As I suspected, Kotter’s book about raising urgency in order to support transformational change has a lot of overlap with climate change activism. And he clearly saw this himself as well, though all of his anecdotes and research are business-based: “It can be helpful to think in terms of the biggest issues of all, because …
Let’s get our kids outside.
Let’s get our kids outside. A coalition of Ontario organizations, including the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and Ontario’s Back to Nature Network, are creating a Charter of Rights for Ontario children’s access to and experiences in nature. This Charter (similar to documents in other jurisdictions–see the Children and Nature Network in …
Public Participation, Petro-State Style
I am sitting here this afternoon with a copy of the National Energy Board’s Application Form to Participate, for the upcoming Enbridge pipeline reversal to carry tar sands oil through Ontario, and specifically through my community. The Government of Canada, in order to streamline environmental approvals for tar sands projects, now requires people to fill …
Leading Against Change
One of the advantages of reading from every section of the bookstore is seeing the connections between seemingly disparate genres and viewpoints. Case in point: While reading Kotter’s classic Leading Change for its business content, what struck me and stuck with me is its relevance for mitigating against climate change. Kotter’s book, originally published in …
Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?
Hallowe’en is over; Christmas begins. Soon–much sooner than most of us are prepared to think–Canadians will be wrapped in blankets on the couch cradling cups of hot cocoa or eggnog, watching reruns of one of the many versions of A Christmas Carol. We will empathize with Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim (or at least I …
Ecology, Economy, and Ego
When spotted owls were threatened with extinction, we cried and passed laws. When whales were threatened with extinction, we screamed and wrote international treaties. Now, when polar bears are going extinct, we rage.* But when bumblebees threaten extinction on us we panic. Why? Because what’s big, ultimately, is expendable. It’s what’s very very small that …
Thanksgiving
This has been a good couple of weeks to be a leftie, eh? Occupy Wall Street just keeps growing–and I wish them much luck and the donation of several outdoor heaters, because I’m sure it’s getting cold in NYC at night. Watching the march and the protests online Wednesday evening (you really don’t need cable …
my open-window policy
I have been thinking, lately, about weeding my driveway. It is paved, yes; and apparently the impermeability of asphalt has been vastly overstated, as there are weeds growing through the cracks all over the bloody thing. Oddly, I don’t want to weed it. I like it. All of those supposedly fragile bits of green cracking …
Global Psychologists for Sane Policy
Hello, and welcome to my new think tank. On Monday, 117 people were arrested for standing on the wrong patch of a paved, public area in Ottawa, Ontario, after trying to access their democratically-elected government. Meanwhile in Alberta, an undisclosed number of tar-sands executives furthered environmentally-destructive projects that will ultimately kill Canadians via smog and …
Planet Moving for beginners
2011 is the year for climate activism (knock wood–so far): the Keystone Pipeline protests at the White House, Climate Reality last week, Moving Planet this weekend, a Keystone Pipeline action in Ottawa on Monday, all in September. Chances are you missed the White House bit and won’t be making it down to NYC for Occupy …
