Escorted by hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, heat waves, and wildfires, climate change is here.
In August 2018, teenager Greta Thunberg was so alarmed by the complacency of her government that she sat alone outside the Swedish parliament during school hours wearing a sign that read “school strike for the climate.”
Three months later, another group of students invited others around the world to skip school on the first day of the 2018 United Nations Climate Change in Conference. This climate strike was organized in more than 100 countries. Some 50,000 people participated.
They had three demands: 100% clean energy. Keep fossil fuels in the ground. Help climate refugees.
It’s grown. On March 15, about 1.4 million students participated in a global climate strike. The organizers’ open letter in The Guardian said:
“We, the young, are deeply concerned about our future… We finally need to treat the climate crisis as a crisis. It is the biggest threat in human history and we will not accept the world’s decision-makers’ inaction that threatens our entire civilisation… United we will rise until we see climate justice. We demand the world’s decision-makers take responsibility and solve this crisis.”
On May 24 was a second global climate strike, in more that 1,600 towns in 125 countries, aiming to influence the 2019 European Parliament election. Other actions followed in Europe and Asia.
But where is Canada? CBC reported that Canada is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. We have our wildfires, heatwaves and other extreme weather. And oh yes, we’re good at setting targets to tackle climate pollution. But we’re terrible at working towards them.
In fact, the National Observer has observed that we’re now just 11 years away from our Paris Accord deadline of 2030, by when we pledged to reduce emissions by 30% compared to 2005. We’re more than halfway there. By now, we should have cut emissions by about 17%. Instead, we’ve managed only 2%.
At our current pace, we’ll have reached our 2030 target by – steady now! – 2230. And we’ll have reached our 2050 target in – gasp! – a thousand years.
Sixteen-year-old Greta has the good sense to be shocked. So do many other people. A worldwide Intergenerational Global Climate Strike and activities have been set for September 20-27. And per CTV news, Greta herself is coming to Montreal on Friday, September 27. The place to be is in the Mont-Royal park, near the George-Étienne Cartier statue near Park Avenue. The time: high noon. Info: https://globalclimatestrike.net
STORIES IN EATON CORNER, 21st
Reminder: On Saturday, September 21, at 3 p.m., Ann Rothfels will be telling three personal stories born of the Townships, at the Eaton Corner Museum (in the Foss House). She will be accompanied musically by France Thibault and Laurent Hubert who will perform Irish music. Donations will go to the support of the Eaton Corner Museum. Refreshments will be served. To reserve a place, please phone Elaine at 819-563-8700.
SPAGHETTI IN LAWRENCE, 21st
A Spaghetti Supper to raise funds for the Lawrence Community Centre is to be at the Centre, 449 Lawrence Road, Newport. Saturday, September 21, with two sittings: 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Info: 819-875-5227.
VALORIS CONSULTATION, 25th
The September 25th consultation regarding the proposed expansion of the engineered landfill site will focus on the economic aspects of the project, communications and community contributions. When? At 6:45 p.m. Where? In the Salle des commissaires of the École du Parchemin, 162 Saint-Jean E. Avenue in East Angus. Info, or to register: 819-560-8403 x 2916, email communication-valoris@hsfqc.ca, or visit the website letvaloris.com. Note: The previous consultations are also available for perusal on the letvaloris.com website.
CARDS IN BULWER, 26th
The 500 Card Parties are at the Bulwer Community Center, 254 Jordan Hill Road, on Thursdays, September 26 and October 10 and 24, at 1:30 p.m. Admission: $6 for cards, lunch, and prizes, to be distributed after the card games.
HARVEST FESTIVAL, 28th
The final Sawyerville Community Garden’s Village Market of the season is on Saturday, September 28, along with the Harvest Festival. The Community Garden is at 70 Randboro Road. Info: chantalbolduc99@bell.net or 819-889-3196.
CRUISE IN MAGOG, 28th
Last call for the annual group outing for Newport residents, aboard the Grand Cru in Magog on Saturday, September 28, for a three-hour supper cruise and music show. Tickets: $120 per person. Reservations or info: 819-889-1340 or 819-875-5227 or 819-560-8565.
VIACTIVE
Bilingual Viactive exercises for seniors on Wednesdays: At the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main Street, Bury, at 10 a.m. At the Manoir de l’Eau Vive, 210 Principale East, at 10 a.m. At the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street, at 10 a.m. And at the Newport Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212, in Island Brook, at 1:30 p.m. with Christiane Coté and Ruth Shipman, beginning September 25.
CHURCH SERVICES
Anglican. The September 22nd Sunday services are at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s in Bury, and at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s in Cookshire. On September 29, there are no local services, but a service is at 11 a.m. at St. George’s Church in Lennoxville. Info: 819-887-6802.
United. Sunday services are at the Trinity United in Cookshire at 9:30 a.m., and the Sawyerville United at 11 a.m. Also, on September 22 is a service at 2:30 p.m. at the Bishopton United Church. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).
Messy Church. On Monday, September 23, at 5:15 p.m., stories, crafts, singing and supper are on the agenda at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 550 Main St., Bury (red brick church on Main Street). A joint United and Anglican intergenerational event. All are welcome. Info: Rev. Tami Spires, 819-452-3685.
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by September 23 for publication October 2, and by October 7 for October 16.