tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357520152024-03-12T17:59:02.632-07:00Sustainability is Step OneCurrently focusing on progressive political, advocacy and organizing strategy.Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-47418892394753181462012-07-23T13:53:00.004-07:002012-07-23T14:07:38.436-07:00Train cuts in the age of crazy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooL8CVluGuHBGyruCwQsEE8-9fBHPRNF2blc8-CSO1PbKZdRE38XM71-NB-XZS76Ot1BeEi_NMrbHC2iFRASMSszDLp0WcmecgcWbvADkGj_OAzRnP4nKIwAhZ5Q2PCw8oMxrhg/s1600/TRAIN+STATION+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooL8CVluGuHBGyruCwQsEE8-9fBHPRNF2blc8-CSO1PbKZdRE38XM71-NB-XZS76Ot1BeEi_NMrbHC2iFRASMSszDLp0WcmecgcWbvADkGj_OAzRnP4nKIwAhZ5Q2PCw8oMxrhg/s400/TRAIN+STATION+%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I’m sitting on VIA Train 85 full of riders, passing the corn fields and towns on the way to Sarnia. VIA’s been making service improvements, discounts and promotions lately. Sometimes they'll share with you an announcement with a Conservative government official at a press conference, throwing some dollars to tweak the lines.<br />
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In a couple weeks, the train I’m on won’t be running any more. The service to Sarnia will be cut in half, probably on the path to even less.
The full train I’m riding on a Thursday afternoon.<br />
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They say not enough are using it.<br />
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Perhaps my eyes lie. Or fair enough, their stats and figures aren’t meeting business expectations.<br />
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Maybe this smooth ride (well perhaps a little bumpy) with friendly staff isn’t attracting enough travellers. If not, it may be cost, travel times, and infrequent service. All aren’t great.<br />
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I'd presume a company with a broader national mission would work to improve these things to attract more customers.
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But as in everything, all come down to money. And in Canada, we don’t invest in these things.<br />
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The rail lines that built the country are apparently not worth the real dough that would support rural Canada and connect our urban centres’ economies.<br />
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What do we have against sustainable, resilient, practical transportation? The means that move the young and old especially. Why will we only pay for roads and roads and roads. The means ensuring we'll sink our climate, and a liveable planet.<br />
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You may have seen the graphic floating around the internet showing our ancient trains compared to those of other countries. Though my grandfather helped worked on these lines, this isn’t about nostalgia for me. We need to renew – our trains should be a fundamental base of our transportation network.<br />
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Another graphic you might have seen shows our couple subway lines in Toronto compared with the web that exists in other cities – ones like those in the United States where governments pay to operate lines with income taxes.<br />
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But here we have VIA's service reductions, in a time we need far the opposite.<br />
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It will be harder for older parents to visit their middle-aged children in other cities. It’ll be tougher to get to a business meeting, while working on the way.<br />
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You’d think Conservative MPs would be mad as hell.Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-2942105187739887992011-09-12T21:00:00.000-07:002011-09-13T08:14:33.791-07:00talking about the activist blues<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://marketingforhippies.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/11-tooker.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 605px; height: 381px;" src="http://marketingforhippies.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/11-tooker.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Activism can be an invigorating practice, kicking up adrenaline that keeps you going, going for the win. But what does this mean for our minds? Thinking about the same thing and moving on it all the time can mean lead to not having time to eat well, to stress, tension and tightness, malaise, anxiety and so on. These things similarly occur in politics, community organizing and other kinds of work where the stakes are high and the work doesn't stop.<br /><br />Many environmentalists and those working on social justice long-term get periods of despair and even depression. Others in this work may happen to be susceptible to depression and other forms of mental illness - and this kind of life can act as a trigger. Different issues in life may also be pressing as well. The state of the world bearing down can add to the feelings.<br /><br />At a time when austerity measures are proposed for already reduced social programs, and environmental targets are being weakened with little hope of reaching necessary climate or biodiversity goals, things look grim. On the other hand, much strength and possibility can be found in a rising up of movements - I've seen this all over recently, at many levels. Though a particularly sad time, in the wake of Jack Layton's death, a new possibility of citizen leadership may bring what we need.<br /><br />I've also noticed friends getting more into creative activism. This work needs more than protest, it needs positive motivation, song, food and community.<br /><br />‘Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear.’<br /><br />...Let's arrive at that together. If you're not feeling it, don't feel worse about yourself. Talk about it and see what strategies you can take to get on the right track. I've become very used to seeing signs of depression in people - it is truly very common - and talking about it openly with those who want to. As Dave Meslin wrote in <a href="http://meslin.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/talking-about-despair/">a blog</a> that struck a chord last year, we need to be open about talking about depression, suicide, therapy and medication.<br /><br />I have been stressed and overworked before, but I am lucky not to have reached depression. I luckily have learned how to balance more, to take some weekend breaks from work, figured out mindfulness and meditation, and learned to chill out with a couple friends who are much better at that than I am. A great advisory which I've oft turned to and share, comes from the late Tooker Gomberg, a visionary of modern activism in Toronto and Canada. His "letter to an activist" shares this hope that you will take up a diverse, enjoyable life that it will keep you in it for the long haul. Please <a href="http://www.greenspiration.org/memorial/letter.htm">take a look</a>.<br /><br />A balanced life is the way to go. But it's important to share more ideas, because I think we've just scratched the surface of this - please share thoughts and experiences to help us figure out how to keep going and winning "sustainably" and "resiliently". Do it for Tooker and for Jack, but do it for yourself as well.<br /><br />Recommended reading: <a href="http://www.parallax.org/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?preadd=action&key=BOOKWWH">The World We Have</a>, Thich Nhat HanhDarcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-1070932114542884502011-05-05T13:05:00.000-07:002011-05-05T13:32:00.202-07:00Blame the system, please, and fix itBoy do lefties know how to beat up on each other. Maybe it was the deep moments of frustration, but I haven’t heard this much blame game thrown around this country since the early Chrétien years, by conservatives.<br /><br /> The facts we have include that the Conservatives ran a really strong campaign with a focused message (like, extremely focused), and picked up a majority of seats. The Liberals ran the wrong campaign after being pummeled by the Tory machine and their seat count collapsed.<br /><br /> Jack Layton described the platform of the Liberals as largely the same, the main difference being that they couldn’t be trusted in getting it done. The NDP took advantage of Ignatieff's poor showing and Layton's popularity and approach, and rose to strong opposition, the likes of which have never been seen.<br /><br /> Yes, if this and that happened, votes could have added up in different ways to defeat the Conservatives. I've seen people blaming parties, leaders and candidates, organizers and volunteers, and Canadian voters as a whole. But the problem is deeper than this, and we know it.<br /><br /> The ability of a group of unaligned voters in an election to sway its outcome in a strategic direction across the country is very small. It seems in fact, the stronger the effort toward strategic voting, the worse the result ends up for the strategists (though I won’t blame their attempt, either).