Green Neighbours – Scarborough-Guildwood – Jan 6
City Budget info session – Scarborough – Jan 8
Climate Emergency Forum - Jan 14
Budget Deputation Training – Jan 15
Kitchen Table Climate Conversation Training – Feb 15
January films: Jan 6 and Jan 20
Articles of Interest -- – COP25, TEDX talk, climate solutions
CLIMATEFAST NEW YEAR NEWSLETTER – 2020 – our Turnaround Year!
Dear friends,
Are you concerned about the climate crisis? So are we! And our action is needed more urgently than ever. As I write bushfires supercharged by climate change are burning vast areas of Australia.
Scientists tell us we need to be reducing emissions at least 7% per year, and so far emissions are still increasing . In the GTA the Atmospheric Fund report shows we are making some progress – a 2% drop in 2 years from 2015 – 2017 – but that is not going to get us there. T his article illustrates the challenge we face. Every year that we delay taking serious action as individuals and as a country, the challenge becomes steeper – so we can see how very important it is to make real change happen this year.
The Madrid climate talks, COP25, did not bring needed results. Although this can be discouraging we are not about to give up. We have momentum on our side with the amazing energetic street actions of Extinction Rebellion, and the Fridays for Future Climate Strikes. In addition to street actions we need ongoing advocacy at all levels of government .
So let’s enter this year energized – and determined to make a difference, in our municipalities, and at the provincial, federal, and international levels.
We need to make 2020 our #TurnaroundYear for #ClimateAction. Time for a resolution – have you made yours yet? For inspiration listen to the #Resolution2020 song!
One of our resolutions at ClimateFast is to promote Kitchen Table Climate Conversations KTCC) throughout the province. Is your riding one where climate conversations need to take place? ClimateFast’s KTCC are designed to help people to engage in climate action personally and in their communities. Do you know of people want to do more but don’t know what they can do?
If so please register for our next KTCC training day on Saturday February 15 th . Details for those in the City of Toronto, coming up in less than two weeks we have the opportunity to lobby for a budget that includes support for climate emergency action. Please join us on Wednesday Jan 15, 6:30 pm, at 60 Lowther Ave. To learn how to depute in writing or in person.
Be informed and inspired – check out the films being screened in January. And for information on the Ecojustice climate case as youth are taking the government of Ontario to court.
With hope and resolve,
Lyn and the ClimateFast team
**************************************************************************************
NEW GREEN GROUP STARTING IN WARD 24! SCARBOROUGH- GUILDWOOD
First meeting of Green 24 being organized by John Doleweerd and Mark Takefman
Monday Jan 6, 6:30 pm, Action for Food Security (AFS), Scarborough Village Recreation Centre, 3600 Kingston Rd. northeast corner of Markham and Kingston Rd. RSVP takefman@gmail.com
**************************************************************************************
NOTE: JANUARY 8 SCARBOROUGH – 2020 BUDGET FORUM SPONSORED BY Scarborough Civic Action Network (SCAN), Wednesday January 8, 2020 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the Dorset Park Community Hub located at 1911 Kennedy Road.
Register on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scarborough-city-budget-forum-tickets-86975278399 or send an email to scarboroughcivicaction@gmail.com .
**************************************************************************************
TUESDAY JANUARY 14, 7 pm Innis Town Hall: Climate Emergency: What is to be done? Science for Peace Forum; speakers include Dr. Danny Harvey (Professor, U of T), Tamara Lorincz (Canadian Voice of Women for Peace), Allie Rougeot (Fridays for Future), Colleen Lynch and Megan Senese (Toronto 350), Emmay Mah (Toronto Environmental Alliance) Ali Hashemi (Extinction Rebellion) Dr. R. Sandbrook (Professor, U of T) and Lyn Adamson (ClimateFast) FREE
*************************************************************************************
DEPUTATION TRAINING NIGHT – CITY OF TORONTO’S BUDGET – WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15, 6:30 PM - 60 LOWTHER AVE.
What will a climate emergency budget look like? Let’s tell our councillors what we want! The city budget is out Jan 10 th . Come to our deputation training on January 15 th and prepare to submit your comments, in person or in writing, Jan 20 – 21 st . We know our deputations in the past have helped achieve full funding for TransformTO . Now let’s ask for that funding to be expanded! Come out and find out how to express your voice for climate action! Please email: lyn@climatefast.ca . Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/586099262182590/
***************************************************************************************
KITCHEN TABLE CLIMATE CONVERSATIONS -SAVE THE DATE! Saturday February 15, 10 – 4
We need everyone to be involved in responding to the climate crisis. Learn skills for outreach and facilitation of conversations on climate. $20 or pwyc. Register below. Email lyn@climatefast.ca for more info.
