Earth Day 2014: Climate crisis requires leadership

OTTAWA – Today marks the 44th anniversary of the planet's first Earth Day - April 22, 1970.  Today, the Green Party of Canada celebrates the accomplishments of Canada's environmental movement over the past four decades and looks ahead to a vibrant green future.   

In 1970, by remarkable coincidence, both Green MPs, Elizabeth May and Bruce Hyer, were organizers in the first ever Earth Day, with Hyer working as an Earth Day coordinator for the State of Connecticut, and May leading an Earth Day event with students at her high school. 

Today, the Member of Parliament for Saanich–Gulf Islands and Leader of the Green Party of Canada, is in Sidney, BC for "Earth Day for an Oil-Free Coast." May will join acclaimed Canadian artist Robert Bateman, Chief Vern Jacks of the Tseycum First Nation, and members of the Sierra Club-BC and the Raincoast Conservation Foundation at a public event to raise awareness of the risks of  oil tanker traffic on the BC coast. 

"We solved most of the environmental challenges of the 1970s and we can do the same with 21st century problems. The solutions are nearly infinite.  All that stands in our way is a Cro Magnon-like commitment to the status quo," said the Green Leader. "Our problem is that not all the fossils are in the fuels. We urgently need courageous and enlightened leadership."

"In the early 1970s, we succeeded in banning DDT and other toxic pesticides, even though everyone told us it couldn't be done," said Bruce Hyer, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay–Superior North and the Green Deputy Leader. "The climate crisis is a very different challenge, but I am so inspired to see Canadians from coast to coast to coast getting together and putting pressure on our government to take action."

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Contact:

Nicholas Gall
Communications Officer
Green Party of Canada
(613) 614 4916
nicholas.gall@greenparty.ca