On September 20, hundreds of protesters flocked to Downtown Vancouver to march in the city’s Global Climate Strike.
Protestors marched from Vancouver City Hall to the Vancouver Art Gallery while chanting for the immediate phase-out of fossil fuels.
Organized by the Vancouver Strike Coalition, most protesters held signs which highlighted the goals of the strike. One read “Frack Free BC” — a call to end the harmful extraction of gasses, most notably methane.
Another sign read, “Stop the TMX Madness,” referring to the highly controversial Trans Mountain pipeline project which began this past May. Some other signs noted broader protest goals like “Life on a Peaceful Planet.”
Similar strikes have occurred before. In 2023, thousands of protesters marched the same route to demand climate justice. And, in 2019, Substainabiliteens organized a strike that drew more than 100,000 protesters to the Vancouver Art Gallery.
This year’s strike had three official calls to action for local and provincial governments:
- Stop new oil and gas projects.
- Eliminate gas in the construction of new buildings.
- Protect people, nature and Indigenous rights.
At 2:45 p.m., protesters gathered in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery to hear this year's featured speakers, including Sun Dance Chief Rueben George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and environmental organizer Ashely Zarbatany. The speakers spoke of unity, awareness on recent climate disasters and the need for government action.
Chief Rueben George also called out the lack of coverage and attention towards the Chilcotin River landslides, which has severely damaged Indigenous cultural sites and artifacts.
In an interview with The Ubyssey, VP Marketing of the UBC Environmental Policy Association and second-year student Ashley Smyth said that this year’s strike is especially important given BC’s upcoming provincial election.
“A main sub-goal of the strike is to encourage as many people as possible [to vote,]” Smyth said. “It’s important to … make sure that community needs and safety [concerns] are communicated to [government officials,] and to promote a strong civic culture.”
Jarste (Eli) Beumer, a UBC exchange student and activist, added that this strike is about making “a statement to make sure that people are aware that [the] climate emergency [is now].”
“It's not just that climate change is happening, but that we are already in crisis,” said Beumer.
Spirits were high at the strike with some protestors singing Chappell Roan’s "HOT TO GO!" and others dancing with the musicians stationed along the protest route. But Buemer said participating in student activism has its highs and lows.
“You can feel very powerless at times. Sometimes it really feels like you're in it alone, and you don't know how to tackle even the first challenges,” said Beumer. “I think we just need to believe in the change that we're capable of.”
Smyth added that engaging with the climate justice community can be an effective way to combat cynicism and boost the spirits.
“Coming out to events like the strike can do a lot for optimism, just being in a hopeful environment where change seems much more possible.”
Beumer agreed.
“It's a very empowering feeling [to see everyone and know] that it's not just one country or one community focusing on [the climate justice movement], but that it's happening all over the world.”
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