Cheryl McNamara

11 wishes for 2017 that will make Canada greener, more just and more equal

KAIROS Canada — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 16:27:33 +0000

Last January, KAIROS released its wish list for the year -- 10-plus-one hopes for the federal government and the provinces to fulfill. Two of these were realized: the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was launched and a national, rising price on carbon that integrates with provincial carbon pricing mechanisms was announced.

KAIROS Blanket Exercise deepens RCMP Alberta Division's cultural awareness

KAIROS Canada — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 18:23:21 +0000

Marilyn McSporran couldn't forget the moment years ago when one of her husband's colleagues in the RCMP made an ugly remark about Indigenous peoples. When an Elder in Saddle Lake, Alberta gently encouraged her to introduce the KAIROS Blanket Exercise to the RCMP, McSporran decided to pick up the phone.

She never anticipated that one call to Inspector Honey Dwyer would swiftly lead to the Blanket Exercise becoming part of the RCMP's Alberta Division's mandatory Indigenous cultural training for all officers and employees in the province.

The KAIROS Blanket Exercise is a participatory telling of Canada's history from the point of view of Indigenous peoples. 2017 marks 20 years since its creation.

11 ways to improve the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in 2016

KAIROS Canada — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 18:58:37 +0000

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It's a new year and Canada's new federal government has already taken some promising steps towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and a more climate friendly economy.

Canada must rise to the occasion and price carbon nationally

the views expressed — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 17:14:28 +0000

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The United Nations Conference on Climate Change is underway in Paris and there is reason to hope that the global community will, at long last, take steps toward reducing the enormous risks associated with greenhouse gas emissions.

Time for Reconciliation

KAIROS Canada — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 21:22:52 +0000

Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples joined powerful conversations during a series of events, sponsored by KAIROS Canada, leading up to and complementing the close of the historic Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

KAIROS' Time for Reconciliation intergenerational gathering brought together more than 400 people and featured leading thinkers on Indigenous rights and interactive workshops on May 29, May 30 and June 1 at Carleton University and Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa, the traditional territory of the Algonquin people.

When the act of doing speaks volumes: Notes from the Great Climate March

KAIROS Canada — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 12:43:49 +0000

It was my second day on the Great Climate March. I was in Macedonia, Ohio, just south east of Cleveland. The United Methodist Church had graciously opened its rooms and halls to more than 20 of us the night before. Some of the participants had walked from Los Angeles where the journey began on March 1.

On the morning of my second day, I saw a poster with the text: "As for us, we can't stop speaking about what we have seen and heard. Acts: 4:20."

At the time, I did not know the quote's biblical context -- that the disciples, Peter and John would not be silenced in talking about Christ's resurrection -- so I interpreted it as a social justice message, one that, as a communicator, resonated with me.

Putting people before profit with a price on carbon

KAIROS Canada — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 18:24:40 +0000

My week in late June began by shaking the hand of President Obama. It ended by interviewing First Nations and Métis living in the heart of the Athabasca Tar Sands.

I went from meeting the most sought after person in the world, whose every statement is analysed, to some of the most dismissed people, whose illnesses caused by the tar sands have been downplayed or ignored by government and the media.

The making of a miracle: How the World Bank came out against coal power

rabble staff — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 04:28:30 +0000

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Two years ago we met a senior adviser to the World Bank. Our request was simple and ambitious. We wanted the World Bank to stop financing all fossil fuel projects, especially coal.

I stared at my email. I couldn't believe what I was reading. The World Bank would no longer finance coal power generation projects, "except in rare circumstances." The email was from Cathy Orlando, Canada's national manager of the Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL). She was responding to a congratulatory message from Marshall Saunders, CCL's founder.

My head was spinning. As incredible as it seemed, I could not help but wonder how much of a role CCL had on this decision.

Lobbying for a revenue neutral carbon tax on Capitol Hill

rabble staff — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:38:02 +0000

Politics aside, economists on both sides of the political spectrum advise that a revenue-neutral carbon tax is the most effective mechanism to decrease GHG emissions, while stimulating green energy.

