“We’re going to give ECan a performance review to let them know they need to do something about the ecological emergency” says Extinction Rebellion Åtautahi (XR Åtautahi) spokesperson Grace Stainthorpe. “As members and representatives of the living world, we’re going to their office’s to voice the deep social and ecological harm that ECan’s decisions are causing. It’s time our voices are heard” she continues.
XR Åtautahi are taking part in an International Week of Rebellion calling on all levels of government across the world to take action on climate and ecological emergency. They welcomed this in at dawn today on New Brighton beach, sitting in an image of the earth while the tide came in.
Extinction Rebellion Åtautahi mark the beginning of the International Week of Rebellion at sunrise on New Brighton beach.
On Thursday 11 April an Extinction Rebellion deputation to ECan’s council meeting asked them to declare an Climate and Ecological Emergency and bring their policies in line with this. Ecan was also given a letter informing them that they will be given a performance review.
Extinction Rebellion presenting to ECan on 11 April
Stainthorpe says “The health of Canterbury ecosystems and the health of its inhabitants are deeply interlinked. When ECan falters in its stewardship of the land and waterways, the wellbeing of people and other species falters too. ECan’s current actions contribute to our global pathway to mass extinction. XR Otautahi believe that protecting our ecosystems’ life-supporting capacity should be central to ECan’s decisions.”
“ECan’s decision to increase the allowable level of nitrates in Christchurch drinking water is one clear example of how their policies are enabling the expansion and intensification of the dairy industry, exacerbating the climate emergency while harming waterways, and public health.” says Stainthorpe
In the wake of mounting evidence locally and worldwide, XR Åtautahi is calling ECan to declare an ecological emergency and develop policies that reflect this state of crisis.
“We want ECan’s policies to be reviewed through the lens of a state of climate crisis, and for them to have a restorative and regenerative approach to all future decisions.” Says Stainthorpe.
Shere Khan Silver is taking action on Tuesday because “It makes me so sad that I can’t swim in the rivers I played in as a child because of pollution and loss of flow to irrigate intensive agriculture. We want to support ECan to be bold and dramatic in their policy making. We need a shift from an exploitative and commodifying perspective to one that fosters community and connection.”
XR Åtautahi warmly invites the public to give ECan a performance review, to help stretch a symbolic ‘river’ through the building, and to have our voices heard. Members of the public will be able to air their grievances at the performance review on behalf of ecosystems over a ‘people’s microphone’.
