Greenspiration News: climate action!
angela bischoff
greenspi at web.ca
Wed Dec 2 22:19:54 EST 2009
Greenspiration News
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Countdown to Copenhagen
Less than 2 weeks remain before the critical United Nations Climate Summit
in Copenhagen, Denmark! We are now entering the home stretch - with only
a couple of weeks left to demand that climate change be a priority for our
government, and that they reach a fair, ambitious and binding deal in
Copenhagen.
This website will let you know what you can do, and where you can find all
of the information you need during the next three weeks (and beyond!)
www.climateactionetwork.ca
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Wow – please read this article if you are Canadian. -a
Canada's image lies in tatters. It is now to climate what Japan is to whaling
The tar barons have held the nation to ransom. This thuggish petro-state
is today the greatest obstacle to a deal in Copenhagen. - By George
Monbiot
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/nov/30/canada-tar-sands-copenhagen-climate-deal
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Weekend of Global Action on Climate Change: December 11 to 14
The World Wants a Real Deal
World leaders are gathering in Copenhagen this December to negotiate a new
global climate change agreement. We need your dedication, passion, time,
and resources to organize events, inspire your peers, and pressure the
Government of Canada to support a fair, ambitious, and binding deal. You
can find or register an event in your community by clicking on this link
(feel free to register anything between December 11 and 14):
http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e/action/events/real-deal.html#map You
can also read on for more information on how you can take part in the
Weekend of Global Action on Climate Change.
Friday the 11th and Monday December 14th: Organize an Event or Visit Your
Member of Parliament’s Constituency Office and Demand Action
On Friday the 11th and Monday the 14th, Canadians across the country will
visit their member of parliament’s constituency office and demand that
Canada support a fair, ambitious and binding global climate change
agreement in Copenhagen. If you think that your member of parliament is
already supportive, then visit an MP that has refused to endorse the
KyotoPlus pledge for politicians or organize an event in your community
that shows the federal government that you care.
· Find out if your MP has pledged to support tough action here:
http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/campaigns/kyotoplus/pledge
· For tips on organizing a lobby visit, go here:
http://www.justearth.net/MP-meeting
· For tips on organizing an event or demonstration, this 9 step plan
from the October 24th day of action is still useful:
http://www.350.org/9steps
· And please don’t forget to register any event that takes place
between December 11 and 14 here:
http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e/action/events/real-deal.html#map
Saturday December 12th: Global Day of Action: Candlelight Vigils,
Rallies, Marches and Protests
On Saturday December 12th, as talks in Copenhagen reach a critical mid-way
point, candlelight vigils and rallies are being held in communities around
the world! Help make this the biggest day of action on climate change in
history! Visit http://tcktcktck.org/realdeal for more information, or find
and register events here!
http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e/action/events/real-deal.html#map
· This 9 step plan from October 24th is still a useful guide to
organizing a local event: http://www.350.org/9steps
Sunday, December 13th: 350 Bells!
KAIROS - Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives is spearheading Canada’s
participation in this international event, overseen by the World Council
of Churches. On Sunday, December 13, faith-based groups around the world
will ring their bells 350 times, either at 3:00 pm local time (to be part
of a chain of bells rolling around the Earth) or at the end of their
service. If you don’t have bells, improvise! Help spread the word so every
church in Canada knows about this historic event. Churches should
register here:
http://www.kairoscanada.org/en/ecojustice/climate-change/copenhagen-2009/ring-350-for-copenhagen/
Kairos will add your event to the global map mentioned above.
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Global coalition demands Canada's suspension from the Commonwealth on
climate grounds
A coalition of prominent figures from the developing world have joined a
former UK development minister, a UN scientist and British environment and
development groups to demand the suspension of Canada from the
commonwealth for its record on climate change.
