In response to the failed UN climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in Dec. 2009, the Bolivian government convened a conference of social movements to address the challenge of global warming. More than 30,000 people participated in charting a path toward climate justice during the April 2010 world people’s assembly in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The November 13 conference in Toronto will discuss what is being done in our communities to resist the war against Mother Earth and how can we implement the Cochabamba agenda here in Canada.
Please advance register by emailing boliviaclimatejustice@gmail.com so we can plan the workshops and lunch.Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158523620837654
CONFERENCE AGENDA SUMMARY
9:30 Registration ($10 or PWYC)10:00 The Cochabamba Declaration11:45 Keynote Speaker: Erika Duenas, Bolivian Embassy, Washington DC12:15 Lunch (provided)1:00 Environmental (In)Justice in Our Communities3:00 Building a Climate Justice Alternative
Initiated by Toronto Bolivia Solidarity, an OPIRG Toronto Action GroupTorontoboliviasolidarity@gmail.com
Yearly Archives: 2010
Our Environmental Future
This event will present vital possibilities for our economic and environmental sustainability.
It should be of interest to anyone concerned about our future jobs, food and water security and energy use.
The presentations are by well known experts with Q&A following each presentation.
There will be a short break in the middle for people to stretch, eat or browse the books and info.
Handpicked: A Fundraiser for Not Far From The Tree
Handpicked: A Fundraiser for Not Far From The Tree
Wednesday, November 10th from 6-9pm
at the SHAMBA Space
48 Yonge St, 12th Floor, Toronto
With remarks by Mayor David Miller and Claire Tansey (food editor of Chatelaine Magazine).
Local food hors d'oeuvres by Jamie Kennedy, Mark Cutrara, and Carole Ferrari. Open bar includes our signature elderberry cocktail, "The Gleaner," as designed by Jamie Kennedy Kitchens. Cider press. Silent auction including several pieces of original artwork.
Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at http://handpicked.eventbrite.com or by calling (416) 363-6441 ext. 224.
About Not Far From The Tree
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As Toronto’s very own fruit picking project, Not Far From The Tree has achieved much success in its short, three-year history.
It's very simple: Fruit grows on trees in Toronto and homeowners can't keep up with the bounty. Food banks and shelters are struggling to get fresh fruit to feed those most in need. Volunteers are eager to lend a hand and help pick fruit in the city. It's a win-win-win solution.
This year alone we have so far harvested nearly 20,000 lbs of fruit from 226 trees in Toronto. All of the fruit was shared in the community, including 1/3 that we delivered by bicycle to food banks and shelters for those who are most in need. And yet, this is only from 1/4 of the trees registered with us, meaning that approximately 60,000 lbs of fruit were left on the tree because we have not yet expanded our reach. Help us pick every pound!
Not Far From The Tree has been recognized widely for its high-impact work, including an Environmental Award of Excellence from the City of Toronto, an Urban Leadership Award from the Canadian Urban Institute in the category of City Soul, a Hometown Heroes Finalist through Earth Day Canada, one of "50 reasons to love Toronto now" (Toronto Life), and our work was recently written about in a chapter in Mayor David Miller’s new book, Witness to a City: David Miller’s Toronto (Cormorant Books, 2010).
Join us at Handpicked to celebrate what we've achieved and to put your support behind this excellent initiative.
Find the event on Facebook, too: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=167199886641829
Film Screening: Living Downstream
Dear friends, colleagues and students:
The National Network on Environments and Women's Health would like to invite you to a public screening of the film, "Living Downstream", taking place on the campus of York University on:
Wednesday, November 10 at 4:15 pm
Location: Rm T1009, TEL Building, main floor
The film, by Chanda Chevannes, is a production of Toronto-based People's Picture Company Inc. and is based on the acclaimed book of the same name by ecologist and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber. The documentary follows Sandra during one pivotal year as she travels across North America, working to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links. You can watch a trailer for the film at: http://www.livingdownstream.com/trailer.php
Following the film we will have a panel discussion touching on some of the issues raised in the film and inviting audience feedback.
Moderator:
Prof. Sonia Lawrence, Director, Institute for Feminist Legal Studies/Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Panelists:
Ellen Sweeney, Doctoral Candidate, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University
Anna Tilman, International Institute of Concern for Public Health
A downloadable version of a publicity poster for the event (by York Design student, Sally Fung) is attached in pdf format. Please feel free to circulate this information to appropriate listservs and other interested individuals.
