Draw the line - People and planet before profit

Wildfires across Canada are still burning, in a season that has burned close to 9 million hectares, an area larger than New Brunswick. But the ravages of the climate crisis are global: in the Punjab and Sindh province of Pakistan widespread flooding has killed at least 900 and forced the evacuation of 2 million people from their homes. 3 years ago, more than 1,700 people were killed by flooding in Pakistan, one of the costliest “natural” disasters in history.

 

This is a crisis of capitalism, as the political and business leaders of the world’s richest nations, including Canada, have powered profit making by burning fossil fuels, dooming Indigenous people and the people of the Global South to devastation. They assert their power over the globe through their armies and war machines, and when people flee these wars, or the effects of the climate crisis, they are turned away at the borders. Inside those borders, hard fought gains won through past struggles are being dismantled to keep the profits flowing as inequality grows.

 

Draw the Line

 

On Saturday, Sept 20th, people are mobilizing under the banner of “Draw the Line” in around 70 locations across Canada to push back and “reject the Carney agenda and to demand that the Canadian government prioritize our communities over billionaires.”

 

Thousands are expected at Draw the Line actions in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and Ottawa. But many smaller cities and remote communities are also participating, including: Masset on Haida Gwaii; Whitehorse, Yukon; Victoria and Smithers, BC; Red Deer, AB; Saskatoon, SK; Winnipeg and Lawledge, MB; London and Peterborough, ON; Montreal, Quebec; Fredericton, NB; Antigonish / Nalikitquniejk, NS; Goose Bay and St John’s, NFLD.

 

They are rallying and marching to demand that Canada:

 

·       Put people over corporate profit. Fund our families and communities.

 

·       Refuse ongoing colonialism. Uphold Indigenous Sovereignty.

 

·       Stop blaming migrants. Demand full immigration status for all now!

 

·       End the war machine. Stand for justice and peace.

 

·       End the era of fossil fuels. Protect Mother Earth.

 

These mobilizations are bringing together movements pushing back against the attacks of the Carney government, which has since May: cut government services and public sector jobs; passed Bill C-5 trampling on Indigenous peoples’ inherent, treaty and constitutional rights; introduced Bill C-2 to strengthen racist border controls while increasing state surveillance; increased military spending and cut social programs to pay for it; declared that Canada will be a “conventional” energy superpower, continuing our reliance on fossil fuel extraction.

 

Over 200 climate justice, Indigenous justice, migrant justice, labour rights, anti-war and Palestine solidarity groups are organizing these actions, bringing together critical movements fighting for a livable future for all.

 

It is part of a global day of action, with people participating in 96 countries. In many places the actions are organized under the banner of “Make the Billionaires Pay”.

 

Join the movement! Find your local action on the map here: https://drawtheline.world/