Dalhousie students stripped down to bathing suits and chanted "It's getting hot in here" at a climate rally in the Killam Library.

December 6, 2009

by Tiffany Limgenco

HALIFAX – The city of Halifax has witnessed popular actions as citizens rally together to promote greater awareness on climate change. Participants began with a mini climate change parade on November 28 along Spring Garden Road. Students, professionals and other activists marched down the crowded street, encouraging people to call Prime Minister Harper and voice their concerns on the issue. This was followed by “Wake Up to Climate Change” at 8 am on December 1. Concerned Haligonians came together in support of the cause and grabbed the attention of rush hour traffic, as well as CBC Radio located across the street.

All of the events hope to achieve proper political representation at the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference, December 7 – 18, in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Upcoming events include participation in the Climate Change Fast from December 6 to 13. The world-wide fast is focused on showing the effects of climate change on the individual and how food security is an issue the world must face. This will be followed by the Climate Change Candlelight Vigil on December 12 at the Grand Parade Square from 5 to 6 pm.

Halifax climate activists will be rewarding Megan Leslie, Member of Parliament, for supporting Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Bill. The bill requires residents to reduce their greenhouse emissions to 25% less than 1990 levels by 2020.

For the full 12 minute audio report, click here.

Citizens around the world are taking to the streets in opposition to the recent Israeli military invasion of Gaza.  Grassroots movements have mobilized people in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, acting together on co-ordinated international days of action.

In Canada, cities across the country organized their own rallies, marches, and demonstrations, including Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, and other cities, some demonstrations numbering in the tens of thousands of participants.

Since December 27, 2008, over 1100 Palestinians have been killed and approximately 5000 have been wounded, the majority civilians.

In Halifax last week, rallies on Friday and Saturday drew a combined 300 demonstrators out on the streets, denouncing the on-going occupation of Palestine and the gross escalation of Israeli violence that has drawn the world’s attention.

For many Palestinian Canadians in the crowd, the killing in Gaza hits very close to home. Many members of the crowd had family in Gaza, and were worried for the safety of their loved ones.

This audio report features interviews with local Palestinians, and visiting Israeli Jewish peace activist Jeff Halper.