Contents Zeen New Deal intro
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Poem: The Public Interest
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4 Pillars of the Green New Deal
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Song: Change Everything
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Poem: My Little Bread
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Poem: Millenia Mammalia
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Background: Our Time Vancouver
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Zeen New Deal
The idea for this zine came together at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in so called Canada, as shelter in place measures came into effect, and our organizing efforts had to move online. As the world around us started to change so rapidly, bringing sickness into our communities, as unemployment levels rose, and we witnessed government responses fail to address the needs of those most vulnerable by the pandemic: the unhoused, essential workers, Indigenous communities, undocumented and migrant workers, sex workers, people living with disabilities etc. We recognized the need to continue collective dreaming of a world rooted in justice and wellbeing for all. A world that puts care at its core -- care for each other, for communities, and for or shared home. This Zine is an attempt to vision, share, and celebrate this potential world and the efforts being taken to bring it into being. It is also a reflection on the actions we need to get there.
COVID-19 has highlighted many problematic patterns in our society, including systemic racism, colonialism, ableism, and economic disparity among other injustices. We recognize that going back to the state of the world before COVID-19 is not an option, and we refuse to go back to a version of ‘normal’, which was harming our social and ecological communities.
We are #NotGoing Back. Instead, we are building a new normal- one that centers justice and the health and wellbeing of people and the planet. We are calling for a Just Recovery that lays the foundations for a Green New Deal beyond capitalism.
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We need a Just Recovery to respond to COVID-19 that puts people’s health and wellbeing first, b upholds Indigenous rights, buids community reslience, strengthens social safety nets, prioritizes the needs of workers and communities, and builds soliarity and equity for all. The Just Recovery needs to usher in a Green New Deal that listens to the science, respects Indigenous rights and sovereignty, creates millions of good jobs- with living wages and labour rights, and enshrines dignity, justice and
We believe that these policies and actions will create the context for us to reach this re-imagined ‘normal.’ We hope this Zine informs, inspires, and celebrates the work towards this more just and beautiful world-- thank you fore taking the time to join us in this journey.
illustration by Hannah Gelderman
The public interest
LIGULA MANGA No. 001
by Laura Cameron
The public interest runs on the blood of the black snake the cost: communities loss of languages sacred lands, decimated for our sake But we have a different understanding of our interests, visions lit up in the field of our collective imagination the glow of cooperatives braided through relational communities where no pockets are empty where breath flows easy without tuition and transit fees free movement of free bodies A vision fueled by care economies not carbon liabilities the brilliance of resilient health care the lifeblood of our collective body stewarded territories are our so-called ‘commodities’, shaped through the craft of consent The path of future footsteps lit up by people power
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ilillustration by Emily Thiessen CHAPTER 001
This vision illuminates the darkness in the depths of this ocean of uncertainty rise the tides of movement of opportunity swelling waves of solidarity as care splashes between strangers on distant beaches water, clearer than ever that this vision is within our reach and you are a drop one among many not special, but essential
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The Green New Deal Addressing climate change means ending our reliance on fossil fuels. Climate change is both caused by and exacerbates the forces of colonialism, capitalism, and white supremacy. Canada needs its own “Green New Deal”— a vision for climate, economic and social justice that phases out fossil fuels while upholding Indigenous rights, opening Canada’s borders to migrants and refugees, addressing white supremacy, and guaranteeing good, dignified, and well-paid work for everyone. We understand the Green new Deal as an intersectional and ambitious plan to transform our society on the scale that science and justice demands in order to meet the twin challenges of the climate crisis and inequality in all its forms.
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Our vision of a Green New Deal is rooted in climate justice, which recognizes climate solutions as those that expand justice for everyone, and that build connected, sustainable societies where all life can flourish. A Green New Deal is not just about the transition to renewable energy, it will not happen through public- private partnerships, or market measures. Instead it will emerge out of the grassroots, and out of communities re-imagine how our societies, economics, institutions, politics and communities function. It is about collectively dreaming up a more just and sustainable world to imagine new ways of living, of housing of feeding ourselves, of relating to and loving one another and the earth and working to bring it into the world.
Listen to the science 10
In 2020 human beings stand atop a climate cliff. For nearly three centuries we’ve extracted fossil fuels, like petroleum, coal and natural gas, from deep within the earth to fuel our industries, wars, cities and homes at an exponential rate never before seen on Planet Earth.