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvzbUfFFbGha0AwuMY-SpHqfAGmYpvkDvljpHBSaK6_7xidHM3nPldTJYnO8Ju194-aKEzlx0lipcTCsXNeSSe6BeL95FRMbh7nkAX8yhKKCbiqO_LG1B2yvPq4WsOCgn0P8gXw/s1600/harperfail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvzbUfFFbGha0AwuMY-SpHqfAGmYpvkDvljpHBSaK6_7xidHM3nPldTJYnO8Ju194-aKEzlx0lipcTCsXNeSSe6BeL95FRMbh7nkAX8yhKKCbiqO_LG1B2yvPq4WsOCgn0P8gXw/s320/harperfail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603332059908716434" /></a><br /> There are many explanations for this. Individuals and groups come up with their own methodologies for voting strategically. They aren't relying on complete and sound information; polls are not done locally or made widely available. Support for parties shown in polls also change, and this time the showing for parties on the centre/left at the beginning of the election was highly different than at its end. The momentum of campaigns most often wipe out any small gains here and there for strategic voting.<br /><br /> An individual who believes in a party message shouldn’t be blamed for lending it their vote. Neither should a party be blamed for doing well and gaining seats, that’s their job.<br /><br /> But here we end up with a result that doesn’t suit the 60% very well at all, and perhaps not even much of the 40% who probably thought they were voting for a minority government. It’s a result not caused by individuals making bad choices, but by a system of political and electoral representation that facilitates the pattern. <br /><br /> I've been involved with parties, and their goals are to increase their standing to implement their policies and values. Their goal isn’t to arrive at a Legislature that benefits the most “progressive” voters. Therefore it is <span style="font-style:italic;">the people </span>who must press to get the House they want to see.<br /><br /> Politics is won by coalitions. Coalitions in and and among parties and those that help win movements and policy agendas. Natural coalitions could exist within the non-Conservative parties. I’m not advocating any approach, but there are many possibilities, including issue-based cooperation, formal coalitions, mergers and running or supporting candidates in certain areas. Any of these would have to be pushed by people from outside and inside political parties who want to see a different Parliamentary make-up. <br /><br /> Another approach is electoral reform. It’s too bad this wasn’t a priority by opposition parties in the last Parliamentary sessions, as it may have been easier to do than now. Today, the people of the United Kingdom are voting on one form, although the vote is not looking good. But it's a good place to start: proportional voting is supported by a wide range of organizers on the left. <br /><br /> At this time, it will likely be a theme of greater interest to Liberals (along with the Bloc and the Greens), who have taken the place of the NDP as First Past the Post loser. Even the NDPers who dislike the Conservative majority should be sure to keep up their traditional support for its implementation.<br /><br /> A number of various initiatives, websites and videos aren’t going to cut it. As Dave Meslin <a href="http://meslin.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/beyond_band-aids/">wrote on election day</a>, these are band-aids. This time we know we have another election in another four years or so. We don’t have to wait until an election is spontaneously called and run around with our heads chopped off. In addition, an Ontario election lies around the corner.<br /><br /> Whatever the efforts, they should be big, bold and united. No more separate initiatives here and there. <br /><br /> Working together, we can get some good ole reform happening in Canada again. Working apart, Nick Kouvalis wins.Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-69166779312251456292011-03-14T19:37:00.000-07:002011-04-22T13:02:06.778-07:00Earth Day time to up our gameLast Earth Day, my friend called and I told him, "it’s my special day.., you didn’t wish me a Happy Earth Day!" <br />He hit back, "every day is Earth Day!" and thus began our tradition of saying “Happy Earth Day” as the first greeting with every phone call on any day. <br /><br />And to some extent, our little pattern is accurate. Environmental awareness, if not action, has become so mainstream that for more of the population, environmental consciousness is now built into daily behaviour. But as people have changed attitudes throughout the world, the threat of inaction by government and large industry still threaten us all with global catastrophe. (Wow, that sounded harsh.. wish it wasn’t true).<br /><br />So today it’s back to the political again as was off to Jack Layton’s house to deliver a set of demands with City-TV and CBC tagging along. I was asked by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition to join in delivering a call to action on climate change, which is being delivered by young people to political leaders across the country today. I haven’t looked into the other 'plant a tree for Earth Day' type activities happening in the area today, but this action is a good one to be a part of. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YTMSJvh1ZSObhU5NEwryYGDDMdeMKrTNFQjxFlHOKTt5v25_3P5zWjlkkvNfLCEmpX8xDDtwCKr3sERlr3ESVUmXc626XJ2JqPhRnifG60EWn45k3HVgFLTPZNoVpncNqxaGTA/s1600/P3270442.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YTMSJvh1ZSObhU5NEwryYGDDMdeMKrTNFQjxFlHOKTt5v25_3P5zWjlkkvNfLCEmpX8xDDtwCKr3sERlr3ESVUmXc626XJ2JqPhRnifG60EWn45k3HVgFLTPZNoVpncNqxaGTA/s320/P3270442.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598486992926857890" /></a><br />Other things are happening in my neighbourhood. At Queen’s Park was a rally to kick of a walk to stop a mega quarry in Dufferin County. One hundred kilometres north of the City lies an application by a US Hedge Fund to construct the second largest open pit mine in North America, on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment - would be almost half the size of the City of Toronto ripping out kick ass farmland. <br /><br />At the same time in about the same place, a strategic action planned by youth is taking place. It’s U of T’s turn for a vote mob and it will be big, with over 1,000 registered on Facebook as we speak. A Happy Earth Day it will be for me if youth get out to vote. Young Greens have chalked lines to the same polling station and are also focusing on getting out the youth vote. Michael Erickson’s NDP campaign is having an advance poll party. Greenpeace is rallying against new nukes.<br /><br />I’ve been involved in many these youth movements over the last few years, from Sustainable Campuses, Youth Climate Change, Young Greens and now the youth food movement. These have similar goals and sometimes similar people, and have been making a big difference – if not just a kick in the pants, energizing the broader environmental movements and organizations.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHhHKHNaEmd53NNHiwUn2i3SOlphyowv-kIEs6vm4wbdVbmooR1xxzO9wVQQNiwybcV-LmHV9EoZpo4HV_NQWkflH4ohsIC4QWqSH-UqZbWQigVwx_CTp0mYeHS23I54SWHb-5Q/s1600/vote.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHhHKHNaEmd53NNHiwUn2i3SOlphyowv-kIEs6vm4wbdVbmooR1xxzO9wVQQNiwybcV-LmHV9EoZpo4HV_NQWkflH4ohsIC4QWqSH-UqZbWQigVwx_CTp0mYeHS23I54SWHb-5Q/s200/vote.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598417801598401682" /></a><br />Sadly though, it's tough times out there for environmental advocates, but not for a lack of work to be done.<br /><br />The federal government has done everything it could to rid environmental programs of funding, as reported before the election - but with little fanfare - in Canadian media. Expected cuts were to include a whopping 59% for climate and air pollution programs, the latter being a supposed environmental priority for the Tories.<br /><br />That adds up to an overall 20% reduction in Environment Canada's spending and a 21% cut for Natural Resources Canada. <br /><br />While spending cuts are easier to argue in deficit days, the cuts come at a time when barely anything is being done by federal government to reduce climate change, a crisis whose costs will outweigh any small savings of doing nothing, many times over.<br /><br />In Canada's biggest province things also look bleak. After canceling potential offshore wind because of localized public opinion differences, Ontario's provincial government who has shown support for green energy is facing a challenge from a Party threatening the dismantling of the <span style="font-style:italic;">Green Energy and Green Economy Act</span>. This comes with a base of support from <a href="http://www.ontariolandowners.ca/">Landowners</a> who have traditionally butted heads with all government environmental policy, including Greenbelt legislation. The same Party under Mike Harris left a 40% cut to the Ministry of the Environment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://thegreenpages.