By Joe Gunn
On May 24th, in front of St. Paul University (UStP) on Main Street, in the spiritual and geographical heart of Old Ottawa East, the Centre Oblat – A Voice for Justice helped to organize a gesture of solidarity with the global School Strike for Climate movement, which has been endorsed by renowned leaders across the planet.
The Centre Oblat – A Voice for Justice (Centre Oblat) is a ministry of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Canada that was initiated at UStP in mid-February 2019. The aim of the Centre Oblat is to work on issues of poverty in Canada, ecological justice, reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and just and sustainable extractive industries in the Global South.
Saint Paul University Rector Chantal Beauvais addresses a gathering outside the
Main Street campus on hand to support the School Strike for Climate movement.
The support rally was organized by the Centre Oblat – A Voice for Justice.
Photo By Émilie Gagnon-Caya
Outside the main entrance of UStP, a crowd gathered to listen to music performed by students and to hear remarks from UStP Rector Chantal Beauvais, Professor Heather Eaton, Indigenous Activities Coordinator Sebastién Pilon and student association president Giovanni Aaron. The Centre Oblat’s director, Joe Gunn, served as a moderator at the 30-minute event.
The School Strike for Climate movement began in late 2018 when the now 16-year-old Greta Thunberg sat in protest outside the Swedish Parliament. Since then, she has spoken at international climate events, met the pope and other world leaders, and been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Thunberg has said: “In order to properly address the crisis, we need our educational institutions to be hubs of sustainability that provide learning and teaching to prepare today’s students to not only be those that lead a just transition, but to prepare for a changing world…”
May 24th had added importance for the Centre Oblat and for UStP, as it also marked the 4th anniversary of Laudato Si, the Pope’s encyclical on the environment. In that document, Pope Francis spoke of his wish for an “integral ecology” that develops environmental sustainability based on increased economic equality and care for the poor – as well as all creation.
A large banner signed by students of UStP throughout the week was later taken to Ottawa City Hall and marched on to Parliament Hill, joining banners signed by hundreds of student marchers assembling there. After the rally on the Hill, students and their supporters moved on to make their case for increased ambition to the office of Catherine McKenna, the federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change.
Over 2,500 school strikes were registered around the world, and more than 104 in Canada as students demanded climate change action from their governments. Canada’s participation comprised about 5% of the global total.
School Strike Movement is growing by leaps and bounds, with the next School Strikes planned for the September 20 – 27 period. See the “Fridays for Future” website: https://fridaysforfuture.ca. Also, stay tuned to the UStP website for updates. The entre community is welcome to join organizers on the steps of the University again in September.
