Climate Action Muskoka Update

November 26, 2020

Climate Strikes in Bracebridge and Huntsville  

Join us tomorrow and every Friday for our weekly Fridays for Future climate strikes. In Huntsville at Town Hall at 37 Main Street E. and at Memorial Park in Bracebridge.

Pandemic measures — Two metres apart please

Thanks for observing physical distancing guidelines and staying two metres apart. With the second wave worsening in Ontario, outdoor gatherings are now limited to 10, so if we are already at our limit when you arrive 😀please just march! Don't forget to post on social! #climateactionmuskoka #muskoka #fridaysforfuture Thank you!

A New Leaf — Muskoka's Climate Strategy

CAM's ambitious climate emergency resolution is on its way back to Muskoka District Council as part of the District’s A New Leaf: Muskoka’s Climate Strategy after the report received unanimous support from the District’s Community and Planning Services committee (CPSC) at its meeting Thursday, November 19. Learn more. 

Special Guests at Muskoka Watershed Council Meeting 

Everyone is invited to listen into a Muskoka Watershed Council meeting taking place at 1pm tomorrow (Friday November 27) on Zoom.

You will hear presentations from student representatives from the TLDSB G7 Student Summit on the TLDSB Climate Change Action Plan, and Dr. Ellen Field, Faculty of Education, Lakehead University and Learning for a Sustainable Future, presenting Canada, Climate Change and Education: Opportunities for Public and Formal Education.  

Email info@muskokawatershed.org to receive login details.  

POLITICAL ACTION OF THE WEEK

Take a Stand Against Plastic

Plastics are a fossil fuel product. We know that plastic is a threat to our climate. But instead of tapering off, plastic production is on the rise.

Did you know... Unfortunately, recycling doesn't really help. There is growing evidence that recycling actually harms more than it helps. Learn more; Discovering the Toxicity of Plastics Recycling | Recycling: A Lie, a Big Lie, to Sell More Plastic We are all better off to take action to prevent plastic from being produced in the first place.

1. When you shop this week, ask for the store manager and (politely) request an alternative to in-store wrapping of goods in plastic. (Items like bread baked in-store, or produce which arrives in bulk and is repackaged in smaller quantities in plastic and on styrofoam trays.) Or you can get the manager's name and send a letter to be forwarded to head office. Don't forget to copy your letter to the local news media as an open letter to the editor. 

2. Sign this Environmental Defense petition urging the federal government to resist the plastic lobby, which is working hard to undermine the federal government's efforts to ban some single-use plastics.

New for 50% by 2030 Community Carbon Challenge

The 'Foodprint' of Food Packaging

Modern food packaging makes our food safe, reliable, shelf-stable and clean. Unfortunately, most food packaging is single-use. The carbon footprint of plastic (LDPE or PET, polyethylene) is about 6 kg CO2 per kg of plastic. To minimise the negative effects of packaging on the environment, we need to reduce packaging waste.

We can all help reverse this trend. When you shop...

• carry a reusable water bottle 
• use reusable grocery bags
• choose unpackaged food whenever possible
• buy food that can be transported home in your own refillable container
• when packaging is necessary, look for foods with the least packaging

According to the CBC Passionate Eye documentary Plastic Wars, the problem is only going to get worse. The global production of plastic could triple by 2060. As the oil and gas industry — which provides the source materials for plastics — faces a future of declining demand for fuel, it has turned to other markets.

Canada must not continue to miss climate action targets

"The majority of Canadians believe climate warming is largely man-made, and know that meaningful government action is essential.

However, Canada has missed every climate action target to date. This must not happen again."

Read CAM member Lesley Hastie's Letter to the Editor, from the Huntsville Doppler. 

About Climate Action Muskoka

Climate Action Muskoka is an inclusive, non-partisan group of citizens concerned about climate change in Muskoka who believe in working together to inspire individuals, groups, and every level of government to make the dramatic changes needed to meet this historic challenge.

You can find us online at www.climateactionmuskoka.org.
Facebook = Climate Action Muskoka | Instagram @climateactionmuskoka
climateactionmuskoka@gmail.com and hello@climateactionmuskoka.org.
Please follow the group and use the #climateactionmuskoka hashtag.