Whoosh. Thud.
Writing these words on December 13, destined to be read on January 3rd, I try to imagine myself on the other side of the old year slipping away―whoosh―and the new one landing―thud!
In the news this morning is the compromise reached by 200 nations at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. Countries suffering most from climate change wanted a “phaseout” of fossil fuels; countries pumping them out did not agree. Why should the 28th agreement be different from those of the previous 27 “Conferences of the Parties”?
Parties to what, you ask? The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
This new compromise calls for countries to speed up a global shift away from fossil fuels this decade in a “just, orderly and equitable manner.” It aims to completely stop adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by 2050. It also calls on nations to triple the production of renewable energy by 2030, and to slash emissions of methane sooner. (Methane is a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide.)
It’s all over the news. Even though oil, gas, and coal use is the primary cause of global warming, this is the first time those two little dirty words, “fossil fuels,” have been mentioned in a COP agreement.
I wonder how this agreement will read on January 3, 2024? And January 3, 2050? Promise fulfilled, or empty of meaning?
Will our skies be clear and our oceans clean? Will we earthlings have healed the earth? A hundred, a thousand years from now, will the Anthropocene Epoch have had a restorative impact on our environment overall, or a destructive one?
You may have noticed I’m speaking in the future perfect tense, asking what “will have happened.” I like to call it the tense of magical thinking. But I’m keeping an open mind. I’m trying to focus on what we can do now in our little corner of the planet.
In this new year, let’s try to keep the earth in the Goldilocks Zone, ok? Because right now, the “just right” parts of the world that sustain life seem to be fewer than even a few decades ago.
We need a “thud” and a “whoosh” like never before: A hard stop to climate destruction; a whoosh to earth rebirth. That would be a happy new year!
TYVOICES 2024
The Townships Sun’s Young Voices Awards are back – bolder, bigger and with more prize money. The 2024 project was launched this past Sunday during the Townships Sun’s 50th Anniversary Book Fest. Creative people of many ages paraded onto the stage, each carrying news of a key point.
Heading the launch were Ana Martinez and Arabella MacFish.
Martinez is a graduating high school student, a new Townships Sun Board member, and this year’s TYVoices volunteer coordinator. MacFish, her able assistant, is a 2023 TYVoices award recipient; her poem, “Secrets of Snow,” is in the current issue of the Townships Sun. (You can find it at the Cookshire IGA and the Sawyerville Dépanneur.)
Carrying the “Poetry” card was Johnny Beauvais, a 2023 TYVoices fiction award winner; their story is also in the current Townships Sun. Next, representing the “Fiction” category was a youthful Juliet Macauley-Fishman. “Nonfiction” was championed by long-time historical writer Nick Fonda.
Harry Welton, age 12, championed the “Art” category; his photo won a 2023 award and is in the current Townships Sun. Beside him, veteran photographer and writer Louise Abbott carried the “Photography” card, wrapping up the five award categories.
Three more salient points followed. High school senior Chaimber Condo noted the prizes will total at least $2000 in 2024, more than twice as much as last year, thanks to generous grants from the Townshippers’ Research & Cultural Foundation and the Sherbrooke Rotary Club.
Fiona Macauley advertised the leap year deadline for submissions: February 29, 2024.
Youth between the ages of 11 and 29 are invited to participate.
Finally, humour writer Ross Murray showed off the link where you can find more information: TownshipsSun.ca/Townships-Young-Voices, where the new guidelines are featured.
Also, tips and news can be found on Instagram @tyvoices, and YouTube @tyvoices offers writing, photography, and art ideas and strategies for participants.
Martinez said the Townships Young Voices team will be reaching out to English-speaking schools in the Townships and asking students to create TYVoices Teams, to encourage participation.
“This is your chance to win cash and get published,” said MacFish. “We are taking extra steps to make sure that the judges review the works on their merits, no matter the participants’ ages. But as before, all names and identifying information will be removed before the expert judges review the entries.”
What will the judges be looking for? “They want to see original work that has not been published elsewhere, and that tells them something about life and culture in the Eastern Townships,” explained MacFish. “How hard can that be?”
VIACTIVE
Starting January 6, the two bilingual Viactive groups reopen for business. Gérard and Denise Nault facilitate the sessions in the basement of the Saint-Rosaire Catholic Church, 4 Randboro Road, Sawyerville, on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Info: 819-889-2630.
And the Newport Viactive group, led by France Demers and Lyne Maisonneuve, is on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., at the Newport Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212, Island Brook. Info: 819-889-1340.
CHURCHES
Baptist. Sunday Services, services are in French at 9 a.m. and in English at 11 a.m. All are at the Sawyerville Baptist Church, 33 rue de Cookshire. For information, please contact Pastor Michel Houle at 819-889-2819.
Anglican. No services in Cookshire. To see where services might be in the deanery, check the schedule at deaneryofstfrancis.com/calendar/. Info: 819-887-6802, or quebec.anglican.ca.
United. On January 7, no service. On January 14, 21, and 28, services are at 9:30 a.m. at the Trinity United Church (Cookshire), and at 11 a.m. at the Sawyerville United Church. Info: 819-889-2838. For pastoral care, call Rev. Spires at 819-452-3685.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-640-1340 or email rawrites@gmail.com by January 8 for publication January 17.