MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
December 13, 2009

Water justice is climate justice: Council of Canadians hits streets in Copenhagen for massive march

Holding the “Water Justice is Climate Justice” banner signed by hundreds at the recent Blue Summit in Ottawa, the Council of Canadians joins delegates from the Canadian Union of Public Employees, as well as global water and climate justice activists for a march in Copenhagen, marking a global day of climate action. 

“While it is widely acknowledged that climate change is having a profound and negative impact on our fresh water, what is less understood is that our collective abuse and displacement of fresh water is also a serious cause of climate change and global warming,” says Maude Barlow, national chairperson with the Council of Canadians.

Moving water from watersheds and aquifers, for flood irrigation (where much is lost in evaporation) or to source mega cities (where it is often dumped into the ocean) to the water intensity of producing crops and manufactured goods which are typically exported, are examples of actions that hasten the desertification of the planet and intensify global warming.

The Council of Canadians has a presence in Copenhagen to convey three main messages.

The first is to join many others in publicly speaking out against the Canadian government for allowing the tar sands, not the public interest, set our negotiating agenda.

The second is to join the climate justice movement in demanding real solutions that achieve deep emission cuts in the North and adequate climate financing for the global South’s transition to a low carbon future.

The third is to bring forward the message that the principles of water justice including water as a human right and a commons must be part of the equation in addressing the climate crises. 

“This is a defining moment,” says Andrea Harden-Donahue, energy campaigner with the Council of Canadians. “Will we see more business as usual at these negotiations to the detriment of people and the planet or will the voices of people uniting globally be heard in demanding a strong international agreement that achieves real emission reductions and advances climate justice.”

“If the negotiations don’t achieve a strong agreement,” adds Brent Patterson, Campaigns and Communications Director with the Council of Canadians, “the movements that have collaborated and strengthened here in Copenhagen will continue to grow and will not be stopped until effective domestic and international climate action is achieved. People’s lives are on the line – inaction is no longer an option.”

Meanwhile in Canada, Council of Canadians chapters are joining in candle light vigils for climate justice, and climate action events across the country.

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For more information or to arrange interviews, contact:

Andrea Harden-Donahue, 613-218-5800, aharden@canadians.org
Brent Patterson, 613-882-4408, bpatterson@canadians.org