Student Plans National Climate Change Rally

Grassroots movement calls everyone to Parliament Hill for October 24

Guelph, ON – September 3. – C-Day: Fill The Hill, a Canadian grassroots citizens’ collective, announces the launch of its website www.climateday.ca and citizen mobilization campaign. On October 24 thousands of Canadians will convene on Parliament Hill to affect legislative action on climate change prior to the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen this December.

C-Day: Fill The Hill began with one person, University of Guelph student Gracen Johnson. After hearing David Suzuki quote a former prime minister that by converging on Parliament Hill en masse, Canadians can cause legislative change, Johnson committed to doing just that.

Together with dozens of volunteers, Johnson has forged partnerships with such organizations such as Oxfam Canada, the Canadian Federation of Students, 350.org, KYOTOplus and counting to engage Canadians of all ages, from all walks of life, to tell elected representatives to take meaningful, genuine, concrete action on climate change.

October 24th is the International Day for Climate Action. 350.org is networking thousands of events worldwide on that day. C-Day: Fill The Hill plans to be Canada’s focal event.

“I am Filling The Hill so that I can feel at peace again and so that I can have children who can share that joy,” says Johnson. “Everyone who decides to make the journey to Parliament Hill on October 24 is doing so for someone or something. It’s that personal.”

Those planning to attend the mass rally are encouraged to visit www.climateday.ca to share who or what they are Filling The Hill for.

The timing is crucial. From December 7 to18, world leaders will come together in Copenhagen to try to forge a historic agreement to address the challenges of climate change.

“We all have a responsibility to take action,” says Adam Shedletzky, C-Day’s Project Advisor. “If citizens around the world do not demand strong, accountable leadership from their elected representatives, there is a significant chance of failure. Senior UN Climate Negotiators are already raising alarm bells, stating that ‘if we continue at this rate we’re not going to make it.’ Yet, ‘There is no ‘Plan B’ if climate change talks fail at Copenhagen.’ ”

For more, visit www.climateday.ca.

Media Contact:

Aiden Abram
aiden@climateday.ca
519-835-9368

Gracen Johnson
gracen@climateday.ca
519-820-8596

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