Maria L

Thanks for speaking out on this, Charlie. Very very concerning. I just wrote to them about this and copied my MP, J Wilkinson.

bsky.app/profile/mari...

cc @charlieangus104.bsky.social @thenarwhal.ca @georgemonbiot.bsky.social @jksteinberger.bsky.social @carbonbrief.org @science.org @nature.com @dfisman.bsky.social @celine.bsky.social @ketanjoshi.co

#cdnpoli #misinformation #democracy #fascism

I copied my MP, J Wilkinson on it, bc the scope of concern here is how this case reflects on the broader erosion of our democracy itself

so ccing @mark-carney.bsky.social @liberalparty.bsky.social @avilewis.bsky.social @elizabethemay.bsky.social @davidebybc.bsky.social @timothysnyder.bsky.social

I'd like to please remind you, beyond your own mandate, some good rules of thumb by Timothy Snyder that can hopefully help guide all of us better through these challenging times, in particular for this case 5, 8, 10, 11, 18, 19, 20 : https://scholars.org/contribution/twenty= lessons-fighting-tyranny-twentieth Thank-you, Maria

and lastly.

I would also like to please remind you of the recent words of Marie-Josée Hogue on this topic: "While allegations of interference involving elected officials have dominated public and media discourse, the reality is that misinformation and disinformation pose an even greater threat to democracy.. Disinformation is difficult to detect and, above all, to counter since the technological means available evolve at breakneck speed. It is noxious, and it is powerful, it poses a major risk to Canadian democracy. If we do not find ways of addressing it, misinformation and disinformation have the ability to distort our discourse, change our views and shape our society. In my view it is no exaggeration to say that at this juncture, information manipulation (whether foreign or not) poses the single biggest risk to our democracy. It is an existential threat." (Source: https://www.cbc.ca/amp/. 1.7459858)

How do you think the "existential threat" manifests itself? Like this. Like you. Incremental capitulation to their efforts of coercive control. Please. Don't. I have studied the massive results of incremental changes professionally on physical systems. Like GHG emissions, always insignificant for any one source, but cumulatively absolutely impactful globally. Like water pollution. One point source of effluent might dilute enough in a river to have no significant effect. But line up enough along the banks, and one day you wake up and wonder where the fish went. I don't want us to wake up one day, like our neighbours down south are right now, wondering where our democracy went. I don't want to tell my kids I saw it happening, but it was small things. Negligible really to the big picture. Dribs and drabs. And, I was too busy, too

overwhelmed. It IS just one thing. But it is also everything. It is a wave on the ocean drowning our sense making abilities as a society. I am absolutely overwhelmed right now. But if I don't struggle to make the time and find the words for you, I don't even want to contemplate the loss of freedom itself we may all face one day... I would like to mention that I am not affiliated with Rachel Gilmore in any way. I'm not even a fan of hers as her style is not really my cup of tea. But I respect her and the work she does, & I WILL take time I don't even have out of my work day to let you know that, my own personal angle here is that I am concerned about the future of Canada's democracy. I am worried about the land, the more than human world, and our ongoing breaking of planetary boundaries. I am concerned about the rise of authoritarianism globally. l am bloody worried for the welfare of our children and future generations. And I am

aware of the CRITICAL ROLE the press plays in manifesting healthy democracies by helping people access reliable defensible credible information, so we can co-pilot our governance systems to improve our personal to cumulative wellbeing over time. So, I WILL take a stand to protect a journalist (especially a female journalist that has long been aggressively targeted) like Rachel against these hate filled attacks — that you have now contributed to in causing further adverse effects upon her through terminating her employment with you. This situation is deplorable. Please rectify your part in it or I will have to assume that CTV, as well, has fallen.

more…

Speaking of defamation, I’ve been pretty quiet on this account lately, but I took the time today to write a letter to CTV News, copying my MP, about this case involving @rachelgilmore.bsky.social — and why it is so critically important.

Here it is:

icymi

bsky.app/profile/seth...

fuels. (argh)

Right on Vancouver. 🎉

Happy to report we subbed out our old gas hot water tank & heater for a heat pump, as well as switched to EVs, & it’s a welcome net savings every month, as well as a relief to be free of fossil furls in those areas.

No worries, I was just curious.

That handful being on this chart.

(Src by @dpcarrington.bsky.social here www.theguardian.com/environment/...)

Is this what was behind the anomalous November heat in France?

