Tag: #FridaysforFuture

RTO-ERO and CAM Taking Action In a Climate Crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Muskoka – An exciting new initiative to take action on the Climate Crisis in Muskoka was launched Friday at the weekly Climate Strike in Memorial Park, Bracebridge. The Muskoka Chapter of the Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTO/ERO) is supporting Climate Action Muskoka (CAM) with a financial donation to be used to promote the CAM 50% by 2030 Community Carbon Challenge. 

The Challenge calls on all Muskoka households, businesses and groups to assume the same greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal – 50% by 2030 – as the District of Muskoka and the area municipalities. Sign up to take the challenge at climateactionmuskoka.org. 

RTO-ERO’s goal is to significantly increase the number of households in Muskoka who pledge to take action to make a difference in sustaining the Muskoka environment. They also want to promote the use of the Carbon Calculator on the CAM website and encourage changes in behavior by individuals and households.  

RTO-ERO is looking at three different steps to achieve its goal and, to that end, has printed bookmarks to invite participation by both permanent and seasonal residents and to provide lots of simple ideas for GHG reductions. The group will be: 

  • providing posters and bookmarks to Muskoka businesses that are frequented by seasonal residents to provide information on the Community Carbon Challenge and how to access it. Watch for posters and bookmarks coming soon to local businesses and bulletin boards across Muskoka! 
  • providing bookmarks to all municipalities in Muskoka. 
  • distributing bookmarks to all junior level classrooms in Muskoka, along with some curriculum ideas for teachers, to encourage students and their parents to take up the Community Carbon Challenge.  

The Retired Teachers of Ontario, District 46, Muskoka (RTOERO) endorsed the efforts of CAM almost a year and a half ago and can now report that the District of Muskoka, the Township of Lake of Bays, and the Town Councils of Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, and Huntsville have joined the Township of Georgian Bay in declaring a climate emergency.  

For more information contact Joanne Garvey at president46@districts.rtoero.ca or CAM at climateactionmuskoka@gmail.com 

Just in Case You’re Feeling Alone…

Climate strikes continue weekly on Fridays from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm in Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst. Friday March 6 will mark week 24 for Bracebridge, week seven for Gravenhurst and week five for Huntsville.

Muskoka is a just a small community, but remember that we are climate striking in solidarity with millions worldwide. Don’t believe it?

Here are the communities where weekly climate strikes are happening in our part of Ontario, from the FridaysforFuture.ca website. (These maps are current as of March 5, 2020)
…And here’s where weekly climate strikes are happening worldwide.

Never forget that YOU are part of an important global movement!

I don’t know about you, but I am proud that Climate Action Muskoka is a part of that.

Look up the map for yourself and see how many worldwide are calling for climate action. https://fridaysforfuture.ca/event-map/

#climatestrikebracebridge #climatestrikegravenhurst #climatestrikehuntsville #fridaysforfuture #muskoka

Update, January 16, 2020

This is a reminder that we are climate striking tomorrow, Friday January 17, 11:30am to 12:30pm at Memorial Park in Bracebridge. We hope you can join us! Dress warmly! #fridaysforfuture

Objectives & Sub-Committees, Oh My!

Group that gathered for January 12 meeting

Do we call ourselves a steering committee? A lot of expertise and passion in the room on January 12, as this group sat down to talk about the shape we’d like to see Climate Action Muskoka take. So much to do, and Muskoka, we know this community is up for the challenge. We’re creating sub-committees. We’re developing our short- and long-term objectives. We’re working toward weekly climate strikes in other Muskoka communities. United in our mission to work together to face climate change. Contact us for meeting notes. ❤️ ? #climateactionmuskoka. #drawdown #climateaction #resilience #recovery #Muskoka

Muskoka Drawdown — The Radio Show

Organizer Tamsen Tillson (speaking of myself in the third person) was approached by Jeff Carter of Hunters Bay Radio to put together a monthly 22-minute radio show about climate activism on behalf of Climate Action Muskoka.

We’re planning to call it Muskoka Drawdown. Based on the Project Drawdown premise and applying it to Muskoka, it will be a solutions-based exploration of what is being done, who is doing it and how we can all work together to reverse global warming in Muskoka.

I’ll be looking for lots of help! If you are on this mission personally and/or professionally, or you know of someone else who is, and especially if you have radio experience, please contact me. Launch date to be confirmed. Please stay tuned…

Recommended Read

How to Stop Freaking Out and Tackle Climate Change: A five-step plan to deal with the stress and become part of the solution. From the New York Times.

Remember: We Climate Strike Every Friday

Rome wasn’t built in a day. We climate strike at Memorial Park in Bracebridge every Friday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. All are welcome. If you don’t have a sign, we’ll try to find you one. (If you’re making one, “Honk for Climate Action” has been very popular with passers-by!) Bring your family and friends. We hope to see you there!

Carpooling

If you live outside of Bracebridge, please consider carpooling. You can either post on the Climate Action Muskoka Facebook page, or email us at climateactionmuskoka@gmail.com and we’ll see about making some introductions.

Climate Strike Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Dorset….?

All it takes to start a weekly climate strike is for a few passionate people to agree to come together and, as Nike says, Just Do It. If you are from another town in Muskoka and would like to help organize and support a weekly climate strike closer to home, let’s talk! Again, Facebook or email, or heck, face-to-face any Friday.

Inspirational Quote of the Week

“What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?” ~Robert H. Schuller

Honk for hope!

CAM Update — January 9, 2020

Hi everyone, This is a reminder that we are climate striking tomorrow, Friday January 10, 11:30am to 12:30pm at Memorial Park in Bracebridge. We hope you can join us!

Carpooling

If you live outside of Bracebridge, please consider carpooling. You can either post on the Climate Action Muskoka Facebook group, or email us at climateactionmuskoka@gmail.com.

Climate Strike Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Dorset….?

All it takes to start a weekly climate strike is for a few passionate people to agree to come together and, as Nike says, Just Do It. If you are from another town in Muskoka and would like to help organize and support a weekly climate strike closer to home, let’s talk! Again, Facebook or email, or heck, face-to-face any Friday.

Recommended Read of the Week

Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming. This book is not about stopping global warming. It’s about reversing it.

Audacious, comprehensive and accessible, this explanation and ranking of the top 100 solutions to reverse climate change is a must-read. You can get it at the Bracebridge Library (though not at the moment as yours truly has it out). There is also a Drawdown website, which is up-to-date. (The book was published in 2017.)

Remember: We Climate Strike Every Friday

Rome wasn’t built in a day. We climate strike at Memorial Park in Bracebridge every Friday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. All are welcome. If you don’t have a sign, we’ll try to find you one. (If you’re making one, “Honk for Climate Action” has been very popular with passers-by!) Bring your family and friends. We hope to see you there!

Inspirational Quote of the Week

“We convince with our presence.” – Walt Whitman

Young climate striker in Bracebridge

Christmas Holiday Climate Strike

If you are one of the many concerned about climate change who have been unable to climate strike because of work, the Christmas holidays are a prime opportunity to join us.

Hi everyone, we hope you had a wonderful Christmas. This is a reminder that we are indeed climate striking today: 11:30am to 12:30pm at Memorial Park in Bracebridge.

Off work for the Christmas holiday? Come on out!

If you are one of the many concerned about climate change who have been unable to climate strike because of work, the Christmas holidays are a prime opportunity to join us.

Come and get your family engaged in climate action, or, take some thoughtful time away from the holiday craziness to meet with some like-minded people.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. We climate strike at Memorial Park in Bracebridge every Friday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm; and that includes next Friday, January 3rd. Bring your signs. Bring your family and friends. We hope to see you there!

Recommended Read of the Week

The False Promise of Green Housing: One designer is challenging the conventional wisdom about environmentally friendly construction. ~ By Viviane Fairbank. From The Walrus, November 2019.

This is a paradigm-shifter on the building industry and features the work and insights of Chris Magwood , who recently presented at Muskoka Watershed Council; and Melinda Zytaruk of Fourth Pig Worker Co-op , (Local! Part of this group!)

Inspirational Quote of the Week

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” – Desmond Tutu