for oil exploration and pipelines to be de-funded. She says companies and governments need to make more investments in green technology to end people’s reliance on fossil fuels.
“The future just needs to become more green,” said Collins. “We know our time is running out and we speak of economic balance, but there is no 50/50 balance between economic development and the environment as long as we continue to rely on fossil fuels.”
Collins says there needs to be a focused effort to expand public transit and produce green sources of electricity throughout the country.
“These are things that need to happen in order for us to meet our carbon goals by 2050,” said Collins. “I’m here because I want to give youth a platform and I want people to feel supported and uplifted.”
Collins says she and Dorsainvile will continue to organize student strikes until all levels of government take concrete steps to avert the climate crisis.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.