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/part-earth-day-ecard-someecards2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 425px; height: 237px;" src="http://thegreenpages.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/part-earth-day-ecard-someecards2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />In Canada’s biggest city, a mayor has been elected who’s been guiding Council through priorities of tax and spending cuts, with perceived public perception that these issues are critical over pretty much all else. Meanwhile, area grassroots environmental and food movement organizations are growing like gangbusters. With a deep financial crisis, Council will have to find savings of hundreds of millions by next year, and we assume continued financial support for programs like the Toronto Environment Office, Toronto’s Food Strategy, Live Green or Tower Renewal.<br /><br />These political leaders are all very popular. Harper and Hudak Conservatives could both win majorities. The federal political landscape is split up, and the other parties, according to a new Sierra Club survey, are slipping in their support for environmental issues. There may be a historic opportunity to elect the Green leader who has been involved in nurturing many of our youth movements and could have an impact. But with the NDP on the rise and the Liberals in free fall, where would a Conservative majority leave us?<br /><br />The environmental movement has to up its game. We’ve reached the attention of many, except for those holding power. We need some deep discussions about where we’re headed and what will work from now on. <br /><br />One hope is to eat our way out of the mess. The New York Times recently headlined, “Foodies Can Eclipse (and Save) the Green Movement.” <br /><br />“But here's the good news,” read the article, “the two sides aren't really competing. As the food movement matures and grows, it could end up being the best vehicle available for achieving environmental goals.”<br /><br />As usual, the advice I can provide is to get involved and learn. Work with like-minded folks and see the broader political context. Be strategic and have discussions – if we reach out and work together, we can win.<br /><br />Suggested reading:<br /><br />My past Earth Day articles, <a href="http://greeningsarnia.blogspot.com/2006/07/introduction-and-happy-earth-, day.html">2006</a>, <a href="http://darcyhiggins.blogspot.com/search?q=earth+day">2009, 2010</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sierraclub.ca/en/climate-change/media/release/sierra-club-canada-releases-its-2011-federal-election-environmental-rep">Federal Election Party Platform Environmental Report Card</a>, Sierra Club of Canada<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ourclimate.ca/wordpress/our-generation-our-future-our-demands/">Our Generation, Our Future, Our Demands</a>, Canadian Youth Climate Coalition<br /><br /><a href="http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2049255,00.html">Foodies Can Eclipse (and Save) the Green Movemen</a>t, Time Magazine<br /><br />Take action:<br /><br />http://www.elections.ca/<br /><br />http://www.pushfoodforward.com<br /><br />http://www.facebook.com/no.mega.quarry<br /><br />http://chocosol.posterous.com<br /><br />http://tyfpc.ca<br /><br />http://www.ourclimate.ca/wordpress<br /><br />http://www.greenpeace.org/canadaDarcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-41413601086370097312011-03-03T17:26:00.000-08:002011-03-03T19:57:46.093-08:00Jason Kenney, settlement cuts and the ethnic voteImmigration Minister Jason Kenney has been found to have been writing and fundraising for the Conservatives' federal election with office ministerial office resources and letterhead. Kenney's campaign was to strengthen the vote of what he called ethnic Canadians. According to their fundraising campaign:<br /><br />"There are lots of ethnic voters," the media plan says. "There will be quite a few more soon. They live where we need to win."<br />- <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/03/03/pol-kenney-letter.html">CBC</a><br /><br />I recently wrote about Kenney's treatment about immigrants, questioning his policies when he is likewise courting votes from various ethnic communities. Perhaps a better strategy than using taxpayer resources to campaign, would be to actually implement policies that supported new Canadians.<br /><br />Below is an article I recently wrote on this topic for the <a href="http://hawarya.digitalepaper.in/index.php#">Canadian Multicultural Journal</a> (click "Multicultural Journal" in the drop down menu), and a way to get involved.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnsMc9AWA5yPwBulB8YZA2K9RY92GUKU_l253bE-xq5fAx9qzrtFVVV7bNICyS8lUNnCyMSYicGg-5WxGixdSYasYljdNuxAxe337iICfX4B_1YH5p6scWus5zXwE6XPwP_Xr7A/s1600/cmj1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 393px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnsMc9AWA5yPwBulB8YZA2K9RY92GUKU_l253bE-xq5fAx9qzrtFVVV7bNICyS8lUNnCyMSYicGg-5WxGixdSYasYljdNuxAxe337iICfX4B_1YH5p6scWus5zXwE6XPwP_Xr7A/s400/cmj1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580063445861655650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgro7wfeZysOaII65fbQ6Z0CZdH2ebmJEOr5Ah10u2iAW4Nv-Y05LbnpISeMf8IRXQVVQL_HHFBsWVxGTFU5J4pY8ttwBIhFD-Y6YBonMwFRx8_tk7n_894CryK3Yd_tuM3PJaa5g/s1600/cmj2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgro7wfeZysOaII65fbQ6Z0CZdH2ebmJEOr5Ah10u2iAW4Nv-Y05LbnpISeMf8IRXQVVQL_HHFBsWVxGTFU5J4pY8ttwBIhFD-Y6YBonMwFRx8_tk7n_894CryK3Yd_tuM3PJaa5g/s400/cmj2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580063536362842594" /></a><br /><br />Here's an easy way to get involved and get a motion passed in the House that would make a change - template letter to an MP provided:<br /><br />Dear Friends,<br /> <br />As you may be aware, MP Olivia Chow recently presented a motion to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to reverse the $53 million in funding cuts to immigrant and refugee serving agencies across Canada, $44 million of which is being cut in Ontario. That motion was passed.<br /> <br />Today, the motion to reverse the $53 million in cuts is being debated in Parliament and will be voted on in the next few days. The importance of this motion is evident to all of us, and it is up to us to pressure our MPs to adopt this motion.<br /> <br />What you can do:<br />1) Forward this email through your contacts<br />2) Use this website to identify your MP and find their email address:<br /> www2.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/compilations/houseofcommons/memberbypostalcode.aspx?menu=hoc<br />3) Use the form e-mail below to email your MP.<br />4) Encourage your clients, friends and family to email their MP.<br /> <br />Thanks you for your support.<br />************************************************************** <br />Form email:<br /> <br />Dear ----,<br />The successful integration and inclusion of immigrants and refugees is vital to a strong and cohesive Canada. The recent $53 million cut to immigrant and refugee serving agencies across Canada, and in particular the almost $44 million being cut in Ontario, threatens to undermine the important work that these agencies do. I am particularly concerned that these cuts were implemented without consulting and working with the immigrant and refugee serving sector.<br />I strongly urge you to vote in favour of the motion put forward by Olivia Chow and adopted by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to reverse the cuts. Settlement and Integration programs and services are critical now more than ever to facilitate the successful integration of newcomers. Supporting this motion will ensure that the important work undertaken on behalf of Newcomers will continue without disruption and will reinforce our collective Canadian value of fairness.<br /> <br />Sincerely,<br />----------------------------Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-29650936732684252132011-02-22T15:42:00.000-08:002011-02-22T15:47:57.831-08:00Wendell Berry in the mountainsWendell Berry is quite awesome. A hero to the environmental and food movements, he is currently taking action in the kind of activism we presently need - against coal strip mining in Kentucky. Some good ole Christianity.<br /><br />"The writer and philosopher Wendell Berry, armed with little more than a copy of William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” and his conscience, has been camped out for three days with a handful of other activists in the governor’s outer office in Frankfort, Ky. Berry, who is 76 and the author of a number of important books including the “Unsettling of America” and “Life Is a Miracle,” has been sleeping on the floor of Gov. Steve Beshear’s reception area since Friday night with 13 others to protest the continued blasting of mountaintops in eastern Kentucky and the poisoning of watersheds, soil and air by coal companies."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/fight_for_a_world_without_coal_20110214/">Read more</a><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qgfMu2NxtZI?