A people's injunction
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 07 January 2016 13:30
- Written by editor
Friends,
Just a couple weeks ago, I watched people walk through the streets of Montreal in t-shirts, as the temperature on December 25th climbed to 15ºC. A few days later, the city was covered in snow, as we seemed to move from summer to winter almost overnight.
It was a strange way to end the year, but one that should remind us all of the reality of climate change in the here and now. And while the impacts in Eastern Canada were a few unseasonably hot days, around the world the last few weeks have been marked by drought, flooding and extreme weather with a far higher cost.
That’s why, as we enter 2016, we need the government of Canada to get serious about real climate action. We know that they said some great things at the climate talks in Paris, but now the rubber hits the road -- starting with the... question of whether or not Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government will keep their promise to overhaul pipeline reviews.
Last year, the Trudeau government committed to overhauling the pipeline review process to consider climate change and listen to communities, especially First Nations. Now they seem to have forgotten that promise.
In December, we launched the People’s Injunction to hold the Trudeau government to their words. Nearly 2,000 people have already taken the pledge: If this government does not cancel or suspend the reviews of Energy East and the Kinder Morgan Trans-Mountain pipeline by January 15th, we will organize or join an action to demand an immediate stop to these reviews, starting on January 18th.
Will you join us? Click here to sign on to the People’s Injunction.
An injunction is a warning or order to stop someone from taking an action. This people's injunction is meant to stop our government from continuing to approve tar sands pipelines without considering climate or communities.
Starting on January 19th, the next round of National Energy Board hearings for the Kinder Morgan Trans-Mountain pipeline will get underway in Burnaby, BC. If these hearings go forward, they will be doing so under the rules created by Stephen Harper -- the same rules that Prime Minister Trudeau campaigned against last fall.
This government promised to “immediately review Canada’s environmental assessment processes and introduce new, fair processes” that will “ensure that environmental assessments include an analysis of upstream impacts and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from projects.” Just a few days after the election, Burnaby MP Terry Beech promised that the Kinder Morgan pipeline would face a new review, yet the old one is still proceeding.
The government is giving every indication that it intends to break its promises. We can stop it.
It's a new year. We want real climate action for Canada.
Onwards,
Aurore
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