January Newsletter
Jan 20, 2009.
Dear friends,
Happy new year to all and congratulations to our American friends on this memorable day! Let’s hope that today marks the beginning of a global society moving toward peace, equality and sustainability.
Me and my Mr. Something Something compadres will spend the next little while writing and recording our next album so we won’t be out on the roads again until the end of March. We are, however, doing a show in Toronto (pretty much around the corner from the Sum Sum Headquarters this Friday, January 23. It’s an early show at Hugh’s Room, which is one of the best sounding rooms in the city. Hugh’s has great sight lines, you can have dinner before the show, and the whole shebang will be over before midnight so you can still go out afterwards and make it to that other party you wanted to go to.
Scroll down to the heading “The Extended Family” to read about other exciting projects that various Somethings are involved in (for example, don’t miss The DoneFors’ CD Release Tour in February). And, as usual, you’ll find informative news items and, petitions and tips about worth while activist events at the bottom of this message.
Hope you are well
Peace and blessings
/Johan
1. Mr. Something Something live in Toronto this Friday
2. The Extended Family
3. Get Involved
1. MR. SOMETHING SOMETHING live in Toronto Friday Jan 23
Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas Street W (close to Dundas West Subway)
Please note that, as with all concerts at Hugh’s Room, this is an early show: 8:30 pm.
$12 advance / $14 at the door. For tickets and more info go to www.hughsroom.com
2. The Extended Family
FREE SPEECH turns two January 26
I (Johan) curate and host a Toronto cabaret/reading series called FREE SPEECH that showcases the prose, poetry, spoken word, comedy, storytelling and songwriting of Parkdale-High Park based writers and performers.* FREE SPEECH celebrates its second anniversary on January 26 when the 2009 spring season kicks off with four exciting wordsmiths, including storyteller Eden Hertzog, theatre artist Lisa Marie DiLiberto and songwriter Brian MacMillan.
*Past FREE SPEECH performers include wonderfully talented people like Michael Winter, Justin Rutledge, Bob Wiseman, Shyam Selvadurai, Carl Wilson, Ray Robertson, Elizabeth Shepherd, Katerina Cizek, Jowi Taylor, Mary Jo Leddy and Nikki Payne to name but a few. FREE SPEECH on Facebook
Harmattan Road
Larry has been working on a new project for the past year or so. The group is called Harmattan Road and features familiar ‘Somethings’ percussionist Dave Chan and wind-man Marcus Ali. Steve Mancuso also joins in on percussion and a few other guests make appearances on occasion. The group plays select repertory from Ghana as well as some original compositions that fuse a love for African music with jazz forms and textures. Harmattan Road will be opening for our friends in Toronto-based percussion ensemble Ainike at the Silver Dollar in Toronto on February 7. 9pm. Bring your dancing shoes.
The DoneFors CD Release Tour
As you probably know, Liam and Paul have a band called The DoneFors and, now, their fabulous first album is finally here. It’s called “How to have sex with Canadians” and you should pick up a copy asap. Or better yet, come to the CD Release Party in Toronto on February 12 or catch the band when they hit the road in the second half of February. For all tour dates and more info go to www.thedonefors.com
3. GET INVOLVED
Put the ‘eco’ in ‘economy’
Before the politicos decide what to do with your money on January 27 (budget day on Parliament Hill), tell them you want the emphasis on “eco” in Canada’s economy. We’ve made it easy for you to write to Jim Flaherty – our federal Minister of Finance – and give him a piece of your mind. Feel free to remind him that U.S. president-elect Barak Obama promised $150 billion for green energy in his country, while the world is calling Canada a colossal fossil.
Take Action Now: To send a message to Minister Flaherty, go to: http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=94&ea.campaign.id=2264
“On January 27, I urge you to consider investing in green infrastructure by choosing rail and public transit over roads; smart buildings over inefficient structures; renewable energy over coal and nuclear; and hybrids over gas-guzzlers. The time for our very own green revolution is now.”
For more information, go to: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/GreenEconomy/
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Take Action – Ontario Bottled Water Ban!
Right now a number of organizations including the Polaris Institute, CUPE Ontario and the Council of Canadians, are promoting a petition urging the province of Ontario to: · Ban the provision and sale of bottled water in all provincial public space · Improve access to tap water in all provincially owned and operated spaces · Ensure clean, safe drinking water for all residents of Ontario.
Take action now by signing the petition – visit http://www.insidethebottle.org/petition-ban-bottled-water-and-turn-tap-ontario-0
Thanks, The Inside the Bottle Team
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Toronto:
Green Drinks Toronto
WHEN: Wednesday, January 21st from 5:45 p.m. ’til you say stop
WHERE: The Bedford Academy, 36 Prince Arthur Avenue (around the corner from the St. George subway stop) – meet us on the second floor
WHO: Anyone who is working on, or is interested in, environmental issues WHY: Fun, contacts, drinks, info, inspiration, business and pleasure
GLOBAL: Now active in 461 cities worldwide! HUGE turnout for December’s GD!
Remember: Be sure to bring your friends and colleagues to have a couple of drinks with green folks like you – environmentalists, journalists, academics, elected officials, green builders, green business folks, health care professionals, doctors, chemists, developers, artists, students and just about anyone else who is interested in a better GTA, a better Canada and a better world. Green Drinks is a social activity, so come enjoy a during-the-week drink with some really caring and talented people in Toronto.
Forwarding: Please forward this message to people who share our interest in the environment. Forwarding is encouraged and appreciated―we’d like to see as many new people involved as possible. To sign up for future Green Drinks events send an email to greendrinks@gmail.com
Hope to see you there! Jane, Pete and Amanda
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Now is the time to show your support for The Beautiful City Billboard Fee
The Beautiful City Billboard Fee (BCBF) would see a minimum of six million dollars gathered from an annual license fee. Paid by billboard advertisers, revenue would be directed through the Toronto Arts Council into public art — with a priority put on marginalized communities and youth art.
Specific objectives of the BCBF include:
1. Urban beautification & employment for artists
2. More funding for tracking & policing billboard advertisers
3. Helping move Toronto towards a pedestrian focused aesthetic
4. Promoting community ownership of public spaces
5. Diversifying access to public communication
Below is the info for another round of public consultations concerning the new sign bylaw. Please attend and show your support for the BCBF. Following this second round of consultation, a draft sign by-law will be presented to Council.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 – 7:00 p.m.
North York Civic Centre 5100 Yonge St, 1st Floor Council Chambers
Thursday January 22, 2009 – 7:00 p.m.
Scarborough Civic Centre 150 Borough Drive Council Chambers
Thursday, January 29, 2009 – 7:00 p.m.
Toronto City Hall 100 Queen Street West 2nd Floor, Committee Room #2
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Jarvis Street and Bicycles
Few streets downtown so desperately need bike lanes, and are so obviously suited to having them, than Jarvis south of Bloor. The city is planning to narrow Jarvis from five lanes to four, but are not yet convinced that bike lanes should be part of the mix. Opposition is forming from drivers who want to keep it a five lane commuting route. The city is holding a public Open House this Thursday, January 22; we urge you to come out and support bike lanes on Jarvis.
Date: Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
Time: Open House 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Currie Hall, 105 Maitland Street
The key objectives of the Jarvis Street Streetscape Improvement are to make the street more attractive, to slow down traffic, and to upgrade the sidewalks. More information is provided by the city, along with a map (PDF) to the Open House. http://www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/jarvis/
The Toronto Cyclists Union believes there is ample room on Jarvis Street for bike lanes, as well as safe sidewalks and attractive landscaping. It is the city’s responsibility to make sure all users of the road are taken care of, and taking care of cyclists will go a long way to making Jarvis a more interesting, vibrant street, and less of a north/south commuter highway.
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Movie screening Jan 25: Toxic Trespass
Movie Screening sponsored by TorontoTheBetter.
An investigation into the effects the chemical soup we live in is having on our children and ourselves in Toronto and other Canadian cities.
Sunday, January 25, 8 p.m. OISE, Room 5-262
252 Bloor Street West (near St. George Station)
For more info: 416-707-3509, postmaster@torontothebetter.net
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NO NEW NUKES IN ONTARIO
The Ontario Government intends to sign contracts for two new nuclear reactors this spring — at a cost of $26 billion. We can’t let this happen. Nuclear energy is the costliest and riskiest way to keep the lights on in Ontario. Clean green renewable energy and efficiency can meet all our electricity needs. See http://www.ontariosgreenfuture.ca for details.
Will you let Ontario Energy Minister George Smitherman know that you’d prefer a GREEN energy future?
Sign the online petition here: http://www.ontariosgreenfuture.ca/petition.php
Learn more here: http://www.ontariosgreenfuture.ca
For more info or to get involved, contact Angela@cleanairalliance.org
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Edmonton:
University of Alberta’s International Week 2009 February 2 – 6:
“Hungry for Change: Transcending Feast, Famine and Frenzy”
This year’s theme “Hungry for Change: Transcending Feast, Famine and Frenzy” calls us to examine the intersection of global phenomena such as climate change, economic disparity and economic crises, the effects of global trade on food prices and failed policy that culminates in persistent food challenges and a current food crisis, with special attention to the devastating impacts on the developing world. We will explore why people are starving in a world that produces enough food to feed everyone, what can be done to mitigate the impacts of the crisis and how to plan for the food security of coming generations. The theme also invites broader discussion on global inequity, instability and societal transformation.
February 2 Noon Keynote: Francis Moore Lappé
Over 60 free events, everyone welcome!
Check the complete program available at www.iweek.ualberta.ca
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Volunteering – The Edmonton Guerrilla Gardeners Want You!
Guerrilla Gardening is a rapidly growing non violent social and environmental movement that aims to redefine the use of public space by promoting issues of community ownership, food security, native habitat, biodiversity, and the direct replenishing the environment in which we live our daily lives. Guerrilla Gardening is the act of gardening beyond our own back yards; sometimes without permission. It should be noted that although Guerrilla Gardening walks a fine legal line it is never our intention to do harm.
PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR UPCOMING PROJECT: We are currently looking for participants to help in the mass planting of 600 sapling trees along baseline road between Edmonton and Sherwood Park. Help block the view of Edmonton’s unsightly petroleum industry and add a little green to a much neglected part of our city. If interested, please contact us via the email or phone number above, for more information please visit the links provided.
Visit the Blog or check us out on Facebook.
Contact: Dustin Email: theurbangreening@gmail.com
Phone: 780.432.6181
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