Category: energy

Seeing Ottawa in New Ways

GreenLivingOttawa
Background image in grey tones showing a group of people facing away from the camera, one holding a flag with an icon of a person walking. Blue, red and white graphic frames the text "May 4-5: Jane's Walk Ottawa-Gatineau, JanesWalkOttawa.ca"
Image courtesy Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau

There are quite a few opportunities this weekend to think about our city, and what it could be, in different ways. (Apologies for the last-minute post—life happens!) Here are some highlights:

Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau

Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau is happening Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5, 2024. Jane’s Walk is an annual series of community-led walks through the places and neighbourhoods of the city, in honour of Jane Jacobs, whose ideas influenced how we understand cities and city-building. This year’s walks explore and celebrate local art, architecture, histories, communities, pathways, greenspaces, habitats and biodiversity. For example, you can learn about the unique ecosystem of the Pinhey Sand Dunes; tour green homes, community gardens, or rewilding efforts; see downtown Ottawa from an Indigenous perspective; and much more. Because this year’s theme is “Towards water,” many of the walks explore the significance of waterways as meeting places, habitats and city shapers. That means you can contemplate an Indigenous canoe portage site connecting the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers; the history of the Ottawa River; or the microbes of Mud Lake. There are virtual and self-guided walks, too. Walks are conducted in English and/or French; some require pre-registration. Check the Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau website for details.

Image of an Indigenous woman (her head and shoulders); she is looking up, and her mouth is covered with red-handprint-shaped paint. Image appears on a black background, between two small red beaded dress images. Text in white and red below the image reads "MMIWG2S need justice; reconciliation demands action"
Image courtesy Families of Sisters in Spirit

Red Dress Day

I’ve posted before about the connections between environmental action and the need to address the ongoing harms of living on unceded Indigenous territory in ways that perpetuate ongoing violence against Indigenous peoples, including Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. On Sunday, May 5, 2024, Families of Sisters in Spirit (FSIS), in collaboration with Assembly of Seven Generations, the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women, and Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak, is hosting an event to commemorate Red Dress Day in support of local families affected by the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and Two-Spirit people. They’re welcoming donations of food and other items, as well as financial support. See the event page for details.

Ottawa International Writers Festival

The Ottawa International Writers Festival is bringing several eco-focused authors to the stage on Saturday, May 4, 2024. These include Lydia Millet and Michael E. Mann, who, in different ways, use the power of story to help think through the climate change and environmental crisis. Check the Festival website for details.

+Local Action for Palestine: INSAF and the University of Ottawa Palestinian Students’ Association are asking people to support their efforts, including the “Occupy Tabaret” campaign calling for the University to divest from genocide in Gaza. See their website for more information, and Decolonize Palestine for additional background and why this is relevant to environmental justice globally and locally.

Mark Earth Day 2024 in Ottawa by Supporting an End to Plastic Pollution

GreenLivingOttawa
A small image of a megaphone in orange tones appears above white text "March to End the Plastic Era," both set on a blue circle with orange border. Below the circle are two banners in white, with orange text reading "Ottawa, Canada" and "April 21, 2024." Background is a faded colourful photograph of a crowd of people holding a variety of banners, and a large globe prop. Below the image, on a white gridded background, orange and blue text reads "11:00 AM, Parliament Hill (111 Wellington St)" with the URL Bit.LY/inc4march
Poster courtesy of Fridays for Future Ottawa

The world has a huge plastics problem.

There’s ample evidence that plastics contain toxic chemicals, break down into microplastics that harm our bodies and ecosystems, and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions—because most plastics are fossil fuel-based, they’re a big part of the climate crisis. Curbing plastics is also a matter of social justice, as the production, use and “disposal” of plastics affects some communities disproportionately.

Dealing with the plastics problem is partly about individual action: individuals can choose plastic-free products and packaging when buying food, clothing, personal care and other items. To effectively tackle the problem, though, we need a systems approach; governments, industries and investors need to take action. The challenge is that many of these benefit from the plastics industry—an industry that is actually growing rapidly.

Here in Ottawa, we have a significant opportunity to help shift the plastics trend. Representatives from governments around the world will be meeting in Ottawa from April 23-29, 2024, in a fourth round of negotiations to develop a comprehensive and legally binding Global Plastics Treaty. Getting governments to come together to address the plastics crisis has been challenging, but an effective global treaty could reduce the amount of plastic being produced, centre the people and communities most affected, and require governments to act.

Environmental groups are organizing a March to End the Plastic Era on Sunday, April 21, 2024, starting at 10:30 a.m. on Parliament Hill. They’re inviting people to join them to call for effective and equitable action. Find out more, and register to participate, here.

In preparation for the March, Fridays for Future Ottawa is also hosting an Art Build and Poster Making event on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., during the Centretown Community Association’s Earth Day event in Dundonald Park. See the event page for details and registration.

[Edited:] You can also call on the Government of Canada to take action to eliminate plastics and end subsidies to the industry; see the petitions on the Environmental Defence and David Suzuki Foundation websites.

“For far too long, fossil fuel companies have viewed plastics as a Plan B for their dying industry. The entire plastics life cycle comes at the expense of human life and our fundamental rights to health and the environment, and our climate — especially for Black, Brown, Indigenous, frontline, and under-resourced communities.

The Global Plastics Treaty has the potential to stop the plastic pollution crisis at the source — but only if governments truly step up and uphold their responsibility to the people, environment, wildlife, and the climate.”

#BreakFreeFromPlastic website

The March to End the Plastic Era coincides with Earth Day, April 22. This year, the focus of Earth Day is “to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health.” The Earth Day organization is inviting people to sign a petition for international action to eliminate plastic pollution.

[Edited to include additional events:] Other Earth Day 2024 events happening in neighbourhoods across Ottawa include the Centretown festival in Dundonald Park, a free market at the Ottawa Public Library, Re4M’s eco-market, an Ottawa Tool Library repair cafe at City Hall, a guided walk and nature-themed little library launch in Hampton Park, environment-themed community events in River Ward and elsewhere, a community choir concert in support of Foodsharing Ottawa, tree care with Forêt Capitale Forest, a film screening, a canvass of Old Ottawa South to encourage the City to ban fossil fuel ads, a webinar on the environmental consequences of building a new prison on farmland in Kemptville, neighbourhood and shoreline clean-ups, and more. (Check the links for specific dates, times, and further information.)

Protect the Kichi Sibi / Ottawa River

GreenLivingOttawa
Colourful Indigenous art depicting aquatic animals (turtle, birds, fish) in black, green, orange, red and blue, on a blue background; the text "Protect our Water" is superimposed on the image.
Image courtesy of Stop Nuclear Waste

A million cubic metres of radioactive waste, to be stored permanently a kilometre from the Ottawa River, upstream from Ottawa-Gatineau, on unceded Algonquin territory: that’s what Canada’s nuclear regulator recently approved.

Despite objections from 10 Algonquin First Nations, more than 140 municipalities, many environmental groups and concerned individuals, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has authorized Canadian Nuclear Laboratories to build a “near surface disposal facility” on its site at Chalk River. CNL already houses nuclear waste at the site, but says the new “containment mound,” which it intends to start building this year, will replace existing “temporary” storage.

Algonquin First Nations have been actively raising concerns for years about the proposed facility and the risks it poses to the area’s biodiversity, land, waters and peoples. They emphasize that the Kichi Sibi–the Ottawa River–is culturally and spiritually significant, and the source of drinking water for millions of people—including Ottawa residents. The First Nations point out that CNSC made the decision without the required consultation with, or consent from, their communities, contrary to the sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples and Canada’s own Act ratifying the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

A coalition of First Nations, other groups and individuals have set up Stop Nuclear Waste to explain the situation and call for support. Here are some of the ways you can help:

  • Support the First Nations’ legal case: Kebaowek First Nation, with support from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and Algonquins of Barriere Lake First Nations, filed a judicial review with the Federal Court of Appeals to challenge the CNSC decision. They’ve set up a Go Fund Me page where people can support the legal case against proceeding with the facility. They describe the case as potentially precedent-setting in terms of its implications for rulings related to Canada’s UNDRIP-related legislation. The Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility and two other citizens’ groups have also launched a court challenge.
  • Learn more:
    • The Stop Nuclear Waste website provides further information and suggested actions.
    • Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area have outlined important considerations and problems with the project. They also share an open letter calling on federal government decision-makers to halt the project, which could serve as a template for people to draw on to write to their MPs.
    • The Ottawa Riverkeeper has also documented concerns with the NSDF project, including its proximity to the watershed, weaknesses in the plans for operation and monitoring, the problems of “legacy waste” at the site, and the failure to adequately consult with Anishinabe Algonquin peoples.

“I want to be very clear: the Algonquin Peoples did not consent to the construction of this radioactive waste dump on our unceded territory. We believe the consultation was inadequate, to say the least, and that our Indigenous rights are threatened by this proposal. We demand the cancellation of the NSDF project. The focus should instead be on a real and successful cleanup of the site to permanently eliminate old radioactive waste.”

Chief Lance Haymond, Kebaowek First Nation

“This nuclear waste facility will damage the water and we all know that.

Conscientious people are rising. We must rise together, we are all in that medicine wheel. No matter our colour, our creed or our title, we are all related in the human family and we must stand together.”

