The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia is today, May 17, 2012. This year this event was celebrated in over 50 countries all over the world. The day brings to light the pertinent issue of discrimination against the LGBTQQ community, closed-mindedness of society and bigoted government policies. It calls for social equity and equal rights. In fact, such rights are not “special” but fundamental human rights. Homophobia and transphobia are manifested in different ways and the day allows us to realize that these are societal problems that need to be talked about openly. In the last year, there was a huge surge in amount of LGBT teen suicides as a result of bullying, in the United States. Same-sex marriage is still illegal in a lot of countries and in some nations, homosexuality is considered a crime. Discrimination is the betrayal of human decency, a fatal societal disease that needs to be dealt with as a real predicament. On this day, various campaigns focused on awareness and actions are held on a local, national and global scale. This year, activists in Uganda called for decriminalization of LGBT people; Burma held its first public LGBT event; a not-for-profit Algerian organization released a comic book series to raise awareness about LGBT issues. Last week, President Obama officially stated his support for same-sex marriage and took a step forward in the right direction for equal rights. Political and legal decisions are informed by individual attitudes and it is imperative to contest negative narrow-minded thinking. It is distressing that people are discriminated against in various facets of society based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. The day is celebrated on May 17th, as it was on this date that the World Health Organization decided to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. This was a step forwards towards freedom for LGBT community however, there is still a long way to go.
It`s Puninda here. You will get to know me through the course of the next four months as I will be contributing as a resident TIGed Blogger. I am an undergradutate student of Environment and Business . I have always been interested in ecological and social justice issues and it seemed like the perfect combination of disciplines for me to pursue. I believe that everyone has the power to change the world for the better. It is important to tap into your passions and take advantage of opportunities to expand you mind and experiences.
Through the next four months, I intend to share with you information about a variety of issues, anything from environmental and globally pertinent issues to education related articles and personal experiences. I hope to generate a dialogue and create a mutually respectful, learning environment on this forum.
Outside of school, I enjoy watching movies, painting, drawing and riding my bike around town.I am very excited to become a part of TakingITGlobal team as I believe in their ethos of global action and awareness.
It is an oft overlooked fact, but in today's world it can be so easy to forget about the importance of eating well.
Our generation has inherited a highly disfunctional food system, and along with it, poor diet and a global epidemic of diet-related diseases which has led to 43 million children under the age of 5 being overweight, while millions of others around the world go hungry. There is more than enough food to feed our entire global population, but inequal distrobution in our food systems results in a great divide between those who have enough to eat and those who do not.
We have the opportunity to change this system; creating sustained change is not easy, we need a revolution in the way we think about food in order to empower individuals to understand how food contributes to global challenges like obesity, povery, sustainability and human rights.
Starting with Education to better understand all of the ways food has an impact on us and our world is an important first step towards unleashing the change we wish to see.
It is an oft overlooked fact, but in today's world it can be so easy to forget about the importance of eating well.
Our generation has inherited a highly disfunctional food system, and along with it, poor diet and a global epidemic of diet-related diseases which has led to 43 million children under the age of 5 being overweight, while millions of other around the world go hungry. There is more than enough food to feed our entire global population, but inequal distrobution in our food systems results in a great divide between those who have enough to eat and those who do not.
We have the opportunity to change this system; creating sustained change is not easy, we need a revolution in the way we think about food in order to empower individuals to understand how food contributes to global challenges like obesity, povery, sustainability and human rights.
Starting with Education to better understand all of the ways food has an impact on us and our world is an important first step towards unleashing the change we wish to see.
Over the past 50 days, the Eco Warriors associated with the DeforestACTION project have been hard at work supporting projects in Borneo, Indonesia that empower local communities to take action against deforestation and support orangutans who depend on rainforest ecosystems. I had the honor of visiting the Eco Warriors to see first-hand to how the online learning and fundraising support of youth and schools around the world has translated into real-life impact for communities in this region.
The Eco Warriors are working in four teams to raise awareness of the impacts of deforestation, and to take tangible steps to help them. The Education Team put together an educational theatre program that culminated in a series of presentations to schools in the West Borneo region. They have been promoting dialogue between students, teachers, and the Eco-Warriors about the important topics of deforestation, palm oil, and protecting wildlife such as the orangutan. So far they've presented to over 600 students, including attendees at a conference for educators and government leaders in the region.
