Seniors in Nanaimo rally for climate action
Jongkind told CHLY they organized this event as seniors make up a large mass of people and they need to vote thinking of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren’s futures. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm
Seniors stood outside the provincial constituency office for Nanaimo on October 1st bringing attention to climate change hoping to make the earth a better place for future generations.
Around 20 seniors took part in a rocking chair rally as part of a cross-country day of action to pressure the government to take action on climate change. This rally was held on National Seniors Day and the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons.
Vic Brice was one of the seniors in attendance. He said he has concerns about what he is leaving the climate like for his grandchildren.
“We have answers to the climate crisis, and our governments and businesses are just too slow in implementing them, and things are getting dicier day by day,” Brice said. “We need action now.”
As this rally comes during a provincial election, Brice said he would like to see the next government commit to faster action against climate change.
“We need the government to commit to faster action, stop subsidizing the fossil fuel industry and encourage clean renewables,” he said. “The technology is available, we just need to implement it.”
Diana Hardacker and Adrienne Brown were both also in attendance at the rally.
Around 20 seniors took part in a rocking chair rally as part of a cross-country day of action to pressure the government to take action on climate change. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm
Hardacker said she was at the rally to fight for the future of her six grandchildren. Brown said while she doesn’t have any grandchildren but a daughter, she wants to make sure the planet is safe and healthy for all children in the future.
Hardacker said she is hoping the rally will send a message to politicians to not mitigate climate change.
“Not only are human beings hooped on this planet, life on this planet is in jeopardy,” she said.
She said throughout her and Brown’s life they have seen the changes of climate change and the effects it has had on the planet.
“Adrienne and I remember when you would go out to play and you would see salamanders, and you'd see frogs and you'd see butterflies,” Hardacker said. “Now when I see one, I get excited, ‘Wow, a frog. When was the last time I saw one of those?’ So we really need to stop mucking up, because it's not just about human beings.”
Hardacker said it is up to more than just the younger generation to find fixes to climate change but everyone of any age.
“It would be nice if more people would acknowledge the crisis that we're in and take the appropriate actions,” Hardacker said. “It doesn't matter what age you are, we're all in this together.”
Mia Jongkind is with the Mid-Island Chapter of the Council of Canadians. She told CHLY they organized this event as seniors make up a large mass of people and they need to vote thinking of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren’s futures.
“Those lovely grandchildren, do you know how cute they are?” Jongkind said. “grandchildren, they just pump my heart, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. There's so much love from them. They sit on my lap and I read stories. You know those kids deserve the best.”
Jongkind later spoke to the crowd about the event saying there were over 70 communities across the country that were taking part in the day of action highlighting the strength of seniors and the weight they carry in voting.
Brice (pictured) said he has concerns about what he is leaving the climate like for his grandchildren. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm
“We want urgent and decisive action to address this climate emergency. We are tired of seeing floods and disasters happen because of the climate on the news all the time. We want decisive action,” Jongkind said. “Canada needs to stop supporting Big Oil and Gas and act immediately on the climate emergency.”
She points out that many of them had spent a lot of time watching David Suzuki’s TV show The Nature of Things with their children and said this had raised many of them to become activists.
“He raised us to the activists, and he says, time is running out,” Jongkind said. “We have seen what happens when people come together for our cause, we want the government to secure a livable future for all of us Canadians, especially our beloved children, our lovable grandchildren and our adorable grandchildren.”
Shirley Lambrecht, BC Green Party candidate for the riding of Nanaimo-Gabriola Island also spoke at the event saying she appreciated the seniors who are taking the lead in climate action.
“It's so important that we act now, we know that window is closing,” Lambrecht said. “If we don't take decisive action now, we're all going to be in real big trouble. Look at what's going on around the planet right now.”
Lambrecht spoke about Hurricane Helene and its impacts on Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. As of October 2nd, the American Press has reported that Hurricane Helene and its aftermath has killed at least 179 people.
Jongkind spoke to the crowd about the event saying there were over 70 communities across the country that were taking part in the day of action. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm
“How many disasters do we need to see before we start making a difference? Jasper, half burnt to the ground–Lytton, Abbotsford, how many of these disasters do we need to have happen before we wake up and act? Our time is yesterday,” Lambrecht said. “We can’t wait, so get involved, and as your [Green Party of BC] candidate, I feel that we are the only party in the legislature that's going to take bold action on climate change, and I'm pleased to represent you and lead the charge in the legislature.”
Lia Versaevel, the BC Green Party Candidate for the Nanaimo-Lantzville riding, spoke to the cowed thanking participants for attending the rally.
Later, Sheila Malcolmson, the BC NDP candidate for Nanaimo-Gabriola Island made an appearance at the rally to speak with attendees. She spoke with the media telling CHLY that climate change is a pivotal issue in the provincial election right now and the BC NDP government has been fighting hard on climate change.
“If we have a premier that doesn't believe climate change is real, is going to rip up all the actions we need to work more on climate change,” Malcolmson said. “We need to engage everybody in the fight and see that when we fight climate change, we are more healthy, our economy is better, we have more jobs, and our kids and animals and nature have a future and that this election is so close with someone who has the exact opposite point of view is terrifying, terrifying to all of us.”
Malcolmson said at rallies and out door-knocking while she hears from some people saying climate change is their number one priority, most people say the cost of living is their number one concern.
“So that's what we've been trying to do as the NDP, is both lift people up and do that action on climate change,” Malcolmson said. “But I get it's not people's number one voting issue in this election. I wish it was, that's why a gathering like this just makes me happy.”
Hardacker said it is up to more than just the younger generation to find fixes to climate change but everyone of any age. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm
CHLY reached out to Dale Parker, Conservative Party of BC candidate for Nanaimo-Gabriola Island for comment on the day of action.
He told CHLY by email he was surprised to hear about the rally and that the Conservative Party of BC has several policies to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as creating independence in the food sector and producing more food locally.
Parker commented that the impact of human activities on climate change has become increasingly evident in recent years and “burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas, has led to greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in a significant warming of the Earth.”
He said, “we heavily depend on fossil fuels, which won't change soon, but we can make intelligent decisions and mitigate the emissions.”
He told CHLY it is important to recognize that climate change is a global issue and that all nations are responsible for taking action, not just British Columbia. He said, “we must make intelligent choices, but it will take time, and we must ensure we don't harm people.”
This rally takes place only weeks before Election Day on October 19.
Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.