CLIMATEFAST E-NEWSLETTER – Climate plans go virtual!
Dear friends,
Ontario’s Premier has just declared a state of emergency – on COVID-19 .
We are seeing a huge response to an immediate viral threat to our health . It shows that we can respond, as a community, to a life and death threat. It’s very important that we all keep the recommended ‘social distance ’ - and for that reason climate events and meetings are all being moved on line . Please see changes in listings of events below.
We also know that we are in the middle of a life and death climate emergency. And the time to act is now. We need to build on this new understanding of what we can do when faced with emergency – that we can pull together and make huge changes when needed
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NEWS FROM DAYS ON THE HILL - FOR A GREEN NEW DEAL FOR CANADA
ClimateFast members participated in the Climate Action Network lobby days on the Hill
just before the Parliament was closed for a five-week period.
We were there to support a Green New Deal for Canada.
We met with dozens of MPs and attended a reception in honour of Peter Julian’s M1 Motion for a Green New Deal. We learned about two more bills soon to come before Parliament in response to the Climate Emergency motion passed last fall in the House.
We know that climate is an emergency too.
And the response we are seeing to COVID-19 gives me hope that we will also be able to transform our future in response to this emergency. It's critically important that Canada submit a new climate target very soon. COP 26 will focus on increasing climate ambition.
We need to set our goal at 60% below 2005 levels by 2030.
More on this campaign for a new target soon.
Lobby meeting with MP Leah Gazan and (in photo above) MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq. Gazan has tabled Bill C-232 - the Climate Emergency Action Act.
Climate Action Network meets with MP Elizabeth May on climate targets.
Here’s our crew of ClimateFast members at the reception, and a photo of the many MPs – from all parties – and Senators – who attended the reception. We are building support for the changes we need, and we will send news soon of more steps to come.
And let’s take action on ways we can turn this current crisis into an opportunity for funding Green New Deal transition rather than same-old subsidies for capitalism and fossil fuels. Check out this 9 minute video with Naomi Klein: Coronavirus Capitalism and How to Beat It.
For more links on the impact of COVID-19 on climate emergency check out the more recent Energy Mix
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March 12 – OPG AND ENBRIDGE VS OUR CLIMATE
Our last public event before ‘social distancing’ brought about 40 people together to learn from Jack Gibbons of Ontario Climate Action Network (OCAA) and Katie Krelove of the Wilderness Committee about the province’s natural gas expansion plans that will blow our climate targets and take us back to the emissions days of coal… unless we change this. Video recording here. Check our website for details of next steps on this campaign including an on line planning meet on March 30. Please email lyn@climatefast.ca if you’d like to get involved in this campaign. We need to stop the ‘next Teck’ right here in our very own province . Please sign this petition!
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TONIGHT! CLIMATE SONG CIRCLE – TUESDAY MARCH 17, 7 PM
Instead of meeting in person join the Climate Strike Song Share
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/4834884654
Meeting ID: 483 488 4654
Here's a gorgeous song for the Great Turning…
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Music for Climate Justice 5 Thursday, Friday and Saturday Mar 19 - 21
will be a magical online streaming festival of music and storytelling.
We can't meet in person right now, but we can in spirit. The details and timing of the festival are currently being sorted out, as we adapt to our changing reality. The festival will be live streamed from a variety of locations between
Thursday at 1pm and Saturday at 5pm
. The exact schedule will be posted soon. This is a kid friendly event. Join our event page for details.
https://www.facebook.com/events/221652872560064/
and follow us on facebook @MusicForClimateJustice to watch the live stream of the festival and to discover future events.
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ALL EVENTS THE FOLLOWING WEEK ARE CANCELLED – INCLUDING WATER DOCS
Scarborough Seedy Saturday and Green Fair and many other gardening events have been cancelled due to COVID-19. This means that gardeners may have trouble accessing high quality seeds this spring and local organic seed producers will take a big financial hit as they miss out on the high volume sales that these events generate. If you plan to garden this spring, please considering ordering your seeds on line from the following local producers recommended by the Toronto Urban Growers.
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You could still participate in Earth Hour, possibly as a quiet candle light walk in your neighbourhood! Or with a candle in your window. That’s Saturday March 28, 8 – 9 pm.
ClimateStrike April 3 will be a virtual event, and our provincial lobby day April 17 may also be virtual – stay tuned for details. It is too early now to be sure how Earth Day April 22 may look - the provincial legislature should be back by then (it is closed till April 20) but may not be in which case we will change our plans.
ClimateFast’s meetings have gone virtual too . Our next meeting will be Sunday March 22 from 2 – 4 pm. If you’d like to join us send me an email: lyn@climatefast.ca and I’ll send you the sign in details.
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We know that COVID19 will someday be managed with a vaccine. We also know our climate crisis will not. In lieu of a vaccine, that safe climate future is up to all of us to create. Let’s roll up our sleeves and create it!
Stay safe everyone! And see you in the struggle for a climate healthy future.