nationalobserver--2020-09-25--U.S. voters want to use climate change policies to rebuild the economy after COVID

This story originally appeared in Vice Media and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now , a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story A majority of U.S. voters want to see corrective climate change policies and the creation of jobs in the clean energy sector as a way to recover from the mismanagement and economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic , according to a new poll .
The poll , conducted by VICE Media Group and several partners , found that 54 % of Americans disapprove of President Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see Congress take a more aggressive stance in stamping out the coronavirus for good .
Two of the most supported methods of recovering were job training for workers who left the fossil fuel industry and a carbon tax on companies with high annual emissions .
VICE and its survey partners The Guardian , Covering Climate Now , the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication , and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication all released the new numbers Wednesday .
A total of 1,517 registered Democrats , Republicans , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 9 .
According to the poll , 78 % of voters , regardless of party , support retraining former fossil fuel workers and thrusting them into renewable energy jobs as a way to reinvigorate the economy .
The poll also found that 68 % of voters support a carbon tax .
• Courts can 'no longer ignore ' First Nations laws , Supreme Court hears in carbon tax case Two-thirds of voters surveyed also support a massive , multi-trillion-dollar federal stimulus that would prioritize clean and renewable energy infrastructure , while 71 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government offer aid to the cities and towns most vulnerable to the effects of climate change like hurricanes , flooding , and more .
The findings reflect the growing awareness that climate change is both real and serious , despite President Trump ’ s reluctance to acknowledge the overwhelming evidence from the world ’ s scientific community .
In the same poll , 65 % of voters said they want to see Congress and the next president draft a serious , comprehensive bill addressing how the U.S. plans to fight climate change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lead up to the election , three-quarters of Americans want to see Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden talk about climate change during the upcoming presidential debates .
“ Despite opposition from some elected Republicans , climate and renewable energy policies continue to be popular across party lines , ” said Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz , director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication .
“ Americans support major investments to accelerate the transition to clean energy and participation in the worldwide effort to reduce carbon pollution.
” Only 32 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fossil fuels over the development of the clean energy industry in the recovery from coronavirus .
And 68 % of voters believe that a national effort to embrace clean energy would not only help bolster the economy , it would incentivize private companies to do the same .
A poll conducted by VICE News and several partners shows that U.S. voters want job training for workers who left the fossil fuel industry as well as a carbon tax .
# USpolitics # USelection2020 Since the start of the pandemic in March , fossil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industries in the U.S. As businesses closed their doors and fewer Americans found themselves commuting to work , the already unstable industry found itself struggling to stay profitable .
This year , demand for coal , oil , and gas fell to lows not seen since the end of World War II .
As of July , the US government had infused more than $ 3 billion to help more than 5,600 companies stay afloat during the pandemic , according to The Guardian .

This story originally appeared in Vice Media and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story
A majority of U.S. voters want to see corrective climate change policies and the creation of jobs in the clean energy sector as a way to recover from the mismanagement and economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new poll.
The poll, conducted by VICE Media Group and several partners, found that 54% of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s handling of the pandemic, while 78% of Americans want to see Congress take a more aggressive stance in stamping out the coronavirus for good. Two of the most supported methods of recovering were job training for workers who left the fossil fuel industry and a carbon tax on companies with high annual emissions.
VICE and its survey partners The Guardian, Covering Climate Now, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication all released the new numbers Wednesday. A total of 1,517 registered Democrats, Republicans, and Independents were surveyed online between Sept. 8 and 9.
According to the poll, 78% of voters, regardless of party, support retraining former fossil fuel workers and thrusting them into renewable energy jobs as a way to reinvigorate the economy. The poll also found that 68% of voters support a carbon tax.


nationalobserver--2020-09-25--Liberal promise on national child care provokes mixed response

Advocates say they 're heartened by the Trudeau government ’ s throne speech pledging a national child-care program , but the NDP says it 's holding off any praise until concrete plans and dollars are in place .
“ I ’ m very hopeful because the throne speech made it clear that the federal government understands that this is an ambitious program , ” said Morna Ballantyne , executive director of Child Care Now , a national child-care advocacy organization .
The country ’ s economic recovery from COVID-19 depends on building a national early learning and child-care system that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get back to work , said Ballantyne on Thursday .
Building a nationwide , universal child-care system is a legacy project with the potential to transform Canada , Ballantyne said , adding the idea has been discussed for decades .
“ The collapse of child care during the pandemic has convinced many more across the Canadian spectrum that transformation of child care in Canada is essential , ” she said .
• Courts can 'no longer ignore ' First Nations laws , Supreme Court hears in carbon tax case The throne speech presented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new parliamentary session Wednesday outlined the federal government ’ s priorities for the pandemic recovery upon its return to Parliament .
Women , racialized Canadians , and young people have faced most of the job losses during the pandemic — typified by double-digit unemployment and high underemployment , the speech stated .
And women , particularly low-income earners , are on the front lines of the pandemic , or shouldering much of the burden of unpaid care work at home .
“ We must not let the legacy of the pandemic be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women ’ s participation in the workforce , nor one of backtracking on the social and political gains women and allies have fought so hard to secure , ” Payette said , reading from the speech .
It ’ s been almost 50 years since the Royal Commission on the Status of Women outlined the necessity of child-care services for women ’ s social and economic equality , the speech stated .
“ Mothers who have been able to stay in the labour force by working at home are finding it just an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Morna Ballantyne , of Child Care Now , on the urgency to establish a national child-care system .
# cdnchildcare “ Recognizing the urgency of this challenge , the government will make a significant long-term sustained investment to create a Canada-wide early learning and child-care system , ” Payette read .
Words are not enough , NDP says The Liberal throne speech reflects many of the federal NDP ’ s priorities before and during the COVID-19 crisis , said Rachel Blaney , NDP party whip , on Thursday .
“ It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberals have made historically , ” said Blaney , MP for North Island-Powell River .
“ We 're looking forward to seeing what the child-care program will look like , but the Liberals often offer pretty words that sound very good , very progressive , but they don ’ t follow through.
” The NDP is looking for action from the federal government and intends to push them to make good on their promises , Blaney added .
Before the federal government prorogued Parliament , NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh had called for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operators and reopen child-care spaces that were extinguished by the pandemic .
In addition , Singh called for a further $ 10 billion from Ottawa over the next four years to establish an affordable and accessible universal child-care system .
Ballantyne said the immediate $ 2 billion was necessary just to save the child-care spaces that existed prior to the pandemic .
But realizing the promise of a national child-care system will require a long-term plan and far-reaching investment by the federal government , she said .
“ We ’ ll need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multi-year financial commitment if we want to be able to really fully develop the system by both expanding the number of spaces , ( while ) also making inroads to make those spaces more affordable.
” ” Ballantyne said .
But the federal government needs to establish the national framework and delivery of public child-care , stressed Ballantyne .
“ The child-care crisis is not going to get fixed by trying to transfer additional cash to parents and hope it ’ s somehow possible for them to find adequate , reliable , high-quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The solution rests in actually funding the supply of child care .
That 's a critical piece.
” Rachel Blaney , NDP North Island-Powell River MP , says parents in her riding , particularly women , can not return to work because child care is too expensive or difficult to find .
Photo supplied by the NDP .
Blaney said many of her constituents , particularly women , are being hindered from going back to work due the lack of availability and the expense of child-care .
And given COVID-19 ’ s economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more unlikely to be able to afford the high cost of child care , Blaney said .
“ This is , of course , impacting women , largely , who want to return to work , have the capacity to return to work , but do not have any child care because the child-care spaces that were already scarce have become even more so , ” Blaney said .
Quebec ’ s universal child-care model demonstrated there is a return on investments in childcare , she said .
“ As soon as there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women returned to work , ” Blaney said .
“ And , it really had a huge impact on the economy .
So , it 's a win-win.
” Ballantyne said the pandemic not only exposed the fragility of a provincial , patchwork system of child care , but also placed women in untenable situations .
Many women were forced out , or simply exited the workforce , she said .
But those who remained working , usually from home , can ’ t go without accessible child care much longer .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the labour force by working at home are finding it just an impossible situation that ca n't continue , ” Ballantyne said .
“ It 's just impossible to be active in the paid labour force and meet the expectations of employers , while at the same time having to look after young children .
”

Advocates say they're heartened by the Trudeau government’s throne speech pledging a national child-care program, but the NDP says it's holding off any praise until concrete plans and dollars are in place. “I’m very hopeful because the throne speech made it clear that the federal government understands that this is an ambitious program,” said Morna Ballantyne, executive director of Child Care Now, a national child-care advocacy organization. The country’s economic recovery from COVID-19 depends on building a national early learning and child-care system that allows parents, particularly women, to get back to work, said Ballantyne on Thursday. Building a nationwide, universal child-care system is a legacy project with the potential to transform Canada, Ballantyne said, adding the idea has been discussed for decades. “The collapse of child care during the pandemic has convinced many more across the Canadian spectrum that transformation of child care in Canada is essential,” she said.
Speech signals commitment to national child care The throne speech presented by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette at the new parliamentary session Wednesday outlined the federal government’s priorities for the pandemic recovery upon its return to Parliament. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Women, racialized Canadians, and young people have faced most of the job losses during the pandemic — typified by double-digit unemployment and high underemployment, the speech stated.
And women, particularly low-income earners, are on the front lines of the pandemic, or shouldering much of the burden of unpaid care work at home. “Mothers who have been able to stay in the labour force by working at home are finding it just an impossible situation that can't continue,” Morna Ballantyne, of Child Care Now, on the urgency to establish a national child-care system. #cdnchildcare “We must not let the legacy of the pandemic be one of rolling back the clock on women’s participation in the workforce, nor one of backtracking on the social and political gains women and allies have fought so hard to secure,” Payette said, reading from the speech. It’s been almost 50 years since the Royal Commission on the Status of Women outlined the necessity of child-care services for women’s social and economic equality, the speech stated. “Recognizing the urgency of this challenge, the government will make a significant long-term sustained investment to create a Canada-wide early learning and child-care system,” Payette read.
Words are not enough, NDP says The Liberal throne speech reflects many of the federal NDP’s priorities before and during the COVID-19 crisis, said Rachel Blaney, NDP party whip, on Thursday. “It was very repetitive of many promises that the liberals have made historically,” said Blaney, MP for North Island-Powell River.


