Signs of Climate Change
This is our inaugural action and will take place on Thurs May 14th! Please read the event description in detail and message us with any questions and suggestions. This is a youth-led action, but people of all ages across the province are encouraged to participate!
Action Overview:
1. Make a sign with our message
2. Take to the street holding your sign in pairs (or by yourself)
3. Take pictures and record a 5-30 second self-interview (and for individuals who would like to speak with external media we will be informing media in a press release where you plan to hold your sign)
4. Post on social media with #SignsofClimateChange
Dates:
Monday May 11 6pm – General Info/Q&A + Optional Learn to Speak to the Media Zoom Call
Thursday May 14 11am – Action
Action:
We will be dispersed across the province holding up signs in the streets to establish or strengthen the link in the public’s mind between the COVID19 crisis and the climate crisis.
Respecting Social Distancing:
To respect social distancing guidelines, we will work in pairs (hopefully with someone you live with or is already in your “COVID bubble”). If you would rather participate on your own that is great too.
Our action is our daily outdoor exercise, which is allowed.
We will have only one pair per location. We will choose locations that have minimal pedestrian traffic so we are effectively distancing from other people.
Wearing face masks is mandatory, to demonstrate that we are taking precautions seriously (make sure that you are wearing your face mask at all times especially in any pictures/videos).
The current regulations in Ontario require us to keep 2 m from other people, do not allow gatherings of more than 5 people, but do allow for outdoor exercise as long as it is not in groups.
Locations:
Stand outside on the street near wherever you live in Ontario. Choose your location to provide a cool background visual for photos i.e. a location that has something to do with climate change/fossil fuels (a bank, steel mills, politicians’ office, or gas station), and has minimal pedestrian traffic.
Signs:
We will be holding signs highlighting the possibility of more pandemics due to climate change and that the pandemic is a warning of what climate change will hold for the future. We will have one or two specific messages that all of us will write on our own signs. We have not finalized the message to be written, if you have a good idea please pitch us your idea! Something along the lines of “listen to the science” or “the COVID19 crisis is a test run for the climate crisis”.
Pictures and Interviews:
One person will be holding a sign and the other person will be there for support. The support person will take pictures, shoot a self-interview video and be there for safety. If you are by yourself, please take selfies and videos on your own. Only one pair/person per location. You could switch roles halfway through the action.
The major goal is to take pictures of us holding our signs outside, so try to choose a location that will provide a good visual. The support person will also shoot a SHORT 5-30 SECOND INTERVIEW ABOUT WHY YOU ARE OUT HERE REBELLING. We know that interviews are not the most comfortable for most of us but this will be very powerful to show the passion of Ontario’s youth. We plan on posting one of these interviews on our XR Youth Ontario facebook page each day afterwards.
Time and Date:
11 am – 12 pm THURSDAY MAY 14th. (Thursdays are generally good for attracting media attention. 11 am as this will give our media and external media enough time to get coverage online on the day of.)
The action will be one hour long to give the media sufficient time to visit a few of our locations, which I will be disclosing in advance in our press release. If you are not comfortable being interviewed by the press do not worry, I will only inform the media of the locations of the people who have told me they are comfortable speaking to the media.
IF THIS TIMING DOES NOT WORK FOR YOU or you are NOT COMFORTABLE BEING OUTSIDE FOR AN HOUR please still take part in this action ANYTIME Thursday. The most important part is to capture pictures and video that we will be uploading online after, so even if you only go outside for 5 minutes that will be awesome.
“Speaking to the Media Training and Action Info” Zoom Call:
We are planning on having a zoom call on MONDAY MAY 11th at 6 pm for anyone who would like some pointers on how to speak to the media and stay on message. The speaker is a long time activist.
If you have any questions about the action please message me or we can set up a call asap, but we will also use this group zoom call to clarify details of the action.
Interview Speaking Points:
Thawing permafrost will increase extraction in the Arctic, which will put workers in contact with many ancient bacteria and viruses.
As Earth warms northern countries will become susceptible to outbreaks of “southern” diseases like malaria, cholera and dengue fever, that thrive at warmer temperatures.
The ongoing destruction of wilderness and wildlife could also bring more disease.
Please give input on other speaking points. We will have more researched speaking points for everyone before the action.
Risk:
We do not foresee a risk of arrest, as this is a passive action. There is a chance bylaw officers could issue fines, as some ridiculous online articles have shown, but this action is adhering to issued guidelines so we do not foresee this occurring. Nonetheless, in full disclosure, we do not have funding to pay for any such fines in the unlikely chance they occur.
Youth-led:
This is a youth-led action, but we would love people of all ages to participate. Please share this event with all your friends. XR Hamilton is also supporting this action.
Commit to taking ACTION!
Please message us if you are planning to TAKE PART in this action, the location you plan to stand at, and if you would like to potentially speak to the media!
If anyone has questions or suggestions please let us know!
Love and Rage,
XR Youth Ontario
[email protected]