On Oct. 1, 2024, Oakville joined over 70 Canadian communities in celebrating the primary nationwide Seniors for Local weather Day.
On Oct. 1, 2024, Oakville joined over 70 Canadian communities in celebrating the primary nationwide Seniors for Local weather Day with a rally hosted by GASP (Grandmothers (and Others) Act to Save the Planet).
The rally, held in entrance of Oakville Public Library’s central department at Navy Road, was half of a bigger motion encouraging seniors to advocate for rapid local weather motion to guard the planet for future generations.
“Everywhere in the world, the heating of our ambiance is supersizing storms, floods and droughts,” mentioned co-chair of GASP, Louise Brownlee.
“On July 16, the Larger Toronto Space acquired in three hours the quantity of rain usually acquired in a month. In Halton, the rain prompted basement flooding in practically 2,000 houses,” she continued.
“Costly clean-up for fellow residents. The place we’re assembly as we speak, simply behind the library, flooding waters washed a dock – with a dozen boats nonetheless connected – down 16 Mile Creek into Lake Ontario.”
Learn extra: Vital flooding results in emergency response at Oakville Harbour
Brownlee defined that Tuesday’s occasion coincided with Nationwide Seniors Day, historically a time when folks go to their grandparents.
This yr, nevertheless, 70 teams of seniors throughout the nation took to the streets to have fun the launch of a nationwide Seniors for Local weather group.
“We’re seeing wilder, windier and hotter climate,” mentioned Carole Holmes, GASP co-founder. “We GASPs are motivated by concern for the longer term generations. We need to see local weather options carried out now. The tagline for this marketing campaign is ‘Later is just too late’.”
“Our technology has acknowledged that we’ve got been a part of the issue with our way of life decisions,” continued Holmes. “Now we have a way of accountability to go away our grandchildren with clear air, water and a sustainable atmosphere.”
GASP is a grassroots, non-partisan group of grandmothers and “grand ‘others'” who’re demanding local weather motion from the federal government.
“Seniors don’t have something to lose,” mentioned Brownlee. “The ability of seniors is that we don’t have a vested curiosity in the established order. We don’t have to fret about upsetting colleagues at work. We will observe our conscience.”
“The fossil gas trade has given us a lot. However the trade is inflicting severe hurt because the pollution generated by burning fossil fuels keep within the ambiance,” she continued.
“These pollution are the first reason behind the acute climate we’re seeing regionally and all around the world. It’s previous time for a swap to renewables. We seniors have the braveness and responsibility to demand a change.”
