TODAY IS EARTH DAY - LET'S TAKE ACTION!

Earth Day letter from our ClimateFast team

If you’re like many of us, you may greet Earth Day with a mixed bag of emotions. Cynicism, frustration, doubt, hope, despair, optimism, anger may run through your veins with equal measure. Totally valid. Totally reasonable.

Today we will hear how wonderful corporations are at “greening” their products (greenlighting mass consumption!). We’ll be guilted into joining neighbourhood clean ups organized by politicians who we wish would be spending energy on policy to reduce the waste and pollution in the first place. The media will be filled with pictures of happy children planting flowers with their grandparents.

Today is a good day. Today we care about our planet.

But what about tomorrow? What about the other 364 days of the year when our politicians and pension funds use our money to subsidize the industries that are causing the changing climate? Shouldn’t Earth Day be EVERY day?

The answer is, of course, yes. And, for many of us it is. We do our part as individuals to reduce consumption, donating to climate groups (thank you donors!!), use active or public transportation, engage with politicians and corporations demanding better policy, transparency and accountability on their climate goals. The list for action is long. And it can be overwhelming and exhausting. And incredibly empowering and inspiring.

They say that the antidote for climate despair is action. And I think that many would agree that knowing they have taken part in something that has helped ease the current or future suffering of this planet and those that live on it, is cathartic. Being part of a community that wants to build a better world for those we love is what feeds the soul.

And, while we always encourage action within your capacity, we also want to encourage people to not forget the important step of doing nothing. Before we start intellectualizing on solutions, let’s stop. Let’s take a moment to feel all those feelings that come with an understanding of the escalating polycrisis we are in. Do not let action become the bypass for tapping into our hearts. While it may seem counter intuitive, the pause is so powerful in building a resilient response to what we are facing.

Perhaps that is what Earth Day can be for us. That collective moment of pause to connect with our suffering, our hopes and our dreams. A unified breath in and breath out that allows for the space in between to reflect.

So go out today and help your community clean-up, plant some pollinators and talk to your friends and families about your love for this planet we call home. But, don’t forget to take some time to pause and remember why we will wake up tomorrow and keep building a movement for a better future.

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For those of you who wake up tomorrow and want to take some actions we have a wonderful line of up of things you can consider:

Volunteer with ClimateFast

We are always looking for activists that want to help develop and support our campaigns. Please fill out the survey here.

Donate to ClimateFast

As a 100% volunteer organization, your donation goes a long way to helping us cover our expenses: booking event spaces, reimbursing speakers, creating materials, and hosting our website and mailing lists. We appreciate your support.

You can make a donation here

Attend the Toronto Climate Action Network Climate Summit May 4 - 5

The Toronto Climate Action Summit is an opportunity for activists to reconnect in person, develop skills with one another, and strategize together to achieve the bold steps for the transformative changes we need for Toronto and for the climate.

Follow us on social media and/or sign up for newsletters and action alerts to stay up to date on issues like TransformTO, the Bill 165, future gas plants, and more.

Our handles are:

Instagram: @climatefastaction Facebook: @ClimateFast Twitter/X: @ClimateFast

You’ll find our newsletters here: https://climatefast.ca/newsletters#no-back

Take action today!

5. Sign this petition to tell Doug Ford to support the OEB and withdraw Bill 165. Help us get to 5000 signatures!

The photo above are ClimateFast volunteers Jay and Linda reaching out to people enjoying High Park on Sunday.

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From all of us at ClimateFast, we hope you can find some today to enjoy this beautiful planet and remember why its so critical we act now to save it.