On John Stuart Mill, Free Speech, and Climate Change
I got caught up in a few arguments about climate change recently that just reinforced to me, that there’s still such a strong bashlash against the entire idea that we’re…
environment
On Celebrating History
I’ve got a funny story. A while ago – like months – a colleague asked if I’d do some website or advertising work of some sort for a sesquicentennial event…
Made in Canada Scam Plan #cdnpoli
Conservatives are stalling, as they have been for nearly 8 years on both Senate reform and climate change action. .@mikedesouza Only 7 years ago the Made In Canada plan for…
The Hanging Gardens of Singapore
The Hanging Gardens of Ancient Babylon was known for it’s amazing vertical garden and to this day it’s not clear how the gardens functioned (or how it was built). That…
Stoic Environmentalism
I’m doing the Stoic Week thing this week. It’s just a matter of contemplating specific quotations each day. Even though I studied them years ago, and teach about them even,…
Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Richard Seymour comments on more and more draconian anti-protest laws which are being applied to attack public activism: To understand why this…
A Little Hope is Effective…
A lot of hope is dangerous. – President Snow This may be a little hokey, but I think Catching Fire is an important film to see right now. And it’s…
Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Ish Theilheimer writes about the opportunity progressives should recognize in the scandals engulfing Rob Ford, Stephen Harper and other conservative leaders: (W)hile you’d…
Ontario Government “Failed Miserably” to Protect Endangered Species
Woodland Caribou (Flickr image from Jim Winstead) The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has shown a “shocking disregard” for its legal obligation to consult with the public on numerous changes…
COP 19 Warsaw: interview with Filipino negotiator Yeb Saño: leaked doc shows U.S. concern about ‘blame and liability’
At the UN climate summit in Warsaw (COP 19), Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman talked with Naderev “Yeb” Saño, the lead negotiator for the Philippines. At the time he spoke with…
"Stephen Harper’s climate-change record can’t be ignored anymore" – because it’s putting Canadian jobs and our economy at risk
Worthwhile article from Chantal Hebert here. She’s not the first to link Harper’s gutting of environmental regulations, skeptical attitude towards climate change and attacks on the environmental movement to other…
Rest of World to Canada: Stop Risking The Future
COP 19 ends this week and there is at least one clear message coming from the meeting: Canada is risking the wellbeing of future generations. While most countries agree that…
Protection of the #Pickering Lands; An Open Letter to LPC(O) Delegates (#lpc #cdnpoli)
Dear Liberal Friends, This weekend is the LPC(O) Policy Prioritization Meeting & Executive Board. You will be asked to prioritize 10 policy resolutions for debate at the Liberal Party of…
Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Angella MacEwen rightly slams the Cons’ attempt to use Employment Insurance funds as a subsidy for employers at the expense of workers.…
In Ottawa, Hundreds Demand Action To “Defend Our Climate”, Communities
More than 150 protesters gathered on Parliament Hill today as part of the Canada-wide “Defend Our Climate, Defend Our Communities” national day of action against climate change and tar sands…
Vancouver Sun Letter
A few days ago, former BC NDP premier Dan Miller had an op-ed in The Vancouver Sun in which he criticized his party’s insufficient enthusiasm on resource development. As regular…
Referendums on Pipelines?
The longstanding “will they or won’t they” dynamic existing between BC premier Christy Clark and Alberta premier Alison Redford took a turn for the depressing recently when they announced they…
No more excuses
There is no question: this generation will be held responsible for our actions, and even more, for our inaction. Apathy, complacency and denial are morally unacceptable. In fact, at this…
Human vs. Nature vs. Human Nature
There’s nothing like nature to provide a clear reminder that all the political scandals in the world are irrelevant in the face of human suffering in the wake of natural…
Carbon Output Shrinking as Economies Grow
Some odd people think that environmental policies and mandated efficiencies ruin economies, well, now there is another reason why those people are wrong. A report just released will hopefully have…