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-46780930931335607412011-02-17T14:03:00.000-08:002011-02-17T14:09:15.798-08:00Mubarak chimes in<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXun1w0W-npFIWsPmyelQERO0H9ml6SHPSM_vBmMdxKd7uz-EjHFxd1iLYfjjAksHQTSdDecaWEgrh-fn5CEZPpdiAay_bsO0Ud5ebUCle6-RR8l2pfx5zlRk6sOrq3yYxyyqYw/s1600/mubarak.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 399px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXun1w0W-npFIWsPmyelQERO0H9ml6SHPSM_vBmMdxKd7uz-EjHFxd1iLYfjjAksHQTSdDecaWEgrh-fn5CEZPpdiAay_bsO0Ud5ebUCle6-RR8l2pfx5zlRk6sOrq3yYxyyqYw/s400/mubarak.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574783871140918914" /></a>Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-27191018378851215782011-01-11T16:24:00.000-08:002011-01-11T20:58:26.807-08:00Mackenzie Valley pipe dreamThe Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline has been in the works since forever... it's the fundamental case upon which large environmental assessments have been modeled after in Canada and the Berger Inquiry was an epic formation of its time (the 1970s). It was reported that new Environment Minister Peter Kent did his own reporting on the Inquiry and a television clip was recently played of this journalism (he's known about environmental issues himself for quite a while). <br /><br />Thomas Berger's Inquiry created a moratorium on the Pipeline proposal for ten years to deal with Aboriginal land. Years of delays and assessments after that has meant that the Pipeline was still never built. Now Kent and his colleagues in Cabinet have approved that same Pipeline, <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2011/01/11/mackenzie-pipeline-cabinet-approval.html">CBC has reported</a>. However, they put in a stipulation of no government subsidies meaning the economics of it all still might not work. We don't know if it will ever be built (and at this time, the gas would be used more for tar sands development than its original purposes).<br /><br />More and more, economics has been driving development over environmental considerations - and in some cases, it can be a much stronger force in stopping a project that has negative environmental consequences. Either way, the Pipeline and its case - whether it will be built or not - still has the prints of Berger all over it. His report has certainly outlived Canada's annually changing role of environment minister.Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-28767159292159975932010-12-30T11:15:00.000-08:002010-12-30T11:46:21.972-08:00Time for youth to lead<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt132/MuslimsAgainstSharia/Iranprotesttop.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt132/MuslimsAgainstSharia/Iranprotesttop.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Young peoples’ leadership is showing these days... with activism in Britain, Iran and Burma, entrepreneurship in a global recession and developing counter cultures with different ways of doing things.<br /><br />In traditional politics, however, young people aren’t showing up en masse. The activism is bubbling up, but youth issues aren't at the forefront, and where they are things aren't looking good.<br /><br />There are many legitimate reasons for the lack of political interest, and they are far from a reported existence of widespread youth apathy. Politics has put up barriers to entry – irrelevance of ideas, lack of meaningful consultation, lies, childishness, etc. The value in participating is simply not evident for many. And that’s what many of those in power are banking on.<br /><br />Many don’t see that the big problems face them day to day, so perhaps don’t decide to get involved. But our generation is feeling pressure from a lack of jobs and high rates of debt (both personal and government). The parents are oft well-off, but that’s part of the problem if that wealth is kept within that generation.<br /><br />Today’s youth are stuck with some big problems. We’ve got ecological systems collapse, loss of natural space, nuclear weapons, state and individual terrorism, massive global inequities, ineffectual federal governments, corporate control and advertising, the police/prison complex, institutional racism, Fox News & Sun Media, and 1950s-based food, urban planning, energy and transportation systems that are resistant to change.<br /><br />Meanwhile, youth have benefited by of social movements for human rights that have come before us, along with economic, cultural and technological changes such as mass communications and information distribution, scientific advances, global transportation networks, material prosperity for many, immigration, public infrastructure, health care and public health, education (though standardized), later Beatles music that was pretty good, and a lack of broad global conflict at present.<br /><br />Young folks are focusing on new ideas of social entrepreneurship, relationships, work, religion/belief and information sharing. This generation is on the move and has the energy and resources to get things done.<br /><br />With previous generations having defined what society looks like with its challenges and opportunities, it’s now time for young people to stand up to shape things in a way that will also benefit them and future generations. Many of the changes to be made will continue to happen through rapid change in culture and technology, in activism and social innovation.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Sometimes I wonder if we shall ever grow up in our politics and say definite things which mean something, or whether we shall always go on using generalities to which everyone can subscribe, and which mean very little." <br />- Eleanor Roosevelt</span><br /><br />Politics has a huge role in social change as well, but needs to be shaken up. Young people who are leaving politics behind are missing an opportunity to make the social change that traditionally comes through this realm – things changed or decided through political legislative action have included women’s right to vote, desegregation, depletion of the ozone layer, public health care, minimum wage, transit, urban design and war.<br /><br />For significant change to happen in politics, people will have to get involved and change the system from all angles – make known what they expect to see from politicians, and become the ones in those circles making impactful decisions.<br /><br />At the moment we’re in a catch-22 of sorts, in which young people must get involved to change the system, but are not getting involved because of how the system is acting.<br /><br />Political parties and politicians have the ability to make changes to engage young people and bring them in. This would help change the democratic system as a whole. In fact, there is a perfect opportunity for a political party that wants to take advantage of the generation’s energy and ideas, and votes. This could be done by bringing youth to the table in meaningful ways and bringing ideas that are of interest to young people. <br /><br />Policies that will actually solve the climate crisis, bring democratic discussion, create meaningful work, provide relevant and affordable education, tackle the debt load, make differences in equity abroad and at home... these are discussions (although I cannot speak on behalf of all youth) that will bring us folk on board. Past that, parties wanting to bring youth in must get past the lies, childishness, and games that don’t have a place in formative institutions.<br /><br />The opportunity exists for the party that can do this, to bring much of the next generation along with it, capture the future scene, and be a voice for youth to change the world.Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-67833078160569544552010-12-23T13:39:00.000-08:002010-12-23T15:16:48.355-08:00Jim Prentice: the current face of the typical Canadian enviro minister<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2008/06/12/jim-prentice-cp-4839094.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 196px;" src="http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2008/06/12/jim-prentice-cp-4839094.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />CBC is reporting from a diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks that shows former Environment Minister Jim Prentice's interest in regulating the tar sands more strongly, particularly after realizing the global perceptions of the industry and the weakness in provincial & federal government laws. See the story: "<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2010/12/22/prentice-oil-sands-wikileaks.html?ref=rss&loomia_si=t0:a16:g2:r3:c0.0705232:b40508124">Prentice was ready to curb oilsands: WikiLeaks</a>" This comes after a new report showing weak monitoring of chemicals released in the area persists.<br /><br />Jim Prentice recently resigned as minister, from the government and from his seat in Parliament. Shortly before that, he took a B.C. wilderness tour with David Suzuki which was <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/thenational/indepthanalysis/story/2010/10/01/national-wildernesssummit.html">covered by CBC</a> with Evan Solomon.