Climate Cafe

Wondering how transformation into action occurs when Canadian citizens become “literate” about climate change? Read further and be inspired by the actions of one teacher and students at a community college in Manitoba.

I recently was trained by Al Gore and others to be a presenter with The Climate Project Canada (along with my good friend and colleague Todd Lucier from Northern Edge Algonquin). …I have been busy delivering a modified version of this presentation over several months, with different audiences and in different parts of Manitoba and Nova Scotia, building in my own stories and information, and using Al Gore’s presentation materials as the core of the presentation.  

I often wonder what effect these presentations have, if any, on the people present.   The presentation itself is global, powerful and unequivocal in its messages, yet uses very simple techniques of presentation….As you will  learn below, one of the presentations had a profound effect on one of the people who was present.

At the end of this past August, I was invited by Joel Ward, president of ACC - Assiniboine Community College -  in Brandon, Manitoba (Canada) to provide the Climate Change presentation to his entire faculty of 150 staff who were returning for fall session, and were kicking off a sustainability initiative.

Below is a story from the Culinary Arts Instructor below that is simply inspiring…the cool thing is that I have been invited back for an entire day with the entire student body of the Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts Program in which we will do the presentation specifically for this group of 60 students, and engage them in some reflections and discussions about what they will want to do with this information, as leaders in their field when they go into the working world.  We will also be integrating a 100 mile, or 50 mile, or maybe even a 20-mile diet interactive lunch that everyone will prepare, and a discussion about food and environmental sustainability in tourism.  Very cool!!
Enjoy the story!
Celes Davar, Earth Rhythms (Manitoba. Canada)

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“I have an interesting story to tell as a result of the inspiring presentation on climate change by Celes Davar on our first staff assembly. 

The day started like every other teaching day and being only two days into the school year, I was taking it easy on the students. I had given the students an hour for lunch and as this is a rare occurrence, the students gladly accepted the gift. I on the other hand was at a loss for what to do with an hour lunch break. I remembered the apple orchard on the BMHC grounds and thought I would take a walk to see if it was producing crab-apples. Of course a few students decided this might be an adventure and decided to join in on the walk. Away we went and as we walked the discussion moved to questions about BMHC (Brandon Mental Health Centre - now being redeveloped as the new campus for Assiniboine Community College). As one discussion led to another we were soon on the topic of the gardens, orchards and what was grown on the property. I had worked at BMHC for a number of years and my parents had worked at BMHC for over 30 years, so I was suddenly a wealth of information for these inquisitive minds. When we got to the apple trees we were shocked by the amount of crab-apples the trees were producing and saddened that they were going to waste. A small idea came to mind at that moment and I realized what a perfect teaching moment I could turn this into. 

As one who teaches outside the box, it didn’t take long to have a game plan take shape. Of course I ran the idea by the few students with me and I was pleasantly surprised that they were actually eager to go along. The next test was to pass it by the rest of the students and have mutual agreement and participation. I was incredibly shocked when all the students agreed with this rare opportunity. The change in lesson plan was accomplished in a matter of minutes and a new direction was taken. Students gathered pails and in groups of two, we proceeded to the apple orchard and carefully selected a variety of crab-apples in which we would create a dazzling new recipe.

It is always amazing when a truly teachable moment happens. When it lasts for an entire afternoon where all the students are engaged, and a meaningful learning experience takes place. I…well … just smile and feel good about the job I do. After the apple picking (the rest of the students who had missed the history lesson earlier and were teased by the students who had been present) wanted to see what other gifts the grounds might offer. Naturally I answered many history questions again as the students felt they had missed out.  As we walked by the duck pond we toured to the east and found the rhubarb patch. I have never seen or imagined students of the 18- 24 year old range would ever be excited about discovering rhubarb, I had seriously under estimated my chefs in training. I didn’t have the heart to tell them that the rhubarb was past its time as they eagerly picked and gathered rhubarb for a treat they would make for the class to taste test. Well …when the teaching moments are happening why stop it with telling them it was time to go back to class. 

We toured the remainder of the grounds on the east side and saw the remains of the old green house, suddenly the year two students wondered if they could plant a garden next spring for the next years class. They wanted all types of vegetables and herbs to grow and such stories they told of how and what they could produce. By this time I didn’t think I could take much more shocks as I was a little flabbergasted at myself for underestimating the students. Being in shock I moved through the motions and arrived back at class with a new outlook for the year. 

Over the next few days we preserved our treasures and will be sharing them throughout the year when you least expect them. I know that this outside the box experience has touched the students and the community in ways I could have never imagined or planned for in a regular class day. I discovered that the students wanted to know more about how to protect and preserve our resources and how they, as young chefs could promote and do their part. I won’t go into the rest of the discoveries I have made since that day, as they are tremendous, they haven’t stopped, and the ripple is spreading. 

I do know that a tremendous positive impact has been made. How? We have been receiving locally grown produce, assorted locally grown fruits, and samples of Grandma’s preserved products. This morning I picked up 20 lbs of locally grown grapes!!! I haven’t a clue what we will do them……some brainstorming with the students is definitely on the agenda today and who knows what the grapes will turn into.                

News is spreading and local farmers would like to have the opportunity to provide local grown products. One of the local Hutterite colonies is very excited to sell their produce and perhaps book a cooking class or two for their colony.                                                                                  

I mention only a few highlights of what has occurred in the last few weeks since Celes spoke at ACC. I can only imagine what would happen if he were to speak with our students personally.

Thanks you for a truly remarkable guest speaker and for making my year!”

Yours in education,

Joanne Canada-Somers, Culinary Arts Instructor

Assiniboine Community College

The European Union is firm in their resolve to limit Greenhouse Gas Emissions, despite the impact that regional legislation will have on industry.  Learn more about the resolve of the UE to do what needs to be done.

Hopefully Canada’s new government will take such news in a positive light and move Canada more in alignment with our Climate Change obligations under Kyoto protocols.

OTTAWA – Canadian artists have joined together to record a song, titled “You Have a Choice,” to mobilize Canadian voters to let their voices be heard in support of strong, concrete action on climate change. The song is sponsored by Avaaz, a new web movement with over 300,000 supporters across Canada. Click here to download the song.

“Elizabeth May said it best in the debates, the Harper climate change plan is a fraud,” said Avaaz Executive Director Ricken Patel.

“I have also seen first hand how the Conservative government is actively wrecking international progress on climate change.”

While the majority of Canadians want action on climate change and believe that Harper is offside with their views, voters often feel that one vote can’t make a difference. This is why prominent Canadian artists have come together in support of strategic voting to defeat Harper.

“These bright lights of the Canadian music scene are sending a message to voters: you can make a difference, and we need to come together and strategically support candidates who will defeat Stephen Harper and fight climate change,” said Patel.

The Canadian artists who rallied together for this effort include: K-OS, Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies, Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent, Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace, Sarah Harmer, Hawksley Workman, Jason Collett of Broken Social Scene, Darren Dumas of The Salads and the Arts Offstage Choir under the direction of David Reed. The song was written and produced by The Hundreds and Thousands’ Ian Lefeuvre and K-OS. Lyrics all contributed by the artists. Additional keyboards are performed by Todor Kobakov from Major Maker. The track was mastered by Joao Carvalho.

With bagpipes, swirling guitars, soaring choruses and a chilling choral performance, familiar voices bring a powerful message of the necessity of action and the importance of each and every vote on October 14. “You Have a Choice” will be released to radio stations across Canada, and Canadians can download an MP3 by visiting AVAAZ.ca.

About AVAAZ CANADA

Avaaz is a new web-based democratic advocacy group that has grown in 18 months to over 300,000 supporters across Canada. Avaaz exposed and challenged the Harper government’s policy at the UN climate change summit in Bali through sending hundreds of thousands of messages and funding a widely publicized ad campaign.

Avaaz Canada is part of Avaaz.org, a global web movement with a democratic mission to close the gap between the world we have, and the world most people everywhere want. At 3.4 million supporters, Avaaz.org is the largest online activist community in the world and brings people-powered politics to global decision-making. It is the latest chapter in new wave of web-based, people-powered political movements that have profoundly impacted countries from Australia to the US to the Philippines

Keeping the Greens out of the 2008 Leaders Debate

Dream Conversation?

Broadcast consortium. “We think we might have to invite Liz to the party? Any ideas on getting out of this mess with the 2008 Leader’s debate?”

