- 125 MPs Signed ClimateFast Pledge
- Parliament Hill Presence - Apr 20 - 23, 2015
- Climate First on the First
- It's Time for Unity for the Climate
- 365 Day Roling Fast for the Climate
- Catholics - Climate Action in 40 Day Fast
- End Subdsidies on Fossil Fuels
- Events
125 MPs have now signed the ClimateFast Pledge for Politicians by Rita Bijons
ClimateFast welcomes MP Réjean Genest, (NDP) representing the riding of Shefford, as the 125th MP to sign the ClimateFast Pledge for Politicians. In the lead up to this federal election, ClimateFast will be approaching candidates in this election to invite them to sign the Pledge. One candidate, Nicolas R. Thibodeau (NDP) has already signed the Pledge. He will be running for nomination in Mount Royal. We will post the certificate on our website so you may use it to approach candidates in your riding as well. Now almost all NDP MPs and two-thirds of Liberal MPs have signed this pledge, along with both Green Party MPs. No Conservatives have signed yet.
We still need the signatures of Thomas Mulcair, Leader of the NDP, and Official Opposition, and Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party. We need their commitment going into the next federal election that they are going to end fossil fuel subsidies, put a price on carbon, and develop a renewable energy plan for Canada!
So keep your letters coming… and consider coming to Ottawa with us in April!
PARLIAMENT HILL PRESENCE - APRIL 20 - 23, 2015 - Fast & Vigil for Climate Action
You are invited to join ClimateFast in Ottawa for a fast and vigil on Parliament Hill - and for meetings with MPs. We will be calling for all MPs to stand together for climate action: for an end to fossil fuel subsidies, a meaningful price on carbon, and a renewable energy plan for Canada. Join us! Please send an email to climatefast(at)climatefast(dot)ca, or sign the form on line.
There is a power in being present in Ottawa and meeting directly with our political representatives. We will hold a vigil on the Hill on Earth Day - April 22nd - at 7 pm. Some of us will food fast, some will carbon fast, and others will join in with calls, emails and letters to send our message. If you can’t come to Ottawa, can you organize a vigil for climate action in your community on Earth Day, or anytime that week?
Are you writing letters on the First of the Month for ClimateFast? Here is your March 1st Sample Letter. Why not gather a group to write letters this month? Let’s make a bigger impact.
It’s Time for Unity for the Climate by Rita Bijons
Click the image to watch and listen to Joseph Boutilier’s powerful speech delivered September 15th. After his epic 5000 km unicycle ride from Victoria to Ottawa, Joseph dismounts at the Eternal Flame in front of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill. With passion and vision he calls for unity for the climate.
365 Day Rolling Fast for the Climate by Rita Bijons
Beginning at the last COP in Lima, the international Fast for the Climate has stepped it up, and commenced a 365 Rolling Fast for the climate, that is, assuring that someone on this wonderful planet, our home, is fasting for the climate every day in this lead up to the COP in Paris. The one-year fasting chain will travel from Lima, Peru, to Paris, France. The fast first travels through Latin America, then North America, the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Africa and Europe. During December and January, the fast was based in Latin America. February-March is the period of time assigned to North America. On February 20th Louise Comeau, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada fasted; Tom Rand has fasted; Elizabeth May will fast; Jennifer Henry will fast; Joanna Kerr will fast; Bill McKibben will fast. See who else is fasting as part of this 365 Day Rolling Fast for the Climate.
Follow daily postings at https://www.facebook.com/fastfortheclimate and https://twitter.com/fastforclimate, https://www.facebook.com/CLIMATEFAST
People in North America who are fasting for the 365 Day Rolling Fast in Feburary and March are on the ClimateFast site.
CATHOLICS HIGHLIGHT MORAL IMPERATIVE OF CLIMATE ACTION IN 40 DAY FAST
The following article is a recent newsletter from Tree Alerts - Canada.
End Subsidies on Fossil Fuels by Frances Deverell
In 2009 Canada promised the world at the G20 that it would phase out subsidies to fossil fuels. Over five years later we have not finished the job. To give the Harper Government some credit, before 2009 they did announce plans to eliminate 4 major subsidies worth about $879 (according to a July 10, 2014 Pembina Report.). Clear Federal subsidies such as ACIT (Atlantic Canada Investment Tax Credit) and ACCA (Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance) are in the process of being phased out. But there are still about $1.4 Billion in provincial subsidies to that sector and as defined by the World Trade Organization, the Federal Government is still heavily subsidizing exploration and development. The CEE (Canadian Exploration Expense), and the CDE (Canadian Development Expense) are an attempt to support the very expensive and high risk efforts of companies to explore for new reserves (for example in the Arctic). Pembina reports the value of CEE and CDE subsidies at about $711 million in 2008 based on a report by Enviroeconomics Inc.
This does not take into account the subsidy we are giving them by refusing to implement an aggressive, fair, equitable, and effective price on carbon that would bring the government or—with a fee and dividend approach, the people of Canada—up to another $34 billion a year according to the International Monetary Fund.. Such a price might start as low as $10-30 per tonne and be increased over time. ($34 billion would represent $212 per tonne and would certainly encourage people to find alternatives to fossil fuels.)
If we are going to subsidize the oil companies, we should be subsidizing them to aggressively clean up the tailings ponds in the oil sands and generally clean up their mess after themselves. Sample Letter for Climate First on the First here
Ontario is to be congratulated for its clear, aggressive, and urgent strategy to bring Ontario into the twenty-first century based on low use of fossil fuels. They are showing great leadership. I hope the other provinces will come to the table with equally great strategies and that we can all learn to work together to build a strong Canadian economy in a low fossil-fuel world. The time to build the Canada we want is now. Full Article Here
Events:
Federal Pre-Election Town Hall on Climate Change
Monday March 2, 2015 6-8pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Fitzgerald Building RM103, 150 College St., University of Toronto, St. George Campus
https://www.facebook.com/events/1543663182548525/
A coalition of over 38 groups across Canada including university departments, student organizations and environmental and democracy action groups (including ClimateFast) are calling on the federal parties to state their positions on climate change. NDP MP Matthew Kellway, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, & Liberal Party Environment Critic Hon. John McKay will speak and answer questions. There will be skype link to other universities across Canada.
IMPORTANT PROVINCIAL CLIMATE CONSULTATION IN ONTARIO:
Climate activists across Canada will be interested to know of a consultation in Ontario rolling out the last week of February and through March - with an ambitious goal for reaching net carbon neutral by 2050. Many sectors of action are being considered and you can find the details - and how to have your say - on this website:
http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/climate-change-consultation
Save the Date: March 22–April 22, 2015 (Commit2Respond)
From World Water Day to Earth Day, we will embark on a journey for climate justice.
Beginning with our involvement in the People’s Climate March in New York on September 21, 2014 and continuing with Climate Justice Month, we commit to join together to SHIFT to a low carbon future, ADVANCE the human rights of affected communities, and GROW the climate justice movement.
Unitarians and other people of faith and communities of conscience will unite in collective action to change the world. JOIN US!