T.O. Greenspiration Events: Amazing grace for the planet

Sun Mar 15 21:51:02 EDT 2020

Hey everyone: I'm guessing that most of the public events listed below will be cancelled, but I've left them in for you to check on your own to find out if the events you're interested in are going online.

Stay safe. Wash your hands. And check in on your people. 

-angela

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A design trends forecaster calls the coronavirus “an amazing grace for the planet”

“I think we should be very grateful for the virus because it might be the reason we survive as a species.” Covid-19 is a sobering force that will temper our consumerist appetites and jet-setting habits. Being confined to our own towns or cities could foster a revival of cottage industries and an appreciation for locally made goods.

https://qz.com/1812670/a-design-trends-forecaster-calls-the-coronavirus-an-amazing-grace-for-the-planet/ 

Coronavirus Effect on Global Warming and Global Warming Impact on Pandemic Risks

Series of videos by physicist, engineer and professor at University of Ottawa Paul Beckwith

https://paulbeckwith.net/

Visit the Care-Mongering FB support group to make sure that folks all over the city can connect to support each other during this time of isolation.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TO.Community.Response.COVID19/

In the midst of converging crises, the Green New Deal is the answer - by Avi Lewis, director of LEAP

This is the ideal moment for Canada to launch the decade of the Green New Deal, a sweeping vision launched nationally last spring by more than 150 climate and social justice organizations, building on momentum south of the border from U.S. congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Sunrise climate movement. Essentially, it recommends an unprecedented public investment in a justice-based transition that creates a vast number of well-paying (preferably unionized) jobs, solves our crises in housing, crumbling infrastructure, health and education, inadequate transit, and deep inequality. This kind of public investment would vastly expand the tax base and stabilize the economy at the same time.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-in-the-midst-of-converging-crises-the-green-new-deal-is-the-answer/

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Volunteer opportunities if you (or your kids) are stuck at home in the coming weeks:

Toronto Island residents need your help

Want to help others while getting some exercise at the same time (since Toronto's community centres with their gyms and pools are closed)? Here's a great chance to do that -- and also to be on the beautiful Toronto Islands. Islands residents have experienced extreme flooding two years out of the last three, so this year they're well-organized to try to stave off any flooding. Here's the webpage where people can volunteer to help out any Sunday between now and April 26 (except April 12). You can pick any task ranging from shoveling sand for the sandbags, tying the sandbags shut and stacking the sandbags, to kitchen help and food/beverage delivery. Sign up and recruit a friend to help out too! https://sites.google.com/view/torontoisland/volunteer 

The Ontario Clean Air Alliance is an environmental community group working for a 100% renewable Ontario. We’re behind Ontario’s coal phase-out. We’ve recently launched a new campaign to oppose the 400% ramp up of natural gas for electricity generation in ON and we’re calling for a gas phase-out. Read our report https://www.cleanairalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Enbridge%E2%80%99s-Hamilton-Pipeline_Final_3.pdf and sign our petition: www.OntarioClimateAction.ca  We’re distributing these leaflets door to door in the GTA: https://www.cleanairalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ProtectOurClimate_Toronto_8.pdf  Volunteers are asked to pop them in mailboxes in their neighbourhoods. I can mail volunteers leaflets and a map around their house for as many hours as they wish. As we’re a registered organization, high school students can claim their 40 hours of volunteer community service by distributing these leaflets. Also, adults requiring community service hours can fulfill them by distributing these. Help us stop a huge increase in climate and air pollution from gas-fired electricity generation. Together we can move to a renewable future!

For more info, contact: angela at cleanairalliance.org

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Stop the fracked gas pipeline in Hamilton!

