Earth Day 2023 a time for joyful resistance and celebration: community groups

Mi'kma'ki / Nova Scotia – On this Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, 2023, members of the Grassroots Grandmothers Circle, Ecology Action Centre, School Strike 4 Climate Halifax, iMOVe and other community groups are hosting the People’s Parade for Life on Earth: an invitation for all to come together and celebrate the Earth, water, our communities and continued resistance for life on this beautiful planet. 

“The People's Parade is an opportunity to celebrate all that we are fighting for. We can celebrate that we are still here, and that we are not giving up,” says Sadie Quinn with School Strike 4 Climate Halifax.  

“We can offer joy and gratitude for the beauty of the Earth, the water which is our life, and our beautiful communities who will never stop standing up for love, justice and life on this planet.” 

With the leadership of the Grassroots Grandmothers and Mi’kma’ki Water Walkers, the People’s Parade will be grounded in ceremony and respect for the traditional ways of unceded Mi’kmaw territory.  

Water Walker Ducie Howe says it’s important to take care of the water.  

“Water is life – all life depends on it to survive. We have prophecies about the continents drying up and water being sold as a commodity, as expensive as gold. Looking at the current research, we can see that is what is happening now.”  

Howe encourages everyone to resist allowing corporations to privatize water, and to protect it as an inherent right for future generations and all our relations: “When we walk for the water, we pray for the spirit of the water: to honour, respect and thank the water for all life, including ours.” 

The People's Parade will start at the Wave / Sackville Landing on the Halifax waterfront at 2:00 p.m. and will end at Peace & Friendship Park with a gathering and celebration. 

Joanna Bull, community engagement manager with the Ecology Action Centre, says it is an opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to the environment and to inspire others to take action to protect it. Individuals and groups have been invited to bring their creativity to represent their community in the parade. 

“Everyone has a place in the movement for life on Earth, and we need everyone – Elders and youth, artists and activists, workers and parents,” says Bull. “Sometimes it can feel like we’re fighting a losing battle to protect our land, water and communities. It can wear us out to keep going up against powerful interests who want to keep profiting from destruction.  

“But coming together in community with joy and creativity can uplift our spirits and re-energize us. And that’s exactly what we need right now.” 

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