Dear friends of climate action,
Yesterday I received the happy news of the birth of my second grandchild, who arrived on my birthday, making the day extra special. It’s a time of year that’s special for all of us as we share seasonal celebrations with family and friends. And for many of us, in the back of our minds, is the worry of what the future may hold for those who are young today. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report warns that without swift action within 12 years to reduce emissions 45% to stay under the 1.5 degree temperature rise - or living ecosystems may go into collapse. We are on a very tight timeline to turn things around but the good news is that we know what we need to do! UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres tells us we must ‘put on the brakes’ by 2020. We cannot continue to burn fossil fuels for energy and maintain the habitat that we need for a healthy future climate.
The bad news: Corporate and government inaction is failing us. COP 24 recently closed in Poland with results far too modest for the crisis we face. You can read Climate Action Network Executive Director Catherine Abreu’s report here. In Ontario and the US elected leaders are taking us in the exact wrong direction. We cannot rely on them for a safe climate future.
The good news? Citizen action that holds the hope of success in making the transition to a sustainable energy future. It’s up to us.
That’s why your choice to be active in climate transformation is so important!
We are not asking for money. What we need is your time. We’ve got a great team and we’re making progress! With your help we could do so much more. Even if you can join us for just an hour or two per week there’s lots to do that will match your time, interests and skills.
Read on for our upcoming meetings and scroll down for solidarity actions, petitions and events.
Thank you for all you are doing - and all we can do together in 2019!
Lyn Adamson
Co-Chair, ClimateFast
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UPCOMING DATES:
Wednesday January 2nd - 6:30 pm, Friends House, 60 Lowther Avenue. Join us to plan our response to the Conservative government’s anti-climate plan. We have a small group working on a Peoples Climate Plan. Help us launch it in early January ahead of the comment period deadlineJanuary 26th. RSVP lyn@climatefast.ca.
Saturday January 5th 3 - 6 pm at 60 Lowther Avenue, attend our all ages family-friendly event to learn about the next #FridaysforFuture student climate strike at Queen’s Park planned for January 11th, then stay for apotluck dinner at 6 pm and a screening of Anote’s Ark at 6:45.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/training-workshop-for-climate-action-ticke…
We will have free training in:
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Lobbying (practice in meeting with your MPPs and your councilors)
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letter writing
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talking to the media
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public speaking for young people
Help us plan:
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pop up Fridays for Future events
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make art!
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Stay for a potluck supper at 6 pm - and movie after!
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We are planning to screen Anote’s Ark at 6:45 pm.
The school climatestrike movement is inspired by Greta Thunberg whose initiative has now spread around the world. Greta spoke very frankly to the world leaders at COP 24: (3.5 minutes) More links for interviews with Greta in the resource section. She is amazing!
Thanks to Betty Muir for a video of our first climate strike - Fridaysforfuture - event on December 7th. And see photo below from our December 8thorganizing meeting. Thank you to everyone for coming and contributing to developing our campaigns. We are making a difference!
And there’s more to do!
Community Futures - Sustainable Neighbourhoods in Scarborough and Etobicoke & beyond! Thursday January 3rd, 6:30 pm Friends House, 60 Lowther Avenue
With generous support from the Atmospheric Fund we’re working with Toronto Green Community and Green Neighbours Network on community sustainability initiatives in Scarborough and Etobicoke, and we are planning to expand this initiative to other communities in Ontario. Learn more at our upcoming meeting RSVP: lyn@climatefast.ca
Municipal Lobbying Campaign
Wednesday January 9th or Thursday January 10th, Mark your calendar for lobbying training in Scarborough one essential step to get our new city council on board for climate action. Details and RSVP lyn@climatefast.ca. To help with organizing meetings in North York and Etobicoke please email volunteer@climatefast.ca.
Help build the climate movement! Volunteer for ClimateFast! We need volunteer for data entry, petitioning, writing letters to the editor, meeting with politicians, promotion, media, outreach and events. volunteer@climatefast.ca
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RESOURCES! EVENTS! AND PETITIONS!
CALL FOR SUPPORT OF WET’SUWET’EN PEOPLE AT UNIST’OT’EN CAMP IN BC
Front line land defenders need support! Coastal Gas Pipeline was granted an injunction against indigenous-led camps meaning they are are under immediate threat. This link has more information. Please donate if you can.
TALKING ABOUT CLIMATE
It’s the holidays this week! An opportunity to talk with family members about a topic that we generally avoid - even when it is very much on our minds. Here’s are some tips for starting that conversation.
ANTHROPOCENE FILM: December 27th, 2pm, Jackman Hall
ANTHROPOCENE EXHIBIT AT THE AGO - on until JANUARY 6TH!
LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN: EAST COAST OIL AND GAS DRILLING
Despite the IPCC’s urgent deadline, Canada is still granting new oil and gas leases off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Other countries have stopped new oil and gas exploration, and Canada needs to, too. Sierra Club Canada Foundation is organizing letter-writing campaigns for Nova Scotia here, and Newfoundland here.
CARBON CONVERSATIONS:
Overwhelmed and stuck on climate change? Carbon Conversations TO is a new group in Toronto which motivates and empowers people to share their concerns about climate change and gain the tools to reduce their carbon footprint. They will be hosting a six week series starting Wednesday February 13th. To experience what they are all about join an interactive information session on Wednesday, January 16th from 5:30pm - 6:30pm. You can register for the free for the one time session here.
POWERSHIFT: YOUNG AND RISING! It's a convergence of hundreds of young people happening in Ottawa from Feb 14-18. This is an amazing conference where young people come together, to learn, do, interactive and meet some amazing people from across the country. Register now!
Website: powershift-youngandrising.ca, and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY MIX!
The Energy Mix - 3 times weekly reporting on Canadian and international climate and energy news. Free to subscribe. Some recent links: school strikes from Canada to Australia; inspiring actions by Extinction Rebellion here and here. The Energy Mix yearbook covers many topics including this snapshot of the fossil fuel industry.
LINKS TO GRETA THUNBERG - INTERVIEWS AND ARTICLE
TED TALK - 11 minutes: Article:
In depth interview on Democracy Now with Greta and her father.
“If the world is to be healed through human efforts, it will be by ordinary people, people whose love for this life is even greater than their fear.” ― Joanna Macy