We hope you will join us on the 10th.
Anne Rochon Ford and Dayna N. Scott, Co-Directors
National Network on Environments and Women's Health
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Dayna Nadine Scott
Associate Professor,
Osgoode Hall Law School and
the Faculty of Environmental Studies,
York University
4700 Keele Street,
Toronto, ON
M3J 1P3
Tel. (416) 736-5721
Fax. (416) 736-5736
dscott@osgoode.yorku.ca
Toronto People’s Assembly on Climate Justice
Oct 2010
Invitation to help build, support and participate in the second Toronto People’s Assembly on Climate Justice to be held on December 4th, 2010 as part of a Global Day of Climate Action.
Dear Climate Organizer,
Thanks to the support of over 30 organizations within Toronto, the June 23rd People’s Assembly on Climate Justice was an incredible success, where over 250 social and climate justice activists, representatives from organizations and community groups, and concerned members of the public gathered to discuss community-based responses to the climate crisis.
The second Toronto People’s Assembly on Climate Justice, to be held on Dec 4th, 2010, is intended to be the launch of a permanent series of Assemblies which will serve as an open forum for ongoing dialogue and movement building within Toronto. By following the horizontal process established in the first Assembly and without imposing the answer it seeks to find, the Assembly will create a space where the discussions necessary to create a strong and unified movement for climate justice in Toronto can take place.
The Dec 4th Assembly will mark the halfway point of the Cancun Climate Talks and will take place alongside actions organized around the world as part of a worldwide day of action called for by the Global Climate Campaign. The Assembly is also in line with the call from La Via Campesina to create ‘1000 Cancuns’ around the globe, and the national callout from the Council of Canadians for People’s Assemblies across the country. With members of Toronto Climate Campaign, Toronto Bolivia Solidarity, Environmental Justice Toronto, and Science for Peace already on the organzing team, the Assembly is shaping up to be the central local response to the UN climate talks in Cancun.
The scope of the challenges that the climate crisis presents to us is beyond the ability of any group or collection of individuals to confront on their own. Our only hope lies in coming together to form a united movement with the determination empower ourselves to build the capacity that will allow us to organize our communities as a collective movement to create effective solutions.
Our future (and future generations) depend on our success. We welcome your endorsement, participation in our bi-weekly planning meetings, any financial contribution you can make, help in promoting and raising awareness, and of course, your eventual participation in the Assembly itself.
Sincerely,
Brett Rhyno, Environmental Justice Toronto
Julien Lalonde, Toronto Bolivia Solidarity
Rita Bijons, Toronto Climate Campaign
Pieter Basedow, Science for Peace
City Seminar – Harvey Low “Applied Social Research in Municipal Government”
The City Institute at York University (CITY) presents:The City Seminar
An interdisciplinary series of presentations and discussions on urban landscapes, past and present. Harvey LowSocial Development Finance & Administration Division,
City of Toronto
“Applied Social Research in Municipal Government:
Conflicts between Theory & Practice”
With a degree in Urban & Regional Planning, Harvey Low has over 20 years experience as a social sciences researcher. His early experience included working directly in the community with community-based social service agencies as front-line staff. He is currently Acting Manager of the City's Social Research & Analysis Unit within the Social Development Finance & Administration Division. Harvey has worked on a number of key social policy initiatives including the 25-in-5 Network for Poverty Reduction, the City’s Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy, and Community Safety Plan. He was also on the team that developed Toronto’s 211 human services telephone information system. Harvey has presented at many conferences on subjects ranging from neighbourhood poverty, to social research statistical methods.
Friday November 5th, 2010
12:30-2:00 pm
142 HNES Building
York University Everyone is welcome.
What Freedoms?
I would like to dedicate this blog to expressing my concern for the future of Canadian civil liberties, in particular our freedom of speech, association, and assembly. At the G8/G20 protests this summer, countless protesters were detained in inhumane conditions, denied their one phone call, deprived of access to legal counsel as well as a plethora of other offenses attacking the civil liberties we often take for granted. If you are interested in some of the attacks on civil liberties that took place that week, The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has an excellent databank which includes reports, observations, analysis and on-going monitoring activities dedicated to the G8/G20.
