Community News
Ambitious Targets! The C40 Cities Agenda will essentially make political prisoners of the citizens living in the participating cities
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
I most recently reviewed the book 1984, and this time, I read it with anxious apprehension. I measured where we, and unfortunately: our nations and the world are on the road map to a hell George Orwell described. Prophetic? Perhaps, but stirring, moving, creative, undeniable, and helpful? Yes. This book was published on June 8th, 1949, written out of the battered landscape of total war, in a nation hungry, tired, and for some reason, it feels more relevant than ever before. As a scholar, and researcher of media and literature, I argue that the techniques and technologies described in the novel are very much present in today’s world.
I am going to introduce another global initiative that has my radar up. A report published in 2019 by the C40 Cities network, the University of Leeds titled “The future of urban consumption in a 1.5°C world,” claims that mayors of several cities are signing a pledge to fight climate change by enforcing some radical controls on the consumption of individuals, like banning meat and dairy.
This report assesses the impact of urban consumption on greenhouse gas emissions. It also explores the changes needed to make sure that the cities reduce their overall greenhouse gas emissions aligned with internationally determined, climate-safe limits. It looks at expanding the scope of how cities evaluate their emissions to include “consumption-based” emissions, or emissions related to the goods and services that are consumed within the city. Although primarily focused on C40 member cities, it has broader applicability. Yes community, they are already quietly working on C40 Cities here in Canada.
The original concept behind C40 Cities is credited to Carlos Moreno, a professor at Sorbonne University in Paris. His “Digital and Sustainable City” concept was introduced in 2006 and was followed by several additional iterations before his “15-Minute City” concept was revealed in 2016. This concept is being touted for its supposed sustainability, and for the “convenience” and “timesaving” features it supposedly creates for citizens. One C40 Cities promotional video states: “…the 15-minute city is one where everything we need is close to home.” Hmmmm. Limited mobility, control of what you eat; sounds reminiscent of “prison” to me, but I digress.
At the seventh World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen, (October, 2019) leaders of 94 cities embraced a Global Green New Deal, in an attempt to make the 2020’s the defining decade in the fight against climate change. The major new initiative committed to limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, halving emissions by 2030.
This coordinated action by the C40 mayors is an attempt to drive forward a practical green agenda, as the actions of state governments continue to fall short of what’s needed to address the climate crisis. The move, they claim, comes on the back of yet another disappointing failure of states to agree effective measures to meet the global warming targets set out by the Paris Agreement, at the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019.
Inhabitants of the C40 Cities make up a twelfth of the world’s population, and their economic power represents a quarter of the global economy. In their report, the authors distinguished between progressive and ambitious targets. Some central goals of C40 Cities include:
- Eliminating meat and dairy products as well as actively limiting individual diets to 2,500 calories per day.
- Banning private car ownership by 2030.
- Regulating the frequency and distance of air travel by limiting people to one flight less than 1,500km (about 930 miles) every three years.
- Restricting each citizen to only three new items of clothing purchased each year.
The authors say that these are “ambitious targets,” and that there is no expectation as such that these will be implemented thoroughly. The study says, “This report does not advocate for the wholesale adoption of these more ambitious targets in C40 Cities; rather, they are included to provide a set of reference points that cities, and other actors, can reflect on when considering different emission-reduction alternatives and long-term urban visions.”
Hmmmm! The key points in the report are:
- One of the main causes of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions is urban consumption. Through their influence on global supply networks, cities can have a major effect on greenhouse gas emissions that extend beyond their physical boundaries.
- Although many cities (such as those in the C40) have put in place robust action plans to drastically reduce emissions generated inside their borders, emissions as determined by the amount of energy consumed in cities are increasing and will almost quadruple by 2050 if current trends continue.
- By 2030, emissions from urban consumption must be cut in half to prevent climatic collapse. This requires a two-thirds reduction in emissions from consumption in affluent cities during the next ten years, as well as the adoption of sustainable consumption practices by quickly growing economies as they expand.
- Reducing emissions depending on consumption will benefit a city’s citizens more broadly. If changes are implemented properly, everyone stands to benefit—individuals, companies, and local governments alike.
To some, C40 Cities is another dystopian manifestation of the green, globalist agenda being forced upon the citizens of the world by a number of mostly non-elected entities.
Although the United Nations (UN) and World Economic Forum (WEF) are unelected, they have undue influence over the leaders of numerous nations. The C40 Cities plan is being championed by elected mayors of numerous major cities around the globe without affording their constituents an opportunity to vote on its implementation. That is an issue in itself.
The C40 Cities agenda aligns completely with the goals of the UN and WEF and would essentially make political prisoners of the citizens living in the participating cities. The stated goals include controlling what citizens eat, where and when they travel, and even what they wear, all part of the crusade for combating climate change. Really! C40’s numerous financial supporters include Google, the Clinton Foundation, the World Bank, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the German Federal Ministry, IKEA, Climateworks Foundation, FedEx, and George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, key players in the Covid debacle we are still dealing with.
Considering the “climate crisis” aspect of human-caused climate change is increasingly being challenged by science, facts, truth, and logic, it is becoming obvious the entire climate change agenda is about controlling people.
In the labyrinth of language, doublespeak lurks as a deceptive serpent, twisting truth into deceit. Its venom poisons clarity, obscuring intentions, and camouflaging falsehoods. Take heed, vigilant reader, for double speak conceals its fangs behind beguiling phrases and honeyed words.
In this realm of doublespeak, words lose their meaning, and truths become mired in ambiguity. Beware the euphemisms that sugarcoat harsh realities, the jargon that cloaks incompetence, and the rhetoric that masks deception.
Remain ever watchful, for double speak thrives in the shadows of manipulation and control. Challenge ambiguity, demand clarity, and dismantle the facade of deceit. Don’t let the serpents of double speak (many of our world leaders) coil around your understanding, but instead, cut through its coils with the sword of critical thought.
In this battle for clarity and truth, let skepticism be your shield and discernment your sword. Beware the siren song of double speak, for only by remaining vigilant can we safeguard the sanctity of language and the integrity of communication.
REFERENCES:
https://www.c40.org/press_releases/global-gnd
Community News
Urban Alliance on Race Relations celebrates and highlights Racial Justice Award recipients
BY PAUL JUNOR
It has been almost 40 years since the Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR) has been at the forefront of: promoting tolerance, social justice, racial equity and fairness. Since it was formed in 1975, they have celebrated and recognized changemakers in the fight for racial justice in diverse sectors such as: health, labour, government, education, arts, media, environment, and justice.
On Saturday, December 7th, 2024, there was a great turnout at the 2024 Racial Justice Awards Night held at The Estate Banquet & Event Centre in Scarborough. In attendance were many community supporters, civic officials, long-time racial justice warriors, and individuals from diverse ethnic groups.
UARR is grateful for all the sponsors of the Racial Justice Awards Night Celebration. It notes in its email to its supporters on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024, the importance of its sponsors including:
- United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) of Canada, UFCW, Local 175
- The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 353
- Unite Here! Local 75
- Toronto & York Region Labour Council
- Canadian Labour Congress
- The Coalitions of Black Trade Union (CBTUL)
“Your sponsorship plays a vital role in shining a light on individuals and organizations driving equity, justice, and change in our communities. This celebration is more than an event, it’s a movement. Thanks to your support, we’re: honoring changemakers, amplifying unheard voices, and funding initiatives that break down systemic barriers.”
The categories and names of the awards and recipients were:
Racial Justice in Arts: Hannia Cheng
She is an artist and cultural worker who co-founded Unit 270, a DIY gallery and multi-purpose grassroots community hub in Chinatown Centre.
Racial Justice in Labour: Vanessa Story
She is the founder of the Black Youth York Region and co-founder of the York Communities for Public Education coalition.
Racial Justice in Education: Shannon Simpson
She is Senior Director of Indigenous Initiatives at the University of Toronto.
Racial Justice in Environment: Dr. Ingrid Waldron
She is a Professor and HOPE Chair in Peace and Health in the Global and Peace and Social Justice Program in the Faculty of Humanities at McMaster University.
