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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

Listen to Damien Gillis and Nanaimo’s CHLY host Rae Kornberger discuss how activism is becoming “extremism” – even terrorism – under the Harper Government’s petro-state regime. Invoking new, secretive anti-terrorism laws, federal agencies including CSIS and the RCMP are being directed to infiltrate, spy on and harass “multi-issue extremists”, whom

By failing to work with nature in building our cities, we’ve disrupted hydrological cycles and the valuable services they provide. Protecting and restoring rich forests, flood plains and wetlands near our urban areas is critical to reduce carbon emissions and protect against the effects of climate change. Nature effectively sequesters

Damien Gillis ties together a number of historical and current BC issues in this talk at the Village of Gitanmaax (Hazelton) in Gitxsan Territory on May 18. From the province’s colonial, resource-driven past to present-day plans for fracking, Liquefied Natural Gas, Site C Dam and Tar Sands pipelines and tankers,

Despite the many arguments in favour of cycling, increased infrastructure always incites criticism – most of it unwarranted. And the behaviour of some cyclists doesn’t help. Two main criticisms are that bicycling initiatives hurt local businesses and impede car traffic. Numerous studies show the opposite is often true: over the

Canada is shooting itself in the foot with the China-Canada trade agreement – the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act (FIPPA). Specifically, a little known stipulation in the China-Canada trade agreement risks torpedoing the development of Canadian clean energy technology sectors. This stipulation calls for no commercial barriers on environmental

Watershed Sentinel, BC’s scrappy environmental magazine, is a past and very grateful recipient of financial assistance through the Canada Magazine Fund, and the now defunct Publications Assistance Program. Last year the magazine applied for funding to improve its on-line services for readers. In April, editor Delores Broten was informed in

It’s happening again. Research confirms agreement among most climate scientists that we are altering the Earth’s climate, mainly by burning fossil fuels. And industrial interests, backed by climate change deniers, pull out every trick to sow doubt and confusion. What will it take for us to start seriously tackling the

The federal government recently announced a reorganization of the National Research Council to make it more “business-led” and industry-focused. It appears we’re coming full circle to the early 1970s, when Sen. Maurice Lamontagne released “A Science Policy for Canada,” a report proposing Canadian science be directed to “mission-oriented” work rather

The federal government recently announced a reorganization of the National Research Council to make it more “business-led” and industry-focused. It appears we’re coming full circle to the early 1970s, when Sen. Maurice Lamontagne released “A Science Policy for Canada,” a report proposing Canadian science be directed to “mission-oriented” work rather

What makes a city great? Among other things, great cities are tolerant communities that welcome and celebrate ethnic diversity. They support and foster local arts, have access to venture capital to spur entrepreneurship and innovation, and benefit from healthy local environments with clean air, clean water and access to nutritious,

As my friend wrote following the NDP’s surprise election loss 3 weeks ago, for the next four years, there will be: NO public inquiry into the BC Rail and BC Hydro scandals; NO comprehensive public Environmental-Economic Impact Assessment for major resource development projects (pipelines, mines, fracking, etc.); NO restoration and

What people must not lose sight of, is that electric vehicle technology is in its infancy. What the Tesla Motors story shows us, is that there are power structures in place that do not wish to see alternatives succeed. The creation of new clean technologies is critical to the success

Two surprising, important and connected events took place in British Columbia in May, 2013. On Tuesday, May 14, the province’s citizens elected a majority Liberal government. Five days earlier, on Thursday, May 9, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached 400 parts per million — the last time

B.C. appears to be pinning its economic hopes on natural gas – much of it obtained by fracking. While the world should be turning from fossil fuels to cleaner energy and conservation, we’re poised to dig ourselves deeper into the climate-altering carbon hole. Taking a cue from the liquidation-sale policies

There’s a battle rumbling south of the border. And it’s one Canadians aren’t hearing a lot about unless they plumb the news feeds online. It started for Tesla Motors during the 2012 U.S. presidential race. As the electric car company paid off its governments loans earlier this month, American government

Despite the evidence that endangered species laws are effective, governments in Canada are proceeding with deregulation and abdicating their responsibilities for wildlife habitat protection, often quietly. After all, only a few environmental watchdogs such as the David Suzuki Foundation are looking out for creatures that otherwise have no voice. But