DEN Enews

Have you had a conversation or a thought like this recently?

Wow, it’s the end of August- where did the summer go? We need to celebrate the Feast of the Creator….what can we do?

Does this sound familiar? As much as DEN sends out all sorts of resources, summer is for relaxing and sometimes we leave September plans to the last minute. Currently the Anglican Church in Canada has yet to publish a liturgy for the Feast of the Creator but there is a lovely liturgy that was authorized for the Anglican Church in South Africa. This one may be a nice choice to consider. Just email DEN and we will send you the word doc. It’s still not too late. Where will the Spirit lead you to celebrate the Creator and Creation?

[email protected]

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his September 9 at 6:30 PM ET, join Seniors for Climate for a special online event with John Vaillant, award-winning author of Fire Weather. In a 30-minute talk and live Q&A, Vaillant will explore how wildfires—fueled by fossil-driven climate change—are reshaping our lives and what we can do about it.

Why it matters: Seniors are among the hardest hit—facing respiratory distress, displacement, and isolation from wildfire smoke.

Click here to register:

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“Krawec asks, What would it look like to remember that we are all related? How might we become better relatives to the land, to one another, and to Indigenous movements for solidarity? Braiding together historical, scientific, and cultural analysis, Indigenous ways of knowing, and the vivid threads of communal memory, Krawec crafts a stunning, forceful call to "unforget" our history.”

If this book intrigues, there is a book study on 4 consecutive Monday evenings beginning September 15th with Alongside Hope ( PWRDF).

Click here to register:

In a recent newsletter called Talking Climate with Katharine Hayhoe, she reports on the fringe benefits for merino sheep who graze amidst solar panels in Australia.

“A three-year study following nearly two thousand sheep found the wool from sheep grazing under solar panels was stronger and grew faster. Scientists attribute this to the year-round nutrition provided by the vegetation growing in the micro-habitats created by the shade of solar panels. The solar panels also offered the sheep a covered place to shelter from both the sun and from storms. The sheep experienced no negative health impacts, and the area does not need to be mowed by humans, as the sheep graze around the panels themselves.

For more on “panel sheep,” watch this brief video on a Wellington sheep farm that includes the following on-the-nose comment from sheep farmer Tony Inder:

“When this solar farm was built next to us, I just thought, ‘Well, that’s land’s wasted now. This is the last mob of sheep that’ll ever graze on this land again.’ But turns out that was all wrong. Now there’s actually more sheep grazing here!

As Canada faces more and more climate change-fueled disasters like out-of-control wildfires and increasingly severe storms, the Houston government is quietly setting the stage to expand burning forest biomass for electricity generation. Biomass is not a climate solution; it’s a way to secure more profits while diverting resources away from sustainable forestry and legitimate climate solutions. There are numerous issues with biomass, such as deforestation and habitat loss, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, methane emissions, low energy efficiency, high water use, fossil fuel dependency in transportation, and more. Use your voice to say Nova Scotians want real clean energy solutions!

There is a plan to build a gas plant on the Chignecto Isthmus —an ecologically sensitive region that forms the only land corridor connecting Nova Scotia’s moose population and other wildlife with the rest of North America. The marshes support migratory birds, species at risk, and serve as vital carbon sinks that help mitigate climate change. The gas plant threatens to disrupt water flows, damage habitats, pollute groundwater relied on by local residents, and fragment critical wildlife corridors. This petition calls upon the House of Commons to halt all federal approvals for the Centre Village, N.B gas plant (Pro Energy- Rigs Project) mandating a full, independent environmental and climate impact assessment under the Impact Assessment Act, including baseline and bi-annual water testing for residential wells, enforcing federal environmental laws protecting water, wildlife, and public health and supporting renewable energy projects that align with climate goals, and local community interests. Note that there is a second step to signing this petition, as with all parliamentary petitions which is simply to click on an email sent to you.

 In the last DEN newsletter, there was a petition on this subject from David Suzuki; here's one on the same important subject. Canada’s fragmented electricity system was built to move power from Canada to the US. At the same time, millions of Canadians live in leaky “energy poor” houses that will be hit hard as tariffs make life even more expensive. Experts say a national east-west power grid would make Canada’s energy more secure, clean and affordable. We need our federal and provincial governments to build an East-West power grid to connect Canada's power and to support the millions of Canadians living in "energy poverty". Canada is blessed to have abundant clean energy that’s better together. For example, wind power from Alberta and hydro-electric power in BC can support each other. When the wind is blowing, the hydroelectric dams can act like a giant battery that holds power to send back to Alberta when the wind dies down. Please sign the petition to get our federal leaders to start building and support affordable, clean energy for Canadians now!

Help support the unique ecosystems of Muskoka Bay in Ontario. Home to diverse wildlife and the source of drinking water for many, this area is about to be bombarded by rapid development. It was announced in May that about 80 acres of land is being turned into a tourist resort with luxury hotels, multi-unit residences, restaurants, a spa, other retail and food services, large-scale over the water development, and even a 20,000-seat concert venue. The town of Gravenhurst said no, but the province is overturning and fast-tracking this massive development without thorough public consultation or environmental assessment processes. The risks expand past the local area with dangerous precedents being set of privatization of lakebed areas and reckless development across Ontario’s lakes. Local residents are rallying and calling for transparent processes where community members can voice their concerns and collaborate on sustainable development solutions. Visit savethebay.ca to learn more and help protect Muskoka Bay by signing this petition.

