The Majority for A Sustainable Society, or MASS, is a non-profit organization working to inform and mobilize Canadians on issues of environmental sustainability and democracy.
Feb 19
Part 2: The Resurgence of an Evolving Climate Movement
Here is Part 2, the main crux of a new article “The Resurgence of an Evolving Climate Movement” (Part 1 was primarily a preamble) by MASS executive director Ken Wu in the excellent climate news and analysis website, Desmogblog Canada www.desmog.ca :
http://www.desmog.ca/2013/02/14/resurgence-evolving-climate-movement-part-2
Feb 15
Desmogblog New Article: The Resurgence of an Evolving Climate Movement Part 1
The following is Part 1 of a new article “The Resurgence of an Evolving Climate Movement” by MASS executive director Ken Wu in the excellent climate news and analysis website, Desmogblog Canada www.desmog.ca :
http://desmog.ca/2013/02/14/resurgence-evolving-climate-movement-part-1
Jan 25
Environmental Prediction for 2013: Resurgence of the climate sustainability movement
Monday Magazine – January 2 – 9, 2013
Ken Wu, executive director of Ancient Forest Alliance and Majority for A Sustainable Society
Q. What environmental change can we prepare for in 2013?
The major environmental change for 2013 will be the resurgence of the climate sustainability movement.
This movement is being fueled by Hurricane Sandy’s aftermath, by expectations that Obama will act during his last term, by major opposition movements to pipelines and coal, and by the groundswell of climate activism underway in the U.S. through Bill McKibben’s 350.org movement that will inevitably overflow into Canada.
Big Oil’s role in manufacturing public doubt about climate science — despite 98 per cent of the world’s publishing climate scientists agreeing that anthropogenic climate change is underway — is akin to Big Tabacco’s past in casting doubt on the link between cigarettes and lung cancer.The question now is if the climate movement will grow strong enough, and fast enough, to stop runaway global warming.
Scientists are projecting a four-to-six-degree global temperature rise this century — at two degrees, the feedbacks of burning forests, ice-free warming oceans, permafrost methane release, etcetera, make it virtually impossible to halt global warming, and it won’t stop at just six degrees.
For the climate movement to evolve into a force great enough to change the status quo will require a heavier emphasis on politics and policies to change society, rather than simply voluntary personal lifestyle reforms.
Emphasizing solutions will also be key, along with highlighting the positive attributes of a sustainable, low carbon society for green businesses and jobs, livable cities, healthier lifestyles and sustaining the planet’s natural diversity. As long as the environmental movement is simply the movement of “no” and “stop,” without emphasizing how people can make a living, it will always be too weak to fundamentally transform the status quo. And to change the status quo, it’s key to build a broad-based movement that engages the mainstream public — businesses, faith groups, unions, scientists and diverse communities — rather than simply other activists and “protesters.”
In 2013, I think we’ll see hope come back.
Original link: http://www.mondaymag.com/news/185429151.html
Nov 27
The Guardian: Canada Pariah at UN Climate Summit
“Canada is the only country to have repudiated Kyoto, the sole legally binding international policy tool to date to deal with the emissions…Canada provides less clean-energy stimulus than Saudi Arabia, China, Australia, France or the US. …
A recent study by labour and environmental groups estimates Canada could create more than 20,000 jobs if it invested the $1.3bn-a-year tax subsidy currently given to oil, coal and gas companies in emerging energy sectors such as wind, solar power and home retrofits.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/26/canada-kyoto
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/26/canada-kyoto
Nov 16
Thank you to supporting businesses!
A huge THANK YOU to the following businesses that donated items for the silent auction for MASS’s recent event on climate science, social psychology and policies (“The Evolving Climate” on Nov.12). With their help we raised almost a thousand dollars at the event for our new organization. Please visit their website and also show your gratitude for their support of the environmental movement.
Monk’s Office Supplies:
Blue box recycling with Eco-friendly goodies
http://www.monk.ca/our_environment.html
WetCleaner – NonToxic Drycleaning:
Gift Certificate for cleaning services
Fernwood Inn:
Gift Certificates 3 x $10
The Soap Exchange:
Gift Certificate for $25
http://www.victoriasoapexchange.com/
Habit Coffee:
Coffee Card – 10 free French press coffees
http://habitcoffee.com/sustainability
City Green Victoria:
24 CFL – lightbulbs & bag
LUSH:
Gift Box-full of LUSH goodies
CRD:
Book: Smart Power and LED Lightbulb
http://www.crd.bc.ca/climatechange/index.htm
Hemp & Company:
Gift Bag – full of Hemp infused goodies
http://www.hempandcompany.com/
Ingredients Health Food Store and Apple Café
Gift Certificates 2 x $25 for the market and café
http://ingredientshealthfood.com/
Coastline Metal Works:
recycled metal planter stake