Steve. “Oh no, can’t have that, it’ll make Canadians want to learn more about Climate Change and make Stephane’s Green Shift ideas seem sensible. Got to keep people in the dark on that one. Keep ‘em thinking Stephane is loony, out there on the fringe, sneaking another tax on ‘em. Let’s call her Stephane’s mouthpiece. We couldn’t possibly be able to shift focus away from that issue if there were two parties talking about climate. No. No. No. I don’t want to debate her.”

Consortium. “Not good enough, could you offer us some help, we can’t exclude her because you don’t want her there. Why don’t you tell us, you won’t come to the leader’s debate.”

Steve. “I, I, …. I won’t come. That’s it, I’m not coming if she shows up. . . . Convincing? I’ll look wimpy.”

Consortium: “You could say you are having a bad hair day.”

Steve. “I’m not sure I like this idea. If I’m not there, they’ll all be talking that climate change nonsense and we won’t be able to refute it with our “Science” and economic doom and gloom talk.

Consortium. “Steve, you won’t really have to miss it, we could get everyone else to say they don’t want to come to the debate either. That way, we’ll surely have to leave her out.”

Steve. “Won’t we look bad if the public thinks we won’t show up because we don’t want to debate her. We need a better angle.”

Consortium. “Hmmmmm. The public would go crazy if all the parties chose not to come to the debate!”

Steve. “That’s it. We’ll Boycott the debates. That sounds better. Do you think we could convince Jack not to come?”

Consortium. “Are you kidding? The Greens have almost as much public support as the NDP. The last thing Jack wants is to stand beside Elizabeth. He doesn’t want to get hidden by her shadow. He’ll be in for the Boycott ruse.”

Steve. “What about the bloc? Help me remember, Why is Gilles in the debate again? After all, only Quebecers can vote for them? Did you ask our party if we’d boycott back when we let them in?”

Consortium. “Oh, no we didn’t bother with that. Nobody across Canada listens when he speaks at the debate anyway. Even the Quebec Nation. They will have heard him the night before. It’s like a commercial break. People need a bathroom break after listening to you boys. Remember, there are no commercials.”

Steve. “Don’t people wonder why he’s there?”

Consortium. “Have you ever seen Gilles? He wonders why he’s there!”

Steve. “Well it’s clear he’ll join the Boycott then.”

Consortium. “That’s the answer then. Thanks Steve, you’re a pal. So you’ll tell the media that you’d Boycott if we let her in?”

Steve. “Oh, no, we can’t do that. It has to be the Consortium’s decision to not invite her. And you can’t say that I or any leader in particular threatened to Boycott. That would give the people a place to point the blame. Best to keep the electorate guessing. You have no choice, you have to keep Liz out, for democracy’s sake.”

Consortium. “Right, we have no choice. If no one showed up, there’d be no leader’s debate. We have no other course of action, but to deny her right to participate - regardless of the ground rules.”

Steve. “. . . and remember, keep the electorate off-balance. Having no one to blame is critical.”

Consortium. “We won’t talk to Stephane then. We’ll get three of the parties to say they’d Boycott. That way, the public won’t be sure where the idea started in the first place. After all, you have the most to lose if she’s there. If everyone threatened to Boycott you’d take the heat.”

Steve. (chuckles). “Stephane will be stunned. He’ll probably Boycott that we’re boycotting the debate.”

Consortium. “Right, in fact, Jack and Stephane will take the hardest hits in the media because their constituents will expect them to take a stance loyal to the underdog.”

Steve. “If they do come to me, I’ll just say that letting the greens in, is a ploy cooked up between the liberals and the greens to get extra speaking time on the environment.”

Consortium. “The storm from this should all die down in a couple of days. Three max. If the media comes to you for a quote any time after today, just say it’s water under the bridge, you already talked about it. You have nothing more to say.”

Steve: ” . . . and we can’t afford another lawsuit. Its a demonstration of great leadership that I just keep quiet. If the Greens decide to try to fight this in court, they won’t know who to sue. By the time they figure that out, the debates will be over and we’ll have our majority. The first thing we’ll do is pass a bill that says anyone who has a flower in their logo, is female, lives on an island or drives a hybrid can’t participate in any National Leader’s Debate.”

Consortium. “That will make things easy for the future. Ok, so, we’ll say we decided not to invite her, because some of the parties threatened to Boycott.”

