Archive for March 2018
Come and witness First Light
Change for the common good
Take Responsibility!
March 24, 2018 was the annual “Earth Hour”, when people voluntarily reduce their consumption of electricity for one hour.
A report on the behaviour of people in Toronto, from the CBC, notes that;
“Several Toronto landmarks went dark tonight for Earth Hour, but Toronto Hydro says overall enthusiasm for the event has waned so much in recent years that they won’t supply numbers for energy use declines for this year’s event.” (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/earth-hour-toronto-2018-1.4592026 )
So, how are Canadians doing with consumption of another energy source – gasoline?
The David Suzuki Foundation reported this week that the increased sales of SUVs and light trucks has offset the increased fuel efficiency for autos, that has been mandated by governments in North America. For more information, read the David Suzuki Foundation report at: https://davidsuzuki.org/story/suvs-trucks-nullify-car-efficiency-gains/
These trends represent a challenge for change in behaviour. It is obvious that we are living in an economic / political system where human behaviour is resistant to change. Someone once said that the only ones who appreciate a change are babies with wet diapers.
Change is possible!
The CBC report referred to above also indicates that people in Toronto are saving on electricity use every day: “Between 2006 and 2017, Toronto Hydro says 2,300 gigawatt hours of electricity have been saved in the city, which is enough energy to power 780 large condos.”
In addition, Canadian data shows that sales of electric-powered vehicles were up by 68 per cent in 2017. https://www.fleetcarma.com/electric-vehicle-sales-canada-2017/
Change for a better environment is happening every day!
Are “Thoughts and Prayers” getting a bad rap?
Mourners light candles and leave flowers at the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting victims memorial in Las Vegas, on Oct. 6, 2017. Photo by Gian Sapienza/iStock
Writing in the UC Observer, Jackie Gillard comments on one common practice of the political class. When a tragedy, such as a mass shooting occurs, politicians tell the media that “our thoughts and prayers” are with the bereaved; the victims, whoever. Then, life goes on.
Gillard writes that, “The world has had enough of those feeble sentiments.” However, in this column she also writes that, “Thoughts and prayers can be seeds that germinate into affirmative action.”
Access the whole column at: http://www.ucobserver.org/columns/2018/02/school_shootings/
Canada has yet to begin the process of reconciliation
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We now have a responsibility to Tina Fontaine and Colten Boushie to face our structural racism and work toward decolonization together. So says columnist Stephanie Strachan in her column in the UC Observer.
http://www.ucobserver.org/society/2018/02/tina-fontaine-colten-boushie/
allanbaker 