Excerpted from Maude Barlow's ideas on stepping out of the darkness & reasons for writing her 2022 book 'Still Hopeful: Lessons from a Lifetime of Activism' "Stop thinking of the enormity of the challenges & instead ask one simple question: What is the next appropriate step to take? THEN TAKE IT."

"One million people live within a 10-minute walk of the Loop. 12 subway stations, 20 LRT stations, & five GO stations are within a 500-metre radius of the proposed trail. The Loop will go through 17 of the city’s 33 “priority neighbourhoods,” where hundreds of thousands underserved residents live."

Steve Paikin@spaikin.bsky.social · 17h ago

I thought I knew Toronto — until a new plan threw me for a Loop. www.tvo.org/article/i-th... #nature

"Canada has not yet signed or ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. It has described the treaty as “well intentioned” but “premature”. It supports the retention and potential use of nuclear weapons on its behalf" For me, no circumstances could ever justify dropping atomic bombs.

Canada

Canada has not yet signed or ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

icanw.org

In my town, a strong groundswell is stirring to lead minds to action for #Peace On the 81st anniversaries this August of annihilation of Hiroshima & Nagasaki in 1945 by atomic bombs dropped by the U.S. & thousands of deaths in current conflicts, increasing focus on peace is crucial to human survival

Chris Houston@chrishouston.ca · 18h ago

❓What's a Peace Museum? ❓Why are you doing it in Bancroft? ❓What's in a Peace Museum? Are all questions I get a lot. The answers are all contained in today's edition of the Peace Podcast: peacepodcast.org/chris-housto...

Reminder 81st anniversary tomorrow. August 6, 1945, the U.S. killed 140,00 civilians in Hiroshima with “Little Boy,” code name for the first atomic bomb used in warfare in world history. Calling such a deadly weapon "Little Boy" - a repugnant example of whitewashing intent for extreme violence.

NO FREE TRADE WITH ECUADOR UNTIL RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTED email a letter to the Minister of International Trade.

Canada: No free trade with Ecuador until rights and the environment protected

Tell Canada to ensure trade and investment do not sacrifice human rights and the environment in Ecuador. TAKE ACTION >>

takeaction.amnesty.ca

Oxfam reminds us again and again and again. (Yes, I am trying to guilt you into action on climate justice😉)

Participants explain the secret to the "good vibes" that have sustained Albania's flamingo revolution as a peaceful protest for 60 days and counting.

How creativity — and children — have kept Albania’s revolution alive

Participants explain the secret to the "good vibes" that have sustained Albania's flamingo revolution as a peaceful protest for over 60 days.

wagingnonviolence.org

As those here respond to the Verge interview with the Bluesky CEO, please consider more voices from elsewhere will benefit perspective & enhance knowledge of global problems. As a Canadian, I seek a broader view than the N. American one on all subjects: politics, art, sports, news & environment.🌍🌏🌎

Wildfires expose Europe’s fragile response to new climate reality

As Spain and France battle devastating fires, Brussels is expanding its civil protection efforts – but the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are raising questions over who is responsib...

euronews.com

it's wild: a new protein, TRAILshort, is an immune cell "off switch." turns out, people with autoimmune diseases don't have enough of it, which could explain a lot about overactive immune responses. this is such an interesting find for future treatments.

Newly-discovered protein acts as off switch for human immune cells

Researchers have identified a newly discovered protein, TRAILshort, which functions as an "off switch" for human immune cells. This protein disrupts T-cell receptor signaling, promoting immune toleran

news-medical.net

Glad that Mining Watch has its eyes on Northern Dynasty Minerals - Canadian owner of the proposed Pebble Mine. Yet another Canadian mining company trying to bulldoze Indigenous rights & an entire ecosystem. Blocked for now by 20 years opposition from United Tribes of Bristol Bay & allies in Alaska.

Suits Target Veto, but Pebble Mine Opposition Will Never End

With three lawsuits now pending, broad coalition led by Bristol Bay Tribes intervenes to support EPA veto in defense of world’s greatest wild salmon fishery.

nrdc.org

Canada didn't make the Top 15 on the Energy Transition Index published by the World Economic Forum. We rank 32nd. "global energy transition progress has lost momentum ... because the (political) conditions sustaining it are eroding." i.e. Carney gov. in Canada centres.weforum.org/centre-for-e...

Yikes! An amazing site for palaeobiology studies on Axel Heiberg Island is still not protected according to a Government of Canada, Canadian Conservation Institute report 2023. Stumps, cones & leaf litter are more mummified than fossilized! Figure 1. Erosion of 40-million-year-old tree stump.

'Peace' So daily why do we use words figuratively that are derived from violent action? Doesn't this create a mindset? Discomforting for me samples from a cycling fundraiser I do yearly: Riding to FIGHT kids' cancer KICK cancer's butt WAR on cancer BATTLE cancer There is even an 'assault' bike

6 important videos about research on and decline of Arctic Seabirds from the Arctic Council

Researching Arctic Seabirds - YouTube

Follow scientists into the field on the remote Arctic island of Bjørnøya, where decades of seabird research are revealing how a changing Arctic is transformi...

youtube.com

Basic science review. Most can use a refresher.

The Periodic Table of Elements Throws a Party

YouTube video by Foil Arms and Hog

youtube.com

Song & Stories in September Here We Stand: Indigenous youth movement protecting Treaty rights, way of life, land, water & animals now & in future. Friends of the Attawapiskat River: Treaty 9 Indigenous grassroots group protecting waters & communities living downstream of the proposed Ring of Fire

Is there any hope that the recommended pre-emptive action to halt spread will take place?

