Local environmental groups stage climate strike rally in Nelson
By The Nelson Daily Staff
Two local environmental activist groups tied up traffic in downtown Nelson last Friday to raise awareness around climate issues and demand immediate action from our provincial and federal governments.
On Friday, March 25th, Fridays For Future and Last Stand West Kootenay participated in an international climate strike, joining tens of thousands of people across the world for a global climate event demanding leaders take action to curb environmental abuses that are driving climate change.
Friday’s event in Nelson featured a speaker’s stage outside City Hall — that included local scientists, environmental organizers, and concerned citizens with the common message — We need action now — as well as a march through the downtown core and rally outside the office of Nelson-Creston MLA Brittny Anderson.
A focus of the rally, along with issues regarding the state of the climate and local biosphere, was the plight of the mountain caribou, an endangered species dependent on old growth forests.
Speakers said rather than protecting this vital caribou habitat, the BC NDP government is instead implementing a brutal wolf cull, where individuals are paid to slaughter these beautiful animals.
“The emergency short term solutions we are taking to protect caribou are fruitless without habitat protection,” said Ellee Atkinson in a Fridays For Future media release.
“Extensive habitat and matrix zone protection should be the primary emergency measure. Wolves are being scapegoated for rapid caribou decline, while the logging, mining, and recreational industries are given a green light to kill off their critical ecosystems.”
“Furthermore, there are no meaningful solutions without land back and Sinixt leadership,” Atkinson added.
MLA Anderson also in attendance, was presented with a list of questions about BC NDP policy, as well as the recently released Autonomous Sinixt Land Declaration.
Organizers said as it stands, there were no commitments by the Provincial Government to meet the following and presented demands of an immediate moratorium on old growth logging, an end to the brutal wolf cull, and the implementation of the recently released Autonomous Sinixt land declaration.
“These issues are extremely important and intertwined,” said organizer Miguel Pastor.
“We have been calling for a moratorium on old growth for months, some for years, some for decades.”
“We see caribou populations decline while their habitat is destroyed, we see ancient ecosystems shrinking,” Pastor added.
“It could not be clearer that we need to stop the unparalleled assault on our planet, not add to the killing. The Autonomous Sinixt have called for an immediate stop to all proposed resource extraction in their homeland. Their sovereignty must be respected.”
During the march, and occupation of the intersection at Baker and Josephine Streets, protesters chanted for “climate action,” “land back” and that old growth forests are “worth more standing.”
During a stop at MLA Anderson’s office, and a protester staged a demonstration with a bladeless chainsaw represented industry, and proceeded to pretend to cut down the crowd, who were holding branches and representing the old growth forest.
Once every last “tree” was cut, the protesters laid on the intersection in a moment of silence out of respect for the immense biodiversity, trees, and animals that are killed every day as a result of government policy and forestry practices.
They eventually rose to the cry of “what do we do when our forests are under attack?” responding with “stand up, fight back.”
The crowd then returned to city hall, where more speeches were had, poetry was performed and music was played.
This event happened on unceded Sinixt təmxʷulaʔxʷ(homeland) with consent.
Organizers said they are grateful for the opportunity to stand for the health of the təmxʷulaʔxʷand we honour and respect the Sinixt people who have taken care of this land since time immemorial.
Protesters halted traffic at the intersection of Josephine and Baker Friday afternoon to highlight out of date forestry practices by the provincial government.
