The DSOV’s Economic Justice Working Group is collaborating with other individuals and groups to take action later this month to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the 2021 Heat Dome, which was the worst weather-related disaster in Canadian history.
When: Sunday, June 25 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery, South Plaza (off Robson)
This action is intended to kick off a week of action and to amplify a series of demands on governments to take action for climate justice and to avoid hundreds and thousands of more preventable deaths in future heat waves.
The three specific demands are:
Immediately fund and/or distribute portable air conditioners as needed to low-income people to prevent further deaths due to heat during the summer months.
Revise the Residential Tenancy Act to set maximum indoor temperatures at 23C and ensure stop to any interference from landlords to installation of air conditioning.
Fund and facilitate opening of properly equipped and accessible 24-hour Cooling Centres in all neighbourhoods, accessible by free public transit during extreme heat, pet accessible and equipped for people to stay overnight, with food provided.
We will also be asking for people to write to their local MLAs and other representatives to demand action to prevent future heat-related deaths. These three demands are the bare minimum that must be done - and we believe these are winnable demands. In Washington State, for instance, governments have plans to deliver 23,000 air conditioning units to at-risk residents. DSOV’s Economic Justice Working Group is working with others to create additional materials to explain additional demands and how they can be implemented.
We need volunteers to help us install a temporary memorial Sunday, June 25th at the Plaza, on the south side of the Vancouver Art Gallery downtown. Can you help us commemorate the Heat Dome deaths and make a big impact on policy demands now? Sign-up here and Jen will be in touch with details about June 25th.