RECLAIM EARTH DAY 2008
On April 22, 1970, the environmental movement burst onto the political stage with one of the largest grassroots demonstrations ever seen. Let’s put the activism back into Earth Day with a rally to call on the Harper government to implement Kyoto, introduce mandatory emission reductions and support green energy.

Representative - Toronto Climate Campaign (TCC)
Adam Vaughan - City Councillor, Trinity-Spadina, Ward 20
John Cartwright - President, Toronto and York Region Labour Council
Javier Davila - No One is Illegal
Paula Sherman - Professor of Indigenous Studies, Trent U; Co-Chief, Ardoch Algonquin First Nation; Chris Reid, Lawyer
Musical Performance - Aboriginal Unity Singers
Eduardo Sousa - Regional Organizer, Ontario-Quebec-Nunavut, Council of Canadians
Dave Martin - Energy Campaign Coordinator, Greenpeace Canada
Sandy Hudson - President Elect, University of Toronto Students Union (UTSU)
Musical Performances - The New Kings, Samba Elegua

1 pm: U-Turn Parade

The parade route goes from Yonge-Dundas Square (Toronto) to Queen and Spadina where we will do a U-turn back to Queen and John Street. Bring your banners, placards, and noisemakers to show the Harper government that we want an about-face on climate change policy.

2-4 pm: Street Festival (Queen and John Street)

Join Streets are for People for a festive, interactive, all-ages celebration of Earth Day!

Background

In April, 1970, the environmental movement burst onto the political stage with one of the largest grassroots demonstrations ever seen. Between 20 and 25 million people, mostly in the United States, answered the call on the first Earth Day. Event organizers were shocked at the response and marveled at the crowd that drew from every constituency: students and seniors; inner cities and small towns; faith groups and hippies.

The success of Earth Day shook the Nixon White House and, over the next year, Nixon spearheaded a series of environmental reforms: creating the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); regulating fuel efficiency and emission controls in automobiles; enacting laws protecting endangered species and habitats; signing the Clean Water Act; and more. No government before or since has equaled that environmental record and it was the fear of a rising movement that forced Nixon to act.

The Canadian government also reacted to the pressure from below for environmental action by forming a new federal Ministry of the Environment (Environment Canada) in 1971, pulling together various aspects of environmental policy that had previously been under the jurisdiction of a number of disparate ministries. This was followed by the development of environmental laws governing national parks, land use, wildlife and water.

Over the years, corporations began to fund and sponsor Earth Day events, some out of sincere interest, more out of desire to buy “green” credentials. This shifted the emphasis from public rallying to put pressure on politicians and policy makers, to predominantly innocuous and symbolic events. Large scale, interconnected mobilizations were out. Decentralized photo-ops were in. The unfortunate result was, most activists began to ignore Earth Day.

Help Us To Reclaim It!

Today we are faced with unprecedented environmental crises on one hand, and hypocrisy and inaction on the other. The time is NOW to reclaim the spirit of the ORIGINAL EARTH DAY, to pool our best ideas and give voice to our finest thinkers.

It is NOT the time to eliminate the position of National Science Advisor, muzzle scientists in the Ministry of the Environment (Environment Canada), overrule the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and fire its president, or downplay the warnings of eminent global scientists about climate change as the Harper government has done. Mr. Harper has reneged on Canada's commitment to meet Kyoto targets, obstructed progress at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, and is failing the people of Canada and the world.

Having staged the Toronto contingent of the D8: Global Day of Action this past December, the largest D8 climate rally in Canada (more than 2500 participants and extensive non-corporate sponsorship and support), we want another big turnout at Reclaim Earth Day: U-Turn on Climate Change!

An opening performance by The New Kings and a featured performance by the Aboriginal Unity Singers are scheduled to headline a rally of approximately 8 speakers beginning at 12 noon at Yonge-Dundas Square, to be followed by a family-friendly parade west across Queen Street. At Spadina, we hope to arrange an officer-assisted U-turn in the intersection - which may include another appearance by the Unity Singers - and return to John St. where Streets are for People will, as they did last year, stage a fun, interactive Street Festival.

Anyone who wishes to help us build and organize this day of action is welcome to participate. We meet most Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Steel Hall, 25 Cecil Street. We are also in need of sponsors who can contribute funds or services in kind, such as printing, and we invite you to promote the event by e-mail.

Finally, if you support our cause but cannot provide a monetary or other contribution, your official endorsement of our event would be very appreciated -- all sponsors and endorsements will be acknowledged on our website here.

Please join our efforts to voice the need for urgent, aggressive action to cut greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, to encourage ever more stringent binding emission reductions targets, and to celebrate, defend and preserve a livable world for our children and all life.

“What we do in the next two to three years will determine our future. This is the defining moment.”
-- Rajendra K. Pachauri, IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), 2007
http://www.torontoclimatecampaign.org/reclaimearthday2008