Climate march draws tens of thousands
Citizen protest in support of UN appeal demands action from Quebec politicians
Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the streets of downtown Montreal on Saturday with hope, desperation and urgency, calling on elected leaders to act now to stop climate change — or they will be held responsible. Desperation because despite all the previous marches and calls on government to act, the planet is still heading toward catastrophe. Urgency because the latest United Nations report on climate change released in October says it’s not vague “future generations,” but today’s preteens who will feel the heat and effect as adults. Hope because, well, without hope, what is there? “We’re calling on all politicians to bring our voices to Parliament,” said François Geoffroy, a spokesperson for the movement the Planet Goes to Parliament, which organized the march, as he addressed the crowd. “If you do, you will have these tens of thousands of people supporting you . ... But if you don’t, they will not be duped.” The march, the biggest in Quebec since the Earth Day protest of 2012, saw a kilometre-long wall of people fill Place des Festivals before heading west on Ste-Catherine St., east along Sherbrooke St., then north up Park Ave. to the Mordecai Richler gazebo on Mount Royal. Organizers estimate 50,000 people followed the route. The crowd, carrying flags of different parties, unions and non-profit organizations, was not so much non-partisan as all-partisan. Three members of Premier François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec government were present — including Environment Minister MarieChantal Chassé and Quebec Treasury Board president Christian Dubé — as was Québec Solidaire MNA Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. Formerly a leader of the student “red square” movement, Nadeau-Dubois was now among many who wore green circles to show their solidarity for the environment. Some of the protesters carried signs urging people to ride bikes, divest from oil and stop eating meat — “cows fart too much” and emit methane. One sign, held by a toddler, said “Grrrr.” Another said “I will give up my private jet!!!” Many of the protesters targeted Legault in particular. “François, ça va chauffer!” read one handmade sign. “Caq-astro-phe” read another, as protesters urged the new government to say no to more bridges, highways and pipelines, despite his campaign promises. Louise Roux, a longtime activist in the Lotbinière region, said protesters have to take advantage of Legault being new to government, and try to convince him to make the environment a priority. “You have to make him think of the future of his own children and grandchildren,” she said. “That’s how you get to him.” On Friday, Dominic Champagne, a theatre director and author, who also speaks for the Planet movement, met with Legault in person, urging him to sign on to what has come to be known as The Pact — Le Pacte de transition — a pledge to move from words to action on climate change, and for individuals to commit to reducing their ecological footprint in their daily lives by making better choices with transport, food, waste and oil consumption, among other things. In return for daily sacrifices, however, the Pact also makes demands on politicians to recognize the environment and combating climate change must become the priority. The Pact, and the protests — another is planned for Nov. 27, when the National Assembly meets again — are a response to an appeal from the secretary-general of the United Nations that citizens mobilize to avoid the ecological disaster scientists now say is imminent.
Since its release on Wednesday, about 150,000 people, including 500 Quebec personalities, have signed the Pact. Legault did not. As the crowd came to a stop at the foot of Mount Royal, Geoffroy thanked those who have been fighting for the environment for 40 years, as well as those who were protesting for the first time Saturday, “for deciding to stop being passive citizens and start being (real) citizens.” He applauded the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), which represents 82 municipalities, for adopting on Monday the Universal Citizen Declaration on Climate Urgency. He and other speakers reiterated some of the other demands of the Pact: For government to come up with a plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 45 per cent by 2030; to prohibit any new project to explore or exploit fossil fuels; and to stop all subsidies, direct or indirect, of fossil fuels. Then it was up to some of the younger people present to take the microphone on behalf of the Planet Goes to School. One of them asked for a show of hands of all those under 18. There were many. “It’s our future at stake,” said one girl. “We want leaders to put a plan in place to fight climate change.” Then a young man told the adults, and politicians in particular: “Look us in the eyes and say you love us and tell us you will safeguard our future.”
We’re calling on all politicians to bring our voices to Parliament. If you do, you will have these tens of thousands of people supporting you.