It starts with a walk!

Our McGillvary Loop neighbourhood started with a simple walk around the block — around the “Loop,” as we soon came to call it.

Actually, it started when three households met a few times to talk about the benefits of neighbourhood cohesion, for mutual support, safety and just plain conviviality. We decided to start by inviting everyone in the area out for a walk — something many of us do regularly, but usually on our own.

We picked a Friday morning in June. But how to let people know? Using the $40 seed grant from Island Futures, we printed up a large poster for the mailbox bulletin board, and 45 smaller flyers, which we hand distributed to every house in the area.

On the day, some 18 people turned up despite the drizzly weather, and after introductions all round we had a lovely hour’s walk exchanging snippets and facts about our neighbourhood. It was satisfying enough that we did it again in July. Then, having scored a Neighbourhood Small Grant, we planned a Loop BBQ for late in August, to which at least 45 people came, met, ate, talked, and heard about emergency prep.

Six months in, we’ve hatched a private email list, and a basic blog site (mcgillvaryloop.wordpress.com) to post resources and local news.

We’re looking to make neighbourhood walks a regular event, and there might be another NSG eat-fest in our future. But it all kicked off with a walk!

Global climate news: November

COP30, a grim takeaway

November 30, 2025 from Deb F

Another COP wrecked by fossil fuel interests and global leaders’ cowardice. Key observations:

5000 indigenous people were there, but unable to vote or attend closed door meetings.
The power of protests – protests happened every day, most notable an Indigenous led “great people’s march” on the Middle Sat.
US absence created a vacuum, and an opportunity. In an historic first, America did not send an official delegation. China took an unexpected leadership role.
Implementation through side deals – not the main stage – such as the Belem pledge, committed signatories to quadruple sustainable fuels production and use by 2035.
The Global transition text – more than 80 countries signed the text for a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels. But when the final deal was agreed, key references to fossil fuel phase out were missing. Opposition from Saudi Arabia, India and other fuel producers watered it down.

Warming is going to exceed 1.5°C*. Humanity is living beyond limits.

Global climate news: September

Thanks to Deb F for her regular updates on the wider climate scene, beyond just Gabriola. This month’s update is a true labour of love, handwritten (because: computers) and covering:

The COP 30 conference (Nov 10-21 in Belém, Brazil), including the Move Mundo public pressure campaign.
Nanaimo council is discussing the zoning for an AI data centre, which may or may not be a net benefit for the region.

Global climate news: February

From global finance hopes to commercialization of weather reporting

1. Doomsday Clock 2025

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists sets the Doomsday Clock to 89 seconds to midnight in 2025, the closest it has ever been to catastrophe. The statement warns of the dangers of nuclear risk, climate change, biological events, and disruptive technologies, and urges global leaders to take bold action.

Link: thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/2025-statement/

2. We Don’t Have Time

We Don’t Have Time (app.wedonthavetime.org) is the world’s largest media platform for climate action—with a mission to democratize knowledge about climate solutions and inspire and mobilize global action toward a prosperous, fossil-free future. Some recent items:

Global climate news: January

From wildfires to Heavy Metal Playlist

1. Los Angeles Fires

Insurance Premiums Spike as Natural Disasters Strike. What Homeowners Can Do.
Hurricanes, floods and wildfires are wreaking havoc, and property owners are paying the price.
Private firefighters are helping out in LA wildfires. It raises ethical questions.

Global climate news: November

1. COP 16, Colombia

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1156456

The world’s largest biodiversity summit, known as COP16, concluded this weekend in Colombia, with several landmark decisions, including first ever agreements on nature’s genetic data and on recognising people of Africa descent and Indigenous Peoples as key stewards in conservation efforts. Efforts to get a seat at the table have spanned three decades.

Global climate news: October

1. COP 16 – Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Oct 21-Nov 1 in Cali, Colombia

The UN biodiversity summit known as COP16 officially opened in Cali, Colombia. Considered the world’s most important event to conserve biodiversity will host some 15,000 attendees, including a dozen heads of State, 103 ministers and over 1,000 international journalists.

Secretary-General António Guterres urged delegations from some 190 countries to “make peace with nature” and shore up a plan to stop habitat loss, save endangered species, and preserve our planet’s precious ecosystems

Global climate news: September

1. United Nations Summit ‘Pact for the Future’

Sept 22-23, 2024

World leaders on Sunday adopted the Pact for the Future, a landmark declaration pledging concrete actions towards a safer, more peaceful, sustainable and inclusive world for tomorrow’s generations.

The global pact included explicit calls to phase out fossil fuels. The pact called for reaffirmed commitment to the Paris climate agreement (2015), which laid out goals to move away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy.

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1154581

Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty