The Environment as an Afterthought - A Rant
Submitted by Ben Liadsky on Mon, 2010-03-15 16:15
I've always found it strange that people can so quickly dismiss environmental concerns. I've been shocked and appalled when the governments we elect choose to do likewise.
I grew up in a city and I still live in a city. In fact, there's a good chance I will always live in a city - more and more of us are living in them after all. Yet, for all my time in a city, I've continually been amazed to find people who know nothing of the city they live in and have no desire to learn or to explore.
... Read more »
When a turtle isn't just a turtle
Submitted by Ben Liadsky on Tue, 2010-02-23 13:31
Here in Ottawa, at the national office, we primarily deal with national/federal issues. Our chapters deal with regional/provincial issues and our local groups obviously deal with local issues.
Nonetheless, sitting around the office one staff meeting day, a local Ottawa population of Blanding's Turtle made it into the conversation. This species of turtle is a very distinctive, fairly large turtle with a yellow belly and can live to be 75 years old. They are also listed as a threatend species by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and as an endangered species by the 2007 Ontario Endangered Species Act.
These turtles call a pristine piece of wetland home, which is located just a short drive from Parliament Hill and is one of the few remaining large swaths of green space in Ottawa.... Read more »
Shell & Canwest bring you an "Information feature"
Submitted by Ben Liadsky on Wed, 2010-02-10 12:55
We've been chatting the past couple days, here in the office, over an interesting full page ad...err...news article...err..."special information feature on climate change" that has appeared in the Ottawa Citizen (and the National Post, Calgary Herald, Montreal Gazette, Vancouver Sun, and possibly others) the past couple of weekends.
Indeed, it is quite unclear what this thing is. It looks like a regular newspaper article, has nice pictures, is seemingly well-written, and would appear to be written by a legitimate journalist. Yet, something isn't quite right.
The full title reads "New Energy Future: The Energy Challenge and Environmental Responsibility." So far so good. I'm intrigued really - until the next line that is: "A six-week Canwest special information feature on climate change, in partnership with Shell Canada." ... Read more »
Battling for a Security Council Seat - will the environment play a role?
Submitted by Ben Liadsky on Wed, 2010-02-03 12:36
Sometimes I like to pretend I know the future. I like to imagine how things could play out if only...
Before I get to that though, let me begin with what I know.
In 2008, Canada stated its intention to run for a non-permanent seat in the infamous United Nations Security Council for 2011-12 (Click here for more info). As per the rules of these elections, which are designed to ensure more equal represenation, two of the five seats (there are 10 non-permanent and 5 permanent members) that are up for an election in October of this year will come from the Western European and Others Group of which Canada belongs.... Read more »
What's going on behind the scenes
Submitted by Ben Liadsky on Wed, 2010-01-27 13:17
In my short time at Sierra Club Canada, I've noticed and been a part of a number of changes here. On a personal note, I went from being an intern to Campaign Coordinator. Where before I found myself in largely a learning role, I now handle some more responsibility (though I still have a lot to learn) and am actively involved in a couple of different campaigns - namely waste diversion and water.
From the time I started in September until December, the focus was on transitioning toward being a more responsive, more modern organization. This meant not just a new website, but also a new approach to how we engage with you and Canadian society more generally.
To that end, I'd like to quickly emphasize a couple of ways in which we are moving forward. ... Read more »
2 years, 2 weeks, and 12 paragraphs
Submitted by Ben Liadsky on Sun, 2009-12-20 15:47
Delegates from over 180 countries stood and applauded. UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer said, “This is a real breakthrough, a real opportunity for the international community to successfully fight climate change.” This was the reaction from two years ago following the conclusion of COP 13 in Bali, Indonesia.
From the Bali conference, came the “Bali roadmap,” which was to lay the foundations for a future international agreement on climate change. To further add impetus, COP 15 in Copenhagen was set as a deadline to get a deal finalized.
Over those two years, representatives from countries around the world convened periodically at a number of UNFCCC meetings to talk and negotiate in preparation for COP 15.
Then came the big show. There were thousands of protesters, hundreds of arrests, thousands of delegates, and over a hundred world leaders present.
Denmark seemed overwhelmed. So too did the UNFCCC.... Read more »
Copenhagen Wheel
Submitted by Ben Liadsky on Fri, 2009-12-18 13:28
Well, the bad news is coming in waves today. Stephen Harper missing in action, China refusing to compromise, Canada winning the Colossal Fossil of the Year (as voted by over 400 NGOs around the world for being the worst country at climate negotiations for 2009), NGOs continue to be locked out of the Bella Center, no movement from any countries to increase their pledges and break the developing-developed country split that has characterized the talks, etc.
Long gone are hopes for a robust and binding agreement. Also long gone are hopes for even a political agreement to take action. Now, the latest is a rumoured "political declaration" in which countries would continue to say that they will work together with a deadline of June 2010 to get a treaty on paper. ... Read more »
International relations is a funny thing
Submitted by Ben Liadsky on Thu, 2009-12-17 16:19
Throughout this process I have felt a growing sense of empathy for the actual negotiators involved. No doubt, this is an extremely frustrating experience for them. With so many delegates, so many world leaders involved, so many cameras and microphones everywhere, so many documents making the rounds, so many people watching/listening, and with so much at stake, I can't help but feel sorry for these individuals.
Let us always remember that these are people who, I have to believe, are generally working toward trying to reach an agreement. Such are the follies of international relations, however, that these types of negotiations are a painfully long and complicated process.... Read more »
Hate mail
Submitted by Ben Liadsky on Tue, 2009-12-15 20:33
How interesting that with the onset of Copenhagen, hate mail at Sierra Club Canada has increased substantially.
We have been accused of having something to hide.
We have been accused of being part of the biggest hoax in human history - a.k.a. climate change.
We have been accused of being funded by Exxon Mobile.
We have even been called "Nazis" and "climate terrorists."
Possibily the strangest, one woman told us that our "ox had been gored." Now I'm not sure what that means, but it was all written in capitals so I'm assuming it was hate mail.
Ever the eternal diplomat, the consensus builder, the peace-maker, it is my natural inclination to seek to understand why someone would say these things and to find a way to work towards a common ground.... Read more »
A History Lesson
Submitted by Ben Liadsky on Sun, 2009-12-13 17:07
Last evening I attended a short candle light vigil here in Ottawa to demand action on climate change. Approximately 70 people turned out to hear speakers demand climate justice, watch dancing polar bears, and sing along to some slightly altered, climate change-themed Christmas hits such as Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls (Click here to see pictures). Thankfully, the weather was a respectable -5 degrees.
In fact, 401 similar events were held across Canada as part of the December 12th international day of climate action. Around the world, over 3000 events were held in over 130 different countries to demand a climate deal at the Copenhagen conference. According to Avaaz.org, Canada had the highest number of actions per capita and the second highest overall total behind the U.S.... Read more »
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