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@byebyeplasticbags by MELATI & ISABEL WIJSEN

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Melati and Isabel Wijsen, two Indonesian sisters, work towards building a plastic-free planet. Inspired by leaders like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, they did a hunger strike at the ages of 10 and 12 to get the government to ban single-use plastic in Bali.

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In 2014, the David Suzuki Foundation launched the Blue Dot Movement. The goal: enshrine the right to a healthy environment – the right to clean air and water – in Canadian law through online awareness raising. Take a pledge: https://davidsuzuki.org/action/be-part-of-the-millions-acting-together-for-climate-nature-and-community/

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What can we help you find?

A human-rights based approach to environmental law is necessary to protect our communities and nature. The Blue Dot Movement catapulted this idea into Canada's consciousness

Protecting the people and places we love

It all started with a tour

In 2014, the David Suzuki Foundation launched the Blue Dot Movement. The goal: enshrine the right to a healthy environment - the right to clean air and water - in Canadian law. Specifically, the goal was for Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to recognize everyone in Canada's right to live in a healthy environment.

We kicked things off with a momentum-building, awareness-raising, cross-country tour featuring David Suzuki and a variety of other prominent Canadian thought leaders and artists. The inspirational tour mobilized communities and volunteers to take action from coast to coast to coast.

A movement was born

Over the next seven years, thousands of volunteers:

Organized themselves into teams

Held skills-building trainings

Organized events

Canvassed communities

Participated in National Days of Action

Met with decision makers

Creatively campaigned on social media

And much, much more...

Their dedication inspired others, brought people together and mainstreamed the idea that our laws should protect vulnerable communities and ensure that everyone has access to clean air, fresh water and a safe and healthy environment.

At the end of the day, together, we made some incredible progress:

176 municipalities across Canada adopted declarations recognizing their citizens' right to a healthy environment

Following the October 2019 federal election, 107 of the 338 MP's (31%!) signed our public pledge in support of environmental rights.

Blue Dot volunteers initiated two popular House of Commons petitions to strengthen the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (Canada's main environmental law, which we hope someday will include the right to a healthy environment).

Blue Dot's advocacy was instrumental in getting Bill S-5, an Act to Amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, passed by Parliament. This act recognizes Canadians' right to live in healthy environment.

Blue Dot also champions Bill S-226 - An Act respecting the development of a national strategy to assess, prevent and address environmental racism and to advance environmental justice.

It's a terrific day when Canada recognizes the right to a healthy environment and will be an even better day when governments respect, protect and fulfill everyone's right to a healthy environment! The passage of S-5 puts Canada on path at last.

David Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and environment and Blue Dot movement spokesperson

What's next for environmental rights in Canada

This multi-year campaign for environmental rights has seeded a groundwork of grassroots organizing groups across Canada, and has helped inspire the creation of the Foundation's Future Ground Network. Although it has not yet been determined if Section 7 of our Charter of Rights will include our right to live in a healthy environment, Blue Dot has helped shift how many in Canada approach protecting the environment with a human rights-based lens.

As we adapt our work to the ever-evolving needs of our planet and communities, the Blue Dot chapter comes to a close. But the David Suzuki Foundation remains committed to taking a rights-based approach to all its campaign work - as social and environmental justice are inextricably tied. Solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises must be grounded in equity, respect and fulfillment of human rights, and access to justice.

In 2014, when the Blue Dot tour called on their audiences to champion environmental rights, we were only 10 and seven years old. Blue Dot gave us the tools and opportunity to make real change.

Franny Ladell and Rupert Yakelashek

Franny Ladell and Rupert Yakelashek youth advocates who received international recognition for their Environmental Rights work. Photo: David Ellingsen

In Indigenous philosophy we think seven generations behind and seven generations ahead. We need stronger environmental laws to protect the next seven generations.

Shaune Rice

My journey to the MP's office began with my passion for the environment, which comes from my commitment to living lightly on the planet. I love nature, and so does my grandson, and I want to protect the earth that sustains us.

Lynn Daoust

The groundswell of support for Blue Dot has been amazing. I remain in awe of the passion with which Canadians have embraced the environmental rights movement. Our Blue Dot community has grown from eight to thousands upon thousands of dedicated supporters working together.

Ellen Neimer

The Blue Dot movement helped us expand our focus from protecting water sources to advocacy for environmental rights before all levels of government, green house gas emissions reduction and preservation of our natural heritage. Our team has grown and flourished, allowing us to make positive change in our community.

Faye McFarlane

Photo: Peg McCarthy

Stories

People power achieves right to a healthy environment in Canada

The David Suzuki Foundation's Blue Dot Movement was launched to enact the right to a healthy environment into Canadian law.

Future Ground Network

Future Ground Network is a hub for groups of people like you taking action in their communities to secure healthier, more viable futures in the areas of climate justice, biodiversity, waste reduction.

Learn more

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A human-rights based approach to environmental law is necessary to protect our communities and nature. The Blue Dot Movement catapulted this idea into Canada's consciousness.

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Intersectional Environmentalist all about shifting the narrative of environmental storytelling to center diversity and joy, by connecting people to movements in their local communities and using their social media platforms to share resources and take action against climate change.

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‘Intersectional Environmentalist’ Platform Launches to Dismantle Racism in the Climate Movement

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Intersectional Environmentalist is a new platform that addresses the link between climate and racial justice — we interviewed founder Leah Thomas to learn more.

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Isaias Hernandez started his organization "Queer Brown Vegan" with a mission to provide young people with free educational resources on climate change

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Isaias is an environmental educator with a focus on “(un/re)learning” environmental justice and sustainability. His insightful content deftly navigates prevailing discourse around the climate crisis, including climate doom and eco anxiety.

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Isaias Hernandez started his organization "Queer Brown Vegan" with a mission to provide young people with free educational resources on climate change | As a student at UC Berkeley, Isaias Hernandez realised that education around climate change is highly inaccessible and so Isaias started Queer Brown... | By In The Know | Facebook

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As a student at UC Berkeley, Isaias Hernandez realised that education around climate change is highly inaccessible and so Isaias started Queer Brown...

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Standing Rock Reservation, Central Corson, SD, USA

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The song “Black Snakes” by A Tribe called Red and Prolific the Rappers is sending a message about the Dakota Access pipeline and how we need to stand up to protect the water between North Dakota to Patoka, Illinois. The music shreds light on the both the environmental and social injustices caused by companies trying to make a pipeline to collect oil.

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Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL (Official Video)

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Three-month Greenpeace campaign supported by LEGO fans and Arctic defenders to end Shell's strategy to partner with beloved brands to clean up their image as an Arctic oil driller. The movement led LEGO to end their partnership with Shell.

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Help Us Plant 24 Million Trees - Join #TeamTrees

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The official site of #TeamTrees. One dollar plants a tree...

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How it Works

#TeamSeas will be one of the biggest, baddest, most-impactful cleanup projects of all time-and here's how we're doing it. Scroll on to see our cutting-edge river Interceptors, info on locally-organized cleanups, ghost-gear removal efforts and professional expeditions to areas where we can have the greatest conservation impact!

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Help us remove 30 million pounds of trash by January 1st, 2022 - Join #TeamSeas

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One dollar is one less pound of trash in the ocean.