November has arrived, and with it, some winds of change in Quebec cities and towns. Whether your candidates of choice were elected or not, getting out and exercising your right to vote counts for a lot. We must continue to make our voices heard beyond the election period, to ensure that the decisions made by our elected officials take our well-being, our health, and our environment into account.
November is also Black Friday month... stretching well beyond a single day. Promotions are everywhere, and marketers know how to tempt us. But before giving in to impulse buys, we must check in with what our real needs are— to protect our wallets and our planet.
Climate policy
Look up Minister Drainville
Getting action on climate issues requires a variety of tactics. We went big on this one…
As of this morning, we put an unmissable message on the route that Minister Drainville takes to get to the National Assembly every day, in his own riding of Lévis: “On ne te lâchera pas avec les GES, Bernard.” (We won’t let you off the hook on greenhouse gas emissions.) The billboard message is in response to his “Lâchez-moi avec les GES” statement, which he said while defending the Third Link project.
Our request for an urgent meeting with our new Environment Minister has yet to get a response. During the silence, the setbacks have piled up:
a shift in government priorities, relegating GHG emissions reduction to a secondary role in climate change action.
Today, Équiterre is responding with strength and determination: climate and environmental issues cannot be put on hold. Équiterre’s government relations team has been an effective presence at the National Assembly, as well as at the federal and municipal levels for many years—both to collaborate and to bring our governments back to order when their priorities stray from the well-being of the citizens.
But this battle cannot be won behind the scenes alone. It requires a variety of tactics, supported by a variety of voices. And it’s the voices of 221 of our supporters who made a donation specifically to this billboard campaign (thank you!) and are helping us to propel the message further into Quebec City. We won’t give up. We’ll keep working to get the message through.
Consumption
Resisting Black Friday
The advertising industry is again pulling out all the stops to encourage us to buy this month with Black Friday deals. And yes, we may in fact really need something—or simply want to get ready for the Holiday season at a discount. But beware of the traps! Advertisers can encourage overconsumption - buying more than we actually need. If we find ourselves saying, “Oh why not? It's not expensive,” that's our cue to remember that the economic system pushes us to consume, to the detriment of our environment, our wallets, and often our well-being.
Opting for “planetary health” food is good for both your health and the health of the planet. And it's not just us saying so! The new report from the EAT-Lancet Commission once again confirms the many benefits of a mainly plant-based diet.
And know that you’re not alone in your efforts. Just last week, Équiterre hosted an event where about a hundred people developed synergies to get more Quebec-grown plant-based proteins (beans, yellow peas, quinoa, etc.) on plates at our schools, hospitals, and long-term care facilities in Quebec. Beyond that, planetary health menus are also now being served at major events at Montreal’s Palais des congrès.
The transition is well underway, and we’re continuing our efforts to make sustainable food increasingly accessible.
Make your voice heard
Call for testimonials
Have you noticed any retailers displaying new information on the reparability of their products, since the new requirements came into effect on October 5?
Join us for a special screening, followed by a panel discussion, to explore the links between food insecurity and cultural memories passed down through generations. The film and panel will take place in French.