<br /><br />If there's any connection here that Prentice was pushing for stronger action and got on the government's bad side, it wouldn't be anything new for Canadian environment ministers. The position has always been at the whim of the rest of the government - the cabinet - or more likely, the Prime Minister's office. The position is expected to push environmental considerations for projects of all other ministries. If the minister gains strong interest in the environment, the person is often turfed from the role - particularly if a given PM doesn't see connections between environmental and socio-economic sustainability. <br /><br />You could have asked the late Charles Caccia how it works. He was a Liberal who fought for the environment under Pierre Trudeau's government - but mostly as an MP because he wasn't Minister for long. The position and the ministry is not very stable in its work and continues to lack integration with the work of other ministries - so the environment remains a stand-alone consideration.<br /><br />When an environmentalist (Stephane Dion) became leader and ran for Prime Minister, it didn't work out so well either.<br /><br />Prentice was replaced by John Baird, who's never shown the slightest care about environmental problems. Canada's federal environmental record continues...Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-88706754668002731602010-12-12T14:51:00.000-08:002010-12-12T14:57:37.189-08:00What Bernie Sanders has startedRe-energizing the American people:<br /><br />"At the end of the day, the only way we transform America is through grassroots activism"<br /><br />"Sanders encouraged callers to do "what progressives have been doing forever -- you educate and you organize."<br /><br />See: "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/08/bernie-sanders-rallies-ac_n_793829.html">Bernie Sanders Rallies Activists To Sink Obama's Tax Compromise</a>"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VyP7hNvka5nr2PkSyupEXLmRTmKUZ6YI1CfVognYo2WNcJflZ5wGM90d53N23M3_L-FAzwWHlcZcYU6jd1Fi5uI1PAFjxQ3vrTG69ax4rs2asfEtcSV7bFG7V4BREVY-N-J4Og/s1600/Fulibuster.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 139px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VyP7hNvka5nr2PkSyupEXLmRTmKUZ6YI1CfVognYo2WNcJflZ5wGM90d53N23M3_L-FAzwWHlcZcYU6jd1Fi5uI1PAFjxQ3vrTG69ax4rs2asfEtcSV7bFG7V4BREVY-N-J4Og/s200/Fulibuster.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549933598683016130" /></a>Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-68433234885967975772010-12-08T08:22:00.000-08:002010-12-08T08:30:36.087-08:00Real people can't live underwater<a href="http://dontcopoutcopart.blogspot.com/2010/11/underwater-sculpture-by-jason-decaires.html"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UTdLpgcyyw05cP3I9pK-lJZh8exCjRi_gS29yvNZJvkEP5pJMdT22I6w9az_maRJjir87v-2SKA6aLQbHLe5siIjiQe7eP-of6gpyMEtnsE02QXKYwknAFWRRdGItILhEk-T/s1600/underwater+people.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 620px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UTdLpgcyyw05cP3I9pK-lJZh8exCjRi_gS29yvNZJvkEP5pJMdT22I6w9az_maRJjir87v-2SKA6aLQbHLe5siIjiQe7eP-of6gpyMEtnsE02QXKYwknAFWRRdGItILhEk-T/s1600/underwater+people.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></a><br /><br />Check out this incredible art installation in Cancun: <a href="http://ht.ly/3lHqQ">http://ht.ly/3lHqQ</a><br /><br />Citizens from around the world (Mexico, China, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, the US, Vietnam and the Philippines) attending the Conference are using art as their message this year, to remind politicians and the public about the grave and imminent risks of sea level rise if we don't take action.<br /><br />The sculptures were done by Jason DeCaires Taylor.Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-82150829495940361272010-11-29T10:33:00.000-08:002010-11-29T14:31:56.897-08:00Shady diplomats, Exxon and HarperJust when we thought things couldn't get any worse on the <a href="http://www.thewesternstar.com/News/Local/2010-11-26/article-1997823/Senates-kill-bill-move-a-blow-to-Canadians-and-democracy/1">Conservative's treatment</a> of climate change, we hear more bad news.<br /><br />Not only is the Party killing our own climate legislation, it's using old American corporate-money games to try to kill their legislation as well. <a href="http://www.theprovince.com/health/Canada+angles+kill+green+policies/3898385/story.html">Postmedia News</a> and the Pembina Institute are reporting that our diplomats are working to eliminate American legislation by pressuring Exxon Mobil and BP to use their influence.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh9g-JzXiRQ5kP-EMJcTZVUFIZ4U8CFvVxeb751Ze2l-X2RtECunjx9vw76KHGrl5q-17PbdaNeYlzkCWtDInPU54itUNxDPED-6Zgzmxjag-agPJ0PgktPFQLf_JjAULSBInOQ/s1600/pembina.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 79px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh9g-JzXiRQ5kP-EMJcTZVUFIZ4U8CFvVxeb751Ze2l-X2RtECunjx9vw76KHGrl5q-17PbdaNeYlzkCWtDInPU54itUNxDPED-6Zgzmxjag-agPJ0PgktPFQLf_JjAULSBInOQ/s200/pembina.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545052804015405762" /></a><br />Of course the corporate oil barrens have been using lobbyist pressure to sway public opinion and Washington policies for years. But didn't this let up more recently when they had to admit that climate change at least exists? Apparently not. And now we have a government that is tight with industry - tight enough to try to protect it from having to do anything of substance on the most critical issue of our time.<br /><br />We don't think of corporations as instructive to Canadian politicians as our American neighbours - the money's not as big and as obvious. But the ties are very close with the current government.<br /><br />This is a scary trend. It's not just elected senators making our democratic decisions - corporations are playing their fair share. We know from Wikileaks that American do some pretty interesting things. And ours are looking pretty shady today as well.<br /><br />How do we push back? This is what we're up against.Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-13465676964098802032010-11-23T10:11:00.000-08:002010-11-23T20:30:46.483-08:00Who knew change was possible?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BAJP4PNn5P_aYUYeXgb-9Pi1vGVfF_GMwXG0bTD-_zp_NR913k7bhyphenhyphen7l4yK8Ko56ER6Q67_RBPrYSKvxeGCsZoCFto2tNqGJMjmBLpwyMZD9MQA17jsagLPGO-PRs4S8yljelQ/s1600/IMG_9291.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BAJP4PNn5P_aYUYeXgb-9Pi1vGVfF_GMwXG0bTD-_zp_NR913k7bhyphenhyphen7l4yK8Ko56ER6Q67_RBPrYSKvxeGCsZoCFto2tNqGJMjmBLpwyMZD9MQA17jsagLPGO-PRs4S8yljelQ/s320/IMG_9291.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542814576220691266" /></a><br />People often tell me that politics is useless, that change can't and won't happen. Often my friends who say this aren't thinking back in history, to changes that have happened for the better, and the social movements that helped get them there.<br /><br />I just <a href="http://twitter.com/durabilite">tweeted </a>that wind power at this moment is producing over twice the amount of electricity in Ontario than coal (data can be found at: http://www.ieso.ca). This is a significant accomplishment which happened because of advocacy that pushed change by the PC and Liberal governments. <br /><br />Today the Ontario government announced that the coal plant in Thunder Bay would be switched to use cleaner burning gas.<br /><br />The drastic drop in coal use and now steady increases in renewable energy happened because of organizations being formed around and campaigning on the removal of coal generation and the building of green energy. Groups like the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, Green Energy Act Alliance were champions, along with others like Greenpeace and WWF. Groups including medical and nursing associations helped with data and increasing voices. These groups have swayed public opinion and massive letter writing helped move the agenda forward. Government champions were useful too, but would have been impotent without active support from the public.<br /><br />There's much more to do to emphasize conservation and demand-side planning, building a smart grid, and being more aggressive with community power. If you want to make a difference on energy and climate, for a green and nuclear-free future, there is hope and you can make change - beginning with small conversations and hard work.<br /><br />from: "Sustainability is Step One" <a href="http://darcyhiggins.blogspot.com">http://darcyhiggins.blogspot.com</a>Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-14914126537185238272010-11-05T10:19:00.000-07:002010-11-13T18:08:56.526-08:00Canadian NGOs failing on climate?A blog was written yesterday by Cory Morningstar on failed climate change strategy called "From the Non-Profit Industrial Complex with Love".