This week in the Activist Agenda (Edmonton):

• October 22nd, Sunday – Gather for Peace
• October 23rd, Monday – Edmonton Die-In for Gaza
• October 25th, Wednesday – MMIWG2S Calls for Justice Reading Circle
• October 24th, Tuesday – Climate Justice Edmonton Online Intaking Meeting
• October 25th, Wednesday – RBC: Stop Funding the Climate Crisis
• October 26th, Thursday – The Colonial Urge to Commodify the Climate Crisis: Unpacking False Solutions
• October 27th, Friday – Climate Strike
• October 27th, Friday – Coffee Outside
• October 27th, Friday – Edmonton Critical Mass Ride
• October 28, Saturday – Walk a Mile in a Ribbon Skirt
• October 28, Saturday – Polluter Pay Garbage Day in Edmonton
• October 28, Saturday – Climate Emergency: Building a Healthy Planetary Future
• October 29th, Sunday – Names Not Numbers Rally and March
• October 29th, Sunday- Cancelled Counter-Protest 1MillionMarch4Children
• November 2nd, Thursday – Negotiating the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive: Promoting the sustainable transport fuels of the future” by Geert Decock, Electricity and Energy, European Union, Brussels
• November 3rd and 4th- United Conservative Party Annual General Meeting (UCP)
• November 4th, Saturday – Power Up for Climate Solutions
• November 5th, Sunday – Truck Trudeau Rally (Info purposes Only)
• November 8th, Wednesday – Night Out on the North Saskatchewan
• November 12th, Sunday – Migrants Workers Fightback
• November 20th, Monday – Tar Sands Songbook – Edmonton Workshop Presentation
• November 22nd, Wednesday – Housing– Who is it for?

I will be posting some items that are for information purposes only. These are in case anyone reading this would like to show up as a counter-protest to the actions, learn about how groups like Take Back Alberta are mobilizing, etc. They are better organized in many cases. I have highlighted these items with a gray background as exemplified by this paragraph.
This article in the National Observer shows some of their tactics. This is not only about climate change and 15-minute cities but many of our social tenants are being pushed to align more to the far-right ideology complete with the religious overtones.
Check out this video by Take Back Alberta lead spokesperson David Parke to hear what they envision for Alberta.

Video of the Week

October 22nd, Sunday – Online Intro Talk: Stop Canada Burning Down. Hear the Plan and How You Can Help: (weekly online talk by On2Ottawa. I put this here so that people in Edmonton can understand what other groups are doing) “Canada is burning and life as we know it is falling apart. Extreme weather events and mass species extinction cover the globe. And government has failed to implement the radical change we need.
In this talk, we will tell the truth about the state of the climate – including the hard truths that people in power don’t want you to know.
And most importantly, we will talk about the social science of radical change and how YOU can make it happen! There is a long history of movements that have forced those in power to make change – through bottom-up people power.
You will get the chance to connect with people who are involved in the movement. People who have been arrested, have done hunger strikes, and have risked a lot to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience – following in the footsteps of movements of the past, like the civil rights movement and movements for the right to vote.
Come learn about what YOU can do – and what we all MUST do – to avoid the worst effects of climate breakdown and create a livable future.”
Time: 5 pm MT
Location: online
Registration: Zoom
More information: On2Ottawa

October 22nd, Sunday – Gather for Peace: A silent gathering of Edmontonians to call for peace and end armed conflict. Peace starts with a ceasefire.
We don’t take sides. We are not looking for one side to win and another to lose. We want peace to win so that everyone wins.
We will stand in silence for one-hour with our candles of hope.
Time: 7:00 pm to 8 pm
Location: South Plaza, Edmonton City Hall
Facebook: Gather for Peace

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October 23rd, Monday – Edmonton Die-In for Gaza: “A die-in is a form of protest where participants lie down on the ground and pretend to be dead. The goal is to draw attention of pedestrians to the genocide in Gaza.”
Dress all in black
Bring a blanket to lie down on (you could also use cardboard or a camping sleeping pad
Dress according to the weather
A Palestinian flag if you wish to cover yourself with one
Time: 5pm
Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square
Instagram: Free Palestine YEG

October 23rd – 27th – Calgary Climate Symposium: [NOTE: in Calgary] “The Calgary Climate Symposium continues the conversation about climate change, shares how it affects Calgarians, what we can do together, and why we need to talk about it.
The Calgary Climate Symposium explores:

• how Calgary can position itself for a low carbon future and leverage economic opportunities
• how Calgary can strengthen communities to be resilient to climate change impacts and hazards
• how we ensure no one is left behind as we look to the future

Time: 5 day event
Location: in-person and online
Registration: I am unsure how to register – perhaps it is closed
Website: City of Calgary

October 23rd to 25th – Electricity Transformation Canada Conference: “Discover the anticipated and tailor-made agenda for Electricity Transformation Canada (ETC) 2023! Explore the upcoming sessions and discussions focused on advancing Canada’s clean energy plan and accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy system.”
Renewable Energy conference – I wonder how they feel with the moratorium that she put on this industry this year.
Note that Danielle Smith is giving a 10 minute opening keynote address at 5:30 pm on Monday, October 23rd.
Time: See the website for daily times
Location: BMO Centre Calgary
Website: Electricity Transformation Canada

October 24th, Tuesday – Climate Justice Edmonton Online Intaking Meeting: Want to get involved in Climate Justice? Attend this session and learn about effective group’s work in Edmonton.
Time: 6:30-7:30
Location: Online or in-person – Room __ at the Stanley Milner Library [it seems they don’t have a room identified yet
Register: Zoom 

Wednesday, October 25th – RBC: Stop Funding the Climate Crisis: “RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) is the largest funder of fossil fuel projects in Canada. These include the CoastGas Link pipeline and the TMX Pipeline).
The world needs to transition away from burning fossil fuels. Building pipelines locks in money and resources allocated to perpetuate the fossil fuel industry. We need to transition away from fuel fuels as the basis of our economy and society.
We need to do this as soon as possible.
This action is to highlight to the general public how RBC funds climate chaos and ignores indigenous rights.
It is our intention to do this every week and at a variety of RBC locations around Edmonton. Please consider joining us for this one hour of action.
This will happen at the RBC branch on Whyte Avenue just east of 109th street. We will be on the west side of the bus shelter/stop.
Funders are the foundation of this industry.
Signs will be available for people to use.
Time: 12 noon to 1 pm
Location: 11604 104 Ave NW (meet on the grassy area on the NW corner of the intersection. We will take advantage of all the traffic at this intersection and keep off private property – Unity Square.)
Facebook: Edmonton Climate Strike

October 25th, Wednesday – MMIWG2S Calls for Justice Reading Circle: “Join a group of caring community members for a reading circle of Reclaiming Power and Place: the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Executive Summary. In this circle, we will be taking turns reading sections and will have time to discuss, share stories, and smudge together.”
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: PÎYÊSÎW WÂSKÂHIKAN, First Floor, Stanley A. Milner Library, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Square Centennial Plaza
More information: Edmonton Public Library
Registration: Edmonton Public Library

October 26th, Thursday – The Colonial Urge to Commodify the Climate Crisis: Unpacking False Solutions: “Indigenous Climate Action is dedicated to raising awareness about the impacts of climate change on Indigenous communities and advocating for sustainable solutions that respect Indigenous sovereignty, knowledge, and cultural practices. As we navigate the complexities posed by this climate crisis, it is vital to address not only genuine solutions but also the false solutions that can perpetuate more environmental harm and social injustices. The aim of this webinar series is to facilitate open and informative discussions that shed light on various false solutions that are often presented as viable approaches to combat the climate crisis and counteract them with real, Indigenous-led solutions.
Part 1: Unpacking False Solutions
Panel highlighting false solutions with a short recap of UNFCCC COP27. This webinar discussion will cover questions like:

• How can we begin to identify when a solution is false? What are false solutions?
• How can false solutions impact Indigenous communities? How can we resist?
• How are false solutions being presented at the UNFCCC COP? How might this impact communities?

Time: 2 pm MT
Location: Zoom – Virtual
Registration: Indigenous Climate Action

October 26th, Thursday – 2023 Alberta Climate Summit: [NOTE – this is in Calgary] “The Alberta Climate Summit brings thought leaders from industry, government, civil society groups, Indigenous governments and rural communities together to learn from success stories, identify opportunities and challenges, and explore solutions related to Alberta’s clean energy future. The full-day event showcases innovation already underway in Alberta, informs and connects decision makers, and inspires participants to play an active role in the province’s energy transition.”
Time: 8:00am – 6:00pm MDT
Location: Hudson Event Complex, 200 8 Ave SW, 6th floor, Calgary
Cost: Whew! Corporate & Government: $600/Non-Profit & Academia: $400
Registration: Pembina Institute

October 26th, Thursday – Online Intro Talk: Stop Canada Burning Down. Hear the Plan and How You Can Help: (weekly online talk by On2Ottawa. I put this here so that people in Edmonton can understand what other groups are doing) “Canada is burning and life as we know it is falling apart. Extreme weather events and mass species extinction cover the globe. And government has failed to implement the radical change we need.
In this talk, we will tell the truth about the state of the climate – including the hard truths that people in power don’t want you to know.
And most importantly, we will talk about the social science of radical change and how YOU can make it happen! There is a long history of movements that have forced those in power to make change – through bottom-up people power.
You will get the chance to connect with people who are involved in the movement. People who have been arrested, have done hunger strikes, and have risked a lot to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience – following in the footsteps of movements of the past, like the civil rights movement and movements for the right to vote.
Come learn about what YOU can do – and what we all MUST do – to avoid the worst effects of climate breakdown and create a livable future.”
Time: 3:30 pm MT
Location: online
Registration: Zoom
More information: On2Ottawa

October 27th, Friday – Weekly Climate Strike: A weekly reminder to Edmontonians that we are in a Climate Emergency.
We are restarting the weekly morning climate strikes.
Extra signs will be available for people to use – or bring your own.
Time: 8 am to 9 am
Location: 109th street and 88th Avenue
Facebook: Edmonton Climate Strike

October 27th, Friday – Weekly Coffee Outside: “Edmonton’s outdoor coffee club. We meet every Friday, rain, snow or shine between 7 & 9 am at Ezio Faraone Park.”
Time: 7 to 9 am
Location: Ezio Faraone Park, Edmonton
Twitter: YEG Coffee Outside

October 27th, Friday – Edmonton Critical Mass Ride – Halloween Theme: Across the world critical mass rides are traditionally held on the last Friday of the month to raise awareness about bicycling safety, the number of people using bicycles and other human-powered devices, infrastructure, government policies, etc.
This is a slow ride. We will be covering about 8+kms as we weave through Edmonton downtown and over to the southside across the High Level Bridge. We will terminate the ride in Old Strathcona. There could be a social after the ride.
This ride will be Halloween themed since the roads can be quite a scary place – and it shouldn’t be!
Sign up to Edmonton Critical Mass for updates.
This is a monthly event.
Time: 5 pm
Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square (look for the cyclists between the city hall and the square on 102a Avenue between 99th Street and 100th Street.
Facebook: Edmonton Critical Mass
Hashtag: #yegbike #yegCriticalMass #EdmontonCriticalMass

October 27th, Friday – Student Protest for Cease-Fire:
Time: 4 pm
Location: Legislature Grounds, 9820 – 107 street (hopefully they know that the area that they usually have demonstrations is under construction)

October 28, Saturday – Walk a Mile in a Ribbon Skirt: “Walk a Mile in a Ribbon Skirt is an annual event intended to teach and share the rich history behind the ribbon skirt as a symbol of strength, feminism, and survival. Each year, the event invites people to learn about, understand, and help stop the prejudices Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people face when they wear them in urban places.”
Time: noon to 3 pm
Location: City Room, Edmonton City Hall, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Cost: Free

October 28, Saturday – Polluter Pay Garbage Day in Edmonton: “It’s time for the oil and gas companies in Alberta to clean up their messes. Orphaned wells and toxic tailings are damaging people and animals and the land and water. Industry continually kicks these problems down the road, maximizing profits as the orphaned wells multiply and the tailings expand. Compliant governments and their agencies do as little as possible to enforce cleanup. Worse, they propose using taxpayer money to clean up the orphaned wells and allowing companies to dump partially treated tailings water into the Athabasca River.
With The Fall Sitting of the Alberta Legislative Assembly opening the following Monday, it is a good time to show Albertans and our politicians that the health of our land, water, people, and animals matter, and that it is time for industry to clean up its messes.
Bring a bag of garbage to the legislature. We will deposit the garbage on the Legislature Plaza and demand that industry clean up its own garbage.
Unlike industry, however, we are responsible and will clean up our garbage at the end of the event. Like good campers, we’ll leave the Legislature steps at least as clean as we found them.”
Time: 3:00 pm
Location:  Violet King Henry Plaza, 99 Avenue & 108 Street
Registration and Website: Council of Candians

October 28, Saturday – Climate Emergency: Building a Healthy Planetary Future: “The climate crisis is at our doorstep. As health professionals, we can help build a healthy planetary future together. 
On Saturday Oct. 28th, hear from experts in their fields who have initiated projects at a local level. Be inspired at this annual conference presented by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, with lots of opportunities for participants to engage with the speakers and with each other. This conference is open to all health professionals, but everybody is welcome to attend. We hope you leave this event motivated to engage in projects of your own to help sustain the health of our planet.”
“Our speakers include Bill McKibben, a founder of the climate movement and author of ‘Eaarth’, Dr. Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, who leads the Climate Change and Health Unit at the World Health Organization, CAPE President Dr. Melissa Lem who will share what’s new in nature prescribing, and Dr. Kathleen Ross who will discuss initiatives being undertaken by the Canadian Medical Association to sustain a healthy medical society.”
Time: 7:45 am – 4:15 pm
Location: Online Conference
Registration: Portal
Cost: variable
Website: Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)

October 29th, Sunday – Names Not Numbers Rally and March: This is an opportunity for people to stand together and call on an immediate ceasefire in Palestine/Israel.
Time: 2:30 pm
Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square and marching to Violet King Henry Plaza
Event Page: Facebook

October 29th, Sunday – CANCELLED Counter-Protest 1MillionMarch4Children: On September 20th, 2023, 1MillionMarch4Children (they seem to have changed the link. Here is one for the lead organizers – Hands Off Our Kids) held a protest outside the Alberta Teachers Association building in Edmonton. This was part of a cross-country (Canada) day of action.
In response, there were counter-protests. On October 21st, 1MillionMarch4Children will be hosting another protest and United for Change Facebook will be hosting a counter-protest event.
This event was originally scheduled for October 21st, 2023 but has now been postponed to October 29th.
Time: 1 pm to 2:30 pm
Location: Violet King Henry Plaza, 108th Street and 99th Avenue
Event Webpage: United for Change Facebook

October 29th, Sunday – Online Intro Talk: Stop Canada Burning Down. Hear the Plan and How You Can Help: (weekly online talk by On2Ottawa. I put this here so that people in Edmonton can understand what other groups are doing) “Canada is burning and life as we know it is falling apart. Extreme weather events and mass species extinction cover the globe. And government has failed to implement the radical change we need.
In this talk, we will tell the truth about the state of the climate – including the hard truths that people in power don’t want you to know.
And most importantly, we will talk about the social science of radical change and how YOU can make it happen! There is a long history of movements that have forced those in power to make change – through bottom-up people power.
You will get the chance to connect with people who are involved in the movement. People who have been arrested, have done hunger strikes, and have risked a lot to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience – following in the footsteps of movements of the past, like the civil rights movement and movements for the right to vote.
Come learn about what YOU can do – and what we all MUST do – to avoid the worst effects of climate breakdown and create a livable future.”
Time: 5 pm MT
Location: online
Registration: Zoom
More information: On2Ottawa

November 2nd, Thursday – Talk: “Negotiating the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive: Promoting the sustainable transport fuels of the future” by Geert Decock, Electricity and Energy, European Union, Brussels: “Bio: Geert joined T&E in July 2019 after a decade in advocacy roles in Brussels for organisations representing civil society and industry. Geert has been deeply involved in the European Union’s negotiations on the Renewable Energy Directive, promoting renewable electricity as a transport fuel as a sustainable alternatives to biofuels. He leads T&E’s work on green hydrogen and e-fuels and how such synthetic fuels can help to decarbonise planes and ships. In his previous positions Geert worked on a host of environmental and energy dossiers, ranging from the EU’s Clean Energy Package negotiations to Ecodesign and Energy Labelling policies to a campaign to ban fracking for shale gas.”
Time: 4:00 – 5:30 pm MDT
Location: Tory 12-15, University of Alberta

November 3rd and 4th- United Conservative Party Annual General Meeting (UCP): The UCP party (the present party that has formed the government in Alberta) is holding their AGM in Calgary. They will be voting on 30 policy proposals – see the above video for a good overview of the resolutions (along with colour commentary).
One of the biggest pluses for sex education is teen pregnancy. There is a major correlation between those countries that have strong sex education in schools and those that don’t and teen pregnancies. The report was comparing Holland and the USA.
Location: BMO Centre Calgary
AGM Website: United Conservative Party

November 5th, Sunday – Truck Trudeau Rally: for information purposes only.
Time: 1pm
Location: Edmonton Capital Plaza (Actually it is called Violet King Henry – named after Alberta’s first Black lawyer) and they may find that trucks aren’t allowed into the plaza.

November 8th, Wednesday – Night Out on the North Saskatchewan: “Dark Night Skies! Join us for three perspectives on our dark night sky. Come learn from the chair of the Beaverhill Bird Observatory, Geoff Holroyd, about light pollution and other impacts to the saw-whet owl, once thought to be rare in the Edmonton River Valley. Elder Francis Alexis will talk about astronomy and star stories from an Indigenous perspective, and Robert Dick, who helped get Dark-Sky Preserves on the map, will be joining us from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. There will be time for questions and a panel discussion. We’ll also shake things up part way through with an ecologically-themed live auction! Come join us for a virtual night out on the river!”
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM MST
Location: Virtual – online
Registration: Eventbrite
Cost: Donation
Organizer: Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition

November 12th, Sunday – Migrants Workers Fightback: “Join us in discussing issues facing migrants today and more importantly finding collective solutions”
Time: 9am
Location: Providence Renewal Centre, 3005 – 119th Street
Registration: Eventbrite
Cost: 0$-30$

November 20th, Monday – Tar Sands Songbook – Edmonton Workshop Presentation: “You’re invited to an intimate workshop showing of the TAR SANDS SONGBOOK before it heads out on a tour along the Trans-Mountain Pipeline. The performance will begin at 5pm, followed by an informal feedback discussion.
About the performance: Created by musician, author and activist Tanya Kalmanovitch, TAR SANDS SONGBOOK is an 80-minute solo performance that combines field recordings, storytelling, personal history, and live violin and fiddle music to investigate our invisible relationships to oil.”
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM MST
Location: Star of the North Retreat Centre, 3 A Saint Vital Avenue St. Albert
Tickets: Eventbrite
Cost: Free

November 22nd, Wednesday – Housing– Who is it for?: “Tens of thousands of people lack decent affordable housing in Edmonton. Learn more about why this is getting even worse for renters.”
Time:  7:00 PM MST
Location: Metro Cinema, 8712 109 Street Northwest Edmonton
Tickets: Eventbrite
Cost: 15$
Facebook: Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness (ECOHH) – this is their new Facebook page

November 4th, Saturday – Power Up for Climate Solutions: “350.org and partners are holding a global day of action to stand together against the fossil fuel industry’s greed and lift up our vision for a just future powered by the sun and the wind.
There are already over a hundred Power Up actions planned worldwide, including quite a few in Canada. Check out this Canadian map to find an action near you. If there isn’t one yet, sign up to host your own. You can also check out the global Power Up! website here.” There is one happening in Edmonton so stay tuned.

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Start Planning for the Future

There are global days of action happening throughout the world. Edmonton can participate in these actions – all it takes is you.

• November 17th-19th – Parkland Conference – “Alberta at the Crossroads: Building the World We Want”: “Alberta is at a crossroads. The status quo is not sustainable politically, economically, or ecologically. The decisions we make from now on will determine whether we join a worldwide movement towards building a more just future or if we go backward. This conference is about ensuring Alberta moves forward. It is about dreaming big and making things happen. It is about how we push for change and envision a province that is just, equitable, and sustainable. It is about how we look to what others outside our borders have been doing, while also finding ways to support and expand the work that many among us have already been doing to build a more just province and world.
  By bringing together thinkers, writers, and activists from Alberta and beyond, “At the Crossroads” will be a space where we can learn from each other and begin shaping the Alberta we want for us and for future generations.”
• November 30 until December 12, 2023 – COP28 – The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP28, will be the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference, held from November 30 until December 12, 2023, at the Expo City, Dubai. Wikipedia. I suspect that the local Edmonton Climate Justice groups will do something in solidarity with the worldwide activities that will be happening. That it is being hosted by a petrostate, headed by an oil executive, and in a state that will be very unsympathetic to protesters is going to make this COP very interesting.
• December 1st – 10th – Ignite Change Global Convention: 75th Anniversary United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights hosted by the John Humphrey Centre in Edmonton.
• February 5th – 9th – International Week at the University of Alberta: “A warming globe, increasing numbers of refugees and displaced persons, gender disparity, economic inequalities, freshwater shortages, famine, war… We are bombarded with these issues and many others facing the planet and its inhabitants daily. 
  To address these issues, the UN established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030. The Goals, adopted in 2015, call on governments and civil society worldwide to address the world’s most pressing issues, from poverty and education to health and the environment.
  I-Week is a chance to hear international and local perspectives on global issues. On February 5-9, 2024, International Week speakers connected their work to the SDGs. 
  U of A’s annual International Week is an incubator of ideas and a source of inspiration for us to work together for a better world. Stay tuned for updates on I-Week 2024.
• 2024 YEG Winter Cycling Congress is happening in Edmonton this year: “Join us in February 2024 [22nd to 24th] for an unforgettable multi-day event filled with informative sessions, bicycle excursions, and a community of passionate winter cyclists. Discover new possibilities while exploring the cycling-friendly city of Edmonton. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with fellow enthusiasts and learn from experts in the field.” [I think the “cycling -friendly” is a bit of a stretch – Michael].
  You can register here. Early bird rate is only until September 30th, 2023 so if you want to save a bit of money because the 450$ could be a bit of a deterrent. Mind you, if you go as a representative of a non-profit group the cost is only 200$. Good time to step up as your Community League cycling advocate and representative.

Youth Climate Corps

“Climate mobilization in Canada has yet to feel like a grand societal undertaking. The Youth Climate Corps is an invitation to the country’s youth to mobilize to confront today’s gravest threat: the climate emergency. We are past overdue on a real plan that acts fast to transform the country away from its current trajectory to growing emissions and climate disaster. A Youth Climate Corps would put thousands of young people to work in rapidly curbing emissions, preparing our infrastructure for its coming impacts, and responding to the emergencies we’re locking in.”
You can support the call for a Youth Climate Corps through the Climate Emergency Unit website.

Heat Pumps

The National Observer issued a good article on heat pumps – let’s call it Heat Pumps 101 and it includes a link to an online calculator so that we can do a rough estimate of the savings that could be garnered by switching to a heat pump.
If you are buying a new home or upgrading your heating system, please consider a heat pump system.
ALL new housing should be electric heat pumps.

Information and Suggestions

There is a housing crisis in the world. Everywhere across Canada there is a housing crisis. The causes are numerous and the effects devastating. Not enough options for people, land speculation, landlords increasing rents beyond reasonable, conversion to condominiums, AirBnB and their ilk, etc.
If you are a renter feeling the squeeze you might be interested in a workshop/training being put on by Tenant Union. Yes – this is for the Toronto area but much of the skills and knowledge that a person would learn could be transferable to the Edmonton area.

If you are on Facebook, check out the Edmonton Activist Calendar page.

Please share information with me so that I can populate this with more details and information. I intend to eventually get it so that it is emailed out to people and has a better site but for now, this is what I have to offer you.

Edmonton Tool Library – a great resource for sharing tools and resources within our community. Check them out. They are also looking for volunteers to join their team.

Petitions/Letter writing

See the Petition page under resources for more information on how to create your own.
Petitions can be an effective way to raise awareness of an issue, get the ball rolling, and sometimes they even work. Here is a list of present ongoing petitions in Canada that I wish to highlight:

• Amnesty International does great work around human rights. They have a great portal where you can sign several petitions at once. Just click here and take action that can save a life, alter the course of history, and more.
• Grassy Lakes Coal Mine – Canadian Parks and Wilderness (CPAWS) have initiated a letter writing campaign to the provincial government to shut down the application process for this mine to open in the Crowsnest Pass area of the Rocky Mountains.
• The NDP is looking for people to participate in a simple survey – one question.
  “Should Alberta leave the Canada Pension Plan?” Please consider participating in this survey. https://www.albertasfuture.ca/event-registration/pension-survey
• Save Our Canada Pension Plan – It appears that Public Interest Alberta has a letter-writing campaign and petition to the UCP government to express citizens’ opposition to their expressed intention to withdraw from the CPP and establish an Alberta Pension Plan. Check it out here.
• Efficiency Canada has launched a letter writing campaign to petition the federal government to invest in energy efficiency programs for low-income households.
• Let’s Get Indigenous Communities Safe, Clean Drinking Water Now. FFS.
• Plant Based Treaty – this portal will help you send a letter to your city councillors
• Ban on advertising – a comprehensive ban on advertising, sponsorship, and promotion of fossil fuel companies, products, and services (including gasoline, gas utilities, and internal combustion engine vehicles) to protect public health – Federal petition (e-4469). Open until September 28th, 2023
• Make Mental Health Accessible To All Canadians Through Our Universal Health Care System
• No raises for public servants until the minimum wage is a living wage! – every segment of the workforce will tend to stand up for what they will benefit from taking action. We need a living wage/universal basic income right across our country.
• STOP BIG OIL FROM POLLUTING OUR CLIMATE
• Sink the fossil fuel industry’s plan!
• Reject forest biomass as a false climate solution
• Stop toxic tailings pollution
• Stop Executions of Activists in Iran
• RESPECT INDIGENOUS RIGHTS ON WET’SUWET’EN TERRITORY

Volunteering

Volunteers are needed for the Ceasefire Now Rally and March that is happening on Sunday, October 29th. “We are looking for about 8-12 people who can volunteer to be marshalls/stewards. This role is to provide safety for the group of people gathered while we are in traffic. (Police are called for any other reasons).
The rally starts at 2:30 pm so if anyone can meet at the square at 1:45 pm for some training and receive a stewards vest please DM us/me.
Basically, the role is about safety. You will form a line along the traffic side of the group of people, two at the back and 4-6 at the front. The front people ensure that the cross traffic is safely stopped so our group can safely proceed through intersections without any cross traffic.
When we approach a red traffic light the front stewards will halt the march. On the green light, we cross through the intersection. We continue through the intersection until we are ALL through. We do not break into two separate groups.
At 108th Street we will be turning left (south) towards our destination (Violet King Henry Plaza at the Legislature). This is the most dangerous manoeuvre we make. Traffic heading east along Jasper will need to be blocked. It is Sunday so the traffic should be light. The best way to do this is for 2-3 stewards to move ahead of the group and station themselves on the SW corner of the 108th and Jasper intersection. If there is only a car or two waiting to travel east then let them through and then take up a position in the road and block the eastbound lanes. (I wonder if this has an advanced green light at that intersection – I will check that out because if there is it is better but still the stewards should move into position to block those vehicles facing east).
Usually, the Edmonton Police Service will be on hand and will step in to ensure our safety. They will stop cross traffic, perhaps provide a group of bicycle police at the back, front and sides, and sometimes they will provide motor vehicles at the rear and intersections.
We thank everyone for showing up to this call for a ceasefire and for volunteering to ensure everyone’s safety.”

Casino Volunteering – most charities, non-profit groups (NGOs), and other organizations conduct casinos to help them out with their funding. I recently read this in a newsletter: “It was calculated that each volunteer hour generated $640 in funding to Argyll”. (This is a sizable amount of money – I used to say that each volunteer shift provided the NGO with about 2,000$. Great return on time for the volunteer’s time.)What can you legally do that could bring in this kind of funds for a group that you support or what to see stay solvent?
Your community league, your child’s school/kindergarten, your church, community league, etc are always looking for volunteers. The local environmental group, the groups that feed people on the streets, etc also need your participation in casinos (if they do them).

Courses/Workshops

The University of Alberta has several courses on climate change and related subjects. You can find a list of them on the Climate Action at the University of Alberta website.

Employment

If you are looking to get a ‘green job’ you might want to check the GoodWorks website

Apply: See Indigenous Climate Action for details how to apply to this Director of Operations position

Please send things that should be on this list to michael.kalmanovitch@gmail.com

Disclaimer – the Activist Agenda tries to ensure that the information contained within it is accurate but mistakes do happen. Please double-check events and information that are relevant to you to make sure you have the correct date, time, location, and any other relevant information.

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