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
BY KHADIJA KARIM
Have you ever forgotten someone’s name, or where you left your phone and thought, “Why can’t I remember anything?” Forgetting might feel frustrating, but it turns out that forgetting things can actually be good for you. Experts believe forgetting might be an important part of human survival and could even have benefits.
You probably think that remembering everything would be better, right? If you remembered every tiny detail, like what you had for breakfast three weeks ago, or the colour of every car you saw today, you would be overwhelmed. Our brains are constantly receiving information, and if we didn’t forget some of it, we wouldn’t be able to focus on what really matters at that time.
Forgetting helps you clear out information you don’t need, and it helps your brain remember the most useful memories. Think about how hard it would be to focus on important things if your mind was filled with random thoughts. Forgetting helps you stay focused and keeps your mind from getting lost.
So, why would evolution make us forget things? Early humans had to deal with dangerous environments that changed quickly. They needed to remember things that helped them survive, like where to find food, or how to avoid predators. They didn’t need to remember every small detail, like what happened last week. Forgetting information, they didn’t need allowed them to make quick decisions based on what was most important at that moment in time.
For example, if you remember a recent storm, you might make sure to stay inside or find shelter. If you remembered every storm you’d ever seen, it would be harder to make decisions about the present. Forgetting irrelevant details helps you stay on your feet and helps you react faster to new situations. This ability to forget likely helped early humans survive and make better decisions in their everyday lives.
Next time you forget something, don’t be too hard on yourself! Forgetting is a natural part of how our brains work and can actually help you stay focused on the important things. It might seem annoying at times, but it’s helping you make better decisions. Forgetting isn’t just something to be annoyed about, it’s a smart way to survive in a world that’s always changing!
Community News
Blink equity dives deep into the gap between people of colour and decision-making roles in Canadian law firms
BY ADRIAN REECE
Representation in the workforce has been a topic of conversation for years, particularly in positions of influence, where people can shift laws and create fair policies for all races. Representation in the legal system is an even more talked about subject, with many Black men being subjected to racism in courts and not being given fair sentencing by judges.
The fear of Black men entering the system is something that plagues mothers and fathers as they watch their children grow up.
Blink Equity, a company led by Pako Tshiamala, has created an audit called the Blink Score. This audit targets law firms and seeks to identify specific practices reflecting racial diversity among them in Toronto. A score is given based on a few key performance indicators. These KPIs include hiring practices, retention of diverse talent, and racial representation at every level.
The Blink Score project aims to analyze law firms in Ontario with more than 50 lawyers. The Blink Score is a measurement tool that holds law firms accountable for their representation. Firms will be ranked, and the information will be made public for anyone to access.
This process is ambitious and seeks to give Canadian citizens a glimpse into how many people are represented across the legal field. While more and more people have access to higher education, there is still a gap between obtaining that higher education and working in a setting where change can be made. The corporate world, at its highest points, is almost always one race across the board, and very rarely do people of colour get into their ranks. They are made out to be an example of how anyone from a particular race can achieve success. However, this is the exception, not the rule. Nepotism plays a role in societal success; connections are a factor, and loyalty to race, even if people are acquainted.
People of colour comprise 16% of the total lawyers across the province. Positions at all levels range from 6% to 27%. These numbers display the racial disparity among law practitioners in positions of influence. Becoming a lawyer is undoubtedly a huge accomplishment. Still, when entering the workforce with other seasoned professionals, your academic accolades become second to your professional achievements and your position in the company.
What do these rankings ultimately mean? A potential for DEI-inclusive practices, perhaps? That isn’t something that someone would want in this kind of profession. This kind of audit also opens law firms up to intense criticism from people who put merit above all other aspects of professional advancement. On the other hand, there is a potential for firms to receive clientele based on their blink score, with higher ones having the chance to bring in more race-based clients who can help that law firm grow.
It is only the beginning, and changes will undoubtedly be made in the legal field as Blink Equity continues to dive deep into the gap between people of colour and decision-making roles in these law firms. This audit has the power to shift the power scale, and place people of colour in higher positions. There are hierarchies in any profession, and while every Lawyer is qualified to do what they are trained to do, it is no shock that some are considerably better than others at their jobs. The ones who know how to use this audit to their advantage will rise above the others and create a representative image for themselves among their population.
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
We are living in a world where promises of health and safety came packaged in a tiny vial, one injection was promoted by powerful governments, supported by respected institutions, and championed by legacy media worldwide. Sadly, beneath the surface, a darker truth emerged.
Reports from around the globe began to tell a different story—one that was not covered in the news cycles or press conferences. Families torn apart by unexpected losses, communities impacted in ways that few could have foreseen, and millions questioning what they had been told to believe.
Those who dared to question were silenced or dismissed (the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper being one of those sources). “Trust the science,” we were told. “It’s for the greater good.” As time went on, the truth became impossible to ignore.
Now, I bring more news to light—information that demands your attention and scrutiny. The time to passively listen has passed; this is the moment to understand what’s really at stake.
I reviewed an interview with Naomi Wolf, journalist and CEO of Daily Clout, which detailed the serious vaccine-related injuries that Pfizer and the FDA knew of by early 2021, but tried to hide from the public. I was introduced to “The Pfizer Papers: Pfizer’s Crimes Against Humanity.” What I learned is that Pfizer knew about the inadequacies of its COVID-19 vaccine trials and the vaccine’s many serious adverse effects, and so did the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA promoted the vaccines anyway — and later tried to hide the data from the public.
To produce “The Pfizer Papers,” Naomi, and Daily Clout Chief Operations Officer Amy Kelly convened thousands of volunteer scientists and doctors to analyze Pfizer data and supplementary data from other public reporting systems to capture the full scope of the vaccines’ effects. They obtained the data from the Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency, a group of more than 30 medical professionals and scientists who sued the FDA in 2021 and forced the agency to release the data, after the FDA refused to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request.
It was then that the federal court ordered the agency to release 450,000 internal documents pertaining to the licensing of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The data release was significantly and the documents so highly technical and scientific that according to Naomi, “No journalist could have the bandwidth to go through them all.”
The “Pfizer Papers” analysts found over 42,000 case reports detailing 158,893 adverse events reported to Pfizer in the first three months The centerpiece of “The Pfizer Papers” is the effect that the vaccine had on human reproduction. The papers reveal that Pfizer knew early on that the shots were causing menstrual issues. The company reported to the FDA that 72% of the recorded adverse events were in women. Of those, about 16% involved reproductive disorders and functions. In the clinical trials, thousands of women experienced: daily bleeding, hemorrhaging, and passing of tissue, and many other women reported that their menstrual cycle stopped completely.
Pfizer was aware that lipid nanoparticles from the shots accumulated in the ovaries and crossed the placental barrier, compromising the placenta and keeping nutrients from the baby in utero. According to the data, babies had to be delivered early, and women were hemorrhaging in childbirth.
Let us take us to another part of the world, where research has been done on other pharmaceutical companies. A group of Argentine scientists identified 55 chemical elements — not listed on package inserts — in the: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, CanSino, Sinopharm and Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines (according to a study published last week in the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice, and Research).
The samples also contained 11 of the 15 rare earth elements (they are heavier, silvery metals often used in manufacturing). These chemical elements, which include lanthanum, cerium and gadolinium, are lesser known to the general public than heavy metals, but have been shown to be highly toxic. By the end of 2023, global researchers had identified 24 undeclared chemical elements in the COVID-19 vaccine formulas.
Vaccines often include excipients — additives used as preservatives, adjuvants, stabilizers, or for other purposes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), substances used in the manufacture of a vaccine, but not listed in the contents of the final product should be listed somewhere in the package insert. Why is this important? Well, researchers argue it is because excipients can include allergens and other “hidden dangers” for vaccine recipients.
In one lot of the AstraZeneca vaccine, researchers identified 15 chemical elements, of which 14 were undeclared. In the other lot, they detected 21 elements of which 20 were undeclared. In the CanSino vial, they identified 22 elements, of which 20 were undeclared.
The three Pfizer vials contained 19, 16 and 21-23 undeclared elements respectively. The Moderna vials contained 21 and between 16-29 undeclared elements. The Sinopharm vials contained between 17-23 undeclared elements and the Sputnik V contained between 19-25 undetected elements.
“All of the heavy metals detected are linked to toxic effects on human health,” the researchers wrote. Although the metals occurred in different frequencies, many were present across multiple samples.
I am not going to go any further with this; I think you get the picture. We have been sold wolf cookies, very dangerous ones. These pharmaceutical companies must be held accountable. I am proud of anyone who has gone after them for retribution, and have received it. Regardless, in many ways, there is no repayment for a healthy life.
REFERENCES:
https://ijvtpr.com/index.php/IJVTPR/article/view/111
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender_category/toxic-exposures/
Pfizer’s ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ — and Legacy Media’s Failure to Report on Them
55 Undeclared Chemical Elements — Including Heavy Metals — Found in COVID Vaccines
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