SACC activities update for July 19th

Here is an update on SACC activities, posted by Paul York:

1. Art show at City Hall by UTSC SACC students
2. "Closed Doors" energy conservation campaign
3. Room bookings for September for 2 citizen's forums during Environment Week
4. Space for weekly meetings and movie showings for SACC
5. Tabling update and request for volunteer help
6. Stop Climate Chaos and bus to Quebec for major protest
7. Last SACC meeting, St. George campus and taking the 7 point pledge plus discussion
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1. Enviro-art at City Hall by UTSC SACC students

Last weekend Shayla Duval organized an amazing art show at City Hall, downtown.Students, teens and kids drew enviro-art in chalk on Nathan Phillips Square.Pieter, who was there, said it was amazing. Unforunately, a power-mad security guardruined the event about 2 hours after it started, but next time we'll get a City Hallsponsor to back it up and give it some well-deserved publicity.

See the photos and full report atShayla's blog.
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2. "Closed Doors" energy conservation campaign

The whole thing started on Live Earth Day: I went into a store, Sports Champ, on Yonge to ask them to close their doors while the AC was blasting. Pieter Basedow and Chuck from Stop Climate Chaos were with me.

The store manager rudely refused to comply, so I raised my voice and told the patrons of his decision and urged them to boycott the store.At that point he attacked me physically to force me out of the store!

Fortunately I was able to turn this in a positive thing: two days later I brought in Global TV. They did a great story on the issue and interviewed Chris Winters from ConservationCouncil or Ontario who ran the "Closed Doors" campaign last summer.

CCCO is not doing it this year, so we met with Chris, got some posters, and decided to do the program. This meant asking store owners to closed doors while the AC was running. 95% ofthem are happy to comply. Only about 5% disagreed and we took their informationto write a letter, copying CCCO and Global TV in every case.

This is a great way to do low-level direct action and community activism to fight global warming. Those that closed their doors we give a poster to, endorsed by the City of Toronto.It says "Please Come In: our doors are closed to save energy."

Last week, two teams of three peoplefrom SACC went and did the campaign on Queen St. E. and Yonge & Bloor area with goodresults. Call or write me if you have time get involved.

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3. Room bookings for September for 2 citizen's forums during Environment Week

We have made some progress in getting bookings by making contact with the organizers of Environment Week at U of T and with the Sustainability Office. It is impossible for a campus club to book space on campus without a lot of money more than a month in advance, but with thehelp of these contacts we are working on getting that done.

The speakers for both forums, on global warming and on the energy future of Ontario are willing to speak at U of T, so it is really the room booking that is holding us up. After that is done, we will need your volunteer help to advertise it.

These forums will be incredible opportunities to really learn in-depth about these issues. They mayeven change your life! Please let me know if you want to help pull them together.
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4. Space for weekly meetings and movie showings for SACC

Finally, we have secured a good space for weekly meetings -- at Wordsworth College, 119 St. George, in the student lounge, room 101. There is a TV and DVD there too, so our meetings will consist of watching environmental movies followed by discussion. Meet us every Friday at 6:00 p.m. in room 101!

The movie this week is incredible and everyone should see it: "A Crude Awakening." We were originally going to show "Escape from Suburbia" (also worth seeing) but "A Crude Awakening" is a much better documentary about peak oil. It is shocking to see our current situation -- the affluence of this society -- in historical context and to realize that it cannot possible last and that humanity is about to enter an endless economic depression, leading to countless wars over scarce resources. All the wealth of this age is built on a non-renewable resource. You owe it to yourself to see this movie!
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5. Tabling update and request for volunteer help

So far several people have "tabled" to get more people involved: Ma'ayan, Alice, Pieter, Shayla,Marissa and myself, and Baby the dog. But more are needed! If you are interested in spending a couple of leisurely hours signing people up outside the Student Life Centre or Robarts on a nice summer day, talking to students about global warming, contact me. We will arrange it a time for several people to work together on this.

We have all the equipment -- just need people to show up and talk to folks. Also, if you can volunteer with anything else, let me know or Shayla (at UTSC) know. Shayla's email is <shayladuval@yahoo.ca>
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6. Stop Climate Chaos and bus to Quebec to join major protest

The Security and Prosperity Partnership meeting of George Bush, Stephen Harperand the Mexican president is set for late August. Thousands of activists will convergeon Ottawa for this. A bus, arranged by Stop Climate Chaos, is leaving from Toronto.If you want to be on it, the sliding scale cost is $60 to $90.

Working with Stop Climate Chaos, the plan is for SACC to make climate change a majorissue in Ottawa during the protest, through banners, by speaking at rallies (where possible)and simply by showing up and being counted in the non-violent sturggle for democracy.

Some people there will be violent (on both sides) but that does notinvalidate the message of those who are there non-violently, such as Council ofCanadians or others. The real violence is what's being done to this planet and weshould be there in Ottawa to protest that.

The link between SPP and climate change is this: the Harper government is bent ongiving away all of Canada's natural resources (oil, wood, water) to U.S. corporations andusing the SPP agreement to do it.

In the SPP document they actually speak of increasing tar sand production with no dicussion of whether that is good or bad. Instead of saving oil (and reducing its production) they are allowing its production to beincreased dramatically, even though it is destroying the boreal forests of Alberta and spewingthousands of tonnes of CO2 into the air everyday -- both at the source, through mining and through cars (through consumption).

According to the WWF, the oil sands are Canada'ssingle largest source of GHG emissions, and they are calling for a halt to production: WWF news.

By the way, Stop Climate Chaos is an excellent local group with weekly meetings (almost every Tuesday night at Trinity St. Paul's 7:00 p.m.). The contact for the bus SCC is Brian Champ.

To reserve a seat contact Brian at <Brian Champ>.

There are several sites devoted to the SPP event. Here are a few: War Criminals coming to Quebec in August; Protest Against SPP; Calderon, Harper, and Bush in Montebello_q.

This event will change your life in a very positive way -- I did this kind of thing in 1998 (Armx '88) and because of that event became a lifelong social activist.

Seeing the naked abuse of power and the great effort by government to stifle legitimate democracy firsthand will convince you of the necessity of the struggle for justice, peace, defense of democracy and protection of the environment.

