Weekly list of Toronto environmental and social justice events and issues.
Updated every Monday.
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The Wet’suwet’en Fight Against New Pipeline Spreads Across Canada with Blockades & Occupations
- min. interview with 2 First Nation women – Molly Wickham and Pam Palmater – about the anti-gas-pipeline and pro-indigenous rights struggle gripping the country
https://www.democracynow.org/2020/2/13/wet_suwet_en_territory_pipeline_opposition
Inside a protest movement: How climate activists are taking Wet’suwet’en fight from B.C. to Yonge Street
(See the Wet’suwet’en solidarity protest below on Feb. 17, speaking event on Feb. 20, and rally and round dance on Feb. 22))
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Jack Gibbons on Ontario’s planned 400% gas ramp-up
Enbridge Gas wants to build a giant pipeline through Hamilton to import a huge amount of fracked gas from the US. Greenhouse gases from Ontario’s gas plants will increase by 8.2 mega tonnes by 2025. This is double the forecast annual greenhouse gas pollution from Teck’s proposed Frontier tar sands mine. In this livestreamed presentation, Jack’s outlines how we can prevent this from happening by investing in energy efficiency, buying Quebec power and phasing-out our gas plants by 2030. (He starts 3 min. in)
Here is the powerpoint presentation he used: https://www.cleanairalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Hamilton-Pipeline-PPT-Feb.-20203-.pptx
Here is our petition to stop the giant Hamilton pipeline: https://www.cleanairalliance.org/stop-gas-pipeline/#pipe
Here is our 2-page report explaining why we must oppose this pipeline, and how Ontario can keep its lights on at a lower cost and with much less pollution by restoring and expanding energy efficiency programs and by contracting for low-cost water power from Quebec. https://www.cleanairalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Enbridge%E2%80%99s-Hamilton-Pipeline_Final_3.pdf
(See below our Toronto event on March 12)
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One Billion Rising: Eve Ensler & Taína Asili Mark V-Day and Campaign to End Sexual Violence
This Valentine’s Day, people around the world took to the streets to protest violence against women and girls. From the Philippines to India to Italy to Bolivia, thousands of women in more than 100 countries will reclaim public space through dance and performance as part of a global movement called One Billion Rising. Beautiful and inspiring interview.
https://www.democracynow.org/2020/2/14/v_day_one_billion_rising
We are We are We are Rising!
This is the new anthem for One Billion Rising. It is a call to action, to dance, to RISE. The song celebrates our collective energy, creative resistance, and solidarity as we RISE against the tides of violence against all women, climate crisis, racism and corporate greed.
https://www.onebillionrising.org/resources/music-video-resource-page/
Like a Woman
In honour of all women – strong, brave, vulnerable. One Billion Rising, the biggest mass action to end violence against all women and girls, released this music video which calls men to recognize and support women’s leadership, and to join the movement to end gender-based violence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=394&v=4pEtN-ahQvs&feature=emb_title
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Mark Carney, named UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, says the smart money is on transition from fossil fuels
Canada has committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050; that means Canadian industry and gov’t must transition. 32 min. radio interview – brilliant
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‘Overwhelming and terrifying’: the rise of climate anxiety
Experts concerned young people’s mental health particularly hit by reality of the climate crisis. This articles gives tips to parents when dealing with children. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/10/overwhelming-and-terrifying-impact-of-climate-crisis-on-mental-health
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Dropping speed limits in central Toronto has made pedestrians safer, new report says
In a recent Toronto study, people on foot were killed or seriously injured 67% less and 28% fewer pedestrians were hit by motorists on roads that reduced speed limits to 30 kms/hr. “Everything points towards the wisdom of implementing consistent, blanket-style speed limit reductions throughout the whole city,” Mr. Black said. “I really don’t think that we’re going to make a lot of progress on Vision Zero unless we get serious about blanket speed limits”
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Stop blaming population growth for climate change. The real culprit is wealth inequality
Focusing on human pop. numbers obscures the true driver of many of our ecological woes. That is, the waste and inequality generated by modern capitalism and its focus on endless growth and profit accumulation. Inequalities in power, wealth and access to resources are key drivers of environmental degradation. The consumption of the world’s wealthiest 10% produces up to 50% of the planet’s consumption-based CO₂ emissions, while the poorest half of humanity contributes only 10%.
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Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Would Draw a Lesson from Cold War
Like its predecessor, the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty), a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty would be built around three pillars: non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful use. “Our current path, in which we expand the production of fossil fuels, is akin to the fire department showing up with gasoline to save a planet on fire,”
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Help make Ontario’s waterways #LessSalty
Applying huge piles of salt to our public spaces is wasteful and unnecessary, harmful to the environment, and damaging to infrastructure. Studies show we can balance safety and the environment by being #Less Salty. It takes less than a cup of salt to melt ice on a metre of pavement. When it comes to road salt, less is more. Sign the petition and tell Ontario be #LessSalty
https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/54439/action/1
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Rooted and Rising Program
This is a radical education program to meet the climate urgency. Schools haven’t equipped us to cooperate or handle this emergency. This program is certified by York University but runs very differently than a typical classroom. It’s a response to the global youth call to take this crisis seriously. Rooted and Rising will empower young people to take control over their lives and our collective way of living. This is a healing space for radical disruption. 12 week program March – June. Free to youth. Apply by Feb. 28.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeWJ2YRB7lniEtWKJbedBvzEAQrHYv2-biLoHVhgUl3xIiqYQ/viewform
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Family Day March for Wet’suwet’en
Monday February 17, 2 p.m.
