Archive for 2009 June

“The GCCA is planning exciting mobilizing actions in the next few months and I look forward to the increased media coverage on climate change and the UN negotiations, something that has been slipping recently,” said Green Climate Critic Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu.  “Having the GCCA Secretariat office in Montreal puts pressure on Canada.”     Read more »

Former leader of the Green Party of Canada Jim Harris has a new column in the National Post about reducing energy at a profit.  It’s an inspiring message I’ve heard him talk about recently on CBC radio as well.

Adriana has been knocking on doors, her postcard in hand.  Apparently, The Star’s Linda Diebel is in our riding and took notice.

I have been waiting for the broader media to pick up on this story tucked into Embassy, a Canadian foreign policy newspaper.  I find it explosive.

Recognizing that Canada’s position on climate negotiations was toxically inadequate, government officials, rather than improving it, instead decided to attempt to divide a united Europe so that Canada wouldn’t stand out as such a lonely opponent of climate action.  It took the Suzuki Foundation unearthing memos under the Freedom of Information Act to uncover the duplicitous strategy.     Read more »

According to a study jointly co-authored by researchers at Columbia University’s Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), the United Nations University and CARE International, the stresses of climate change could create 700 million refugees by 2050.  That’s about 20 times the entire population of Canada desperately searching for a new home.  40 countries may cease to exist altogether.

While canvassing today, I met a nice man who recommended this site and movie to me.  I just watched it.  It sort of languishes lovingly over primarily aerial images of tremendous beauty, both natural and man-made, while soaring music plays in the background and frightening assessments are made about our climate, our energy sources, and our ability to feed and water humanity.  It ends with a worried but uplifting message of hope.  It’s well worth the hour and a half.

Once again the Portlands are being threatened with being used as a dumping ground for unwanted development.  This time, the TTC wants to use them as yards for sleeping streetcars as they expand their fleet.       Read more »

Postponed one day due to rain.

Hope to see you here.

Leslieville Tree Festival 2009
Sun, 2009 June 21, 12-5pm
Leslie Grove Park, Queen and Jones

Just a quick announcement that Adriana has been appointed to the Green Party of Canada Shadow Cabinet as Climate Change Advocate, a post most recently held by Elizabeth May.     Read more »

I’ve been getting out and meeting constituents with my new introductory postcard hot off the presses.  The reception has been great so far and it feels good to be talking to people.  Here’s what the card looks like:

In the image below, you can click on each of the major points to read more details about my proposals:

I look forward to meeting you when I swing by your neighbourhood.     Read more »

Explaining my introductory postcard: “Fiscally responsible and socially progressive”     Read more »

Explaining my introductory postcard: “Reduce local asthma with a carbon price and give the money raised back to you”     Read more »

Explaining my introductory postcard: “Enshrine the right to clean air and water in the Constitution”     Read more »

Explaining my introductory postcard: “Phase out carbon emissions as science demands, through retrofits, efficiency and renewable power”     Read more »

Explaining my introductory postcard: “Remove subsidies propping up dying industries and tar sands, and invest the savings in a local, low-energy economy.”     Read more »

Explaining my introductory postcard: “Expand income splitting to reduce taxes for families”     Read more »

Explaining my introductory postcard: “Allow new Canadians to work in their fields by coordinating with the provinces to recognize foreign training and credentials”     Read more »

Explaining my introductory postcard: “Eliminate poverty with a guaranteed annual income”     Read more »

Explaining my introductory postcard: “Ban handguns and help youth avoid being drawn into crime”     Read more »

Explaining my introductory postcard: “Ensure every vote counts by increasing voter access and implementing proportional representation.”     Read more »

I encourage everyone to sign the Kyotoplus petition.  Then go and get your friends all over Canada to sign it, too.

As I’ve become a candidate, I was worried that I couldn’t do more to help the Kyotoplus coalition, which is an extremely vital component in the battle against climate change.  I’ve now started campaigning door-to-door with my new postcard, which I’ll introduce online soon, and I’m carrying the Kyotoplus petition with me and urging every Toronto-Danforth resident to sign on, no matter what party they support.  It’s the least I can do.     Read more »

Greens from across Toronto will be walking in this year’s Pride Parade and I hope to have a strong contingent from Toronto-Danforth there.  The theme for the year is “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop”.  Please join us on June 28.  Details will be available here soon.     Read more »

As a young woman, I heard the story of the Danish people wearing armbands marking them as Jews in solidarity with the Jewish people when their country was occupied by Nazis.  It turns out this detail is false.  Danish Jews were saved through the courage of their countrymen, primarily because a transport to neutral Sweden was arranged, not because Danish non-Jews also wore yellow stars.  But I find it inspiring to think of facing injustice by insisting on imposing the same limitations on yourself as those suffered by the people you are fighting for.  It is a powerful image.     Read more »

We thought it was bad enough that Prime Minister Harper planned only to achieve 2% emission reductions by 2020 below 1990 levels while the rest of the Kyoto signatories among developed countries were negotiating in the 25-40% range.  It was worse that a number of environmental organizations, economists, and even the government’s own Environmental Commissioner doubted that Prime Minister Harper’s plans could even achieve his own woefully inadequate goal.  Now Environment Minister Jim Prentice suggests we’re going to scrap any action for a few years.  We’re waiting for Obama, it seems.  Until our neighbours say “Jump!”, it’s apparently too difficult to implement the “Made in Canada” solution that our Prime Minister insisted on.     Read more »