Is the war against climate change already lost?
World Marks Full Year of Average Temperatures Above 1.5C Target
Norman Farrell
Collapse of Social Cohesion and Crisis of Trust and Truth
Frank Graves says we live in an era which sees a crisis of both trust and truth... Disinformation is polarizing our society in ways that we have never seen... But…
Evil corporate culture, tip of the iceberg?
Large enterprises often fail to respond effectively when facing challenges. Professional people find it difficult to say that they may have been wrong. Passing the buck is a primary defence…
Watch what the BC NDP does, not what they say
So BC taxpayers currently paying close to $3 billion a year in carbon tax must result in lower production of natural gas, right? Maybe not.
Not worried about climate change?
Environmental Defence Canada says climate change is one of the main reasons why food prices are increasing. There are other factors too, but some of the prices in 2024 are…
Megaproject, 10 years late and 8x original budget
The real need is for the province to appoint a royal commission with broad ability to investigate financial and engineering problems with all megaprojects. The inquiry should be able to…
“After all, we only did what we had said we would do…”
All senior public servant involved in the approval or management of megaprojects that consume vast sums should demonstrate detailed knowledge of Professor Flyvbjerg's work. Many works would not be approved…
Oil and gas industry is a rogue entity making its own rules
If the public interest is ever to be served, the power and influence of lobbyists must be reduced to near-zero and the ability to slip easily between the regulators and…
Climate dangers: larger and more imminent economic destruction
Some believe that wealth creation should be the paramount goal of a nation. In Canada, many of those people are political operatives opposing effective actions to mitigate climate change. A…
Over budget, over time, over and over again. Quelle surprise!
The United Kingdom's National Audit Office said about a nuclear energy megaproject that was to cost C$35 billion and now looks to be costing more than C$80 billion, years after…
Shaping the news
The reality is that media filters reality instead of reflecting it. In authoritarian regimes, control of communication has always been a primary consideration and news is shaped to further the…
The man in the hot air balloon
Much is wrong with Facebook, but occasionally, it circulates nuggets of gold…
Corus Entertainment update
Days ago, I commented on the share price of the company that owns Canada’s Global Television Network and numerous broadcasting outlets in Vancouver and elsewhere. Stock in Corus Entertainment Inc.…
If you fail, fail big
The law is equal before all of us; but we are not all equal before the law. Virtually there is one law for the rich and another for the poor,…
Poo in the water — ethical pension fund investments not a priority
Over 40 percent of Thames Water, a troubled utility company in the United Kingdom, is owned by OMERS and BCI. These are two of Canada’s biggest public pension fund managers.…
Who funds think tanks, and why?
An organization in the United Kingdom aims to identify funders of think tanks that work to influence public policy. While the group’s focus is on the UK, it is a…
Build—maintain—lose
The possibility of Corus Entertainment Inc. disappearing may astound people. However, there is a common pattern following intergenerational transfers of business interests. Reuter’s Chris Taylor reported: 70 percent of wealthy…
Shares of Corus Entertainment may be worth zero if…
Years ago, well managed radio stations enjoyed operating profits that could reach 50 percent of revenue. Having permits to broadcast were said to be like having licences to print money.…
Triangulate your information
Ali Velshi is a journalist often seen on MSNBC. Promoting a new book, he appeared on NPR’s Fresh Air. The program covers much ground and is worth our attention. The…
Western Canada’s climate change actions are inadequate or illusory
Climate change actions of British Columbia and Manitoba are inadequate and the main efforts by Alberta and Saskatchewan to reduce greenhouse emissions are illusory. While provinces in central and eastern…