Making Hamilton a leader in the fight for climate justice
Doug Ford has finally decided that the heat’s too much and has backtracked over the Greenbelt debacle. For the latest information, see the CBC, the Globe and Mail, and the Hamilton Spectator. And for a more insightful analysis, see The Conversation, which points out that the Greenbelt giveaway had nothing to do with creating affordable housing and suggests more sensible and realistic solutions.
In Hamilton, this means about 2000 acres of foodlands, forests, and wetlands should be safe from destruction. But it leaves another 5400 acres still exposed because of the Ford government’s forced expansion of Hamilton’s urban area despite overwhelming opposition from City Council and the public. A City-run survey in 2020 completed by more than 18,000 people chose “no boundary expansion” by over 90 percent.
So the effort to protect our irreplaceable foodlands, forests, and wetlands has only been partly achieved. And we are still facing massive sprawl development that will greatly increase climate-wrecking greenhouse gas emissions while eliminating the very areas that can cushion us from climatic consequences.
The boundary expansion benefits the same development sector—and in many cases the exact same developers—as were poised to reap billions in the cutting up of the Greenbelt. The motivation of this government will always be profit over people, but now they’ve been shown to be vulnerable. So let’s build on this and fight the next battle in the knowledge that yes, we can win!
24 August 2023: It’s possible to say No to oil – just ask the Ecuadorian people
People voted overwhelmingly in favour of stopping oil drilling in Yasuní national park. Can this success be replicated elsewhere in the world?
22 August 2023: ExxonMobil’s greenwashing laid bare
A January 2023 article in the journal Science provided solid evidence that Exxon Mobile and other fossil fuel corporations knew that they were largely responsible for global warming yet buried the data in their pursuit of profit.
10 July 2023: Mitigating the heat emergency
H350’s Don McLean sent a proposal to Hamilton City Council suggesting that HSR’s air conditioned buses could add a cooling option for people who cannot afford A/C in their homes.
We urgently need systemic change to address and minimize the effects of the climate crisis being felt all over the world. While Hamilton 350 can’t solve the world’s problems, we’re doing what we can to address the situation in our own backyard.
To do that, we need you and your energy, whether it’s for ongoing work in the committees, below, or for one-off actions and events. Hamilton 350 depends on the efforts of volunteers.
Focusing on a just transition and ethical practices.
Responding to local attacks on the environment.
Taking climate action for the next generation.
Promoting the transition to renewable energy.
Pushing for free, frequent and electric public transit.
Provide support and direction for Hamilton 350.
If you don’t have spare time on your hands but can afford to make a GoFundMe donation to help further our work:
There are costs associated with organizing and holding events, getting the word out, providing honoraria for speakers and performers, hosting this website, and much more.
350 represents 350 parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere.
What are we currently at?
For this statistic—and much more—see the website CO2-Earth.
Hamilton 350 acknowledges that we are on the traditional lands of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Mississauga peoples, which are governed by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Agreement and are covered by the Great Lakes Purchase of 1792.
Home Energy Efficiency Workshop
28 Sep 2023 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
CityLAB Hamilton, 58 Jackson St. W.
Green Venture and Environment Hamilton are partnering with the City of Hamilton and energy sustainability activist Dave Braden to provide a…
Fossil Fuel Resistance
28 Sep 2023 | 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
https://mcmaster.zoom.us/j/92296646029
2nd and 4th Thursday of the month.
Conservation Matters
2 Oct 2023 | 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
https://mcmaster.zoom.us/j/97866812084
View in Google Calendar ›
Transportation Action
2 Oct 2023 | 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6730561294
Christie/Ed co-leads
Climate Justice
5 Oct 2023 | 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Online
Hamilton 350’s Climate Justice subcommittee meets on the second and…
Conservation Matters
9 Oct 2023 | 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
https://mcmaster.zoom.us/j/97866812084
View in Google Calendar ›
Beers and Bees
10 Oct 2023 | 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. (the Shed), 65 Hatt St, Dundas
An evening with author and native-plant expert, Lorraine Johnson.
Fossil Fuel Resistance
12 Oct 2023 | 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Zoom (needs link)
View in Google Calendar ›
6 days ago
7 days ago
1 week ago
Ford faces new challenges to his Greenbelt development plan from an unexpected source - CHCH
www.chch.com
Local News - bats, endangered, ford, greenbelt, Greenbelt Guardians, ontario2 weeks ago
2 weeks ago
We delegated in support of @keeptransitpub at LRT committee yesterday! Transit is KEY to having a sustainable city, and it’s got to be by the people for the people - not by subcontractors for profit
Sign & support #HSR LRT in #HamOnt 👇
Fantastic to see from these Councillors! #HamOnt Council needs to do the same. Environment Hamilton already has done so with other members of the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario back in August! #ONpoli
Swap Your Costumes! 🍂
It’s here! This fall on October 20, 2023 from 4pm - 7pm, join Green Venture and your local #HamOnt community at our Clothing and Costume Swap! Bring your little ones and your best Halloween ideas, and pick out some costumes!
The Keep Transit Public petition is at over 1000 signatures now! Keep sharing and stay tuned for more to come! https://keeptransitpublic.com/petition/.
New Poster!
Design created by Grassy Narrows Youth Iruwa Da Silva and Mekaronti Da Silva
September 27th - 12pm - Grange Park!
#FreeGrassy #GrassyNarrows #LandAlliance
Note: This issue started when Twitter made changes to its code, breaking the interface between Twitter and the plugin we use to read our feed. The plugin developer is working to provide a workaround and we hope to have the feed up and running again soon.
Statement of the Hamilton 350 Committee, endorsed by ACORN Hamilton, Environment Hamilton, the Hamilton and District Labour Council and the Hamilton Council of Canadians
The extreme temperatures Hamilton has already endured and may face again this summer demand immediate relief action for those in our community who lack access to air conditioning. We know that extreme heat can severely damage health and even have fatal consequences.
Fortunately, the city has large mobile air-conditioned units better known as buses. The Hamilton 350 Committee, ACORN and Environment Hamilton propose they be used to provide emergency heat relief.
Specifically, on days when the city declares a heat emergency, we propose that the city supplement its cooling centres by making HSR and DARTS fare optional.
Buses are already available across the entire urban area that is most affected by extreme heat events, and are available for at least 18 hours a day, much longer than other cooling centres.
This temporary relief program would allow residents to minimize their heat exposure when getting to where they need to go, or just to obtain temporary relief from the heat. We would expect that the financial cost of this program would be minimal by encouraging regular transit users to continue to pay fares, and hopefully that the number of heat emergency days are limited.