Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents =People from 93 nations will be calling upon their governments to Draw the Line - For People, for Peace, for the Planet - on Saturday, September 20. Demonstrations are planned in major cities across Europe, Asia, Latin America, the United States and Canada. More than 200 organizations, including 350Canada, the Council of Canadians and the Migrant Rights Network are participating. On Vancouver Island, there will be demonstrations in Victoria, Nanaimo, Campbell River, Courtenay and Duncan as well as the neighbouring communities of Denman Island, Salt Spring Island and Powell River.

Former North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney will be among the Speakers for the event starting at 2 PM in Campbell River’s Spirit Square. Some Quadra Islanders have stated they are participating. On Cortes Island, the Climate Action Network is urging people to catch the 11:55 AM ferry so they can ‘go join the folks in Campbell River.’

Cortes Currents interviewed Murray Etty and Manda Vaughan, two members of the Campbell River Chapter of the Council of Canadians, who are organizing the Campbell River demonstration.

Murray Etty: “We’re uniting behind five main demands of the Federal Government, but also the provinces: put people over profits, fund our families and communities; refuse ongoing colonialism, uphold Indigenous sovereignty; stop blaming migrants, demand full immigration status for all; end the war machine, stand for justice and peace; and, for Mandy and me, the most important one of all is end the era of Fossil fuels Protect Mother Earth. ”

Cortes Currents: What do you hope this demonstration will achieve?

Murray Etty: “ Thousands of people across this country are involved and I think it's going to really make an impression not only the Carney government, but provincial governments too. We've got to get into action here. The time for dithering and making excuses is over, but the people of Canada have got to step up and communicate to their governments.” We've gotta have a way more sending of emails, letters, phone calls, protest movements, and so on to let the governments know we mean business. It's time for a conversion to renewable energy.”

Cortes Currents: What conversations have you had locally?

Murray Etty: “We’ve sent out a whole bunch of emails to organizations and individuals. Sue Moen just this morning said she sent more than 80 messages to people she knows. We’ve also put a notice in the Campbell River Mirror.”

Manda Vaughan: “We put out a request to Aaron Gunn (MP Noth Island-Powell River), he's otherwise engaged. The message went out to Anna Kindy (MLA, North Island) also, but we haven't heard of a positive reply from her yet.”

“Earlier this year Elder College hosted a class on climate change (at North Island College in Campbell River). Surveys by the Guardian and other groups show that well over 60% of people globally are concerned but the majority don’t feel they can broach the subject with their friends or neighbours.”

“The fact is, people are concerned. We need to come out of our silos and realize others care too. What we are hoping with this rally is to encourage people to come out because climate affects all of us.”