Modern cities are full of biodiversity, you just need to know where to look .Urban ecology is a relatively new field of study that examines how isolated urban green infrastructure relates to one another to form an ecological understanding of our cities. This infrastructure includes green roofs, parks, water catchments,
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Writings of J. Todd Ring: Decentralization Or Collapse
To halt the decline of our civilization and stop our race toward ecological, economic and social collapse, we must sow and create a paradigm shift, a shift in the dominant world view, a shift in consciousness. That requires consciousness raising, media activism, and education. But we also need a fundamental
Continue readingThings Are Good: Evidence is in: Green Policies Improve Economic Performance
Short-term thinkers who put quarterly profits above all else consistently argue that caring for the environment destroys business. They are wrong. The evidence keeps growing that planet (and people) friendly policies encourage economic growth while also forcing companies to increase their efficiency. It’s a win-win for businesses and the planet.
Continue readingThings Are Good: Cambridge Economist: Our Economic Recovery Must be Green
Reagan-era economic thinking focuses on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the bellwether for how well society is doing. It’s a narrow view of the world which ignores everything except the movement of capital, yet many economists and politicians are stuck in this outdated way of thinking. In this context,
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: A Brief Green Car & Truck Update
I drive a 2012 Chevy Volt, the best car I’ve ever had. And if affordability and ecology are factors, as they sensibly, obviously should be, then between the Volt’s launch to the present in 2020, it was and is the best car on the planet. But, when used Teslas and
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Architecture & Home Design: Raising the Bar
This is my favourite home design so far. (Video below) Every home and building should be passive solar, and every home or building should be an Earth Home – meaning, it uses heating and cooling from the sun and the earth. Anything less is radically substandard, and in light
Continue readingThings Are Good: Plant Blindness and You
Can you tell the difference between a big leaf maple and a Japanese maple tree? If not, then you may suffer from plant blindness. Hopefully you can tell them apart when looking at them though. The concept of plant blindness is not so much being able to name every species
Continue readingThings Are Good: An Inspiring Vision for the Future of Canada Post
Canada Post is changing and the workers at the company want to see it grow to be more than just package delivery. They’ve looked at other postal services around the world for inspiration and see a very green, community-focussed future. A simple improvement is postal banking which is popular around
Continue readingThings Are Good: After Going Green, Cities Need Turn Blue
Cities need to work with their local ecosystems and not against them. This is evidently true when it comes to waste management and overt displays of green initiatives. There is a harder aspect of ecological thinking for cities and it’s usually beneath our feet: water. Water systems are complex in
Continue readingThings Are Good: Toronto’s Green Roofs Keep Growing
Back in 2006 we first looked at how green roofs were becoming a development issue in Toronto, in 2009 Toronto implemented that green roof bylaw. Then in 2014 we took a look at how North America’s green roof industry is growing. This year, Toronto has become the hub for green roofs! Torontist took a look […]
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Continue readingLeft Over: Wake Up and Smell the Corruption, Canada…….
90 scientists and climate experts call on Trudeau to reject Pacific NorthWest LNG GORDON HOEKSTRA More from Gordon Hoekstra Published on: May 30, 2016 | Last Updated: May 30, 2016 1:41 PM PDT Analysis of the major flaws in Pacific … Continue reading →
Writings of J. Todd Ring: The real costs of fossil fuel-powered vehicles – and the alternatives to them
There is some rising concern, and at times vitriol, about electric car drivers not paying their fair share, because they buy no gas, and therefore do not pay gas taxes, which go to maintaining roads. While this is true, it is only a sliver of th…
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Election 2015 and Strategic Voting: Madness, or Practical Necessity?
An economic and political analysis of Canada, neoliberalism, and the world Get a cup of coffee or tea, or a glass of wine, and settle in – this is not sound-bite commentary. We are going to dig deep. “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” – Ralph Waldo
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Election 2015 and Strategic Voting: Madness, or Practical Necessity?
An economic and political analysis of Canada, neoliberalism, and the world Get a cup of coffee or tea, or a glass of wine, and settle in – this is not sound-bite commentary. We are going to dig deep. “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” – Ralph Waldo
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Conservatives in Canada swing further to the far right – the other two major parties are little better
The Conservative party of Canada is clearly playing into fear, xenophobia and racism as a way to win votes, as its “War on Terror” narrative, its racial baiting and its new snitch line show. This is sickening. Mind you, the Liberals and NDP have eerily similar agendas to the Conservatives
Continue readingcartoon life: The ideal self-driving car
For me, the ideal self-driving autonomous automobile would be peddle powered to charge the battery. Filed under: art Tagged: bike autonomous, car, green, madeWithPaper
Continue readingThings Are Good: Living Architecture Tour of Toronto
If you’re in Toronto or visiting you can now go on a special tour of the city that will reveal all the cool living architecture! It’s a free tour that you can download and go on anytime you’d like. Toronto abounds with green roofs and walls, but most people aren’t
Continue readingLeft Over: A Secular Choice…..and the Right to Choose
Niqab controversy: Judge struck down ban without referring to charter Zunera Ishaq, a Pakistani woman and devout Muslim, seeks to wear niqab during citizenship oath By Mark Gollom, CBC News Posted: Mar 16, 2015 5:00 AM ET Last Updated: Mar 16, 2015 5:20 AM ET An intelligent decision by this judge,
Continue readingThings Are Good: A Good City is an Environmentally Friendly One
The urban environment can benefit from more, well, environment. More research is coming out that proves something that many urbanites already know: where there is green there is more peace. Cities with good access to nature and have more trees spread throughout the urban space are better places to live.
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Oil Putting Food on Families
Pardon the Bushism. The CPC’s spin regarding the oil crowding out grain shipments by rail must be inspired by Dubya. @saskboy @LHubich That's an odd argument. Isn't grain literally the food?— Stefani Langenegger (@SLangeneggerCBC) March 07, 2014 Elizabeth May provides some sanity on the issue. “The current rail cars used
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