Let’s not trade away forests and precious drinking water for Big Tech’s profits. Social media companies like TikTok want to build enormous data centers in Brazil that will guzzle precious water from drought-stricken communities. What is on the table is 25 million litres annually for each data center, with Brazil’s finance minister offering huge tax breaks to make it happen. Ceará is a Brazilian state with 9 million people and major water shortages. It holds Brazil’s driest city and is one of the driest areas in South America. TikTok is planning a massive data hub here. There is limited time before the deal is made. This petition is asking that no deal be made unless there are strict environmental protections, limits on water and energy use, and real benefits for local communities rather than foreign corporations. Add your name to help protect Brazil from becoming Big Tech’s next sacrifice zone.

A Quiet Revolution

Back in the dark chill of winter, we dreamed of sunshine and a tea party out on the deck. Once we decided to put a new roof over that deck, we knew, rain or shine, our little gathering could finally happen.

Now, a “fancy” tea party in Grandma’s book really just means inviting a few friends over for lunch (or brunch, or supper, or whenever the mood strikes). Back during the pandemic, Lorn and I once set a tea table just for the two of us, put out the fancy dishes, the cloth napkins, and the “for company only” tablecloth, then posted it all on Facebook like it was high society. Honestly, we always wanted to repeat it, with real people this time, not just a camera.

Of course, the “what ifs” came marching in. With my better half’s health challenges, should we even plan such a thing? What if she tired too quickly? What if nobody came? What if my sandwiches fell flat? Finally, Grandma had to say, “Enough! We’re doing this.”

So invitations went out: a few new neighbours, some younger folks, a sprinkle of church members, and a couple of community friends. It was barely more than a dozen when everyone came. I warned them that Lorn might only last until two o’clock before she’d need a rest, and to come ready for casual cheer, not a royal banquet.

That’s when the real fun started. Suddenly, women who hadn’t fussed about outfits in years were digging out sundresses, dusting off fancy hats, and even finding lace gloves! Men just shrugged, grabbed a clean shirt, and showed up.

The preparations were simple but joyful: sandwiches and sweets, ice-cold lemonade, and plenty of tea ready to pour. By the time the kettle whistled, the table looked like it belonged in a magazine, if magazines showed slightly crooked sandwiches and some of the cookies that “may or may not” have been store-bought.

And what happened? Exactly what we needed: conversation, laughter, and connection. New neighbours learned who lives just down the road. Younger guests discovered that elders can still tell a good story. The men happily sipped tea while discussing why carrots aren’t growing this year, droughts, and the state of the new community centre roof (and no tea party is complete without the weather report). We congratulated our new nurse graduate, heard about a trip to Australia, and were even dazzled by two guests who had actually met Prince Harry at the Invictus Games.

And right in the middle of it all sat my Lorn, surrounded by people she loved, soaking it in. She didn’t need to do a thing but be there.

Turns out, a tea party isn’t really about tea. It’s about making a safe space where people feel welcome, safe, and connected. Where talk flows as easily as the lemonade.

So here’s my advice: don’t wait. Invite half a dozen friends for soup simmering in the slow cooker, a plate of rolls, and a pot of tea. The world may feel heavy, but sometimes the lightest thing you can do—the quietest little revolution—is gather your people, pour the tea, and let joy do the rest.

Crafts

Waiting for rainy days that never came, I planned to make dinosaur masks with our 3 boys (finally). You can get great dinosaur masks at

https://justfamilyfun.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/dino-mask.pdf

But for milder animal masks, try

https://www.firstpalette.com/craft/printable-animal-masks.html#google_vignette

Or make masks from paper plates and/or construction paper

https://artfulparent.com/making-cardboard-masks-kids/

Keeping with the tea party theme, you could plan an adult craft time making fancy hats like here.

https://www.realmomkitchen.com/how-to-make-a-hat-for-a-tea-party/

https://gluesticksblog.com/make-a-tea-party-hat/

Something to eat

Although a tea party is a bit fancy, I wanted plain food to fill stomachs, but still have a party theme. So one of my sweets was gumdrop cookies. Luckily, I tucked a few away for a guest who couldn’t attend because they barely caught their breath.

Gumdrop Cookies

In one bowl, mix

2 ½ cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

Dash of salt if any

1 ½ cups of gumdrops, cut in small pieces

In a mixing bowl, mix

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

Add the dry to the wet bowl, drizzling in a bit of milk if too dry. I roll them into balls and press down lightly with a fork. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. Yummy

Pictures of the lunch tables.

Editor’s Note: Of all the words this week, let’s hold on to Grandma’s advice which she wrote above but needs repeating:

The world may feel heavy, but sometimes the lightest thing you can do

—the quietest little revolution—

is gather your people, pour the tea, and let joy do the rest.

May you find joy in the coming month as we celebrate all that creation has given us.