So, how is the planning of the G8/G20 and the reaction to the protests relevant to the work at the Institute for Research in Innovation and Sustainability? Well, there are three spheres to sustainability which encompass the economic, social and natural environments. For the purpose of this blog, I would like to briefly focus on the first two. I will begin with the most entertaining of the three spheres. Economically, this circus was absolutely detrimental to taxpayers. The CBC reported that G8/G20 costs included: $80 million for food and accommodation, $85,000 for snacks and $14,000 for glow sticks. No... that is not a typo- GLOW STICKS. I really wish the CBC explained what the glow sticks were being used for- but perhaps it is more fun to leave that one to the imagination. In terms of the social environment, the security provisions made it evident that protests were unacceptable. Despite the impression police presence created, opposition, disagreement and peaceful, direct action are not illegal activities engaged in by hooligans or criminals. In addition to struggling for an equitable economic and social environment, these ‘rebels without a cause’ were also fighting for our political freedoms. What state is our society in when we marginalize and criminalize the citizens who ask for our rights to be respected?
In an article in the Toronto Star regarding the Hundert case, a journalist asks: Where is the outcry? There are some events going on in Toronto that are dealing with the aftermath of the G20 crisis including an event with Naomi Klein, the author of the Shock Doctrine. All proceeds go to the G20 legal defence fund which was set up to support those arrested for organizing in Toronto.
In response to the Toronto Star journalist: There are people who are concerned in this city such as citizens who organize events to generate funds to support community organizers, and those who dedicate their time to participating in organizations like the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. We need to continue asking critical questions to our government. WHO should be accountable for the G20 screw up (Please, can anyone tell me which bureaucrat approved the glow stick budget?) HOW can we preserve our civil liberties? WHO is being targeted, and WHY? Our social and political freedoms are vulnerable, and if we want a healthy and sustainable socio-political future we are going to have to fight for our civil liberties.
Road Pricing & Smart Growth Forum
Transportation planning and land use planning are two sides of the same coin. Therefore, the 4th Transport Futures Forum will expand on what road pricing can do for congestion reduction, pollution and infrastructure funding by focusing on what it can do for smart growth.
Given the importance of Ontario's Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Greenbelt Act and Metrolinx's Big Move, could road pricing help the province meet density targets, accelerate transit-oriented development, convert
brownfields and protect green space? How might a comprehensive tolling policy influence development industry strategies and consumer real estate preferences, costs and travel destinations?
These are a couple of the tough questions that we'll debate with the assistance of our distinguished experts. Here is a quick snapshot of what you can expect to learn from them:
Dr. Robin Lindsey from UBC will give a provocative overview of road tolling and its relationship to land use planning in Canada and around the world; Dr. Alex Anas from the State University of New York will provide cutting-edge research on US congestion, road pricing and urban sprawl.
Ms. Sue Flack of MRC McLean Hazel will examine the pros and cons of European road pricing and its impact on development patterns; Dr. Richard Soberman of Trimap Communications will take a critical look at travel demand and urban form in the Greater Toronto Area.
Our forward-looking program, which also features interactive panel and group discussions, is designed to build progressively on the road pricing dialogue we've been facilitating since 2008.
Don't miss this opportunity to discuss tolls and smart growth with our excellent speakers and each other! Register today to reserve your seat and take advantage of our incredible early bird rates!
The Transport Futures Road Pricing and Smart Growth Forum is taking place at The Metropolitan Hotel in downtown Toronto, conveniently located at 108 Chestnut Street just behind Toronto City Hall.
For further information about our exciting program, please visit
www.transportfutures.ca or send an email to info@transportfutures.ca.
We look forward to welcoming you to Transport Futures on December 2nd!
The World According to Monsanto Film Screening
The World According to Monsanto film screening presented by NFB Mediatheque @ 7:00 PM, located downtown at 150 John Street (at Richmond St. W, near Osgoode subway station). Free admission. Part of NFB Mediatheque's monthly environmental film screening series entitled Green Screens.
Sustainability Council Student sub-committee meeting
The Sustainability Council is an advisory body to the President with responsibility for providing input on York University's sustainability initiatives, projects, and practices. It is also a mechanism through which to support and enable York students, faculty and staff to participate meaningfully in the planning and implementation of York University's sustainability policies, initiatives, projects and practices. It will serve to foster the integration of knowledge and issues about sustainability into research, education and application.
