|
Read, judge and act... FVC alerts its readers to causes which come to our attention via our readership. You are free to read, judge and act according to our individual beliefs in support of the Gospel and our Franciscan values.
Attention Ontario OFS - Ford's latest attack on the environment
At the beginning of April 2020, the Ford government passed a regulation that effectively suspended public consultation under Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR). Under this regulation, the government will not have to notify Ontarians or give them the opportunity to weigh in on decisions that may have a significant effect on the environment... Read more and take action
© Phil Moore
You’ve probably heard that Canada has committed more than a billion dollars to develop COVID-19 vaccines, medicines, and diagnostic tests that we all need. What you’ve not heard is whether a successful Canadian vaccine candidate will be accessible or affordable to those who need it most.
That’s because right now, most public funding for medical research and development (R&D) comes with no strings attached – meaning that even when public funds are used to discover or develop lifesaving medicines or vaccines, there are no requirements to make them affordable for people who need them, including Canadians. In fact, these publicly funded vaccines, medicines and health technologies are often sold to private companies, who get to decide who receives access to them — and at what price. This is unacceptable. Learn More and sign the petition
CANADA’S TOXICS LAW IS 20 YEARS OUT OF DATE
March 12, 2020
Canada’s Environmental Protection Act – the law that’s supposed to protect us from harmful chemicals – is 20 years out of date. Unfortunately, exposure to toxics like BPA and phthalates are contributing to rising rates of asthma and ADHD in children and breast cancer in women. The federal government committed to updating this law but the clock is ticking. Tell the federal government to take #ActionOnToxics!
Export Development Canada wants to loan to Coastal GasLink?
What is the provincial energy efficiency scorecard?
A national low-carbon transition requires a tripling of energy efficiency from current levels. Energy savings will be largely driven by the provinces and territories, because they have jurisdiction over the most relevant policy areas, such as public utility regulation and building energy codes.
Canada’s first Provincial Energy Efficiency Policy Scorecard benchmarks progress, promotes healthy competition, and shares best practices. The scorecard assesses efficiency policies and performance in energy efficiency programs, enabling measures, buildings, transportation and industry. Learn more. Our leaders need to do better, much better. Tell your representatives how you feel. Ask for more action. DOWNLOAD THE SCORECARD Solidarity Letter for the defenders of the Amazon
November 28, 2019 - Development & Peace
Voices at risk in Brazil
Indigenous and traditional communities are valiantly defending the Amazon despite facing intimidation, persecution, criminalization, the derecognition of their rights and the deregulation of resource exploitation. To show them our appreciation and solidarity, we are sending the seringueiros and the Mura people a letter of solidarity with 65,000 signatures. Sign the letter Global Refill Week: act now!
November 6, 2019 - Green Peace
“Recyclable plastic”, “compostable plastic”, paper packaging… these throwaway “solutions” that companies are proposing are taking us down the wrong path.
And meanwhile, as customers, the amount of pointless waste in our shopping carts and homes isn’t decreasing at all. It’s time that big brands and supermarkets tackle this plastic crisis for real by joining the #ReuseRevolution. Starting today until November 13, participate in Greenpeace’s Global Refill Week to promote reuse and refill solutions! For the next 7 days, every time you go to your supermarket, local restaurant or coffee shop, bring your reusable containers, ask for them to be refilled and share your experience on social media. Thank the stores that helped you reduce plastic waste and shame those who didn’t! Retailers can play a huge role by investing in reuse and refill systems that will drastically reduce our collective plastic footprint. Let’s show them that we are ready for change. Click here to get all the details about how to participate in the Global Refill Week. Why limit this action to this week? Make this your habit to do it all the time. FVC Top 5 Plastic Polluters 2019
October 27, 2019 - Greenpeace
This year Greenpeace Canada partnered up with organizations and volunteer local groups across the country who led cleanups with brand audits in nine different locations. The objective: to determine who are the top 5 plastic pollution offenders in Canada. And the results are in! Check audit results Click here to learn more and act
Join us:
In his statement, Pope Francis says, “Young people remind us that the Earth is not a good to be wasted, but a legacy to be transmitted . . . we owe them real answers, not empty words; facts, not illusions.” This Season of Creation, we’re standing together in the hope this world sorely needs. Pledge to go zero waste and give up single-use plastics
August 27, 2019 - David Suzuki Foundation
Signify your commitment to reducing waste and supporting the oceans by signing our zero waste pledge. In Canada, nearly 90 percent of plastics end up in landfills, incinerators, lakes, parks and oceans. We can do better! Let’s reduce over consumption of plastic and improve management of recyclable residues. A world without single-use plastic is possible. Sign the zero waste pledge 
I agree to adopt one or more of the proposed actions:
You can go even deeper with your commitment to support a federal ban on single-use plastics by contacting the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change: 819-938-3813, ec.ministre-minister.ec@canada.ca. And, our Queen of Green can also help you on your journey to sustainability with tips and resources, including her five ways to recycle less. Encourage family and friends to do the same! Share the pledge with your network. URGENT: Tell Canada what matters to you!
In early June, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an ambitious commitment to ban certain single-use plastics as early as 2021. This is great news! But with the federal election only a few months away, we need all party leaders to make a commitment to reduce plastic pollution, ban single-use plastics, and hold producers responsible for the plastic waste they create. TAKE ACTION
THIS ELECTION, WHO WE VOTE FOR MATTERS MORE THAN EVER. NOT JUST FOR OUR COUNTRY, BUT FOR OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE AND THE HEALTH OF OUR PLANET.
