This is a round table to discuss the topic “How People of Faith Will Care and Advocate for Creation?”.

Environment and Climate in Peril Round Table
Wednesday, 2011 May 11, 7pm
Seeley Hall, 6 Hoskin Ave, Trinity College, U of T
free
416 593-0906  ldrainie@climateactionnetwork.ca

Space is limited.  Register online.     Read more »

Yesterday

At a talk I attended on Friday afternoon with constitutional scholar Peter Russell, he pointed out that of the 51 democracies in the world today, 48 are led by either coalitions or minority governments acting with the support of other parties.  If Stephen Harper rejects coalitions, he rejects democracy, because democracy is all about coalition building, partnership, working together and finding solutions.

Morning

This morning at an interfaith breakfast organized by Greening Sacred Spaces, I ran into a colleague who pointed out that Stephen Harper got the vote of 22% of eligible voters – that’s 38% of the 59% of the electors who bothered to vote.  So many people are disgusted with government they don’t vote at all.  And with the support of  less than one quarter of voters, Harper thinks the right thing to do is ignore other parties.

At the interfaith breakfast, I was very impressed with Rabbi Miriam of the Danforth Jewish Circle, who said that whenever she thinks about the environment she is reminded of Genesis.  She quoted in Hebrew but paraphrased in Jewish the phrase:

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Afternoon

Zito Hellas! I spent the afternoon at the Greek Independence Day Parade on the Danforth with two supporters and my young son carrying a Greek flag.  Then we bought some spanakopita and brought it back to the office we had just claimed at 1338 Danforth.  From now to election day, it will be open daily from 10am to 9pm.

The office was bustling all afternoon.  We have some very energetic local supporters who were helping move things around.  Thanks to Kashkoush and all his friends.  Six supporters went out with more window signs.  Our signs are up on Danforth, on Gerrard, on Donlands and Coxwell now.  My daughter and some young supporters made some progress towards a big sign over the office while office manager Jo Oppenheimer supervised the delivery of office furniture.

Evening

Our lawn signs are in print.  Our first flyers are in print.  Supporters and passers-by walked in and talked.  At 9pm, we were still talking to neighbours who had recently moved to the riding and wanted to know more about the Green Party.

It’s exciting to see various faith groups taking action to protect all creation, like the Green Choices for Faith Communities forum happening in Toronto later this month.

Visit ecosikh.org for more information.

Annual Green Awakening Network
& Greening Sacred Spaces Forum
Saturday, March 26, 9 am – noon
Sunday, March 27, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Eglinton St George’s United Church, 35 Lytton Rd

Come and join faith communities from across Toronto and region for a day of inspiration and practical help on March 26. The event is for faith communities wishing to seriously take their commitment to ‘live with integrity’ in creation.     Read more »

I’ll be participating in the Second Annual Danforth Multifaith Peace Walk and urge everyone to join me.  The walk begins at Glen Rhodes United Church and continues past the Danforth Jewish Circle, the Pakistani Community Centre and the Madina Masjid on Danforth to celebrate the newly renovated space, ending at Eastminster United Church.

Women are asked to wear a head scarf inside the Madina Masjid.

Second Annual Danforth Multifaith Peace Walk
Sunday, 2009 October 4, 1 pm
Glen Rhodes United Church, 1470 Gerrard St E