9 minute video by Hamilton 350

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhK7iPUl_9E

Stop the giant Hamilton fracked gas pipeline - sign the petition

www.StopHamiltonPipeline.ca

By phasing out our gas-fired power plants, Ontario can meet its 2030 Climate Protection Target.

www.OntarioClimateAction.ca 

To learn more about Enbridge’s destructive proposal, click here to read our 2-page factsheet about the proposed Hamilton Pipeline.

https://www.cleanairalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Enbridge%E2%80%99s-Hamilton-Pipeline_Final_3.pdf 

Click here to read our powerpoint presentation on how Ontario can phase out its gas-fired power plants

https://www.cleanairalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Hamilton-Pipeline-PPT-Feb.-20204-.pptx

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Women shouldering the burden of climate crisis need action, not speeches

>From loss of livelihoods to domestic abuse, women bear the brunt of natural disasters. Without change, progress on gender equality will be undone

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/mar/13/women-shouldering-the-burden-of-climate-crisis-need-action-not-speeches 

Feminist Scorecard 2020 - by Oxfam Canada

Over the past year, the Liberal government made some historic announcements and enacted policy changes – earning applause from feminists in Canada and around the world. This included the largest-ever investments by the Canadian government in sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as in women’s rights organizations and feminist movements worldwide. The government also appointed Canada’s first Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, launched Global Affairs Canada’s Feminist Humanitarian Assistance Policy and recommitted to a gender-balanced Cabinet following the 2019 federal election. However, progress has been uneven across the ten policy areas assessed in this scorecard. Gaps are particularly marked for the most marginalized, including Indigenous, racialized and immigrant women, members of the LGBTIQ2 community, and women living with disabilities. In areas such as climate change and extractives, decent work for women, the rights of Indigenous women, and progressive taxation, there have been too few tangible policy and spending decisions to meaningfully move the needle on gender equality.

https://www.oxfam.ca/publication/feminist-scorecard-2020/ 

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No to Nato!

Tues. March 17, 3:30 - 4:30 pm

NATO's Canada headquarters, 48 Yonge St (at the corner with Wellington St.)

Every month this year, the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) will be holding a peace vigil outside the NATO Association of Canada headquarters. Now after the 70th anniversary of this male-dominated military alliance and Cold War relic that threatens our security with weapons and war, is time to stand up! NATO puts intense pressure on the Canadian government to increase military spending and is preventing Canada from joining the UN Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons. VOW is calling for the Canadian government to withdraw from NATO and work through the United Nations on disarmament and the Sustainable Development Goals that will bring genuine human security. No to NATO No to War; yes to peace, nonviolence and sustainability! Organized by the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW: www.vowpeace.org Afterward join us for Dinner, and Pints for Peace at District Eatery, 303 King st.) 

https://www.facebook.com/events/635219637307462/ 

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How Do We Ensure That Ontario’s Wetlands Are Part Of The Solution To The Climate Crisis?

Wed. March 18, 12:10 - 3 p.m.

Room SS2102, Sidney Smith Building, 100 St. George Street

Sarah Finkelstein will present results from our research on how carbon pools accumulate in wetlands, and how climate affects the ability of wetlands to be long-term climate sinks.

https://environment.utoronto.ca/events/all/environment-seminar-how-do-we-ensure-that-ontarios-wetlands-are-part-of-the-solution-to-the-climate-crisis/ 

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Divestment from Fossil Fuel and War

Wed. March 18, 5 - 7 pm

Junior Common Room (JCR) of University College, 27 King's College Cir, U of T

The event is part of University College's Eco Week. Our other confirmed panelists are Kristy Bard (United Steelworkers, Divestment & Beyond Coalition), Steph Glanzmann (UBC's fossil fuel divestment campaign), and Tamara Lorincz (Canadian Voice of Women for Peace). Organized by The Leap Toronto.

https://www.facebook.com/leapUofT/ 

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Socialist Educational Meeting: Women and the Russian Revolution     

Wednesday, March 18, 7 pm

Workers Action Centre, 720 Spadina Avenue, Second Floor

The story of the Russian Revolution is the story of women fighting at barricades, of women theorizing capitalism, of women robbing trains, and of women smuggling weapons to fight the Tsar. Join a discussion of the women's revolution with an introduction by Ella Bedard

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Fighting Islamophobia and Austerity in India

Wednesday, March 18, 7 pm

Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil Street

The vicious attacks against Muslims in Delhi and throughout the country are part of a campaign to divide and conquer the Indian people by the BJP government. They follow a series of large-scale attacks on workers’ rights which resulted in a massive general strike earlier this year. Come to this forum to discuss the fight against the Islamophobia and austerity of the Modi government and the prospects for peace in India.