nationalobserver--2020-09-25--B.C. harvests 196,000 tonnes of fish a year. Most of it is exported and that's a problem, advocates

B.C. harvests 196,000 tonnes of fish a year. Most of it is exported and that's a problem, advocates say

He ’ s not alone : Roughly 85 per cent of seafood caught in the province is exported , yet B.C .
fish harvesters can ’ t get their catch to local markets — and the provincial government is doing little to change that in its plans to increase food security post-pandemic .
“ If the province ’ s goals are to get people working , to grow businesses , and create stronger communities , they ’ re missing the mark on all three goals if they don ’ t include ( fishing ) ” said Lawson , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salmon , groundfish , and dive fisheries “ If you ignore fishing , you ’ re ignoring First Nation and other coastal communities , because that ’ s a huge traditional job in those areas.
” Last week , the province released its mid-pandemic economic restart plan , committing about $ 25 million to increasing B.C.
’ s food security .
None of that money is earmarked to make local seafood more available , despite the province ’ s extensive coastline and fishing economy .
• Courts can 'no longer ignore ' First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carbon tax case There are about 4,000 fish harvesters scattered across the province who harvested about 196,000 tonnes of wild seafood in 2018 , worth $ 476 million — everything from salmon to crab to geoducks .
Most of that seafood didn ’ t stay in Canada .
Most seafood caught in B.C .
does n't stay in the province , and plenty barely touches land .
For instance , crabs and geoducks ( a type of clam ) are shipped live to China and Japan in passenger planes ' cargo holds .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the pandemic because so few planes were crossing the ocean .
Photo by Marc Fawcett-Atkinson .
The province exports all but about 15 per cent of its annual catch each year and , like most of Canada , imports between 70 and 90 per cent of the seafood British Columbians eat , according to federal data .
“ We should not be in a position where all our fish is being exported , ” said Tasha Sutcliffe , a fisheries policy adviser for Ecotrust Canada , a non-profit that supports rural B.C @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic development .
“ ( We need to make ) sure we have access to good , safe , local food so we ’ re not just relying on imports for safety reasons , and for quality and access to volume reasons.
” “ If you ignore # fishing , you ’ re ignoring # FirstNation and other # coastal communities , because that ’ s a huge traditional job in those areas , ” James Lawson , a # BC # fishharvester [ email protected ] @ ecotrustcanada But making B.C .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it sounds .
The licensing policies that give fish harvesters the right to fish the B.C .
coast have privatized access to seafood and put them on the open market .
It ’ s a system that has successfully mitigated the fisheries ' ecological impact , but has allowed non-fishermen , including Canadian and foreign investors , to control when B.C .
fish is caught , who catches it — and where it 's sold .
“ There are no real controls around licence and quota ownership to ensure that access to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations .
We ’ ve known that for years now , and COVID basically shone a spotlight on that issue , ” Sutcliffe said .
Most fisheries in B.C .
are managed with two interlocked regulatory tools : licences and individual transferrable quotas .
Licences are purchased from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and give a fish harvester the right to fish ; individual transferrable quotas determine the volume of fish that a harvester can catch and are used by the agency to limit the total volume of fish killed .
Depending on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
B.C .
is unique in Canada in that there are currently no limitations on who can purchase licences and quotas for West Coast fisheries ( different rules on the East Coast tightly regulate licences and quota ownership there ) , so most belong to investors , corporations , or retired fishermen — not the people with their boots on deck .
Instead , most active fish harvesters in B.C .
— particularly young fish harvesters like Lawson — rent the right to fish from licence and quota owners .
These lease fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around 80 per cent of their catch ’ s estimated value .
And because the fish doesn ’ t “ belong ” to them , fish harvesters can ’ t decide when they fish or where the fish they catch is sold .
In 2018 , B.C .
produced about $ 121 million worth of halibut , most of it destined for U.S. restaurants .
About 15 per cent of that fish is harvested by fish harvesters who own their licences ; the remainder lease them from investors or corporations .
Photo by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : In the six months since COVID-19 struck , some harvesters who wanted to sell more fish locally couldn ’ t because the owner of their licences wanted to sell the catch to international markets to maximize their profits , Sutcliffe said .
Profits that didn ’ t necessarily help harvesters or coastal communities .
“ We have this corporate control of fisheries , and that means a number of our fisheries still have ( most ) of our fish being sent out of B.C .
and out of Canada , ” Sutcliffe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the province ’ s ability to feed itself with B.C .
fish , she noted , but most fish is exported unprocessed , eliminating job opportunities in fish processing plants and fetching a lower price for harvesters .
“ You end up with harvesters getting penalized by price , Canadians and British Columbians get penalized by the lack of access to local food , and there ’ s a huge amount of waste because many millions of pounds of fish can be wasted as the companies ( that own the licences ) are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make up the difference with a favourable exchange rate.
” Nor is this problem new .
A 2019 report by the federal Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans reviewing B.C .
fisheries ’ social and economic well-being noted that “ West Coast commercial fisheries fall short … in how they benefit active ( fish harvesters ) and their coastal communities ” because of the licensing and quota system , and federal fisheries minister Bernadette Jordan acknowledged the system needs to be reviewed earlier this year .
For instance , when the pandemic hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide fish for their communities .
Those efforts were often hindered because the harvesters needed to rely on leased licences .
“ Individual harvesters who are n't independent ( licence holders ) do n't have control of their own fishery , so they ca n't adapt and innovate quickly the way they need to in a time like this because they 're beholden to owners , ” Sutcliffe said .
Still , change is possible — and the provincial government has a role to play , even if fishing quotas and licences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The total number of fishing boats in B.C .
dropped by 30 per cent between 2000 and 2015 .
Most of those lost were smaller , family-owned boats whose owners either retired , or could no longer afford the high lease prices they needed to pay for the right to fish .
Photo by Marc Fawcett-Atkinson .
A September letter to Lana Popham , the former B.C .
minister of agriculture , penned by Sutcliffe and Ecotrust Canada , noted that “ if the B.C .
government chooses to act to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fisheries-dependent communities , it has many policy and program tools at hand to do so … such as domestic processing requirements ; price-setting mechanisms ; and fair sharing of seafood landed value.
” The B.C .
ministry of agriculture was not available for comment during the writ period .
Those changes , Lawson said , ca n't come soon enough .
“ The opportunity for selling locally is lost when someone else is dictating where ( fish harvesters ) sell their fish , but then you do n't really see that food security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ourselves .
”

James Lawson catches fish. Fish that rarely feed the B.C. coast. He’s not alone: Roughly 85 per cent of seafood caught in the province is exported, yet B.C. fish harvesters can’t get their catch to local markets — and the provincial government is doing little to change that in its plans to increase food security post-pandemic. “If the province’s goals are to get people working, to grow businesses, and create stronger communities, they’re missing the mark on all three goals if they don’t include (fishing)” said Lawson, who is Heiltsuk and works in B.C.’s salmon, groundfish, and dive fisheries “If you ignore fishing, you’re ignoring First Nation and other coastal communities, because that’s a huge traditional job in those areas.” Last week, the province released its mid-pandemic economic restart plan, committing about $25 million to increasing B.C.’s food security. None of that money is earmarked to make local seafood more available, despite the province’s extensive coastline and fishing economy.
There are about 4,000 fish harvesters scattered across the province who harvested about 196,000 tonnes of wild seafood in 2018, worth $476 million — everything from salmon to crab to geoducks. Most of that seafood didn’t stay in Canada. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Most seafood caught in B.C. doesn't stay in the province, and plenty barely touches land. For instance, crabs and geoducks (a type of clam) are shipped live to China and Japan in passenger planes' cargo holds. This trans-Pacific trade was seriously disrupted early in the pandemic because so few planes were crossing the ocean. Photo by Marc Fawcett-Atkinson.
The province exports all but about 15 per cent of its annual catch each year and, like most of Canada, imports between 70 and 90 per cent of the seafood British Columbians eat, according to federal data. “If you ignore #fishing, you’re ignoring #FirstNation and other #coastal communities, because that’s a huge traditional job in those areas,” James Lawson, a #BC #fishharvester said.@Lanapopham@ecotrustcanada “We should not be in a position where all our fish is being exported,” said Tasha Sutcliffe, a fisheries policy adviser for Ecotrust Canada, a non-profit that supports rural B.C. communities' and First Nations’ economic development. “(We need to make) sure we have access to good, safe, local food so we’re not just relying on imports for safety reasons, and for quality and access to volume reasons.” But making B.C. seafood more available is more complicated than it sounds. The licensing policies that give fish harvesters the right to fish the B.C. coast have privatized access to seafood and put them on the open market. It’s a system that has successfully mitigated the fisheries' ecological impact, but has allowed non-fishermen, including Canadian and foreign investors, to control when B.C. fish is caught, who catches it — and where it's sold.
“There are no real controls around licence and quota ownership to ensure that access to the fishery stays in adjacent communities and First Nations. We’ve known that for years now, and COVID basically shone a spotlight on that issue,” Sutcliffe said. Most fisheries in B.C. are managed with two interlocked regulatory tools: licences and individual transferrable quotas. Licences are purchased from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and give a fish harvester the right to fish; individual transferrable quotas determine the volume of fish that a harvester can catch and are used by the agency to limit the total volume of fish killed. Depending on the fishery, these can be worth millions.


nationalobserver--2020-09-25--Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late

Last week , Trans Mountain said its pipeline expansion project is on schedule to be done by the end of 2022 .
But the environmental non-profit Wilderness Committee says it appears Trans Mountain has missed its window to start key construction work in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia , meaning the project is at risk of at least a two-month delay .
And that ’ s if everything else goes perfectly — if not , it could be up to 14 months late .
“ This is a taxpayer-funded project , and every delay makes the project cost more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Peter McCartney , a campaigner with the Wilderness Committee , a group that has been advocating to kill the project .
“ We still have time to abandon this and take another look at it and actually make sure that it makes sense for Canadians , because I don ’ t think it does.
” “ We remain on track for our expected in-service date of December 2022 , ” Trans Mountain said in an emailed statement .
• Courts can 'no longer ignore ' First Nations laws , Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mountain pipeline expansion , or TMX , is a twinning of an existing pipeline running from the Edmonton area to a shipping terminal in Burnaby , B.C .
In February , revised estimates showed the costs of the federally owned project had jumped to $ 12.6 billion , a 70 per cent increase from its previous 2017 cost estimate of $ 7.4 billion .
As proof TMX is running behind , the Wilderness Committee points to the Crown corporation ’ s sworn statements to federal regulators , and its publicly posted construction plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada Energy Regulator on May 11 , during hearings over the final route of the pipeline , Trans Mountain expansion project executive vice-president David Safari outlined work that needed to be done on a section of the project called “ Spread 7 , ” which runs through Surrey , B.C .
— including some waterways .
The conditions around Trans Mountain ’ s approval to build the pipeline expansion project dictate that work in those areas be done in a tight window in which the risk to fish is minimal , from Aug. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will take two construction seasons — ideally , in 2020 and 2021 , the affidavit said .
That ’ s because Trans Mountain must test the pipeline with water , install valves and start flowing crude through it before bringing it fully in service , a process that ’ s slated to take five months .
So work in the Surrey area must be entirely done by July 2022 if Trans Mountain is to deliver the project on time , Safari said .
Will TMX be finished on time ?
The Wilderness Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sworn affidavits indicate it could be two months late — at least .
# cdnpoli “ If substantial construction progress in these areas can not be achieved during the 2020 construction season , Trans Mountain ’ s ability to manage the risks around construction will be significantly constrained , leading to a material risk that the in-service date will be delayed by several months and potentially more than a year , ” Safari said in the affidavit .
However , it appears that work did not begin this summer — both Trans Mountain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed to the Canada Energy Regulator on Sept. 1 say work on the stretch of the pipeline that runs through Surrey won ’ t start until October .
That means Trans Mountain missed its six-week window for work near waterways for this year , and won ’ t be able start in those areas until next August and September .
In that scenario , construction would be finished in September 2022 , Safari ’ s affidavit said .
That would be two months late for Trans Mountain ’ s July 2022 deadline for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivery date for the entire project .
“ With a project of this scope and size , spanning two provinces with hundreds of worksites , we have the flexibility within the schedule to make adjustments in specific areas while keeping to the broader timeline and budget , ” Trans Mountain said in a statement .
Trans Mountain did not respond to requests to explain why the work near Surrey didn ’ t begin this summer , or how the pipeline could still be delivered on time given the timeline outlined in Safari ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expansion project runs from Edmonton to Burnaby , B.C .
Map from Government of Canada In his affidavit , Safari said Trans Mountain has very little wiggle room when it comes to the work in Surrey .
While there is “ some flexibility , ” he said , that ’ s in the order of weeks and not months .
“ If substantial construction progress in these areas can not be achieved during the 2020 construction season , Trans Mountain ’ s ability to manage the risks around construction will be significantly constrained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the in-service date will be delayed by several months and potentially more than a year , ” the affidavit said .
In his affidavit , Safari warned that TMX could be delayed by up to 14 months if anything else went wrong — something he said was a risk .
One of the sites where the pipeline would cross a waterway is expected to have pre-existing contamination issues , which could make Trans Mountain lose an entire construction season , he said .
Safari also said some sections , where Trans Mountain plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are particularly precarious .
If anything goes wrong , it would mean Trans Mountain might have to move its limited number of drilling rigs to other sections of the project , attempt a second time or seek another way to do the work , which would require federal approval .
“ Failure could be caused by any number of reasons — obstructions could be encountered , drill hole could collapse , tools could become stuck , drill mud could frac-out resulting in loss of mud circulation , etc.
, ” the affidavit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near the Fraser River is “ limited , ” Safari said , so it ’ s possible that crews could encounter “ an unforeseen obstruction ” and be delayed further .
If those risks materialize and Trans Mountain is unable to finish the waterway work during its six-week window in 2022 , it would have to push that back to August and September 2023 , Safari said : “ The in-service date could be delayed by up to 14 months.
” News of the possible delays comes as experts raise concerns about whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 Canadian economists and policy experts penned an open letter to the federal Liberal government last week citing a recent flurry of market predictions showing weaker demand for oil .
McCartney said the government should take this opportunity to abandon the project .
“ Every delay weakens the case for ( TMX ) as the world moves on , ” he said .
“ Especially after a year where we ’ ve seen oil demand just plummet .
”

Last week, Trans Mountain said its pipeline expansion project is on schedule to be done by the end of 2022. But the environmental non-profit Wilderness Committee says it appears Trans Mountain has missed its window to start key construction work in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, meaning the project is at risk of at least a two-month delay. And that’s if everything else goes perfectly — if not, it could be up to 14 months late. “This is a taxpayer-funded project, and every delay makes the project cost more and makes it less economically viable,” said Peter McCartney, a campaigner with the Wilderness Committee, a group that has been advocating to kill the project. “We still have time to abandon this and take another look at it and actually make sure that it makes sense for Canadians, because I don’t think it does.” “We remain on track for our expected in-service date of December 2022,” Trans Mountain said in an emailed statement.
The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, or TMX, is a twinning of an existing pipeline running from the Edmonton area to a shipping terminal in Burnaby, B.C. In February, revised estimates showed the costs of the federally owned project had jumped to $12.6 billion, a 70 per cent increase from its previous 2017 cost estimate of $7.4 billion. As proof TMX is running behind, the Wilderness Committee points to the Crown corporation’s sworn statements to federal regulators, and its publicly posted construction plans. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions In an affidavit filed with the Canada Energy Regulator on May 11, during hearings over the final route of the pipeline, Trans Mountain expansion project executive vice-president David Safari outlined work that needed to be done on a section of the project called “Spread 7,” which runs through Surrey, B.C. — including some waterways.
The conditions around Trans Mountain’s approval to build the pipeline expansion project dictate that work in those areas be done in a tight window in which the risk to fish is minimal, from Aug. 1 to Sept. 15. Will TMX be finished on time? The Wilderness Committee says Trans Mountain's construction plans and sworn affidavits indicate it could be two months late — at least. #cdnpoli That work will take two construction seasons — ideally, in 2020 and 2021, the affidavit said. That’s because Trans Mountain must test the pipeline with water, install valves and start flowing crude through it before bringing it fully in service, a process that’s slated to take five months. So work in the Surrey area must be entirely done by July 2022 if Trans Mountain is to deliver the project on time, Safari said. “If substantial construction progress in these areas cannot be achieved during the 2020 construction season, Trans Mountain’s ability to manage the risks around construction will be significantly constrained, leading to a material risk that the in-service date will be delayed by several months and potentially more than a year,” Safari said in the affidavit. However, it appears that work did not begin this summer — both Trans Mountain’s website and a schedule it filed to the Canada Energy Regulator on Sept. 1 say work on the stretch of the pipeline that runs through Surrey won’t start until October. That means Trans Mountain missed its six-week window for work near waterways for this year, and won’t be able start in those areas until next August and September.
In that scenario, construction would be finished in September 2022, Safari’s affidavit said. That would be two months late for Trans Mountain’s July 2022 deadline for finishing construction, likely pushing back the delivery date for the entire project. “With a project of this scope and size, spanning two provinces with hundreds of worksites, we have the flexibility within the schedule to make adjustments in specific areas while keeping to the broader timeline and budget,” Trans Mountain said in a statement. Trans Mountain did not respond to requests to explain why the work near Surrey didn’t begin this summer, or how the pipeline could still be delivered on time given the timeline outlined in Safari’s affidavit.


nationalobserver--2020-09-25--Climate strike more urgent given Trudeau’s lack of green ambition, young activists say

Student climate strikers will walk out of school or log off online classes across Canada on Friday hoping to pressure the Trudeau government to live up to its vague green promises .
While the first global climate action since the COVID-19 pandemic hit has involved months of planning , it also now comes just two days after the federal government ’ s throne speech laid out its pandemic recovery priorities , which failed to impress many young people .
“ What we got was a complete lack of action , promises made that should have already been achieved because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Cooper Price , an organizer with Fridays for Future Toronto and Climate Strike Canada .
“ Any signs of progress were miniscule and really not very meaningful with the scale of the climate crisis , ” he said .
The environment file would be a “ cornerstone ” of the federal government ’ s job creation measures and it would “ immediately bring forward ” plans to meet Canada ’ s 2030 climate goals , it said in the speech .
• Courts can 'no longer ignore ' First Nations laws , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Actions speak louder than words , ” said Julia Samson , who is involved in planning an event outside Halifax city hall .
“ And although there may have been some progressive and hopeful things said , in past experience , what 's been said has not been done.
” To push for more progressive policies , the teens and allies are holding socially distanced sit-ins and actions outside the offices of federal Liberal MPs , aiming to limit the risk of spreading the virus while making sure politicians know that ambitious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young people .
“ We need to see real action right now because we have already run out of time , ” said Lilah Williamson from Vancouver ’ s Sustainabiliteens youth climate movement .
They and other young climate activists will spread out to protest outside the offices of four federal Liberal parliamentarians in Metro Vancouver , including the North Vancouver office of Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson .
Williamson said the pandemic offers “ a reset button for society that has given us a chance to envision something better coming out of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a call to action .
The young climate activists say they are also emerging from the pandemic with a deeper understanding of how calls for climate action intersect with related demands for racial justice , income equality , and other problems brought into focus by the health crisis .
Young Canadian protesters taking to the streets in the first global climate action since the COVID-19 pandemic say they will being holding the Trudeau government accountable for vague throne speech promises @ FFFCanada @ sustainteens “ We do n't see climate as a geophysical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a human rights issue , we see it as a human well-being and health issue , ” said Manvi Bhalla , the co-founder of advocacy group Shake Up The Establishment , who will speak at the downtown Toronto sit-in .
Bhalla said last year ’ s outpouring of massive climate protests had created a different type of movement involving a wider portion of society and had evolved with the pandemic to link more closely with other social justice movements .
Manvi Bhalla , the co-founder of climate justice group Shake Up The Establishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s more optimistic about a just future since the pandemic because “ people are coming together over these issues and addressing them as one , ” meaning that “ we can get a lot more done at once.
” Bhalla and others in the youth climate movement acknowledge that the events will not see the hundreds of thousands of young Canadians and their allies who took part in the last major climate street protest almost exactly a year ago , which also featured an appearance from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau .
A three-hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Bay and Wellesley intersection , close to both city hall and the provincial legislature .
But the young protestors will not march to either , given the difficulties in ensuring marchers maintain theor distance from each other , organizer Price said .
He said if enough people show up , they will spread out first north and south on Bay and then east and west on Wellesley .
“ If we get a huge turnout and we have to distance people , we ’ re going to have to communicate more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
But at the end of the day , this action is about disruption , and it is about getting our voice out there and into the public conversation , ” he said .
“ We need to distance , so we need to occupy that space .
”

Student climate strikers will walk out of school or log off online classes across Canada on Friday hoping to pressure the Trudeau government to live up to its vague green promises. While the first global climate action since the COVID-19 pandemic hit has involved months of planning, it also now comes just two days after the federal government’s throne speech laid out its pandemic recovery priorities, which failed to impress many young people. “What we got was a complete lack of action, promises made that should have already been achieved because they’ve been made before,” said Cooper Price, an organizer with Fridays for Future Toronto and Climate Strike Canada. “Any signs of progress were miniscule and really not very meaningful with the scale of the climate crisis,” he said. The environment file would be a “cornerstone” of the federal government’s job creation measures and it would “immediately bring forward” plans to meet Canada’s 2030 climate goals, it said in the speech.
“Actions speak louder than words,” said Julia Samson, who is involved in planning an event outside Halifax city hall. “And although there may have been some progressive and hopeful things said, in past experience, what's been said has not been done.” To push for more progressive policies, the teens and allies are holding socially distanced sit-ins and actions outside the offices of federal Liberal MPs, aiming to limit the risk of spreading the virus while making sure politicians know that ambitious climate policy remains a key concern for young people. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “We need to see real action right now because we have already run out of time,” said Lilah Williamson from Vancouver’s Sustainabiliteens youth climate movement.
They and other young climate activists will spread out to protest outside the offices of four federal Liberal parliamentarians in Metro Vancouver, including the North Vancouver office of Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson. Young Canadian protesters taking to the streets in the first global climate action since the COVID-19 pandemic say they will being holding the Trudeau government accountable for vague throne speech promises @FFFCanada @sustainteens Williamson said the pandemic offers “a reset button for society that has given us a chance to envision something better coming out of this crisis” and that the protests are a call to action. The young climate activists say they are also emerging from the pandemic with a deeper understanding of how calls for climate action intersect with related demands for racial justice, income equality, and other problems brought into focus by the health crisis. “We don't see climate as a geophysical issue anymore, we see it as a human rights issue, we see it as a human well-being and health issue,” said Manvi Bhalla, the co-founder of advocacy group Shake Up The Establishment, who will speak at the downtown Toronto sit-in. Bhalla said last year’s outpouring of massive climate protests had created a different type of movement involving a wider portion of society and had evolved with the pandemic to link more closely with other social justice movements.
Manvi Bhalla, the co-founder of climate justice group Shake Up The Establishment. Photo supplied She said she’s more optimistic about a just future since the pandemic because “people are coming together over these issues and addressing them as one,” meaning that “we can get a lot more done at once.” Bhalla and others in the youth climate movement acknowledge that the events will not see the hundreds of thousands of young Canadians and their allies who took part in the last major climate street protest almost exactly a year ago, which also featured an appearance from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.


nationalobserver--2020-09-25--Cities in U.S. erupt as Breonna Taylor decision inflames racial divide

America 's streets are again pulsing with anger and frustration , this time over the deadly police shooting of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor ⏤ and a survey suggests the racial reckoning appears more popular in Canada than in the United States .
Protesters returned en masse to city centres across the U.S. in the latest display of racial outrage in 2020 after a grand jury in Kentucky opted Wednesday to not indict the officers who fired the fatal shots .
Taylor was killed in her own Louisville apartment in March when a botched drug raid aimed primarily at an ex-boyfriend erupted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Taylor 's boyfriend Kenneth Walker opened fire on what he said he thought was an intruder .
The indictments delivered Wednesday involved only a single officer : Brett Hankison , who faces three counts of wanton endangerment for blindly firing his weapon into the apartments of Taylor 's neighbours .
Neither Hankison nor fellow officers Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly , all three of whom were responsible for discharging more than 20 shots , are facing any charges related directly to the death of Taylor , who was hit multiple times .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Nations laws , Supreme Court hears in carbon tax case • Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late The 2020 tumult over police treatment of Black Americans has been raging since May , when the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd , his neck under the knee of an arresting officer , touched off a worldwide uproar .
Violence and looting has accompanied a number of the protests .
Boarded-up storefronts and Black Lives Matter graffiti are fixtures now in many downtown cores , and Louisville has become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unlawful assembly and arrested more than 100 people after fires were set in garbage cans , vehicles were damaged and stores were vandalized .
A 26-year-old man was arrested and charged with firing at police and wounding two officers .
`` Violence will only be a source of pain , not a cure for pain , '' said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer , a Democrat .
`` Many see Breonna Taylor ’ s case as both the tragic death of a young woman and the continuation of a long pattern of devaluation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face in our country , as they have historically . ''
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called the shootings of police officers acts of `` despicable cowardice that must be met with the full force of the law . ''
America 's streets are again pulsing with anger and frustration , this time over the deadly police shooting of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor ⏤ and a survey suggests the racial reckoning appears more popular in Canada than in the United States .
Republicans in general , and President Donald Trump in particular , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of turning the unrest to their political favour .
`` I think it 's a sad thing and I give my regards to the family of Breonna , '' Trump said Thursday .
`` It 's fine to ( protest ) in a peaceful manner , but when it gets less than peaceful , as you see all over , then it 's unacceptable and that 's where law and order is necessary , that 's where it law enforcement is very important . ''
The months-long calls for social justice appear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does in the U.S. , a new online poll from Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies suggests .
The poll , conducted last weekend , found 67 per cent of 1,500 Canadian respondents reported a positive view of the Black Lives Matter movement , compared with just 55 per cent of 1,000 U.S. respondents who felt the same way .
Only 33 per cent of Canadians polled reported feeling negatively about the movement , compared to 45 per cent of Americans .
Where Americans and Canadians do appear to agree is on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to lead to lasting change .
In Canada , 45 per cent of respondents said no , compared to 33 per cent who said yes and 21 per cent who said they did n't know .
U.S. respondents felt similarly , 46 per cent to 33 per cent , with 20 per cent undecided .
Online polls do not carry a valid margin of error and are not considered representative of the population at large because they are not based on a random sample .

