One giant Leap for humankind
It’s fortunate that Naomi Klein’s Leap Manifesto (NOW, September 24-30) is stating what needs to be rather than second-guessing what might be politically possible.
What should be underlined now is that all greenhouse gases need to stay in the ground. Substantial reductions need to occur right now, not in some undetermined future.
Huge emitters like the military, international shipping and aviation are exempt under the Kyoto Protocol. The agro-industrial complex is also an enormous source of emissions, with its chemical fertilizers additionally causing dead zones and acidification of the oceans. Historically, these are all recent developments, and they are inessential to public health of the world population.
Judith Deutsch, Toronto
Eco manifesto ignores factory farming
Naomi Klein’s and Avi Lewis’s documentary This Changes Everything accurately depicts the real grass-roots movements forming world-wide in response to climate change.
However, an important issue it neglects to mention is the significant role of animal agriculture in the climate crisis, and the solution to it: the shift to a plant-based diet.
The Chatham House report on livestock notes that “it is unlikely global temperature rises can be kept below two degrees Celsius without a shift in global meat and dairy consumption.” I attended one of the screenings, and afterwards, during the Q&A, Klein said that individuals can choose to eat less meat or ride a bicycle.
The problem with her analysis is that it does not recognize the systemic nature of factory farming, which is as deeply embedded in the structures of industrial society as fossil fuels. It is not unusual for progressives to neglect this issue.
Paul York, Toronto
Ask your candidate about gun control
Re How The HarperCons Silenced Canada’s Gun Lobby On C-51. I am an American-born Canadian citizen. I am what some would call a gun control activist. I have been visiting federal party candidates’ campaign offices seeking policy and opinions on the regulating of civilian firearm and ammunition acquisition and possession.
The absurd thing: the NDP and Liberal parties don’t seem to have any policy or opinions on how to undo or rectify what the Conservatives have done to loosen gun laws during their years in majority.
The gun lobby is not changing Canada the current government is changing Canada. And unless people vote in a responsible government, lobbyists like Tony Bernardo and his NRA wannabes will continue to lead us down the American gun path. Ask your candidate what his or her plan is to fix the gun (and ammo) laws.
Geoff Currie, Toronto
Freeland’s bid gets free ride in Trinity
How is it that Chrystia Freeland is entitled to ask those of us in the old Trinity-Spadina riding that now forms part of University-Rosedale to “re-elect” her? (NOW, September 17-23).
For the majority of voters in the northern half of Trinity-Spadina she wasn’t even on our ballot in 2011. To have those signs outside the part of the new riding she currently represents is arrogant at best and misleading at worst.
Allenna Leonard, Toronto
Bombs away on Trump
While I agree that Donald Trump appears to be a complete blowhard, I cannot help but wonder how he remains in Lynn Crosbie’s line of fire (NOW, September 24-30) while she appears to ignore the current commander-in-chief in the White House. The military he oversees continues drone attacks on innocent women and their children throughout the Middle East. Harsh words by Trump versus harsh bombs by Obama. Call me silly, but the latter seems more harmful.
David Maharaj, Etobicoke
Lemmy gives his all, Motörhead kicks ass
Carla Gillis’s mediocre review of Motörhead’s performance at Riot Fest (NOW, September 20) was misguided. I was there with a large group of friends, an assortment of music fans new to Motörhead and long-time fans of the band and heavy metal music. We were all thoroughly entertained, in awe of a legend and happy and thankful Lemmy was able to show up and play for us at all.
As Gillis relates, Lemmy suffers from diabetes, heart issues and other health problems, and yet there he was genuinely giving his all for the fans. Did he slur through some of the lyrics? Sure. Did he move around the stage? Not really. But who cares? That’s how its been for years. They are Motörhead and they play rock and roll. They delivered on that promise Saturday night, and it kicked ass!
Aaron Ellis, Toronto
Riverside blues
Three writers contributed to the article on Leslieville, and all strayed well outside Leslieville’s boundaries.
Of the 40-plus places mentioned, nine are in Riverside!
Lynne Patterson, Riverside
