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Climate change sit-in staged at MP’s office – Metro US

Climate change sit-in staged at MP’s office

Only nine petty trespassing fines were handed out to the group of about 16 protesters who staged a peaceful sit-in at Labour Minister Rona Ambrose’s Edmonton constituency office on 170 Street yesterday.

The group of concerned citizens, armed with sleeping bags and megaphones, set up inside and outside the office, demanding action from the federal government against climate change. “We are here to stand up and say it is time to take some action,” said protester?Keely Kidner.

With the UN Climate Change Conference set to begin Dec. 7 in Copenhagen, the group has contacted?MPs and held rallies, flash mobs, and phone-ins in an attempt to stir change.

A similar event took place in Calgary on Monday, which saw protesters occupy Environment Minister Jim Prentice’s office.

Ambrose did speak briefly to the group via telephone from Ottawa, but it was not the response the group was looking for.

“She was not able to give us a very favourable response so we are still here,” said Kidner.

Although the sit-in ended peacefully after seven hours and some police negotiations, the protesters remain enraged. “We have been partying on fossil fuels for the last 60 years and now we trashed the house and we are about to … let the kids clean it up,” said protester Martin Tweedale.