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ClimateFast News

JUNE NEWSLETTER - CLIMATEFAST!  TIME FOR ACTION! 2015 is the year!!

 

Just over six months till December and the all important climate summit in Paris!

Just five months till a federal election in Canada.  Just a few months to get the word out that climate action commitments this year are essential!  Can you help?

 

Contents​

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

LAST MINUTE NOTICE - do you want to become a speaker on the climate crisis?

Al Gore Climate Reality training in Toronto - July 9 and 10, apply by June 3rd

http://www.climatereality.ca/presentersTraining.aspx

 

WHO'S DOING WHAT About Climate Change June 19, 2015 - 6pm - 9pm - Council Chambers, North York Civic Centre  - Details here

 

July 5th Jobs Justice and Climate rally in Toronto: Sign up here: jobsjusticeclimate.ca

Can you be part of a ClimateFast contingent, and help us hold the banner? Let us know at climatefast@climatefast.ca

 

Fall day of action! October 1st!

Can you join us in a day of action: fast, letter-writing, vigil - on October 1st?

Pledge your action HERE:  

 

Please let us know of events in your community: climatefast@climatefast.ca

 

SPEAKERS ON CLIMATE AND THE ELECTION - STEP UP CANADA!

Step Up, Canada! is offering public presentations to interested communities, to engage Canadians on climate issues in the lead-up to COP21 and the federal election. Presentations are free and are supported by the People's Climate Movement and Toronto350. To arrange a speaker or become one yourself in your community, get in touch by emailing info@stepupcanada.ca or visit www.StepUpCanada.ca for details.

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ELECTION DEBATE PETITION - FOR CLIMATE CHANGE - SIGN AND SHARE!!

 

Here is an important petition to make sure climate change is an issue in this year's federal election debates. The debates have traditionally been hosted by a consortium of broadcasters from various networks such as CBC and CTV (http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/broadcasters-are-undemocratic-may-says-1.976649). We are petitioning the broadcast consortium, and all other networks that have public proposals to host leaders debates, to include climate change as a distinct debate or topic within these forums. In the debates, as well as Maclean's magazine to make climate change an issue since it has previously indicated its interest in hosting a leaders' debate (http://www.macleans.ca/politics/why-canada-needs-more-election-debates/). Our goal for the petition is to reach enough signatories to make the broadcasters aware of Canadians' concern for climate change. We are currently contacting the news stations to enquire the number of signatories needed to make our goal a reality. We hope that at this point in time, you will support this petition by signing on: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/CBC_CTV_Macleans_Include_climate_change_as_a_Canadian_federal_election_debate_topic/

 

Help keep this moving forward by sharing with your facebook, twitter and email friends!  Let’s get thousands of signatures!

Thanks to Alice Xiu and Climate Impact Network for this initiative.

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Announcement for CLIMATE CHANGE Toronto (CCT) June 19th Event.

 

WHO'S DOING WHAT About Climate Change

 

When and where June 19, 2015 - 6pm - 9pm - Council Chambers, North York Civic Centre

 

If compared to downtown Toronto, there could be much more activity around climate change in North York and surrounding areas to the north. CLIMATE CHANGE Toronto (CCT) wants to help make this happen.

 

Diverse Toronto-based climate change groups present brief overviews of what they are doing about climate change, with panel/audience Q&A session following. FREE - All welcome.

 

We have at least 12 very active climate change groups ready to participate, including Step Up Canada, ClimateFast, Live Green, Citizens Climate Lobby and more.

 

We invite you to attend and invite anyone you think will be interested or curious about WHO's DOING WHAT About Climate Change, to come too.

 

Spread the word about this event and let's fill the Council Chambers!

 

For more details and to RSVP

You can also register on EventBrite and Facebook.

 

ELECTION RESOURCES!

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Ecumenical election kit from KAIROS Canada.

 

The first issue covered is climate change, and it includes our 3 asks.

 

Please also see these fact sheets on the 3 asks written by John Dillon:

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CAN-RAC ARTICLE - ON CANADA’S MEANINGLESS CLIMATE PLEDGE

 

Canada has submitted its intended contribution to the UN's forthcoming climate deal, but its new target has done little to remedy its reputation as a climate laggard.

 

Read More


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NEWSLETTER FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN - FAST FOR THE CLIMATE!

 

On 1 June 2015, we fast to call for a just transition to a zero carbon emissions world by 2050.

 

Read More

 

You can pledge to stand with the fasters.

 

 

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Canada Going in the Wrong Direction by Frances Deverell
 
Today we learn that reports show that growth in the Tar Sands is negating all progress in reducing Canada’s contribution to greenhouse gases.  The report recommends we buy carbon credits abroad to offset our own pollution.  I can’t think of a stupider solution to this problem. 
 
Activists have been telling Prime Minister Harper for years that expanding the Tar Sands is a wrong-headed policy and today’s news proves it.  It is not possible to be a legitimate world citizen and expand production in the Tar Sands.  They are simply too dirty.  We have to leave the vast majority of Tar Sands oil in the ground.  In fact, we have to leave a great deal of conventional oil and gas in the ground – let alone unconventional sources that are even less efficient.  (See Canada’s carbon budget in extended data table 3.)
 
How can it possibly help Canadian economic development to buy carbon credits from other countries, in effect financing their conversion to renewable energy, while we stay stuck in this old, dirty technology.  How will Canada ever compete in the twenty-first century with a carbon-based energy system? 
 
The only way forward for Canada is to plan a quick transition to renewable energy.  All investment towards oil and gas exploration, tar sands expansion, and fracking should be redirected toward developing the technology and infrastructure to run our factories, heat our homes and run our cars on renewable energy. 
 
 
It’s time for Harper to start planning Canadian economic policy in the interest of Canadians in this and coming generations.  It is time for Canada to cooperate with world efforts to respond to the climate crisis, instead of lining the pockets of his buddies in the oil sector at everyone else’s expense.
 

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LET US KNOW WHAT ACTIONS ARE HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY - WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER! climatefast@climatefast.ca

 
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