ºClimate Day

On Citizenship

// October 18th, 2009 // Comments Off // Blog

David Noble, a friend and mentor of Gracen’s asked her to compose this short piece for his 2 Degrees Tour. The topic is citizenship; what does it mean to be active citizens in our culture? How do we do it, collectively? How do individuals practice it?

I try not to politicize the word citizenship. Perhaps this is not a good idea because political boundaries are sort of inherent in the definition of a citizen. BUT, perhaps it is a great idea because then the concept of citizenship isn’t lost to people who think politics blows chunks.

To me, being an active citizen is just doing what needs to be done. This can be seen on any scale and allows for few excuses or alibis. For example, I have a recent anecdote on a very micro scale. Our subletters left us a lovely array of unwanted articles upon their departure. These articles were mostly hanging out in the shed and included a very nice comforter and wool jacket. As my housemates and I cleaned through this mess, and lifted said comforter and jacket, I discovered what appeared to be the vestiges of a small rat population. After recovering from the shock of the findings, I was able to level my head and contemplate a course of action. (more…)

Coming of Age

// October 16th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Blog

By Hilary Best

A friend of mine had me over for dinner this week in her first post-university apartment. It’s a wonderful one-bedroom on an interesting street in a great part of town. As is typical of the post-move phase, the place is full of unpacked boxes and furniture belonging to past tenants. The knives and forks do not yet have a home. But as we dined on her mother’s thanksgiving leftovers, it was clear that my friend was pleased with her new space and with her new set of keys had entered a new phase of life. (more…)

Blog Action Day – Want to make history?

// October 15th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Blog, Storyboard

This is a guest post – the message of Aisha Parkhill-Goyette at McGill University.

Every great truth is fought with a great resistance. When we were told that we couldn’t fall off the Earth we insisted that we could, and when we were told that we weren’t the centre of the Universe we insisted that we were. When we were first told there were tiny little creatures that could make us sick, we laughed and refused to wash our hands. Today, some of us still refute the history of our own biology, as if evolution is something to be ashamed of. (more…)

Blog Action Day – Climate Change Impacts Already Felt

// October 15th, 2009 // Comments Off // Blog

There is a perception that climate change will happen in the future. In reality, the climate has been changing for decades and the impacts are already being felt. Hurricane Katrina immediately springs to mind, but what about the shrinking of Africa’s lakes? Once the size of Vermont, Lake Chad is now smaller than Rhode Island. Needless to say this is impacting communities that depend on the lake for their drinking water and crops.

For more on how climate change is impacting at risk communities and Oxfam’s campaign to address this issue, click here. (more…)

Blog Action Day – Climate Action: There’s Still Time

// October 15th, 2009 // Comments Off // Blog

We human beings are about to make the most critical decision we’ve ever made. No, this is not a promotion for some product that will make our hair less frizzy.

World representatives and leaders are meeting in Copenhagen this December to chart course on how best to dodge a bullet. More than 95 percent of climatologists and biologists who study climate change are very clear. If we don’t drastically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions we will commit our biosphere to runaway global warming.

How bad is runaway global warming? Imagine the torturous demise of our biosphere and you’ll get a pretty good idea. Species that can’t tolerate even the slightest change in their climate will die off, as will the species that depend on them for their survival and so on right up the food chain. Coastal flooding and other frequent natural disasters, and the mass migration they will instigate, will be the least of our worries. Viruses and parasites will flourish. Disease and death will be widespread.

This is depressing. It could be far worse. Imagine the following: (more…)