On Monday December 14th, Twenty climate change activists descended into the system of malls below Toronto's Financial district, making noise and chanting “Climate Justice Now”, “Shutdown the Tar Sands” and other slogans. They made their way eventually to the Toronto Stock Exchange, where they chanted inside the lobby.
They were demonstrating in solidarity with activists from the Indigenous Environmental Network, who were protesting against the Alberta Tar Sands outside the Canadian Embassy to Denmark in Copenhagen, the same city that is currently hosting international climate change negotiations. Activists said that solidarity demonstrations also took place in Montreal and Edmonton.
“Canada needs to respect indigenous rights, and until they do so people will continue to die.” said Jess Bell, an organizer of the Toronto protest.
The activists, who had painted green streaks on their faces, started their rally outside at the corner of King St. W. and Bay St. They marched behind large banner that read “Climate Justice Now”, carrying an assortment of noisemakers, from drums, maracas and tambourines to pots and pans, which they beat with wooden spoons.
The marchers approached the doors of Scotia Bank Plaza, but were blocked from entering by security guards. They then marched to the entrance of King Subway Station, and from there entered the PATH system, a maze of corridors connecting the malls below downtown Toronto.
Chanting and making noise, they then marched back through the Scotia Bank Plaza, and on to an adjacent building. On lookers, most of whom were business people on their lunch breaks, seemed amused or bewildered by the spectacle. The activists present handed out fliers as they marched. The flyers read “Swarm for Climate Justice,” and listing their demands: a strong science based treaty; recognition of the climate crisis impacts on indigenous people; and rejection of the tar sands and unjust carbon markets.
The activists were attempting to reach the Toronto Stock Exchange at the corner of York and King, however they got lost in the PATH system and emerged above ground several blocks away at the corner Yonge and Queen. Then they marched above ground back, along the sidewalks to the Toronto Stock Exchange.
When they reached Exchange Tower, security guards were already outside the building, however they did not block the doors and the small boisterous crowd marched inside. They held their banner under the large stock ticker and chanted loudly for several minutes. When more security guards arrived, they left the building.
The lax security at the demonstration was in stark contrast with a demonstration of several hundred people in the financial district in November held by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty. At that protest police officers and security guards made certain that the doors to all buildings were firmly blocked.
The demonstrators rallied for a few more minutes outside, as six police officers, who had just arrived, looked passively on. The crowd then dispersed.
“We have succeeded in disturbing the peace of Toronto's financial heart today, in solidarity with indigenous people world wide” said David Ball, one of the protesters, “the climate crisis is not just an ecological issue; it is about colonialism.”
More Coverage:
Coverage of action in Copenhagen:
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/15/indigenous_peoples_of_canada_march_on
http://indigenousenvironmentalnetwork.blogspot.com/2009_12_14_archive.html
http://www.youtube.com/user/ienearth#p/a/u/1/RSx2wkXdMlA
http://www.youtube.com/user/ienearth#p/a/u/0/uqhyYGN_sFo
Podcast on the Toronto action:
Photos of the Toronto demonstration:
http://johnb.smugmug.com/Journalism/Swarm-Climate-Change-Rally:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidpball/sets/72157623001404626/
Video of the Toronto demonstration:
http://www.vimeo.com/8184170