Principles for a Just and Green Recovery and Rebuild from

COVID-19 has fundamentally changed our society. As we begin the process of recovering, PHP4 Climate Action is advocating for a just and green recovery and rebuild. The following 2 sets of principles are vital in addressing the impacts of COVID-19 as we rebuild our society and communities.

1. Please consider signing onto the Principles for a Just Recovery from COVID-19 Letter in support of the following principles:

1. 1.   Put people’s health first, no exceptions.

   Resource health services everywhere; ensure access for all.

   2.   Provide economic relief directly to the people.

   Focus on people and workers – particularly those marginalised in existing systems – our short-term needs and long-term conditions.

   3.   Help workers and communities, not corporate executives.

   Assistance directed at specific industries must be channeled to communities and workers, not shareholders or corporate executives, and never to corporations that don’t commit to tackling the climate crisis.

   4.   Create resilience for future crises.

   We must create millions of decent jobs that will help power a just recovery and transition for workers and communities to the zero-carbon future we need.

   5.   Build solidarity and community across borders – don’t empower authoritarians.

   Transfer technology and finance to lower-income countries and communities to allow them to respond using these principles and share solutions across borders and communities. Do not use the crisis as an excuse to trample on human rights, civil liberties, and democracy. 

2. Green Strings Principles for a Green Recovery from COVID-19 in Canada

The following seven “green strings” should be attached to COVID-19 recovery measures announced by Canada’s government:

1. Support only companies that agree to plan for net-zero emissions by 2050.

2. Make sure funds go towards jobs and stability, not executives and shareholders.

3. Support a just transition that prepares workers for green jobs.

4. Build up the sectors and infrastructure of tomorrow.

5. Strengthen and protect environmental policies during recovery.

6. Be transparent and accountable to Canadians.

7. Put people first and leave no one behind.

Urban Nature

The need to stay home and physically distance has brought into focus how important nature is to our health, both physically and emotionally. Hopefully the COVID crisis will lead to a city re-designed with an emphasis on outdoor space and access to nature in an urban setting.The following interview is an inspiring piece related to our relationship with trees in the city.

Urban Tree Festival: An Interview with Nicola Woods

Community coming together

In this time of uncertainty and crisis, communities have come together to support each other. Community led initiatives have sprung up across the country. In Parkdale-High Park , we are fortunate to have amazing neighbourhoods coming together:

• COVID 19 Action Parkdale Roncesvalle: “Our focus is on community action by community groups and individuals -- people helping people”. To learn more, please visit www.covid19actionparkdaleroncesvalles.ca

• Parkdale Mutual Aid Network: “The Parkdale People’s Economy wants to support community members with self-organizing mutual aid networks in Parkdale to build strong connections with neighbours during the outbreak of COVID-19. We know that many of our neighbours are disproportionately impacted by social distancing due to housing insecurity, mental health, poverty, precarious work, and lack of access to affordable food and resources. We want to ensure that isolated and vulnerable community members have support networks and solidarity during these difficult times.” To learn more, please visit parkdalepeopleseconomy.ca

• Parkdale High Park Online Community Group: In Parkdale- High Park Park we are fortunate to be made up of wonderful and eclectic neighbourhoods. A Facebook group committed to supporting local businesses and community members across the riding was created by PHP residents. To learn more visit Parkdale High Park Online Community Group

What are some ways your community is coming together?

PHP4 Climate Action Team

The Impacts on Vulnerable People

Creating the society that reflects compassion

Initially, suddenly finding myself out of work and isolating at home, sent me into a flurry of action. I began organizing every corner of my home and finishing projects, started months or even years ago. Our community was coming together to support each other in the most creative and amazing ways. Zoom, which I rarely used before, made its way into my everyday life.

As time went on, the reality of what we are facing began to sink in and my desire to organize my way out of it faded.

Discussions began to surface related to the rationing of medical treatment. It was reported that in Italy the young were being chosen over the old: in the US medical professionals were asking for ethical guidance in the event that a choice providing medical treatment to an able-bodied person over a disabled person is made; articles with headlines like “What a ventilator is and who gets one if COVID-19 turns catastrophic in Canada?” began to pop up.

Reports of COVID 19 impacts on seniors’ residences, long term care facilities, shelters and community group homes for adults with disabilities exposed inconceivable conditions. How on earth did we, as a society, get to the point where our collective action led to this? I wholeheartedly believe most of us agree that vulnerable seniors, disabled people and all other vulnerable people are not expendable members of our society.

It is my hope that when we finally get to the other side of this crisis, we will begin the hard work to ensure this belief is reflected in the society we share.

Helen Vassilakos

On behalf of PHP4 Climate Action