Main photo: The Climate Action Muskoka Steering Committee (seated in front from left) Christina Hunter, Arleigh Luckett, Diana McConnell, Chris McConnell; (first row from left) Bet Smith, Susan Biehn Smith, Celine MacKay, Tamsen Tillson, Sheryl Manolakos, Cailan Punnewaert, Melinda Zytaruk, Sue McKenzie, Linda Mathers, Karen Davis; (back from left) Jan McDonnell, Len Ring, Steve Stewart, Kim deLagran, Gordon Laxer, Frank de Jong, Leslie Hastie, Christine Riviere-Anderson, and Deb Punnewaert (supplied)
Submitted by Climate Action Muskoka
The group Climate Action Muskoka (CAM) is inviting everyone in Muskoka concerned about climate change to get involved.
Inspired by student climate demonstrators in Muskoka and worldwide this past September, CAM is an inclusive, non-partisan group of Muskoka-based citizens with a shared commitment to working together to face the climate crisis.
The group’s broad mandate is to provide community support and work with municipalities to build a more resilient community as Muskoka transitions to a post-carbon future. The group will hold its 18th weekly climate strike in Bracebridge this Friday to raise awareness of the urgency of the issue.
Earlier this month an informal steering committee of about 24 CAM participants held its second meeting to get more specific about what urgent climate action in Muskoka might look like.
“The scope of this crisis can feel overwhelming, and it’s so easy to just tune it out or to worry in isolation,” said Sue McKenzie of Gravenhurst. “But having been at these climate strikes, and seeing the expertise and the momentum in the room at our meetings, it’s clear to me that there’s a whole lot we can do. It’s truly heartening.”
The group plans to approach the District of Muskoka and its six Towns and Townships to support the push for a Climate Emergency declaration. More than a symbolic gesture, a Climate Emergency declaration is a formal acknowledgement of the seriousness of the climate crisis. It includes a commitment by the community to invest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to prioritize community resiliency while doing so. As of October, more than 460 municipal, provincial, and territorial governments across Canada have declared a Climate Emergency.
The group has agreed to form sub-committees to set additional goals and plan actions in the following areas:
• Waste
• Transportation
• Food Security
• Building
• Water
• Communications
• Developing presentations to area councils
• Gathering community endorsements for the Climate Emergency declaration
If you are interested in working with the group in one or more of these areas or just want further information, please email [email protected]
CAM’s regular Fridays For Future climate strikes continue at Bracebridge Memorial Park from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on Fridays. The group is expanding the weekly strikes to Gravenhurst starting this Friday, January 24th at the Post Office from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Other Muskoka communities are to follow.
For more information visit www.climateactionmuskoka.org or look for the group on Facebook and Instagram.
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Waldi Frankiewicz says
To all those involved in this noble movement, I would like to quote the words of the President of the United States when at a press conference on Wednesday, he was asked for his thoughts on the young Swedish activists’ critical position towards America’s environmental stance.
The US already has “very good environmental numbers,” Trump said, adding that the numbers on air are “tremendous.” But, according to the president, not all countries are lucky enough to be so “clean and beautiful” – so that’s where Greta should focus her efforts.
*We’re clean and beautiful and everything’s good but you have another continent where the fumes are rising at levels that you can’t believe. I think Greta ought to focus on those places.*
To sum up his word, he said: *US is clean & beautiful, Greta; please go and fight those trashing the Pacific Ocean*