Christie Pits (Christie and Bloor)
Hosted by Families for Wet’suwet’en, this is a family friendly march on Monday (Family Day!) beginning at Christie Pits. They remind attendees to please “Dress warmly and bring your family, snacks to share, placards and signs. Please leave your organizational banners at home.
https://www.facebook.com/events/489794145242942/
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No To NATO Monthly Protest
Tues. Feb. 18, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Yonge and Wellington corner
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.
http://facebook.com/events/635219640640795
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Zero Waste Cafe
Tues. Feb. 18, 6:30 pm
David Suzuki Foundation, 179 John Street (north of Queen)
Have you ever felt isolated speaking with friends about environmental concerns? Are you looking to make a difference but aren’t sure where to start? New to the topic? Few years into your zero-waste journey? Don’t have many friends/ family members who “get it”? Join us for a coffee & mindful climate conversation with our guest speaker Sophi from @yourecofriend! Sophi will be discussing eco-anxiety and sharing some tips to help overcome it.
https://www.facebook.com/events/505408030069292/
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Wasted! The Story of Food Waste, with panel
Tues. Feb. 18, 6:30 – 8:45 p.m.
Hot Docs, 506 Bloor Street West
90% of food waste ends up in landfill, significantly contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions. Through the eyes of culinary superstars, learn how to make the most of every kind of food and transform your leftovers into incredible dishes to create a more sustainable food system. Wasted! shows us we can all have an impact through small—and delicious—changes. Learn how to reduce food waste with a post-screening panel
https://www.facebook.com/events/631581794282081/
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Human Rights and Housing: An Overview
Wednesday, February 19, 12 noon
Online and at Iler Campbell LLP, 150 John Street
At Iler Campbell LLP, we are regularly asked to provide advice on a wide range of human rights and housing issues including dogs in pet-free co-ops; whether a medical note provides enough detail; and if behaviour can justify eviction if it relates to a mental health disability. Join Celia Chandler for this free one hour webinar where she will give an overview of how the Ontario Human Rights Code applies in housing. The goal for the session – to give you better tools to know whether you’ve got an issue that’s worth a call to your lawyer.
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Wet’suwet’en Strong: In Defence of Land Defenders
Thursday, February 20, 6 – 8 pm
CRC, 40 Oak Street
The people of the Wet’suwet’en nation in northern British Columbia are courageously defying a supreme court injunction by blocking Coastal Gaslink (CGL) from building a pipeline through their territories. The company is attempting to build a 670km fracked gas pipeline from Dawson Creek to Kitimat, but has not secured the free, prior and informed consent of the Wet’suwet’en who remain opposed to its construction. The hereditary chiefs of the nation evicted CGL workers from their territories in early January and called for the construction to cease. The company however has indicated it would not comply, raising the threat of a militarized police invasion similar to the one last year that made headlines around the country. Join us to understand why the land defenders are risking their lives to oppose this and other pipelines, how this struggle is linked to those of Indigenous people here, and how we can support. Speakers: Vanessa Gray and Niloofar Golkar. Hosted by OCAP.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2543433562648349/
https://ocap.ca/speakers-series-feb-2020/
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To Be Determined: A Dance Project
Fri. Feb. 21, 8 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 22, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Ryerson Theatre, 43 Gerrard St. E
To Be Determined is student produced and choreographed full-length dance performance. It is an artistic and physical exploration of the beauty and expansiveness of the natural world, and the decline of these environments as a result of human activity. Through dance and movement, we travel to different habitats, such as the arctic, tropics, oceans, deserts, and wetlands, where we discover and observe the power of natural occurrences, the functions of the living things and creatures, but also the disruption of these ecosystems as a result of human impact.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/to-be-determined-a-dance-project-tickets-86288933523
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Support for Wet’suwet’en
Sat. Feb. 22, noon – 3 p.m.
Queen’s Park
Reconciliation does not take place when a gun is pointed at you. Remove the RCMP immediately from Wet’suwet’en Sovereign Land. Speakers, Rally and Round Dance. Bring your drums, and your voice, and most of all yourself.
https://www.facebook.com/events/s/support-for-wetsuweten/656788928409775/
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OPG & Enbridge vs. Our Climate and Our Pocketbooks
Thur. March 12, 7 p.m. (Note date change)
Friends House, 60 Lowther (St. George subway station)
Enbridge Gas wants to build a giant pipeline through Hamilton to allow Ontario to increase imports of fracked gas from the US. This will mean a 400% increase in greenhouse gases from OPG’s gas-fired generating plants and blow our climate commitments out of the water. Fortunately, we have alternatives. Learn more here. Hosted by the Ontario Clean Air Alliance.
Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/173270727262687/
For more info: https://www.cleanairalliance.org/stop-the-polluting-hamilton-pipeline/
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#NoWar2020: Divest, Disarm, Demilitarize
Conversion for a peaceful, green and just future
May 26-31, 2020
Ottawa
We’re converging on Ottawa for #NoWar2020 to say NO to CANSEC, Canada’s biggest annual weapons expo. There will also be a national peace-anti-war conference. Organized by local Canadian peace groups, World Beyond War and the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. There will also be a big peace action on Parliament Hill and a celebration of the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace’s 60th anniversary. #CancelCANSEC
https://worldbeyondwar.org/nowar2020/
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For the best Canadian climate and energy news, read and subscribe to the Energy Mix newsletter
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Centre for Social Innovation Events
https://socialinnovation.org/community/events/
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Hot Docs
Bloor Cinema (Bloor and Bathurst)
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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@cleanairalliance.org