Swedish activist Greta Thunberg in Edmonton for climate rally
Posted Oct 17, 2019 11:51:15 AM.
Last Updated Oct 18, 2019 06:44:12 PM.
EDMONTON – Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg stayed away from any direct criticism of Alberta’s oilsands as she took her message to the provincial capital.
https://www.facebook.com/CityNewsYEG/videos/471138540152340/?__xts__[0]=68.ARA8U6S84jvcBRmGyvH9nquqSpuAVIGIGvqmbuJY5mPtlFul4-I27QBT3wrY639wlz7CHBQO5g9z0pN3OZCaUK0ow5UUg-oiGtEZlyjjXtprVnBaRqhdGmhjazr84kurlzymAZ8EGnlX7A6ZUDqQuIui8kA7C8poX66t2JB-HD_rgdPXwsdrVzdaLSPdB7A63WbbrKe0k0H8E4V9p-UlQZXF1J-ov9F6aIjOPEd3lR8nBHqOF-8TGdnotA0hpR7rM86LKzloGx72RF0f4C5p-nA-yVddvyYPBX1Zn2H0c5XugXVC8vjr9gVHx0_Be8muqTH5obcHomSG1HG0urL6q7lD-YIHcULCh7lhgA&__tn__=-R
The 16-year-old told thousands of people in front of the legislature in Edmonton that the future of the planet is at stake.
.@GretaThunberg and her supporters listening to Noah Green with Chubby Cree singing to the massive crowd. @CityNewsYEG #yeg #abpoli #FridaysforFuture #ClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/fnXX7Qjo17
— Sarolta Saskiw (@SaroltaSaskiw) October 18, 2019
The view from the top of the Alberta Legislature steps. Thousands of #ClimateAction protesters and #EnergySector counter protestors are in #Edmonton now, each advocating for their side's views. #yyc #yeg #cdnpoli #ClimateStrike @660NEWS @BTCityNewsCGY pic.twitter.com/BrTkHQFe06
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) October 18, 2019
Thank you @GretaThunberg! #FridaysForFuture #ableg pic.twitter.com/NItVlUUiw5
— Marie Renaud (@MarieFrRenaud) October 18, 2019
A group of oil and gas industry supporters planned a counter-rally at the event but were vastly outnumbered by climate activists.
Glen Carritt, who organized the United We Roll convoy that travelled to Ottawa in February, organized a similar convoy that started in Red Deer on Friday morning.
WATCH: Greta Thunberg comes to Calgary
A crowd of people stretching two city blocks first marched with Thunberg through the downtown to the legislature.
The teen has been making international headlines for criticizing world leaders who she accuses of letting down youth by doing too little to tackle climate change.
Carritt said Albertans in the oil and gas sector are frustrated with celebrities visiting the province and telling them how to run their business.
"We’re going to continue to fight for Canadian energy until we get pipelines in the ground.
“And we’re going to rally against any climate activist who comes out and pretends they know more about… https://t.co/9p3mPiVoNz
— United We Roll For Canada (@united_roll) October 16, 2019
Premier Jason Kenney has said the Alberta government won’t seek out a meeting with the teen, but hopes she takes time to learn how the province has some of the greenest oil and gas rules in the world.
Kenney also criticized Thunberg’s motives during a visit to a power plant on Friday, which is switching from coal to natural gas.
“They’re opposed to the entire modern industrial economy. Their manifesto effectively calls for shutting down our entire modern economy. So, that is not a real world solution,” Kenney said.
The Edmonton Police Service said they prepared for this event as they would for any other major city event.
“We would like to reassure the citizens of the Edmonton that the EPS is working to ensure sufficient resources are in place to manage the demonstrations,” says Inspector Jonathan Coughlan with the EPS Field Response Branch. “Traffic congestion in the downtown core is expected to be significant during the rally and protest. The EPS suggests that citizens be mindful of this and make plans to take other routes.”
The Canadian Press with files from CityNews