Blue Dot tour MeDia Kit

Transcription

1 Blue Dot Tour Media Kit

2 Introduction The Blue Dot Tour is the beginning of a multi-year project by the David Suzuki Foundation to see every Canadian s right to live in a healthy environment recognized by all levels of government. In his last national tour, David Suzuki is joining the Foundation to spark a conversation with Canadians about the country we want to be and how we can protect the people and places we love by doing something more than 110 other nations around the world have already done: enshrine their citizens right to live in a healthy environment. Quick info Media contact information: All English-language Blue Dot Tour media inquiries should be directed to: Alvin Singh, Communications Manager David Suzuki Foundation asingh@davidsuzuki.org All French-language Blue Dot Tour media inquiries should be directed to: Manon Dubois, Directrice des communications, Québec Fondation David Suzuki mdubois@davidsuzuki.org Media opportunities: David Suzuki will be available for media interviews at each tour stop during select morning and afternoon periods. David Suzuki Foundation communications and public engagement director Michiah Prull will also be available. Media opportunities with David Suzuki will be limited, and reporters are encouraged to make arrangements in advance of the tour s arrival. Media photos: All media photos can be found at the following link: Photos will be posted immediately after all events and freely available to the news media. Credit information will be available with the files. For quick access to up-to-the-minute tour dates and event information, visit: For in-depth information on the Right to a Healthy Environment Campaign, visit: healthyenvironment To find executive summaries and full copies of David Boyd s White Papers on the Right to a Healthy Environment, visit:

3 Tour route Full lineup and scheduled performers: St. John s, NL, Sept. 24 Holy Heart Theatre Amelia Curran The Secrets Halifax, NS, Sept. 27 Rebecca Cohn Auditorium Jenn Grant Joel Plaskett Summerside, PEI, Sept. 29 Harbourfront Theatre Catherine MacLellan Paper Lions Saint John, NB, Sept. 30 Imperial Theatre Jenn Grant Richmond Hill, on, Oct. 2 Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts Edward Burtynsky Joe MacInnis Toronto, on, Oct. 3 Massey Hall Barenaked Ladies Chantal Kreviazuk Stephen Lewis Raine Maida Kitchener-Waterloo, ON Oct. 6 Centre in the Square Jeremy Fisher Joe MacInnis Danny Michel Whitehorse Montreal, QC, Oct. 15 Theatre Corona Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw from Metric Half Moon Run Patrick Watson Ariane Moffatt Yann Perreau Alexandre Désilets Marie-Pierre Arthur The Franklin Electric Ottawa, on, Oct. 17 Centrepointe Theatre Sarah Harmer Kinnie Starr The Fortunate Ones Thunder Bay, on, Oct. 20 Community Auditorium Winnipeg, MB, Oct. 24 Burton Cummings Theatre Cris Derksen and Tanya Tagaq Ovide Mercredi Sierra Noble Fred Penner Royal Winnipeg Ballet presents Dancers of Aspirant Saskatoon, SK, Oct. 26 Sid Buckwold Theatre Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo Regina, SK, Oct. 27 Conexus Arts Centre Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo Edmonton, AB, Oct. 28 Winspear Centre Bruce Cockburn Greg Keelor Calgary, AB, Oct. 30 MacEwan Hall Greg Keelor Prince George, BC, Nov. 1 Vanier Hall Jill and Matthew Barber Roy Henry Vickers Victoria, BC, Nov. 7 Farquhar Auditorium Hey Ocean Kinnie Starr Vancouver, BC, Nov. 9 The Orpheum Barenaked Ladies Robert Bateman Feist Hey Ocean Raine Maida Raffi Neil Young Wanting Qu

