Tag: Common Sense Journalism

Not only have humans learned no lessons, we continue to go backwards at an unsustainable rate. The past week has been especially hard for this old guy to handle. The premier of the province tells us that an oil refinery in Kitimat will blow our troubles away. She tells us

Few places on Earth have been untouched by humans, according to a study in the journal Science. Satellite images taken from hundreds of kilometres above the planet reveal a world that we have irrevocably changed within a remarkably short time…For example, in British Columbia’s booming Peace Region, forestry, energy and

Few places on Earth have been untouched by humans, according to a study in the journal Science. Satellite images taken from hundreds of kilometres above the planet reveal a world that we have irrevocably changed within a remarkably short time. Although industrial projects like the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline

The strictures on what scientists can publicly say or publish, put in place by the Prime Minister’s office, have been tightening in recent years. In 2011 scientists protested and collectively complained that they could not speak openly to Canadians about their research and findings without receiving prior approval from the

This unholy bloody business called “ethnicgate” started and stayed in Premier Clark’s office. The cabinet minister, John Yap, who ran up on his own sword, lied while doing so saying that none of this had crossed his desk. Actually, his note cheering on his hired fixits could hardly be sent

Rafe questions BC Premier Christy Clark and her party’s economic basis for supporting projects like a new pipeline and refinery proposal for Kitimat, open net pen salmon farms and Site C Dam. “Yes, Mr. Dix must come clean with his program and I intend to ask him questions like these.

The mystery of BC’s disappearing wild salmon is back on the radar this week, with the release of a new documentary and launch of a groundbreaking research partnership to study farmed and wild fish for viruses. Salmon Confidential, a feature-length film released online, explores the battle over salmon science that

The world’s largest and most influential political and economic forces are showing signs that they might be ready to actively combat climate change. Presently the signs are only words. But the words are unequivocal and dramatic enough to be interpreted as a prelude to eventual concrete action at a global

Dear Premier Clark, you knew about the ethnic voter issue from the beginning. You had to. With a program this size – in the hands of your senior adviser; with the complexity involved; and given the channels through which this sort of plan (or should I say plot) must pass,

Why do civilizations tend to “collapse” soon after reaching their peak? Because they continue to expand until they overreach the maximum exploitation of resources that their environment can tolerate. Then nature forecloses in its own inimitable way. Ronald Wright, award-winning author of A Short History of Progress, thinks we are

Howe Sound is a world-class area. It’s taken a hell of a beating since my Dad, Mom and I fished it back when if you didn’t get a fish you must have forgotten to put a hook on your line. Eagles have returned to how they were in the days

I know “I told you sos” are not popular but I have to say it: I told you so. Clark had been a mediocre cabinet minister at best. She chose to sit out the rotting Campbell years and had no noticeable power base…Unless the Liberals want a wipeout, like they

“Cortes is not just a bunch of crazy tree-huggers…We want to log our lands. We want a community forest,” one of the subjects of the forthcoming documentary film Heartwood tells Vancouver-based director Daniel Pierce. The film explores the conflict over logging practices on a remote island on BC’s south coast,

Caleb Behn, a young, Indigenous law student from northeast BC and the subject of the forthcoming documentary film Fractured Land, will be at the Vancouver Public Library this Thursday evening to give a talk sponsored by Lawyers’ Rights Watch. Behn’s traditional territories in the Peace Valley and Fort Nelson area

Exports of natural gas, in liquefied form (LNG), to Asian markets are scarcely a slam dunk proposition. Ms. Clark has promised a “Prosperity” fund, starting in two years, which will have us rolling in dough. To tie that all up, she has signed a long-term deal with a consortium of

Real forests are wild. The forests of human contrivance are tree farms, plantations, monocultures, timber supply areas. Such clusters of trees may superficially appear to be real forests, but they are less complex, less organic, less living and therefore less enduring. And they were handicapped by their beginning. Instead of

For many people, climate change is the sine qua non issue of the 21st Century – no matter what else we might do, if we don’t get this one right, we’re in for an extremely rough ride. This sentiment is becoming widespread in climate activist circles witnessed by the Sierra

The Oil and Has lobby has made it clear that unless government agrees to give 30% capital cost allowances – meaning they want a 30% subsidy on the money spent building facilities, like what happens in Australia – then thanks but no thanks to this LNG scheme. There are no

Should Malaysian energy giant Petronas’ $11 Billion proposed Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Prince Rupert on BC’s north coast undergo a federal environmental assessment? The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is seeking public input on this decision until March 11. One of five or more major proposed LNG plants for

The Common Sense Canadian’s Damien Gillis and Vancouver Co-op Radio’s Imtiaz Popat discuss a range of topics relating to water and energy in advance of BC’s provincial election, scheduled for May 14. From the economic and environmental consequences of the Liberals’ private river power scheme to new plans to turn