Federal politicians, seniors, and everyday Kingstonians gathered at Confederation Park to speak about climate change issues.
Centred around the main theme of climate justice, attendees were welcomed with signs reading, “Don’t be a fossil fool” and “Later is too late.” Speeches from SCAN and local climate advocates occurred as well as musical performances from local artists artists such as Abbie Miolée.
Representatives from the Ontario Green Party were present at the rally, including Fintan Hartnett, the Green Party candidate for Kingston and the Islands in the federal election. In an interview with The Journal, Hartnett outlined his vision for the Green Party’s future in shaping Canada’s political landscape, emphasizing the party’s commitment to tackling climate change and promoting sustainability.
“What I want to do and what the Greens want to do is rebuild that focus on the future, on a green economy, and on all the things that make Canada a great place,” Hartnett said.
Hartnett believes Queen’s students are key drivers of change and an important part of Canada’s future. He encourages Queen’s students to act, noting social media makes it easier than ever to connect with like-minded individuals, build momentum, and drive change on issues they care about.
For voters who may the Green Party but shy away from voting for smaller candidates, Harnett encouraged them to “exercise democracy” and have the courage to take that step, emphasizing the collective power of individual votes. He warned of the consequences of voter apathy and inaction leading to negative outcomes.
“If you’re going to be frightened every time you vote, you’re never going to vote for what you want, you’re going to vote for what you’re frightened about. Demonstrate the courage that all Canadians have had for centuries,” Hartnett said.
Rally attendee Claire La Sage has recently recognized the significance of halting fossil fuel use as they’re a major contributor to the climate crisis, she shared in an interview with The Journal.
“I’m now beginning to realize how important it is to get rid of fossil fuels. It’s a major contributor to our climate crisis, and it really should be changed,” La Sage said.
In an interview with The Journal, Maha Faruqi, a spokesperson for the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) emphasized their commitment to advocating for social and environmental justice, explaining the importance of participating in the rally. The OPIRG Kingston is a social justice organization advocating for education and action for social and environmental justice.
“Climate justice is urgent. We need to be thinking about climate justice in relation to all sorts of other issues like the global war machine, capitalism, [and] fossil fuels industries,” Faruqi said.
Another SCAN member, Jamie Swift, spoke to his experiences ing the group, noting that his driving force was the birth of his granddaughter, Nora.
“I can’t know whether Nora will ever have children or grandchildren. Indeed, some are so worried about the planet’s dire future that they’re reconsidering the once-unquestioned idea of even having children,” he wrote in a post on the SCAN website.
SCAN Kingston is one of several SCAN branches, with seven cities across Ontario having their own branches, including Barrie, Guelph, London, and Northumberland, Ottawa, and Toronto.
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