“Post-truth” Politics in Alberta
Albertans can learn a lot about the importance of truth in politics from the Trump/Clinton presidential race. Political lies have moved beyond “misstatements” for which politicians “take full responsibility” and…
environment
Province will accept court ruling on Shawnigan Lake contaminated soil
It is hard to imagine how this could take so long to decide, but at the least, the injunction has been reinstituted allowing for some relief, but without independent…
Cowichan Valley chapter screens Josh Fox film, inspired by Pacific Climate Warriors
The Council of Canadians Cowichan Valley chapter screened the Josh Fox documentary How to Let Go of the World and Love All The Things Climate Can’t Change on September 29.…
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Mary O’Hara notes that even a relatively modest and incomplete set of progressive policies has created some important movement toward reducing poverty.…
Pumps readied for Cowichan River life support
The third drought in 3 years has forced Catalyst, operators of the Crofton Pulp Mill, to spend a reported 500 thousand dollars to build pumping facility to assure adequate water…
Saskatchewan Leads World in Carbon Pollution
This isn’t breaking news, I brought it to you years ago, but a new report reconfirms the problem. Is it any wonder when the Premier has people defending our pollution:…
Portugal Joins Other Countries by Running Only on Renewable Energy
Portugal reached a very significant milestone on its path to being fully powered by renewables by consuming energy only from sustainable resources for four days. Other countries are on similar…
Not everyone thrilled with Sunfest – “Many, including CVRD personnel have told us to just move away.”
When large outdoor music concerts are promoted, it is not unusual to hear of negative effects on locals in the communities. Safety concerns are glibly dismissed in some cases, and…
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…
Water Wars and the Last Straw
The next world wars won't be about land or oil. They'll be about water. And Canada could be the next Iraq, invaded and decimated for the abundance of our natural…
How To Let Go Of The World And Love All The Things Climate Cannot Change
Like many of you, I have watched Gasland, Gasland II and the Sky Is Pink. Josh Fox has been a trailblazer digging in and challenging the oil and gas trade.…
UK Bans Fising in a Million Square Kilometres
The UK will be banning commercial fishing in approximately one million kilometres of their ocean waters. The country is expanding their marine protection areas in the Atlantic and Pacific around…
Atmospheric Acidity Levels Return to Preindustrial Levels
Repairing the damage humans have done to the environment is a slow process but it can be done! Thanks to policies put in place by leading economies (the article sites…
Another Fine Mess: Thanks Stevie
It turns out the famous Laurel and Hardy phrase “here’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into” is a misquote. What Oliver Hardy really said to the hapless Stan Laurel…
The NDP and Green Parties Struggle With Their Conservative and Progressive Factions
It seems that both NDP and the Greens are struggling with who they are, and what they think. The NDP’s move to the ‘Mushy Middle’ must have former BC NDP…
The Irony of Advocating for A/C in Schools
This was a hot start to the school year. I taught a few classes with sweat dripping off my face as I spoke animatedly and enthusiastically about my courses. It…
fun with bag signs: in which i am photographed removing garbage from my neighbourhood
Are there bag signs where you live?In Mississauga and perhaps most suburban places, people put up bag signs advertising services. The signs are cheap to buy and easy to post.…
Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.- George Monbiot observes that while few people would want to drive animals to extinction directly, we're all too often eager to settle for a…
PM Trudeau-Spills happen.They always do. Even the best technology isn’t up to the job.
Dear Mr. Trudeau, I attended the Kinder Morgan open house in Victoria recently, well I tried to. The attendance was so great that as many of us as fit into…
Fish Farms Out! First Nations Move To Take Back Control
Richard Hughes Following decades of protest against virus ridden corporate fish farms being ignored by our federal and provincial, court decisions are fueling bold new efforts to drive the fish…