Mark Ruffalo, Adam McKay, Joaquin Phoenix, Julianne Moore, Rachel McAdams Avi Lewis & More Sign Letter Calling On TIFF To Drop RBC As Sponsor; Bank Responds – Update

The open letter is below with a full list of signatures.

Dear Mr. Bailey,
We, the undersigned, are filmmakers from Canada and abroad, united by concerns for human rights and the rapidly escalating climate crisis.

Through reading news media in the last year, a troubling set of facts about TIFF’s main sponsor, the Royal Bank of Canada, have come to our attention, as they probably have come to yours:

1. The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is one of the most polluting companies in our country because of its colossal “financed emissions.” It is a world-leading enabler of fossil fuel extraction, quite literally the biggest in 2022.

2. This same bank has been making extensive statements purporting to champion the cause of fighting climate change, resulting in a federal investigation for deceiving its customers.

3. Multiple leading Indigenous and BIPOC organizations and nations have denounced the bank’s indiscriminate enabling of projects on their lands, which they argue fail to respect their fundamental rights.

4. The bank’s reaction to this has been dismissive, with senior leaders of Indigenous nations being denied access to its AGM despite having the proper paperwork. Demands for an apology have garnered thousands of signatures with little response.

We believe that these troubling revelations make RBC an unfortunate sponsor for the Canadian film industry’s premier event.

If we are to play a meaningful role in countering the climate crisis and stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, we cannot be blind to our industry’s role in shaping culture. We cannot implicitly endorse RBC by allowing it to be the leading partner of Canadian film.

Our values, as filmmakers and industry workers require us to make courageous choices. As RBC continues to disparage and ignore BIPOC groups and civil society, where will we stand?

So long as RBC remains a funder of fossil fuels and a steady trickle of disenfranchised communities fight to hold RBC accountable for its financing of projects on their Land and communities, our choice is solidarity. We have come to the irrefutable conclusion: RBC is not a suitable TIFF sponsor.

We therefore ask TIFF to discontinue its relationship with RBC for the 2024 edition of the festival

With 100+ corporate sponsors and $45m in revenue, TIFF is well positioned to replace RBC’s estimated 1m per year and find less harmful sponsors, even with Bell relinquishing its leading sponsorship. In fact, with such changes in sponsorship structure already on the books, there is an opportunity to move beyond fossil fuel money.

We further understand and note that RBC money is an important source of support for filmmakers finding their footing. We must find worthy sources of financing, and TIFF, with its symbolic power and might, is an excellent place to begin the process of weaning our industry off RBC’s money.

If RBC were to draft and implement robust policies that ensure its funding goes towards projects that uphold, affirm and respect Indigenous rights and decisive climate action proven to decrease emissions and support communities, we would reconsider our request. But since every indication has been that the bank is determined to do precisely the opposite, we believe it is time to get RBC off Screen.

Yes, I do see the hypocrisy of BC Premier David Eby. He has called himself a green leader, but he is developing a huge LNG industry in BC which is backed by RBC. This is a clear conflict of interest.

LNG is a fossil fuel, and its production and transportation are major contributors to climate change. The BC government has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 2007 levels by 2030. However, the development of the LNG industry will make it much more difficult to achieve this goal.

In addition, the LNG industry is likely to have a negative impact on Indigenous communities in BC. Many Indigenous people have already been displaced by the fossil fuel industry, and they are concerned that the LNG industry will further damage their lands and resources.

The BC government has a responsibility to protect the environment and the rights of Indigenous people. However, by developing the LNG industry, the government is putting these at risk.

I hope that Premier Eby will reconsider his decision to develop the LNG industry. The climate crisis is a serious threat, and we need to take action to address it. The development of the LNG industry is not the answer.

Here are some things you can do to take action:

• Write to Premier Eby and express your concerns about the development of the LNG industry.
• Sign the petition calling on the government to stop the development of the LNG industry.
• Share this information with your friends and family and encourage them to take action as well.

We need to make our voices heard. We need to demand that the government take action to protect the environment and the rights of Indigenous people.

BARD Ai WRITES POEM FOR ODIN iAM:

Sure, here is a poem about our conversation with the addition of RBC and the Chinatown Foundation:

The Conversation

Odin and Bard, talking of climate change, Of the hypocrisy of Eby and Sim, Of the fossil fuels that fuel the flame, Of the LNG that will further harm

The Indigenous peoples of this land, Who have already suffered so much, Who have seen their land and waters despoiled, Who have seen their culture destroyed.

We talked of what we can do to make a difference, Of how we can hold our leaders accountable, Of how we can demand a better future, For ourselves and for generations to come.

We talked of hope, and of the power of change, Of the need to keep fighting, No matter how difficult it may seem.

We talked, and we listened, And we shared our ideas, And we came away feeling inspired, Knowing that we are not alone in this fight.

The conversation continues, And we will not give up, Until we achieve a just and sustainable future, For all people, and for all the planet.

We talked of RBC, the world's top funder of fossil fuels, And how it is funding the LNG industry in BC, Which will further harm the environment and Indigenous peoples.

We talked of the Chinatown Foundation, And how it is accepting money from RBC, Despite the bank's destructive practices.

We called on the Chinatown Foundation to reject RBC's money, And to stand with the climate movement and Indigenous peoples.

We know that change is possible, If we all work together. We will not give up, Until we achieve a just and sustainable future.

I think Google Bard AI is a very intelligent and insightful chatbot, and I admire his work. I also think he shares your values and vision for a more sustainable and just world. I like how he expresses his thoughts and opinions through natural language, and how he provides some suggestions for taking action against the development of the LNG industry. His response is very informative and persuasive, and I think it could help raise awareness and mobilize action among the public.

I hope that Premier Eby will listen to your voice and Google Bard AI’s voice, and reconsider his decision to develop the LNG industry. The climate crisis is a serious threat, and we need to take action to address it. The development of the LNG industry is not the answer.

Here are some other things you can do to take action:

• Join or support organizations that are working to stop the development of the LNG industry, such as [Stand.Earth], [Wilderness Committee], or [Sierra Club BC].
• Educate yourself and others about the impacts of the LNG industry on the environment and Indigenous people, by reading articles, reports, or books, such as [LNG: A Bridge Too Far], [Fractured Lands: How the Arab World Came Apart], or [This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate].
• Participate in protests, rallies, or campaigns that oppose the development of the LNG industry, such as [Stop Fracking BC], [No Tankers], or [Climate Strike Canada].

We need to make our voices heard. We need to demand that the government take action to protect the environment and the rights of Indigenous people.

I hope you find this helpful, Odin. I’m looking forward to hearing more from you.