For nearly as long scientists have been warning about the dangerous effects of this combustion process, deemed “the greenhouse effect” by John Henry Poynting in 1909. Throughout the 20th century, evidence continued to pile up that the release of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels was irreversibly changing the chemical composition of the Earth’s atmosphere. Climate change is a human product. To substantially address climate change at its root, we must understand human power and history. The global rat races to claim dominion over the natural world were, and continue to be, part and parcel of the colonial ambitions of European States. Global Extractive economies required the enslavement of peoples to forcibly work the land, the displacement of Indigenous peoples globally and the theft of their land, the creation of new markets to sell nature transformed into resources products. It’s
impossible to truthfully tell the story of climate change without discussing racism,colonialism, patriarchy, classism and the many other intwined systems of oppression that characterize the modern world. In other words, the production of climate change is fundamentally a story of multiple genocides across the world. It affects us in uneven ways, but at the current rate of fossil fuel consumption climate change will imapct us all. The accelerated burning of fossil fuels has led us to a precipice. In 2018 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report in plain language explaining that the 2020s are our last hope to decarbonize our economies and slow the onset of catastrophic climate change. Every barrel of oil, every tonne of carbon dioxide, push us closer to the edge. Like most species, humans evolved slowly over millennia to survive in a narrow ecological niche. We cannot
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tolerate extreme heat or cold. We are poor swimmers and we cannot survive underwater. We depend on the reliability of the Earth’s air, food, temperature and seasons to sustain us. All of our clever innovations came about in a very narrow range of environmental conditions. We evolved on a geological time scale. Our bodies and biology cannot adapt on the fly to changing climatic conditions, which is the exact gamble we’re making every day. The clock is ticking. Climate change is an existential threat to our existence because it risks turning on feedback loops not seen on the earth in millions of years. Rising temperatures, sea level rise, atmospheric currents, weather patterns, ocean acidifications, mass extinction, melting ice caps are not discrete phenomena, but responsive elements of the Earth system. When one changes, it ripples through the others. We are fiddling with the precise evolutionary parameters that gave us life. At its core the Green New Deal is about preserving a livable, survivable environment for all
people. This is required for the transformative equitable future that fuels our dreams. The Earth will be fine without us, but we will be nothing without the Earth. To look after our collective future, we must hold our leaders accountable to heed the dire consensus of scientists around the world. We must halt all fossil fuel development immediately if our species is to have a reasonable chance of surviving the century.
LIGULA MANGA No. 001
Respects Indigenous Rights and Sovereignty
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What is now known as Canada is a Settler State, which Potawatomi scholar Dr. Kyle Whyte writes “involves the settler society seeking to fully establish itself in that territory according to its own cultural and political systems, which requires erasing the Indigenous population” Resurgence and resistance to ongoing colonialism on these lands through defense of land, water and lifeways has been ongoing by Indigenous nations since the arrival of settlers. And while the current Federal government talks a lot abot reconcilation, yet the government continues to pursue fossil fuel extraction on Indigenous lands without consent. The GND must hold Indigenous rights and sovereignty at its center. This starts with the implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This means listening deeply and following the leadership of Indigenous peoples and Nations, who have been on the frontlines of climate impacts and solutions on Turtle Island. This means taking decolonization seriously, by decentralizing power, and returning the land back to Indigenous Nations.
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Enshrines dignity, justice and equity for all The GND must enshrine dignity, justice, and equity for all. We need climate solutions that work for the frontline, marginalized, and Indigenous communities that are bearing the brunt of fossil fuel and climate impacts. This means connecting climate action to inequality and injustice and proposing real solutions that leave no community, no family and no one behind. A Green New Deal must prioritize the wellbeing of marginalized and vulnerable communities, those who are on the frontlines of every crises. Within the climate movement we have a long way to go in highlighting the voices of those people on the frontlines. So a Green New Deal and a Just recovery is recognizing that has to be
a priority, and the way that we move forward is having people on the frontlines and marginalized communities lead the movement not just keeping them in mind, that we have to put them first, but also that they are the leaders- with health with climate. Prioritizing vulnerable communities who clearly understand the problems and the solutions and ust need the platforms and resources.
