T.O. Greenspiration Events: Journey to Justice

Sun Feb 11 19:28:05 EST 2018

Why have none of the parties at Queen’s Park embraced the real solution to lowering bills and protecting our communities – buying power from Quebec?

http://www.cleanairalliance.org/light/ 

www.BuyQuebecPower.ca

www.Close-Pickering.ca 

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Let Us Create An EcoRenaissance

Feel the promise, bursting within us. Join with your friends, and make it happen.

https://thepracticalutopian.ca/2018/02/03/let-us-create-an-ecorenaissance/ 

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Victory! Highway 413 has been stopped, signaling a shift to healthy, low carbon communities

https://environmentaldefence.ca/2018/02/09/victory-environmentally-destructive-highway-413-stopped-signally-shift-healthy-low-carbon-communities/ 

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Our reaction to injustice for Colten Boushie is a reflection of our soul as individuals and Canadians

It has been thus for so long we see no aberration in it: White man kills Indigenous person and lawfully walks free.

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2018/02/10/our-reaction-to-injustice-is-a-reflection-our-soul-as-individuals-and-canadians.html

Colten Boushie and our insidious white privilege

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/colten-boushie-and-our-insidious-white-privilege/article36837481/

Donate to help Colten Boushie’s family

https://www.gofundme.com/justice4colten.

Petition: Justice For Colten Boushie

https://www.change.org/p/supreme-court-of-canada-justice-for-colten-boushie?recruiter=7915997&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=autopublish

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We support the King Street Pilot

The King Street Pilot prioritizes transit along King between Bathurst and Jarvis. The pilot aims to provide faster, more reliable transit and make the street work for everyone. Local residents, businesses, community organizations, and commuters who work along the corridor all stand to benefit from a successful pilot project. The King Street Transit Pilot is a one-year pilot project that began in November 2017. Sign the pledge in support of the pilot here.

https://sites.google.com/ttcriders.ca/kingforallcoalition/home 

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Stop Teck's mega tar sands mine 

Mining giant, Teck Resources, is trying to sneak the largest ever open-pit tarsands mine through a weak environmental review — before the Trudeau government can strengthen the rules. Please sign the petition:

https://act.leadnow.ca/stopteck/   

Canada: apply new assessment regulations to Teck's massive tar sands mine

https://actions.sumofus.org/a/canada-do-proper-climate-tests-and-an-indigenous-rights-review-on-teck-tar-sands-mine/?akid=39234.1301442.zNRsuM&rd=1&source=fwd&t=1 

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Over three billion barrels of Alberta bitumen has become carbon pollution absorbed by the oceans

All the bitumen that doesn't spill from pipelines or tankers gets burned, ending up as carbon pollution dumped into our environment. Over one quarter ends up in the oceans, acidifying them for millennia to come. Kinder Morgan's new pipeline aims to pump as much new bitumen as Alberta has extracted in the entire history of the oil sands – that’s double what has already been extracted from the tarsands in Alberta. 

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/02/07/analysis/over-three-billion-barrels-alberta-bitumen-has-become-carbon-pollution-absorbed 

What's the reasonable Canadian way forward on pipelines?

We not only need to transition to clean energy fast, we must leave most of today’s fossil fuel reserves in the ground. As for jobs, how long can one justify protecting a few hundred thousand jobs, at the cost of the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions or even billions of people around the world? The good news is, clean energy is now cheaper than fossil fuels, and it brings better jobs, lots of them, closer to home. The kind of Canada I would be proud to live in would put a permanent cap on climate emissions and fossil fuel extraction. By investing public money in retraining and renewables, we could literally create a new job for every old one lost in the transition. We would make sure Indigenous communities were first in for the benefits of the new, decentralized clean economy. We would open our borders to take in climate refugees. We would set an example for the world of an open, compassionate Canada by taking the lead in caring for people, rather than cowering behind one giant dying industry.

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/02/09/opinion/whats-reasonable-canadian-way-forward-pipelines-0

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Why the Chinese ban on imported recyclables could be good for Canada, eventually

The ban is forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths about where and how we manage our waste. And it’s shedding light on how provinces and municipalities can genuinely improve waste management systems here at home.

https://ecofiscal.ca/2018/01/31/creative-destruction-why-the-chinese-ban-on-imported-recyclables-could-be-good-for-canada-eventually/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=february  

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Big Pharma scandal of bribes and kickbacks worth 85 billion euros. 

Novartis, a big pharma company, bribed doctors and public officials in order to boost prescriptions and the company’s sales at the cost of public spending and the Greek social security funds.

http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2018/02/05/novartis-gate-scandal-bribes-ministers-prime-ministers/ 

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TransformTO and the City Budget – Action Alert

Toronto’s Executive Committee just requested $2.26 million in the 2018 City Budget to fund the TransformTO climate action plan. But this still falls $4.5 million short of what is needed in 2018. Contact Mayor Tory and tell him that if he is seriously committed to climate action, he must add additional funding for TransformTO in this year’s budget.

http://www.torontoenvironment.org/fund_transformto 

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McKenna unveils massive plan to overhaul Harper environmental regime

The Green Party of Canada said it was "disappointed" by the government's failure to repair the Harper government's "serious damage" to environmental protections. The new Liberal bill "ignores many of the recommendations from the government’s expert panels, and breaks important election promises that helped bring the Liberals to power. This legislation should never have come forward as an omnibus bill,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May, in the statement. “This is a bizarre hybrid — part Harper, part Trudeau — and totally inappropriate to the important task of restoring the environmental protections that we lost in 2012."

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/02/08/news/mckenna-unveils-omnibus-bill-overhaul-harper-environmental-regime

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Last call for applications! Groundswell has issued our request for applications from grassroots organizers and campaigns – it’s due February 19, 2018 

https://groundswellfund.ca/apply/ . Please feel free to share far and wide! 

And if you know people who have the means, please encourage them to donate to Groundswell to support these organizers 

https://groundswellfund.ca/donate/ 

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Urban Field Speakers Series: Rick Lowe

Mon. Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m.

Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art, 401 Richmond W #124

The artist and activist speaks about his urban-regeneration projects, including Project Row Houses in Houston, Watts House in Los Angeles and the Victoria Square Project, a social sculpture produced for Documenta 14 that focused on immigrants and refugees in Athens, Greece. Moderated by Sally Frater. 7:30 pm (doors 7 pm). $12, stu/srs $8.

http://www.prefix.ca/

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How to Save the World in a Hurry! – Prep-Com

Monday Feb 12, 1 - 5 pm

Room 253, University College, U of T

Everyone who wants to save humankind is invited. The goal is to produce a single page with a “Platform for Survival.”  NGO activists, professionals, academics, and students —all who are concerned — are welcome. It’s nice but not essential, to RSVP to Metta Spencer, mspencer at web.net and 416-789-2294. Some advisers and partners who cannot be present will participate by Zoom video-conferencing.

www.tosavetheworld.ca   

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Where's The Funds? Add 1500 shelter beds this year - Budget Day Rally and Action

Mon. Feb. 12, 9 – 11 a.m.

City Hall, meet at main doors (Queen and Bay)

On February 12, City council will meet to finalize the budget for 2018. The lives of homeless people depend on the meeting's outcome. The preliminary budget funds a maximum of 361 new shelter beds this year, less than a quarter of the 1500 that are necessary to deal with their severe shortage. If this preliminary budget passes, then the horror of misery and death homeless people have been subjected to continues. We cannot let that happen.

https://www.facebook.com/events/540231729668395/ 

Commitment to Community and Toronto Can Do Better Call for your Support on the Budget

We need your help as we deliver our petition to City Council: Help us pack the City Hall chambers to let our City Council know that we want investments - and real improvements - in transit, housing, good jobs and climate action.

Mon. Feb. 12, 9:15 a.m.

Council Chambers (Queen and Bay)

http://www.commitmentto.com/feb_12_city_budget_action?utm_campaign=feb_12_action&utm_medium=email&utm_source=socialplanningtoronto  

http://torontocandobetter.ca/ 

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Tomorrow -- Free screening and discussion

Tues. Feb. 13, 6:15 - 8:15 pm.

Runnymede Public Library, 2178 Bloor St. W.

This film, Tomorrow ("Demain") has had a phenomenal impact in France, Belgium, and well over 30 other countries. Already viewed by over 1.5 million people in France alone, and winner of Best Documentary at the Cesar Awards (the French Oscars), ‘Tomorrow’ has been hugely impactful. It tells the story of the search for solutions to the crisis humanity faces.

http://www.green13toronto.org/event/tomorrow-free-screening-and-discussion 

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Fertilizer Application & Water Quality of Western Lake Erie Basin: Webinar

Tues. Feb. 13, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.

