Climate Cafe

Climate Change Accountability Act - time for Canada to clean up its international image

On April 1, Members of Parliament came together to support Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act. The bill passed second reading, with 141 votes in favour and 128 against.

The bill requires Canada to live up to it’s Kyoto pledge and should help inspire our government to commit to firm Carbon targets at the upcoming meetings in Copenhagen - COP 15.

The IPCC is urging developed countries to reduce emissions by at least 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, and at least 80% by the year 2050. These reductions are needed to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change.

Bill C-311 incorporates recommendations of the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and if the bill passes third reading and the Senate, Canada will need to commit to the firm targets agreed to under Kyoto Protocol.

Take a moment and contact your member of Parliament and encourage them to support Bill C-311 in its third reading.

We’re heading to the top of the world - Join us.

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland – On July 17 2009, people from around the world will be gathering for three days at the top of the world to fulfill an ancient prophecy. The Ancient Ones said that One Day, when the World needs it most, the Sacred Fire will come Home to the People on the Top of the World. This is the prophecy handed down over thousands of generations in Kalallit Nunnat. Now the climate is changing and the trees are standing again. The time has come for the Sacred Fires to be kindled with wood from Mother Earth on Greenland, a prophecy that has been fortold for 20 000 years.

Angaangaq, Kalaallit Elder hosting this event said, “This gathering will unite people from around the world and give Elders a unique opportunity to share their teachings and address the spiritual significance of the Melting of the Big Ice.”

At a time when the world governments are planning for the upcoming Climate Summit in Copenhagen this December, this event serves to:

  • Raise awareness of the dramatic escalation of the melting icecap in Greenland in recent years and its implications for the world.
  • Bring together forward-thinking minds and respected indigenous leaders to examine the impact of the melting of the Big Ice.
  • Add the voices, ancient knowledge and teachings of the people who have lived on the ice for thousands of years to recent scientific findings.
  • Preserve the ancient teachings and the knowledge of the Elders for coming generations.

The Sacred Fire Ceremony is a three-day cross-cultural gathering of deliberation, ceremony, and celebration addressing the welfare of the world.

Ashes from fires that have been burning for up to 10 000 years, fires from the Americas, fires from Buddhist Temples, Celtic fires, fires from the heart of Africa are being sent to Greenland to be used as the foundation for the Sacred Fire at the top of the world. These ashes contain the prayers of our ancestors, the prayers of the Four Directions, our prayers, the prayers of humankind.

On July 18 the Ancient Voices Council will meet, sharing prophecies and stories about Mother Earth, discussing issues about climate change. The ceremony on July 19 symbolizes the spiritual significance of climate change, expressing the unity of the Sacred Fire coming home and the Melting of the Big Ice. As the trees stand tall again in Greenland, the ice is melting. What does it all mean for people all over the world?

During the three days of ceremony Sacred Fires from around the world will being sparked connecting to each other and to the Sacred Fire at the Top of the World creating a global circle of Fire.

For further information regarding Sacred Fires from Around the World or to follow the event webcast from Greenland: Visit: http://www.fireandiceceremony.ning.com/

Todd Lucier reported on the G20 Summit in London this past April on his blog http://www.climatecafe.org and interviewed Angaangaq about the Fire Ceremony in Greenland.  He will be posting video, photos and stories on this blog throughout the event.

For more information about the Sacred Fire Ceremony, visit: http://www.icewisdom.com/calendar/greenland/

The easiest ice to be melted is the ice on the ground, the hardest ice to be melted is the one in the heart of man.’ The teachings of the ice help us all to recognize our common humanity and gain a new perspective from the melting of the Big Ice.

Hopenhagen - What gives you hope?

On December 7, 2009, leaders from 192 countries will gather at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark to determine the fate of our planet. Hopenhagen.org means to bring hope to the gathering in Copenhagen. The hope that by solving our environmental crisis, we can solve our economic crisis at the same time. Hopenhagen is change – and that change will be powered by all of us.

Let your hopes be seen . . .

Hey, Hopenhagen, let us embed this widget and spread the hope!

Climate Change Report says N.A. Impacts Significant

The United States Global Change Research Program released a report that indicates:

  1. Global Warming is unequivocal and primarily human-induced.
  2. Climate changes are underway in the United States and are projected to grow.
  3. Widespread climate-related impacts are occurring now and are expected to increase.
  4. Climate change will stress water resources
  5. Crop and livestock production will be increasingly challenged.
  6. Coastal areas are at increasing risk from sea-level rise and storm surge.
  7. Risks to human health will increase.
  8. Climate change will interact with many social and environmental stresses.
  9. Thresholds will be crossed, leading to large changes in climate and ecosystems.
  10. Future climate change and its impacts depend on choices made today.

The Debate is Over

OK, so it’s real, it’s happening, it’s causing nasty impacts. Read the whole report.

How are governments of the world going to react to the threats in a way that has benefits for everyone?

COP 15 in Copenhagen - What next?

“2009 is undoubtedly a crucial year in the international effort to address climate change, culminating in the United
Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, from 7 to 18 De cember . COP 15 as it is known is the
culmination of an international framework of negotiations that began way back n 1990, and saw the signing of the
United Nations Framework Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) in 1992, which aims to stabilize the amount of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous man-made climate changes.”

What can climate groups do to avoid the doldrums when Copenhagen talks wrap up?

Anthony Kelly of the Change Agency sent along this helpful link for understanding the outcome possibilities for upcoming December meeting in Copenhagen.

http://www.thechangeagency.org/01_cms/details.asp?ID=11

See Home

See Home
A film that will inspire you to think differently about our relationship with the planet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU
Home - a film about human life on earth

China - Report on Climate Change Action

In many ways, China is a leader in tackling Climate Change and promoting Carbon-Friendly industry.

Organic Food in Canada - SunOpta supports farmers

Roger Eacock, president of SunOpta Canada talks about farmers going organic and how their organization helps farms transition to organic farming.

“Improving the farm organically helps improve the economics of the community.”

Download this podcast (5 min)

Understanding Copenhagen

An excellent article on the
Copenhagen draft negotiating text for climate summit in December.

Shouldn’t they be teaching this stuff in schools?

Meet Canada’s Youngest Climate Change Presenter

At the recent TCP Summit in Nashville, TN I sat down with 13 year old Corrina Serda from Ontario, Canada to chat about Climate Change.

Download Meet Canada’s Youngest Climate Change Presenter (6 min)