Maria L
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marial.bsky.social
Maria L
@marial.bsky.social
520 followers 1K following 560 posts
What is it to live in right relationship?

Ecology, climate change, earth systems, biophilia, well-being, good governance & solarpunk.

ecopoë | 𝘰𝘪̈𝘬𝘰𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘦̄𝘴𝘪𝘴 = homemaking 𓁖

Giving social media another chance.
🇨🇦
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marial.bsky.social
and lastly.
I'd like to please remind you, beyond your own mandate, some good rules of thumb by Timothy Snyder that can hopefully help guide all of us better through these challenging times, in particular for this case 5, 8, 10, 11, 18, 19, 20 : https://scholars.org/contribution/twenty= lessons-fighting-tyranny-twentieth Thank-you, Maria
April 2, 2025 at 8:23 PM
marial.bsky.social
more…
I would also like to please remind you of the recent words of Marie-Josée Hogue on this topic: "While allegations of interference involving elected officials have dominated public and media discourse, the reality is that misinformation and disinformation pose an even greater threat to democracy.. Disinformation is difficult to detect and, above all, to counter since the technological means available evolve at breakneck speed. It is noxious, and it is powerful, it poses a major risk to Canadian democracy. If we do not find ways of addressing it, misinformation and disinformation have the ability to distort our discourse, change our views and shape our society. In my view it is no exaggeration to say that at this juncture, information manipulation (whether foreign or not) poses the single biggest risk to our democracy. It is an existential threat." (Source: https://www.cbc.ca/amp/. 1.7459858) How do you think the "existential threat" manifests itself? Like this. Like you. Incremental capitulation to their efforts of coercive control. Please. Don't. I have studied the massive results of incremental changes professionally on physical systems. Like GHG emissions, always insignificant for any one source, but cumulatively absolutely impactful globally. Like water pollution. One point source of effluent might dilute enough in a river to have no significant effect. But line up enough along the banks, and one day you wake up and wonder where the fish went. I don't want us to wake up one day, like our neighbours down south are right now, wondering where our democracy went. I don't want to tell my kids I saw it happening, but it was small things. Negligible really to the big picture. Dribs and drabs. And, I was too busy, too overwhelmed. It IS just one thing. But it is also everything. It is a wave on the ocean drowning our sense making abilities as a society. I am absolutely overwhelmed right now. But if I don't struggle to make the time and find the words for you, I don't even want to contemplate the loss of freedom itself we may all face one day... I would like to mention that I am not affiliated with Rachel Gilmore in any way. I'm not even a fan of hers as her style is not really my cup of tea. But I respect her and the work she does, & I WILL take time I don't even have out of my work day to let you know that, my own personal angle here is that I am concerned about the future of Canada's democracy. I am worried about the land, the more than human world, and our ongoing breaking of planetary boundaries. I am concerned about the rise of authoritarianism globally. l am bloody worried for the welfare of our children and future generations. And I am aware of the CRITICAL ROLE the press plays in manifesting healthy democracies by helping people access reliable defensible credible information, so we can co-pilot our governance systems to improve our personal to cumulative wellbeing over time. So, I WILL take a stand to protect a journalist (especially a female journalist that has long been aggressively targeted) like Rachel against these hate filled attacks — that you have now contributed to in causing further adverse effects upon her through terminating her employment with you. This situation is deplorable. Please rectify your part in it or I will have to assume that CTV, as well, has fallen.
April 2, 2025 at 8:23 PM
marial.bsky.social
Speaking of defamation, I’ve been pretty quiet on this account lately, but I took the time today to write a letter to CTV News, copying my MP, about this case involving @rachelgilmore.bsky.social — and why it is so critically important.

