Jobsjusticeclimate March in Toronto, July 5

 
A major march for the combined causes of jobs, justice and climate took place today in Toronto. An estimated 10,000 people marched in the streets in this prelude to a conference called Climate Change: Summit for the Americas, which will take place there next week.

At the summit, Andrea Harden-Donahue of the Council of Canadians wrote last month, "[p]oliticians will face a choice: listen to corporate leaders from across the Americas gathering to advance an economic austerity agenda that is increasing inequality and causing a climate crisis felt disproportionately in the global south—or listen to the people."

We searched the web in vain for an equivalently sized or promoted march in the US. Why is this? Can we conclude that all the important groups are in Canada for the summit? Americans just don't care? The Fourth of July isn't a day to think about global warming? July 4 is a day to forget about global warming despite the historic drought in the West and its opposite to the East? There just aren't enough activists to march in both Canada and the US on the same weekend? The media doesn't cover environmental marches? US society?, US government ?, US plutocratic media ? just ignore environmental actions (except when they are produced media extravaganzasl)?  The whole group of US leaders is on alert for terrorist attacks this weekend, therefore can't pay attention to little green munchkins among us? What's more patriotic than protesting against climate change? What is the meaning of patriotism if it isn't to protect the land under our feet and the water and the air overhead, here, now?
What is wrong with us, anyway? The South is flooding, Tornado Alley is growing, the West is burning up, air and water (fresh and salt) is being polluted.
Maybe passage of fast-track authority for the Trans Pacific Partnership deflated environmentalist.
Maybe this ancient American lyric below contains a clue? Or does it only apply to the multi-billion dollar settlement with BP over the Gulf oil spill? -- blj
 
7-2-15
Common Dreams
Weekend Actions in Canada Herald 'New Kind of Climate Movement'
Marches and actions for 'a just transition to a clean economy' to take place across Canada this weekend
Dierdre Fulton
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/07/03/weekend-actions-canada-heral...
of climate movement" will take place across Canada this weekend, bringing together an "unprecedented coalition" of environmental, labor, social justice, public health, and student activists to call for a justice-based transition to a clean energy future.
"It’s not every day you see Canada’s largest public and private sector unions mobilizing alongside Indigenous frontline communities, migrant justice groups, and anti-extractive sector activists," reads a post at the March for Jobs, Justice, and the Climate website.
"Politicians will face a choice: listen to corporate leaders from across the Americas gathering to advance an economic austerity agenda that is increasing inequality and causing a climate crisis felt disproportionately in the global south—or listen to the people."
—Andrea Harden-Donahue, Council of Canadians
One dozen separate actions are planned to take place across Canada on Saturday, July 4, under the "We > Tar Sands" banner aimed at demonstrating that "we, the people, are greater than the tar sands."
"As we approach one of the most important elections in this country’s history and another round of international climate negotiations, it is crucial for us to unite and demonstrate to our leaders that we are ready for real climate action," the organizers, who include 350.org, write in their call to action. "If politicians refuse to lead us. We will lead them." 
The following day, July 5, will see the streets of Toronto fill with Canadians calling for green jobs, localized agriculture, and "a new energy economy, in which corporate polluters pay and ordinary people benefit."
In a piece about Sunday's march, eco-crusader Naomi Klein wrote: "Canadians are clearly getting tired of the fossil-fuel roller coaster. Tired of being told we have to sacrifice our environmental protections and our international standing when times for industry are good. Of seeing our budgets for social programs slashed and livelihoods destroyed when times for industry are bad. It turns out we sacrifice on the upside and we sacrifice on the downside."
Explaining why the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario would join in the July 5 march, president-elect Carol Timmings declared, "[w]ithout jobs that provide a living wage and a strong and stable environment, Ontarians' health and well-being are at risk. As a society, we can no longer afford to ignore these issues."
The events are taking place on the eve of the Climate Change Summit of the Americas, taking place in Toronto from July 7-9. Former Mexican president Felipe Calderón, former U.S. vice president Al Gore, and the Canadian premiers of Quebec and Ontario are all scheduled to speak at the summit, which ostensibly will "bring together Pan-American jurisdictions, as well as Indigenous leaders, environmental groups and industry, to work towards commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and highlight opportunities for investing in a global low carbon economy."
At the summit, Andrea Harden-Donahue of the Council of Canadians wrote last month, "[p]oliticians will face a choice: listen to corporate leaders from across the Americas gathering to advance an economic austerity agenda that is increasing inequality and causing a climate crisis felt disproportionately in the global south—or listen to the people."
For more about the march and the movement, watch the video below:
And follow the weekend's actions on Twitter under the hashtag #JobsJusticeClimate:
 
 
 
11-30-84
Metrolyrics.com
 

 

 
 
 
"Material Girl" Lyrics
from The Immaculate Collection.
http://www.metrolyrics.com/madonna-albums-list-6.html#/the-immaculate-co...
Video: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1wfx5_madonna-material-girl_music
Some boys kiss me
Some boys hug me
I think they're ok
If they don't give me proper credit
I just walk away
They can beg and they can plead
But they can't see the light (that's right)
'Cause the boy with the cold hard cash
Is always Mister Right
'Cause we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Some boys romance
Some boys slow dance
That's all right with me
If they can't raise my interest then I
Have to let them be
Some boys try and some boys lie but
I don't let them play (no way)
Only boys who save their pennies
Make my rainy day
'Cause we're living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world
Boys may come and boys may go
And that's all right you see
Experience has made me rich
And now they're after me
'Cause everybody's living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
A material, a material, a material, a material world
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material world
Living in a material world (material)
Living in a material
Songwriters
RANS, ROBERT / BROWN, PETER
Published by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC