This is the first part in a series of posts on “Low-Carbon Luxury” by Matt Lie-Paehlke, Climate Pledge Collective Co-Founder and Member of Toronto350.

As I hurried across the road towards Queen's Park at 12:30 on May 24, my heart sank. Instead of the familiar sight of a crowd waving signs and the familiar sound of a voice coming through a loudspeaker, I was met with silence and emptiness. Had everyone run out of steam after that huge National Strike on May 3 (over 2,500 people)? Did they all stop caring?

Once again, with great disappointment, TO350 responds to the news that the TMX has been green-lighted by the federal government. 

Our first Climate Picnic had sun, music, flags, blankets, napping and lots of networking amongst people who are both experienced with and completely new to climate organizing. 

We have more coming up – one on June 1 in Ottawa (Climate Picnic - June 1) and one near Eglinton West Station on June 8 (Climate Picnic - June 8).

But what we really want is for EVERYONE reading this to host their own picnic – Maybe on July 1^st. So, here is a how-to guide for hosting your own climate picnic!

Toronto350
Extinction Rebellion Toronto
FridaysForFuture Toronto/GTA

Divestment and youth movements converge on Toronto office of Barclays Bank over fossil fuel finance

Friday May 24, 12:30 pm
333 Bay St, Toronto

On Friday May 24, climate activists from Toronto350, Extinction Rebellion Toronto and Fridays For Future Toronto/GTA will join a global action targeting Barclays Bank, Europe’s largest financer of fossil fuel industries. A rally outside 333 Bay Street, which houses Barclays’ Toronto business office, will be joined by youth-led Fridays For Future, who will march down Bay Street towards Union Station. The Barclays Bank rally is one of 37 taking place Friday and Saturday, in the UK, Frankfurt, Madrid and Toronto, coordinated by Momentum UK. The Fridays For Future march is one of over 1,200 school strikes in 107 countries to be held on Friday, as part of a Global Strike for Climate (photo by Orville Cummings).

I have a personal connection to the trees and fields. In the Niagara Peninsula, my family tended a wood lot and lands with very old trees on them. When we had to sell our property, the trees that lined the fields and roadside were illegally cut down, and the fine simply paid.

Before Christmas, pro-pipeline protesters gathered in Alberta, worried about their jobs and their families. The week before, I was at a protest in Toronto opposing a pipeline in British Columbia, because I’m worried about the climate and my family (especially my 4-year-old child). Both pro and anti-pipeline protests have continued into 2019. Recently, the urgency of these protests seems to have slowed down a little bit -- perhaps because of a slight uptick in the price of oil on international markets, something that is actually pretty much beyond the control of the Canadian government.  

On April 4th, Toronto350 teamed up with the Fossil Banks, No Thanks! campaign to lead a demonstration outside Toronto Dominion Bank’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting. Toronto350 demanded that the bank’s lending and financing activities align with a safe climate. Independently, TD shareholders at the meeting considered a proposal to withdraw financing from greenhouse gas polluting projects. (Photo above by Milan Ilnyckyj).

For immediate release: April 1, 2019

Toronto350

Climate advocates urge change at TD Bank Annual Meeting

Thursday, April 4, 8:30 am
The Design Exchange, 234 Bay St, Toronto

On Thursday, April 4, Toronto350 will team up with the Fossil Banks, No Thanks! campaign to lead a demonstration outside Toronto Dominion Bank’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting. Environmentalists are demanding that the bank’s lending and financing activities align with a safe climate. Independently, TD shareholders at the meeting will consider a proposal to withdraw financing from greenhouse gas polluting projects. TD’s record is documented in a new report on the global banking industry Banking on Climate Change – Fossil Fuel Finance Report Card 2019 .

Remarks delivered by Trudeau at a Liberal Climate Action Rally in Toronto on March 4th, were partly geared toward pressuring provinces that are resisting federal climate plans. Trudeau stated that climate change leaves us without any time to spare, that pollution should be paid for and that we are still waiting for a climate plan from the federal conservatives.

However, the contradiction between the existing government's climate plans and their continued support for fossil fuel extraction, prompted groups concerned about effective climate action and Indigenous rights to gather outside, in front of the Danforth Music Hall. The event was advertised for 6-8 and despite a temperature of -9 with wind chill, about two dozen protesters arrived in advance of six pm.