Statement of Solidarity with Anti-Racism
ClimateFast stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and all those fighting against systemic racism and police brutality in North America and around the world. We understand that there can be no climate justice without racial justice.
Leaders of the anti-racism movement are asking us to think about what a truly Just Recovery would look like. We know that the Covid-19 crisis, like the climate crisis, disproportionately impacts racialized and Indigenous peoples. We know that racialized and Indigenous peoples suffer disproportionately from poverty. The reasons for this must be recognized and addressed. In order to achieve a Just Recovery for all, we must commit ourselves to the work of dismantling white supremacy – in ourselves, in our organization, and in our society.
Action Links
Support Black Lives Matter Toronto and other organizations that serve Black people in your community
Listen to Pam Palmater’s Podcast with Desmond Cole on Anti-Black Racism in Canada & US
Read this critical op-ed by Sandy Hudson on why "Defunding the police will save Black and Indigenous lives in Canada"
Learn more about how you can join Just Recovery teach-ins to begin having this conversation in your communities.
ClimateFast - Toronto Office of Recovery and Rebuild Online Consultation
On June 24th, 2020, ClimateFast hosted a live, online consultation with Megan MacLean and Tamara Grossutti from TransformTO and Sarah Gingrich and Stewart Dutfield of the Toronto Office of Recovery and Rebuild.
If you missed the online consultation, you can watch the entire recorded event here - Staff Presentations start about 14 minutes into the video.
CITY OF TORONTO - OFFICE OF RECOVERY AND REBUILD (TORR) SURVEY!
The TORR Survey Deadline has been extended until July 15th! - So, if you haven't filled in the survey or would like to share with others, please take a few moments and do so!
https://bit.ly/3iaFtp
If you'd like to send a letter with your thoughts and concerns, send to: RecoveryRebuild@toronto.ca ! Please send ASAP, this week is best!
A big thank you to our presenters Megan MacLean and Tamara Grossutti of TransformTO and Sarah Gingrich and Stewart Dutfield of the Toronto Office of Recovery and Rebuld.
You are welcome to contact these staff with follow-up inquiries or to cc them on your letter to the RecoveryRebuild email address:
stewart.dutfield@toronto.ca
sarah.gingrich@toronto.ca
megan.maclean@toronto.ca
tamara.grossutti@toronto.ca
We can’t go back to business-as-usual after the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why we’re building a movement for a #JustRecoveryforAll that puts people first. Read more about the 6 Principles for a Just Reovery for All here: https://justrecoveryforall.ca/
United Nations 2020 World Environment Day: Time for Nature, Biodiversity in the City
ClimateFast Webcast on Friday, June 5th
Speakers will share Indigenous knowledge, gardening, urban agriculture, trees, protecting our green spaces for a post-COVID world.
Stream the recorded webcast on YouTube here!
Click here to find full bios for the ClimateFast UN 2020 World Environment Day Webcast: Time for Nature, Biodiversity in the City
"UN World Environment Day is this Friday, June 5th. It is a day of observance, meant to promote environmental awareness and strengthen our commitment to taking environmental action. It was first observed in 1974 and has since been celebrated annually with a different theme each year. The theme for 2020 is biodiversity. WIth the ability to "[engage] governments, businesses, celebrities and citizens to focus their efforts on a pressing environmental issue" (United Nations Environment Programme, 2019), it is an important day for progress. It allows for goal-making and education, as well as reflecting on how we interact with our environment. More information on World Environment Day can be found at https://www.un.org/en/observances/environment-day.
ClimateFast is celebrating by broadcasting a live webcast on YouTube from 7-8:30 PM EDT. It will be hosted by Allie Rougeot and Aminah Attar, who volunteer with Fridays for Future Toronto. The family-friendly webcast will feature videos, performances, and speakers who will discuss biodiversity within the city of Toronto, including urban agriculture, waterways and our green spaces. Viewers will also get the chance to ask the speakers questions near the end of the webcast. Observing World Environment Day this year is especially valuable given our current situation, as getting out of the house to explore nature and our unique ecosystems will help us enjoy our environment and provide a safe distraction from COVID-19." - Faria Raisa Amin
Speakers will present on urban agriculture, waterways, our green spaces and local biodiversity. Family-friendly! First 30 minutes will include songs and stories suitable for ages 8 and up.
MCs: Allie Rougeot and Aminah Attar, Fridays for Future Toronto
Presenters include:
CAROLYNNE CRAWLEY, Mi'kmaw woman, Nature & Forestry Therapist, Holistic Nutritionist
SUNDAY HARRISON, founder and Executive Director of Green Thumbs Growing Kids
MADELEINE MCDOWELL, Lambton House director, walking tour guide, Humber River champion
AMBIKA TENNETI, Rivers Rising project of Toronto Green Community
KRYSTYN TULLY, Vice President and co-founder of Swim Drink Fish Canada
CHEYENNE SUNDANCE, Urban farmer, Sundance Harvest, youth mentor, founder of Liberate Lawns
LORRAINE JOHNSON, Organic gardener, author, food activist
COLIN LOVE, Community Learning Team, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority/The Meadoway
MUSICIANS - CASSIE NORTON AND NEO GIVORD-SERRANO
POET - DOMINIQUE RUSSELL
African Climate Action Initiative Launch
Stream the recorded live event on YouTube here!
Earth Day 2020: Towards a Green and Healthy Recovery
View Our Recorded Earth Day 2020 Webcast at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Read about the Event on Toronto 350's Blog:
"Inspiration from EarthDay 2020 Webcast, Toward a Green and Healthy Recovery" by Colleen Lynch
You can find bios for the Earth Day 2020 speakers and action links here:
https://climatefast.ca/earth-
Kitchen Table Climate Conversations
Following the federal election, there continues to be Kitchen Table Climate Conversations that will allow people all across Ontario to speak with friends and neighbours about the climate crisis... Click here for Tooklit
Toronto Climate Film Festival (TCFF)
Toronto Climate Film Festival is showing a number of environmental films Learn more
Municipal Climate Action - CarbonFreeTO
In 2018, Council voted unanimously to support TransformTO... Learn more
Provincial Climate action Peoples' Climate Plan for Ontario
We need a REAL peoples climate plan for Ontario to respond to the climate crisis... Learn more
VOCAL
Climatefast launched its new campaign VOCAL - Voices of Ontarians for Climate Accountability and Leadership and one its first actions is to fight Bill 4, the repeal of Cap and Trade, which jeopardizes TransformTO... Learn more