Urban Alliance of Race Relations Agent of Change Award: Kirk Mark
He is the Equity, Diversity and Inclusive Consultant at KIRK Mark & Associates.
Racial Justice in Media: Amanda Parris
She is an award-winning writer, tv host and producer, and former host of CBC Arts Exhibitionist.
Racial Justice in Health: Camille Orridge
She is former CEO of the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (TCLHIN).
Racial Justice in Government: Amira Elghawaby
She is a journalist and human rights advocate who was appointed in January 2023 as Canada’s Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia.
Racial Justice in Justice: South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALC0)
This legal clinic supports low-income South Asian people in Canada.
The funds raised from the Awards night will be going toward the work of the Diversity Youth Fellowship Program. This innovative and creative program is directly involved in enabling racialized youth to get paid experience working in municipal governments and at various public policy making organizations across Canada.
The performers at the event included: Katheen Zaragosa (a Filipino music performer), Rithika Jeristus & Maya Jeristus (Bharatanatyam dancers) and Yasmin Said (spoken word artist)
UARR is looking forward to its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2025 and shared five of its strategic priorities for the next 10 years including:
- Employment and economic opportunity: The goal is to foster inclusive workspaces and economic opportunities.
- Education: The goal is to promote racial equity in education and research.
- Communication: The goal is to expand public awareness and reach to amplify our stories.
- Community engagement and outreach: The goal is building community capacity and convening towards change.
- Truth and reconciliation-relationship building and supporting calls to action. The goal is to strengthen our solidarity and action towards truth and reconciliation.
Community News
What is it about those short videos that keep us captivated? Oh! Yes! Our short attention span
BY KAHA GEDI
As our attention spans decrease, short form videos are becoming more popular. From TikTok, to YouTube Shorts, to Instagram Reels, these “snack sized” videos have positive qualities alongside the bad. Mainly we want to know what makes them so effective, and why are they becoming the go-to choice for both viewers and marketers? In this article, I will be discussing how these videos have received such popularity worldwide.
First, we need to understand what counts as and what is short-form content. According to blog.hubspot.com, “Short-form videos are videos that are less than 60 seconds long.” However, some marketers and content creators agree that short-form videos can be up to 3 minutes. “They are videos that deliver information in a ‘digestible’ format so that viewers can quickly watch and save content if they’re in a hurry or enjoy it.” Now, I’ll talk about the main reasons why these videos are so popular.
First, our attention spans have gone down exponentially. Dr Gloria Mark has written a book called “Attention Span,” and she says her research indicates people’s attention spans have been shrinking over the last 20 years. According to the same article Dr. Mark said that “Back in 2004, we found the average attention span on any screen to be two and a half minutes on average. Throughout the years, it became shorter. So, around 2012, we found it to be 75 seconds. Then in the last five, six years, we found it to average about 47 seconds.” So, it’s notable that our attention spans started out longer but then decreased over time.
Secondly, these videos have become cheaper and easier to make. Unlike long-form videos, which require extensive: planning, editing, and storytelling, short-form videos are simpler. To the point where they can even be shot on a smartphone. For example, DuoLingo, the app that helps learn new languages, went viral on TikTok a long time ago by posting funny, low-budget videos that resonate with millions. Like a video of a DuoLingo plus being: tossed down the stairs, sitting outside on a rainy day, or being soaked by the shower with the title “When you ignore my notifications.”
Lastly, they provide valuable information in a short amount of time, and they are easily accessible. According to a recent Adobe Survey, two in five Americans use TikTok as a search engine, and nearly one in 10 Gen Zeers are more likely to rely on TikTok than Google as a search engine. This isn’t always reliable for real news because anyone can claim to be an expert, and you wouldn’t know if they’re telling the truth. So, even though they give valuable information in a short time, they can also give misinformation or mislead you.
Short-form videos have changed how we watch and learn things. They fit our short attention spans, are easy to make, and share information quickly. Even though they’re fun and helpful, they can also spread false information or leave out important details. Even with these problems, short-form videos are here to stay, so we should use them in proportion, but also enjoy the benefits.
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