America's streets are again pulsing with anger and frustration, this time over the deadly police shooting of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor ⏤ and a survey suggests the racial reckoning appears more popular in Canada than in the United States. Protesters returned en masse to city centres across the U.S. in the latest display of racial outrage in 2020 after a grand jury in Kentucky opted Wednesday to not indict the officers who fired the fatal shots. Taylor was killed in her own Louisville apartment in March when a botched drug raid aimed primarily at an ex-boyfriend erupted in a hail of bullets, precipitated when Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker opened fire on what he said he thought was an intruder. The indictments delivered Wednesday involved only a single officer: Brett Hankison, who faces three counts of wanton endangerment for blindly firing his weapon into the apartments of Taylor's neighbours. Neither Hankison nor fellow officers Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly, all three of whom were responsible for discharging more than 20 shots, are facing any charges related directly to the death of Taylor, who was hit multiple times.
The 2020 tumult over police treatment of Black Americans has been raging since May, when the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd, his neck under the knee of an arresting officer, touched off a worldwide uproar. Violence and looting has accompanied a number of the protests. Boarded-up storefronts and Black Lives Matter graffiti are fixtures now in many downtown cores, and Louisville has become the latest epicentre. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Police there declared an unlawful assembly and arrested more than 100 people after fires were set in garbage cans, vehicles were damaged and stores were vandalized. A 26-year-old man was arrested and charged with firing at police and wounding two officers.
"Violence will only be a source of pain, not a cure for pain," said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, a Democrat. America's streets are again pulsing with anger and frustration, this time over the deadly police shooting of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor ⏤ and a survey suggests the racial reckoning appears more popular in Canada than in the United States. "Many see Breonna Taylor’s case as both the tragic death of a young woman and the continuation of a long pattern of devaluation and violence that Black women and men face in our country, as they have historically." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called the shootings of police officers acts of "despicable cowardice that must be met with the full force of the law." Republicans in general, and President Donald Trump in particular, have seized on the lawlessness as a way of turning the unrest to their political favour. "I think it's a sad thing and I give my regards to the family of Breonna," Trump said Thursday.
"It's fine to (protest) in a peaceful manner, but when it gets less than peaceful, as you see all over, then it's unacceptable and that's where law and order is necessary, that's where it law enforcement is very important." The months-long calls for social justice appear to have more support among Canadians than it does in the U.S., a new online poll from Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies suggests. The poll, conducted last weekend, found 67 per cent of 1,500 Canadian respondents reported a positive view of the Black Lives Matter movement, compared with just 55 per cent of 1,000 U.S. respondents who felt the same way.


nationalobserver--2020-09-25--Quannah Chasinghorse is fighting to save an Arctic refuge

This story originally appeared in Teen Vogue and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now , a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story .
In March , Ph.D. candidate and climate justice organizer Maia Wikler traveled to Alaska to continue reporting on the ongoing human rights and climate crisis in the Arctic .
She is directing a short documentary film , with support from The North Face , featuring the Gwich ’ in women who are leading the fight to protect the Arctic Refuge .
“ Did someone lose their dog ?
” Quannah Chasinghorse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her neighbor ’ s snow-covered yard .
At -40 degrees Fahrenheit , it is a typical winter ’ s day in Fairbanks , Alaska .
Quannah , an 18-year-old Han Gwich ’ in and Oglala Lakota youth , is curled up on the couch , wearing a shirt emblazoned with the slogan “ Protect the Arctic , Defend the Sacred.
” It is a rare moment of rest for Quannah .
In the past year she has traveled coast to coast , advocating to protect her homelands from the desecration of oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Potts , who is Han Gwich'in and a tribal member of the Native Village of Eagle .
Her mother also serves as the regional director for Native Movement and is a board member with the Alaska Wilderness League .
This mother-daughter duo represents the decades-long fight to protect their state ’ s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge .
The refuge is hailed for its immense ecosystem of nearly 20 million protected acres , with sweeping tundra , glacial-fed rivers , and mountain ranges providing a sanctuary for wildlife , especially the 200,000-strong porcupine caribou @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region was deemed a wilderness refuge by the federal government , in 1960 , it was known by the Gwich ’ in as “ Iizhik Gwats ’ an Gwandaii Goodlit , ” meaning “ the sacred place where life begins.
” This ancestral name refers to the calving grounds for the porcupine caribou on the coastal plain , whose migratory path the once-nomadic Gwich ’ in followed , and still guides the Gwich ’ in today .
This region has been home to local Indigenous communities for millennia , and their lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tied to the well-being of the land .
“ What impacts the caribou , impacts the Gwich ’ in , ” says Bernadette Demientieff , who is Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich'in , and the executive director of the Gwich'in Steering Committee .
• Courts can 'no longer ignore ' First Nations laws , Supreme Court hears in carbon tax case • Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late The Arctic , dubbed ground zero for climate change , is warming at a rate twice as fast as the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even greater risk since the unprecedented decision by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to open the refuge ’ s coastal plain to oil and gas development .
In August , the Interior Department formally announced its leasing program to open some 1.57 million acres of the refuge to drilling , NPR reported .
But Gwich ’ in women are leading an intergenerational movement to defend the refuge from oil rigs and wells , all while championing Indigenous rights and justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women .
When Demientieff travels to Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and land , Gwich ’ in youth join her as part of the official Youth Council .
“ Each of them are hunters and fishers , '' she explains , `` and they all know how to survive off the land .
They all have something to share.
” Since she was 17 , Quannah has joined Demientieff to speak with senators on Capitol Hill as a member of the Youth Council .
She credits the teachings of elders and women in her life for her sense of purpose : “ My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who you are and where you come from.
” As Quannah wrote in a poem that she shares with Teen Vogue : “ I ’ m from the beaded moose hide in modern clothes , from the smell of sage and taste of fry bread .
I am from the fireweed trails .
From the birch trees I used to climb , whose limbs I remember as though they were my own .
I ’ m from the mushing , hunting , fishing , and berry picking trips , from the family of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the legends our elders tell.
” “ The reason I am the way I am is because my mom , grandma , and aunties have always taught me not to take sh*t from [ any ] one .
To do the best for our people , sticking up for our rights and our lands .
I 've learned a lot from the women in my life , ” says Quannah .
Her mom explains that Quannah was raised in the movement , where over the years , during sweat ceremonies , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her “ auntie squad ” talk about activism and the fight for the land .
For four generations , the Gwich ’ in have fought to honor their ancestral vow to care for the porcupine caribou herd and nurture the land for future generations .
“ Our ancestors made a promise to protect this land , so we have to keep that promise and our way of life , ” says Kaila Druck , a 16-year-old member of the Youth Council .
Many youth , like Quannah and Kaila , leave their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but families continue to return to their fish camps and villages several times a year .
On a blustery March day , I set out with Quannah 's family to their fish camp along the Yukon River .
After a treacherous three-hour drive in winter conditions along the Dalton Highway , we reach a juncture where the journey continues on snowmobiles over the frozen river .
Locals refer to the highway as “ the Haul Road , ” Jody explains , because it opened the remote area for workers to haul oil industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prudhoe Bay .
As we weave across the frozen tundra , we witness a landscape of mesmerizing Arctic colors : the glacial-blue sky , the ground blanketed in bright snow , ashen gray-black swamp spruce and birch trees dusted in white powder .
Climate change is rapidly altering this landscape .
The locals call the spruce and birch “ drunken trees , ” because of their twisting , toppling forms caused by melting permafrost .
The mountains and sloping hillsides are marked with swaths of tree spires blackened by wildfires that continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we near the river at nightfall , the Trans-Alaska Pipeline snakes alongside us — a stark reminder of the fossil fuel industry ’ s threatening presence on the land .
The 18-year-old climate activist is trying to protect the iconic wilderness area that the Trump administration opened to oil drilling .
Under an ink-black sky saturated in stars , we unload the snowmobiles and navigate a faint snow trail along the river .
“ My grandmother picked this piece of land during the land allotments because of the cranberry bushes and the river @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Jamey , as we arrive .
`` In 2003 , the wildfires burned the cabin to the ground , and I ’ ve been rebuilding the place since.
” Over steaming bowls of moose stew , Jody shares memories of the village : “ I would come home from my shift at night and that ’ s when I would mush .
It would be -40 , and that ’ s when it ’ s the most quiet .
It ’ s too cold even for wind .
The kids would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the dogs out front , when I would hear the door open and Quannah would come running outside to join me .
She was nine .
I always had a caribou hide for her .
She would bundle up in the sled and we would talk as the dogs wove through trees .
I get choked up every time I share that story .
I just loved the sound , the crunching of the snow , the dogs breathing .
It is so peaceful , mushing out on the land.
” Endless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often about the greed and exploitation of sport hunters who collect moose and caribous ’ large antlers only , leaving the carcasses to rot .
“ It ’ s our food , which is what hurts us so bad , ” Jody explains .
These everyday encounters of greed and disrespect are also the stories of climate change — the notion that the natural world is for the taking without responsibility or reciprocity .
On our last day , Quannah and I snowshoe across the river .
Crystalized snowflakes shimmer gold in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the wind and fall back on the river .
Quannah and I watch in awe .
She talks about the sense of peace she feels here , knowing her family has lived this way , in love with the land , for generations .
“ I walk in two completely different worlds , '' she says .
`` When I ’ m away from the land , I feel like I ’ m hiding a part of myself ; I can ’ t act too Native .
When I ’ m out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to myself .
I ’ m strong on these lands.
” Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic , living off the land has become more critical than ever for the Gwich ’ in .
Kaila and Bernadette tell me that the pandemic has caused a shortage of flights that usually import food into remote villages .
At the same time , climate change is impacting hunting , fishing , and berry seasons , they say .
Circumstances are dire .
“ I feel like right now we are deprived of our traditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , ” Kaila says .
“ We haven ’ t been able to hunt this year in Fort Yukon ; people were barely able to fish .
Some people went out for weeks and returned only with five fish .
That 's all we live off of .
My whole family depends on living off of food from the land ; moose , fish , and berries sustain us all winter .
This year we won ’ t have much . ''
She continues , `` Growing up , I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land .
The elders always said we will fully depend on the land one day .
Now , with the pandemic , I can see what the elders mean.
” Despite these overwhelming challenges , the Gwich ’ in continue to protect the Arctic Refuge .
Demientieff , of the Gwich'in Steering Committee , has spent the past several years organizing meetings with representatives of major banks to urge them not to finance oil drilling in the Arctic .
Quannah joined her for a meeting in New York City , and says she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story .
Their efforts paid off : Deutsche Bank , Goldman Sachs , Wells Fargo , Citi , JPMorgan Chase , and Morgan Stanley — five of the biggest American banks — have committed to no longer backing Arctic drilling projects .
Republican lawmakers tried to claim that this decision discriminated against Native Alaskans , and even unsuccessfully asked Trump to make Arctic oil funding a condition of pandemic relief .
Still , in June , the Trump administration announced plans to open up 82 % of an Alaska nature reserve for oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in maintain drilling in the refuge would be akin to cultural genocide as it would devastate the caribou , their primary source of survival .
How could the caribou survive seismic blasts , oil rigs , oil spills , loud machinery , and migratory routes severed by haul roads and pipelines ?
With a rapidly melting permafrost that collapses the ground and drying tundra that spurs wildfires , the Arctic can not bear the slightest risk of industrial disaster on its already fragile lands .
The Arctic is not simply ground zero for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accelerated permafrost , and glacier melt , it ’ s also a landscape that represents the larger story of climate change .
This is a land fraught with a history of Indigenous displacement and dispossession , and ongoing colonial violence driven by insatiable corporate greed .
These are the systemic forces driving the climate crisis .
And yet a deep , ancestral love spanning thousands of years fuels the Gwich ’ in in their intergenerational fight to protect the refuge .
“ We need more Indigenous youth to believe in themselves and have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quannah .
`` The more I fought , the more I healed .
Know you have power .
It is connected to the land and ancestors .
We ’ re all fighting the same fight.
” The cataclysmic shifts caused by the climate crisis and pandemic can create opportunity for change that is parallel in magnitude .
To paraphrase writer Terry Tempest Williams ’ s book on erosion , our undoing may be our becoming .
The power of the youth vote is reason to hope .
In the upcoming election , 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Brookings Institution reported that Gen Z and millenials “ now comprise a greater share of the eligible voting population than has ever been the case .
It ’ s about the same share of eligible voters as baby boomers and their elders — generations that voted for Trump in 2016 and for Republican candidates against President Obama.
” It has been reported that by 2030 “ millennials and their juniors will make up more than half [ of ] not just the population , but of all eligible voters.
” At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like many other youth in her community , has already dedicated her life to honoring her ancestors and fighting for future generations .
As we pack up to leave fish camp , she shares what this fight means to her , while Jody braids her hair .
“ I 'm not an environmentalist ; I 'm an Indigenous youth trying to stick up for our ways of life , '' Quannah says .
`` They ’ re just tearing up more land , destroying more water , and in the end , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of Alaska , what are they going to do ?
We need to reconnect and rebuild our relationship to the land .
If all of this were to be destroyed from drilling and oil spills , I don ’ t know how I would feel connected anymore .
I don ’ t want that taken from us.
” Jody looks at her daughter and says , “ And that ’ s why we ’ ll fight , right ?
We are continuing on .
”