The Reforestation Team has developed a nursery in the community of Tembak, taking factors into account, such as flood levels, shade versus sunlight, and accessibility. During my visit, they were preparing seedlings for planting. Additionally, the team intends to hold a workshop with the local kids about proper reforesting techniques, developing a sense of community, accomplishment, and ownership for the forests among the children of Tembak.
The Mapping Team has been flying to great heights! Their team flew an unmanned drone airplane over the village of Tembak, taking aerial video and still images of the community and surrounding areas. The data will help protect communities from encroaching palm oil plantations by viewing the area from a whole new angle. The team also intends on mapping other communities during their stay in Borneo, with the goal of empowering local people by providing them with accurate records of their land.
The Animal Rescue team has been working hard with the people of Tembak to create a release site for orangutans of the region. The community of Tembak has donated 63 hectares of land to act as a forest school where orangutans can be introduced to forest life. Tembak also has 20,000 hectares of protected forest where the orangutans can be released after graduating from forest school. The team has successfully built the observation hut for veterinarians and carers of newly released orangutans, as well as set up the cage and water tank.
For more information on how you and your students can get involved, visit www.deforestaction.org.
*Special thanks goes to co-author of this post, Eco-Warrior Mark Kuroski
Climate Citizens is about rekindling civic engagement to save the climate for a generation whose politicians seem bent on turning them off politics entirely. By educating people about climate change, and how they can become active citizens, climate citizens believes we can solve the climate crisis. To do this we lobby politicians ourselves, create educational resources to spread awareness of climate change, and facilitate civic engagement by giving citizens the resources. Information, and inspiation they need to become involved. Our generation is constantly told we're apathetic but we don't think it's true, we believe we've been raised in a world that has lost faith in politics but that by empowering young people we can reclaim our democracy, and save our planet for future generations.
The yellow thinking hat deals with situations that highlight all the benefits and none of the drawbacks of a situation. This super positive approach helps to bring attention and focus to all the advantages of a situation as a motivational tool; however, one obvious disadvantage of this hat is that it seems to overlook the possible challenges that one might need to face in any given situation. Using this hat ask yourself questions like: What is the value in this situation? Will I gain as a result of this situation? How can the benefits motivate others
Yellow Thinking Hat:
Climate Citizens is about channelling young peoples growing passion for environmental sustainability towards the most effective ends. It uses new technologies to link and mobilize action by average people. Climate citizens believes engaging everyone can unlock all citizens' and young peoples' potential and that this bundled opportunity can be used to solve the climate crisis. Climate Citizens offers young people what is really a contagious mindset of self-empowerment that connects them to environmental problems and shows them that they have the power to become a part of the solution.
Red Thinking Hat:
Climtate Citizens is about educating young people about the climate crisis and providing them access to resources that can help them become involved in lobbying politicians. By giving people facts we can help win them permamently over to our side. By giving them opportunities to become involved we make it easier for them to take simple steps of activism that connect them to the environmental movement. I've been involved in the climate justice movement since grade ten and look forward to sustaining this commitment and sharing my passion for environmental activism with others.
Blue Thinking Hat:
Most people aren't properly informed about climate change and how they can change it. That said, they almost always wish something was being done about it. Climate change taps into this widespread desire through simple actions they'd be willing to engage in. This can engage them in a broader network of actions and options they can regularly consider as citizens and activists. Though there are some other people who see the movement as weakening our domestic interests at the expense of foreign interests climate citizens aims to prove activism is a serious option for everyone who is able to care.
Black Thinking Hat:
Climate citizens aims to shift peoples view of the climate crisis from a strictly individual standpoint to seeing its broader societal implications and understanding they are what need to be changed to have effective action. Thanks to the internet everyone has more ways to connect with others to effect action and learn about issues they care about and ways they can have a positive impact. Climate Citizens seeks to overcome people's initial apathy by acting as a grassroots role model other young people can see and be inspired by for their own political initiatives to address the climate crisis.
The White Thinking Hat:
Climate Citizens works by using websites like facebook, youtube, weebly, and Google docs to provide information others can use in taking action. This makes their actions easier because they can imagine other people taking actions, and because it itself provides an online network through which they can become involved. By bridging the knowledge barrier climate citizens informs people who otherwise might not know or be concerned about the climate crisis so they can take effective and meaningful action.
The Green Thinking Hat:
Climate Citizens uses education and intends to establish an environmental innovation group that will try thinking of creative solutions to the climate crisis. Other people have ideas and by connecting them through online platforms with the mindset of active citizens they can combine their brest ideas into innovative forms of activism that can help solve the environmental problem. It will inspire creative teamwork by analyzing what works and thinking of actions that people are willing to do and will help persuade others.
Marketting Campaign
Goal: My goal is to get tangible outcomes like web hits and petition signatures as a consequence of our marketting strategy. We will know we are achieving our goals if our youtube page and google analytics begins building up a steady stream of visitors and interest. Things we can see hear and experience that will convince us of this is having people actually discussing it and referring to it or maybe even linking to its pages as an exemplar of what others can do.
Stakeholders: The characteristics of our stakeholders is that they are concerned about the climate crisis and likely stymied by society's widespread inability to generate the action needed to resolve it. Stakeholders usually have some experience with activism or environmental issues, which has led to their action in the first place. They are often formally educated as one must be suitably well versed in the science to know how to address the issue. Stakeholders almost always listen to the scientific information so long as it is slowly presented in a form they are able to understand. They are motivated to take action by having a sense that what they do can have a meaningful impact towards solving an environmental problem.
Message: Climate Citizens wants to leave people with the message that they can help solve the climate crisis if they become politically active. The barriers to this are people's general lack of knowledge in what solutions could actually solve it and not comprehending just how serious it could be. One benefit is by seeing themselves as citizens they will be affirming their connection to soceity which gives them hope about the importance of the role they themselves can play. Three compelling sentences are: Climate citizens: you make democracy happen. Climate citizens: democracy is what you make of it. And Climate Citizens: Enabling Active Democracy.
Network. Climate citizens will build a following by consistently providing meaningful opportunities and ways in which people can become involved in working to solve the environmental crisis. Some allies I would like are professors in the U of T Centre for Environment, any major environmental groups like Ecomentors, and the David Suzuki Foundation if possible. Climate Citizens is connected to other influential groups in the Toronto environmental community like the Climate Citizens Lobby and JustEarth. I will reach out to these groups by contacting them and hopefully by making materials that people can consistently use and find by chance on web searches.
Content: Climate Citizens will rely on free services to reach stakeholders. So, by putting material on websites like youtube and putting flyers up around the neighbourhood climate citizens hopes to educate people about the climate crisis so they themselves become inspired to take action. My project will contribute to, inform, educate and allow through colloboration through existing sites that give people the chance to connect like facebook and youtube. My project needs determination from me because starting up a project like this is slow and never easy. We will highlight our educational initiatives so people seeing the website can become inspired by them. We will do this by positng to our website. We do not yet know, as of now our funding requirements are only for small materials like tape to put up flyers.
I am very excited to be joining the TIG team as the TIGed Professional Development Program Assistant.
I am currently a student in the International Development Project Management graduate program at Humber College here in Toronto. I have a BA from Queen's University in Global Development studies. I also had the opportunity to study globalization and development at Fudan University in Shanghai, China for one semester. My time in China gave rise to my interest in urbanization and migration issues, as well as the impact of economic growth and globalization on the environment and society. I am interested in sharing these ideas and participating in dialogue about these topics.
I have some experience working with youth in an educational setting, and I hope that this will help me in my work with youth educators at TIG. I have participated in literacy and health education programs in China, Ghana and also in Northern Ontario Aboriginal communities.
On a more personal level, I love to travel, to eat, to read, to enjoy music and I love to learn from new people with different perspectives! So please share your stories, ideas and projects with me!
I will be supporting TIGed e-courses and webinars, as well as other TIGed activities.
I am very excited to be joining the TIG team as the TIGed Professional Development Program Assistant.
I am currently a student in the International Development Project Management graduate program at Humber College here in Toronto. I have a BA from Queen's University in Global Development studies. I also had the opportunity to study globalization and development at Fudan University in Shanghai, China for one semester. My time in China gave rise to my interest in urbanization and migration issues, as well as the impact of economic growth and globalization on the environment and society. I am interested in sharing these ideas and participating in dialogue about these topics.
I have some experience working with youth in an educational setting, and I hope that this will help me in my work with youth educators at TIG. I have participated in literacy and health education programs in China, Ghana and also in Northern Ontario Aboriginal communities.
On a more personal level, I love to travel, to eat, to read, to enjoy music and I love to learn from new people with different perspectives! So please share your stories, ideas and projects with me!