Claudette Commanda, Algonquin Elder
Poster titled "Scrap the NSDF Project Rally #2" beside a small photo of three Indigenous people with traditional drums on Parliament Hill. A larger photo below this shows several people standing with banners and posters in front of the Parliament Building; the banner reads "Scrap the Chalk River NSDF Project Approval StopNuclearWaste.Com." Text below the photos reads: "Who Should Attend: All concerned citizens of the Kichi Sibi - Ottawa River watershed. Where: Outside Westin Hotel, 11 Colonel By Drive. When: Canadian Nuclear Association Conference February 28th through March 1st. Daily demonstrations 9am-5pm. For more information: www.StopNuclearWaste.com. Stronger Together: Protect the Kichi Sibi."
Image courtesy of Stop Nuclear Waste

Climate Actions in Ottawa

GreenLivingOttawa
Alt text: “Global Climate Strike 2023: Friday 15 September, 1:00 p.m. Parliament Hill” appears to the right of an icon depicting a globe, the left half covered in orange flames and the right half covered by blue earth and green trees. Below this, four images show (1) smoky skies above Parliament Hill, (2) a burned forest, (3) a house with a broken roof, and (4) an emergency worker walking towards cars on a flooded street. Along the bottom, text reads “Four reasons to be there! FridaysForFutureOttawa.org.” Image courtesy of Fridays for Future Ottawa.

If you’re reading this, you don’t need me to tell you that the climate emergency is here, now. Beyond compelling evidence from successive climate reports, the reality of increasing wildfires, floods, storms, drought and extreme heat around the world is impossible to ignore. Just in Ottawa, over the last few months, we’ve experienced smoke-filled skies, damaging hail and severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and record heat.

Taking action as individuals can feel more difficult than ever, in the face of the scale and magnitude of the emergency, compounded by the failure of many elected leaders, and the companies most responsible for disastrous climate change, to do what’s necessary. It can help to join with others to call for action—that way, we’re not alone, and our collective voices can make a difference.

Here are some upcoming opportunities:

2023 Global Climate Strike

Fridays for Future Ottawa, along with other environmental and Indigenous groups and individuals, are inviting people to gather on Parliament Hill on Friday, September 15, 2023 at 1 p.m. for this year’s Global Climate Strike. We’ll be calling on the federal government and other decision-makers to take climate action: to cap emissions; end fossil fuel extraction, use and subsidies; and support the transition to sustainable and just alternatives. (There’s also a petition to the federal Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland here.) The local event, which includes a range of speakers and musicians, is part of the Global Fight to End Fossil Fuels taking place around the world from September 15-17 this year.

“Fossil fuels—coal, oil and gas—are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions.”

United Nations

Community Bike Rides

A number of residents and groups offer opportunities to remind our elected leaders that investing in sustainable, safe and affordable cycling infrastructure is an essential part of climate action and community-building. For example, every month, cyclists get together for a community bike ride—a “self-organizing” Critical Mass ride—that demonstrates the importance of, and celebrates, active transportation. There’s a Critical Mass Ride for Climate on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 10 a.m. departing from the Canadian War Museum.

Inspired by critical mass events, Kidical Mass is a family-friendly bike movement created to “celebrate the joy of biking while calling for a need to create streets that are safe for kids and therefore safe for everyone.” Bike Ottawa, For Our Kids Ottawa-Gatineau and School Streets Ottawa are co-hosting a Kidical Mass Ottawa bike ride on Sunday, September 24, 2023, starting with bike decorating at 9:30 a.m. at Sylvia Holden Children’s Park, 641 O’Connor Street, followed by a ride along Queen Elizabeth Drive to Confederation Park at 10 a.m., and activities in Confederation Park from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.; see the event page for details.

Rally for Public Transit

There’s no denying that the erosion of Ottawa’s public transit system, along with continuing fare hikes, are not helping residents shift from car-dependent to more sustainable and equitable transportation. Free Transit Ottawa and other groups are holding a rally on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. calling for accessible, affordable and reliable public transit.

Petition for Municipal Climate Action

Ecology Ottawa has made it easier to call on Ottawa’s Mayor to address the climate emergency, by posting a petition demanding that Mayor Sutcliffe to take the lead in reaffirming the City’s commitment to and implementation of climate action. Please sign and share!

Energy Action in Ottawa and Beyond

GreenLivingOttawa

Solar panels image via publicdomainpictures.net

Welcome to Ottawa! Including to everyone driving big trucks en masse from across the country into downtown in the next couple of days. We’re so glad you could join us for Climate Action Week.

Climate Action Week is all about sustainable and renewable energy, focused on practical solutions to energy challenges. Yes, there are solutions, and yes, it’s time.

I get it. I want to be heard, be treated fairly and keep my family warm, healthy and safe too. My family roots are in fact in rural Alberta and small town B.C. and Saskatchewan, where my ancestors settled on Cree and other Indigenous lands and made a living there. I currently depend on fossil fuels that others work hard to provide.

The thing is, that’s what unsustainable means. An energy economy and livelihoods that are built on unsustainable energy sources—not to mention on trampling on Indigenous rights and damaging the environment that we all depend on—can’t last. We have to stop investing in this and make the transition to alternative sources, together. That—not fear and frustration and hatred—is what should unite us.

If your purpose in coming is to spread hatred and chaos, don’t bother. We have no room for that in this city, or this country.

If you’re a public figure trying to score political points from this mess, you should stop, and repair the damage you’ve caused.

If you’re concerned about all of this, help draw attention to the people, groups and businesses who are finding solutions. That’s the way we will all survive.