Ten-year-old Ta’Kaiya Blaney received a standing ovation from Greenpeace founders and activists Thursday after she sang a song she wrote about the dangers of oil spills on the environment.
“The reason I’m an environmentalist is because we need to see a change in the way we do things,” Blaney said before she sang Shallow Waters. “If we continue to (pollute), we are no longer leaving behind an earth for the future generations.”
Greenpeace founders and current members of the Vancouver-born environmental organization gathered Thursday for its 40th anniversary at the Vancouver Maritime Museum.
Brian Cox, executive director of Greenpeace Canada, said the organization’s mission is to ensure future generations have a better and greener planet.
“One of our greatest successes is our ability to instil in others to take action, and for individuals to stand up and show that a single person who’s willing to raise their voice … can in fact change the course of history,” he said, adding Blaney personifies the spirit of younger people willing to step up.
Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace international executive director, said Greenpeace welcomes and encourages the measures taken by the City of Vancouver to steer towards a greener direction.
“I hope there will be some inspiration that will flow from this beautiful city of Vancouver to those in the upper echelons of power in Canada,” he said. “So when they join us … they will actually sing a different song than what they’ve been singing for the last couple of years at the climate negotiations.”
The Greenpeace party continues with the Rainbow Warrior Festival on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Jericho Park. The festival features Zodiac rides, musical acts, banner making and campaign workshops.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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