The Department fully supports the Ottawa Climate Strike on Friday, September 27
The Department of Sociology & Anthropology fully supports the Ottawa Climate Strike on Friday, September 27th and the larger momentum to engage in urgent action regarding climate change. We also support faculty, students and staff who will participate in it.
We also want to draw your attention to the statement issued by the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies about the Global Climate Strike and the statement made by Carleton’s Climate Commons that was also shared by our colleagues in Geography and Environmental Studies:
Ottawa climate organizers have joined the youth-led global week of action (inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg), from September 20th to 27th. Her actions have spurred student strikes around the world to protest government inaction on climate change, such as the Fridays for Future movement, where students regularly engage in school walk-outs, often joined by allies. These young people are calling on their elected leaders to take the necessary steps to ensure they have a sustainable future to grow up and to thrive in. Their message is one of urgency. In the words of Thunberg in her address to the 2019 World Economic Forum, “I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if our house is on fire. Because it is (The Guardian).”
Climate Commons will have a table in the Uni Centre from the 23rd to the 26th to inform faculty and students about the global Climate Strike. The week will culminate on the 27th, when folks of all ages are being asked to join the youth strikers in a rally and march to Parliament Hill in solidarity with millions around the world striking at the same time.
11:30 a.m. – Rally at Confederation Park
12 p.m. – March to Parliament Hill for speeches
We’re reaching out to ask professors to ask if they would be willing to support the climate strike. You can do this in a number of ways:
- Talk to their students about the climate crisis and the importance of demonstrating public support for action to our governments on this issue, especially during an election. Encourage them to attend the Sept. 27th climate strike. (Consider e-mailing them the details of the event)
- If possible, avoid scheduling tests, exams, etc. on the 27th, and please excuse students’ absences.
- Consider sharing this e-mail with colleagues and friends who may also wish to support the climate strike.
- Consider attending the strike on the 27th yourself with your family members. Climate Commons members will be there with a banner. You are welcome to join us.Thank you for your support and all the best,
Brenda Vellino on behalf of Climate Commons members
The Sociology and Anthropology Graduate Student Caucus (SAGSC) would like to invite students, faculty, contract instructors, and staff to congregate in the departmental lounge (B742 Loeb) for 10:35 a.m. Friday, September 27, 2019. The plan is to leave campus at approximately 10:45 a.m. to head to Confederation Park for 11:30 a.m.
Our department is planning an event after the Ottawa Climate Strike to robustly discuss climate change and activism around it more broadly as well as the specific strike event itself. More details will follow over the next week or so.
