Filipino Canadian Youth join Climate Strike

Filipino Canadian Youth join Climate Strike

By Anakbayan Canada

Tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets in Canada as part of a rising movement demanding swift action on climate change.

Protests were held in dozens of cities across Canada, and national democratic youth group with a socialist perspective Anakbayan aroused, organized and mobilized for the Friday strike that started at noon and was followed by a march.
Young Alberta activists started in three different places and converged at the Alberta legislature grounds. A number of international organizations came together for one massive climate-change protest at the end of what they call the Week for Future, following similar demonstrations back in May, to push the Canadian government to take climate action.

In Vancouver, the crowd that marched from city hall into downtown was more than the numbers expected by organizers. A sea of people surging across Cambie Bridge brought downtown traffic to a standstill. Young BC Filipino protesters underscored environmental concerns related to the Philippines.

In Winnipeg, the rally at the legislature featured guest speakers, including a youth leader with Migrante Manitoba speaking about the need for governments to turn their attention to fixing the climate crisis.
“Through history, when change was needed, it was only made by people rising up. We know the only way to change the system we live under are to work as a collective and through mass movements,” said Stephanie Rae. “We cannot rely on politicians to solve the problems that they have created, especially when their solution is buying a pipeline.”

In Toronto, the youth organization carried props to show the effect of Canadian imperialism on the environment in the Philippines, including a heap of trash to symbolize the trash shipments from Canada to Manila, and a coffin to symbolize and honour the land defenders killed for resisting Canadian mining in the Philippines.

In Ottawa, Anakbayan was also among thousands who showed up en masse at the Parliament Hill. Protesters carried creative signs: There is no Planet B. We are Skipping our Lessons so we Can Teach You One. Stop Burning Fuels or we will all be Fossils.

Montreal’s march had no shortage of dignitaries with 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg joining and telling that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau he’s not doing enough.

“If you want to save the planet,” chanted some of the young leaders. “Smash imperialism/capitalism!” the crowd responded.

Thunberg’s solo act inspired a global climate strike. Global youth-led climate movements were held from Sep. 20 to 27.