Here it is:
“In Defence of Rachel Gilmore, Fact Checking, & Democracy Dear CTV News decision makers, As a Canadian concerned about the growth of dis/misinformation being used as a way to undermine democracies around the world, I am writing to you about your recent capitulation to the spurious accusations (that even appear to be libellous; libel also being a kind of misinformation that is personally harmful to people subject to it) & part of an inciting hate campaign by Sebastian Skamski and others directed against Rachel Gilmore. I was shocked to hear that the reason given for this dismissal was that the "volume of that push back" was a "distraction" for your network. (source: https://pressprogress.ca/ctv-cancelled-a-fact-checking-segment-in-response-to-political-pressure-from-pierre-poilievres-conservatives/_)” “What??? What is that even supposed to mean? That does not sound like any kind of legitimate reason for dismissal. What it sounds like is a capitulation to the exact thing that your show is supposed to be working for the people to address — misinformation. Aren't you supposed to be "fact checking"? Isn't your primary mandate to "uphold journalistic integrity and independence under all circumstances and at all times, without exception." https://bce.ca/responsibility/. key-documents/2020-media-ethics-program.pdf Without exception? I'm sorry, I might not be a professional journalist, but how is capitulating to this attack campaign in such a short time fulfilling your own stated mandate, let alone standards of journalistic integrity?” “My own background is in Earth systems science and climate change and I have watched for decades as the media has been PLAYED by bad faith agents who have infiltrated the right with well funded digital public opinion influence campaigns and pushing false balance approaches by the press in covering the topic. (sources: Oresekes, Merchants of Doubt; https://. councilonstrategicrisks.org/2024/04/23/. climate-security-and-misinformation-a-baseline; https://www.carbonbrief.org/. exclusive-bbc-issues-internal-guidance-on-how-to-report-climate- change/.) Decades of this has led to public opinion being so hijacked that our governments (eg. Carney & Eby) are now dropping the carbon tax, even though it was a just, fair, and effective policy. The media-outlets like yours-played a significant central role in allowing this not just mild confusion, but significant & deleterious hijacking of public opinion, to take place.” “And so now you drop Rachel Gilmore. Hired to do "fact checking" as a result of a this online attack campaign, without demonstrating you even did any fact checking about the allegations? This does not meet even a basic standard of practice for journalistic integrity, and certainly does not step up to meet the challenges of our times where we, the people, NEED the media to go to bat for the public good. The bad faith actors that fund authoritarian candidates like Trump, and are trying to capture conservative parties globally, use illiberal forms of coercive control upon our citizens through media campaigns & targeted attacks against those who stand up against authoritarian forces to undermine our democracy. (Sources on how right leaning politics has been subjected to & a source of more dis/ misinformation than left leaning. https:/ www.science.org/doi/10.1126/ sciadv.abf1234 and https://phys.org/news/. 2024-10-users-misinformation-higher-suspension-platform.amp)”
April 2, 2025 at 8:23 PM
marial.bsky.social
That handful being on this chart.

(Src by @dpcarrington.bsky.social here www.theguardian.com/environment/...)
Chart of: Total COz emissions since 1850 from fossil fuels, deforestation, land use change and cement (billion tonnes) 1 US 2 China 3 Russia 4 Brazil 5 Indonesia 6 Germany India 7 UK 8 Japan 9 Canada Guardian graphic | Source: Carbon Brief
December 2, 2024 at 9:43 PM
marial.bsky.social
Also, the ppl on bluesky ARE incredibly silly, irreverent & funny. Like many even more than other cyberspaces I’ve been in. There are so many smart, diverse, & creative ppl here, I’ve found the humour to be off the charts. This claim is just demonstrably wrong.
Clip fm the article: “The platform feels like a collective endeavour toward a gentler world. Etiquette guides abound. Dunking - sharing a bad take for the purposes of mocking it - is discouraged. The people who skeet - what posting is popularly called on this platform - are better than that. But what's missing from Bluesky isn't merely Nazis, but the centre-left, the unclassifiable, and all snark unaccompanied by righteous political aims. It has no irreverent humour, no bite. Political uniformity breeds humourlessness. This is not because conservatives are funnier than liberals - anti-woke comedy is as tedious as woke - but because if everyone is "walking on eggshells" then no one risks being a bit silly.”
December 2, 2024 at 9:26 PM
marial.bsky.social
This @vox.com article fm 4 yrs ago does a good dive into it as well.

