“Promote green energy,” “do not let our planet die” and “keep your carbon in the soil,” were some of the phrases chanted in front of the Manitoba Legislative Building on Friday, Sept. 27.
A climate action rally, advertised as a “rally for a sustainable future,” marked the anniversary of the global climate strike that occurred in September 2019. At that time, climate protests were reported to have taken place in more than 100 countries across more than 4,000 locations in the world — including downtown Winnipeg.
Bianca Siem and Juan Vargas Alba, campaigners for Youth Climate Corps, were amongst the speakers that addressed the crowd.
Siem, the lead organizer for Youth Climate Corps of Manitoba and a student at the U of M, said that “the need for climate solutions is clear.” Siem also stated that youth have been struggling to secure employment while living through an affordability crisis. “Youth want change,” she said.
“I’m concerned for our future. I’m concerned that we won’t have jobs that are focusing on good green jobs, focusing on good wages, benefits, pensions as well as job opportunities that are focusing on climate solutions.”
Siem explained that the overall goal is to get a federally funded Youth Climate Corps — “something that is public service where young people have a chance to gain those skills in good green jobs, in sustainable industries.”
She specified that the goal of the rally was to seek support from the provincial government in supporting their demand for a federally funded Youth Climate Corps.
When asked whether the Youth Climate Corps has reached out to either level of government, Siem mentioned that she had met with the provincial Minister of Environment and Climate Change and other MLAs in the environmental caucus. Siem added that this was the first meeting and that there will have to be more in the future.
Michaela de Hoop, Indigenous students’ representative of the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU), was one of the university students in attendance at the rally. De Hoop stated that it was important to attend the rally because of the upcoming National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“I think it is really important to emphasize the role that Truth and Reconciliation has when it comes to climate action, and land back and Indigenous land sovereignty.”
Divya Sharma, president of UMSU, was present and mentioned that she was invited by students to attend the rally.
“Something students, especially young people, are so prone to seeing is inaction, especially in respect to climate change where it is often put on the back burner. The climate is not going to stop changing if we do not do anything about it,” said Sharma.
“That’s why it was so important to be here, to support other students and other young people who were here today, calling for action,” she said.
Sharma noted that youth deserve a seat at the table and should be involved in policy-making decisions.
“I would say that’s true not just for climate change, but for the various initiatives that the governments make policies on […] we deserve a seat at every single table because young people are the ones who are going to be continuing to be affected by climate change.”