Also to let you know, the U.S. Army is in Quebec and is already stifling democracy by prohibiting the Council of Canadians from using a local community centre.

See
Council of Canadians press release; and COC website.
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7. Last SACC meeting, St. George campus and taking the 7 point pledge

The last meeting of SACC, last Friday, was excellent. We went through Al Gore's Live Earth7 point pledge and discussed it in detail to determine how it could be applied in Toronto,in our individual lives and collectively. Here is the pledge followed by a comment on how itapplies in Toronto and at U of T, point by point ...
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Pledge No. 1. Demand that my country join an international treaty within the next two years that cuts global warming pollution by 90 percent in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth.

Comment: Write an email to the Harper government demanding that they comply with this firstpoint. Send a copy to the other parties' leaders and a blind copy to me, if you don't mind.In addition to the demand (above) you may wish to also urge Harper to stop subsidizing the U.S.companies extracting oil from the tar oil sands of Alberta.

Canada gives away more than a billion dollars per year to U.S. oil companies when we should be imposing a carbon tax on Shell, Exxon and those other corporations.

Albertans get 25 per barrel, which is almost nothing, so the economic argument that the tar sandsare beneficial to Canadians holds no weight. Economically and environmentally it is a disaster of epic proportions, fueling the U.S. war machine and destroying life on Earth. The emails to write to are:

Write to: Steven Haper, PC Party of Canada <Steven Harper's email>

Copy:Stephan Dion, Liberal Party of Canada <Stephane Dion's email>

Jack Layton, New Democratic Party of Canada <Jack Layton's email>

Giles Duseppe, Bloc Quebecois <Giles Duceppe's email>

Elizabeth May, Green Party of Canada <Elizabeth May's email>

Also blindcopy:<I">Paul York's emailI will publish these letters on the SACC blog if you send them to me.
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Pledge No. 2. Take personal action to help solve the climate crises by reducing my own C02 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become “carbon neutral”.

Comment: Some of the single biggest contributions individuals can make is 1) stop flying, 2) stop driving,3) become a vegetarian or eat meat less, and 4) stop using air conditioning, and 5) buylocal food, and 6) buy fewer products altogether (nearly everything is made with cheap oil or coal).

Flying is a major contributor to GHGs. If everyone stoppedflying in the world, we would go a long way to solving the problem. See Monbiot's book "Heat" chapter 8 "Love Miles" or consider this quote from naturalist David Attenborough:

“Each of us in the UK is responsible for producing about 11 tonnes of CO2 each year [in the UK]We can try to make a difference by cutting down that figure. By wasting less energy: Insulatingour homes better, for example. By driving more efficient cars. And by flying less often...”

For a more thorough list seeEnergy conservation tips; and Global Warming tips.
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Pledge No. 3. Fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility thatburns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the C02.

Comment: In Ontario, this directive should lead us in the direction of opposing the Portlands EnergyCentre, being built for natural gas processing even though natural gas produces GHGs andis running out worldwide. Those public funds should instead be spend on windmills and solarpower and conservation.

For a good critique of Portlands see
Danforth Greens.

And we must also continue to oppose coal power in Ontario. Dalton McGunity hasnow signed a bill to shut it down by 2014, which means 7 more years of smog-relateddeaths and global warming GHG emissions in Ontario from coal (if he keeps his promiseor it is not reversed by an incoming government!)

Here are two recent communications on the coal issue, one from a moderate"liberal reformer" Ontario Clean Air Alliance and one from a much more radical group,Paradigm Shift Environmental Alliance. They are both worth reading and acting on.We need both radicals and moderates to get make a difference - the main thing isto be an activist!

From Ontario Clean Air Alliance (the more moderate position) ...

The McGuinty Government is moving forward with establishing a legally binding deadline for an end to coal burning for electricity in Ontario. The government has now posted a draft regulation on the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) Registry setting a legally enforceable deadline of Dec. 31, 2014 for an end to coal use in this province. Which is very good news.

However, the draft regulation sets no interim targets for reducing coal use before the final 2014 deadline. That's something that can and must be fixed: the McGuinty Government has already managed to cut coal use by 32% between 2003 and 2006 and the Ontario Power Authority is forecasting that we will need coal for less than 1% of our electricity needs in 2010. Therefore, there is no compelling reason not to include firm interim reduction targets in the shutdown regulation.

It is absolutely critical that you and everyone you know uses the 30-day EBR comment period to let the government know that you strongly support a legally binding phase-out deadline and interim reduction targets. This is a tremendous opportunity to get the coal phase out back on track, but even the 2014 deadline is likely to be opposed by the Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario (e.g., Dow Chemical, Imperial Oil, Inco).

Please visit Tell the Province that you oppose coal power and support a legally binding phaseout of coal power in Ontario and legally binding deadline for an end to coal power.

You also want to see legally binding requirements for interim annual reductions in coal use. You can learn more about the draft coal phase-out regulation in our new factsheet: Coal phase-out regulation: Finishing the job available on our website at Ontario Clean Air Alliance.org

If you have any problems with the link above, the EBR registry number for the regulation posting is 010-0945. Simply go to Province's website regarding coal power and enter this number. You can submit comments online by clicking the “Submit comment” button in the right-hand margin on the draft regulation page.

Please pass this message on to your friends. Thank you.

Jack Gibbons, Chair
Ontario Clean Air Alliance
402-625 Church St, Toronto M4Y 2G1
Phone: 416-926-1907 ext. 240Fax: 416-926-1601
Email: Jack Gibbons
Website: Ontario Clear Air Alliance
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From Paradigm Shift Environmental Alliance (the more radical position) ...

ABOLITION OF COAL-FIRED PLANTS IN ONTARIO IMMEDIATELLY AND CANADA WIDE BY 2012

VIGIL / INFO PICKET / RALLY

Every Tuesday from 5:30 - 6:30 pm

SW corner University and College, Toronto in front of Ontario Power Generation Building (OPG)
Paradigm Shift Environmental Alliance - PSEAContact Ivona Vujica Coordinator psea4earth@gmail.com

1. Letter to Queen's Park2. Letter to Harper

(1) LETTER TO QUEEN'S PARK

We thank all people from Ontario and beyond who sent their advocacy letters.If you have not had a chance, please write Premier Dalton McGuinty to urge him to close down Ontario Coal Plants OR take a second and email the following sample letter (below) to:

Dalton McGuinty <dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org>
CC to John Tory, MPP <john.tory@pc.ola.org>
BCC toParadigm Shift Environmental Alliance <Paradigm Shift email>

Premier Dalton McGuinty:

Your # 1 Election Promise was to close Ont.'s coal fired power plants by 2007. In fact, your exact words were, "Come hell or highwater, Ontario coal plants will close by 2007."We are holding you to your promise.

Nanticoke is Canada's # 1 Polluter and Greenhouse Gas Emitter and N. America's largest coal plant. It's killed thousands and made even more ill. Cancer now surpasses heart disease as the # 1 killer. Please keep your promise. The health of all Ontarians demands it.

Also, we are asking you to stop the proposed giant methane plant in the Portlands that is going ahead without a full environmental assessment and is opposed by Mayor David Miller, most local politicians, the Board of Health etc.

- Greenhouse gases up 90% from Ontario coal plants from 1995-2005 (Tor Star, Feb 1/07)
- Closing down Ontario coal stacks amounts to taking all the cars and small trucks off our streets - McGuinty government says that "the annual costs of coal-fired generation, including health and environmental costs, ... [is] significantly higher than other electricity generation options."

- The Ontario Power Authority is recommending that in 2010, Ontario Power Generation should export 93% of its coal-fired electricity to the U.S. (meaning we get all the toxins, illness and have to account for the greenhouse gasses while the US gets our power. McGuinty promised in 2003 to export zero amount of power to the US. from Ontario's coal-fired plants.

Sincerely,
NAMEADDRESS OR CITY

(2) LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER HARPER

Prime Minister, the Kyoto protocol of which Canada is a signatory and is bound to under international law is now also the law of the land in Canada as it was passed unanimously by the House of Commons and the Senate. No one is above the law prime minister Harper.

The only way Canada can keep its Kyoto obligations is by the Canada wide phase-out of coal-fired plants by 2012. It not only reduces our greenhouse gases effectively but it also protects the health and wellbeing of all Canadians young and old. Canada's words / obligations mean something.

Sincerely,
NAMEAddress or City

Prime Minister Stephen Harper pm@pm.gc.ca
Jack Layton, NDP leader Layton.J@parl.gc.ca
Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Quebecois leader Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca
Dion Stephane, Liberal leader Dion.S@parl.gc.ca
Elizabeth May, Green party leader leader@greenparty.ca
CC to Paradigm Shift Environmental Alliance <psea4earth@gmail.com>
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Pledge No. 4. Work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school,place of worship, and means of transportation.

Comment: What this could mean is starting a "Sustainability and Conservation Committee" with otherworks at your workplace, or at least speak to the manager / boss when you see energyand resource waste that costs the company money and is bad for the environment as well.

At U of T, this could mean spotting areas where U of T could improve and sendingan email to the Sustainability Office on campus. Their email is <sustainability@utoronto.ca>

As well, SACC can do a campaign on a particular issue. For example, there is a Tim Hortonson campus now and they don't use recyclable cups. We have been writing themabout this to urge them to use corn cups, which are biodegradable. This is just one example.

Lastly, join and become active in an environmental campus club, whether it is SACCor some other one. Here are just few of the existing groups (there are more):

- UTERN (a sort of umbrella group) - http://utern.sa.utoronto.ca/- Animal Rights - http://utcare.sa.utoronto.ca/

- Environmental Students' Union (promotes veganism)

- http://www.utoronto.ca/envstudy/ensu/home/home.html

- OPIRG (social justice and the environment) - http://www.opirguoft.org/

- Gardening - http://sgc.sa.utoronto.ca/

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Pledge No. 5. Fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources andreduce dependence on oil and coal.

Comment: The first part of this point related to the possibility of 100% renewable energy for Ontario and Canada. This is not only desirable to reduce smog and pollution and global warming -- it is necessary because of peak oil (the end of the oil age). 100% renewable energy means a huge amount of conservation (radically reduced consumption and an end to exporting Canada's natural resources to the U.S. and abroad) and it also means production of wind turbines and solar panels and geothermal units and DC lines on a massive scale in Canada. All the funds currently used on military or subsidizing oil companies, for example (which amounts to billions and billions of dollars) should be going toward renewable energy and energy conservation projects.

Bill C-30 is a very small step in that direction, but the Harper government refuses to pass it in legislature. Again, write Harper (and copy all the other national leaders) urging that they sign Bill C-30 and start investing in renewable energy.

Also, all the money spent on nuclear power should also go to renewables. The $40 million slatedfor expenditure on nuclear power in Ontario could and should be going to renewables. Thebillions being spent on the Portlands Energy Centre -- the same argument. All that money should goto wind power and DC cables. Germany produces more wind power than all of what Ontario uses,and has less land mass than Ontario. Why can't Ontario do that?

Write to McGuinty and demand that he shut down coal power in 2007 and spend the funds slated for nuclear energy and natural gas on renewables (wind, solar, geothermal) and conservation.

Write to:Dalton McGuinty <dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Copy:John Tory <john.tory@pc.ola.org>
Howard Hampton <ndpmail@ndp.on.ca>
Blindcopy:<pyork_2002@hotmail.com>

The second part of this point is covered by point # 3 above.
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Pledge No. 6. Plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests.

Comment: The first part of this directive is simple. The City of Toronto has initiated a tree-planting project.To get a free tree planted on your lawn, call 416-338-8733. See City of Toronto tree planting initiative.

The second part, preserving forests, is more difficult because it means becoming an activist.The big problem is clearcutting and deforestation of old-growth and boreal forests.

Greenpeace has been a leader on this. See Kleercut.net andGreenpeace forestry campaign and Besfriends.org.

Also, please note that carbon offsets that go to reforestation are problematic becausesome sources are saying they pay for "carbon rights" to projects that are alreadyoccurring and therefore don't really result in reforestation.

See this article to get an idea of the problem with carbon offsets: Article critical of carbon offsets.
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Pledge No. 7. Buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solvingthe climate crises and building a sustainable, just and prosperous world for the 21st century.

Comment: This means buy local products. There is a lot of "greenwash" these days, so be sure not tobuy products which claims to be environmentally friendly which are not. Stuff that's shipped fromafar, or has a lot of packaging, for example.

