Greenspiration News & Events: Fed up with Ford

[Angela Bischoff - OCAA]

"Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.”  ~ Lr Knost  

 

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

The facts of climate progress are the antidote to pessimism

Don't let defeatism obscure the truth: major progress is happening on climate and clean energy around the world. 

https://www.corporateknights.com/category-climate/the-facts-of-climate-progress-are-the-antidote-to-pessimism/

 

Does Putin Own Trump?

Why is Trump bending the knee to Putin?

https://hartmannreport.com/p/does-putin-own-trump-48b 

 

Putin's Poodle

The US has turned its back on Ukraine and 80 years of peacetime alliances in favour of support for Putin’s Russia.

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/february-19-2025

 

'Game changer': US reportedly threatens to revoke Ukraine's Starlink access over minerals

https://www.rawstory.com/amp/starlink-2671196102

 

DEI Exposes the Myth of White Male Superiority — And That’s Why They Hate It

Trump’s anti-DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) policy is about white and male supremacy. Trump’s immigration deportation policy is about white supremacy.

https://hartmannreport.com/p/dei-exposes-the-myth-of-white-male-6d6

 

Trump just assaulted the independence of the nuclear regulator. What could go wrong?

https://thebulletin.org/2025/02/trump-just-assaulted-the-independence-of-the-nuclear-regulator-what-could-go-wrong/

 

$19 B Climate and Environmental Justice Programs Stalled by Trump Freeze, Despite Court Orders - plus another $20 B already committed 

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16022025/climate-environmental-justice-programs-trump-freeze/

 

Nuclear Risks: A Conversation with Dr. Gordon Edwards - 32 min. video

https://www.wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/nuclear-risks-a-conversation-with-dr-gordon-edwards-episode-90

 

The IAEA comments on the state of Ukraine's Nuclear Power Plants

The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant has been relying on a single off-site power line for more than a week now after the other 9 have been taken offline due to the war - this single power line is critical to prevent massive radioactive releases at the site. At the Chornobyl plant, firefighters are continuing to put out small fires that keep smouldering and spreading on the roof of the reactor shield hit by a Russian drone. Ukraine’s other nuclear plants have continued to report frequent air raid alarms over the past week due to the presence of drones around the sites.

https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/update-277-iaea-director-general-statement-on-situation-in-ukraine

 

A Lawsuit Against Greenpeace Is Meant to Bankrupt It and Deter Public Protests, Environmental Groups Warn

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/21022025/greenpeace-lawsuit-meant-to-deter-public-protests/

 

 

CANADA

 

Help Stop the CBC Shutdown - petition to Protect the CBC

https://forwardcanada.ca/protectcbc

 

Save-The-CBC - send a letter here

https://friends.ca/takeaction/tell-the-leaders-to-stand-up-for-the-cbc/

 

Mark Carney’s climate cred and more from Zero Carbon

https://mailchi.mp/nationalobserver/correction-mark-carneys-climate-cred 

 

Federal Court Recognizes Kebaowek First Nation’s Right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent on Chalk River Nuclear Waste Project

https://mailchi.mp/d3164f3cb0c2/nsdf-license-approved-without-first-nations-consent-we-will-not-stand-idle-6740798 

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/02/21/news/kebaowek-first-nation-nuclear-waste-facility-undrip

 

An east-west oil pipeline is a trap—Canada needs an east-west renewable electricity grid

https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/an-east-west-oil-pipeline-is-a-trap-canada-needs-an-east-west-electricity-grid/ 

 

North America’s largest urban solar power plant will be built in Medicine Hat, Alberta

Clean, low cost, renewable power should replace dirty gas in Ontario as well.

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/02/19/news/north-america-largest-urban-solar-power-plant-medicine-hat

 

 

ONTARIO

 

How Rob Ford and Doug Ford Caused Traffic Chaos - 2 min. video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3UV84DbzA4

 

Ontario needs leader who 'dares to imagine true independence'

We can embrace Ford's vision of Canada as America's obedient energy partner, or we can create genuine energy independence with renewables that fuel Canadian prosperity.

https://www.barrietoday.com/letters-to-the-editor/letter-ontario-needs-leader-who-dares-to-imagine-true-independence-10250816

            

Ontario lost nearly 1,300 residential construction jobs last year—the worst in Canada

https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/ontario-lost-nearly-1300-residential-construction-jobs-last-year-the-worst-in-canada/

 

Prioritizing nuclear power and gas over renewable energy is a risky move for Ontario’s energy future

https://theconversation.com/prioritizing-nuclear-power-and-natural-gas-over-renewable-energy-is-a-risky-move-for-ontarios-energy-future-246289

 

Ontario’s electricity system is becoming more dependent on energy imports from the U.S.

Instead of making our electricity system more vulnerable to attacks from the U.S., we could be increasing energy security by investing in wind and solar and expanding Canada’s east-west grid.

https://www.cleanairalliance.org/ontarios-electricity-u-s/

 

Inside Doug Ford’s Plan to Starve Ontario’s Universities

https://thewalrus.ca/inside-doug-fords-plan-to-starve-ontarios-universities/

 

 

ONTARIO ELECTION - Thur. Feb. 27

 

Fed up with Doug Ford?