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/kitchen-table-climate-conversation-training-day-tickets-88028785467
***************************************************************************************
TWO FILMS FOR JANUARY – HOW TO BEE – AND WHEN THE STORM FADES – CINEPLEX THEATRE YONGE/DUNDAS
HOW TO BEE – Monday Jan 6, 7 pm
How to Bee follows the journey of a father and daughter over three beekeeping seasons as he passes his knowledge on to her and they come to terms with his changing health. How to Bee is a celebration of life in all stages set against the unique backdrop of Canada’s North.
WHEN THE STORM FADES – MONDAY JAN 20, 7 PM YONGE DUNDAS CINEPLEX A genre defying docudrama starring a Filipino family of survivors as they recover from the strongest storm in recorded history – 2013’s Super Typhoon Haiyan. Part comedic fiction, part dramatic re-enactment- the result is a satirical examination of the white saviour complex and a quiet meditation on grief in the era of climate change.
Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/470845740230219/ (TORONTO) BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE: https://tickets.demand.film/event/9430
**********************************************************************************************
Seven young Ontarians are suing Doug Ford over climate inaction. Meet our #GenClimateAction
https://www.ecojustice.ca/gen-climate-action-our-biggest-climate-lawsuit-yet/ This very exciting initiative includes some of the Fridays for Future youth including Zoe Keary-Matzner of Toronto, age 13, and Sophia Mathur, of Sudbury, age 12. Watch their press conference for the launch of the lawsuit and be inspired. Donate if you can! It’s EcoJustice’s most ambitious lawsuit so far. Other Fridays for Future young leaders are recognized in Corporate Knights magazine 30 under 30 – including Allie Rougeot Toronto ClimateStrike Coordinator and youth activists Rachel Wang and Rachel Parent. Go youth go!
ClimateFast works in support of Fridays for Future organizing. Next planning meeting is Sunday January 12, 5 pm. Please contact us if you are interested in joining in support of upcoming ClimateStrike actions. Lyn@climatefast.ca .
******************************************************************************************************
CONNECTING WITH COP25 – FOLLOW UP!
Mitchell Beer who facilitated our Connecting with COP 25 event in December has his TEDX talk posted on line. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rkDTXEOpEM
Climate Change: What if we’re asking the wrong question?
What the Second World War was to our ancestors, Climate Change is to our lifetime. We can win this battle, as long as we don’t give in to climate despair and convince ourselves that it’s already lost. The solutions are within our grasp, but they depend on political will that will only be driven by much wider public demand for actions that cut carbon, create many millions of jobs, and build stronger, healthier, more resilient communities. Follow Mitchell on Twitter @mitchellbeer Mitchell Beer is Publisher of The Energy Mix
Mitchell also had this summary of COP25 published in Policy Options.
https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/december-2019/whats-next-after-a-failed-cop-25/
Two more links on COP25: https://theenergymix.com/2019/12/16/disgraceful-cop-25-shows-big-emitters-betraying-people-across-the-world/
https://theenergymix.com/2019/12/18/cop-25-becomes-first-to-use-f-words-to-call-out-fossil-fuels/
Subscribe to the Energy Mix for 3x weekly postings on energy and climate news.
************************************************************************
ARTICLES OF INTEREST – to inspire and encourage us!
OK Doomer - ‘Yes it’s possible!’ by Guy Dauncey We really don’t benefit from unrealistic dooming and glooming. We need a far more determined, positive framing, celebrating the transition to a new ecological civilization in which we finally learn how to live in harmony with Nature, and with each other.
https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2019/11/25/OK-Doomer-Climate-Challenge-Response/
https://theenergymix.com/2020/01/01/family-planning-would-save-59-6-gigatons-of-carbon-by-2050-3/
https://theenergymix.com/2019/12/11/battery-costs-plummet-50-in-three-years-87-since-2010/
Dianne Saxe reflective article in Toronto Life: The Ford Fallout: “I’m dreading the day my grandchildren look at me and ask, ‘Why did you let this happen to us?’” https://torontolife.com/city/the-ford-fallout-environmental-cuts/
********************************************************************
DO YOU WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED?
ClimateFast is setting up working groups for:
Kitchen Table Climate Conversations – next meeting Wed Jan 8 th 1:30 60 Lowther Ave.
Toronto Climate Film Festival – next meeting to be set – email lyn@climatefast.ca for info Volunteering for organizing and data entry – email volunteer@climatefast.ca Core planning team – next meeting Sunday Jan 5, 4 pm, 60 Lowther Ave.
Planning for deputation training – Monday Jan 13, 6:30 pm 60 Lowther Ave.
Deputation training Wednesday Jan 15, 6:30 pm – everyone invited!
We need action on climate – fast! Together we can make the difference.
Let’s make 2020 an amazing #TurnaroundYear.