<br /><br />It's quite a read - pretty over the top in some cases, as if a report like this is being hidden - and the writer seems to have an axe to grind. I haven't really worked much in the bigger environmental NGOs, but my thought is feeling is that the current strategy has been based in what people have thought will work, rather than scaring folks too much. People respond in action to a call oh hope, or no? People know what's going on and it's not being hidden.<br /><br />But good points are made about where we need to be going as a movement<br />Thoughts?<br /><br />http://canadianclimateaction.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/from-the-non-profit-industrial-complex-with-love-explosive-climate-report-kept-from-public/Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-68646466861541470922010-10-13T13:17:00.000-07:002010-10-13T13:25:48.962-07:00Let's talk about the society we wantIn an article this week, George Monbiot has made the case for progressives to make the case for playing to people's collective good values to build the society we want to see. <br />He says we can do this by reflecting on individuals' intrinsic motivators and talking about collectivist attitudes - thinking big on how we can change society and not playing into small self-benefiting policy changes that flow with the broader shift to the right.<br />I think this is similar to what Bill McKibben was saying about movement building and how we've so far been failing.<br />What do you think?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2010/10/11/the-values-of-everything/">http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2010/10/11/the-values-of-everything/</a>Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-67859182529535378272010-09-29T09:13:00.001-07:002010-09-29T09:13:30.254-07:00Fundraiser for Wellesley Fire Sept 30 7PM<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qCMx8cioglI?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qCMx8cioglI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Please see this note from Hollie Pollard who I'm helping to organize a fundraiser Thursday evening for the displaced from the 200 Wellesley Fire. Thank you.<br /><br />From: http://commoncentsmom.com/2010/09/29/an-invite-wellesley-fire-fundraiser/<br /><br />Himy Syed (yes that one, the one who is one of the darkhorse canidates for mayor of Toronto), I and a few other great volunteers are organizing a fundraiser for the residents of 200 Wellesley. We invite you to come and hear the stories of residents of 200 Wellesley this Thursday Septemeber 30th at 519 Church Street at 7 pm.<br /><br />There is an urgent need to help the 1,700 plus now homeless people. Specifically in understanding the reality of affected residents by listening to them speak directly what has not been reported. Also by accepting donations by way of Gift Cards. Cash donations to Displaced Residents may negatively impact many who are on social assistance. Small value gifts cards do not . All cash donations will be converted into Gift Cards. We will have audited transparency in the collection and distribution of all Gift Card donations.<br /><br />Please come ready to listen and ready to give.<br /><br />We have a Facebook Event Page here. We would love to know if you are coming. Please do come and bring a gift card or two. The best gift cards are those for food, homewares, and soon there will be a need for furniture ones as well. If you bring cash we will transfer that into gift cards.<br /><br />As of today there is no longer the need for gently used clothing. Thanks to all who did give so generously.<br /><br />Personally I hope to meet many of you on Thursday. Please share this post with your friends and family that live in Toronto.Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-29341501417954503582010-07-08T08:47:00.000-07:002010-07-08T09:07:46.983-07:00Congrats DJ<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JFdY3rfbTT759ufg_NARdNoe7cZMIK6aIu0bb1ISf88_hGZPXaQ9EE1vXEi3H40pRz2y4XUp9RAS17ClmCHNPcUh5bkEtDmSbjH_Lw0CzRuKFUxR2P-JxAp1hbz2zftWWMuoPA/s1600/Sept+29-30+Homecoming+029-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JFdY3rfbTT759ufg_NARdNoe7cZMIK6aIu0bb1ISf88_hGZPXaQ9EE1vXEi3H40pRz2y4XUp9RAS17ClmCHNPcUh5bkEtDmSbjH_Lw0CzRuKFUxR2P-JxAp1hbz2zftWWMuoPA/s320/Sept+29-30+Homecoming+029-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491562901685586786" /></a><br />A photo I took in 07 of our next Governor General, at a reception with Major General Lewis Mackenzie.<br /><br />I predict Johnston as a GG who delivers any decisions by the books and without any large changes from the position. He's always allowed any innovations or hesitations to happen underneath his presence and accept advice of his administrators so that could be with the PM as well.<br /><br />Notably for this blog, he chaired the National Roundtable on the Environment & Economy - a federal advisory group that puts out reports ahead if its time. At the University though, the leadership on sustainability initiated by president Wright didn't seem to remain a priortiy.Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-45264047130474397502010-06-24T10:48:00.001-07:002010-06-24T11:17:23.956-07:00Aboriginal and Environmental justice @ the G20<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqPU6J6GHSQVkhGD_D9LOZr6YqeBFl4uANBrUJim3etB_41_N2KYB-dpvXHXbDnT2wQs0vaO9sdFEfrhM3a7749ScJDvCiO9fhzFyT5KTo2NEcXsbjwaNdQ17l87pVl0fU3-ixQ/s1600/IMG_4348.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqPU6J6GHSQVkhGD_D9LOZr6YqeBFl4uANBrUJim3etB_41_N2KYB-dpvXHXbDnT2wQs0vaO9sdFEfrhM3a7749ScJDvCiO9fhzFyT5KTo2NEcXsbjwaNdQ17l87pVl0fU3-ixQ/s320/IMG_4348.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486405860606973650" /></a><br />Large group of people, banners and a huge flag going down Bay St.<br /><br />Police presence is massive - unusual for a protest of this nature. But police seem to be helping them guide through the streets (whether this was wanted?) and protest peaceful as usual.<br /><br />Some of the demonstrators come from Grassy Narrows, where toxic heavy metal pollution from undesired projects have poisoned community members for years.<br /><br />I believe that Aboriginal leaders were not invited to the G20 meetings though big business leaders were.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzz5fPS1mqOgA8zIErvkHIaSYHO9zluRYmgqdEQ3KFilS9DZfwwSvRnrQhX5VaYTKX0GkP9hFbpZAIph7rOmwgGFE-EkjikK5xjM0qaT36LkEQmvdzn5d8U7yVhrquyN1_o8JODg/s1600/IMG_4342.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzz5fPS1mqOgA8zIErvkHIaSYHO9zluRYmgqdEQ3KFilS9DZfwwSvRnrQhX5VaYTKX0GkP9hFbpZAIph7rOmwgGFE-EkjikK5xjM0qaT36LkEQmvdzn5d8U7yVhrquyN1_o8JODg/s320/IMG_4342.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486400338784248178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauHJMzhL4gPSu1EHzp4MTSclyMxPR407pSwrSkpWNyFOzebDVBdT6uE9W5VDw39p_X1IhtfP17Tw_30a1CVRxYNp4U_LCW9qmEKg6wJMt3huM_w5fVwweFipHIHtzNabIGyFgqg/s1600/IMG_4358.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauHJMzhL4gPSu1EHzp4MTSclyMxPR407pSwrSkpWNyFOzebDVBdT6uE9W5VDw39p_X1IhtfP17Tw_30a1CVRxYNp4U_LCW9qmEKg6wJMt3huM_w5fVwweFipHIHtzNabIGyFgqg/s320/IMG_4358.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486403597141882546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJuWNJ-_Vl3zqB1SlK6LDOpLo0epW3qcO707xbO6VHEjhsYhtllvB0RZ7srGVEjlpAaN9fCHb3woG8175C1RV3Af_AyP7NuTdUEhNzKli7MdVybmkHc3LUwjR1x6Z7v6QZe4fkg/s1600/IMG_4351.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJuWNJ-_Vl3zqB1SlK6LDOpLo0epW3qcO707xbO6VHEjhsYhtllvB0RZ7srGVEjlpAaN9fCHb3woG8175C1RV3Af_AyP7NuTdUEhNzKli7MdVybmkHc3LUwjR1x6Z7v6QZe4fkg/s320/IMG_4351.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486402506772342002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENq8gGQ3RcHGh9QMFAGktAoQvYkIisnaUUTJFkwldy_HJ2foBkBLvFhRBbcb6lOZ9AwZhqE1_2e1sCs0qYka0i3DODPNXtPRI4xXyeJV6ZQTLzJJzS6hQIY3faItwmEmeNRjd6g/s1600/IMG_4344.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENq8gGQ3RcHGh9QMFAGktAoQvYkIisnaUUTJFkwldy_HJ2foBkBLvFhRBbcb6lOZ9AwZhqE1_2e1sCs0qYka0i3DODPNXtPRI4xXyeJV6ZQTLzJJzS6hQIY3faItwmEmeNRjd6g/s320/IMG_4344.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486402105570843426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-QUUL1vq2ynjR0nUmo16dqpeF9FfxHIm-NRa8HeGZILQ9-8xHiKoY6U8GmB1auay5EXLJjwL9ohl6ml0DXEYOO87OhUVr6iQ9S_3SyhEM5kKA1ACy2gcB8oXJseXTvm1malfpg/s1600/IMG_4361.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-QUUL1vq2ynjR0nUmo16dqpeF9FfxHIm-NRa8HeGZILQ9-8xHiKoY6U8GmB1auay5EXLJjwL9ohl6ml0DXEYOO87OhUVr6iQ9S_3SyhEM5kKA1ACy2gcB8oXJseXTvm1malfpg/s320/IMG_4361.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486403962085981410" /></a>Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-26951887207643784272010-06-01T11:58:00.000-07:002010-06-01T13:30:55.313-07:00People, we have a strategy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ymGFf4Qt8YXrRruC1rVVWtfPjXiWVIdU_bQKnUIYbr7YHfxHDEwgMMoXligBVBsYIiZEx1enpiWCqd1UR-pom4KFQ_jsyKFTl5VGbNztpIPyn6JBuWbbKkwsPFv59M3XfW1gNg/s1600/apple6.