Time to act

Extinction Rebellion Prince Edward Island wants the province to declare a climate emergency immediately

“We are already seeing erosion all around the Island. And this will continue. We’re here so that our grandchildren can be here.” David Woodbury

A P.E.I. group wants the province to declare a climate emergency immediately rather than focusing on the upcoming election.

To make their point, about 10 members of Extinction Rebellion Prince Edward Island held signs and slowed traffic on Thursday morning by legally crossing Great George Street at the Fitzroy Street intersection over and over.

The demonstration started at 8 a.m. and ended at 9 a.m. The group was planning a larger demonstration at the Charlottetown Mall around 5 p.m.

David Woodbury, one of the group’s co-ordinators, explained that with climate change, P.E.I. is the most vulnerable provinces with the rising temperature of the ocean and erosion and the potential for flooding.

“We are already seeing erosion all around the Island. And this will continue,” he said. “We’re here so that our grandchildren can be here.”

Daphniée Azoulay, who founded the group in November, said the “business as usual” attitude needs to stop.

“We want the federal government but also the provincial government and the municipalities and UPEI, Holland College – everybody needs to be on the same page,” she said.

“We need to declare a climate emergency immediately. When it’s an emergency, you have to react.”

After Thursday, the group is planning more demonstrations leading up to, and including, Climate Day in March.

TERRENCE MCEACHERN/THE GUARDIAN David Woodbury, left, and Daphniée Azoulay, who are with the group, Extinction Rebellion Prince Edward Island, hold a demonstration on Thursday on Great George Street to protest inaction regarding climate change.