4 Background information: Canadians from all walks of life are coming together to protect the people and places we love, and I m crossing the country to join them. It s the most important thing I ve ever done. Canada today: We live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, with some of the largest reserves of fresh water, natural spaces and remaining populations of wild animals. We have a deep connection with this image of our country. But are the image and reality the same? The truth is, Canada is falling behind when it comes to protecting the people and places we love ranking 24th out of 25 wealthy industrialized nations on environmental performance. This is costing us all. Not protecting what sustains us our air, water and food means that more than 20,000 Canadians die prematurely every year. It doesn t have to be this way. The country we want to be: Canada was once a leader on the environment and social justice. We could be again. No one should suffer from preventable environmental impacts. Economic development and environmental protection should be regarded in equal measure by policymakers and government, and health should always be part of the equation. That s what the Blue Dot Tour is all about. Imagine for a moment living in a world where the people and places you love are protected, where preserving air, soil and water quality are among our highest priorities. And imagine if decision-makers at all levels of government could only get progressively better at protecting the environment, working toward a future that is healthier and more secure. Making this a reality: This isn t a dream. More than 110 countries around the world recognize their citizens right to live in a healthy environment half the nations on the planet. In these countries, people experience tangible benefits every day: stronger environmental laws, better enforcement of existing laws, faster adoption of citizens health protections, rapid decreases in pollution and toxins, economies more in balance with nature and an end to rollbacks of current laws all providing a more stable future for everyone. How can we achieve these outcomes in Canada? By having our right to live in a healthy environment recognized at every government level.

5 This is only the beginning Our plan builds on 20 years of people working to see the right to a healthy environment recognized. It is backed by 80 per cent of Canadians who want to see it in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Thousands of Canadians are taking action now. We re already bringing people together in towns and cities across Canada to pass municipal declarations recognizing the right to a healthy environment, and building a network of communities committed to ensuring local decisions are made with your well-being in mind. Next, we ll help cities come together to convince provincial leaders to pass environmental bills of rights legislation that can lead to better planning, sustainable development, health protection and green jobs. Finally, we ll bring together provinces that have taken action and show the entire country that recognizing environmental rights is possible and powerful. With enough people from coast to coast to coast speaking out, and cities and provinces showing the way, we can finally work toward an amendment to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that guarantees our right to live in a healthy environment. Extraordinary action Along with free speech, democracy and equality, Canada can become an environmental world leader. It will mean that no matter who or where you are rich or poor, urban or rural every Canadian can look forward to a healthier life and a more secure future. This is our plan: people coming together to change a community, communities coming together to change a province and provinces coming together to change a country. It s a long road, but together we can get there. Canada is a country where amazing things happen. It s a place where a small-town minister can build a universal health-care system and where five prairie women can join forces to change the lives of all women forever by guaranteeing their right to vote. We have a real plan for real action, and it starts today with Canadians standing up in their local communities. It s about ordinary people taking extraordinary action. Things are only IMPoSSIBLE until WE decide that they re not anymore. Today IS the day WE decide. david Suzuki

6 Fact Sheet Canada currently has no national safety regulations for drinking water or binding air-quality standards. Our own government has reported that half of Canada s population lives in areas with unsafe levels of air pollution. More than 20,000 Canadians die prematurely every year because of pollution and environmental degradation. Canada ranks 24th out of 25 wealthy industrialized nations on environmental performance. Around the world, more than 110 nations recognize their citizens right to live in a healthy environment, but not Canada. More than 80 per cent of countries where the right to a healthy environment is recognized have strengthened environmental laws and improved protections. Almost every Canadian believes that nature is essential to our survival, and 85 per cent of us agree that our Charter of Rights should include the right to live in a healthy environment. Pollution now costs Canada more than $100 billion per year.

7 The Blue Dot Tour is proudly supported by: For the past 10 years Ascenta has been shaped by a clear intent to create health for people and planet. It s time to take a stand and protect our Right to a Healthy Environment. Marc St. Onge, Founder & CEO of Ascenta Health The Nature s Path family wholeheartedly supports Canadians right to organic food and a healthy environment for the benefit of life on planet Earth our Blue Dot. - Arran Stephens, Co-CEO and Co-Founder Nature s Path I m standing up for the Right to a Healthy Environment because we owe it to our children and grandchildren. Think about it. If we don t take care of the environment, it won t take care of us. - Michael Budman, Co-Founder, Roots Canada I am standing up for the right to a healthy environment because it is key to securing the strong laws, policies and court decisions we need to give both us and our amazing natural bounty the protection we deserve. - Executive Director Devon Page The Blue Dot Tour SuPPLIErs: