Witness Copenhagen

SCC in Copenhagen for the most important negotiations in human history

Sierra Club Canada has sent delegates to Copenhagen to observe and report on all the action around the COP15 Climate Change Conference. These negotiations need to succeed in order for catastrophic climate change to be averted, but what role will Canada play in the process? Will our government continue to stand in the way of a meaningful, binding agreement, or will it finally take the international leadership on this issue that its citizens have been demanding?

Latest Blog Posts

EthicalOil.org stands for big oil - nothing else

Submitted by John Bennett on Sun, 2012-01-22 21:54

First, I want to apologize in advance for the length of this blog. So much has happened over the past week I can’t be pithy!

I want to start by thanking everyone who sent kind and encouraging words this week via email, phone, Facebook and Twitter. I also want to congratulate the 1300+ of you who proudly declared themselves “radicals” in their letters to Joe Oliver. The response has really overwhelmed me.

The Insightful Comment of the Week Award came from Day #1 of the Northern Gateway Pipeline hearings and goes to Ellis Ross, Haisla Nation Chief, who said of Enbridge’s proposed pipeline: “No matter how idiot proof you make it, they just keep making better idiots”. I found this to be the ultimate precautionary statement, and a great way to kick-off the hearings!... Read more »

Now I'm a radical ...

Submitted by John Bennett on Mon, 2012-01-09 18:59

The Federal Government is engaged in an unprecedented campaign to damage the credibility of the environmental movement. In the latest move, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver (apparently replacing Environment Minister Peter Kent as the chief anti-environmentalist government spokesperson) submitted an “open letter” to the media. In it, he links “radicals and environmental groups” and charges they are against everything. ... Read more »

Thank you and have a happy holiday!

Submitted by John Bennett on Tue, 2011-12-20 16:03

This is my last blog of the year so I want to begin by sincerely thanking you for being part of the most exciting year of my campaigning career. In 2011 we probably had one of highest participation rates for email campaigns in all of Canada. Again, thank you.

Today I want to tell you about a disturbing pattern emerging in the public dialogue on environmental issues that has the potential to do significant damage to the environmental movement and our ability to positively influence public opinion. Influencing public opinion, after all, is how we have achieved the great change in how the natural environment is viewed and treated, so it’s important to understand what is happening.... Read more »

Setting the stage for climate chaos

Submitted by John Bennett on Fri, 2011-12-09 16:03

This morning when I woke up, I saw that I received an email from Graham Saunders. Graham’s email really summarizes the situation in Durban succinctly and I wanted to share it with you.

If you haven’t already, please take a moment and send a message to the Prime Minister and Federal Environment Minister telling them to uphold Canada's reputation and do what's right in Durban! After reading the post below, I know you will!

– John Bennett, Executive Director, Sierra Club Canada ... Read more »

Finally, we met the real Peter Kent

Submitted by John Bennett on Mon, 2011-11-21 13:14

Finally we met the real Peter Kent. He made two very revealing public statements last week.

The first was in reaction to a couple of NDP MPs (including environment critic @MeganLeslieMP) who headed to Washington to promote action on climate change and suggest an alternative vision of Tar Sands development and energy security.

Kent called them "treacherous" for opposing “Canada’s economic interest". What's next? Are they also "un-Canadian"? How about "communist"?

Then on Thursday he told reporters the Canadian government is considering narrowing the focus of its main environmental assessment agency so it can accelerate reviews of major industrial projects, including Tar Sands and pipelines.
... Read more »