The International Joint Commission of Canada and the United States will present their report, the result of an assessment conducted to understand the influence of past, current and possible future nonpoint agricultural runoff of phosphorus into western Lake Erie, and their potential to cause eutrophic conditions and nuisance and harmful algal blooms (HABs).

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/webinar-fertilizer-application-water-quality-of-western-lake-erie-basin-tickets-42652714417?mc_cid=c0b0fdbca3&mc_eid=da77244f69 

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Toronto Homeless Memorial 

Tuesday, February 13, noon - 1 pm 

Church of the Holy Trinity, 10 Trinity Square (behind Eaton’s Centre)

The Toronto Homeless Memorial takes place every second Tuesday of each month. We can combat homelessness and social decay. Your attendance will give needed attention and value to the life of homeless individuals. Invite your friends to join you.

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Harm Reduction 101

Tues. and Wed, Feb. 13 – 14, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

519 Church St. Community Centre

Free 2 day workshop. Key harm reduction principles: housing, indigenous history, stigma, STIs, overdose prevention, working with lived experience.

http://tph.fluidsurveys.com/surveys/thc/harm-101-february-13-14-2018/ 

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13th Annual Strawberry Ceremony

Wed. Feb. 14, 12:30 p.m.

Toronto Police Headquarters, 40 College St

Please leave your agency, institutional and organization banners at home and instead make signs in honour of women, girls, trans and two-spirit people who have died violent and premature deaths. Singers, song keepers and drummers please bring your drums for the ceremony. We recognize that February is out of season for a ceremony involving strawberries, but the violence we are experiencing is also a disruption in our traditional ways of life.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2069831206584293/ 

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Connected by Commitment: Oppression and Our Responsibility to Undermine It

With author Mara Marin, Postdoctoral Affiliate, Centre for Ethics, U of T

Wed, Feb 14, noon – 2 p.m.

Centre for Ethics, Rm 200, Larkin Building, U of T

Saying that political and social oppression is a deeply unjust and widespread condition of life is not a terribly controversial statement. Likewise, theorists of justice frequently consider our obligation to not turn a blind eye to oppression. Rather than thinking of relationships in terms of our intentions, Marin thinks of them as open-ended and subject to ongoing commitments. Commitments create open-ended expectations and vulnerabilities on the part of others, and therefore also obligations. 

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/connected-by-commitment-oppression-and-our-responsibility-to-undermine-it-w-mara-marin-tickets-40312882918?aff=erelexpmlt   

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Climate Change and Canadians: New Public Opinion Research by EcoAnalytics – A webinar

February 14, 1-2 pm Eastern Time

As floods and wildfires become more frequent and fearsome, and climate action finds its way into federal policy, are Canadians’ beliefs and attitudes about climate change, and how to address it, changing? What do they really think about carbon pricing? And what are the most powerful narrative frames for engaging them on this all important issue? $20

https://sustainabilitynetwork.ca/climate-change-canadians-new-public-opinion-research-ecoanalytics-webinar/ 

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Is Peacekeeping Still for Chumps? Canada’s Tentative Re-engagement with UN Peace Operations

With Professor Timothy Donais

Wed. Feb. 14, 7 – 9 p.m.

Room 140, University College, 15 Kings College Circle, U of T

Canada was once admired as the leading country of peacekeepers. No longer. For a decade or more, Canada has been near the bottom of the list. Prime Minister Trudeau promised to contribute a large number for a change, but that has not happened yet. Professor Donais will discuss this timid change. Everyone is welcome, please bring a friend. If you cannot come, you can watch the lecture by livestreaming and send in your questions for him to answer during the Q and A session at the end. Presented by Science for Peace. Free. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/145666926107947/ 

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>From Lake to Tap - How Toronto's Drinking Water System Works

Wed. Feb. 14, 6:30 pm.

S. Walter Stewart Library, 170 Memorial Park,

Toronto Water every day treats, transmits, stores, and distributes over 1 billion litres of potable water to all water users in the City of Toronto. This seminar will explain how Toronto gets water from the lake to your tap. Presented with the East Toronto Chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario. Free. 

http://goo.gl/wGAWXC.

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Toronto Black Film Festival

Feb. 14 – 19

Screenings at Isabel Bader, AGO Jackman Hall and Carlton Cinema.

Films dedicated to exploring Black experiences from around the world and a space to debate cultural, political and socio-economic issues, plus TBFF Kids Film Festival, panel discussions, workshops, talks, tributes and more. $12-$30, pass $140.

https://torontoblackfilm.com/ 

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The Overdose Crisis & the War on Drugs

Thur. Feb. 15, 6 – 8 p.m.

