Canada turned “upside-down” by Global Climate Strike

Fridays for Future, Toronto, Canada, September 27, 2019

There is a lot of talk about global warming and how it affects our planet. And how politicians are talking about it, but not doing anything. There are discussions and debates at family dinners and friend’s barbecues speculating on the speed of diminishing Arctic sea ice and melting glaciers and how this will impact the global sea level. Most conversations end on the point that, should the scientist’s predictions come true, Manhattan will be under the water at some point and a lot of people along the coastline all over the world will have to find another place to live. And how unfortunate that is…

The reason I want to talk about it is because I was one of those people. Until recently. Until one fall evening, I went to my 12 years old daughter’s bedroom to kiss her goodnight and found her extremely upset. As a lot of pre-teens nowadays, she gets her news online where she learned about the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that the world has only a decade or so to do something before impacts of the change will become irreversible. She was upset because she was concerned about the future of our planet, her future. She asked me why global warming is not treated as the biggest issue of our time and how did we get to this point. As most moms probably would, I told her that it’s not entirely true, there are a lot of people doing a lot to address the issue and that if she wants to add her voice to it, I will be happy to help her. And then she said, “why do you want me to solve the problem you created” (me being an “older generation”). And, again, being a mom, I said that sometimes we inherit the problems someone else created and we still need to deal with them. And her response was “so, you’re waiting for me to fix your generation’s mistakes. Why should I stop being a kid and start doing your job”. And it hit me: she is right!

How can we put all the responsibility on our children’s shoulders by expecting them to solve something we can’t. We think we are too busy working hard to provide our children with all they need to grow up and be happy. And yet, we tend to overlook the fact that some issues can’t be postponed or deemed too big for us, parents. We are so focused on taking care of our family’s immediate needs, expecting someone somewhere to take care of the global problems. Isn’t this why we pay taxes and elect politicians so that they can do what “average” people, like us, can’t? And then I remembered one of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez early interviews where she explained her decision for going into politics by thinking about the problem from her future children and grandchildren’s point of view and how would she explain to them why she did nothing.

I used to be much more cynical about how much was up against us. I think I’ve changed my mind. Because I think that change is a lot closer than we think.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, ‘Change Is Closer Than We Think.’ Inside Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Unlikely Rise

By putting ourselves in our kid’s shoes, it’s very easy to see the flaws in our, grown-ups, logic. The problem is really simple: if there is no planet, there is no future for our kids. Even if predictions are wrong and we have more time, it’s still true for their kids or the kids of their kids… In the end, it doesn’t matter which kids we are talking about. And even more pathetic our excuse that we pay taxes and elect politicians who are supposed to take care of it. The answer, as in most cases, is within us. The simple truth is that if you care about the future (and stop being a shortsighted dumb ass), you should do something about it. And, as I’m a mom, it’s up to me to solve the problem that is impacting my family.

So, as mom would, I started to think about what I can do beyond sorting out my recycling and electing to not buy plastic water bottles to reduce global pollution. In a short while after this conversation, I got to go to Glen Bernard Camp for the women’s weekend. Here I had a privilege to meet Jocelyn Palm an amazing women entrepreneur who came to Glen Bernard camp in 1959 to work as a counsellor, became owner and director in 1977 and who over 40 years continues to be an exceptional role model and inspiration to the generations of campers! In addition to creating an amazing environment where children do the usual “camp things” as creating new friendships and learning leadership and teamwork on canoe trips among the unforgettable beauty of the Canadian wilderness, they also learn to be a part of our natural environment, the habitat we all share. The campers are taught to recognize and care for the local plants and wildlife as well as understand and appreciate diverse communities around the camp.

The true highlight of the weekend was a tour to the Near North Enviro-Education Centre (NNEEC) in Sundridge, Ontario, just a short drive from the camp and sharing lake Bernard. Jocelyn turned this former church building into the most environmentally friendly conference facility using geothermal heating and cooling systems, composting toilets, rooftop garden, and solar batteries to demonstrate the power of possible. Since it’s opening, NNEEC is focusing on environmental sustainability, rural economic sustainability and social diversity, educating everyone who wants to learn how today’s technology enables us to be a part of the natural environment without negatively impacting our natural habitat.

Furthermore, over this weekend Jocelyn and her dedicated team held symposium “Climate Change: Rural Communities — A Plan to Action” at the NNEEC looking to find solutions for communities who depend on innovation and finding resources within themselves to deal with the new reality of extreme weather, climate volatility, water quality risks and other impacts of environmental change. If you’re a business owner or work for a corporation in one of the urban centres, consider having your next company retreat at the NNEEC! You can also get involved in many different ways and the planet and our kids will thank you!

Yesterday, September 27th, more young people joined thousands of others for “Fridays for Future” demonstrations united behind the cause of doing anything we can to prevent the threat to our planet’s future, urging governments to do everything in their power to hear and support people’s choice. One girl’s protest in front of the Swedish Parliament grew into Friday’s global climate strikes in more than 150 countries of the world with more and more youth and parents joining the movement. I do not doubt that this movement will continue to grow with young people becoming more and more involved in action to protect their future. And my daughter is one of them!

Now, as a proud mom, I have an ask of my own: if we are to protect our children’s future, we need more than protests, we need action and innovation that will allow us to turn it around. Let’s get involved and put our energy, creativity and time to work so that when your daughter or son asks “what did you do to protect my future?” You can simply say “everything I could”.

Julia M, mom of two beautiful girls

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Julia M.
Environmental Sustainability Is Everybody’s Thing

My name is Julia, I’m a citizen of the world, mom, wife, daughter, entrepreneur, creator and a dreamer. I love travel, good food & lived on 3 continents so far.