Thousands join Greta at climate rally
Swedish activist speaks at legislature as counter-protest rolls in from Red Deer
EDMONTON Thousands of people marched through downtown Edmonton to the Alberta legislature Friday for a climate strike that included 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg while a counter-protest made its way from Red Deer in support of Alberta oil and gas.
Organized by Climate Justice Edmonton and a number of other grassroots organizations including Beaver Hills Warriors, Edmonton Youth for Climate and Extinction Rebellion, Friday’s climate strike “made history” as thousands of people demanded climate action and a new green deal for Canada.
Edmonton police pegged its crowd estimate at 4,000 but Climate Justice Edmonton estimated about 10,000 gathered together at the legislature grounds. Police said about 2,500 marched from Beaver Hills House Park on Jasper Avenue through downtown to the legislature.
“Today, Albertans delivered a strong message of unity, that the status quo is long longer acceptable, that a just transition is possible and it needs to happen now. Today, the people rose up to follow the leadership of Indigenous communities who’ve led the resistance on this territory for decades and have been protecting this land for millennia,” said Paige Gorsak of Climate Justice Edmonton.
“We’re so happy to have had Greta Thunberg here today from Sweden to bring the energy of the global movement that she has sparked to amplify the voices of resistance from this place — even if the government behind us is plugging their ears, even if they are denying the science and vilifying the citizens.”
Gorsak said Thunberg, who began the climate strike movement, reached out to Climate Justice Edmonton to join them in their Friday march.
A number of youth leaders gave speeches on the steps of the legislature in front of the thousands that gathered. Thunberg was the last to speak and approached the microphone to cheers and the crowd chanting her name.
Thunberg said the many young people and Indigenous leaders gathered together are “the hope.”
She said young people are not striking around the globe because they want to, that it’s fun, or because they have a special interest in climate or want to be politicians.
“We are doing this because our future is at stake. We are doing this because in this crisis we will not be bystanders. We are doing it because we want the people in power to unite behind the science.”
Thunberg said if people really knew the full consequences of the climate and ecological emergency, they would join them in the streets.
“Some people say that we are fighting for our future but that is not true. We are not fighting for our future. We are fighting for everyone’s future,” Thunberg said. “And if you think we should be in school instead, then we suggest you take our place in the streets. Or better yet, join us so we can speed up the process.”
Earlier in the morning, a counter-protest was held with the United We Roll for Canada convoy coming up from Red Deer to meet supporters outside of Edmonton at a truck stop parking lot in Nisku. About 50 people planned to drive by the climate rally to demonstrate their support of Canada’s oil and gas industry but not directly engage with them.
Organizer Joel Mullan said Canada has some of the strictest environmental and safety regulations in the world and believes the country is being targeted over other parts of the world such as Venezuela.
“We don’t want to make it a negative thing by speaking out,” Mullan said. “We really do have a positive message. It’s about people, it’s about country. The attempts to landlock our oil, essentially an embargo against our exports, is weakening national unity. We’ve seen rising and growing separatist sentiment in Alberta. It’s putting strains on this country and that could be disastrous.”
As protesters flowed onto the legislature grounds, a convoy of trucks and SUVS rolled down 109 Street beside the legislature. Alberta and Canadian flags were draped from many of the vehicles and some were decorated with signs reading, “Carbon capture works,” and, “Canada depends on oil and gas.”
Drivers honked their horns repeatedly and some supporters standing on the side of the road waved, took pictures and gave them thumbs up.
Police thanked both groups for a safe and orderly event and said there were no arrests. The force had a higher-than-normal volume of police officers on the clock to facilitate the events.
“Both groups on both sides of this issue were very cooperative with police, shared information when appropriate and allowed us to coordinate and make sure both protests were successful,” said Jonathan Coughlan of the Edmonton police field response team.
Meanwhile, Premier Jason Kenney was about 70 kilometres west of the city during the rally, speaking at the opening of a new Transalta natural gas pipeline. He addressed the protesters during the pipeline event, saying that the pipeline’s opening represented more action on climate change than those rallying.
“If those folks don’t believe in power production, then they shouldn’t have charged their cellphones last night. They shouldn’t have driven to the legislature,” Kenney said at the event. “Instead of protesting prosperity, we’re actually reducing emissions.”
The climate rally also sparked a response from the Indian Resource Council while it was holding a conference at the River Cree Resort and Casino.
Chief Roy Fox, the chairman of the board of directors, said he didn’t know who was organizing the climate rally but he wanted to make it clear they did not speak for the board or its members.
He said the oil and gas industry is heavily regulated by both the federal and provincial governments and from the First Nations themselves.
Fox said communities take great strides to ensure nothing in the environment is harmed.
“We appreciate anybody else sticking up on our behalf but they don’t speak for us,” Fox said.
“It reminds me of another situation that happened a few hundred years ago where people from other parts of the world came to us and stole our lands and told us: This is what’s good for you, we’ll take care of you, we’ll speak on your behalf. Hasn’t really worked out, has it?”