By: Scott Carlson
The Peel Youth Alliance (PYA), an environmental group organized by Yukon youth, claimed a victory yesterday after helping to convince the Yukon Government to extend a ban on mineral claim staking in the Peel Watershed area–and they chose a very unique way to celebrate!
The PYA had been circulating the petition to extend the ban, and had signatures from over 5000 Canadians, including over 550 Yukoners.
The youth responded to the decision yesterday by pounding over sixty home-made stakes into Yukon Legislature property. Each stake had the names of several Yukoners who had signed the petition, to symbolize victory, and to thank the Yukon Government –check out the photo below:
BYTE is excited about the innovative, attention grabbing methods these Yukon Youth are using to make themselves heard. The Peel Youth Alliance has made headlines several times over the last year with their bold and creative approach. For example, last May the PYA organizers wanted to  wanted to show their view that the governing Yukon Party is spending too much time listening to mining corporations, instead of listening to ordinary Yukoners. So, they showed up at a Government building wearing suits totally covered with corporate logos:
The Alliance called the clothes “Yukon Party Wear”, and claimed they had special properties, like a “streamlined coating” that “reduces drag from environmental regulations.” They’re also definitely eye-catching! See the Yukon News article on it here:Â http://www.yukon-news.com/news/28444/
The Peel Youth Alliance may be celebrating a victory now, but the energetic group of youth is far from finished: they want the government to commit to protecting 80% of the Peel Watershed, as per the recommendations of the Peel Land Use Planning Commission’s Final Report.
The Yukon Government has decided to reject the Final Report, and to pursue its own land use planning process instead. It will be holding public consultations for feedback on the plan over the next year.
The Peel Youth Alliance plans to be ready for this next step, and to continue rolling out exciting, eye-catching campaigns. In the words of Peel Youth Alliance member Malcolm Boothroyd:
“Now youth are going to focus on making sure that the Yukon Government accepts the Peel Watershed Commission’s final plan. We don’t know when the final consultations will be, but what we do know is when the consultations start there will be a strong youth voice demanding that the Peel Watershed be protected.â€
If you want to find out more, check out the Peel Youth Alliance’s blog at http://peelyouthalliance.blogspot.ca/, or find them on Facebook.