This story originally appeared in Teen Vogue and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. In March, Ph.D. candidate and climate justice organizer Maia Wikler traveled to Alaska to continue reporting on the ongoing human rights and climate crisis in the Arctic. She is directing a short documentary film, with support from The North Face, featuring the Gwich’in women who are leading the fight to protect the Arctic Refuge. “Did someone lose their dog?” Quannah Chasinghorse jokes, pointing at a large moose in her neighbor’s snow-covered yard. At -40 degrees Fahrenheit, it is a typical winter’s day in Fairbanks, Alaska. Quannah, an 18-year-old Han Gwich’in and Oglala Lakota youth, is curled up on the couch, wearing a shirt emblazoned with the slogan “Protect the Arctic, Defend the Sacred.” It is a rare moment of rest for Quannah. In the past year she has traveled coast to coast, advocating to protect her homelands from the desecration of oil drilling, with her mother, Jody Potts, who is Han Gwich'in and a tribal member of the Native Village of Eagle. Her mother also serves as the regional director for Native Movement and is a board member with the Alaska Wilderness League. This mother-daughter duo represents the decades-long fight to protect their state’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is hailed for its immense ecosystem of nearly 20 million protected acres, with sweeping tundra, glacial-fed rivers, and mountain ranges providing a sanctuary for wildlife, especially the 200,000-strong porcupine caribou herd, as of 2018. Before the region was deemed a wilderness refuge by the federal government, in 1960, it was known by the Gwich’in as “Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit,” meaning “the sacred place where life begins.” This ancestral name refers to the calving grounds for the porcupine caribou on the coastal plain, whose migratory path the once-nomadic Gwich’in followed, and still guides the Gwich’in today. This region has been home to local Indigenous communities for millennia, and their lives, culture, and identities are inextricably tied to the well-being of the land. “What impacts the caribou, impacts the Gwich’in,” says Bernadette Demientieff, who is Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich'in, and the executive director of the Gwich'in Steering Committee.
The Arctic, dubbed ground zero for climate change, is warming at a rate twice as fast as the rest of the world. The region is at even greater risk since the unprecedented decision by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to open the refuge’s coastal plain to oil and gas development. In August, the Interior Department formally announced its leasing program to open some 1.57 million acres of the refuge to drilling, NPR reported. But Gwich’in women are leading an intergenerational movement to defend the refuge from oil rigs and wells, all while championing Indigenous rights and justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women. When Demientieff travels to Washington, DC, to advocate for her people and land, Gwich’in youth join her as part of the official Youth Council. “Each of them are hunters and fishers," she explains, "and they all know how to survive off the land. They all have something to share.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Since she was 17, Quannah has joined Demientieff to speak with senators on Capitol Hill as a member of the Youth Council. She credits the teachings of elders and women in her life for her sense of purpose: “My mom has always taught me to remember who you are and where you come from.” As Quannah wrote in a poem that she shares with Teen Vogue: “I’m from the beaded moose hide in modern clothes, from the smell of sage and taste of fry bread. I am from the fireweed trails. From the birch trees I used to climb, whose limbs I remember as though they were my own. I’m from the mushing, hunting, fishing, and berry picking trips, from the family of traditions. I'm from the potlatches and the legends our elders tell.”
“The reason I am the way I am is because my mom, grandma, and aunties have always taught me not to take sh*t from [any]one. To do the best for our people, sticking up for our rights and our lands. I've learned a lot from the women in my life,” says Quannah. Her mom explains that Quannah was raised in the movement, where over the years, during sweat ceremonies, she heard her mother and the powerful women in her “auntie squad” talk about activism and the fight for the land. The 18-year-old climate activist is trying to protect the iconic wilderness area that the Trump administration opened to oil drilling. For four generations, the Gwich’in have fought to honor their ancestral vow to care for the porcupine caribou herd and nurture the land for future generations. “Our ancestors made a promise to protect this land, so we have to keep that promise and our way of life,” says Kaila Druck, a 16-year-old member of the Youth Council. Many youth, like Quannah and Kaila, leave their villages to attend school in Fairbanks, but families continue to return to their fish camps and villages several times a year. On a blustery March day, I set out with Quannah's family to their fish camp along the Yukon River. After a treacherous three-hour drive in winter conditions along the Dalton Highway, we reach a juncture where the journey continues on snowmobiles over the frozen river. Locals refer to the highway as “the Haul Road,” Jody explains, because it opened the remote area for workers to haul oil industry materials up to the oil fields in Prudhoe Bay. As we weave across the frozen tundra, we witness a landscape of mesmerizing Arctic colors: the glacial-blue sky, the ground blanketed in bright snow, ashen gray-black swamp spruce and birch trees dusted in white powder. Climate change is rapidly altering this landscape. The locals call the spruce and birch “drunken trees,” because of their twisting, toppling forms caused by melting permafrost. The mountains and sloping hillsides are marked with swaths of tree spires blackened by wildfires that continue to worsen from record-breaking summer heat. As we near the river at nightfall, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline snakes alongside us — a stark reminder of the fossil fuel industry’s threatening presence on the land. Under an ink-black sky saturated in stars, we unload the snowmobiles and navigate a faint snow trail along the river. “My grandmother picked this piece of land during the land allotments because of the cranberry bushes and the river," says Jody’s partner, Jamey, as we arrive. "In 2003, the wildfires burned the cabin to the ground, and I’ve been rebuilding the place since.” Over steaming bowls of moose stew, Jody shares memories of the village: “I would come home from my shift at night and that’s when I would mush. It would be -40, and that’s when it’s the most quiet. It’s too cold even for wind. The kids would be in bed and I would be hooking up the dogs out front, when I would hear the door open and Quannah would come running outside to join me. She was nine. I always had a caribou hide for her. She would bundle up in the sled and we would talk as the dogs wove through trees. I get choked up every time I share that story. I just loved the sound, the crunching of the snow, the dogs breathing. It is so peaceful, mushing out on the land.”
Endless stories are told at fish camp, often about the greed and exploitation of sport hunters who collect moose and caribous’ large antlers only, leaving the carcasses to rot. “It’s our food, which is what hurts us so bad,” Jody explains. These everyday encounters of greed and disrespect are also the stories of climate change — the notion that the natural world is for the taking without responsibility or reciprocity. On our last day, Quannah and I snowshoe across the river. Crystalized snowflakes shimmer gold in the sunlight, twisting into tendrils that rise with the wind and fall back on the river. Quannah and I watch in awe. She talks about the sense of peace she feels here, knowing her family has lived this way, in love with the land, for generations. “I walk in two completely different worlds," she says. "When I’m away from the land, I feel like I’m hiding a part of myself; I can’t act too Native. When I’m out here, I’m more connected to myself. I’m strong on these lands.” Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, living off the land has become more critical than ever for the Gwich’in. Kaila and Bernadette tell me that the pandemic has caused a shortage of flights that usually import food into remote villages. At the same time, climate change is impacting hunting, fishing, and berry seasons, they say. Circumstances are dire. “I feel like right now we are deprived of our traditions and what we love the most with the pandemic,” Kaila says. “We haven’t been able to hunt this year in Fort Yukon; people were barely able to fish. Some people went out for weeks and returned only with five fish. That's all we live off of. My whole family depends on living off of food from the land; moose, fish, and berries sustain us all winter. This year we won’t have much." She continues, "Growing up, I was always told we should not destroy the land. The elders always said we will fully depend on the land one day. Now, with the pandemic, I can see what the elders mean.”


