Education vs. Advocacy-Based Activism: What is Stopping Youth?

Photo of a climate march, with a sign that says "fighting for our future." Credit Ma Ti.

How often do youth actually get a say in municipal politics? Youth voices – especially those of high school students – youth that are transitioning into adulthood – deserve a place at the table when it comes to making decisions at the local level.

The view from inside: make it make sense

A photo showing two young women studying books, taken from above. Credit Alexis Brown.

…learning about how planning works is important because it helps us get climate justice happening on the local level. It helps us understand how these changes can actually play out through local government.
But there’s a lot to learn and not a lot of clear information, so how can we learn more?

The View From Inside: status quo squabbles or a participatory politics?

Photo of a young woman, holding a sign showing the earth on fire, at a climate demonstration. Credit Gabriel Mccallin.

Let’s cut right to it – now that the pandemic is beginning to come to a close, now is the time to jump into action and demand the world we want. Covid-19 put a lot of things on hold, put a lot of us into limbo. Now is when we plan. Now is when we act. Now is when our desire and need for change come into bloom – with the Earth lending us the energy of summer to do it!

The Greenbelt and Climate Change

Photo of flooding. Credit Nazrin B-va.

Many people know the Greenbelt as a place that protects farmland and preserves green spaces. To many it is seen as a last refuge of vast tracts of land that allow for recreational activities and local food production.

However, the Greenbelt, by preserving those lands, provides services to our communities essentially without charge.

The New Growth Plan Puts Sprawl Over All

Arial view of suburban sprawl. Credit Blake Wheeler.

We can no longer treat land use as its own issue, nor can we always assume that growth is always a net benefit to our communities. This is simply not true. We can grow our communities in ways that provide affordable housing, protect our natural spaces and water and aspire to create healthy, vibrant centres where people can live and work.

Bradford Bypass

Arial photo of the Holland Marsh, with Lake Simcoe in the distance. Credit Jeff Laidlaw.

The provincial government is proposing a highway that would connect the 404 with the 400. The proposed route passes along the northern edge of Bradford, and through portions of the Holland Marsh.

Comments: Changes to the Forest Sector Strategy

Forest Sunlight 1

In today’s world, more than ever, good forest management needs to reflect a balance between different uses and needs of the forest.

You do not double industrial output without making provisions for education and research…

You have more power than you think.

Make a choice for a better future.

Donating to SCGC means your impact is local, direct, and helps build better, more sustainable communities in central Ontario.

Become part of our network. Stay informed. Take action. Protect Ontario.

Friends. Online censorship by unaccountable tech companies, combined with an all-out assault on the Greenbelt by Ontario’s developers/government, make this a perilous time for the future of democracy and the power of the people in Ontario.

We need to build new ways of empowering those who believe in accountability, in a healthy environment, and in communities ready to thrive in the economy of tomorrow.

Join our supporter network and stay informed about efforts and actions to protect the Greenbelt, to build communities that support the health and well-being of people, and to lay the foundations of a resilient, climate friendly future.

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