You might wish to check out this site (although I cannot attest to its accuracy):http://www.greenerchoices.org/

Better yet, don't buy anything (or buy much less). See Buy Nothing Day. As for leaders, see Vote For Clean Energy: Vote for clean energy/.

Cutting to the chase, in the Ontario provincial election, the Tories and Liberals are NOT green,and the NDP and Greens are (by comparison). Vote with your conscience, and moreImportantly become an activist for green energy at U of T through this club or some other way.

Lastly, everyone should know that this provincial election we will have the chance to vote onrepresentative democracy in Ontario through "proportional representation." This is importantfor allowing politicians into provincial legislature who actually represent the views of a citizens.Sharon Howarth has been promoting this tirelessly.

See this site for more info: Fair Vote Canada. And to help Sharon get the word out, contact her at <Sharon's email>.

If you have further ideas to add to these (regarding the 7 points) send them to me and I will add them to the blog. Sincerely, Paul

Meeting Agenda for Friday July 13th

Both students and non-students are invited to attend the next SACC meeting this Friday:

Friday, July 13th 2007 (for those who are not superstitious!) Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Wordsworth College, Rm. 101 119 St. George Street (east side, south of Bloor, north of Harbord) Rm 101 is the student lounge, north side of building, 1st floor (big sofa chairs) Non-students interested in fighting climate change are welcome as well.

*** Everyone who attends gets a free full-length movie on the enviroment on DVD! ***

Issues on the agenda ...

* Minutes from last meeting

* Discussion on Al Gore's 7 point pledge, what it represents, and how to advance it For background info: http://www.thestar.com/News/article/230649

* Report on air conditioning action on Yonge St. by SAAC, and the Closed Doors campaign For background info: http://weconserve.ca/doorsclosed/?page_id=3 Vote on whether to actively participate in Closed Doors campaign in a systematic fashion.

* Report on forums beings organized by SACC for Environment Week in September: (1) Power to Choose: A Citizen's Forum on Ontario's Energy Future, and (2) Global Warming Solutions: A Citizen's Forum on Climate Change Note: SACC is the main organizer for these two events, so your input is needed!

* Update on organizing efforts at UTS, UTM and St. George campuses

* Report on recent alliance with Canadian Youth Climate Coalition. Info on CYCC: http://www.ourclimate.ca/main/aboutus.php

* Report on meeting with renowned expert on climate change, Dr. Harvey. You can enroll in his course: http://www.geog.utoronto.ca/programs/geog/under/uoutlines/outlines2006-2007/GGR314.htm

* SACC support for the Vote Green Energy campaign against nuclear and coal power and FOR 100% renewables. See http://www.voteforcleanenergy.ca/node/72 for details.

* Other issues: community garden at U of T? Films? Other ideas and initiatives?

SACC news for July 5 - 7, 2007

SACC has recently joined forces with the organizers of the Power to Choose forum, to host a forum on Ontario's energy future at the University of Toronto. This will occur in September and will feature some of Ontario's most renowned experts on energy issues. We are also supporting the Vote Clean Energy and Pledge Green Toronto campaigns.

See http://www.voteforcleanenergy.ca/ and http://www.pledgetogreen.ca/

We have also joined forces with Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, a wonderful group of young people (18 to 25) who are chaning the world through activism. We have a table with them tomorrow at the City of Toronto Green Streetfest at Dundas Square.

If you manage to catch this post today by Friday July 6 before 5 p.m., please consider joining us for the SACC organizing meeting: Friday July 6 @ Sidney Smith Hall, 100 St. George, Rm. 1078, 5 p.m to 6:30 ish.

Events for Saturday, July 7th, 2007

Saturday - Dundas Square, Dundas & Yonge @ the CYCC (Canada Youth Climate Coalition) / SACC table (there will be many tables -- it is part of Green Streetfest) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Satuday eve. -Climate Change party for Live Earth / 7pm and beyond / 655 Bathurst Street (Just below Harbord b/w College and Bloor) / Contact: Dave at 647-832-0062. Call if you're coming past 10 p.m. to see if the party is still going on. This is participate in the Al Gore event on television: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2115785,00.html

The CYCC website is http://www.ourclimate.ca/main/index.php

Hope is a renewable resource

As an environmentalist or someone who cares about social justice do you find yourself losing hope at times? It is easy to lose hope in the face of peak oil, environmental collapse, social injustice, climate change and increasingly totalitarian methods employed by large corporations and governments working at their behest. If you find yourself starting to despair, start working with young activists and you will soon find that hope is a renewable resource

I recently met with members of Canadian Youth Climate Coalition last night. They are all teens or in their early 20s. They are going to save the Earth. I really believe this. If you look at what people over 30 have done to this planet, young people appear to be our only hope. They are not fixed in their ways of thinking -- they are open-minded. For this reason, my bet is on them to change things, to move us collectively in a hopeful direction ...

The latest article from George Monbiot tell us why this matter is so urgent: A Sudden Change of State This really puts things into perspective ... What Hansen's report tell us is that we are not at some ordinary political juncture, but rather at the end of a 10,000 year period of stability in which civilizations flourished, allowed to exist due to stable weather patterns. That is no longer the case. Between peak oil and climate change this civilization is on precipice of collapse. That is why it is absurd to speak of economic priorities as George Bush or Steven Harper routinely do, to excuse inaction on climate change. It is like worrying about how much money is in your pocket while trapped inside a burning house. Please refer to Edward O. Wilson to get a sense of the how immense this change is:

http://genesistheory.com/evolutionbookreviews/creation.htm

Many people feel we are at the tipping point or past it. I am not sure of that; like many others I have hope that we can save a lot of the Earth, although it will be a Pyrrhic victory, or in military terms, a rearguard action, saving some species and peoples (and losing many others, despite best efforts) through extraordinary effort -- but what other choice is there for a person who follows his or her conscience? If you are looking for an author who looks the really big picture, I would refer you to Thomas Berry who speaks, more hopefully, in terms of our transition to an "Ecological Age":

http://www.thomasberry.org/Books/

I like Berry's phrase: "The universe is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects." Our division from the natural world and objectification of it, led to this impasse. Embracing a more holistic vision of our place in the natural world -- having a biocentric rather than anthrocentric worldview -- is a prerequisite for continued survival in any sort of meaningful way. Berry is a visionary. He tries to embrace universal wisdoms beyond that given by the immediate culture. His heart is open to aboriginal wisdom, holistic visions, simplicity. We all need to adopt his way of thinking, not only because it is right, but because collective survival depends on it.