Closure of the Strait of Hormuz may trigger a bioinvasion super-spreader event - Biological Invasions

The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are causing substantial humanitarian, economic, and geopolitical impacts and disrupting global trade. While the human and economic effects remain the focus of ...

link.springer.com

Good timing from Citizen Lab regarding Tthe Canadian government’s recent decision to sign the UN Cybercrime Convention. Their analysis is always valuable and well-founded.

The Citizen Lab@citizenlab.ca · 5d ago

Senior research associate @kate-ro.bsky.social speaks about Canada’s surprising decision to sign the UN Cybercrime Convention with @mgeist.bsky.social, arguing that it has significant implications for human rights and internet freedom. Listen: www.michaelgeist.ca/podcast/epis...

Bill McGuire prof. emeritus geophysical & climate hazards at UCL, au. Hothouse Earth: an Inhabitant’s Guide calls on #climate scientists again to unite to campaign for immediate effective action. For all, he advises acting locally & supporting what is morally right. Antidote to despair inertia.

Wildfires are raging – and the world has junked 45 climate pledges. Disaster looms, and little wonder | Bill McGuire

Five years ago, I wrote an open letter asking climate scientists to speak out. Now governments are in retreat, it is surely time to act, says climate professor Bill McGuire

theguardian.com

HIGH LEVEL ALERT Institute & Faculty of Actuaries Jan. 25 "The risk of Planetary Insolvency looms unless we act decisively. Without immediate policy action to change course, catastrophic or extreme impacts are eminently plausible, which threatens future prosperity." actuaries.org.uk/media/ni4erl...

Checked on the rights of people who are homeless to vote in municipal elections in Canada - they can! We encouraged people here to vote federally but the process had challenges. We helped get proper paper work done but workers at the polling stations had not been trained. Success, but a hassle.

A Guide to Voting in Your Municipal Election

If you are a Canadian citizen you have the chance to choose who represents you in municipal (city) politics. Municipal services affect your everyday life.

settlement.org

On this topic, analysis by Citizen Lab helps. They have knowledge & I don't. Noted here: Ron Deibert @rondeibert.bsky.social and Kate Robertson wrote the government urging not to sign. They warned the treaty would create a standing channel for transnational repression targeting diaspora communities

Michael Geist@mgeist.bsky.social · 2w ago

In 2017, Russia pushed for a cybercrime treaty that raised immediate human rights concerns. Canada joined many others in opposition. Nearly a decade later, it is now the UN Cybercrime Treaty and despite ongoing concerns, Canada quietly signed it last week. www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/07/a-su...

Driver Inc. 'legal' shakedown by companies? "La Presse reveals federal team dedicated to employee misclassification has only 19 investigators for an industry of 8,000 employers & 260,000 workers ... funding expires in 2028. Since 2021, a mere 51 monetary penalties ... & several remain simply unpaid"

“There Are No Consequences”: La Presse Investigation Confirms What Teamsters Canada Has Been Saying for Years | Teamsters Canada

Teamsters Canada is reacting to an investigation published today by La Presse, which reveals that more than 4,500 federal labour standards complaints were pending at the end of September 2025, over a ...

teamsters.ca

Story about Shopify CEO revealed a few days ago by Rachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social now covered by CBC. Thankful that Rachel Gilmore - an unsupported investigative jounalist - is often ahead of the game but the question begs...WHY is CBC and other legacy media always so far behind?

Shopify CEO endorses idea to give more votes to wealthy Canadians | CBC News

The billionaire CEO of one of Canada's largest companies has come under fire for endorsing stripping voting rights from some and giving more votes to the ultra wealthy. Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke replied ...

cbc.ca

"The Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth developed by the mandate of UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty & human rights, Olivier De Schutter, to expand the range of policy options available ... in the fight against poverty & inequality, beyond those that rely on economic growth."

Canadian lawmakers' failure to define clearly who is a cyclist contributes to lack of safety. "This article is about cyclists: People cycling pedal bikes & electric bicycles with motor assistance limited to 25km/h; if you’re mad with people flying along without ... pedalling, they are not cyclists"✔️

IrishCycle.com@irishcycle.com · last wk.

10 reasons your anti-cycling ranting just sounds daft, even if some people are nodding along irishcycle.com/2026/07/27/1...

If you missed Rachel's interview with Avi Lewis last night, the livestream was recorded. Watch on youtube: www.youtube.com/live/0LU5Ujp... Thanks to Rachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social

YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE PERSON'S LEAST FAVOURITE LIVESTREAM (ft AVI LEWIS)

YouTube video by Rachel Gilmore

youtube.com

Rachel Gilmore@rachelgilmore.bsky.social · last wk.

✨TONIGHT AT 7pmET(ish)✨ NDP Leader @avilewis is joining me on my livestream!! Make sure you tune in! WATCH LIVE (and join the chat) HERE: www.youtube.com/live/0LU5Ujp...

Oh oh! "Research study led by scientists at McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) finds that the dominant carbon emissions from the 2023 Canadian wildfires derived from combustion of soil & peat organic matter versus emissions deriving from above-ground biomass." doi.org/10.1029/2026...

Methane release is only one part of the sad story. The land is not safe for the people who live there and whose ancestors have lived there for generations. Open water and sea level rise are also making communities uninhabitable.

The Narwhal@thenarwhal.ca · last wk.

In the Inuit community of Nain, thawing permafrost is shifting the ground beneath everyone's feet. As the Arctic warms, permafrost is thawing faster — and threatening to accelerate climate change, reports Frey Blake-Pijogge thenarwhal.ca/nain-permafr...