THE WORLD FRIENDLY HUMANITARIAN PEACE AND ECOLOGY MOVEMENT.

Friday, July 19, 2024

The Great Bear Sea Initiative shows vision of Indigenous leadership.

The Great Bear Sea between Prince Rupert and Port Hardy

Great Bear Sea initiative shows vision of Indigenous leadership

Despite decades of destructive logging and fishing practices, the Great Bear Sea supports a globally significant abundance and diversity of life in all shapes, colours and sizes, from microscopic creatures to Earth’s largest animals. Scientific estimates are impressive: trillions of plankton, billions of fish, three million nesting seabirds, 10,000-year-old glass sponge reefs, more than 400 fish species and 29 marine mammal species.

Only a few centuries ago, the entire biosphere was a similarly rich mix of ecosystems and biodiversity. Now the Great Bear Sea is an increasingly rare oasis.

An agreement between 17 Coastal First Nations and the British Columbia and federal governments — the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence initiative — is the realization of decades of vision, negotiation and collaboration, and will help develop a conservation economy supporting 10 million hectares of culturally and environmentally rich marine ecosystems. Plans include a 2.8-million-hectare network of marine protected areas.

With First Nations leadership and robust financial support from governments and charitable foundations, it’s expected to create 3,000 new jobs and 32,000 days of skills training.

Financial support for long-term stewardship is important, but we can’t keep pinpointing defined areas for protection while ignoring the greater devastation all about.

Throughout history, invasion and colonization of the “new world” has displaced people and cultures that had been in place for thousands of years. Indigenous Peoples are the only ones with a record of living sustainably in place for millennia, and their loss represents a loss of irreplaceable insights and knowledge. Some ancient practices may no longer be practical, but the deeply held recognition that nature is the source of survival and wellbeing must replace the profit-driven resource-extraction mindset.

The Great Bear Sea partnership reflects significant changes in public and institutional understanding of Indigenous cultures and governance practices. It can trace its origins to the initial Great Bear Rainforest agreement of April 2001, when Coastal First Nations worked to protect millions of hectares of coastal temperate rainforest. Then, many Indigenous people thought the Great Bear initiative was incomplete, as the terrestrial and marine ecosystems are inextricably interconnected. After more than two decades, this agreement is a step toward correcting that oversight.

Financial support for long-term stewardship is important, but we can’t keep pinpointing defined areas for protection while ignoring the greater devastation all about.

Since the 2001 agreement, Indigenous groups have brought multiple successful challenges to the Supreme Court of Canada, resulting in stronger legal acknowledgement of Indigenous rights and title. Now Indigenous-led protected areas are increasingly common, with First Peoples’ governments in Ontario and the Arctic leading several similar major, financially supported conservation initiatives.

This is in stark contrast to previous generations, when establishing protected areas such as Banff National Park started with forced removal of Indigenous people, preventing them from returning to traditional territories to collect foods and medicines.

Now, instead of being evicted from their homes, Indigenous people are trying to show how to steward the lands and waters in culturally and environmentally responsible ways. We must embrace the perspective that we depend entirely on the natural world for our existence. Combined with the best scientific information on the state of the planet, we must employ that knowledge and governance beyond the Great Beat Sea if we hope to survive as a species.

Now, instead of being evicted from their homes, Indigenous people are trying to show how to steward the lands and waters in culturally and environmentally responsible ways.

This agreement comes as people are finally starting to wake up to the fact that human-created institutions (religious, legal, economic, political) are pushing natural systems out of balance. Climate change, overfishing and habitat destruction are undermining food security locally and globally. Coastal First Nations’ stewardship may show how healthy oceans can provide plentiful rich and healthy food for generations. The marine protected areas network planned for the area could help with resiliency against climate change and ensure that people can continue to enjoy nature’s bounty.

As societies grapple to create a world in which future generations can thrive in harmony with nature, Coastal First Nations are offering a way of seeing our place in the world that will move us onto a different path by protecting the biodiversity on which we utterly depend. It’s a huge responsibility.

Their success deserves to be celebrated and emulated throughout Canada and the world. Let’s hope their vision helps reconnect us all to this spectacular small blue planet we all depend on, and that we can shift our understanding in time to halt and then reverse the devastation we’re inflicting on our only home.

By David Suzuki, with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Senior Communications Specialist Panos Grames

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Sunday, July 7, 2024

MONTREAL TO BAN NATURAL GAS IN NEW BUILDINGS.Stephanie Hulse, Greenpeace Canada,

Nelson,

A few months ago, I told you about the City of Montréal’s plans to ban natural gas in new buildings in the Fall of 2024. And I have an exciting update to share!

The Metropolitan Community of Montréal (CMM) has now officially banned the installation of all fossil fuel-powered heating systems and appliances in new small buildings. This landmark regulation will roll out between this October and next April.

What makes this even more remarkable, is that this ban will impact a total of 82 municipalities, which make up half of Québec’s population.

“This regulation will help avoid 500,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in the CMM area by 2035, the equivalent of the pollution generated by more than 100,000 motor vehicles,” explains Patrick Bonin, Climate and Energy campaigner at Greenpeace Canada.

Not only does this decision align with Montréal’s climate plan — which aims to have zero-emission buildings by 2040 — but it’s a critical step toward achieving Québec’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

“This is a major victory!” exclaims Bonin. “Greenpeace Canada has been working for years to get gas out of buildings, in partnership with our colleagues in the Let’s Take Out the Gas! coalition — which we are a member of in Québec.”

While this is a major win, there’s room for improvement and opportunities to strengthen the ban. For instance, the CMM hasn’t banned the renewal of gas boilers in existing buildings and has allowed renewable natural gas in new big buildings. But we will keep up the pressure.

Along with the Let’s Take Out the Gas! coalition, we’re demanding an immediate shift to energy systems that will minimize gas usage, ban the renewal of gas boilers, and promote a transition to 100% electric solutions complemented by energy efficiency projects.We’re also encouraging the Québec government to show leadership and support municipal ambitions to phase-out fossil gas in buildings.

Nelson, as a Greenpeace supporter, you allow us to encourage governments of all levels to adopt measures that will help address the climate crisis. Because of your continued support we will continue transitioning gas out of our homes and buildings.

“We intend to continue campaigning for cities, provinces and the federal government to end the use of gas in buildings. And thanks to the mobilization of our supporters, we can look forward to more victories in the near future!” says Bonin.

In fact, a number of cities — including Vancouver, Prévost, Candiac, and Mont-Saint-Hilaire — have already adopted similar gas bans, and the CMM’s regulation will encourage other municipalities to do the same. With each new ban we’re accelerating the transition to cleaner and safer cities, and a greener and better world.

For more examples of the incredible things we can achieve together, I’ve shared other recent global campaign updates and victoriesbelow.

In determination,

Steph
Supporter Communications Manager, Greenpeace Canada

P.S. I really appreciate all of your feedback! Please keep it coming by sharing your rating below. And as always, you can share this story with others with this link.

GLOBAL CAMPAIGN UPDATES

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Greenpeace occupation of a gas drilling platform forces gas company to halt work

Greenpeace activists climbed and occupied a gas drilling platform in the middle of the North Sea off the coast of Germany and the Netherlands, to protest a new gas extraction project. After an intense 8-hour protest, news broke that the highest Dutch court ruled that the fossil fuel company pushing for this new gas extraction project must once again halt its construction due to concerns over its impacts on the environment! This was another successful example of people power, and we will continue to stand up to the fossil fuel industry until the world has transitioned to clean energy. ⁣

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Greenpeace report ensures banks invest in ethical farming in Brazil

A recent Greenpeace Brazil report on the financial institutions funding farms involved in illegal socio-environmental practices has had an impact. The report convinced the Brazilian Federal Public Prosecutors to demand eight banks cancel their loans and end their contracts with farms on Indigenous lands, public forests, and within conservation units. While the recommendation is not mandatory, if the banks decline, they could face civil and administrative action. This is an important victory for preventing farms involved in illegal activities that negatively impact the environment and Indigenous peoples from receiving funding.

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Major land rights win for Indigenous Peoples in Southwest Papua

The Knasaimos Peoples, Indigenous Peoples to Papua, have received legal recognition of their customary rights over 97,411 hectares of tropical rainforest — nearly the size of Hong Kong — in Indonesia’s Southwest Papua province. After decades of struggle against exploitation by loggers and palm oil companies, this victory allows the Knasaimos Peoples to manage their land and protect its rich biodiversity. Greenpeace Indonesia continues to advocate for full legal protection and recognition of Indigenous forests, urging Indonesia’s House of Representatives to address deforestation in Papua.

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Greenpeace Italy temporarily shuts down chemical plant

PFAS production at the Solvay plant in northern Italy, was temporarily stopped by local authorities after pressure from Greenpeace and local communities. PFAS are a complex group of synthetic chemicals that are toxic to humans and the environment. The area where Solvay operates is the most PFAS-polluted in Europe, with massive contamination of water, soil and crops. Greenpeace Italy has worked for several months to support the local groups affected by that pollution, and will continue to push for strict and legal limits on PFAS pollution, and for companies to replace PFAS with safer alternatives.

Sunday, June 30, 2024

Hello my good friend Valdemar Oliveira!

I am happy to hear you had a successfull heart operation.

I hope you live to be 110.

I may not be so lucky! Colon Cancer is what my doctor prognosticated. This may be the last letter you will receive from me for a long while. If like you, I pass through, I will be more than happy editing and writing poems with you.

Here is my English version of your poem.

FROM YOUTH TO OLD AGE.

THE MYSTERIOUS ENERGY WE CALL TIME CONSTANTLY CHANGES AND NEVER ENDS...

BUT DOES HOLD MOMENTS OF TRUTH FOR HUMANS...

WHEN WE THINK ALL IS WELL AND WE ARE HAPPY WITH OUR HABITS...ZIP...SOMETHING DIFFERENT HAPPENS...AND SUDDENLY WE NEED HELP!!

IF FATE DETERMINS OLD AGE WON'T KILL US, AND WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE GOOD PEOPLE READY TO HELP, WE CAN CONQUER DISEASE AND RETURN TO OUR ROCK STEADY AND HAPPY OLD AGE LIVES!

Monday, June 24, 2024

From Eric Barker...How to live a long and awesome life.

Here’s how to live a long awesome life:

Socialize: Instead of staring into the soulless eyes of your smartphone, spend more time with friends. And play mentor to people who see the early 2000s as “vintage.”
Exercise And Sleep: Avoid the sweet, seductive embrace of the couch. Hit the gym and get 8 hours of sleep. This is the path to cerebral salvation.
Diet: Health does not reside in the ludicrous promises of anti-aging creams that cost more than your first car or in the meditation apps that gently coax you into a panic about not being calm enough. Give the principles of the Mediterranean diet a shot.
Cognitive Challenge: You want “productive engagement.” Reading smart books is like mental yoga. It stretches you. It strengthens you. And you may find yourself in some uncomfortable positions. Or have polite disagreements -- which is more like mental MMA.

So what can you expect if you actually do all of this? Researchers performed a two-year study with older folks. Subjects ate a Mediterranean-style diet. They did 2-3 hour-long sessions per week of aerobics or strength training. They played a variety of games to challenge their minds. What happened?

At the end, memory scores were 40% better than those who didn’t participate. Executive function – brainpower – was 83% better. Processing speed shot up 150%. Meanwhile, overall cognitive performance of the control group got 30% worse over the two years.

In many ways, this handful of changes made people feel like they were younger again – and that, in itself, is a very powerful tip. Studies show people who feel younger perform better on cognitive tests. The magic number is twelve. People who feel 12 years younger than they really are crush it on tests of brainpower.

The next time someone tells you to act your age, tell them to stuff it. Think back to your younger years and relive them. Nostalgia, that warm, fuzzy blanket woven from the threads of "back in my day" is actually useful. Numerous studies demonstrate its power. When you reminisce with romantic partners, the two of you grow emotionally closer. Nostalgia makes us more generous, more tolerant of outsiders and more connected to others.

So feel younger, act younger and be a little nostalgic today. I’ll help you get started: remember mixtapes? Those were like the original Spotify playlists, except making one for someone was the equivalent of saying, "I'm willing to spend three hours in front of my stereo, risking carpal tunnel to express my feelings for you." And now, science says reminiscing about that painstaking process is akin to giving your brain a big ol' hug.

Who's up for a mixtape exchange party?

(I'll bring the pencils for when the tapes inevitably unravel.)

***If you are one of those lovely people who bought "Plays Well With Others" please leave a review on Amazon here. Thanks!***