At National Aboriginal Day I met several young people who impressed me as having that vision. One was Thalia, an artist and volunteer with "Earth Day Canada ecoMentors." See http://www.ecomentors.ca/pub/students/index.cfm

She sent an email: "I have been 'ecoMentoring' Elementary school students with my own original lesson plans. These special lessons are always interactive and have a sense of play as the young students learn about themselves, their culture and the many connections with planet Earth. It donned on me that I am one human in the interconnected web of billions. There is a diverse range of cultural teaching methods, so let us these methods. As a multicultural Canada, let us learn from the aboriginal peoples of this land. Let us use aboriginal teachings in our school system . . ."

Shayla, who writes for this blog, is another young person who cares enough to become an activists. Check out her blog at http://concernedindividual.blogspot.com/

I hope that people like those in the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition and SACC will be representative of those determining the future. They are part of a worldwide movement to help shape society through countless acts of good will and life-affirmative creativity. As Gandhi said, "be the change you wish to see in the world."

- Paul York

National Aboriginal Day (June 29, 2007) and Climate Change

While native protesters were blockading the 401 to bring attention to government-violated land claim treaties, several hundred kindred souls met at Queen's Park to commemorate the day and to call for social and environmental justice.

Several native elders spoke with eloquence, and at least one included mention of the need for a massive reduction of consumption and shift toward renewable energy sources. The speaker told us she had given up her car and personal computer, and enjoined us to do the same.

The fact is that aboriginal peoples have lived sustainably for millennia and most still do. We can learn a lot from them. Eco-theologian Thomas Berry makes this point in his book The Great Work (1999):

" . . . we have begun to recognize both how little we really understand these peoples and how much we need the wisdom of their traditions.

" . . . the Indian peoples of this continent do possess, it seems, an indestructible psychic formation that will remain into an indefinite future. They have held on to dimensions of their ancient wisdom traditions of which European Americans have had little or no knowledge.

"As the year pass it becomes ever more clear that dialogue with native peoples here and throughout the world is urgently needed to provide the human community with models of a more integral human presence to the Earth."

The Aboriginal Day protesters retired to the U of T campus for a BBQ hosted by Students for Social Justice, followed by some wonderful song and speeches and a community circle and drumming.

Several speakers mentioned the environment, an issue intimately linked to the native rights. Yours truly had an opportunity to bring attention to the problem of the provincial government's plans to dump radioactive waste on aboriginal lands without environmental assessments or public consultations -- an issue first brought to our attention by environmental lawyer Sarah Dover, who works for Greenpeace.

The ethical case against dumping of radioactive toxins in any location is that they remain dangerous for tens of thousands of years, beyond a time when we can guarantee their safe disposal. Countless future generations will be poisoned because our society required cheap energy to power a wasteful lifestyle, when clean, safe renewable energy sources could have sufficed instead.

At the recent Power to Choose forum Dr. Rosin-Goldenberg spoke on the health hazards of tritium, a form of radioactive waste. The basic conclusion is that there is no safe level of radioactive waste; the only safe solution is not to produce it in the first place, which means rejecting nuclear power.

One lady told me that she lived near the Bruce Peninsula and the province had failed to consult the public or do environmental assessments regarding the newly proposed nuclear power plants to be built there, despite evidence of health problems in the region. This lack of public consultation on matter of great importance is an unfortunate hallmark of the current provincial government.

It should be evident that aboriginal wisdom and traditional knowledge -- which emphasizes a biocentric (Earth-centered) rather than anthrocentric (human-centered) world view -- would be beneficial for the planet, if adapted to the current situation.

The McGuinty government should not arrogantly dump toxic waste from our unsustainable way of living on to their land. And the Provincial and Federal governments should honour native land claim treaties made in the past, as the protesters have been asking for generations.

The climate crisis can be solved, but it requires a recognition of how wrong we have been to pollute the atmosphere and destroy the earth. Killing half the species on Earth and changing the natural enviroment so significantly that it endangers human civilization will certainly lead to a change in our thinking -- but everyone is fearful that it will be too little, too late.

So we don't have a lot of time to get it right, and this knowledge breeds impatience. Yet for those of us in the environmental movement who want immediate results, we should ponder the lesson of "seven generations": Aamjiwnaang resident Ron Plain says ‘I’ve been taught and my people have been taught to always be thinking seven generations ahead,’ Plain tells me. ‘Nothing is going to change in my lifetime. But this activity, this destruction of my community and my people, has occurred for the most part in less than seven generations, and it can be reversed in that time as well. That’s what keeps me going.’ (See Seven Generations Ahead)

For now, be active, learn from other cultures, work with and encourage young people, and "be the change that you wish to see in the world." Every act of good will bears fruit in time.

- Paul York

Excerpts from SACC's June 16th newsletter

Good move – “Escape From Suburbia” – Official world premiere:

Toronto. June 28, Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor Street W. The curtain rises at 7:00 p.m. sharp!

Join director Gregory Greene and producer Dara Rowland for this special performance.

Tickets may be purchased in advance on the site below, starting June 8 or at the Bloor Cinema box office the day of the show from 5:45 p.m.

All reserved tickets will be held at the theatre box office on June 28 after
5:45 p.m.

News alert – YesMen strike oil

EXXON PROPOSES BURNING HUMANITY FOR FUEL IF CLIMATE CALAMITY HIT - Conference organizer fails to have Yes Men arrested

(Text of speech, photos, video: http://www.vivoleum.com/event/
GO-EXPO statement: http://newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2007/14/c5086.html
Press conference before this event, Friday, Calgary : http://arusha.org/event/7214
Contact: mailto: fuel@theyesmen.org
More links at end of release.)

Imposters posing as ExxonMobil and National Petroleum Council (NPC) representatives delivered an outrageous keynote speech to 300 oilmen at GO-EXPO , Canada 's largest oil conference, held at Stampede Park in Calgary , Alberta , today.

