Seniors Day for Climate Action included visit from Ontario Green Party leader
On Oct. 1, seniors groups in 76 locations across Canada took public action to remind the world about the climate crisis, carbon emissions and all too often government inaction and indifference. The Kawartha chapter of Seniors for Climate Action Now (SCAN!-Kawartha) organized a rally at Victoria Park. About 100 people attended. Music was provided by George Hewison, Wally Koekebakker and Brenda Wall.
Massive and destructive floods in the American southeast from Hurricane Helene and yet another summer of hundreds of out-of-control forest fires in Canada set the tone for the day. Climate catastrophe is here and it is now. Speaker after speaker repeatedly spoke about responsibility to the next generations and the need to take serious action to reduce carbon emissions, emissions that cause a warming planet that in turn causes climatic catastrophe. The slogan of the day, right across Canada, was ‘Later is Too Late.’
What follows are remarks from speakers and attendees of the rally.
Sherry Hillman of SCAN! was master of ceremonies at the rally. “As seniors, we are leveraging our collective power to create change for future generations,” she said. “This movement is not just about seniors. It’s about inter-generational solidarity.”
“The age of innocence is gone,” said SCAN!-Kawartha member Bill Steffler. “There are no more excuses. We must reduce carbon emissions now.”
“Change is not only possible, it is necessary. We must do something different for the kids and for their kids,” added Iggi Van Kooten is president of the OSSTF-Trillium-Lakelands, District 15.
Green Party leader Mike Schreiner dropped over to the SCAN! rally after his visit to the International Plowing Match. “We have the technology. Let’s use it. It cost me $2 to drive from Guelph to Lindsay in my electric vehicle. And it makes no sense to allow Enbridge to install pipelines in Bobcaygeon for natural gas when heat pumps are 13 per cent cheaper. Where’s the leadership?”
Moya Beall is with SCAN!-Kawartha. “It is past time for the City of Kawartha Lakes to take action,” she stated. “Where’s the bus? Where’s the support for renewables?”
About 20 students from I.E. Weldon Secondary School, of the Green Advocates club attended. Leah Roxborough and Sage Stapleton spoke on their behalf. “We are inheriting a planet of floods, fires and hurricanes. The new generation needs a planet where people can thrive, not just survive.”
Dr. Nell Thomas is a family physician in Minden and an active environmentalist. She cited Volker Turk, High Commissioner of Human Rights of the United Nations. “We are at a fork in the road. We can either sleepwalk into a dystopian future or we can prioritize a healthy planet to promote equality of life sustaining resources and opportunities for all earth’s citizens.”
Turning her focus to the students, Dr. Thomas ended her remarks and the rally with the following words: “The stakes are high. They are so high that we now have nothing to lose but the shame and regret of doing nothing. Later is too late. There is no later.”
