May Day! May Day! Be a First Responder to the Climate Crisis

May Day! May Day!  Be a First Responder to the Climate Crisis

ClimateFast is inspired by the initiative of Joseph Boutilier, founder of Unity for The Climate Like many of us, he is very concerned about the direction of our Federal Government and its inability to take serious action to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.  He is shocked at the dismantling of environmental regulations, and the attack on the free speech of government scientists.  And he has decided to take personal action to raise public awareness and call for a complete turnaround in Canadian policy. 

As a symbol of the unity he seeks, with our brothers and sisters, the First Nations; the unity of people with one another all around the earth and the unity of people with the earth itself.  He calls for unity among all political parties to rally together to lead us toward real solutions.  He has nine specific demands for political change.  Joseph is one example of a First Responder – a Warrior.  He is not giving up, but is instead giving his time and his life energy to make change.   With the current IPCC (International Panel for Climate Change) reports, we all need to be first responders.  We all need to do what we can to raise awareness.  The IPCC told us the only thing stopping us from implementing readily available solutions is political will.  The people are not asking for change and the leaders are not leading.

Joseph’s demands are not the same as ClimateFast’s.  We want serious policy change on three fronts:

• ·      Ending all subsidies to fossil fuels
• Putting a price on carbon
• ·      Creating a renewable energy plan for Canada.

 Joseph is riding a unicycle from his hometown in Victoria to Parliament Hill.  The journey will be very difficult.  It will take five months for him to make it.  He needs our help along the way.  ClimateFast has decided to embrace his campaign and support it.  You can follow his journey on twitter at @josephboutilier.  His list of seven demands can be found at:  his website, http://unityfortheclimate.ca/manifesto.

  

The trip began in Victoria on April 6^th.  As I write this he is already riding along Okanagan Lake.   He hopes to end in Ottawa in time for the opening of Parliament on September 15^th.  Joseph will stay in Ottawa and join ClimateFast on its five day Fast for Climate Leadership between Sunday, September 28^th and Thursday, October 2^nd.  All along the way he needs your support. 

As President of Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice, I am recommending to all Unitarians along his route to welcome Joseph into your homes and hold events in your community in support of his cycle.  Help him raise public awareness of these important issues.  If you are not along his route you may wish to raise money for his journey. 

We can all be first responders.  Join our fast on the first day of every month.  Give time and reflection to what you might be able to do to make a difference.  We all don’t have to do something as dramatic as riding a unicycle across the country.  But we can pay a personal visit to our MP and tell them how important it is to work with other parties on the solutions.  Tell them you are hungry for climate leadership.  Speak to your family, friends and neighbours.  Tell them how worried you are about the future for our children and grandchildren.  Ask your facebook friends to support Joseph’s ride.  Take some action every first of the month. 

And plan now to join us, on parliament hill, September 28^th to October 2^nd.  Let us know if you are coming so we can welcome you!

Tell our leaders we want Action on the Climate Fast!