I will be supporting TIGed e-courses and webinars, as well as other TIGed activities.
The 2012 Canadian Federal Budget adds to the Canadian government’s continuously worsening environmental trajectory. It distances away from the former image of Canada as a natural beauty to one marred by oil stands. The biggest loser in the budget this year is clearly the environment. The numerous changes called upon to be instituted by the budget forwards the fossil fuel industry agenda whilst reverting backwards in terms of environmental planning.
The budget demands the weakening of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The Environmental Assessment timeframes have been reduced to a twelve month period by limiting only one review per project. The cutback in timelines is intended to accelerate the approval of heavy industry and thus potentially harmful projects. One such venture, The Northern Gateway Pipeline which would export crude oil from Kitimat to Asia received much opposition from environmental groups and is currently undergoing an extensive review. The project will have to accommodate to the new timeframes which means that a detailed analysis of its possible ecological, health and social impacts is not feasible. In their weak defense, these alterations are to allow Canada to become “internationally competitive.” With economically rigid views and a tunnel vision for the country’s future, it is unsure how such a motive can be achieved. In today’s world where we have come to recognize systems as interdependent and multidisciplinary collaborations are considered pertinent for a comprehensive review of problems and solutions, limiting the timeframe condenses such possibilities and narrows the application of the precautionary principle.
Moreover, funding for Environment Canada, Parks Canada and Fisheries and Oceans are to be cut at six, four and four percent, respectively. By trimming down the departments both financially and in terms of manpower, the government intends to diminish the influence of these branches. They are not only suppressing the voice of the government departments but also planning to strategically restrain public action. Environmental non-governmental organizations are now stipulated to provide more information on their political actions. Also, they are no longer permitted to receive donations from foreign sources, which should be brought to question because such an order is not imposed on any other sectors of charities. The lobbying efforts of environmental groups are also being slashed as per the conditions of the budget. The government has hacked funding for grants allocated to scientific research while providing Revenue Canada with $8 million to carry out an investigation on groups and charities that perform research on the topics of conservation and sustainable development.
Another huge blow is the elimination of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, which was created under the leadership of Brian Mulroney in 1988 as a prelude to the 1992 Earth Summit. The forum was one of the first of its kind to bring to surface the integration of business and environment and recognize the importance of corporate social responsibility. The group was responsible for conducting impartial research and providing policy suggestions to the federal level. While the urgency to heed to such issues is of utmost importance in the modern business world, the sidelining of environmental concerns is a signal for businesses to operate unsustainably. While in the quest for Earth Summit 1992 collaborative initiatives were undertaken by the government to prepare Canada for a sustainable future, in the journey towards Earth Summit 2012 (Rio+20), Canada is undoing whatever positive changes were previously implemented.
The government’s agenda outlined rather blatantly in the Federal Budget is that if we don’t hear about it, we are not accountable to do anything about it, as demonstrated by their attempts to quell environmental groups and restrict public action. Democratic practices, civic engagement, environment and public health are all collectively targeted.
“The Black Out Speak out Campaign” launched on May 7th, 2012, is planned in response to these cuts and in particular, Bill C-38 which stipulates stricter government overlook on non-governmental environmental organizations. Leading environmental and social justice groups like the David Suzuki Foundation, Sierra Club Canada, Greenpeace, EcoJustice, Environmental Defense, Pembina, West Coast Environmental Law, CPAWS, Nature Canada and WWF Canada are all participating in the movement. The campaign focuses on organizing a website blackout on June 4th to raise awareness about democracy, importance of public participation and environmental advocacy, and stand up against the government’s limitations on environmental groups.
Environmental health is inextricably linked to human health and social well-being. Businesses and industries function in the natural environment, not the other way around. The view of the ecosystem as a separate entity which exists only to be exploited is careless. Once a pioneer in environmental efforts, it is disheartening to see the current government persistently stepping backwards. The environmental priorities of the country have become stained by oil.
WorldRed Cross and Red Crescent Day is celebrated on May 8th. It marks the movement that works to aid and protect people in need around the world. This initiative began just after World War One with a message of restoring peace and preserving human dignity. Today, the day provides us with an opportunity to remember the importance of taking action in counteracting global issues and lending a hand on an international level to communities in need. Red Cross has helped communities prepare in face of increasing disasters, addressed health care access issues, and promoted a culture of peace. Established in 1863, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have become the oldest and largest voluntary organization in the world with approximately 100 million volunteers working to address humanitarian crises.