 

- Stop Vote Splitting - Vote Strategically

This tool helps voters find their riding and identify the best candidate to prevent a Conservative win.

https://smartvoting.ca/

 

- In Toronto: Not One Seat: https://www.notoneseat.ca/candidates  

 

- In Ontario: Common Ground: https://commongroundon.blogspot.com   

 

- Unity Candidates for Ontario: https://cooperateforcanada.ca/heres-how-you-can-help-ontario/

 

- Vote Well: https://votewell.ca

 

2025 Ontario Election Resources - compiled by the Social Planning Council

https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/2025_ontario_election

 

Where the ON parties stand on: 

 

- Electoral Reform

https://www.fairvote.ca/22/02/2025/ontario-election-2025-where-parties-stand-on-proportional-representation/

 

- Nuclear Power and Nuclear Waste

https://win.newmode.net/wethenuclearfreenorth/ontariovotes2025threequestionsaboutnuclearwaste-1

 

- Energy

https://www.cleanairalliance.org/election-questions/

 

- The Environment

https://greenprosperity.ca/provincial-election-survey-2025/

 

- Phasing out Gas Power

https://www.cleanairalliance.org/ndp-liberals-greens/

 

- Food and Farming

https://sustainontario.com/vote2025/

 

- Social Assistance, housing, childcare, workers' rights

https://acorncanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ON-Provincial-2025.pdf

 

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NEWS

 

Ukraine’s Fight for Self-Determination: Three Years of Resistance Against Russian Imperialism

Mon. Feb. 24, 2 p.m. ET (recording will stay there)

February 24th marks the third anniversary of Russia’s imperialist invasion of Ukraine. Ever since, the Ukrainian state and its working people have resisted and fought for their self-determination. While they received support from the US and Europe, it came with a price tag of debt and neoliberal restructuring, and now the new Trump administration has suspended aid and aims to strike a peace deal with Russia behind Ukraine’s back. Join us for this panel on war, resistance, and the future of Ukraine.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/haymarketbooks/1591277 

 

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Black Women Shaping Human Rights in Politics

Mon. Feb. 24, 6 - 7 p.m.  ET  

Amnesty International Canada presents an online webinar for Black History Month with Canada's first Black woman member of parliament, Dr. Jean Augustine. Dr. Jean Augustine is a trailblazing Canadian politician, educator and social justice advocate. Her legislative successes include both the historic Black History Month Motion and the “Famous Five” Motion to honour women’s suffrage. Join us as we explore her remarkable career and discuss the ongoing challenges Black women face in pursuing equality, justice and representation.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1zj1hHv2TyCUEJK8_dY7cQ#/registration

 

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Anti Oppression & Intersectionality 101

Mon. Feb 24, 7 p.m. ET

The goal of this workshop is to equip participants with foundational concepts and tools that help them develop and uphold anti-oppressive and intersectional environmentalist practices in their organizing work. Topics include environmentalism in the context of settler colonialism, why climate action must include social justice, and how to be an effective ally or accomplice in the climate movement.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BBSDAHDBTH6IYbloBFqRxA#/registration  

 

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Solidarity With Ukraine 

Mon. Feb. 24

72 events in 56 Canadian Cities 

In Toronto there are 5 events, one at Toronto City Hall, 3 p.m.

February 24, 2025 marks three years of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, which has upended millions of lives—killing civilians and separating families—and wrought major destruction on much of Ukraine. In carrying out its violence, Russia has expended huge human, military, and economic resources in its campaign to eradicate Ukrainian identity and nationhood. Find an event in your community:

https://uaworldmap.ukrainianworldcongress.org/en

 

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Ringing the Alarm: How will Ontario’s Employment Services Transformation Impact Toronto? A Community Conversation

Mon. Feb. 24, noon - 1:30 pm ET

Ontario’s employment services system has been undergoing a massive transformation aimed at integrating employment programs with social assistance. The province’s transformation was intended to create an “efficient, more streamlined, and outcomes focused” system. However, in practice the integration has led to the privatization of service delivery, unsustainable caseloads for frontline workers, and funding cutbacks based on performance metrics that are not responsive to the holistic needs of jobseekers and people on income support, such as Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). Join Social Planning Toronto to hear directly from community groups who are advocating to ensure that this transformation does not erode our social safety net and can support the dignity and wellbeing of job seekers and people on social assistance, and the organizations and workers supporting them.

https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/2025_ontario_election

 

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Big Nuclear: Nuclear Expansionism in Canada

Tues. Feb. 25, 7 p.m. ET

>From construction applications for not-so-small “Small Modular Reactors” at the Darlington to announcements of plans for new mega-reactors at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station and now Wesleyville, the nuclear industry is running a seeming juggernaut nuclear expansion campaign and governments are on nuclear spending sprees. Join this session to hear about nuclear expansion plans in Canada, from New Brunswick to Alberta (most rampant in Ontario).