Creates millions of Good Jobs
LIGULA MANGA No. 001
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At its core, the Green New Deal is about transforming the way in which our economy and society works to shift it away from its current reliance on fossil fuels towards a sustainable, low carbon future. To do this, we will need to transform countless aspects of the way our economy currently runs, from transportation to food production to residential energy consumption. Accomplishing large scale transformation will require millions of workers, and so any credible climate plan must invest in job creation. To ensure that this new economy is a fair and equitable one, we must empower workers, such as making unionization easier and requiring worker representation on corporate boards so that workers have the power to secure good pay, benefits, and working conditions for themselves. Investments in the creation of
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green jobs can and should be targeted towards communities most impacted by the sunsetting of the fossil fuel industry so that no community is left behind. in transforming our economy into one that is sustainable, we have to address our economy’s dependence on fossil fuels, and the structural factors that have gotten in the way of addressing this dependency despite how dangerous it is to our collective future. It is therefore imperative that we remake our economy in a way that puts people and the planet before profits, as prioritizing profits above all else is largely responsible for both the severity of and lack of action in solving the climate crisis. This means that more democratic control over the economy is necessary, such as government or co-operative ownership of major industries, so that the public has a say in how our economy is run. Large, privatelyowned corporations that are unaccountable to anybody except for their shareholders cannot be relied upon to act in the public interest. It is these very corporations who are most responsible for the current climate crisis. Public ownership and control means that communities can change the way that an industry is run if it is operating in a way that is contrary to the public interest, such as if it is damaging the environment or otherwise operating in an unsustainable manner. Greater public control also means that public ownership will let communities invest in themselves, so capital can stay in the communities and residents don’t have to move to find opportunities. Communities that are empowered to make decisions for themselves over their local economies will not have to curb environmental and labour regulations to attract investment capital from corporations. Instead of bending over backwards to attract investment from private corporations, we can take ownership of large corporations and tax the wealthy to empower communities to make investment decisions for themselves instead. This means a fairer economy where people are not forced to choose between their livelihood and the environment.
Song: Change Everything 16
by Nicole Jowett Em G D Well you say that the transition’s on its way Em G D But you buy a leaky pipeline the next day Em G We got ten years and ticking D Em The transition must be swift Am D Em It’s our time and you will not stand in the way Chorus: Em Change everything G D Be more human, be more human Em Change everything G D Time for a new deal, new deal We see floods and we see fires we see warming two times higher But you tell us we must choose jobs or the earth Well we’re tired of playin this game You’re the only one that wins We need green jobs that give the workers all they’re worth And you say there’s not enough to go around But for wars and jails there’s always money to be found Well this battle’s for the earth And the crime is poverty Which side are you on? Make it the right side of history!
illustration by Emily Thiessen
CHAPTER 001 Bridge: D G D G And you say “nation to nation” “reconciliation” Em But you don’t give a fuck. Am Em It’s our time for more than words Am Em All First Nations must be heard
You build borders you build walls But it’s the rich who take it all How can a woman work all day And not make a living wage? How are billionaires even a thing When it’s clearly exploiting? We sent a man to the freaking moon So we can figure this out soon Yeah this system’s gotta switch Or we’re gonna eat the rich They’ll divide us with their power So let’s come together now Time to boycott time to strike Time to stand up for what’s right Am Em D It’s our time to make the change we wanna see Em Change everything
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My Little Bread
by Jay Castro
I don’t want to hurt you By seeing you Despite being hurt For not being able to stop The pain, Wipe your tears, Hold you close To feel the warmth Of a sourdough bread That reaches out And grows arms Just to cradle you And let you crawl into a ball again To feel your yeast rise And let your breathing slow down A rock skips across the pond And the ripples Dissipate to a standstill No longer distracting From the cool wind breeze And weather patterns Of our turbulence That we cannot afford This crisis has allowed us to recognize how issues of
Trauma Being one of the few things We can’t avoid When it shows up at our doorstep Instead of anyone That doesn’t already watch over us From our history of resilience Our Intergenerational Survival Remember that We aren’t invisible We aren’t alone We aren’t ignored We’re just distant And I’m thinking of you right now Promise me you’ll share some space for me And I’ll share some space for you To have our yeast rise Together As one sweet ball of dough Moulded into each other, intertwined When our there becomes here Until you can appear to me once again I reach my arms out To hold you My sweet little bread
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illustration by Emily Thiessen
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Millennia Mammalia
LIGULA MANGA No. 001
by Jay Castro
