TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2012 /CNW/ - CAW members from across the country are trekking to Ottawa today to join over 1000 young Canadians at Power Shift 2012, a four-day national youth-led education and training conference designed to empower young people to tackle the climate crisis and help build just and sustainable communities.
CAW President Ken Lewenza said he's encouraged by the enthusiasm of young people organizing Power Shift 2012 and that this conference comes at a critical time.
"It's a breath of fresh air to know that a thousand young leaders have the will and determination to take action on climate change and social justice issues," Lewenza said. "Democracy may be under attack in Canada but our young people constantly remind us that it's not dead."
Nearly two dozen CAW members will be in attendance, representing a diverse range of CAW workplaces including auto plants, supermarkets, hotels, aerospace facilities, mining operations and others.
The conference will kick off this evening at the Museum of Civilization, in Gatineau, Quebec (starting at 7pm). Conference workshops will be held over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) at the University of Ottawa. Power Shift 2012 culminates in a Halloween-themed demonstration on Monday, starting at 11:30am.
Power Shift 2012, along with the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, have launched a campaign to end the payout of $1.4 billion in federal subsidies to the oil and gas sector and redirect those funds to creating new, green jobs for young Canadians. Power Shift participants will bring that campaign demand to Parliament Hill on Monday.
CAW is a supporter of Power Shift 2012. The union is also a founding member of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition (founded in 2006).
SOURCE: Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW)
Angelo DiCaro, CAW Communications, 416-606-6311
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