nationalobserver--2020-09-25--Liberals promise action on biases in justice system and policing

The Liberal government is promising legislation and money to address systemic inequities in all phases of the criminal justice system .
The commitments come amid mounting concerns about unfair treatment of Black and Indigenous people , who are overrepresented in courts and jails .
The throne speech pledges action on issues ranging from sentencing and rehabilitation to improved civilian oversight of the RCMP and standards on police use of force .
The planned measures also include modern training for police and other law-enforcement agencies , as well as broader RCMP reforms that emphasize a shift toward community-led policing .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up work on a legislative framework for First Nations policing as an essential service , seen as crucial to ensuring safety in Indigenous communities .
• Courts can 'no longer ignore ' First Nations laws , Supreme Court hears in carbon tax case • Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late `` All Canadians must have the confidence that the justice system is there to protect them , not to harm them , '' says the throne speech delivered Wednesday , ushering in a new parliamentary session .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the strong hand of criminal justice is used where it is needed to keep people safe , but not where it would be discriminatory or counterproductive . ''
Zero tolerance on excessive use of force , introduction of officer-worn body cameras and procedures to weed out racist candidates at the recruitment stage must be among the moves to strengthen the RCMP , said Perry Bellegarde , national chief of the Assembly of First Nations .
`` It requires a process to start revamping an overview of policies , procedures internally within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throne speech .
The Native Women 's Association of Canada said it was encouraged to hear the government 's plan to address inequities in the justice system .
But it urged the Liberals to focus on gender , given the increasing proportion of Indigenous women among females in federal prison .
The association has made several recommendations to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki , including more transparent oversight and investigation of serious incidents involving police and Indigenous people .
The Liberal government is promising legislation and money to address systemic inequities in all phases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also wants to work with the Mounties on developing new protocols to help de-escalate confrontations with officers .
Leaders from 19 provincial , municipal and First Nations police services across the country met virtually last week to discuss the need to develop a national standard for de-escalation and crisis intervention .
The model would emphasize common training , tools and techniques , says the RCMP , which initiated the forum .
The force said the work will include a review of current models , and related policies , procedures and training to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situations in a consistent way to reduce conflict , minimize use of force and prevent injury .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24 , 2020 .

The Liberal government is promising legislation and money to address systemic inequities in all phases of the criminal justice system. The commitments come amid mounting concerns about unfair treatment of Black and Indigenous people, who are overrepresented in courts and jails. The throne speech pledges action on issues ranging from sentencing and rehabilitation to improved civilian oversight of the RCMP and standards on police use of force. The planned measures also include modern training for police and other law-enforcement agencies, as well as broader RCMP reforms that emphasize a shift toward community-led policing. In addition, the Liberals promise to speed up work on a legislative framework for First Nations policing as an essential service, seen as crucial to ensuring safety in Indigenous communities.
"All Canadians must have the confidence that the justice system is there to protect them, not to harm them," says the throne speech delivered Wednesday, ushering in a new parliamentary session. "The government will take steps to ensure that the strong hand of criminal justice is used where it is needed to keep people safe, but not where it would be discriminatory or counterproductive." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Zero tolerance on excessive use of force, introduction of officer-worn body cameras and procedures to weed out racist candidates at the recruitment stage must be among the moves to strengthen the RCMP, said Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
"It requires a process to start revamping an overview of policies, procedures internally within the RCMP," he said following the throne speech. The Liberal government is promising legislation and money to address systemic inequities in all phases of the criminal justice system. The Native Women's Association of Canada said it was encouraged to hear the government's plan to address inequities in the justice system. But it urged the Liberals to focus on gender, given the increasing proportion of Indigenous women among females in federal prison. The association has made several recommendations to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, including more transparent oversight and investigation of serious incidents involving police and Indigenous people. It also wants to work with the Mounties on developing new protocols to help de-escalate confrontations with officers. Leaders from 19 provincial, municipal and First Nations police services across the country met virtually last week to discuss the need to develop a national standard for de-escalation and crisis intervention.
The model would emphasize common training, tools and techniques, says the RCMP, which initiated the forum. The force said the work will include a review of current models, and related policies, procedures and training to allow all Canadian police officers to respond to situations in a consistent way to reduce conflict, minimize use of force and prevent injury. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2020.


nationalobserver--2020-09-25--The faces and voices at a COVID-19 era climate protest

Here are some of the voices and ( masked ) faces of Toronto 's climate protest movement .
Crowds of mostly young climate protesters took to the streets of Toronto , as well as cities and towns across Canada and the world , for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic Friday .
The co-ordinated actions inspired by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg were much smaller than last September 's massive demonstrations due to constraints imposed by the pandemic , but participants say the need for them is more urgent than ever .
“ To me , it does n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all have different access , different privilege , and we have to keep each other safe , whether in the streets physically ( when ) there 's five of us or 500 of us .
To me , it 's just knowing that we stand for everyone.
” Do you think the smaller protest than pre-pandemic means less impact ?
“ I am here today fighting for climate justice , fighting for racial justice , fighting for justice in general .
Every time that there ’ s a strike , I like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show out , and let everyone know we see one another , we ’ re here , we care , and we 're not stopping until we see change.
” “ I just do n't think being a vegetarian for 15 years is enough anymore , or making sure that my T-shirt is eco-friendly .
Performative environmentalism is a dangerous concept and I think it 's ( more ) about being here with the community than it is sitting isolated thinking ... what you 're doing is helping.
” “ I ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think you have to show up for things you believe in .
It 's better than sitting behind a screen . ''
“ COVID was a wake-up call for a lot of us to see , to have the time to see the different ways that people are facing injustice and inequity.
” “ My own friends , even in terms of what we 're all posting about on social media , we ’ ve shifted our focus to more of a community-based focus and figuring out how we can help people.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our whiteness , but there are ways that so many people are n't supported because they are literally pushed to the edges , next to the chemical plant , next to the coal power plant , next to the swamp.
” “ It 's a question of : ‘ If we 're all not here for this , what are we doing ?
’ If we 're not worried about the environment , our everyday life is meh , you know ?
” Why did you come out today ?
“ I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially in architecture , is near and dear to my heart .
And I truly believe that we are the generation that is going to have to walk at the crossroads between a sustainable future and destruction.
” Were you worried about protesting during the pandemic ?
“ Yes , but unfortunately in the coming years these crises are only going to get worse .
And as they continue to get worse , it is going to be an even harder decision to make .
I 'd rather make that decision now while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming out today.
” Do you think the smaller protest than pre-pandemic means less impact ?
“ It is incredibly difficult .
Every person who can show up is a voice to be heard , but , unfortunately , I do n't believe that it will have the same impact .
But all we can do is try.
” Why did you come out today ?
“ I wanted to show my support for something I 'm really passionate about .
I would rather be here than at school right now , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to things like this and support it .
“ I feel like a lot of the politicians say they 're going to do stuff and then they do n't end up following through with it .
Since last year , there have been a lot of broken promises that were made .
Justin Trudeau was marching last year in Montreal and was promising all these things and did n't end up following through , so I think it 's really important to hold our leaders accountable.
” Why did you come out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because I believe it 's important to stay educated on these topics , especially as a person who 's going to be directly affected by these politicians and their broken promises .
I think it 's important to hold them accountable for their decisions and to prioritize the rights of Indigenous people and people of colour .
“ I feel like COVID has brought some sort of melancholic unity to everyone and I feel like it 's made them realize that we 're all in this together and what we do collectively to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues it is all coming back to us.
” Why did you come out today ?
“ As a matter of fact , we had to leave our apartment today because a landlord purchased us a new oven .
This oven has such volatile organic compounds in it that we can not be in our apartment .
It 's interesting that were I to be rich , I could hire someone to off-gas it for me , or I could buy a better oven .
But for some reason , the rules are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on harm .
I 'm here to protest that.
” Were you worried about protesting during the pandemic ?
“ Not really , because we feel like we can identify who might be unwell , and we took out time to arrive here on an uncrowded streetcar , so as urban-savvy people , we felt safe doing this .
There are so many cases in our public schools right now , so that 's not exactly the place to be either.
” How does climate protest relate to COVID-19 ?
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can only be really solved by intact habitats , and we must work extra hard to have clear air in order to stay healthy given the crises of this year.
” Do you think the smaller protest than pre-pandemic means less impact ?
“ Last year was more numerous , but this year I think the message is even more important with all the fires and the accumulation of urgency around us all the time.
” How does climate protest fit with other social justice movements ?
“ To me , these issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always the people who are winning the so to speak game of life who are harming those lesser than them .
Nature is voiceless , animals will never speak about extinction .
It is much more readily available to us to speak about our fellow humans , and I do attend those protests too .
They are no less important than climate.
” Why did you come out today ?
“ I 'm a big supporter of Fridays for Future , I 've been coming almost every Friday ... A lot of momentum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not be the same after COVID-19 , after this pandemic .
We have to have more opportunities to increase green energy jobs , a green way of life .
We have to move away from fossil fuels , from plastics , we ’ re polluting our air .
I want to give our future generations a world that is theirs.
” How does climate protest fit with other social justice movements ?
“ Climate justice involves racial justice .
We have to invest in our Black and Indigenous communities , start to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the funds that are going to the Toronto police right now , $ 1.2 billion , we should send it to our Black and Indigenous communities , the poor people who were marginalized and criminalized for years and years and years.
” Why did you come out today ?
“ As a nation , we do n't protest and we do n't really engage .
What will be the trauma that finally collectively brings us to the street ?
Is it going to be food shortages that are coming , whether they hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I 'm optimistic in the sense that when pushed to a wall , we will react in a way that change will happen .
My question to everybody is why is the wall so terrifying ?
How is this not everyone 's breaking point ?
” How does climate protest fit with other social justice movements ?
“ We 're all in a massive state of distress right now , and I think we are finding each other .
I see more interconnectivity between queer people , Black Lives Matter , trans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we lack leadership .
We do not have one leader of any political party who can tell a truthful Canadian story and engage us from a place of camaraderie .
“ There is a vacuum of leadership in this country , so , yeah , I 'm not hopeful because of that , but I groove on my neighbours , I think they ’ re good folk .
Colonizers , but all right .
”

