Last year ’s Walk for the Earth, which took place on April 22, was a resounding success. Let’s take to the streets again this year to help the environment on Sunday April 21, in Montreal. The AQLPA, the David Suzuki Foundation, ENvironnement JEUnesse, Équiterre, Greenpeace, Jour de la Terre Québec and Nature Québec invite Quebecers from across the province to take part in this all-ages event.

The Walk is part of a larger global movement aimed at stopping the development of fossil fuel energy, resolving the climate crisis and protecting the rights of future generations.

Sign the April 21 Declaration and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to do the same so that our voices will be heard in Ottawa, Québec City and throughout the world.

Declaration

MARCH FOR THE EARTH | APRIL 21, 2013

We, the women, men and Aboriginal Peoples of Quebec, are adding our voices to those of people around the world who are rallying together to protect our Earth and defend future generations.

Climate change is a grave looming threat to our environment, safety, health and future prosperity.

The scientific evidence is clear: unless we act immediately and decisively, we will face irreversible global warming, the consequences of which will be so severe they will undermine the very foundations of our civilisation.

Like millions of people throughout the world who are working together to create a society that does not depend on fossil fuel energy, we firmly believe it is still possible to limit the harmful effects of global warming.

We declare that action is urgently needed.

We must immediately start using clean sources of energy and halt new fossil fuel development projects that could harm the environment. The expansion of pipelines, tar sands, shale oil and gas and other forms of oil and gas infrastructure is of the greatest concern to us.

Our choice is clear: for our own future and the security of future generations, we support energy conservation and the development of clean energy.

This choice is ours. It must not be left only to the oil and gas companies or the governments that subsidize them.

We demand that:

• - The government of Quebec oppose the expansion of the tar sands and the presence of pipelines from Alberta in Quebec. These pipelines threaten our water systems and natural habitats.

• - The government of Quebec adopt ambitious and credible plans by the end of 2013 to reduce our oil consumption by 30 per cent and our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 25 per cent, by 2020.

• - The government of Canada put a price on GHG emissions, adopt a plan to reduce such emissions and immediately cease subsidizing the oil and gas industry subsidies ($1.3 billion annually) and increasing tar sands production.

• - The government of Canada reinstate the environmental protections it has dismantled against the will of Canadians and in disregard of aboriginal ancestral rights. Further, that this government respect the international climate change commitments it denounced when it withdrew Canada from the Kyoto Protocol.

We firmly oppose all energy projects that deepen the climate crisis.

Quebec and Canada must leave the fossil fuel era behind and begin the transition to an ecological and social economy that does not exhaust the natural resources of generations to come.

Our children and those who will succeed them have undisputable rights, and we are determined to make sure these rights are respected.

We are confident that, together, we will preserve the extraordinary diversity of life on Earth.

In solidarity with the peoples of the Earth and future generations.

As a member of the April 21 March for the Earth executive committee, the David Suzuki Foundation is promoting the event on its website to encourage as many people as possible to sign the Declaration and show their support.

 

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Join the 10718 who have already signed the March for the Earth | April 21 Declaration. Help us reach our new goal of 15000 signatures!