We are seeing this method of propaganda used as an attack not only on climate action, but on democracy itself. We need all hands on deck to counter it.

www.vox.com/policy-and-p...
Screenshot fm article: “What we're facing is a new form of propaganda that wasn't really possible until the digital age. And it works not by creating a consensus around any particular narrative but by muddying the waters so that consensus isn't achievable.”
December 2, 2024 at 8:40 PM
marial.bsky.social
i’ve not been here much
been down
in a land
of moss & fern

#naturephotography
#moss
a photo of a fern frond on a bed of mosses. the frond is turned upside down, showing little balls of ochre pollen along the leaflets
November 28, 2024 at 1:50 AM
marial.bsky.social
Interesting article by @hannahritchie.bsky.social on the potentials for #upcycling old solar panels.

I agree that it’s likely too optimistic, but is this what an upwards spiral looks like?
🌀

#solar #energy #recycling
an image from the linked article illustrating material efficiency, how, starting from one older panel, materials can be taken out to make more newer panels
November 15, 2024 at 8:15 PM
marial.bsky.social
and the double jeopardy answer is, What is a ruse?
screen capture of definition os ruse: ruse | ruz noun • an action intended to deceive someone; a trick Oxford Dictionary of English
November 15, 2024 at 7:34 PM
marial.bsky.social
The scale of China’s EV revolution is a fascinating backdrop to the recent regressive turn in US politics that has promoting fossil fuels as a core principle… 🧐

(graph source: evboosters.com/ev-charging-...)
A graph showing “Share of EVs in total new car registrations. The graph shows China way ahead in 2024 at 40%, with Eu at 24%, Global total at 20%, but US at only 10%
November 15, 2024 at 5:03 PM
marial.bsky.social
mornin’
a single white sailboat on a blue sea below a blue sky
November 13, 2024 at 5:27 PM
marial.bsky.social
Almost there in Canada too!
Top 3 Apps screenshot showing 1 as ChatGpt, 2 as Bluesky, 3 as Threads.
November 13, 2024 at 5:45 AM
marial.bsky.social
Sweet gums are lighting up these grey days like small fires across the sky.

#nature
#naturephotography
#trees
#naturelovers #treelovers
#autumn #vancouver #northvancouver #pnwonderland
Bright orange & yellow sweet grm leaves stand out against a grey sky, tangled branches and little brown & green spiky seed pods.
November 13, 2024 at 5:16 AM
marial.bsky.social
A lot of #COP28 news today

Canada & US just put out a joint statement on “climate and nature ambition”

www.state.gov/joint-statem...

🌍
Tweet by S Guilbault 🇨🇦 on the joint statement with US 🇺🇸 along with a photo of him shaking hands w John Kerry
December 11, 2023 at 10:03 PM
marial.bsky.social
After watching this curt reply just saying that they are “in negotiations” by John Kerry to this walking interview, I was glad to see the above post by the US Convoy that the draft text on fossil fuels is not up yo snuff
x.com/nychange/sta...
December 11, 2023 at 9:54 PM
marial.bsky.social
Had to hunt to find it, but United States Climate Envoy has also made a statement that the text on mitigation is not acceptable

x.com/climateenvoy...
US Climate Envoy, headed by John Carey, statement that “mitigation section, including the issue of fossil fuels, needs to be substantially strengthened “
December 11, 2023 at 9:48 PM
marial.bsky.social
Jennifer Morgan, & German Foreign Office also making a stand that the COP28 text on fossil fuel abatement is clearly unacceptable

x.com/climatemorga...

