Many people have asked for notes of my rousing talk at Friday’s climate rally in Toronto, in front of Queen’s Park. So here they are. Does anyone have a better photo?
“I am so proud to see you all here today.
Are you doing the right thing by striking today? Yes, absolutely!
We adults need to be shaken out of our selfishness, greed and apathy.
You already know we’re in a crisis.
Our home is on fire! (the crowd roars it back)
Our home is on fire! (the crowd roars it back)
Our home is on fire!!! (the crowd ROARS it back)
We are almost out of time.
We adults are polluting the climate faster and faster every year.
Half the climate pollution in the atmosphere, we put there in just the last 30 years.
AFTER we had the science, AFTER we knew that it would steal your future
And Canada is one of the world’s top 10 climate polluters.
If you want the kind of safe, manageable world that we had growing up, we cannot let the planet warm more than 1.5°. At the rate we are going, we are probably going to blow past the carbon budget for that in just 8 years.
It is almost too late.
So I am frightened about the climate crisis. Are you frightened? (“Yes!” the crowd roars)
And I am angry at everyone in power who is not taking it seriously, including the bigshots in this Ontario Legislative Building. Are you angry at them? (“Yes!” the crowd roars)
What governments do matter. Elections matter. In Ontario, the provincial government was a big help in the climate fight a year and a half ago, but is now the biggest obstacle we have. They ignore the science, they tell lies, and they are helping to steal your future.
Now there is another election. It matters enormously. Do you promise to vote? (“Yes!” the crowd roars)
I will only vote for someone who takes the climate crisis seriously. Will you promise to vote for someone who takes the climate crisis seriously? (“Yes!” the crowd roars)
We need lots of tools, but one of the ones we need most is carbon pricing. Last year, right after the Ford government tore up our carbon price, the Nobel Prize for Economics went to the man who proved that carbon pricing is the cheapest tool and the best.
I will only vote for someone who supports carbon pricing. Will you promise to vote for someone who supports carbon pricing? (“Yes!” the crowd roars)
We all have to reduce our own carbon footprints, to get ready for what’s coming and to speak up. Please talk about climate, talk about carbon pricing. Talk to your friends, to your family, to anyone else you know, especially in the suburban ridings where elections are decided.
And this is how to do it:
Simple clear messages
Repeated often
By a variety of trusted voices.
What you’re doing matters. You’re fighting for our future.
Be good to each other
Have fun
But don’t stop
Don’t let the people in power off the hook.
Our home is on fire.
What do we want? Climate action
When do we want it? Now!”