OTTAWA — A pre−election chill has descended over some environment charities after Elections Canada warned them that discussing the dangers of climate change during the upcoming federal campaign could be deemed partisan activity.
There's a finite amount of land on this fast-warming planet that a rapidly growing population will need to use wisely to produce enough food and fuel for every single person.
The world is not doing that right now, a new 1,400-page special report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) finds, urging countries to rethink the way they use and manage their land.
Last night, I was curious to learn more about Extinction Rebellion, a global climate-justice movement with chapters in British Columbia.
Founded last year, it's been the talk of the U.K. and, more recently, Australia, for its peaceful, direct actions that disrupt the establishment.
In many respects, the Extinction Rebellion protests are reminiscent of the U.S. civil rights movement or Mahatma Gandhi's efforts to get the British to leave India.
Last month, as part of the research for a book I am writing on mobilizing Canada for the climate emergency, I commissioned an extensive national public opinion poll from Abacus Data. The full results of the poll can be found on the Abacus website here.
In the midst of climate breakdown, governments around the world are funding and protecting the fossil fuel industry - (The fossil-fuel lobby is threatened by public concern over the climate crisis. So it’s buying influence to get the results it wants)
Climate activist and writer Bill McKibben's new book is an excellent account of how urgent the climate crisis in front of us is. But it stumbles in trying to prescribe green capitalist solutions to a problem that requires systematic change.
"Good news in the link below, but the name and nature of the union are not very clear in the article. It refers to Verdi, also referred to as "ver.di," short-form nicknames for Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft (United Services Union) which represents public and private service workers in a huge variety of jobs. More Canadian unions have to get involved in this youth-led fight!" Gene McGuckin
"This is leadership. Who will follow? The world is watching," said 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg
