A peek at a new future

“From global geopolitics to major technologies and industries to our most intimate relationships and identities, everything is changing fast. I believe we’re in an era of dissolution and that that’s a lot of what transformation looks like; I also know that the struggle to emerge from the chrysalis is hard and not all of the butterflies make it. I see the past receding and the future emerging at dizzying speed.” Rebecca Solnit

Join me to hear and learn from Indigenous artists, musicians and land protectors inspiring change on Friday Sept 18.

Ontario Nature and Legal Advocates for Nature’s Defence (LAND), invite you to hear from Okiniwak, Here We Stand and Friends of the Attawapiskat River, who are travelling from Northern Ontario to London to share their stories, with music by celebrated Inuk singer-songwriter Susan Aglukark.

The Together for Nature Tour is an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples to come together to raise our voices for nature and all our relations through story and song.

Grassy Narrows Protest, On Wed Sept 23, join community members and leaders who will travel 1,700km from Grassy Narrows to Toronto. They have the longest-running blockade in Canadian history, which has helped foster Indigenous resistance across Turtle Island and saved 15 million trees from being cut. Learn more

Earth’s Greatest Enemy, Mon Sept 28 at the Hyland Theatre. Get your tickets now! Q&A with the producer following the film. Meet others in London concerned about increasing militarism. pay what you can

At the August 10th Community and Protective Services Committee Meeting, a delegation from the Environmental Stewardship and Action Community Advisory Committee by Brendon Samuels. (video 1:13:07)

5.4 Smoky Weather Patterns/ Air Quality Discussion

a) the Civic Administration BE RECOMMENDED to review its current strategy related to Smoky Weather Patterns/Air Quality;

see page 7 of the report for topics suggested for possible consideration by this review.

Motion put forward by Councillors Trosow and Ferreira: (passed 6-0)

That civic administration BE DIRECTED to report back by Q2 2027 with a review of programs and procedures for responding to extreme heat and poor air quality, including:

• a scan of extreme heat and smoke relief strategies in peer jurisdictions,

• operation of internal policies for employee health and safety, and

• a summary of best practices from Ontario provincial and federal authorities; and

That the Middlesex-London Health Unit, the London Fire Department, and Environmental Stewardship and Action Community Advisory Committee BE CONSULTED as part of this review.

The city’s Strategic Plan Performance Dashboard has 8 Areas of Focus.

Strategic Area of Focus: Wellbeing and Safety

Expected Result 1.3: Londoners have safe access to public spaces, services, and supports that increase wellbeing and quality of life.

Action: Continue to partner with neighbourhood resource centres and community organizations to increase the wellbeing and quality of life of Londoners.

Latest Update: London Public Library partners with several community organizations to offer programming in branches, outreach in the community, and partnership services to patrons.

Sat August 22, 11 a.m Free Virtual Watch Party: Groundswell. Groundswell takes you on a journey across five continents to experience the global movement restoring food systems and reshaping our relationship with the planet, one acre at a time. Watch the film together live on Zoom, and right after, we’re joined by Finian Makepeace, for a live Q&A. Submit your own questions after you register.

Sat Aug 22, 4-8pm Community Clothing Swap, ReImagine Co, 602 Piccadilly St. Bring gently used clothes. Take home something that's new to you. No money changes hands, and whatever is left over doesn't go in a bin.

Fri Aug 28, 7pm, London Majors play against the Brantford Red Sox and by purchasing your game ticket through us, you’ll support local environmental programming. Tickets are $12 each, and 50% of each ticket sold will go back to the London Environmental Network (LEN).

Sat Aug 29, 10am-4pm 2nd annual London Urban Farm Tour hosted by London Urban Farmers

Fri Sept 11, 7:30pm A Celebration of Trees - Don Scallen hosted by Nature London a A celebration of the virtues of trees and an exploration of native trees suitable for the urban landscape. He will be bringing some Carolinian trees (pawpaws, Kentucky coffee trees, and sycamores) for $10 with proceeds to Nature London.

Sat Sept 12, 10:00am, Passport to Nature: Creative Inquiry hosted by Thames Talbot Land Trust at Wardsville Woods. Creative Inquiry focuses on observing and noticing nature in dynamic ways, with guided prompts. Let your curiosity and creativity flow as you explore nature with paper and pen. Presented by Jamie Vojvodin Register

Sun Sept 20, 1-3pm Tour of Three Acre Permaculture in Bothwell. Register by emailing pollinatorteam@mail.com

Mon Sept 28, 7:00pm film: Earth’s Greatest Enemy, Hyland Cinema. An eye-opening look at how increased militarism harms not just the environment but the people as well (including the service people living on bases). (pay what you can)

Fridays for Future is paused for the summer. This is a small group, dedicated to holding a place for youth in support of Greta Thunberg’s global movement.

LEARN MORE at ClimateActionLondon.ca

Timothée Parrique is an ecological economist and a leading voice of the degrowth movement. His book Slow Down or Die: The Economics of Degrowth makes the case that rich economies can’t grow their way out of the climate crisis. And because economic growth doesn’t actually increase wellbeing in wealthy nations, slowing down would help deliver more prosperity for all.

A detailed look at how to make the shift from capitalism as we know it today, to choosing to focus on society-serving efforts starts at 50min.

Well worth listening to the entire podcast! I would love to hear what you think! Would you consider limiting wealth to ensure that the social infrastructure we need is resourced? What do you think about his ideas of a different kind of democracy where decisions are made by a diverse group of stakeholders?