The groups claim that Canada's lack of action on climate change is
contributing to droughts, floods and sea level rises in small island
states and vulnerable commonwealth countries such as Bangladesh, The
Maldives and Mozambique. Canada's emissions have risen by 26.2% between
1990 and 2007. A recent report puts Canada at the bottom of the G8 league
table for action to tackle climate change.
http://knowledge.allianz.com/en/globalissues/climate_change/top_climate_stories/climate_scorecards_09.html
In the past, the Commonwealth has suspended several countries for human
rights reasons. Now, campaigners, politicians and scientists have proposed
suspending Canada because of its climate policy.
http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=2735
The United Nations secretary general added his voice Friday to the chorus
of activists trying to prod Canada into taking greater action on climate
change.http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/11/27/commonwealth-meeting.html
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Moms against climate change
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwrrikNeFZg
3 min. video
Tar Sands Blow
http://polarisinstitute.thetarsandsblow.org/
3 min. video
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Climate has been a major driver of armed conflict in Africa, research
shows - and future warming is likely to increase the number of deaths from
war.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8375949.stm
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What if???
William Rees postulates on the poignant question: "What would happen if
our politicians ruled as if ecology mattered?"
http://alternativesjournal.ca/articles/what-if
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Climate holds key to post-crisis jobs
European labour markets have seen employment gains since 2000 virtually
wiped out by the economic crisis of the past two years, a European
Commission report says. More than four million jobs have been lost in the
European Union since a financial crisis first triggered recession in the
United States, and the tally would have been more but for measures such as
shorter working hours.
However, the biggest changes in working patterns across the 27-member EU
may be yet to come -- with the transition to a low-carbon economy over the
next decade expected to force a radical realignment of tasks for many
workers.
"Although the total net job creation effects may not be very large -- as
creation of new green jobs and greening of existing jobs will partly be
offset by loss of some existing jobs -- the underlying structural changes
will involve re-allocation of workers across economic sectors and skill
types," the report said of the impact of new policies to combat global
warming.
Simulations suggest that "total employment in the renewable sector could
amount to some 2.3 million jobs in 2020," although net new jobs may only
be as little as 115,000, about a third of which are expected to be skilled
jobs.
report: http://www.eubusiness.com/topics/employment/employment.09
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Canada - Last Among G8
To date, Canada has not been a leader and is now ranked last among the G8
countries on climate action. This can and must change.
G8 Climate Scorecards July 2009
http://assets.wwf.ca/downloads/wwf_g8scorecards_july2009.pdf
http://wwf.ca/conservation/global_warming/copenhagen/g8.cfm
Source:
http://wwf.ca/conservation/global_warming/copenhagen/december2009/
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Contact your Politicians and tell them what we want from a deal.
http://wwf.ca/conservation/global_warming/copenhagen/december2009/new_deal/
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Prime Minister Stephen Harper
pm at pm.gc.ca
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Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice
Jim.Prentice at ec.gc.ca
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MP Michael Chong Wellington-Halton Hills
Chong.M at parl.gc.ca
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Canadians want action on climate, poll finds
Large majority agrees that global warming is 'mankind's defining crisis'
that demands response
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/732545--canadians-want-action-on-climate-poll-finds?bn=1
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10 Signs Vegetarianism Is Catching On
http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/144241/10_signs_vegetarianism_is_catching_on
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Remember the movie The Story of Stuff? (www.thestoryofstuff.com) Well
they’ve now launced a new 10 video called the Story of Cap and Trade.
What is The Story of Cap & Trade?
The Story of Cap & Trade is a fast-paced, fact-filled look at the leading
climate solution being discussed at Copenhagen and on Capitol Hill. Host
Annie Leonard introduces the energy traders and Wall Street financiers at
the heart of this scheme and reveals the "devils in the details" in
current cap and trade proposals: free permits to big polluters, fake
offsets and distraction from what’s really required to tackle the climate
crisis. If you’ve heard about cap and trade, but aren’t sure how it works
(or who benefits), this film is for you.
http://storyofstuff.com/capandtrade/
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