Here are a few new things we want to share with you as we go into the weekend

An Interfaith Coalition for Treaty Rights recently formed in the Maritimes in anticipation of the start of the Mi’kmaw moderate livelihood fishery. The coalition is made up of a group of concerned individuals and representatives of faith communities and social justice organizations. This weekend (May 29–30), members of multiple faith traditions will be taking time to pray and meditate for two things: that the Sipekne’katik First Nation fishery will not be subjected to violence; and that Indigenous moderate livelihood fishing rights be respected. To learn more and get involved, see Interfaith Coalition for Treaty Rights.

It's finally here!

The NS government announced on Thursday, May 27 that it was immediately beginning consultations on the Sustainable Development Goals Act. These are the long overdue public consultations that were supposed to happen in 2020, following the passage of Bill 213 into law in October 2019. You may recall that hundreds of people called upon the NS government to amend Bill 213 to include stronger GHG emission targets and environmental goals. Despite hundreds of emails, phone calls, as well as presentations from the public to the law amendments committee, the bill was passed with no changes. The SDGA needs teeth. Let’s do our best to make our voices heard. Check out our SDGA Consultation Resources page for ways to get started. 

Video: Come Clean Emera

Our Atlantic Team is growing, and so too is our creative energy! Take a look at our cheeky 2-minute Come Clean Emera video, released during Emera’s annual shareholder meeting this month. Be sure to watch with the audio turned up :-)


Check out some of the great stuff the Atlantic Chapter has planned in the coming weeks

 Decolonizing Book Club

 Wednesday, June 2, at 7:30pm, we’re launching a biweekly
Decolonizing Book Club, guided by Mi’kmaw educator Chris George. Click to find out more and register  for the Zoom link. It's free.  


Invisible Hand Screening and Q&A

June 14–15, we invite you to join us for a free screening of the award-winning Rights of Nature documentary, Invisible Hand.


The screening is available for 24 hours, beginning Monday, June 14 at 7:30pm AT. On Tuesday, June 15 at 7:30pm AT there will be a virtual Q&A with community organizers from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF), featured in the documentary. 


The event is co-hosted by our local chapter and the newly formed Rights of Nature Network–Atlantic Canada. Register for the Zoom link here.

On Our Watch

There’s a lot going on right now in this region that requires our attention:


Pieridae Energy is seeking nearly a billion dollars in funding or loan guarantees from the federal government to build a liquid natural gas processing plant in Goldboro, NS. The plant would pipe in fracked and sour gas from Western Canada. This would result in the province exceeding its GHG emissions cap by more than 30 percent. The Grassroots Grandmothers were not consulted about this project and they do not consent to it being built on unceded Mi’kmaw territory. Mi'kmaq grassroots women say no to Goldboro LNG man camp

Despite the International Energy Agency’s report released last week, calling for no new oil and gas projects and an accelerated transition away from fossil fuels, the federal government is proceeding with its offshore drilling plans—without adequate impact assessments. Sierra Club Canada Foundation is one of several environmental organizations taking this matter to federal court. Flawed environmental assessment of offshore drilling faces scrutiny in court.

New Brunswick is eyeing unproven, experimental nuclear technology for its get-off-fossil-fuels plan. Sigh... Get the Facts on Small Modular NUCLEAR Reactors.

Finding Strength in the Brave Ones Who Have Gone Before Us

Yes, there are plenty of reasons to feel discouraged, but I find it reassuring that no matter how difficult the challenges may be, we are not alone in facing them. Countless people around this region—and the world—are doing what they can to stand up for nature and for the basic human right to have a liveable planet. We can also find strength in the brave ones who’ve gone before us. Read about the inspiring and heartbreaking origin of the word “tree huggers” from a standoff between loggers and villagers in India in 1790.

Summer Job Opportunities

Interested in working with Sierra Club? We’re looking for someone to fill a Canada Summer Jobs position in Moncton NB with our Watch for Wildlife program. Check it out. Also, keep an eye out for our Watch for Wildlife video coming next month. 

Join Us

We look forward to getting to know you better. Please consider becoming a member of the Sierra Club Atlantic Canada Chapter to support our local grassroots work. If you have comments or a story to share, email Tynette Deveaux at tynetted@sierraclub.ca

Do you know someone who might benefit from the Atlantic Activist? If so, invite them to sign up to receive the e-newsletter at Atlantic@sierraclub.ca

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