There was a large audience this evening for the ‘Shout Out Against Mining Injustice’ public forum at the Maritime Labour Centre in Vancouver.
Montreal-based singer/ songwriter Mark Berube opened and closed the evening with his touching songs. There was also a very special video at the beginning of the program that featured an interview with Bernardo Vasquez Sanchez, the anti-mining activist who was murdered just ten weeks ago in San Jose del Progreso, Mexico.
Vancouver-area Mining Justice Alliance activist Sarita Galvez was the moderator. Rueben George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation welcomed people to the territory and offered a blessing.
The keynote speakers were:
– Maude Barlow, National Chairperson, Council of Canadians
– Chief Marilyn Baptiste, Chief, Xeni Gwet’in First Nation, Tsilhqot’in National Government
– Jesus Lara Chivarra, the Wirikuta Defense Front, Mexico
There were great speeches, as well as evident solidarity and deep emotion. It was a wonderful step forward for this campaign.
A video of the public forum will be posted to rabble.ca shortly.
Thank you to everyone who made this public forum possible. And now onto the Saturday plenary and workshop sessions!
More soon.
