Your Banks are Funding Climate Change (Media Posts)

In a world raw from the extensive effects of the ever-worsening climate crisis, the last thing we need is for the already problematic fossil fuel industry to keep growing. But that’s precisely what it’s doing, and Canada’s biggest banks are fueling its expansion with your money!

From RBC to Scotiabank, the “Canadian” banks handling your money are funding, and profiting off of, environmental disaster. They know what this will cost us, but they simply do not care.

On January 29th, from 1-2 pm MST, climate strike groups across so-called Canada hosted the Fossil Banks Online Teach-In.

We are in a crisis. It’s time to tell your bank that you refuse to bank on climate change!

On January 29, we participated in the national day of action, with many other youth climate groups across the country, to call on Canada’s Big Banks (RBC, CIBC, BMO, TD and Scotiabank) to divest from the fossil fuel industry and stop funding the climate crisis. We put up the posters pictured above to educate the general public about the ways in which banks contribute to the climate crisis and provide them with resources to educate themselves on the issue and lobby for divestment.  

You can find more information and resources, such as a template for sending a letter to banks CEOs. Click here for a full list of resources and ways to help.

If you’d like to put up a few of these posters in your own neighborhood (following temporary signage bylaws, of course), click here to download the PDF.

Guide to Small Business Shopping in Calgary!

Shop local for the holidays!

We are doing a three-part series on some local small businesses to support this holiday season and this new year (especially for gift giving)! With the new COVID-19 restrictions this week, it’s important to shop and support local.

Books + Stationary

Art + Art Supplies

Zero Waste + Wellness

Games + Music

Green New Deal Letter Template

Send this letter to your elected officials to tell them you want a green new deal! Just delete and put in the relevant information for all [squared bracketed] text.

Subject: Adopt a Green New Deal to Create a Just Recovery for All

Dear, [Mr/Mrs/Right Honourable/etc]

I am a [resident/constituent/citizen] of [riding/ward/constituency/province/city] and I wanted to personally contact your office regarding the adoption of a Green New Deal for [Alberta/Canada/Calgary]. I [am a student/or work in the BLANK industry], and I am concerned for [my future, future of the planet, children’s future, etc]. The IPCC’s (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) 2018 report demonstrates that humanity only has till 2030 to cut emissions in half and reach net zero emissions by 2050 in order to maintain global average temperatures below 1.5 degrees celsius. I highly encourage you to read this report if you have not done so.

The Green New Deal offers solutions to carry our [provinces/cities/countries/] weight in cutting our emissions while maintaining and expanding our economy and social support structures.  I believe in the principles and policies of the Green New Deal, specifically [transportation, jobs, energy, housing, food security, etc (Elaborate as to why you like this policy)]. As my elected official, it is my hope that you will hear my concerns and use the power voters have given you to enact the set of policies included in the Green New Deal.

Thank you for your time, I look forward to seeing your actions in implementing the Green New Deal for [Calgary/Alberta/Canada]

Sincerely,

[Your First and Last Name]

September 25 Global Climate Strike

This fall, school strike movement Fridays For Future calls for a global climate action day. On September 25th, demonstrations and manifestations will take place all across the globe, all adjusted according to Covid-19 circumstances.

During the last few months, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced activists to find new ways of protest and use digital activism to demand climate action, as marches have not been appropriate. The 25th of September will be the first global action day of the year.

The coming months and years will be crucial in ensuring a safe pathway below 1.5°C increase in global mean temperature, a target stated in the Paris Agreement. If we are to minimise the risks of triggering irreversible chain reactions beyond human control, we need to act now. It is therefore vital that the climate crisis doesn’t get forgotten in the shadow of the coronavirus but is regarded as the utmost priority. Fridays For Future will keep protesting as long as the exploitation of nature is allowed to continue. We must continue to encourage our municipal government as well as other levels of government to take climate action and pass a green new deal.

The form of this protest has been adjusted according to local Covid-19 conditions. We have decided to plan a small, in-person protest outside of Calgary City Hall with no more than fifty people attending. In order to uphold this limit, we ask all who wish to participate in the in-person strike to sign up here. All those in attendance will be required to socially distance and wear masks. We also ask that if people wish to hold up a sign, that they bring or make their own to limit physical contact.

If you are unable to attend the in-person strike due to complications caused by COVID-19, we invite you to strike with us digitally by posting a picture of yourself with your favourite climate action sign using the hashtags #fridaysforfuture #fridaysforfutureyyc #GlobalClimateAction2020.

Adapted from fridaysforfuture.org

Support Local Bookstores

As we all continue to educate ourselves on systemic racism, and so many issues that we’ve realized that we’ve been ignorant of, you might feel like buying a book or two. Instead of purchasing from huge companies, such as Amazon or Indigo, it’s ideal to support small, local bookstores. Along with supporting small businesses during these difficult times, with used bookstores, you’re giving a book a new life, therefore saving it from the landfill. 

If you can’t find the book you’re looking for at one of these stores, consider purchasing it from the author’s website, instead of Amazon or another huge chain bookstore. This way, a larger portion of the sale goes to the authors themselves. 

Additionally, if you aren’t in the financial position to purchase books, or just don’t feel the need to own a book, The Calgary Public Library has thousands of awesome books. As of Monday, July 20th, all library branches are open, with social distancing and other health protocols in place, along with a contactless curbside pick up system for holds. There’s also seniors’ hours, for the first hour of service each day, and the book returns remain closed.

Calgary

The Calgary Public Library 

NW

Pages on Kensington

  • There’s a list of anti-racist books that they have on their website
  • Now open to public browsing and curbside pickup 
  • They also have a used and bargain section, good for the environment and your wallet!

NE

Books Between Friends

  • Used book store 
  • Super cheap! 
  • Receives books through donations
  • They hold book sales for charities some weekends, so you’re helping support good causes. 

SW

Shelf Life Books

  • Browsing by appointment, curbside pickup, local delivery
  • Biggest selection of poetry in Western Canada
  • They also occasionally hold events
  • Dog friendly 
  • Customer Loyalty Program 
  • @shelflifebooks on Instagram

Fair’s Fair Books

  • They also have a location in Inglewood, but it’s temporarily closed due to Storm Water Damage. 
  • Used book store. 
  • You can sell your old books for store credit. 

Owl’s Nest Books 

  • In person shopping and Curbside pickup.
  • “Friend of the Nest” sponsorship perks 

SE

The Next Page

  • Bookstore and coffee shop.
  • You can sell your books for 1$ cash or 2$ store credit. 
  • Currently offering deliveries.
  • They also hold events (readings, launches, workshops). 
  • @thenextpageyyc on Instagram 

Cochrane 

Bently’s Books

  • New and old books. 

Bragg Creek

Best Little Wordhouse in the West

  • Used and new books.
  •  Also sells other gift-like items (scarves, etc.)