Organized by the International Socialists socialist.ca | @socialist.ca 

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House of Mirrors — Justin Trudeau’s Foreign Policy by Yves Engler, Book Launch

Thursday, March 19, 7 pm

Friends House, 60 Lowther St. (at St. George subway, Bedford exit)

Justin Trudeau presents himself as “progressive” on foreign affairs and to have brought Canada “back” after the disastrous Stephen Harper Conservative government. House of Mirrors — Justin Trudeau’s Foreign Policy demonstrates the opposite is true. In his latest book Yves Engler outlines how Trudeau’s government has expanded the military while ignoring international efforts to restrict nuclear weapons proliferation. In the Western Hemisphere the Liberals have launched an unprecedented, multipronged, effort to overthrow Venezuela’s government while siding with an assortment of reactionary governments.  They continued to enable Israeli violence against Palestinians, cozied up to repressive Middle East monarchies and emboldened far-right militarists in Ukraine. Flouting their climate commitments, the Trudeau government also failed to follow through on its promise to rein in Canada’s controversial international mining sector. Notwithstanding the rhetoric, the House of Mirrors shows that Trudeau largely continued Harper’s foreign policy.

https://www.facebook.com/events/493615254638068/ 

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Annual Library Book Clearance Sale 

Thursday, March 19, 9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. or sell-out (whichever comes first)

Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, second floor

Keep books out of landfill! You can buy donated items and materials withdrawn from the library's collection. 15,000+ books, CDs, DVDs and more! Money raised from book sales is used to support library programs and services. It's the best value for buying books in the city! All items are $.10 to $1.00 - CASH ONLY. Bring your own bags. 

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/books-video-music/book-sale 

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Toronto Rally for Peace – We Are United!

Saturday, March 21, 12 noon - 3 pm

US Consulate, 360 University Avenue

On January 3, President Donald Trump’s administration authorized an attack in Iran against General Qasem Soleimani, which prompted talks of another war, invoking fear into the hearts of our society. War is something that our generation has been raised on. There’s no time that we can remember not having any wars. Much of the conflict we concern ourselves with has often been about the fight for oil, masked as a need to protect people. Our generation is tired of the same conflicts repeating themselves and never resolved. At this point it’s clear that nothing will change unless we change, and unless we’re willing to get involved in the issues close to us. Our generation will be the last in repeating the same mistakes as previous ones, and it’s one of our goals to show that we’re all in this together. Hosted by Toronto Hope for Rights, Inclusivity, Vision and Equality - Thrive

https://www.facebook.com/events/600296184086536/ 

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UN Sustainable Development Goals Training

Sat. March 21, 9 am - 3 pm

Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle

Learn and network with UN officials on how YOU can contribute in creating a sustainable future. Join us for a day of empowerment and action and receive a UN certificate in sustainable action! In collaboration with the University of Toronto Students' Union (UTSU), HanVoice UToronto is proud to bring the UN SDGs Training to the U of T community. Partnered with 23 UN entities, the SDGs Youth Training Canada has mobilized 5,900+ students from 77 post-secondary institutions at 32 trainings across Canada. This event is open to all and we encourage students of all disciplines to attend. Refreshments will be served. UN speakers will be released closer to date, stay tuned! Early bird tickets: $20 || General: $25 As tickets are limited, please reserve your spot as soon as possible.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/un-sustainable-development-goals-training-tickets-97399597819 

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Scadding Court Seedy Saturday 

Sat. March 21 - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

707 Dundas St. West (at Bathurst)

Scadding Court Community Centre's Seedy Saturday event will be an opportunity for gardeners to get together and celebrate the upcoming growing season. We will have seed vendors, community groups and workshops led by gardening experts. We'll also have a seed swap so bring any seeds you saved last season and go home with new seeds!

https://www.facebook.com/events/2200446950250077/

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

http://theenergymix.com/ 

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Centre for Social Innovation Events

https://socialinnovation.org/community/events/     

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Green Neighbours Network - Events

Repair cafes, fix-it days, and more.

https://greenneighboursnetwork.ca/events/ 

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

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