RALLY FOR KYOTO! Sunday, March 11 Posted by Marek Vermin on March 10th, 2007

TORONTO | HALIFAX | CALGARY | EDMONTON | LETHBRIDGE | LONDON | VICTORIA | OTTAWA

For details on your city see: http://www.canadiansforkyoto.com/

Kyoto Or Bust!

• The Kyoto Protocol is the only binding international agreement that sets targets to reduce the gas emissions that cause climate change. This is a very real problem, but because the change is gradual we don’t see the effects of these emissions already taking place and progressing towards a dangerous incline. A consumer culture such as ours is unfortunately somewhat shortsighted and sadly chooses to ignore this problem, which will most likely affect us in our own lifetimes no matter how wealthy or poor we are. And we can all do something!

• Kyoto is just a baby step necessary to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change: some of which include mass extinction of species of both flora and fauna, rising coastlines, displaced populations in areas ranging from India to San Francisco and Amsterdam, dangerously toxic and carcinogenic air levels, a taxed health care system, higher levels of toxicity in our food, and limited drinking water sources, just to name a few.

• Kyoto will NOT damage the economy, in fact it would give us massive savings on energy bills, stimulate the hi-tech and construction industries, create jobs, reduce health-care costs from air pollution, and help protect our ecosystems.

• The previous government of Canada developed a plan to meet our Kyoto targets. (Regulating industry and fuel efficiency in vehicles, emission reductions, a fund for investments in efficient infrastructure.)

• The new government of Canada has pulled out of Kyoto. Bill C-288, which calls for implementation of Kyoto, was passed on February 14, 2007 (pending Senate approval), but the Harper government has still not admitted to their obligation to pursue the goals set forth in the Kyoto Protocol, nor have they set forth a strategy for implementing the goals. Failure to do so will ensure emissions will not be reduced enough to prevent problems or disasters.