October 19 2012, BC – The grassroots group StopCoal BC has released the following statement in support of Defend Our Coast, the mass act of civil disobedience planned for the legislature this coming Monday, October 22nd.
October 19 2012, BC – The grassroots group StopCoal BC has released the following statement in support of Defend Our Coast, the mass act of civil disobedience planned for the legislature this coming Monday, October 22nd.
StopCoal BC is a group of British Columbia citizens who have personally committed to doing what is necessary to compel our governments to take urgent action on climate change by stopping the mining and export of coal from BC. The group includes 13 people arrested in White Rock in May for stopping a coal train on the BNSF railway and their supporters.
We strongly encourage our fellow citizens to travel to Victoria this coming weekend to participate in the Defend Our Coast action at the Legislature.
The evidence is in: we are almost out of time to avoid runaway climate change. To avoid a disaster, we need to dramatically reduce emissions immediately. Our governments continue to pursue policies — like the increased export of tar sands oil, natural gas, and coal — that will further increase emissions world wide. This is reckless. It is harming people around the world. It puts all our futures at risk and has to stop.
As good citizens and reasonable people, we cannot sit by while this disaster unfolds around us. We have a moral obligation to say "No" and to do everything we can to steer our society off of this dangerous path. This includes engaging in non-violent civil disobedience to disrupt the status quo and highlight the seriousness of our situation.
We commend the organizers of Defend Our Coast for providing a day of training in non-violent civil disobedience on Sunday October 21st. British Columbians who are ready for this next step should seize this opportunity to come together to discuss these important issues and grapple with the practical and philosophical implications of taking action to save the planet.
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For more information: Jane Kilthei 250-710-5106