Lots of people are taking not only to the streets but to the deserts and through snowstorms to get to, or march in, rallies around the globe–calling for climate action–coinciding with the climate talks in Paris, which begin November 30. After running a short recovery run today, I was blown away by reading about climate scientist Dr. Erlend Møster Knudsen, who is running from the Arctic to Paris, over 3000km. In Paris, he meets with Dr. Daniel Price, a British Antarctic scientist, another “Pole to Paris” runner/cycler. While Knudsen set off from Tromsø, Price began his journey in New Zealand in April, as close to the Antarctic as he said it was feasible to start cycling. It’s their way to create a new climate narrative because the world isn’t yet getting it.
Not all of us are running 3000km to Paris, but I am really inspired by these scientists! We will be attending the People’s Climate March on November 29th at the Vancouver Art Gallery. I remember the one last year; I wanted to go so badly, but instead went to the Beat the Blerch Marathon near Seattle, to cheer on my husband in his first half-marathon. However, so inspired by that event, I decided to run too and build that narrative about what it’s like to run in the anthropocene. What I’m doing is not even measurable compared to people like Knudson and Price, but the most important thing to realize is that each and every one of us on this planet gets a chance to do something, and I would suggest getting involved with whatever is going on near you!
Taking place on unceded Coast Salish Territory, the Vancouver event is as follows (I’m taking this from the Facebook event page):
DATE Sunday, November 29, 2015
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: Vancouver Art Gallery (Unceded Coast Salish Territory)
In solidarity with UN CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT IN Paris COP21 (November 30 to December 11, 2015) and all other cities around the globe – we are mobilizing the masses again in Vancouver, B.C. We are speaking up to tell our Federal and Provincial Governments that we want climate action and we want the shut down the tarsands, LNG projects, coal exports, the Enbridge pipeline, Kinder Morgan pipeline or other pipelines that would continue to feed the addiction of our society on fossil fuel expansion.
We stand together with all standing up and marching in Paris and around the globe. We must stand up now for Mother Earth and demand our leaders make decisions that will protect the vulnerable and future generations!
We will be meeting at Vancouver Art Gallery at 1 pm Sunday – November 29, 2015 in solidarity with people all over the planet that are fighting the largest challenge facing us today! We will have a few speeches, songs, drumming and music and then take to the streets!
March with us In Vancouver, BC. We are shaping our future and bending the course of history. Vancouver is on the unceeded territories of xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Who are we?
We are a broad range of individuals and organizations that have come together, to create an event simlar to the 400,000 strong Peoples Climate March in New York City last September and the 5,000 strong Climate March that happened at the same time in Vancouver. 350.org and Avaaz who are at the heart of building the global climate march are also part of this convergence which includes a broad range of individuals and organizations. Please see our website for more information:
http://
And here’s the website for the worldwide event: http://
Endorsements and supporters:
350 Vancouver, Avaaz Vancouver, Bear Clan families of Maxan Lake, BCEN British Columbia Environmental Network, Burnaby Resident Opposing Kinder Morgan (BROKE), Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, Check Your Head: The Youth Global Education Network, Earthkeepers: Christians for Climate Justice, FORPA Forest Protection Allies, Fossil Free Faith, Georgia Strait Alliance, Greenpeace Canada, International Socialists Vancouver, Highlands Climate and Action Group, KAIROS Metro Vancouver, Kwantlen Public Interest Research Group, North American Climate, Conservation and Environment(NACCE), PIPE UP Network, SFU 350, SPARKXC, System Change not Climate Change, Vancouver Council of Canadians, We Love This Coast, Wilderness Committee