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4- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 12, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Oakville residents join Global Day of Action march By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Oakville residents' voices joined a worldwide chorus Saturday (Dec. 8) in demanding leaders of industrialized nations reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A collective rally cry emanated from George's Square on Trafalgar Road, as it did in 87 other countries and 37 cities across Canada, where Global Day of Action marches took place. "The entire world needs to move as rapidly as possible to a stronger emissions reductions treaty," community activist Brian Hopkins said to the crowd of 25 placard-waving supporters. The Dec. 8 Global Day of Action coincided with the date on which representatives from countries around the world gathered in Bali, Indonesia for the United Nations Climate Change Conference to discuss new treaty targets beyond 2012. The worldwide march intended to make the masses gathered at the conference sit up, take notice and influence change. "You have a power you may not recognize," added Hopkins. "The power to stop climate chaos." He was joined by Oakville MP Bonnie Brown, Mayor Rob Burton and Ward 4 councillor Allan Elgar, as well as other community groups such as Oakvillegreen, GreenTrans and Kerr If you have a news tip or story idea, call the Oakville Beaver at 845-3824. VISIT US ONLINE Village Farmers Market. Also in the crowd was Tina Agrell, an NDP candidate in the last federal election, Blake Poland (Halton), and Marion Schaffer (Oakville), who ran for the Green Party provincially. "We need progress from these negotiations," said Hopkins, who is also co-ordinator of the Halton Peace Network. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997 and was seen as an important first step towards a truly global emission reduction. The binding commitment made by developed countries to reduce emissions was the most far-reaching agreement on environment and sustainable development ever adopted. It requires developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions over five years, beginning in 2008 and expiring in 2012, the deadline for ratification of a new international framework. Canada's Kyoto target is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent, specifically carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride. Environmentalists fear that without a unified effort, catastrophic climate chaos is immi- DEREK WOOLLAM / OAKVILLE BEAVER GLOBAL MARCHERS: Susan Curran and other concerned residents marched through downtown Oakville Saturday afternoon during the Global Day of Action march. nent. "We feel that there is an overwhelming need to create a groundswell of global opinion to push for the urgent and radical action on climate change," added Hopkins. "Without it we risk a global catastrophe of unimaginable proportions." According to the World Health Organization, climate change is already killing 150,000 people every year, and that figure could double to 300,000 annual deaths by 2030. Supporters of Kyoto Protocol demand that industrialized countries emitting the most greenhouse gases take the lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Canadians have a vested interest economically in ensuring the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol because of its dependence on climate-reliant industries like agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism. OPEN SUNDAYS 12-5 140 Rebecca St. OAKVILLE 844-7728