Our power is moving the CBC

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Published on Thursday, 18 July 2019 16:08

Written by editor

Friends,

Yesterday, was one of the most powerful days of action I have ever seen.

Thousands of people took action to demand that the CBC host a leaders’ debate on climate change and a Green New Deal during October’s election. But don’t just take my word for it, see for yourself:

It was clear to me yesterday that communities across the country feel the urgency of a climate emergency because they are living the impacts of the climate crisis. Many of the people who took action used bold visuals to symbolically bring climate impacts to the doorstep of the CBC. Here are some of the stories that touched me the most:

• In Edmonton, hundreds turned out in a thunderstorm, many wearing dust masks similar to those thousands of people had to don during periods of extreme wildfire smoke.
• In Ottawa, a massive crowd stacked sandbags in front of the CBC studio, spelling out “Climate Emergency.” Just weeks ago, sandbags like these were sold out everywhere in the Ottawa area because people were filling them in... masses to protect their homes from 1 in 100 year floods hitting the region.
• In Yellowknife and Whitehorse, Northerners called attention to their climate frontlines – wildfires that cut off communities earlier this summer and an unseasonal March heatwave that closed ice roads early. They made such a strong case for a leaders' debate that even the reporters at CBC North seemed to agree with them.

From the CBC headquarters in Toronto, to Vancouver, Winnipeg, Kingston, Halifax and all points in between, we turned out en mass in dozens of rallies calling for the CBC to host a federal leaders’ climate debate. Read the full story of what happened and help us keep up the pressure.

We turned out in such numbers that the CBC already responded to our call for a climate debate. They told us that they agree climate change is an important issue, but that it’s up to the Leaders’ Debates Commission to make a climate debate happen. Ironically, the Leaders’ Debates Commission told us they thought climate was an important issue, but it it would be up to the broadcasters to make a climate debate happen. In our eyes, that means that together, the CBC and the Debates Commission could make this happen, they just need to keep getting pushed.

Here’s how we’re going to make sure this climate debate happens:

• First, during the actions yesterday, we launched a petition asking Jennifer McGuire – the CBC’s Editor in Chief – to make a climate debate happen. Click here to add your name.
• Second, we’ll continue to pressure the CBC with creative, hard-hitting actions online and off. More on that soon.
• Third, we’re going to keep organizing and building the movement for a made-in-Canada Green New Deal. That’s going to include more actions escalating our fight to win this climate debate. But, that’s just the beginning. Can you donate to help Our Time organize an alliance of voters behind champions of a Green New Deal?

We sent a clear message yesterday that this is an emergency, and we need everyone - including the CBC - to act like it. Now, we’re going to make it crystal clear that for our media, “acting like this is an emergency” means hosting a climate debate.

The next step is to sign the petition, and get ready to turn up the heat.

If you were a part of this moment, thank you. Yesterday's power came from people like you.

Onwards,
Atiya

Photo Credit: Abdul Malik

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