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 65px; height: 65px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ymGFf4Qt8YXrRruC1rVVWtfPjXiWVIdU_bQKnUIYbr7YHfxHDEwgMMoXligBVBsYIiZEx1enpiWCqd1UR-pom4KFQ_jsyKFTl5VGbNztpIPyn6JBuWbbKkwsPFv59M3XfW1gNg/s400/apple6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477895868270551522" /></a><br />This might not hit the press, but Toronto's Board of Health just unanimously passed the Toronto Food Strategy proposed by the Medical Officer of Health. The report is titled, Cultivating Food Connections: Toward a Healthy and Sustainable Food System for Toronto, and can be found here in its last iteration: <a href="http://bit.ly/tofoodstrategy">http://bit.ly/tofoodstrategy </a><br /><br />The report's main recommendation according to the Dr. McKeown is to ask the city manager to embed food systems thinking in all departments, boards and commissions. This is a critical step that the City Manager was apparently happy to receive. It did not need to go to Council at this point, but in the future, some recommendations will require funding attached, and further structures for implementation will be decided by Council next year. Until then, Public Health will take the lead, with lots for staff to do.<br /><br />Looking at the meat of the report, it held six recommendation areas with specific policies to support better food access in the City. Availability of food in neighbourhoods and the potential for projects leading to social cohesion were emphasized. Councillor Paula Fletcher talked about the amazing work done by the department on reaching out to communities in the publication of the report.<br />See a video shown during the meeting of what was done in Alexandra Park: http://bit.ly/torontofood <br /><br />This is a major step.<br /><br />However getting the molars into this nutritious plan is yet to come. As Councillor Davis stated, we need to work hard to keep this strategy alive through 2011.. it must be discussed in, and post-election.<br /><br />Contact me to stay updated and learn what more we can do.<br />darcyhiggins@gmail.com<br /><br />Congrats to the Toronto Food Policy Council, the Steering Committee and TPH Staff!<br /><br />Feel free to start the discussion in commentsbelow..<br /><br />p.s. my 100th blog post this one!Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-27057261592979305962010-05-18T11:39:00.000-07:002010-05-25T15:16:18.582-07:00Historic day for Canada's environmental movement<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.youtube.com/vi/hOHP-Y3MsEk/0.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 360px;" src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/hOHP-Y3MsEk/0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />A significant shift has happened.<br />Logging has been one of the biggest targets of Canada's environmental movement throughout the past decades. The environmental movement (Greenpeace, CPAWS, Forest Ethics) has won a huge victory today, with such successes as getting the major forestry industries to preserve a giant tract of Boreal Forest and to meet FSC standards across the board.<br />That level of change could not have happened within the industry itself. In the Canadian political climate, it also would not have happened through government. Here is an example of what change advocacy organization can bring - and when everyone stops to think about it, how environmentalists and corporations can do better for the economy and workers when they decide on a sustainable path together.<br /><br />See below:<br /><br /><br />Loggers, green groups reach truce<br /><br />Canada’s long-time adversaries poised to announce peace pact, switch to partnership model<br /><br />Martin Mittelstaedt<br />From Tuesday's Globe and Mail<br />Published on Monday, May. 17, 2010 1:50PM EDT<br />Last updated on Tuesday, May. 18, 2010 10:54AM EDT<br />Canada’s long-running war in the woods, which has spanned decades and involved bitter skirmishes in just about every area of the country, may be over for good.<br /><br />Forest companies and environmentalists are poised to announce a historic truce Tuesday. The deal will not only stop the fighting, but will require the two sides to eventually do something once thought improbable: Tree huggers and tree cutters are to switch from being sworn enemies to something resembling partners.<br /><br />Under the pact, environmental groups will suspend boycott campaigns directed against Canadian forest products companies, a major irritant to the industry. Meanwhile, forest companies will not undertake any environmentally unfriendly actions, such as logging in ecologically sensitive boreal forests inhabited by endangered caribou.<br /><br />If the industry attains specified conservation performance goals, environmental groups will go beyond the truce and publicly help brand the Canadian industry’s products as green. This will give the industry a marketing advantage against companies from countries that turn a blind eye to illegal harvesting and other harmful forestry practices.<br /><br />Read more here: <br /><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/loggers-green-groups-reach-truce/article1571684/">http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/loggers-green-groups-reach-truce/article1571684/</a>Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-91736163812682474842010-05-02T19:45:00.000-07:002010-05-02T19:48:33.709-07:00they just won't understand these thingsWow, Second Cup (Canadian-owned) was playing a favourite Xavier Rudd song.. an awesome Aussie who plays much in Canada.<br /><br />Called "Messages", I like this song when I'm feeling things aren't going well.<br /><br />Lyrics:<br /><br />So now come sit down<br />Will you talk with me now<br />And let me see through your eyes<br />Where there is so much light<br />We are biding our time<br />For these myths to unwind <br />For these changes we will confront<br /><br />So please be aware with every<br />Place that you herald<br />And look to your soul<br />For these things that you know<br />For the trees that we see<br />Cannot forever breathe<br />With the changes they will confront<br /><br />CHORUS:<br />You know some people they just won't understand<br />No, they just won't understand<br />These things<br />Thank you for your message but I don't understand<br />No they just won't understand<br />These things<br /><br />And this sacred land<br />It has seen many hands<br />It has wealth and gold<br />Now it is fragile and old <br />And now the greedy souls just don't care to know<br />Of the changes it will confront<br /><br />So speak out loud<br />Of the things you are proud<br />And if you love this coast<br />Then keep it clean as it evolves<br />Because the way that it shines <br />May just dwindle with time<br />With the changes it will confront<br /><br />So hold nice and close<br />Once you get to your soul<br />So that when it is cold<br />You won't feel so alone<br />'Cause the roads that you take<br />May just crack and break<br />With the changes you will confront<br /><br />With each gift that you share <br />You may heal and repair<br />With each choice you make<br />You may help someone's day<br />Well I know you are strong<br />May your journey be long<br />And now I wish you the best of luck<br />Well I know you are strong<br />May your journey be long<br />And now I wish you the best of luck.Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-37100319764603339072010-04-22T13:35:00.000-07:002010-04-22T16:54:18.510-07:00Some Earth Day reflections on climate politics, recession, food and good reads<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://earthfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/starving-children.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 520px; height: 327px;" src="http://earthfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/starving-children.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />"If the climate was a bank [the U.S.] would already have saved it."<br />- Hugo Chavez<br /><br />Earth Day always leaves me wanting to get back to the keyboard to "pen" a few thoughts. Last year, <a href="http://darcyhiggins.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html">I wrote that </a>solutions exist and that a good society needs to take them up to make a significant difference.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Cleaning up our act</span><br /><br />Earlier today I spent time picking up litter in Grange Park in Toronto, somewhere I often have lunch and enjoy immensely as an inner-city park. The Green Party of Ontario organized it, and it was the second cleanup I helped with this week. I used to not be a fan of these types of activities on Earth Day because they can give the impression that litter is a serious environmental issue, rather than focusing on the deeper changes we need. I want people to realize those decisions that will make a difference - getting out of their cars, reducing home energy use, increasing their consumption of healthy vegetables and <a href="http://images.google.ca/images?rlz=1C1GGLS_enCA361CA361&q=pulses&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi">pulses </a>- not just focusing on largely aesthetic factors. I now realize that clean ups are more of an issue of community integrity and pride, important to go along with strictly "environmental" activities. And how can we value keeping the atmosphere clean if we can't even keep trash out of our backyards?