Opening the floodgates?
FollowDear Tar Trade Topplers!
Today we are excited to launch a new “Keep Tar Sands out of Europe” online campaign with our many partner organisations. We have been working hard for the past three years to make sure that Europe moves forward on progressive legislation to stop imports of highly polluting tar sands from coming to Europe. Now we are starting the final sprint to make sure that lobbyists and the Canadian government don’t scupper this much needed climate legislation and we will need you for this crucial time to take action with us!
Be sure to make your way over to Parliament on Thursday October 3rd as our friend George Poitras, former chief of the Mikisew Cree First Nation and resident of Fort Chipewyan, will be speaking at a public meeting hosted by Simon Hughes MP. In the meeting you will hear why tar sands are devastating communities, trampling on Indigenous rights and the environment, and need to be stopped. George will be joined by Jeremy Leggett, social entrepreneur and author, and Franziska Achterberg, EU transport policy director of Greenpeace European Unit – not to be missed!
In other news – as you may have heard, the Idle No More movement has been blossoming over the past few months, as First Nations in Canada fight back against the Harper government. They have now sent a call for solidarity actions to be taken all over the world on October 7. Idle No More has chosen Oct 7th as a Global Day of Action for all peoples to stand-up and proclaim the importance of Indigenous Sovereignty. INM have chosen this symbolic date for 2 reasons. First – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya, will begin an official visit to Canada to examine the human rights situation of the indigenous peoples of the country. Second – We should all remember and educate ourselves about the history of colonization all over the world. 250 years ago, Oct 7, 1763 marked the British Royal Proclamation which was the first time that the Crown recognized Indigenous land title in Canada. We need remind the Canadian and British governments of that recognition, and we assert that Indigenous Sovereignty has never been respected in Canada.
Let us know if you can plan a creative action to stand in solidarity with First Nations, we will be happy to support you!
Looking forward to stopping the tar in its tracks with you,
Sue, Emily, Ruthi and Jess
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