The speech was billed beforehand by the GO-EXPO organizers as the major highlight of this year's conference, which had 20,000 attendees. In it, the "NPC rep" was expected to deliver the long-awaited conclusions of a study commissioned by US Energy Secretary

Samuel Bodman. The NPC is headed by former ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond, who is also the chair of the study. (See link at end.)

In the actual speech, the "NPC rep" announced that current U.S. and Canadian energy policies (notably the massive, carbon-intensive exploitation of Alberta 's oil sands, and the development of liquid coal) are increasing the chances of huge global calamities. But he reassured the audience that in the worst case scenario, the oil industry could "keep fuel flowing" by transforming the billions of people who die into oil.

"We need something like whales, but infinitely more abundant," said "NPC rep" "Shepard Wolff" (actually Andy Bichlbaum of the Yes Men), before describing the technology used to render human flesh into a new Exxon oil product called Vivoleum. 3-D animations of the process brought it to life.

"Vivoleum works in perfect synergy with the continued expansion of fossil fuel production," noted "Exxon rep" "Florian Osenberg" (Yes Man Mike Bonanno). "With more fossil fuels comes a greater chance of disaster, but that means more feedstock for Vivoleum. Fuel will continue to flow for those of us left."

The oilmen listened to the lecture with attention, and then lit "commemorative candles" supposedly made of Vivoleum obtained from the flesh of an "Exxon janitor" who died as a result of cleaning up a toxic spill. The audience only reacted when the janitor, in a video tribute, announced that he wished to be transformed into candles after his death, and all became crystal-clear.

At that point, Simon Mellor, Commercial & Business Development Director for the company putting on the event, strode up and physically forced the Yes Men from the stage. As Mellor escorted Bonanno out the door, a dozen journalists surrounded Bichlbaum, who, still in character as "Shepard Wolff," explained to them the rationale for Vivoleum.

"We've got to get ready. After all, fossil fuel development like that of my company is increasing the chances of catastrophic climate change, which could lead to massive calamities, causing migration and conflicts that would likely disable the pipelines and oil wells. Without oil we could no longer produce or transport food, and most of humanity would starve. That would be a tragedy, but at least all those bodies could be turned into fuel for the rest of us."

"We're not talking about killing anyone," added the "NPC rep." "We're talking about using them after nature has done the hard work. After all, 150,000 people already die from climate-change related effects every year. That's only going to go up - maybe way, way up. Will it all go to waste? That would be cruel."

Security guards then dragged Bichlbaum away from the reporters, and he and Bonanno were detained until Calgary Police Service officers could arrive. The policemen, determining that no major infractions had been committed, permitted the Yes Men to leave.

Canada 's oil sands, along with "liquid coal," are keystones of Bush's Energy Security plan. Mining the oil sands is one of the dirtiest forms of oil production and has turned Canada into one of the world's worst carbon emitters. The production of "liquid coal" has twice the carbon footprint as that of ordinary gasoline. Such technologies increase the likelihood of massive climate catastrophes that will condemn to death untold millions of people, mainly poor.

"If our idea of energy security is to increase the chances of climate calamity, we have a very funny sense of what security really is," Bonanno said. "While ExxonMobil continues to post record profits, they use their money to persuade governments to do nothing about climate change. This is a crime against humanity."

"Putting the former Exxon CEO in charge of the NPC, and soliciting his advice on our energy future, is like putting the wolf in charge of the flock," said "Shepard Wolff" (Bichlbaum). "Exxon has done more damage to the environment and to our chances of survival than any other company on earth. Why should we let them determine our future?"

(About the NPC and ExxonMobil: http://ga3.org/campaign/lee_raymond/explanation
About the Alberta oil sands: http://www.sierraclub.ca/prairie/tarnation.htm
About liquid coal: http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/liquidcoal/)

Why this matter cannot be put off any longer

The urgency of the matter is that NASA's top climate scientist James Hansen says we have perhaps 10 years left before it's too late to act, at which point the warmed earth and oceans will start emitting massive amounts of methane, accelerating the warming effect further. This will cause forests to start dying en masse, and the Greenland ice shelf will start raising sea levels.

All of these effects have already started, but they are expected to accelerate in coming years. The recent IPCC report confirms that this matter is very urgent and that warming is occurring 50% faster than first thought. This is the biggest long-term problem facing all of humanity: it endangers the lives of hundreds of millions and half the world's species.

Toronto Life Magazine just came out with an article (May, 2007) predicting that in 40 years Toronto would look like a Third World city, thanks to climate change.

For information on the "tipping point" see:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19125713.300-one-degree-and-were-done-for.html

And for those who are sceptical regarding the economic costs, please refer to the Stern Report, which provides information on the considerable cost of inaction:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6096084.stm

Letter to Steven Harper from U-of-T student

This letter is from Shayla Duval, a student at University of Toronto and a member of Students Against Climate Change. Her letter is excellent and worth sharing.

Dear Stephen Harper,

I am writing to you because climate change is the most serious issue humankind has ever faced, it keeps me awake at night thinking about it, and I feel that your government is not taking the issue seriously. The notion that we can't meet the minor emission goals set by Kyoto is completely ridiculous and disheartening to me, considering that Kyoto is just a tiny first step in the fight against climate change. If we want to prevent climate change from reaching the critical point at which it will fall out of human control (once we hit the 2 degree increase in temperature) we will need to reduce our country's carbon emissions by 93% in the next ten years or so. Banning incandescent light bulbs does not an effective, multi-lateral agreement make; we need to get back in Kyoto , and help it develop further rather than trying to kill it.

I'm also concerned that your environmental minister John Baird is continuing to argue that meeting Kyoto targets will cause some kind of economic disaster. The idea that reducing the gases that lead to global warming will trigger economic disaster has been denounced as a myth by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In fact, the IPCC said that stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 could be accomplished at a cost of only three per cent of global GDP or less. The fact that your government continues to argue against this makes me suspicious that there is collaboration with oil and mining companies, and that these interests are being put above those of the Canadian public.

Your government's clean air agenda isn't cutting it either, and Canadians know it. For one thing, there are large chunks of it still missing: you forgot to include the exact sector-specific reduction targets for air pollutants, and the exact level of efficiency that we will be requiring of our vehicles by 2010. You also missed the part where we specific which "stringent, dominant North American standard" we're going to be benchmarking our auto regulations against. It doesn't take much to realize that this agenda is just political rhetoric.