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d50pGI1iSIGC1FSArLQS3A#/registration  

 

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How building journalism around community can help it survive

Tues. Feb. 25, 6 p.m.

The VENN (Rogers Communication Centre), 80 Gould Street RCC 103, Toronto

With the rise of AI, the unreliability of big tech as platforms for news distribution, and increasing polarization, can a focus on community building help save journalism?

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/how-building-journalism-around-community-can-help-it-survive-tickets-1236406066829 

 

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Provincial Election Forum on Income Security

Tues. Feb 25, noon - 1 p.m. ET

Panelists will be asked questions on their party’s positions on a range of income security-related policies; on systemic issues facing low waged workers and people receiving social assistance; and their plans on eliminating poverty for people in Ontario.

https://www.donvalleylegal.ca/event/isacs-provincial-election-forum-on-income-security/

 

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Bridging Green Career Development for Higher Education Webinar

Tuesday, February 25, 6:30 p.m. ET

Learn more about advancing green career development for underrepresented youth in higher education.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bridging-green-career-development-for-higher-education-webinar-tickets-1222303957039

 

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Climate North: Taco ‘Bout Climate

Tues. Feb. 25, 6 - 9 p.m.

CSI Spadina, 192 Spadina, Toronto

We're co-organizing with CSI and Climate North, an in-person gathering in Toronto where we bring people together to discuss climate topics in a way that’s engaging, solutions-focused, and rooted in community. This isn’t just another panel or lecture. It’s a chance to meet like-minded people, explore actionable solutions, and build a local network of support. And because conversations flow better over food, we’ll also be cooking together!

https://lu.ma/ClimateNorthFeb2025?tk=36RZlm

 

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Ontario Energy Policy - with SolarShare

Wed. Feb. 26, noon ET

Since taking office in 2018, the Doug Ford government has completely reversed course on energy policy again and again. When the Progressive Conservatives first took office, renewable contracts were abruptly cancelled; today, the door is open to clean energy in a major way. Fatima Syed, a reporter with The Narwhal, has reported every twist and turn and is now wondering -- what's next?

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/cNqRgBmHSgayV870e6IA6w#/registration

 

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Eliminating the Need for Mining EV Battery Minerals by 2050

Wed. Feb. 26, 12:30 p.m. ET

The rapid electrification of transportation is an essential component of climate change mitigation strategies. However, the growing fleets of Electric Vehicles will require supplies of specialized materials, particularly for advanced battery manufacturing. Projections of the need for what are termed “critical” minerals in this context suggest large growth in future demand. At the same time, questions are being raised about the environmental, climate, social and cultural impacts of the increased extraction of critical minerals. Analyses of future directions in EV battery technologies, and the impact of more circular approaches to battery material supply chains have been limited. New analyses from the Rocky Mountain Institute have examined the potential for significant reductions in the levels and intensity of ‘critical’ mineral extraction needed to support widespread EV adoption, and wider energy systems transitions. Join us for a discussion with the lead researchers on this ground-breaking work:

https://yorku.zoom.us/meeting/register/0uCaUQqITIisRoDiS44eLA#/registration  

 

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BE SURE TO VOTE! 

Thur. Feb. 27

Voter Info from Elections Ontario

https://www.elections.on.ca/en.html 

 

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Disposable: America's Contempt for the Underclass

Thur. Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m.

In a compelling blend of personal narrative and in-depth reporting, New York magazine senior writer Sarah Jones exposes the harsh reality of America’s racial and income inequality and the devastating impact of the pandemic on our nation’s most vulnerable people.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/haymarketbooks/1511657 

 

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Economic Blackout - 24 hours

Fri. Feb. 28 - All Day

Buy nothing! If you must purchase things for necessity, buy local. Disrupt the economy for just 1 day. Show who really has the power - the people!

https://www.newsweek.com/who-peoples-union-group-behind-nationwide-economic-blackout-2029654

 

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Rally & March Against Mining Violence – #DisruptPDAC 2025

Sun. March 2, 1 p.m. ET

Meet at the Toronto Stock Exchange (100 Adelaide St West) for a rally and march to PDAC. We’ll stop by mining companies and corporate criminals on our way and hear from those directly impacted by their mining projects.

The Canadian mining industry plays a crucial role in the Military Industrial Complex, fueling violence on Turtle Island and around the world. This violence takes many forms: from deploying militarized forces to push through mining projects in Indigenous territory in Norway, Guatemala, Ecuador, and across Turtle Island, to imprisoning environmental defenders in El Salvador and Wet’suwet’en, the Canadian mining industry is mired in conflict. Not to mention its involvement in conflict zones like Tigray and the Congo. This cycle of violence continues when minerals become weapons of war and genocide.

https://mininginjustice.org/pdac2025/

 

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For the best Canadian climate and energy news, visit and subscribe to the Energy Mix newsletter.

http://theenergymix.com/  

 

Democracy Now Daily Show - global peace, justice and enviro news

https://www.democracynow.org/

 

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Submissions, subscribes, unsubscribes, and comments: mailto:angela at cleanairalliance.org 

 

Share this newsletter on social media using this link: http://greenspiration.org/news-events/ 

 

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