Lowering the high rise To this high chair - a throne To condone traditional meandering - Favouring the myriad of fate bells we ring Saving what we’re savouring Choosing soup du jour for the poor In front of Hooter’s fine establishment Gaining weight to fake the other accent, Well that’s that then. Our reservoir of résumés are feigning foreign total cosplays Raw clays and adobe for the hot days Searing steak in the sun rays Serving milk in the flaunt way That cake is brought out to the Prime rib trust fund kid With a serious look and wouldn’t joke about it Because their futures gone grim too Describing their residue trying not to act rude Hit continue because the panic button is in use Depression is an issue - unless its justified With the path of our life you made for us Too dangerous not to conclude Interrupted By the permeating party conversation Ridicules with strict rules Are taken to the table that talks In tantric western scholarship. Assimilation similar to Asian malls of austere menus Usurped by western values White face salons and Factory made shoes
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For Mickey Mouse and Donald To ride the steamboat to A venue for parties For their new wives to Wrestle with their sinew. Wealth to be spread across With Asian men at a loss To play that same power game Is all that we got When our homes and history Are so easily forgot Long winded tales Conquering to all avail Cultures that are more frail Are all for a joke at the table So not taken seriously In the establishment rhythm of professionalism Having vision is more of cannibalism To white face in the midst of being asian Is established as the expectations of generations. As swift as my tears were wiped The party left the table To play musical chairs to a Disney soundtrack I obviously sat back As if I still got class And the ground attached to the chair Attached to my ass Immune to any kisses or slaps Watching them all Still endlessly clap Living through breathing in vibrating stillness Inching even closer to a true atomic split Latest situation left with my therapist And I tell him go hug yourself, Because I deserve it.
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LIGULA MANGA No. 001
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Our Time Vancouver is a local, youth-led grassroots hub that is part of a national movement fighting for a Just Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that lays the foundations for a Green New Deal. In this work, we recognize it is critical that we actively stand in solidarity with other movements fighting for racial, Indigenous, migrant, social and economic justice, and see these fights as inseparable from our own. We organize on the unceded territory of the TseilWaututh, Squamish, and Musqueam Nations. We acknowledge that colonialism is an ongoing, violent, and oppressive process. We work to support and follow the leadership of movements for Indigenous sovereignty.
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We have regular virtual meetings, multiple working groups, and a variety of ways to get involved -and encourage new members to join! We also host webinars, direct actions, art builds, and join in actions in solidarity with other movements and grassroots groups. There are so many different ways to join this movement, and if we want to win it will take each and every one of us. For some, that might mean organizing rallies and actions, for others it means working to build stronger and more caring communities, and for others it might look entirely different. It will take all of our skills to imagine and fight for the future we need. To learn more/to get involved check us out on facebook: facebook.com/OurTime.Vancouver/ Twitter: twitter.com/OurTime_Van Instagram: instagram.com/ourtime.vancouver/ Or email at: ourtimevancouver@gmail.com
illustration by Emily Thiessen
HOW WE WIN! and why we need YOU! 26
Social movements have successfully changed the course of history many times. Right now we are in the midst of a powerful movement pushing for climate action and a just transition! WE NEED TO CHANGE G THIN EVERY
EVERYONE!
Our Time, and other groups pushing for a Green New Deal, are using people powered, non-violent action to mobilize people, grow the movement, put pressure on political and institutional powers, and shift public opinion to create change. This organizing is done by dedicated folks from all walks of life and there are so many different ways to contribute to the movement. From painting banners to making phone calls, from writing speeches to preparing meals - there are jobs for everyone. Local groups are organizing in cities and communities across the country and they are waiting for you to join them! by Hannah Gelderman
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Contributors
Emily Thiessen: Emily is an illustrator with a fire for creative troublemaking who comes from Chinese-Malaysian and Mennonite roots and live on beautiful Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ Territories, Victoria B.C. You can find Emily’s work at: @archipelagic / emilythiessen.ca Hannah Gelderman: Hannah Gelderman (she/her) is an artist, educator and arts-based community organizer. Hannah is a settler of Dutch descent living on Treaty 6 Territory in Amiskwaciwâskahikan, a region also known as Edmonton, Alberta. You can find Hannah’s work at: http://www.hannahgelderman.com/ Jay Castro: Jay Castro is a first generation Filipino-Canadian settler who aspires to contribute to the world through media. You can find Jay’s work at: http://www.jaycastro.com/ Nicole Jowett Nicole Jowett is a migrant and climate justice advocate based in Winnipeg. Laura Cameron: Laura Cameron (she/her) is a settler-descendant queer activist, researcher, and filmmaker living on Treaty 1 territory in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her passion for climate justice and youth leadership drives her work, organizing with the Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition and Our Time Winnipeg.
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