Greater Sudbury residents are making their climate change ideas known as talks about the global issue take place among 192 countries in Denmark this month.

There will be a public vigil Friday by a group of climate change activists on Paris Street at the Bridge of Nations, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“This is it. We have four years to start reversing what we have done to the atmospheric carbon levels,” science educator and vigil organizer Cathy Orlando said in a release. She added there will be vigils around the world in 110 countries, on Dec. 12, as part of a global effort to raise awareness about climate change.

David Noble, a Canadian climate change educator who spoke at Science North Nov. 24, said he has been hearing some negative remarks about Canada’s role in the carbon dioxide issue.

“I am hearing (from participants) we are considered the dirtiest country in the world (due to our tar sands projects),” he said during a phone interview from Copenhagen.

“I think all the good work (on the environment) we have done (as Canadians) is being eroded.”

Noble spoke to a packed house at Science North’s Vale Inco Cavern.

“There was incredible energy and expertise there. We had 10 to 12 groups set up displays and 450 school children and their teachers (were present). Sudbury has come a long way, in my opinion. This was my first visit here.”

For more information on the climate change vigils, visit www.avaaz.org/map. Cathy Orlando can be reached at 675-1151, ext. 2226 or www.lu-Itspp.ca, and David Noble at www.2degreesC.com.


Local climate change activists will return to the Paris Street bridge Friday at 4:30 p.m. to lobby the Canadian government to support a comprehensive international climate change agreement in Copenhagen, Denmark.