In the heart of Canada’s oil country, the biggest crowd I have ever seen in this province rallied down the streets of downtown Edmonton to the steps of the Alberta Legislature for today’s Climate Strike march.
The crowd of more than 10,000 converged on the Legislature grounds to hear from a long list of speakers, but they were mostly all there to hear from Greta Thunberg. The 16-year old international environmental activist announced three days ago that she would be in Edmonton and the massive turnout today is a testament to her star power, the remarkable on the ground organization of climate justice and indigenous groups in Alberta, and the growing importance of climate change in Alberta – and in Monday’s federal election.
“And we are not doing this because we want to. We aren’t doing it because it’s fun. We’re aren’t doing it because we have a special interest in the climate or because we want to become politicians when we grow up,” Thunberg told the massive crowd.
“We are doing this because our future is at stake.”
Thunberg avoided talking about the federal election or hot button local issues like the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project and oilsands emissions, and instead focused on the need to recognize the science and the political action that leaders need to take to address climate change.
Organizers of the Climate Strike in Edmonton included Climate Justice Edmonton, Edmonton Youth for Climate, Extinction Rebellion, and Beaver Hills Warriors. Along with Thunberg, speakers at the rally included Saddle Lake Cree Nation Headwoman, Pamela Quinn, student and organizer with Edmonton Youth for Climate Luke Nelson, Dene Tha First Nation youth activists Lynn Morin and Portia Morin, Climate Justice Edmonton organizer Batul Gulamhusein, student Edmonton Youth for Climate organizer Madison Prairie.
The 30 or so trucks that formed the pro-oil convoy that travelled from Red Deer and Nisku to downtown Edmonton made some noise, as did small groups of red hatted counter-protesters, but they were eclipsed by the sheer size of the crowd of Albertans participating in the Climate Strike.
There has been a lot of commentary about the fragility of pro-oil protesters who felt the need to counter-protest a 16-year old. But as political observer Chris Henderson posted on Twitter yesterday, they should feel threatened. Everywhere Greta Thunberg goes, she resonates orders of magnitude higher, just like she did today in Edmonton.
3 replies on “Greta Thunberg rallies massive crowd in the heart of Canada’s Oil Country”
Fantastic to see so many Albertans turn out for this event. There is hope for this province after all. The counter demonstration by the 30 or so trucks was pretty pathetic. We never saw them, only heard them honking like lost geese somewhere in the distance. Still, it was all mostly respectful. Except for one rude “Go home Greta” sign, the pro O&G were quiet and kept their distance. Maybe because they were outnumbered 1000 to one. The organisation was not terrific. We all came to be inspired by Greta, but too many other folks were unable to resist the temptation of a hot mike. The many boring, repetitive speeches blunted the impact of the event and folks were looking at their watches before long.
And yet 60% plus of Alberta voters likely will cast a ballot for a conservative candidate on Monday. Those counter protesters seem to reflect the majority of Albertan’s opinions not to mention the allegations of foreign election meddling sure to surface. Further ammunition for Kenney’s war room as Greta is funded by a slew of foreign foundations.
A feel good moment perhaps but more of a show rather than anything of substance. If anything it may rally the conservative vote and Albertans will lose any voice in what looks to be a minority government.
Until Alberta Conservatives wake up to the fact that they need to take Climate change seriously in order to be taken seriously by the rest of the world, and that means those who voted for them, too, we will continue to look like whining dinosaurs who just can’t accept reality