In today’s world such an effort and care is very much needed as distress and misery are rife. Political instability, economic and social problems hinder individuals from retrieving basic needs in various parts of the world. War-torn areas, and those impacted by disease and disasters need relief and access to resources. In span of last year, the world has experienced some major environmental challenges including the flood in Pakistan, typhoon in Philippines, and Fukushima disaster in Japan. People continue to lose lives to AIDS and malaria just because they don’t have access to medical treatments. According to UNICEF, a child is killed from malaria every 30 seconds and as per United Nations, 2.5 billion people live without access to basic sanitation. Such statistics paint a sad and distressed picture of the world. However, if we can do something about changing it, then why not take action?
The theme of 2012 Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is Youth on Move. Similar to the message of Earth Day 2012 which focused on public action, the theme illustrates the urgency to take positive steps and encourages youngsters to get involved in local communities. It strives to awaken the volunteer spirit in the next generation and reignite civic engagement.
My name is Tania Rashid and I will be joining the TIGed team as the Program Assistant.
I have completed my BA in Health and Society and International Development Studies from York University and went on to complete an Ontario Graduate Certificate in International Business Management from Seneca College.
I believe that the long-term viability of any organization can be directly measured by the strength of its youth members. TIG is an ideal organization to be a part of as it is actively empowering youth to become global citizens. TIG is providing youth with the resources to become socially aware global citizens and active agents around the world and TIGed is providing educator with the resources needed infuse global perspectives in classrooms.
As a Program Assistant I hope to make your experience with TIGed stress free, entertaining, and enjoyabl
Ideas spark innovation and exposure to new thinking and information enlightens the mind. TED is a great platform where speakers from the worlds of Technology, Entertainment and Design come together to share their studies, views, history and progress. Very fittingly, the slogan of the conference is ‘Ideas worth Spreading.’ TED is a non-profit organization that began in 1984 as a conference. It is held on an annual basis every year in Long Beach and Palm Springs, where academics, professionals and pioneers in their respective fields, TED Fellows, are invited to offer an 18 minute presentation. In recent years, it has grown to host thematic events such as TEDGlobal, which focuses on international affairs and TEDWomen, where women who lead change in the world come together. However, recently, we have seen a vast expansion of this model to smaller scales where smaller communities all over the world are independently organizing local TEDx events. On average, seven such events are held around the world each day! This is an absolutely amazing venture because it encourages local mobility and collaboration. Change occurs on a small level and these conferences not only spread awareness, but also help connect people and further their ideas. It stimulates dialogue as well as civic engagement in the local community. What makes TED an effective concept it that it is easy to access. On its website, you can access thousands of TED Talks in any subject of choice, from sustainability and environment to architecture and art, from science and evolution to philosophy and psychology. The large array of themes allows us to explore connections between different fields and provides an opportunity for collaboration, which is imperative in an interconnected world where global problems can only be solved through transdisciplinary approach. On a personal level, it allows us to continually expand our knowledge, learn about new ideas, perspectives, schools of thought and innovations that are changing our world.
I remember that it was my Grade 10 Science teacher who introduced our class to the world of TED. He was so enthusiastic about them that every week we’d watch at least one talk in class, and I’ve been watching them ever since. Some of my favourite talks include a lecture a on Freakanomics, poetry by Sarah Kay and Planet Walker by John Francis, all of which have inspired me in a different way. To get an opportunity to learn from the brightest minds is invaluable as new thinking opens new opportunities.
If YOU have an idea that you believe is worth spreading, don’t keep it to yourself, let it grow and share with the Asia Society’s ISSN(International Studies Schools Network)Community (http://issnny.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network). Asia Society is an international organization that works towards building relationships and spreading awareness among people of Asia and United States through art, lectures seminars, and TEDx conferences.
My name is Jubeen Sharbaf and as a new intern, I will be helping out as TIGed's Marketing and Promotions Assistant.
I have a bachelor's in engineering (operations) from Azad University in Iran. During the past few years, my career has shifted towards marketing, branding, product development and I like to move towards strategy development in future.
I have a big passion for social enterprises. I started my first business endeavour with my cousin when I was 18. After playing around with business ideas for a while, I cofounded House of Entrepreneurs, a publishing initiative which provided inspiring content for young entrepreneurs. Since moving to Canada, I have fallen in love with the non-profit section. In my last position, I worked as a coordinator and later an advisor, at Agora Philosophical Forum, a public community forum.