Here are some of the voices and (masked) faces of Toronto's climate protest movement.
Crowds of mostly young climate protesters took to the streets of Toronto, as well as cities and towns across Canada and the world , for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic Friday. The co-ordinated actions inspired by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg were much smaller than last September's massive demonstrations due to constraints imposed by the pandemic, but participants say the need for them is more urgent than ever.
“To me, it doesn't feel any different. Recognizing that we all have different access, different privilege, and we have to keep each other safe, whether in the streets physically (when) there's five of us or 500 of us. To me, it's just knowing that we stand for everyone.”
Do you think the smaller protest than pre-pandemic means less impact?
“I am here today fighting for climate justice, fighting for racial justice, fighting for justice in general. Every time that there’s a strike, I like to take the opportunity to show up and show out, and let everyone know we see one another, we’re here, we care, and we're not stopping until we see change.”
“COVID was a wake-up call for a lot of us to see, to have the time to see the different ways that people are facing injustice and inequity.”
“My own friends, even in terms of what we're all posting about on social media, we’ve shifted our focus to more of a community-based focus and figuring out how we can help people.”
“I just don't think being a vegetarian for 15 years is enough anymore, or making sure that my T-shirt is eco-friendly. Performative environmentalism is a dangerous concept and I think it's (more) about being here with the community than it is sitting isolated thinking ... what you're doing is helping.”
“I can't sit behind social media anymore. I think you have to show up for things you believe in. It's better than sitting behind a screen."
Were you worried about protesting during the pandemic?
“It's a question of: ‘If we're all not here for this, what are we doing?’ If we're not worried about the environment, our everyday life is meh, you know?”
How do climate protests fit with other social justice movements?
“We don't see it in our whiteness, but there are ways that so many people aren't supported because they are literally pushed to the edges, next to the chemical plant, next to the coal power plant, next to the swamp.”
Catherine Economopoulos, first-year university student
Catherine Economopoulos holds a banner during a climate protest in Toronto on Sept. 25, 2020. Photo by Morgan Sharp
Why did you come out today?
“I'm an architecture student, and sustainability, especially in architecture, is near and dear to my heart. And I truly believe that we are the generation that is going to have to walk at the crossroads between a sustainable future and destruction.”
Were you worried about protesting during the pandemic?
“Yes, but unfortunately in the coming years these crises are only going to get worse. And as they continue to get worse, it is going to be an even harder decision to make. I'd rather make that decision now while I'm still young and comfortable with coming out today.”
Do you think the smaller protest than pre-pandemic means less impact?
“It is incredibly difficult. Every person who can show up is a voice to be heard, but, unfortunately, I don't believe that it will have the same impact. But all we can do is try.”
Isabel Murphy, Grade 12 student
Grade 12 student Isabel Murphy during a climate protest in Toronto on Sept. 25, 2020. Photo by Morgan Sharp
Why did you come out today?
“I wanted to show my support for something I'm really passionate about. I would rather be here than at school right now, I think it's really important to show up to things like this and support it.
“I feel like a lot of the politicians say they're going to do stuff and then they don't end up following through with it. Since last year, there have been a lot of broken promises that were made. Justin Trudeau was marching last year in Montreal and was promising all these things and didn't end up following through, so I think it's really important to hold our leaders accountable.”
Dhanya Davies, high school student
High school student Dhanya Davies holds a banner during a climate protest in Toronto on Sept. 25, 2020. Photo by Morgan Sharp
Why did you come out today?
“I'm here today because I believe it's important to stay educated on these topics, especially as a person who's going to be directly affected by these politicians and their broken promises. I think it's important to hold them accountable for their decisions and to prioritize the rights of Indigenous people and people of colour.
“I feel like COVID has brought some sort of melancholic unity to everyone and I feel like it's made them realize that we're all in this together and what we do collectively to do with climate and all these political issues it is all coming back to us.”
Ania Gorka
Ania Gorka sits with her three children during a climate protest in Toronto on Sept. 25, 2020. Photo by Morgan Sharp
Why did you come out today?
“As a matter of fact, we had to leave our apartment today because a landlord purchased us a new oven. This oven has such volatile organic compounds in it that we cannot be in our apartment. It's interesting that were I to be rich, I could hire someone to off-gas it for me, or I could buy a better oven. But for some reason, the rules are rigged such that people can make businesses based on harm. I'm here to protest that.”
Were you worried about protesting during the pandemic?
“Not really, because we feel like we can identify who might be unwell, and we took out time to arrive here on an uncrowded streetcar, so as urban-savvy people, we felt safe doing this. There are so many cases in our public schools right now, so that's not exactly the place to be either.”
How does climate protest relate to COVID-19?
“I think that human pathogens and animal pathogens can only be really solved by intact habitats, and we must work extra hard to have clear air in order to stay healthy given the crises of this year.”
Do you think the smaller protest than pre-pandemic means less impact?
“Last year was more numerous, but this year I think the message is even more important with all the fires and the accumulation of urgency around us all the time.”
How does climate protest fit with other social justice movements?
“To me, these issues are very closely related. It is always the people who are winning the so to speak game of life who are harming those lesser than them. Nature is voiceless, animals will never speak about extinction. It is much more readily available to us to speak about our fellow humans, and I do attend those protests too. They are no less important than climate.”
Miguel Avila
Miguel Avila during a climate protest in Toronto on Sept. 25, 2020. Photo by Morgan Sharp
Why did you come out today?
“I'm a big supporter of Fridays for Future, I've been coming almost every Friday ... A lot of momentum took place before COVID and our society can not be the same after COVID-19, after this pandemic. We have to have more opportunities to increase green energy jobs, a green way of life. We have to move away from fossil fuels, from plastics, we’re polluting our air. I want to give our future generations a world that is theirs.”
How does climate protest fit with other social justice movements?
“Climate justice involves racial justice. We have to invest in our Black and Indigenous communities, start to defund the police. We should direct the funds that are going to the Toronto police right now, $1.2 billion, we should send it to our Black and Indigenous communities, the poor people who were marginalized and criminalized for years and years and years.”
Tanya Bruce
Tanya Bruce during a climate protest in Toronto on Sept. 25, 2020. Photo by Morgan Sharp
Why did you come out today?
“As a nation, we don't protest and we don't really engage. What will be the trauma that finally collectively brings us to the street? Is it going to be food shortages that are coming, whether they hit us this winter or next year?
“I'm optimistic in the sense that when pushed to a wall, we will react in a way that change will happen. My question to everybody is why is the wall so terrifying? How is this not everyone's breaking point?”
How does climate protest fit with other social justice movements?
“We're all in a massive state of distress right now, and I think we are finding each other. I see more interconnectivity between queer people, Black Lives Matter, trans rights, returning the land, but we lack leadership. We do not have one leader of any political party who can tell a truthful Canadian story and engage us from a place of camaraderie.
“There is a vacuum of leadership in this country, so, yeah, I'm not hopeful because of that, but I groove on my neighbours, I think they’re good folk. Colonizers, but all right.”
Morgan Sharp / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada’s National Observer