350.org's Bill McKibben remembers schoolmate Stephen Harper

Flashback: 1970. Fate sent the lives of one-day environmentalist Bill McKibben and future Prime Minister Stephen Harper in totally opposite directions.

Harper, then in Grade 5, was only one year ahead at Northlea Elementary and Middle School, Toronto (he graduated in 1978), when McKibben's family moved back to the U.S., he told 800 attendees at a Vancouver fundraiser last night.

“I think of that period,” he said, pensively, “remembering what a Canadian I thought I was.”

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Earlier this year, the Prime Minister's Office branded U.S. environmental activists “foreign radicals,” because of their opposition to the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and the Alberta oil sands.

“(With) your government talking about 'foreign radicals,'” he quipped, “I think who they were talking about, pretty much, was me.”

The renowned environmentalist – founder of the climate justice group 350.org and author of The End of Nature (credited, in 1989, as the first non-academic book on climate change) – made his comments at a packed gala supper hosted by the Canadian Centre for Policy Altervatives (CCPA) last night.

“We are not the radicals,” McKibben told 800 attendees. “We are just trying to have a planet and a democracy like the one we were born into.”

“The radicals are at Enbridge, Kinder Morgan and Exxon. 'Radical' is defined by the fact that they're willing to alter the chemical composition of the atmosphere. A country (that) talks about foreign radicals and extremists – that's the opposite of a country that's confident and part of the world.”

McKibben's organization, 350.org, is named for the maximum carbon dioxide levels the atmosphere can tolerate, according to scientists. Today, the actual level is 392 parts per million. The point, he said, is that humans have no time to lose before irreparably damaging the planet.

“It's the largest challenge we have ever faced,” he said, “and so far we're not doing a good job of meeting it.

“It will be the hardest thing we've ever done – those with money and power will defend it with everything.”

But the CCPA's keynote speaker at the event also shared images from 350.org protests around the world, including a joint event in which Palestinians, Israelis and Jordanians spelled an enormous number “3-5-0” on three sides of their borders.

“I don't know if it'll come out okay, but all over the world, people are engaged in this fight, many in places that have done nothing to cause this problem,” he said. “It'll be an enormous honour to stand shoulder to shoulder with you in the years ahead.”

The 16th annual CCPA supper, held at the Fraserview Hall in south Vancouver, raised funds for the leftwing think-tank, which produces research reports and campaigns on ending economic inequality, poverty and the environmental crisis, and also coordinates youth activist training through its “Next Up” program.

McKibben – promoting his most recent book, Eaarth – was introduced by well-known journalist Naomi Klein (Shock Doctrine), and welcomed by the Tsleil-Waututh Nation's sundance chief, Rueben George, the grandson of renowned Chief Dan George.

The event attracted 800 supporters of the CCPA, who packed into the hall for a curry supper. Here are photos from the evening:

Bill McKibben, Naomi Klein and CCPA-BC director Seth Klein (Naomi's brother). Photo by David P. Ball

Former CBC television host, former Al Jazeera English editor (and Naomi Klein's partner) Avi Lewis. Photo by David P. Ball

Vancouver comedian Charlie Demers entertained the crowd as the event's MC. Photo by David P. Ball

Actor Tantoo Cardinal (right) joined other anti-tar sands activists at the head table. Photo by David P. Ball

Lawyer and BC Civil Liberties Association executive director David Eby. Photo by David P. Ball

Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) internal chairperson Serena Talbot. Photo by David P. Ball

Former Missing Women Inquiry lawyer Robyn Gervais (left) with Tsleil-Waututh sundance chief Rueben George. Photo by David P. Ball

Vancity Board member Lisa Barrett (left) with CCPA board member, Next Up participant and Wilderness Committee staffer Tria Donaldson. Photo by David P. Ball

The BC Government Employees Union (BCGEU) vice president Paul Finch (left), treasurer Stephanie Smith, and vice president Brenda Brown. Photo by David P. Ball

Media professor, author and VO contributor Donald Gutstein. Photo by David P. Ball

Riya Talwar (left) and Angela Ho, members of Youth for Climate Justice Now, with McKibben. Photo by David P. Ball