Achi news desk-
For the second year in a row, members of Seniors for Climate Action Now, or SCAN, gathered in front of the Royal Bank of Canada branch on Princess Street in Kingston, Ont.
The group is protesting against the financial institution’s investments in fossil fuels. SCAN joined a handful of other local climate action groups in divesting more than $3 million of their own money from RBC in the past year to send a message.
SCAN member Nancy Nicol says she thinks it’s working.
“They have recently come out with an announcement that they will present a motion at this AGM to confirm prior informed consent,” said Nicol.
Informed consent plays a central role in the decade-long fight by the Wet’suwet’en people of British Columbia to stop the construction of the Coastal Gaslink pipeline.
Nicol said SCAN’s mandate is to motivate seniors to action, but their power play against one of Canada’s major banks could not have happened without the support of many younger people from Queen’s University and local high schools.
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“To be honest, the young people who have been part of the organizing we have done have brought a great deal of energy, skills, knowledge and abilities,” said Nicol.
For local high school student Abbie Miolee, who started the LaSalle High School Earth Club, the help and guidance she received from older climate activists in Kingston has been invaluable.
“Multigenerational efforts are so important and I’ve heard some older people say, yes, the climate justice game is a problem for young people, but we need older generations to help us,” he said.
Miolee said it has always been her dream to live off the land and live as sustainably as possible, but it’s a goal she fears is falling further out of reach without real action on the crisis climate.
The group of demonstrators are pushing for renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar energy.
“Panels instead of pipelines, because of the fossil fuel industry, it might make money, but it’s not going to buy us more time,” added Miolee.
Saturday’s protest was part of around 40 taking place across the country.
RBC has its annual general meeting on April 11 in Toronto.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
