As COVID-19 chases us inside and shuts the door behind us, it also shines a bright light on the cracks in our society. People struggle to meet their families’ needs and care for loved ones who are ill, immunocompromised or disabled. They face isolation and uncertainty. Groups of people, including migrant workers and precarious workers, the homeless and low-income renters are especially vulnerable. Health care workers raise the alarm about inadequate supplies and resources. 

Photo by USGS on Unsplash

For the other event hosts, see the Facebook Event. 

On March 1st, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) held the world's biggest mining convention at Toronto's Metro Convention Centre. Attendees represented many of the most destructive resource extraction companies. These companies violate human and Indigenous rights, perpetuate climate and environmental crisis and create huge gaps in economic equality. 

Toronto350 condemns the actions of the RCMP, the Canadian government and Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. with regard to the Wet'suwet'en First Nation and their territory. We fully support the Wet’suwet’en First Nation in their determination to prevent what amounts to an invasion of their unceded hereditary lands and sacred sites.

It is with horror and outrage that we watch the RCMP raids on Wet'suwet'en territory unfold in BC. These actions violate Indigenous, provincial and international laws and human rights. They make a mockery of the government's purported commitment to reconciliation. All in the name of industry and at the behest of government, to protect the interests of a fossil fuel pipeline! Shame. Deep and unpardonable shame. Keep reading to the end of this article for ways to act in solidarity and speak out.

Follow and share updates from the sources below:

• On Twitter: @UnistotenCamp @Gidimten @M_Tol @ricochet_en @harshawalia @Terrilltf
• On Facebook: Unist’ot’en Camp @unistoten Wet’suwet’en Access Point on Gidim’ten Territory @wetsuwetenstrong
• Website: http://unistoten.camp/category/blog/ 

Tags: #WetsuwetenStrong #DefendtheYintah #alleyesonWetsuweten #unistoten

On December 31st, the BC supreme court granted an injunction in favour of Coastal Gaslink (CGL) and against the Wet’suwet’en people who have been peacefully protecting their traditional territories from CGL’s destructive fracked gas pipeline project. The project is intended to transport natural gas to a liquefied natural gas facility on the BC coast. The supreme court ruling criminalizes Anuk ‘nu’at’en (Wet’suwet’en law) and is in direct contradiction to BC’s adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.¹ The hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en clans have not given their consent for CGL to enter and work on their territory and now, have rejected the supreme court decision.²

Toronto350 is in solidarity with Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and their Supreme Court of Canada case to fight for their constitutional rights of being consulted and stop Enbridge Pipeline Inc from transporting diluted bitumen through their community. Do you want to help?

1. To make an online donation click here OR to reduce admin fees being deducted for online transactions, use an email money transfer to Chippewas of the Thames First Nation: ccouchie@cottfn.com; or bank transfer directly to Chippewas of the Thames First Nation BMO account 2915 1998348 001; or mail cheque or money order to Chippewas of the Thames (mark Legal Fund on bottom of cheque), 320 Chippewa Road, Muncey, Ontario N0L 1Y0. For further info click here.

2. To order a beautiful feather lapel pin, go to www.etsy.com/ca/shop/SupportCOTTFN?ref=search_shop_direct

Costs $10.00 plus shipping

We have all watched with increasing dismay and concern the treatment of Black Lives Matter- Toronto protesters and allies by Toronto Police Services. On the evening of March 21st, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Toronto police circled and ambushed peaceful protestors. Children, young women and men, trans people, disabled people and their friends were shoved, punched, and pushed on to the ground. Their materials were smashed, tents and personal belongings were taken, and a barrel of fire to keep them warm was extinguished with an unknown toxic waste.