The Canadian Writer (and Climate Change Specialist)
I'm embarrassed to admit I'd never heard of the host country of COP 29, Azerbaijan, before I started reading about this year's Conference of the Parties (Big UN Climate Change Conference). I knew nothing of the Absheron Peninsula and had some reading to do about the host city, Baku. Among other things. And now that… Continue reading COP 29, Briefly
Election years are a great time to propose solutions to systemic American problems. Elections are Christmastime for dreaded ‘idea guys’ because political campaigns are looking for ideas. So let’s bounce some ideas around as the wheels of democracy get turning. So, a huge problem in America is holding rich and powerful leaders (let’s focus on… Continue reading A Few Words on America
A 7 p.m. text message on December 13th from the New York Times described it as, "A breakthrough deal on climate change". Keep that in mind as we move forward. The great mismatch that characterized COP 28 (The big UN Climate Change Conference) was that expectations were very, very low for what could be accomplished… Continue reading COP 28, Briefly
I wrote an unexpectedly popular post a little while ago where I vented about the success of my most famous creation, Latheck the Barbarian. In said post, I explored my complicated relationship with Latheck's first story, and mentioned that Latheck was gearing up for a second outing in my latest book, newly reimagined as a… Continue reading Latheck the Climate Change Barbarian
I'll admit to being a bad climate change specialist/professional and I did not pay a ton of attention to COP27 while it was going on. The U.S. Midterms, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and some skullduggery around union rights in my home province of Ontario dominated the news during COP, and I didn't see much… Continue reading COP27, Briefly
The 27th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference is upon us! Usually shorthanded to COP (long story), and individual COPs get a number. So there's COP1, COP2, COP15, COP21, et cetera. This November is COP27. An event where world leaders, business leaders, legislators, lobbyists, celebrities, finance hawks, non-profits, activists, and an army of corporate representatives… Continue reading The Long and Fraught Road to COP27
"You know, you guys should be really worried about climate change" Pete Townshend, guitarist of British rock band 'The Who', told an audience of thousands at a Who concert in Tampa, Florida, in 2019. If I'd been in the crowd, I'd have bellowed, "NO SHIT!" right back to him. Not the most elevated language, to… Continue reading Florida: A Discussion on Managed Retreat
Greta Thunberg makes me uneasy these days. Which is not to discredit or diminish any of her accomplishments or to take away from the enormous impact she has had on the climate crisis. Greta Thunberg has made the single largest contribution to action on the climate crisis and her achievements and dedication are ones for… Continue reading On ‘So-Called Leaders’
My first book, The Intellectual Barbarian, featured a short story called, 'Latheck the Social Justice Barbarian', which I originally wrote in 2015. It was written for an anthology called "Strange Breed: New Canadian Comedy" set to be published by Exile Press. The anthology was ultimately scrapped, and Latheck eventually made his first appearance in Jokes… Continue reading Latheck the Barbarian