#COP28 🌍
Tweet by Jennifer Morgan on COO28 fossil fuel action text falling “way short”
December 11, 2023 at 9:22 PM
marial.bsky.social
Glad to see Europe take a stand on the text, & hope others like Canada join

“EU will walk from climate talks if draft #COP28 deal not changed, says Ryan”
www.rte.ie/news/world/2...

🌍
Eamon Ryan representing EU stating criticisms of the COP28 text, and that it is not acceptable
December 11, 2023 at 9:00 PM
marial.bsky.social
am i that parent helping the child with their purple ringed-top snail (Calliostoma annulatum)
ocean diorama?

why, yes, that would be me…
white air dry clay sculpture of purple ringed-cap snail purple ring-capped snail & baby starfish clay figures in my hand Small air dry clay ocean snails and corals for our diorama A real Calliostoma annulatum photo, fm wikipedia pg on the species
December 2, 2023 at 5:54 AM
marial.bsky.social
me to chat

“what evidence is there that social media platforms are being used by bad faith actors as arenas for hybrid warfare…”

bing-chatgpt-4:

sl.bing.net/cNDUrjbZPhs
Chat GPT-4 prompt through Bing: “what evidence is there that social media platforms are being used by bad faith actors as arenas for hybrid warfare psy ops to support the rise of authoritarian parties to gain hegemony over dwindling resources & fight to block people mobilizing to coordinate action on things like climate change that would challenge their maintenace or ascent to power”
November 20, 2023 at 10:42 PM
marial.bsky.social
The octopus image is very apt @amywestervelt.bsky.social
To add to that is the analogy of the hydra that attacked Hercules (that would regrow more heads if u cut one off) & the Scylla that attacked Odysses’ boat. We are indeed between Scylla & Charybdis..
John Singer painting of the hydra attacking Hercules. To defeat it he found a way to cauterize the wound after cutting a head of so no more would grow back. This is analogous to not only the covert hostile attack-climate-action approach of bad faith actors, but their many resources & military tact & skill to respond if challenged Roger Paybe painting of Odysseus being stuck between Charybdis (climate change existential threats) & Scylla (bad faith actors attacking climate change action like its the enemy) An old unknown drawing of Scylla & Charybdis.
November 20, 2023 at 10:10 PM
marial.bsky.social
The old story. Promises vs actions. Words vs deeds.

So the question is—since Paris has no teeth & govts are in line w ff/econ growth objectives rather than climate ones—what °C warming trajectory are we actually headed for rn?

www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/s...
Graph fm the quoted post showing the production gap for global fossil fuel towards 2030 going way up instead of down. Brown “Stated Policies” line is likely the NDCs IPCC AR6 graph of projected global GHG emissions over time to 2100. NDCs dk blue line is the gov “promises” that could limit warming between 1.5-2 deg warming. Red line shows trend fm implemented policies, but the previous graph indicates this will likely be higher IPCC AR6 graph of projected global GHG emissions over time to 2100 against the SSP scenarios. Where on this graph does it look like we are heading considering current & historic failure of governments to cooperate to set and keep global mitigation targets?
November 9, 2023 at 9:26 PM
marial.bsky.social
rainy monday morning meowditation
Photo of the back of my cat’s head as she sits on my lap as we lounge on the recliner liking out the window at the wet west coast rainforest.
November 6, 2023 at 7:53 PM
marial.bsky.social
Back when it was written they still thought there was hope we would follow the blue path.

Fast forward to now, 2023, and some studies indicate that on our current course, we will hit 1.5 deg warming within the decade, not after 2040 like this graph suggests.

The climate clock is ticking.
Global average temperature change graph fm 2000-2100, showing RCP2.6 (blue, mitigation) & RCP8.5 (peach, business as usual, no mitigation) scenarios.
November 5, 2023 at 7:19 AM
marial.bsky.social
half the population of the earth “suffering extreme water shortages by 2025”

that is NOT a good prognosis frens
November 5, 2023 at 7:06 AM