Black Out Speak Out groups will darken websites nationwide in protest against efforts to
silence Canadians
TORONTO, May 6, 2012 /CNW/ - The federal government's attack on nature
and democracy means "silence is not an option" for Canadians according
to a national campaign, being launched Monday, May 7, by the country's
leading environmental organizations.
"These changes—hidden in a budget bill in the hopes that Canadians
wouldn't notice—are threatening the core values all Canadians hold
dear: nature and democracy," said Sidney Ribaux, executive director of
Equiterre. "We are compelled to speak out and we're inviting Canadians
from all walks of life to join us."
Known as Black Out Speak Out (or Silence, on parle, in French) the
campaign will invite organizations, businesses and citizens from across
Canada to darken their websites on June 4, and speak out against
changes introduced in the federal government's budget act (C-38).
The government is putting the future of our land, water and climate at
risk with the recent federal budget implementation bill. Over a third
of the budget is dedicated to weakening Canada's most important
environmental laws, including measures to make it more difficult for
environmental charities to participate in the public policy process.
The groups are asking Canadians to join them in speaking out and
letting the government know that silence is not an option for those who
care about what could be lost.
"The attacks on environmental charities and gutting of environmental
review processes aim to silence Canadians of all sectors and many
backgrounds who participate in decision-making about large-scale
industrial developments," said Peter Robinson, CEO of the David Suzuki
Foundation. "This is not only undemocratic—it will undermine the
government's ability to make sound policy decisions and to protect the
environment."
"Powerful oil interests aren't just changing the rules—they're
disqualifying any player not on their team," said Rick Smith, executive
director of Environmental Defence. "We're going black for a day, but
we'll be speaking out for as long as it takes."
The budget bill, C-38, replaces the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, empowers the federal government to crack down on charities,
including environmental groups, that advocate for better laws and
policies, overrides National Energy Board decisions, rushes projects
through a weakened environmental review process to speed up approvals,
and shut citizen groups out of environmental reviews for pipelines.
Black Out Speak Out begins Monday with full-page ads in the Globe and Mail, La Presse and Ottawa's Hill Times. It also includes a website, blackoutspeakout.ca/silenceonparle.ca. Over the next four weeks, environmental groups will build support for
the campaign, inviting other organizations, community and social
justice groups, and individuals from across Canada to join them in
expressing their concern about the erosion of core Canadian values.
Participating environmental organizations include CPAWS, David Suzuki
Foundation, Ecojustice, Environmental Defence, Equiterre, Greenpeace,
Nature Canada, Pembina Institute, Sierra Club Canada, West Coast
Environmental Law, and WWF Canada.
Canadians wishing to support the campaign can sign up at blackoutspeakout.ca (silenceonparle.ca en français).