JUly 19, 2019 - Environmental Defence Canada
I DEMAND THAT ANY GOVERNMENT THAT REPRESENTS ME MUST:
The power of micro loans - an option for taking actionJuly 8, 2019 - submitted by Jewel Jasmins, ofs
Jewel Jasmins wrote, "At our last OFS General meeting… one of our candidates in formation shared with us her response to our JPIC Reflection, on alleviating poverty. She shared with us that both her and her husband supported this Kiva for years, putting in $20.00 to help a poor person have access to some money to develop a small business in a poor country. The video clip explains how this works. They would always have their $20.00 returned at a later date, and would make it available again to use for this noble cause, or use this contribution as a gift to someone they know, so that this would be in their name."
Commentary: The editors at Franciscan Voice Canada did some checking into this form of helping people, but we found there can be some pros and cons to micro-finances. We recommend you do your own checking to ensure the agency your are dealing with is a reputable one. KIVA seems to have a good reputation - FVC Margaret & Andrew engaging with the youth at climate strikeMay 26, 2019
Margaret Ross ofs, from Coquitlam, B.C. and Andrew Conradi ofs, from Victoria, B.C. are seen here engaging with the youth at climate strike in front of Calgary Municipal Hall on May 24, 2019. This is taking action! The youth who are concerned and taking action are greatly encouraged when we, the older generation, get out there and support them. We thank them both for their initiative!
We must reverse biodiversity loss to save ourselvesMay 17, 2019 - David Suzuki Foundation
Healthy oceans and the plankton they support give us most of the oxygen we breathe and provide food for much of humanity. Trees sequester carbon, produce oxygen, filter contaminants in air and water and prevent erosion and flooding. Polar ice caps regulate global temperatures and ocean currents. From the smallest microbes to the largest mammals, biodiverse animal life keeps natural systems in balance, ensuring that everything in the food web — including us — can find sustenance.
The world’s leading scientists are warning that human behaviour is destroying the biodiversity on which human and other life depends at a terrifyingly rapid rate. Read More and Take Action Canada needs an Ombudsperson with teeth
The latest win for corporate Canada is in an executive order issued by the Prime Minister’s Office that creates the first-ever Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise. Initially, it will apply only to the Canadian garment and resource extraction sectors. The name of the new position, and the government fanfare about it, belie the fact that the Liberals have stripped the new ombudsperson of the investigatory powers that they’ve been promising for years.
Human society under urgent threat from loss of Earth's natural lifeMay 7, 2019 - The Guardian
Scientists reveal 1 million species at risk of extinction in damning UN report
Human society is in jeopardy from the accelerating decline of the Earth’s natural life-support systems, the world’s leading scientists have warned, as they announced the results of the most thorough planetary health check ever undertaken. IMPORTANT - READ MORE
Even more reasons why we can’t be confident in Health Canada’s assessment that glyphosate is safe
Tell big polluters to pay up!April 26, 2019 - Greenpeace
Chemicals giant Bayer is out of control - CEO must step down
April 24, 2019 - SumOfUs
Bayer is dragging suffering cancer patients through court. It’s churning out one toxic pesticide after another while lobbying hard to keep them on the market. And it’s gained unprecedented control over our food supply by merging with Monsanto.
One man is responsible for all this: Werner Baumann, CEO of Bayer-Monsanto. And the time is overdue for him to resign. Chemicals giant Bayer is out of control -- and its CEO must step down before he does any more harm. Bee-killing neonics. Cancer-causing glyphosate. The list goes on and on. It's got to change! Sign this petition to Bayer's top boss, and SumOfUs campaigners will deliver it to him THIS FRIDAY at the company's annual shareholder meeting in Germany Whole Foods: It's Time to Ban Single-Use Plastics!
April 22, 2019 - SumOfUs
Choking out our precious marine life and leaching toxins into our bodies -- no-one knows just how much un-recycled plastic waste is in our oceans, but we know where it comes from.
Grocery stores are a huge source of this plastic waste. But a new initiative from Trader Joe’s could change that. The grocery store is reducing 1 million pounds of plastic waste each year just by scaling back on unnecessary pre-packaged fruit and styrofoam trays. It took about 100,000 signatures from our friends at Greenpeace to win this. Now while we have the momentum, let’s make sure Whole Foods is the next company to ban single-use plastic waste from its stores. SIGN HERE: Tell Whole Foods to ban single-use plastics in its stores. COMMENTARY But should we do more? Yes, we can individually refuse to take plastics where possible, but why not stop plastics at the source. For us here in Canada our biggest grocery stores chains include Loblaws and Sobeys. They have the ability to use less plastic in their packaging. Our Federal government has even greater power by regulating plastics out of the systems. We as voters and consumers have the power to demand the reduction in the use of plastics. Take action! - FVC Pope Thanks and Encourages Greta Thunberg in Her Commitment to Defend the EnvironmentApril 18, 2019 -- Zenith
Bayer/Monsanto: Drop your appeal against Dewayne Johnson
December 2, 2018 - SumOfUs
FILE – In this Aug. 10, 2018 file photo, Dewayne Johnson reacts after hearing the verdict in his case against Monsanto at the Superior Court of California in San Francisco. (Josh Edelson/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Join the wave of resistance against oil pipelinesJuly 9, 2018 - Greenpeace
Aerial shot of the enormous tailings ponds at the Syncrude mine in the Canadian tar sands. Canada’s tar sands are an oil reserve the size of England. Extracting the crude oil called bitumen from underneath the unspoiled wilderness requires a massive industrialized effort with far-reaching impacts on the land, air, water and climate. Greenpeace is calling on oil companies and the government to stop the tar sands, for the sake of the people and the planet. Photo –William Akehurst
Learn more and act |
TRANSLATE THIS PAGE
Read, judge and act...FVC alerts its readers to causes which come to our attention via our readership. We are free to read, judge and act according to our individual beliefs in support of the Gospel and our Franciscan values.
Products & Companies
Action: Where to find Fair Trade products Take Action
|
