The level of cognitive dissonance in the British Columbia legislature regarding global warming is astounding. There seems to be a complete disconnect between the scale of the problem and the response we need to muster to address the issue.
It appears that most people within the the walls of the stone building on Belleville feel it is enough to talk about climate action rather that actually acting. Following Greta Thunberg’s historic address to the United Kingdom Parliament, they took the unprecedented step to declare a “climate emergency.” This gave them incredible press but as this article points out it “does not legally compel the government to act.”
More of the same
Nevertheless, in British Columbia the government and official opposition are looking for ways to appear to be acting, to head in a different direction without actually having to change course.
So while the politicians in the legislature are trying to eat their cake, youth are gathering outside. The #YouthClimateStrike movement started in Sweden by Thunberg is growing with each event. Youth in Victoria have joined the movement. Last week Naema, a grade 6 student from a local Victoria school, pogo’d her way to the legislature to raise awareness of sea level rise.
Today @SoniaFurstenau @AJWVictoriaBC and I met with grade 6 student Naema who pogo’d her way here to raise awareness about #sealevelrise #globalwarming #climatechange as part of her social studies project #bced #leadership #bcpoli @BCLegislature @BCGreens pic.twitter.com/xp1pUTgROk
— Adam Olsen (@AdamPOlsen) May 7, 2019
Making a difference
When I asked why did it she said it was part of a social studies project about saving the Earth. Her classmates were doing projects on protecting the Orangutan’s and other endangered animals and she wanted to protest. It’s because she believes that she can make a difference. So she made her way to the front steps of the legislature on her pogo stick. I and my BC Green colleagues were proud to meet Naema on the front steps to celebrate her perseverance.
It’s in the same spirit as the students at Strawberry Vale Elementary about whom I wrote previously. They have taken a different approach to their activism by handing out environmental awards. Our kids are paying attention, they know the perils we face and they are inspiring action. I will continue to work within the walls of our legislature to turn their advocacy into results.
It’s almost like a race to the finish line (literally) for these kids if they expect their kids to have a place to live if we don’t get behind legislation to stop climate change.