Steve. “That will work. After all, we wouldn’t want democracy to be put into the hands of the people. They’ll see its better to keep democracy in the hands of you media types. After all you need viewers. You don’t just do this for the goodwill of Canadians. It’s viewership that matters.”

Consortium. “Not exactly Steve. We hope no one watches the debates. No commercial revenue. We hope people are at home consuming our other media products like print and internet. If Liz is in the debate, viewership would skyrocket. That would be bad for business.”

Steve. “I get it. It’s bad for business and the political elite if Liz is in the debate. It’s bad for the people, democracy and the greens if she’s out!”

Consortium. “No need to flip a coin on this then. She’s out - for the best of Canadian Democracy.”

Someone wake me . . . I get the feeling that Canadian Democracy might be a dream.

addendum - Thankfully, the voices of ordinary Canadians rose up on blogs, in online comments of National publication web sites and were heard on radio call-in shows across the nation, leading Steve to back down on his threat to boycott the debates if Liz wasn’t allowed in. . . . as if the Tories would ever would miss the opportunity to try to split the left wing vote.

I for one, can’t wait to tune into the Leaders debate.

Every once in a while I get an email that has information that looks like it is really valuable. Sometimes the information is valuable to me, and sometimes that information is valuable to others. When it’s for someone I know, I take the time to craft an email and send the information along to the person or persons who I think can benefit from the information.

Earlier this summer I was invited to two events this October that are geared towards environmental sustainability, with a particular focus on travel and tourism. Two events that, were the dates not conflicting with other commitments, I would have happily and enthusiastically attended. I share them with you in the hopes that you may be interested, or that someone will come to mind who may benefit from learning about them.

In the first week of October, on the east coast of Canada,

Working in Gros Morne, delivering sustainable tourism training with http://www.gmist.com over the past four years I have come to know many fine people who are behind this event. If you can count on anything, attending a GMIST Gatherings event, you can count on being inspired to take action in your community. This event is designed to be more than just a sharing of information. Attendees can expect to be engaged in solution-finding to help their community embark on sustainable tourism projects.

In the last week of October, on the west coast of Canada,

This event is hosted by The International Ecotourism Society. I have presented at two conferences with TIES and have found the presentations to be inspiring, particularly with regard to policy development and larger community level issues.

These events take place on the east and west coast of Canada this autumn. If you are interested in pursuing sustainability for a tourism-related pursuit, please consider attending one of these events.

http://www.toronto.ca/livegreen/index.html

The city of Toronto is encouraging projects that will help reduce carbon emissions by donating millions of dollars in a scheme that Mayor David Miller hopes is copied by cities all over the world.

It’s no longer a debate about climate change and whether or not carbon emissions are the culprit, the discussions are now on who should take action and by what degree.

What are you doing to take action.  Be bold and step up.  It’s time for Canada to set an example for the developed nations of the world.  It’s nice that Toronto is stepping up.  But we need equally brave initiatives from provincial and federal levels of government.

A new paper released yesterday presents a summary from the Business Travel Coalition - Beyond the Airlines $2 Can of Coke, Catastrophic Impact on the US Economy From Oil Price Trauma in the Airline Industry about the impacts of high aviation fuel prices and the imminent impact on airlines and associated trickle-down economics seem pretty clear.   

It will affect everything…

The synergy of yesterday’s stunning presentation from Dr. James Hansen, Director of NASA’s Goddard Space Institute’s address to the National Press Club on June 23, 2008 yesterday (which is rocketing around the world - see the ABC News Summary) and the dire warnings about C02 targets , and the above paper from the Business Travel Coalition and the imminent impact on airlines and associated trickle-down economics seem pretty clear.

It seems in Canada that the Green Shift proposed by the Federal Liberals is a necessary shift. Carbon taxing, even lower CO2 targets and many other mitigations and adaptations will soon be part of the new carbon economy.  

Where will tourism shift?  My sense is that tourism as we know it today globally, and nationally in Canada is about to be revised in ways that we just do not know, cannot predict, and will come with a speed that we have never seen before….This will have impact and implications for any projections and discussions at the national level with the CTC, at the provincial level and at the local level.  I think, more and more, that “our tourists” are going to be regional tourists….not international or US arrivals.  

