Archive for 2009 May

There was more grim news on the impacts of climate change yesterday.  A new study from the Global Humanitarian Forum (GHF), a group headed by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, estimates that climate change now kills 315,000 people annually.  This is an increase from a previous World Health Organization estimate of 150,000 deaths per year.     Read more »

Isuma TV has a Countdown to Copenhagen project that emphasizes the importance of protecting Inuit culture from the ravages of climate change.  A special programme will be aired this Friday.  We’ll be gathering to watch at Hart House.

Countdown to Copenhagen
Friday, 2009 May 29, 7:45pm
Hart House Debates Room
Hart House in the University of Toronto
7 Hart House Circle
Contact Pieter Basedow for more information:
pbasedow@yahoo.ca
free

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty predicts that the manufacturing sector will shrink as a percentage of the Canadian economy.

I’ve been fearing that manufacturing will shrink for some time.  Energy scarcity and corresponding high energy prices are likely to shrink industry for the foreseeable future until we develop a new, post-carbon energy system.  I feared that the pressure to reduce emissions might put a further squeeze on manufacturing.  But I’m glad Mr. Flaherty said it first.     Read more »

The Ralph Thornton Community Centre, Ryerson University and the South Riverdale Community Health Centre are presenting a community safety forum for South Riverdale residents.

Safety in Riverdale Community Forum
Thursday, 2009 May 28 6:30-9pm
Ralph Thornton Centre
765 Queen Street East (east of Broadview)

RSVP Joanne Fisher at 416-392-6810 ext. 231

Just got notice today that Solar Neighbourhoods is sponsoring an information session about solar power in Withrow Park next to the Farmer’s Market.

A Solar Affair
Saturday, 2009 May 23, 10am-1pm
Withrow Park
northeast corner, near Farmer’s market and playground     Read more »

Thanks to Andrew James for alerting me to a Bike to Work Day event this Monday, May 25, sponsored by the Toronto Bicyclists Union.  All participants get a t-shirt.

Bike to Work Day
Monday, 2009 May 25, 7am
meet at Woodbine and Danforth
free

Update: There is better information available on the City of Toronto site.  Ride begins at 7am at Woodbine and Danforth and should arrive at Broadview and Danforth about 7:15am.

Play-In at Riverdale Park
Saturday, 2009 May 23, 10am
Riverdale Park by statue of Sun Yat Sen

Walking back from a wonderful talk by Thomas Homer Dixon tonight, I walked through Riverdale Park and was shocked to see that at least half a dozen mature, seemingly healthy trees had been felled in the area that has been fenced in for the last couple of weeks.  It looks barren and forlorn.  They worked quickly.  This afternoon, the trees were all still there when I met my son’s schoolbus.

I was informed only after the orange fence went up that the St. Matthew’s Lawn Bowling Clubhouse was to be relocated there.  Later, I read the article in the Toronto Community News about the project, advising that 13 trees would be removed so that the structure could be moved through the park so as not to disrupt traffic.  So in order to keep traffic flowing for a day, the city has decided, in its wisdom, to permit the felling of mature trees that take decades to grow.  The priorities are all wrong.     Read more »

The Dalai Lama has signed a strong statement supporting a target below 350 ppm of atmospheric carbon.  This target is supported by a number of eminent climate scientists and is rapidly becoming the new consensus target.  It is, however, a very difficult target to meet because the current concentration of atmospheric carbon stands today at 390 ppm or possibly more.  It is good to see religious leaders recognizing and embracing the science of climate change.

Here‘s a Buddhist website devoted to climate change.  It includes a statement to sign.

On this first smog day this spring in Toronto, there’s grim news on the climate.     Read more »

Yesterday, the Sri Lankan government celebrated the defeat of the rebel Tamil Tiger group.  Today, it is showing how hollow any hopes for a lasting peace are.     Read more »

A few weeks ago I was nominated as the Green Party of Canada candidate for Toronto-Danforth for the next election.  I’m honoured and humbled by the supporters in this riding and their enthusiasm for starting the campaign.  Our success in the next election will depend on what the Green Party does best — building a community of people dedicated to building a better world and working respectfully together to achieve their goals.     Read more »

It’s been 3 years since the first Green Living Show was held and it’s amazing how quickly the word “green” has gone from the color of grass to a whole way of life. This year well over 150 exhibitors demonstrated how small things done everyday makes a huge impact on the world’s environment.     Read more »

As we arrive in the full bloom of spring, the focus on the garden starts once again and many people in the riding are spending a few weekends and evenings working on their front, side and back yard gardens in an effort beautify their part of the city.  But as common as this instinct is, the practice of green gardening is not as wide spread as gardening itself in the city.     Read more »

Thomas Homer-Dixon
Thurs, 2009 May 21, 7 pm
Sanford Fleming Building, Lecture Hall #1105
University of Toronto
10 King’s College Road

Thomas Homer-Dixon is the author of Carbon Shift: How the Twin Crises of Oil Depletion and Climate Change Will Define the Future.  Adriana will be there.     Read more »

Danforth Greens Pub Night
last Tuesday of every month
7 – 10 pm at Gabby’s
in the “Library Room”
729 Danforth, just east of Pape

Come raise a glass of cheer, meet, chat, debate, get informed and have some fun!

Hi.  I’m the newly nominated Toronto-Danforth candidate for the Green Party of Canada.  I’m energized by a campaign that I believe in, the hope of changing the political dialogue, and the opportunity to help build a future for our children.

Whatever your political leanings, if you’d like to meet me, I’d love to meet you.  I promise not to ask for money.

World Environment Day Party
to meet and greet my future constituents
and campaign supporters
Friday, 2009 June 5, 7 pm
18 Victor Ave (my house)
two blocks north of Gerrard, just east of Broadview

A recent report in The Lancet, a top medical journal, concludes that the health impacts of climate change will eclipse all other health concerns.  CBC and the Globe and Mail have carried the story in Canada.

I know that ardent environmentalists and climate change deniers alike accuse Al Gore of not living up to his own standards, but he does compile some very graphically compelling images of the problem we are facing.  Here is his latest:

Frank de Jong, Green Party of Ontario Leader, will a special guest at an Ethiopian community event in our riding.  Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu, Toronto-Danforth Green Party of Canada nominated candidate, will also attend.

Update: Here’s a photo of Adriana speaking at the event from the event clipped from Hawarya Ethiopian newspaper:
    Read more »

Elizabeth May will be interviewed about her new book Losing Confidence: Power, Politics and the Crisis in Canadian Democracy and will be signing copies.

Elizabeth May book signing
Friday, 2009 May 8, 5:30 pm – 7 pm
215 Spadina (between Dundas, Queen)
Admission $20. Register online.
Given space, walk-ins are welcome.     Read more »

I spent a couple of hours yesterday afternoon being filmed on iChannel for an @iSSUE segment about Elections Canada reform.  Gary Dale of Fair Vote Canada was quick to promote the benefits of proportional voting systems, leaving me to speak about party financing, encouraging voter engagement, stemming disenfranchisement, the challenges of electronic voting and the effects of the current system on the Green Party.  The Panel was rounded out by Xing Chiu of Student Vote Canada, who was concerned about student rights and a better voting system in the future.

The show aired 2009 October 5 on iChannel:     Read more »