Canadians on Capitol Hill to lobby for a revenue neutral carbon tax

rabble staff — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 14:44:51 +0000

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

We were in Washington, D.C., for the fourth annual Citizens Climate Lobby Conference and Lobby Days. We met with 439 congressional offices that week.

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There is a story we love to tell at Citizens Climate Lobby. It's a story about Gandhi's first meeting with General Smuts. Gandhi, all of 5 foot 4 inches, told the imposing South African general and politician that he planned to oppose the Asiatic Registration Act of 1908. General Smuts looked at him and said, "Really? Anything else?"

"Yes," replied Gandhi. "I will prevail."

"Oh? And how do you plan to do that?" asked the general.

"With your help," said Gandhi.

Canadians join citizens' climate lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C.

rabble staff — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:10:19 +0000

Friday, August 17, 2012

Canadians recently joined 175 citizen climate lobbyists in the United States to ask their representatives to put a rising fee on carbon.

“No other generation has held the fate of the planet in its hands.” –Jeffrey Sachs

When Citizens Climate Lobby first went to Washington, DC in 2009 there were only three people. In July 2012, 175 citizen climate lobbyists showed up for the conference and to ask their representatives to put a rising fee on carbon and give the dividend back to Americans.

Citizens Climate Lobby is a non-partisan, non-profit volunteer organization, with more than 20 local chapters in six provinces and over 60 chapters in 26 states. Microfinance hero Marshall Saunders founded it in 2007. From July 24 to 28, in just four days of lobbying, 175 volunteers from across the United States, with seven of us from Canada, made more than 300 visits to Congressional offices.

A coalition is good for Canada, good for parliamentary democracy

rabble staff — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 05:58:41 +0000

Saturday, April 9, 2011

A group of citizens have formed Canadians for Coalition to educate the public on the validity of coalition governments, and encourage the Liberals and NDP to consider this option.

Stephen Harper can almost taste a majority. More than a decade of work to unite the right and make the new Conservative Party more palatable for Canadians has reached a point where the party has, as of mid-March, polled its highest ratings. With an election on May 2nd, Harper is very close to fulfilling his dream of majority rule.

Unless of course he falls short and the opposition parties form a coalition government.

Harper hates this possibility, naturally. He more than anyone recognizes the viability and inevitability of coalition governments.

Video launch: Last week to end subsidies to Big Oil, Gas and Coal

Climate Action Network Canada — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:34:53 +0000

With the federal budget announcement a week away, the Climate Action Network Canada is stepping up efforts to end federal subsidies to fossil fuel companies.

Today Climate Action Network Canada and the Citizens Climate Lobby launch an 'ad' featuring two fossil fuel reps canvassing door-to-door asking for public handouts.

It's time to end Canada's billion-dollar handout to big oil and coal

rabble staff — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 05:12:27 +0000

Friday, February 25, 2011

Ending these subsidies will create a truer market price for fossil fuel, encourage investment in clean energy development, free up money that can be much better spent elsewhere.

After two years of stimulus spending and years of tax cuts, Canada's debt has ballooned to $56 billion. Now the Harper government is sharpening the axe. Who will feel the cut? Given the Conservative's position on social spending, they will likely focus on provincial transfers that support healthcare and social welfare.

Meanwhile, the federal government subsidizes oil companies to the tune of $1.4 billion every year, according to the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). It's more if you factor in other fossil fuels such as coal. If the government is looking for ways to pay down the debt, ending fossil fuel subsidies in the 2011-12 budget is a good place to start.

Climate action will stimulate economy and jobs

Cathryn Atkinson — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 06:25:52 +0000

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The Climate Change Accountability Act is killed by Conservative senators and Prime Minister Harper defends this by saying that had it passed it would have harmed Canadian jobs. That's nonsense.

Just before the world met in Cancun for climate talks, Conservatives in the Senate -- abetted by the prime minister -- deprived Canadians of legislation that would address the pressing problem of global climate change and also usher in a prosperous clean energy economy.

When pressed why the Conservative Senate called the premature vote on the Climate Change Accountability Act on Nov. 16th, Prime Minister Stephen Harper retorted that it would have thrown "hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of people out of work."