Striking for climate change in Canada – a historical march
On September 27, 2019 in Montreal Canada, thousands of people gathered for a climate strike.
Nearly half a million people responded to the call of the organizers for the march on September 27. From Jeanne Mance Park to Robert Bourassa Boulevard, a human wave invaded the streets of Montreal. Young families were there with babies in strollers. The crowd was mostly young enthusiasts chanting slogans, “save, save, save the planet.”
Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (Céline Alie, Agnes Loiselle, Monique Bonnefoy, Lucille Cadieux and Father Réal Doucet Missionary of Africa walked under the banner of the CRC (Canadian Religious Conference). Similar marches took place in other major cities in Quebec and throughout the country.
All these walkers demanded a concrete and effective strategy to fight against the climate crisis and denounced the inertia of governments. At the end of the march, one of the organizers launched the petition: “We want a law to force us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and we want a plan to end oil and gas.” His words were warmly applauded by the crowd.
Greta Thunberg, who was walking with a group of Aboriginals, spoke to the crowd in these terms: “Adults tell us that we are wasting our time, but in fact we are changing the world. We are the change, and change is happening. What we say is based on the best available climate science. (reference to the latest IPCC report). We will do everything in our power to prevent this crisis from worsening. If the people who hold power do not take their responsibilities, we will do it. ” She was applauded for a long time.
It was the largest environmental mobilization in Canadian history. We the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, walked for a hopeful future for our nephews and nieces and their children, for the voiceless living in Africa and elsewhere who are suffering the disastrous consequences of global warming. We walked as bearers of hope.
Sr. Lucille Cadieux. Montreal, Canada
