Vancouver group plans climate action for the COVID era

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Organizers of rallies and marches pushing for climate action are finding creative ways to adapt amid COVID-19-related guidelines.

A group of parents and caregivers were planning a Mother’s Day march to push the federal government to create a more sustainable Canada.

Now, they’re planning a socially-distanced action to push for a post-pandemic world that prioritizes clean energy, according to Tarlan Razzaghi with the group For Our Kids. 

The Vancouver group is inspired by a group in Quebec called Mothers Step In (Mères au front).

“They’re asking parents across the country to show their support for a green recovery by sending green hearts to their local MPs with their personal messages asking for a green recovery,” Razzaghi says.

“We’re still parents, we’re still working from home, we’re still managing nursing schedules and napping schedules. So, our group is creating two large hears with personal messages.”

The group’s website says a “green recovery” would involve investing in renewable energy, planting billions of trees, a commitment to lowering emissions, and ultimately shutting down the oil and gas industries and retraining those who work in them.

Vancouver volunteers plan to affix giant, green hearts to the doors of constituency offices of two local Liberal MPs — Joyce Murray and Jonathan Wilkinson.

“We can’t have our large march so we just have to find a way to get our message across following social distancing rules. So, one person will be posting the heart on the door but it’s a representation of our group and our collective message to our MPs,” Razzaghi says.

They are targeting these two politicians — both members of Trudeau’s cabinet– because they want the attention of the federal government.

“Our understanding is that the Liberal government is not yet ready to speak about the green recovery in a public format,” she says.

The group, which has chapters nation-wide, is also organizing virtual town halls dedicated to discussing a green recovery.

Razzaghii says in Vancouver, municipal and provincial governments have shown a willingness to participate but the feds have not.

“We’re having a hard time getting the federal government to commit to participating in our virtual town hall currently. Our message is that this response isn’t acceptable, this is the time to have the discussion and there’s no need to wait.”

With files from Tim James

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