Blog Social Justice Cooperative NL - Social Justice CooperativeNewfoundland and Labrador

100 Debates on the Environment - NL Edition!

9/26/2019

100 Debates on the Environment is a national initiative to hold non-partisan all-candidates debates on the environment in 100 ridings across Canada on October 3rd. The initiative now includes debates in over 120 ridings and 3 in Newfoundland! The debates will demonstrate to politicians what the polls and nation-wide climate action are indicating: the environment is front and centre this election and voters are paying attention. The 100 Debates project aims to create a wave of national discussion on some of the most challenging environmental questions facing ridings across the country.

Questions for this debate have been prepared by GreenPAC (marked by *), a non-partisan, non-profit organization working to elect and support environmental leaders of all major parties running for office, and locally with Social Justice Co-operative NL, Too Big To Ignore, Fishing For Success, and several partners at Memorial University, including the Department of Political Science and Department of Sociology (marked by ). Support for this event has been provided by Memorial University's Department of Philosophy and Nexus Center of Humanities and Social Sciences Research as well.
Candidates at the St. John’s East and Avalon debate will be asked the following questions at the debates but we want to hear from those who do not have a chance to engage in this exciting event! We invite all candidates across the province to respond to these questions by video or text by Oct 3** using the hashtag #100Debates and by emailing socialjusticecoopnl@gmail.com to compile responses.

Find the questions here

Climate Emergency Declaration

9/24/2019

We, the undersigned residents of the City of St. John’s, draw the attention of the Mayor and Council to the following:

THAT, WHEREAS
-According to “The Way Forward on Climate Change”, the Provincial Government’s climate action plan, the province is already experiencing the effects of climate change;
-Newfoundland and Labrador joined the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change in 2016, but is not on track to meet its 2020 targets;
-The Strategic Plan of the City of St. John’s declares sustainability as one of the city’s four strategic directions, “today and for future generations”;
The effects and threats of climate change fit the City’s official definition of an “emergency”;

THEREFORE, your petitioners call upon the Mayor and Council to declare a CLIMATE EMERGENCY and take meaningful action to meet emissions targets.

Petition here

It's Time For A War On Cars

9/14/2019

At our inaugural Green New Drinks, cyclist advocate Robin Whitaker gave a riveting speech declaring a War on Cars to improve access to safe, public space.

If you missed her talk or want to relive the magic, you can read it in The Independent here https://theindependent.ca/2019/09/09/speaking-as-a-car-owner-its-time-for-a-war-on-cars/