Clip fm the article: “The platform feels like a collective endeavour toward a gentler world. Etiquette guides abound. Dunking - sharing a bad take for the purposes of mocking it - is discouraged. The people who skeet - what posting is popularly called on this platform - are better than that. But what's missing from Bluesky isn't merely Nazis, but the centre-left, the unclassifiable, and all snark unaccompanied by righteous political aims. It has no irreverent humour, no bite. Political uniformity breeds humourlessness. This is not because conservatives are funnier than liberals - anti-woke comedy is as tedious as woke - but because if everyone is "walking on eggshells" then no one risks being a bit silly.”

Also, the ppl on bluesky ARE incredibly silly, irreverent & funny. Like many even more than other cyberspaces I’ve been in. There are so many smart, diverse, & creative ppl here, I’ve found the humour to be off the charts. This claim is just demonstrably wrong.

This article will not age well. It’s a poorly informed hit piece. It is also a glaring example of both false balance and sensationalism (en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_b...). Oh look, a bunch of people flocked over to bluesky saying it’s better, let’s attack that to provide “balance” and clickbait.

protect planetary boundaries, people, & our rights based democracies.

Having worked with corporations, one thing I have observed is that they are organized in effective ways to influence government decisions. They have wide associations that form effective lobbies on key industry objectives.

What

What we are up against Exposing the secret history of the making of the climate crisis should change everything about how we act to stop it.

I agree w @jksteinberger.bsky.social that “We need to band together as pro-democracy, pro-equality, pro-human rights, pro-social justice movements.”

jksteinberger.medium.com/what-we-are-...

I also agree w her that traditional modes of activism have failed at bringing about the needed changes to

This form of flooding the zone has been used in many countries including the US, Australia, UK & Canada. The Tenet media case gave us a glimpse of the kind of dark money funded into such campaigns.

How do we organize to counter this? We need to do so in a way never seen before to get ahead of it.

Screenshot fm article: “What we're facing is a new form of propaganda that wasn't really possible until the digital age. And it works not by creating a consensus around any particular narrative but by muddying the waters so that consensus isn't achievable.”

This @vox.com article fm 4 yrs ago does a good dive into it as well.

We are seeing this method of propaganda used as an attack not only on climate action, but on democracy itself. We need all hands on deck to counter it.

www.vox.com/policy-and-p...

Tagging the coal companies doing this, that is, not @ketanjoshi.co! Just to be clear 🙃

Australia sweats through hottest spring on record as temperatures soar 2.5C above pre-industrial levels Another heatwave is predicted across Australia this week, as the weather bureau confirms the nation just sizzled through its hottest spring on record.

Impressive work from ABC: an article describing a new hottest year in Australia without any mention of climate changes!

Of course, the Australian policy is more coal and gas!

www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...

Recommended reading for the weekend
If you have not yet started reading, we suggest you use the weekend to do so:
“How the Commodification and Financialization of Nature endanger the Rights of Nature” by Maude Barlow.
see here: blue-community.net/2...

Rappahannock Tribe first in US to enshrine rights of nature into constitution The Rappahannock Tribe has become the first tribal nation in the United States to successfully  recognize the rights of nature in their constitution, giving legal protection to the river they have liv...

The Rappahannock Tribe is the first in the U.S. to enshrine the rights of nature into their constitution.

What sets this framework apart is its enforceability. Tribal members can bring legal cases on behalf of the river.

news.mongabay.com/2024/11/rapp...

Sounds like a snug niche. All one really needs, really.

The smog capital of India As Delhi battles a toxic mix of seasonal stubble burning and local pollution sources, its residents are exposed to severe and potentially life-threatening health risks The National Capital Territory ...

There are 7 million annual deaths from air pollution.

I agree w David Boyd:
“Air #pollution on today’s scale, clearly violates the rights to life and health, the rights of the child & the right to live in a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment”

www.dailypioneer.com/2024/columni...

I hear you

i suspect the lack of names reflects a lack of reach rather than a lack of agreeing with the cause

Ideas for more mindful, meaningful, and beneficial gifts:
thegreenspotlight.com/2018/11/bett...

Opt out of mindless and wasteful consumption.
#BuyNothingDay

Saudi Arabia Leads Pushback Against Global Plastic Treaty Delegates from more than 170 countries are working to salvage a treaty that would tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution.

Saudi Arabia Leads Pushback Against Global Plastic Treaty

“Others, including Russia, Saudi Arabia & trade groups such as the American Chemistry Council, opposed capping plastic production & backed a voluntary, nonbinding treaty that focused on improving waste management instead.”

Yeah right, as IF that’s worked for climate action. Same offenders.