With the sad state of Canadian environmental initiative as of late, I'm embarrassed to call myself a Canadian. I don't want to be part of a country that is so disrespectful of the environment and human lives. Please start taking some REAL action on climate change, and stop insulting the intelligence of Canadians with your token policies and greenwash.

Sincerely,
Shayla Duval

See Shayla's blog: The Environmentally Concerned Individual

Why the Provincial emissions plan is problematic

1. The targets are weak. The Province’s plan doesn't go far enough to reduce emissions. Climate sciencists such as James Hansen says roughly 90% is needed. Aiming for 80% by 2030 would be good under the circumstances, but the Province is short of even that. This is not enough to avert the "tipping point" of 2 degrees increase above pre-industrial temperatures. Not one of the provincial parties actually advocates the cuts to emissions that the science suggests is necessary to avert disaster. OCAA reports that shutting down the coal plants would help Ontario meet 80% of its Kyoto targets.
2. The method for achieving targets is weak. There is considerable criticism of "emissions trading" schemes due to their lack of enforceability and because they appear to reward polluters. Furthermore, the provincial emphasis on voluntary reductions by industry and consumers is insufficient. Tough regulations on energy rates are needed to achieve conservation. This means an end to public subsidies for rates to industry and big corporations.
3. Insufficient public investment in public transportation and renewable energies. There is some investment in renewable clean energy sources but not nearly enough. Much more is needed. Germany 's 22,000 wind turbines produce more power than Ontario needs; why hasn’t Ontario invested in more wind turbines?
4. Lack of stricter standards to restrict vehicle emissions. Ontario is far behind Californian and European emissions standards.
5. The coal-plants need to be shut down. Premier McGuinty promised shut them down in 2007. This promise has not been kept, and the coal plants still do not have “scrubbers.” Raising hydro rates will reduce consumption.
6. The Portlands Energy Centre and plans to build more nuclear reactors at Darlington are highly problematic: more GHGs in the first case (methane is a major GHG), and a whole host of problems in the case of nuclear power (waste disposal, safety, cost, GHG released through uranium mining and construction). Yet the Province is going ahead with these plans, despite major problems with old reactors never adequately addressed through environmental assessments or public consultation.

In summary, the Liberal plan could accomplish far more than it actually does. It could aim for 80% GHG cuts by 2030 (and even that would be risky - the goal should be 90% by 2020 or better); it could use stronger mechanisms for achieving those cuts; it could impose much stronger regulations on big business' profligate use of cheap energy, in order to achieve conservation goals; it could shut down the coal-fired power plants.

Ontario also needs to stop exporting its power to the U.S. Mandatory carbon taxation represents a good solution. Germany has shown that the standard of living does not have to be compromised to cut emissions to less than 50%. Why doesn’t Ontario implement carbon taxation?

These are but a few possible measures. All the good solutions, spelled out in detail by clean energy experts (Ontario Clean Air Alliance and others), exist and are on the record. Why are these solutions not being adopted?

Draft platform for discussion

A 95% reduction by industrialized nations by 2017 (based on the report by NASA's James Hansen) is actually required to guarantee that the "tipping point" is avoided.

Negative consequences of climate change include: one billion eco-refugees by 2050 AD, floods displacing 150 million, drought, increase in malaria and tropical diseases, mass extinction of species (up to 53% estimated), massive agricultural failure and famine, wars over scarce resources, possible worldwide economic failure, massive deforestation (including loss of Amazon and Congo rainforests), ocean acidification, loss of plankton (base of marine food chain), coral bleaching.

At 19 tonnes of Co2 emissions per capita per annum, Canada has one of the worst records in the world on greenhouse gas emissions.

The expansion of the Alberta oil sands project from one to five million barrels per day would guarantee that Canada fails to effectively its greenhouse gas emissions.

The Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-30, the NDP’s reworking of The Clean Air Act which Al Gore called a “fraud”) has not yet become law because it requires Canada to comply with Kyoto standards and the Harper government continues to refuse to abide by Canada ’s Kyoto commitment. See http://www.ndp.ca/page/4570 Please note that the Clean Air Act is NOT the same thing as the Clean Air and Climate Change Act.

The Harper government just signed a non-binding pact with G8 nations to work towards a 50% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050 AD through voluntary action (i.e. no strict government regulations on polluting industries). This is insufficient to avoid the “tipping point.”

Given these facts, Students Against Climate Change urge the following:

• The adoption of a program of carbon taxation for all sectors of society.
• A moratorium on all clear-cutting in Canada because trees act as carbon sinks. This is to be coupled with "green" transition jobs project for loggers.
• Shut down the monumentally destructive Alberta oil sands project, and also implement a “green” jobs transition project for those workers. Currently the government is planning to expand the oil sands project from 1 to 5 million barrels of oil production.
• End to all tax subsidies to oil and coal and mining exploration and production (approximately $1.4 billions per annum).
• Following on the Homes Not Bombs model, pull Canadian funding for new weapons research and development and funding, and put all such funds towards social housing and especially restoration of existing housing stock through subsidies for green renovation projects designed to reduce carbon emissions and energy waste.
• End to all short-haul air flights in Canada , and increase funding for railway transit, to improve safety standards, as an alternative. Fallback position: legislate mandatory carbon offsets for all air travel.
• Massive public funding in clean alternative energy sources (excluding nuclear energy and biomass fuels, which are both problematic for several reasons). Clean energy sources, include wind, solar, wave and natural gas. Example: Germany 's 22,000 wind turbines produce more electricity than what Ontario currently uses.
• Ban cars (except for hybrid taxis) in the downtown cores of major Canadian cities, coupled with an increase in funding for public transit, and higher taxes on gasoline, with all funds going into clean renewable energy sources. Fallback position: restrict car travel in the downtown of urban cores where public transportation systems exist, through increased parking fees and/or tolls; the City of Toronto is currently examining.

Precedent-setting legal challenge against Harper over Kyoto

Friends of the Earth Canada (in Ottawa ) have launched a lawsuit against the Federal government over their failure to act in accordance with Kyoto .

This lawsuit is important and needs to be supported. Something similar was launched in the U.S. against the Bush "carbon criminals" and the good guys won at the Supreme Court! So it will probably win here.