My sense:  This will be a composite result of high gas costs which are here to stay; the collapse of many airlines and associated supply management issues on food and other air-transported things; and our various individual and country responses to adapt or mitigate to a global CO2 target that has to be reduced much more than we thought. Now, more than ever, it’s time to be creative and collaborative.

These papers just came out in the last couple of days.

Note:  Dr. James Hansen’s address to the National Press Club in the US was a twenty-years later update to his June 23 1988 testimony to Congress that global warming was underway.  This time, though, his presentation provided direct reference as to why the tipping point is near.  He says, “The disturbing conclusion, documented in a paper I have written with several of the world’s leading climate experts, is that the safe level of atmospheric carbon dioxide is no more than 350 ppm (parts per million) and it may be less.  Carbon dioxide amount is already 385 ppm and rising about 2 ppm per year.  Stunning corollary: the oft-stated goal to keep global warming less than two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) is a recipe for global disaster, not salvation.”

Hansen says the EU target of 550 parts per million of C02 - the most stringent in the world - should be slashed to 350ppm. He argues the cut is needed if “humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilisation developed”. The team studied core samples taken from the bottom of the ocean, which allow C02 levels to be tracked millions of years ago. They show that when the world began to glaciate at the start of the Ice age about 35m years ago, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere stood at about 450ppm. “If you leave us at 450ppm for long enough it will probably melt all the ice - that’s a sea rise of 75 metres. What we have found is that the target we have all been aiming for is a disaster - a guaranteed disaster,” Hansen told the Guardian. 

The fundamental reason for his reassessment was what he calls “slow feedback” mechanisms which are only now becoming fully understood. They amplify the rise in temperature caused by increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases. Ice and snow reflect sunlight but when they melt, they leave exposed ground which absorbs more heat. 

As ice sheets recede, the warming effect is compounded. Satellite technology available over the past three years has shown that the ice sheets are melting much faster than expected, with Greenland and west Antarctica both losing mass. 

Hansen said his findings were not a recipe for despair. The good news, he said, is that reserves of fossil fuels have been exaggerated, so an alternative source of energy will have to be rapidly put in place in any case. Other measures could include a moratorium on coal power stations which would bring the C02 levels to below 400ppm. 

Norwegian company Th!nk is hoping to kick become a leader in the market for electric cars with its five-seater, the Ox.
Th!nk Ox is certainly a stylish vehicle and it might be the most functional in a crowded market of up and coming electric car companies.
Due out in 2010/2011, the Ox is about the size of a Toyota Prius and goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 8.5 seconds. On a full charge, the Ox can travel between 125 and 155 miles on its lithium-ion batteries, which can be charged to 80% capacity in less than an hour.

With all of it’s conservation ethic, the car is not without it’s amenities.  Solar panels on its roof power equipment such as the radio, navigation system, instrument panel, and air conditioning.

The Ox is wired in more ways than just being a plug-in electric vehicle: GPS, mobile internet, a customizable digital dashboard, as well as a whole host of other modern features.

The City, Th!nk’s inagural electric vehicle offering is already being sold in Europe for around US $25,000. The company is poised to sell about 10,000 of them there this year.

The City will be available in North America in early 2009.

Japan’s 24-hour convenience stores, may need to limit business hours and close the stores late at night. Saitama, which borders Tokyo, may follow in the footsteps of Kyoto and urge convenience stores to close during late night hours in an effort to limit carbon dioxide emissions, Japanese media reported. Collectively it might be time for all of us to reconsider the 24 Hour Convenience lifestyle which as only become the norm in North America over the last few decades.

Perhaps each person as a consumer, can question their need to have access to goods around the clock and make a lifestyle change and wait for the next day in order to make convenience purchases. The other hand-in-hand issue might be to reconsider the idea of Sunday shopping. If we only have 6 days to shop instead of 7 each week wouldn’t we logically spend the same amount of money, but compress that spending into 6 days, leading to greater efficiency in retail store operations?

Northern Edge Algonquin , a nature retreat in Ontario, Canada has hours of operation which are limited to 5 days (Monday - Friday). This limits registration for vacation retreats and adventures but staff appreciate the lifestyle opportunities that come with focusing registrations to the week. Likewise, the solar powered nature retreat holds most events on long weekends (Thursday-Sunday) allowing the business operation to close for what has traditionally been slower times.

Just think about your 24 hours of convenience, what lifestyle changes could you make to lessen your carbon output?