You’ll notice in this graphic that as the Leap Manifesto linked to an anti-pipeline op-ed in the Globe and Mail in Facebook, the subhead brutally misrepresented the article. Either it was an error, sadly, or it was an intentional opposite … [Read more]
Continue readingTag: Green Energy
We Pivot: This Week in “Huh?” Ivanka, Justin, Elon
As we pivot to the new, sustainable world defeating this current wave of fascism and climate change deniers, let’s look back at this week to keep abreast of the contempt flung at us and where we can find hope. Remember, … [Read more]
Continue readingWe Pivot: Consent, Not Consultation, Or Else
If you’re looking for what real leadership looks like, it’s this. UBCIC Grand Chief Stewart Phillip once again demonstrated what integrity looks like as the federal government once again tries to waffle on commitments and listening to the Supreme Court. Not only has the prime minister floated a trial balloon
Continue readingWe Pivot: Let’s Fix Canada’s Green Energy Posture
Ok, there are clearly two problems with Justin Harper’s approach to green energy, among so many others. Here, read this, then read on to see what Canada should look like: The declining cost of rooftop solar panels — down over 90 per cent since 2000 — has offered hope for
Continue readingWe Pivot: You Probably Already Support Postal Banking Too
CUPW, the union for Canada Post workers, has had some innovative ideas lately which the Harper and Trudeau governments are, not surprisingly, not too keen on. Both governments pursue a neoliberal privatization agenda. Public services like CBC and Canada Post provide no profit layer to companies because they exist as
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Magical Thinking, No; Progress, Yes
As every critically-aware person well knows, we are facing some pretty daunting challenges; the most pressing is clearly climate change, more urgent with each passing day as we are regularly reminded of the ravages it is wreaking around the world. Resp…
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Big oil, pipelines, Trudeau, and energy security for Canada
Why does the Canadian government continue to subsidize the oil industry with billions of dollars a year when the environmental crisis demands the opposite, and when investment in energy efficiency, conservation and green energy create many more jobs? Why does Canada import 40% of the oil we consume when we
Continue reading350 or bust: The Time Is Now
In the United States, the transition to a clean energy economy is already underway. Climate-concerned citizens are calling on candidates in next year’s federal election to show their plan to power the country with 50% clean energy by 2030. The time for a job-creating, climate-stabilizing clean energy revolution is NOW.
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Ontario’s brave new cap and trade program
The Globe and Mail just broke the story on what will likely be the defining component of Kathleen Wynne’s legacy: The Ontario Liberals are introducing a big cap and trade plan. Details are sparse as yet, but it looks like they will be joining the Quebec/California regime. This is huge news,
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Ontario’s brave new cap and trade program
The Globe and Mail just broke the story on what will likely be the defining component of Kathleen Wynne’s legacy: The Ontario Liberals are introducing a big cap and trade plan. Details are sparse as yet, but it looks like they will be joining the Quebec/California regime. This is huge news,
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Ontario’s brave new cap and trade program
The Globe and Mail just broke the story on what will likely be the defining component of Kathleen Wynne’s legacy: The Ontario Liberals are introducing a big cap and trade plan. Details are sparse as yet, but it looks like they will be joining the …
Continue reading9 ways Alberta should manage resources better
Sometime toward the end of November, the Alberta government will release their 2nd quarter fiscal update. Finance Minister Robin Campbell will likely tell us that the second quarter was another good quarter but that the good news is coming to an end and the 1st quarter projection of a $3 Billion bonus will be
Continue reading9 WAYS ALBERTA SHOULD MANAGE RESOURCES BETTER
Sometime toward the end of November, the Alberta government will release their 2nd quarter fiscal update. Finance Minister Robin Campbell will likely tell us that the second quarter was another good quarter but that the good news is coming to an end and the 1st quarter projection of a $3 Billion bonus will be revised. The reason of course … Continue reading 9 WAYS ALBERTA SHOULD MANAGE RESOURCES BETTER →
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Wind Energy In Ontario: The State Of Play
The controversy around Ontario’s Green Energy Act has faded since the OLP won their majority. Konrad Yakabuski can whine as much (and as inaccurately) as he wants, but Ontario anti-wind activists are basically left to pound sand for the next couple of years, losing in court and before the Ontario ERT
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Mound Of Sound Guest Post: The Relentless Growth of CO2
I put this item together a while ago but I was reminded of it today while reading a report from the WMO, the World Meteorological Organization, that April will go in the books as the first month in which atmospheric CO2 topped 400 ppm throughout the northern hemisphere. Not just
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Another Informed Star Reader
Christine Penner Polle of Red Lake offers some observations that I suspect few but the most ardent ideologues would dispute: Re: Ottawa plans cuts to climate programs, March 12 Have we Canadians fallen down the rabbit hole? We are living in a Mad Hatter world where our federal government is
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Ingenuity And Goodwill
Sometimes, seemingly intractable problems can be solved through a combination of ingenuity and goodwill. This story, about a solar lamp that initially seemed out of the financial reach of African villagers, is one such example: Recommend this Post
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Wind Farm Opponents Out Six Figures
A group of landowners who unsuccessfully sued a wind power developer and the farm corporation that leased it land have been ordered to pay legal costs of $107,370.78. The 21 landowners near Collingwood sued wpd Canada Corp. and Beattie Brothers Farms for more than $17 million over the plans to
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Wind Energy And Property Values In Ontario, Part Whatever…
An interesting decision came down this week re wind energy and property values in Ontario. Before getting to the actual contents of it, though, lets see how the thing is being spun. This piece from Farms.com is fairly typical: An Ontario Superior Court of Justice has determined that landowners living
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Clean energy progress too slow to limit climate change, says report
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: An annual report by International Energy Agency (IEA) says the development of low-carbon energy is progressing too slowly to limit climate change. “The drive to clean up the world’s energy system has stalled,” said aid Maria van der Hoeven, the IEA’s executive director, during the presentation of the report
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