<br /><br />But we still sandwich in the park clean up between other work, because working on poltical organizing, communications and Green policy development are actions that have the possibility to motivate large scale shifts. It is in politics, along with education and writing like this,g where I enjoy putting my efforts.<br /><br />Cycling home, the line of cars I and a few others pass reminds me of the causes of declining global trends harming the Earth's life support systems of the atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere. Recent global struggles on climate, and biodiversity even more so, have been wildly unsuccessful due to a plethora of reasons including failures of political and economic systems and an environmental movement unable to capture the change it desires.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Recession and a Carbon Tax</span><br /><br />Global recession has caught the attention of the world well stronger than the climate and other earth crises, because the recession is affecting the developed world and is noticeable right now in people's day to day. Most people don't look down the road, and many don't have the ability to make decision based on tomorrow because of the needs of survival. As the recession has diverted much attention away from the Earth, governments such as the French are pulling back from effective policies like carbon taxes because of declining public support. In Canada, a significant policy presented by Stephane Dion was turned down by the public due to a Conservative Party who saw fit to simplify and vilify a strong opposition proposal, and an NDP who forgot about inter-generational and global equity.<br /><br />The irony is that the recession has slowed economic growth, making good on energy reductions that governments have been unable to achieve. A recession if it continued, and it perhaps could due to rising oil prices, could bring down atmospheric carbon and prevent the climate going out of control.<br /><br />But the economy need not be like this. In preparing an economic system that uses low fossil fuels, we could create good new jobs in clean energy, sustainable agri-food, transportation, arts and culture. Governments and industries haven't grasped this possibility, some are only testing the waters, like the McGuinty government in Ontario.<br /><br />It is due to these broad failures that I now believe we will pass 350 parts per million of CO2, what scientists have said is humanity's safe level. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/world/europe/09iht-walkout.html?_r=1">Others have argued</a> this level is not safe, and will mean suicide, especially for small island states. I'm not sure this debate matters, because without a complete change in trends, or deep recession, we will fly past 350 and rise not two degrees, but perhaps four or five by the end of the Century. This is my opinion based on observations over the last few months and years of political and scientific trends.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Changing my tune</span><br /><br />This doesn't mean though that we should stop working to reduce our emissions. First, we can't predict with <span style="font-style:italic;">certainty</span> what will happen, and reducing emissions as fast as we can could stop runaway climate change. Second, although deep environmental and societal impacts are inevitable, the lower the temperature increase, the lower those possible impacts to life. But it also means we need to shift energy not just to mitigation, but to adapting to climate change, because we know it is happening.<br /><br />Starting this Earth Day, I will be advocating further on adaptation - something that environmentalists haven't been talking a lot about, in hopes that we can <a href="http://this.org/blog/category/stop-everything/">stop everything</a>. The environmental justice movement has brought about attention, the strongest in the form of the need to pay for climate debt to the developing world. Obviously, such a proposal has run into stumbling blocks. But the work to be done in adapting to climate change - and a world full of weakened ecological systems more broadly - is work that we now must realize if we are to figure out how to grow and distribute food, conserve water, live and move around in times with increased heat waves, droughts, flooding, storms, species loss and diseases. We don't know how the planet and human systems will react to these pressures - we can only plan and be resilient for what might come.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Focus on Food</span><br /><br />I have worked lately on saving farmland in the proposal for a Markham Foodbelt. Farmers have wanted to make money on their land - and now believe that selling to developers is the only way to do that. Even in the GTA we have forced those unable to make money into supporting environmental degradation, instead of endorsing policies to keep our best land, produce local food and support those growing it. And yet it will be land just like this that will keep us resilient to a change in climate when oil prices are high and ecological damage becomes more apparent.<br /><br />I enjoy working on food system issues because they relate to the environment, but also to the kind of living we need to create in order to support while enjoying healthier food, supporting small scale economies and reducing our input of CO2 while adapting to new realities. <br /><br />These are some areas I will continue to work on and I hope you'll join me. This work will be very community-based, with trust that those in communities throughout the world are doing similar work. The global struggles must continue, while movements for change innovate to not just depending on failing international governance to get us where we need to be, but also working on direct actions and broadening the number of people supporting political efforts.<br /><br />Doing the clean up last weekend, an elementary school aged girl who was helping me was looking at the garbage, asking why people would throw all of this stuff on the ground. <br /><br />"This one's recyclable," she stated matter-of-factly. "I know that because my school's an Ecoschool."<br /><br />Children and youth certainly have different mindsets even from when I was growing up - I am constantly surprised by the level of awareness. Many have hope that as they grow up things will change. Past generations have indeed left the planet in a mess. My hope that a future generation will change things isn't 100%, but with a broad-based knowledge of the problems, some have always said that only massive awareness will make things better.<br /><br />With that said, I applaud those <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5857015&id=508392253">cleaning the parks</a>, <a href="http://www.otesha.ca/">educating youth</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/durabilite/conservationlist">communicating change</a>, <a href="http://www.notfarfromthetree.org/">being change</a> and <a href="http://www.rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/joshua-kahn-russell/2010/03/indigenous-voices-challenge-royal-bank-tar-sands-policies">challenging change</a>.<br /><br />Happy Earth Day<br /><br />Recommended readings: <br /><br />http://this.org/blog/2010/04/22/earth-day/<br />http://www.alternativesjournal.ca/magazines/new-eco-books-363<br />http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/bolivian-village-wants-compensation-for-climate-change-adaptation/Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-80576982398963418122010-04-12T10:33:00.000-07:002010-04-12T10:35:57.079-07:00Eating sans fundsStay tuned in to this blog, one of the most interesting things I'm reading - real experiences of Torontonians (many of them happen to be writers), seeing what it's like to eat on social assistance.<br /><br />Thanks folks for giving a voice:<br /><br />http://bit.ly/9vk0bmDarcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35752015.post-28248334610439927632010-03-26T10:42:00.000-07:002010-03-26T10:43:22.580-07:00Depressing letter to the editor - you'll be sorrySuzuki is right, money won't save us<br /><br />Re: Nature imposes the real bottom line, Feb. 28<br /><br />David Suzuki is right on the mark! Money, technology will not save us. It never has and never will.<br /><br />We live in a greedy society. Money and technology will not save you from the catastrophies of climate change and global warming.<br /><br />Our government and whatever else you call it won't solve your problems. Get your priorities straight. Get with the program.<br /><br />Young people have absolutely no idea what awaits them. They are going to be sorry.<br /><br />M. Daquano<br /><br />Richmond Hill <br /><br />(from: yorkregion.com)Darcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09012361493342643098noreply@blogger.com0