An activist from Calgary is making her way through Northwestern Ontario with plans to arrive in Ottawa to deliver a message to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the governments stance on climate change.
Ann Cognito and her dog Mr. Myrtle are in Dryden, as they search for a ride east, as the walk on Highway 17 has become treacherous for the pair.
Cognito is relying on a kick bike and a tiny trailer as part of the 3,300 kilometre journey, but it has been plagued with set-back’s
Some of her supplies were stolen in Winnipeg, her scooter was damaged and she has endured some physical injuries.
However, the 50-year-old says she’s not giving up and is bound and determined to make it to the nations capital.
Cognito says she has specific goals.
They include demanding the federal government ‘tell the truth’ about the climate crisis, to reduce carbon emissions in Canada to net zero by 2025, to take further action to remove atmospheric carbon excess, and to create regional, national and international assemblies to avoid further climate change.
She says “the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Control released a report last October which optimistically stated that we had about 12 years left to change things around or we do face extinction.”
Cognito adds “Since last Fall, carbon emissions have continued to increase exponentially as has plastic consumption and chemical use. Because governments and industries refuse to acknowledge the problems and refuse to change.”
She states “There’s countries all over the world making massive changes and here we’re really not even allowed to talk about it hardly. Our government is doing the exact opposite of what we need to do.”
Cognito plans to meet with the Prime Minister and present a petition that has already received more than 1,700 signatures.
She says she won’t leave Ottawa until she secures that meeting.
Cognito adds “We have everything to lose, and our own future to gain. That’s all it comes down to.”
Her journey is part of the ‘Expedition-Walk to Waken the Nation’ movement and to learn more visit:
https://www.facebook.com/wakenthenation/
To hear the complete interview with Ann Cognito, visit the Audio link below.
