Day 2 - 355 -- A Gift for the World

First term courses are officially over for another year -- grades calculated and entered. Tomorrow will be several errands needed before Christmas and then I hope to be doing some cooking and baking and maybe watching a favourite movie or two. My two favourite holiday movies are Love, Actually and White Christmas. They are part of every holiday season along with A Christmas Carol <smile>.  It was cold this morning, but warming a bit through the day with rain overnight -- temps still just around freezing, so ice pellets may make an appearance. Christmas should be double digits so it will be a green Christmas. It made me happy that the weather was going to cooperate with travellers as several colleagues headed out this afternoon.

While being buried in grading, I didn't mention one of the gifts the world has been given this year. The signing of the COP21 agreement by 195 nations is the best chance we have to begin to seriously address climate change as a global community. It will need attention to move the plans into action, but it is better than any other accord we've tried. The messages from advocacy organizations have been positive and hopeful.(David Suzuki Foundation, Pembina Institute, Environmental Defence Canada, World Wildlife Fund, Equiterre, International Institute for Sustainable Development, among others). Parts of the agreement are binding, while others are voluntary. All nations together can ensure we move things in the right direction -- together -- meaning we all must do our part. The first plans have a 90 day timeline, so something will begin to occur in the planning and change process by March 11/16. Let's work to ensure this doesn't become one of those gifts that looks great in the package, but breaks shortly after it is taken out into the real world. <smile>

While working with all the numbers earlier today, the iPod popped out a Christmas song that seemed to fit what I was feeling -- we are all in this together and need to work together to help those needing assistance -- or to help this little blue planet that we all call home. It may sound a bit bubble-gum - like, but the sentiment of the lyrics is meaningful. While it is a Christmas song, the concept is one that should fit into each and every day. Enjoy!

Christmas is My Time of Year -- Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, & Peter Tork