As a long-time ecologist Steven Guilbeault knows we can’t overcome the climate crisis without just and equitable rules that apply to everyone no matter where they live on the planet. As a former Greenpeace spokesperson he knows militarism is extremely ecologically damaging. As a father, Guilbeault knows that killing 15,000 Palestinian children cannot be justified.
Still, Canada’s environment minister has supported one of the most horrific military onslaughts in recent memory. In fact, Guilbeault is in the cabinet of a government that has enabled Israel’s holocaust in Gaza.
The only public statement Guilbeault seems to have made regarding the conflict came soon after Hamas’ October 7 assault. On X he posted, “Canada condemns the violent terrorist attacks on Israel. Full stop.” It linked to a message from the prime minister noting, “Canada strongly condemns the current terrorist attacks against Israel. These acts of violence are completely unacceptable. We stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself.”
As Israel has “defended itself” by killing 40,000, Guilbeault has stayed mum. An individual who said I “came into politics so I could continue to be an activist” has ignored the many thousands who have marched in his riding over the past seven months. He has ignored a Laurier—Sainte-Marie Palestine solidarity group’s repeated appeals to support a long-term ceasefire and two-way arms embargo. Activists have also asked Guilbeault to raise his voice against Israel’s siege of Gaza and Canada’s complicity in Israel’s occupation, organizing multiple protests and town halls focused on the environment minister’s complicity in genocide. But he’s failed to even meet with organizers.
If the killing of over 15,000 Palestinian children isn’t enough to move Guilbeault, perhaps the ecologist could at least denounce the environmental devastation wrought by Israel’s war machine?
The Israeli military has launched tens of thousands of polluting missiles and bombs into Gaza. In so doing it has destroyed nearly half of Gaza’s agricultural land and tree crop. It’s also poisoned its air and water. Most of the coastal strip’s water is undrinkable. The scope of Israel’s ecological destruction of Gaza has unleashed a push to make “ecocide” the fifth category of crime that can be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court.
Israel’s bid to make Gaza unlivable has also exacerbated the climate crisis. According to research reported by the Guardian, the first two months of Israel’s bombing were responsible for more greenhouse gases (GHGs) than the annual carbon footprint of the 20 most climate vulnerable countries. At least 281,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide was emitted by Israel’s fighter bombers, tanks and US cargo planes replenishing Israeli arms. On top of direct GHGs, it is estimated that rebuilding all the destroyed structures in Gaza — with modern technology — will generate at least 30m metric tonnes of warming gases, which is equal to New Zealand’s annual CO2 emissions.
Over the past six weeks I have questioned Guilbeault twice on Israel’s slaughter and ecological destruction in Gaza. When I asked my MP about his failure to heed community groups repeated requests to back an arms embargo he remained stone faced while his staff tried to block my camera. Similarly, when I asked the environment minister if Israel was committing “ecocide” in Gaza he scuttled away and the police removed me from the venue.
In contrast to Guilbeault his main opponent in Laurier—Sainte-Marie during the last two elections, is part of the soon to depart Gaza Freedom Flotilla. NDP candidate Nima Machouf, who lost the 2021 election by a relatively small margin, is part of the Quebec delegation seeking to break Israel’s brutal 20 year siege of the coastal strip.
In the next federal election voters in Laurier—Sainte-Marie will have a genuine choice on Palestine. They will have an opportunity to oust a politician who claims to be a progressive “activist” but has been complicit in a holocaust in Gaza.
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