Stephen Sellout

This was avaaz.org's ad that was printed in Canadian papers on December 14th, the last day of the UN Bali Summit on Climate Change.

Getting Your Roast On

With all the snow and holiday hoopla, it might be difficult to focus on anything other than what to stuff your stocking with. But let us remember that life isn't all chestnuts roasting on a an open fire. Our planet is in danger of getting roasted out of space!

Deal or No Deal?

Imagine the world as a mystery suitcase. It's not. We know what we put into it.

The UN Bali Summit on Climate change last week seemed to be moving slowly but progressively towards some specific targets. Not surprisingly, the US was undermining those talks by blocking the conference. Then Canada (WHO SIGNED THE KYOTO PROTOCOL!!!), with just a few days to go, used that as an excuse to block other Kyoto countries from moving on, arguing that a deal without the US was no deal at all.

Can't Take My Eyes Off of You

That's why we can't take our eyes off our dear leaders or what they are doing. When Stephen Harper was elected as prime minister of Canada, he promised to make politics less corrupt and more transparent. Well, now we have to stick it to him if we expect him to represent our interests, not just the interest of the powers that be and corporate cozeners.

Luckily, outraged protesters managed to pressure Stephen Harper to eventually go with the consensus to reduce carbon emissions by 20-40% by 2020. The US also finally caved.

It is long way from specific binding targets but it does show that we, the people, still have some power over our politicians.

There's something wrong with Canada but it's not our belief in the purpose of the Kyoto Protocol.

We can't stay silent or else that belief will never translate into action, which is what the world needs more now than ever.

Environment