This case is major news. They are fundraising to support the action. If you give money to environmental causes, give to this one. It is very worthy.

First global warming lawsuit in Canada: http://www.foecanada.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=318&Itemid=135

"The perennial question: compromise or absolute standards?"

(Opinion piece by Paul York)

Failing to cut emissions by 90% by 2030 could be problematic because even one more degree of global warming will cause a massive "positive feedback" effect to accelerate out of control, eventually driving temperatures up to 4 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures (or well above). The sciences and common sense dictates immediate and massive cuts in emissions.

Every degree's increase will mean death for tens of millions of people and billions of animals. Allowing the global temperatures to go up further is an act of mass murder. We do not have to investigate too deeply to discover that this is not an exaggeration: drought, floods, hurricanes, disease, famine – the list of possible catastrophes is mind-boggling.

The concessions and compromises environmentalists make for the sake of getting any movement at all is understandable, but (in my opinion) inadvisable because it loses sight of the what the the science dictates, and what conscience dictates. The moral imperative that taking a stand on this matter implies is beyond dispute.

Through self-censure and compromise in deference to what is "realistic" we step onto the slippery slope of a political game mastered by those who are willing to sacrifice the planet for profit. If you are not prepared to take a decisive moral stand, why be concerned with social and environmental justice to begin with?

Constant compromise erodes the soul eventually; why not stand up for what is absolutely good and just and right all of the time? To do otherwise lends itself to the danger of a Faustian pact, in my view. Of course, each person must act of their own free will on this matter.

Tuesday Protest at Queen’s Park – more information

Visit the following link for more information and a sample letter to be sent to Premier McGuinty, John Tory and Howard Hampton to encourage the closing of Ontario coal plants.

http://ontario.indymedia.ca/twiki/bin/view/Ontario/GLOBALWARMINGANDSHUTTINGDOWNONTCOALPLANTS

BELOW: From the Ontario government's own website:

"Recent reports conclude that in 2005 more than 29 million minor illnesses, 59,000 emergency room visits, 16,000 hospital admissions and more than 5,800 premature deaths in Ontario were caused by smog."
"It is estimated that in Ontario the environmental, health care and societal costs of smog are $10.8 billion annually. If the current trend continues, these figures would rise to more than 38 million minor illnesses, 87,000 emergency room visits, 24,000 hospital admissions and 10,000 premature deaths by 2015."

2003 Liberal Campaign Platform:

"Air pollution kills 1,900 of us every year and many of us do not trust our water. Cleaning the air we breathe and the water we drink will go a long way to improving the health of all Ontarians. That is why we have committed to replace our coal-burning plants, Ontario's biggest single sources of air pollution, with cleaner energy sources."

Dalton McGuinty (Hansard - September 23, 2002):

"You may be prepared to sit on your hands for 13 years while 1,900 people die a premature death every year, while 13,000 people, mostly kids, have to go to emergency rooms. The single greatest cause of admission into Ontario hospitals today, Premier, you should know is asthma, aggravated by bad air. Taxpayers are spending over $1 billion annually on health care costs and lost work days."

Here is an excerpt from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance the Toronto-based NGO that did a lot of lobbying against the coal plants for years:

Nanticoke No. 1 source of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change
OPG coal plants are Ontario 's pollution giants

February 1, 2007 - The staggering emissions from Ontario ’s four coal plants make Ontario Power Generation (OPG) a giant among polluters, says a new report released today by the Ontario Clean Air Alliance (OCAA). OPG: Ontario ’s Pollution Giant finds that the coal burners are not only massive air polluters, but also significant producers of toxic wastes that are being landfilled on site or sent to other locations for disposal.

"When it comes to emissions of smog pollutants and greenhouse gases, OPG’s coal plants are Ontario ’s pollution giants. In fact, OPG’s coal plants produce 40% of the carbon dioxide emissions (the major greenhouse gas that causes climate change) reported by Ontario industrial facilities to Environment Canada and continue to be Canada’s #1 corporate source of greenhouse gases," points out Jack Gibbons, Chair of the OCAA.

Emissions of carbon dioxide from the Nanticoke and Lambton plants increased by 20% from 2004 to 2005 and have increased by 90% for all the coal plants since 1995. Equally alarming, the actual emission rate (tonnes of carbon dioxide per gigawatt-hour of electricity produced) for the plants has increased by 7% since 1995.

OPG’s coal plants are also responsible for:

• 36% of Ontario ’s airborne mercury emissions;
• 28% of Ontario ’s industrial smog-causing nitrogen oxides emissions;
• 23% of Ontario ’s industrial smog-causing sulphur dioxide emissions; and
• 8% of Ontario’s industrial PM2.5 small particulate emissions that go deep into our lungs and cause asthma attacks, heart and lung diseases, strokes and premature mortality.

"But then when we turn our attention to OPG’s other waste streams, we see that it is also a big producer of wastes such as ash that contain Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) toxics like arsenic and mercury which it either landfills on its own property or ships offsite to cement plants and road builders," Mr. Gibbons says.

OPG’s Nanticoke and Lambton coal-fired power plants are among Ontario ’s top 5 on-site landfillers of arsenic, lead and mercury.

OPG’s coal plants also shipped ash containing mercury and other toxics to cement plants in Bath and St. Mary’s, Ontario , as well as to Michigan , where it is re-heated in cement kilns.

"When we stack up OPG being a leading emitter in all the major air pollution categories with being a leading on-site landfiller of solid wastes containing a broad cross section of toxic materials, and, in turn, add to this it being a shipper of significant quantities of pollutants to other facilities, we start to see more clearly that the giant polluting footsteps of OPG’s coal plants lead everywhere and cross many paths," says Mr. Gibbons.

"This also points to the futility of trying to solve the problem of coal plant pollution with largely ineffective end-of-pipe scrubbers or other controls that will increase its greenhouse gas emissions and its quantities of toxic waste sent to landfills and cement kilns," Mr. Gibbons added.

"The only real solution is to cut the giant down to size by eliminating coal burning and adopting cleaner solutions, like aggressive efficiency improvements, renewable power and highly efficient combined heat and power generation. Premier McGuinty should keep his promise to phase-out our dirty and toxic coal plants by 2009", Mr. Gibbons said.

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