I am very excited to be part of TIG and working with the great TIGed team. I will be helping out with marketing and strategizing to promote the efforts of the total TIG family.
My name is Jubeen Sharbaf and as a new intern, I will be helping out as TIGed's Marketing and Promotions Assistant.
I have a bachelor's in engineering (operations) from Azad University in Iran. During the past few years, my career has shifted towards marketing, branding, product development and I like to move towards strategy development in future.
I have a big passion for social enterprises. I started my first business endeavour with my cousin when I was 18. After playing around with business ideas for a while, I cofounded House of Entrepreneurs, a publishing initiative which provided inspiring content for young entrepreneurs. Since moving to Canada, I have fallen in love with the non-profit section. In my last position, I worked as a coordinator and later an advisor, at Agora Philosophical Forum, a public community forum.
I am very excited to be part of TIG and working with the great TIGed team. I will be helping out with marketing and strategizing to promote the efforts of the total TIG family.
Living in a democracy automatically gives us many desirable civic, legal, social, economic, and private freedoms, but it does not guarantee we will act upon them.
Climate citizens looks at this framework and seeks to most fundamentally help redefine citizenship; we aim to make citizenship about acting on these rights based on the understanding that unless one becomes actively involved in the political construction of our collective future one renders themself powerless. Since democracies exist to create a desirable collective reality that responsibly reflects, provides for, and advances our interests we need to make sure those with power know about them. Climate citizens believes this is possible through education and engagement. We are lucky to have been given the rights we have; it is entitled and complacent not to live them out.
Clarity of Vision
Climate Citizens recognizes that how we act reflects how we understand reality. This implies that our degree of engagement in politics is a reflection of how important we think we are, what we percieve our role in society as being, and whether or not we believe we can or have a role to play in making a better world come about. All that said we recognize that reality is socially constructed and equally distorted by groups that successfully enforce their definitions of reality on us. When we look at the objective reality of climate change the fact we should act is clear, the fact that we have failed to act more than anythig reflects that many of our norms towards the environment no longer work. We need new ones; we need to see the challenge clearly.
Environmental Fairness
Any discussion of climate change inevitably must answer the question of what is fair. The people who will suffer most from climate change the contributed least to it. Our economic system not only subsidizes the ongoing dismantling of their ecological underpinnings of their hopes for prosperity in this century, but has rewarded those who distort climate science for greater profits. Is that fair? To effectively challenging climate change means to challenge the norms, institutions, and ideologies that legitimize environmental destruction themselves. The best way for us to do that is beginning an open and active civic discourse about our moral responsibility in our environmental impact, and our own obligations to others as well as future generations.
Roles
Exportable campaigns: each project will be based on common principles that anyone can begin working towards and participating in.
Director: constitutional and governance issues, managing the projects the director began, participating in other projects when he has the time, managing the website.
Climate citizens: helping with various projects when they have the time, beginning their own projects.
SCOPE and local environmental group Members: This particular project will be working with a local group called SCOPE, as well as other local environmental groups. They will be given materials the Climate Citizen Director creates they will be free to disseminate. They can request to partake in the delegation going to meet the Member of Parliament.
Head Editor: the director will be in charge of managing how the group will seek to publish its report on environmental innovations.
Social Innovators: they will attend regular meetings and contribute to the publication itself where they present the environmental innovations they have been developing throughout the year.
What types of positions will be created to support you in launching your project?
Climate Citizens actually isn't based on too official a model as it currently plans to remain a fairly small group. What it does intend to do is create a space for independent organizing through its “climate citizens” model, which is explained on the website I made.
What type of person or people will be the best match for these positions? Why?
People who are committed activists and see climate change as a political issue. This is because that is the group's reason for existing, to coordinate that type of political action.
How can you make the positions attractive to them?
They will have a pre-existing framework for what they can do while before they might not have known how they could have become involved. For example, pre-written letters, having pictures of them shown on the “past successes” section of the website, etc.
Where will you recruit these people? How will you select them?
U of T and by contacting intelligent and interested individuals as I meet them.
How will you motivate and retain these people?
We intend to generate fairly high-value material in our education videos and publications that they will be able to be proud of.
How will you cultivate a sense of shared ownership and vision?
We will have our names published in our work and actually be seen in the videos. A link to the image of the group's design can be found here.
