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A fundamental flaw in the environmental assessment process is that it focuses on each proposed development as something that stands alone. But an individual well or dam is not separate or isolated from its surroundings – air, water, plants and animals pay no attention to our imposed, artificial boundaries…A lawsuit

Geoengineering to combat climate change is largely untested. Because we’ve stalled so long on reducing carbon emissions and still aren’t doing enough, we may have to consider it. What will that mean? As it relates to climate change, geoengineering falls into two categories: solar radiation management and carbon dioxide removal…But

I remember when one of the Leaders I worked for asked some guys many of us know to purge our Party of the troublemakers (that was not the word he used.) They did a good job. The “troublemakers” were sidelined and we became an effective, and boring, machine. Leaders and

In our concern with protecting grizzlies and polar bears, whooping cranes and redwood trees, wolves and caribou, we give short shrift to the small creatures that keep the planet livable. Tiny organisms and plant roots filter water as it percolates through soil; insects, bacteria and fungi help plants, animals and

While public banks in countries like China, the US, the UK, Germany, Denmark and Brazil are investing billions in renewable energy development, as clean tech expert Will Dubitsky explains, Canada lacks such critical tools for addressing climate change and building a green economy. “Why can’t Canada do similar things via

In 1965, half of Canadians smoked. By 2011, that had dropped to about 17.3 per cent, or 4.9-million people, with only about 13.8 per cent daily smokers. Unfortunately the downward trend has levelled off in recent years, and tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in Canada, according to

Read Kevin Logan’s analysis of the Lac-Mégantic train disaster. Logan provides a comprehensive breakdown of the facts, and where the mainstream media lost sight of the truth. Using a series of Google Earth maps, Logan points out the mistakes made by the National Post’s own illustration detailing how the tragedy

It was a normal summer day. It was the height of the tourist season. Bed and breakfasts, restaurants, and retail stores were were swollen with visitors. Kayaks, canoes, rafts and tubes filled the Slocan River as swimmers cooled themselves at public and private beaches along the river. Others were in

Writer Ray Grigg urges Canadian government to action in problem-solving current and future environmental challenges. Grigg writes, “The psychological dynamics of problem solving are well known. When a problem is identified and assessed, and when a corrective strategy is formulated and activated, then people begin to feel better. Hope replaces

Bees are endlessly intriguing, and incredibly useful to us – and not just for honey and wax. If bees disappeared, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to grow much of what we eat. Bees pollinate crops ranging from apples to zucchini. Blueberries and almonds are almost entirely dependent on

With so many Canadians eagerly awaiting the end of the anti-democratic, unaccountable Harper regime, some seem to be inclined to support any alternative that may stand a chance for replacing the Cons in 2015, after the next federal election. But maybe we should take a pause to think this through

An interview with a whistle-blower doesn’t happen every day. I spoke with Dr. Thierry Vrain, a former soil biologist and genetic scientist who for 35 years worked for Agriculture Canada, and was the designated spokesperson to assure the public of the safety of GMO crops. He retired ten years ago,

Why is Canada missing out on tens of thousands of green jobs and tens of billions of dollars in economic development? Clean tech is among the globe’s fastest growing and highest job-creating sectors, yet while countries like China, the US and Germany are reaping hundreds of thousands of new jobs

Sadly, industry proponents quickly exploited the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster to argue for expanding pipelines. It’s true that rail accidents can be more devastating to human life than pipeline accidents – although when it comes to oil, pipeline breaks usually spill greater quantities and cause more environmental damage than train derailments.

We can’t live without birds. Beyond being fascinating and beautiful, they play a crucial role in keeping the world habitable for all life, including people. They disperse seeds, pollinate plants, control insects, provide food and are indicators of the overall health of ecosystems. “The status of the world’s birds is

On the eve of Premier Christy Clark’s by-election in Kelowna – home of the late premier and BC Hydro founder, WAC Bennett – Damien Gillis exposes the Liberal party’s true economic track record, including the $100 Billion in secret taxpayer liabilities they’ve hidden from the public. Foremost among these debts

Clean tech innovation expert Will Dubitsky charges Stephen Harper’s announcement of EcoEnergy Innovation funding winners last month simply rehashed winners from 2011 and 2012, while the are no monies available for clean tech innovation over the coming year. “Note, as well, that 30% of the EcoEnergy Innovation Initiative funding awarded