CRC at 40 Oaks Street

In 2017, an estimated average of 333 people died every month from opioid related overdoses across Canada. In response to government inaction in the face of this lethal crisis, people involved in the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society setup an unsanctioned supervised injection site in Moss Park in August. Now, six months later, they still remain there, having saved hundreds of lives. Their defiant actions brought to into public focus this crisis of drug overdoses, which hits poor and homeless communities particularly hard. They forced the reluctant City administration to fast-track the opening of at-least 3 supervised injection sites. Join us to learn more about the underlying causes of the opioid crisis, its link to the so-called "war on drugs," and the measures that still need to be won.

https://www.facebook.com/events/252386721965371/ 

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Ontario’s Climate Act: From Plan to Progress

Webinar with Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner Dianne Saxe

Thur. Feb. 15, 2 – 3 p.m.

>From putting a price on carbon pollution to spending cap and trade revenue, Ontario’s Climate Act: From Plan to Progress examines the government’s range of climate-related policy initiatives since the introduction of its Climate Change Action Plan.

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4453941672633471747 

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The Sorry State of Canadian Climate Science

Webinar

Thur. Feb. 15, 2 – 3 p.m.

This webinar is co-organized by Climate Action Network Canada and Evidence for Democracy (E4D). It will describe the importance of Canadian climate science for Canada and the world, reveal the ongoing crisis of funding to that science, and update the Canadian climate movement on E4D's campaign to restore government support.

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7319584534211842305 

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Minimize, Organize, Sustain 

Thur. Feb. 15, 7 p.m.

Big Carrot, Rm 212, 348 Danforth, entrance beside Book City

In this interactive workshop discover how to organize your life and home to be more environmentally sustainable. Tonia Cordi of Time + Space Solutions will guide you through past projects and show you how to begin the process on your own. Bring all your questions and conundrums and get ready to reorganize!

http://toronto.carpediem.cd/events/5616049-minimize-organize-sustain-tonia-cordi-at-the-big-carrot-natural-food-market/ 

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Will Robots Take My Job?

Thur. Feb. 15, 6:30-8 pm.

Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge, Beeton Hall

Professor Alex Ferworn discusses the challenges of a modern workforce where an increasing number of workers aren't human. While robots are playing an increasing role in the displacement of people, many are also creating new opportunities where none existed before. Free. 

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Rethinking Democracy

Thur. Feb. 15, 7 p.m.

Lula Lounge 1585 Dundas W

Jodi Dean, Denis Pilon and Ian Mackay speak about their contributions and the issues in this year's volume. 7-10 pm. No cover.

https://socialistproject.ca/ 

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Say Yes To Good Food In Schools

Thur. Feb. 15, 7 p.m.

Hot Docs, 506 Bloor W

FoodShare Toronto evening of screenings and conversation with a panel of school food champions who are shaping the future of food in schools. Francine Hébert's Cafeteria (2015) will screen along with a collection of short films produced by school food programs. Panel moderated by Globe and Mail food reporter and columnist Corey Mintz. $11.50

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People's Daycare at Toronto City Hall! Childcare For All!

Fri. Feb. 16, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Toronto City Hall (Queen and Bay)

The City of Toronto is denying Torontonians their childcare subsidies on the basis of their immigration status. This is against Toronto’s sanctuary policy, which guarantees all residents access to all city services regardless of their immigration status. Please join us in setting up a people's daycare at City Hall. We'll gather first in the lobby and go from there. This is a very kid-friendly event - we'll have a range of activities for kids of all ages - so please bring your kids and everyone else you know.

https://www.facebook.com/events/151062689032073/

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Phyllis Clarke Memorial Lecture: Four Theses On The Comrade

Fri. Feb. 16, 6 – 8 p.m.

Ryerson Heaslip House, 297 Victoria, Peter Bronfman Learning Centre, 7th floor.

Jodi Dean talks about a system of social relations that eschews hierarchy and domination. Free. 

facebook.com/events/331656487332554

https://www.ryerson.ca/politics/news-events/events/180216-phyllis_clarke-jodi_dean/ 

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State Violence and Indigenous Resistance: Film Screening

Saturday, February 17, 3pm-5:30pm. Doors open at 2:30pm. 

Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave.

Unearthing. In Conversation, directed by Belinda Kazeem-Kamiński (2017, 13 min.) and The Formaldehyde Trip, directed by Naomi Rincón Gallardo (2017, 50 min.) followed by a response from artist, scholar and activist Syrus Marcus Ware. Free.

https://www.facebook.com/events/167137740586180/ 

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Journey to Justice / Sisters in the Struggle

Sat. Feb. 17, 12:45 p.m.

Bloor Hot Docs, 506 Bloor W

Journey to Justice follows six unsung heroes in the fight for Black civil rights in Canada from the 1930s to 50s. Among them are Viola Desmond, a woman who insisted on keeping her seat at a cinema in Halifax; and Fred Christie, who in 1936 took a Montreal tavern to court for not serving him. Hear their stories of bravery and struggle in the face of oppression. Sisters in the Struggle is an insightful look at the intersection of sexism and racism. Politically active Black Canadian women discuss their personal experiences with the battle to fight systemic discrimination and patriarchy in a revealing discourse that is dishearteningly relevant in 2018.

https://boxoffice.hotdocs.ca/WebSales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=69576

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No Liberty, No Equality, No Fraternity: Dealing With The Failure Of The West

Sun. Feb 18, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Holy Blossom Temple, 1950 Bathurst

Melanie Phillips has never shied away from the battle of ideas. As someone who has lived as both a hero and villain of the social and political left, her career as a journalist has been marked by controversy over the expression of some relatively uncontroversial ideas. Her fierce independence, and tenacious defense of civil liberties has lead her to becoming one of Britain’s leading voices on a variety of topics like Brexit, the increased threat of radicalization, and how the main stream media treats Israel. $15

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/no-liberty-no-equality-no-fraternitydealing-with-the-failure-of-the-west-tickets-42209543882 

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Jane

Mon. Feb. 19, 1 p.m.

Bloor Hot Docs, 506 Bloor

Live with Jane Goodall while she conducts her groundbreaking, enthralling work with chimpanzees, which she revealed to be so like humans. Fifty years ago, a National Geographic filmmaker was sent to join her in the Tanzanian jungle, where he captured over 140 hours of 16mm footage that was never used. Today, Academy Award–nominated director Brett Morgen, whose skills of documentary portraiture range from musician Kurt Cobain (Cobain: Montage of Heck) to producer Robert Evans (The Kid Stays in the Picture), takes the footage and sets it to a dreamy orchestral score by Philip Glass in this gorgeous, and ultimately very moving, time capsule.

https://boxoffice.hotdocs.ca/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=67851~59fba0ef-6a4a-45af-8cd3-8a8d7c61f184&ep=1& 

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Nonviolent Direct Action, Creative Protest Workshop

Sat. Feb. 24, 10:30 am - 4 pm

Location TBA

This workshop on nonviolent direct action and creative protest will involve discussions on the history and philosophy of nonviolence, practical applications of this theory through civil disobedience/civil resistance, role plays, explorations of tactics to de-escalate crises, the legal ramifications of and winning courtroom strategies for civil disobedience (arrests, courts, detention), the role of affinity groups, self- and community-care as foundational principles for political action, accompaniment and witness as forms of solidarity, and more. This workshop is organized by Toronto Action for Social Change Homes not Bombs, whose facilitators have conducted hundreds of such workshops throughout Ontario. To register and receive location details, write to tasc at web.ca 

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Cause of Death: Unknown 

Canadian premiere with filmmaker Anniken Hoel and producer Andrew Grant

Join me to screen this free screening - Toronto, March 24. It is a global investigation into the crimes of the pharmaceutical industry, the unheralded growth of psychiatric diagnoses and medication, and the corruption of the government regulatory agencies that have failed, repeatedly, to protect us. It won Best Foreign Documentary Film award at Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival in Michigan last July. Get your tix now.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cause-of-death-unknown-canada-premiere-with-filmmaker-anniken-hoel-and-producer-andrew-grant-tickets-42952786942?invite=&err=29&referrer=&discount=&affiliate=&eventpassword= 

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

http://theenergymix.com/ 

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The Green Majority

Live Eco Radio Show every Friday from 11 am - Noon CIUT 89.5 FM

greenmajority.ca 

Democracy Now

Mon – Fri. 10 – 11 a.m. CIUT 89.5 FM

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Centre for Social Innovation Events

http://socialinnovation.ca/community/events/listing 

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Hot Docs

Bloor Cinema (Bloor and Bathurst)

https://hotdocscinema.ca/ 

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NOW magazine hosts a very comprehensive online events listing

https://nowtoronto.com/search/event/community-events/ 

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Subscribes, unsubscribes and submissions: angela at cleanairalliance.org 

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