Community Stories
Sign on Letter to Trudeau: End All Public Financing of Fossil Fuels
The Government of Canada has made some progress in ending support for the fossil fuel sector, including introducing two policies over recent years aimed at ending international public financing and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. However, most of the support...
Job Posting: Assistant Outdoor Naturalist Educator
Ecoforestry Institute is seeking an Assistant Educator/Naturalist passionate about protecting BC’s forests, to run interpretive ecoforestry and ecology based school workshops, summer camps, and public tours at Wildwood Ecoforest near Ladysmith.
Biosolids & Thermal Conversion Frequently Asked Questions
What are biosolids? Biosolids are the dried residual sludge created by treating municipal wastewater. What are the main contaminants in biosolids? Heavy metals, micro plastics, pharmaceuticals, and so called forever chemicals that never break down. What is the thermal...
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Unavoidable Legal Liability of Land Application of Biosolids
Dear CRD Chair and Board, Let me begin by thanking you all for your continued support for the popular and longstanding ban on the land application of biosolids in the CRD. This is just a quick note to share a news story from the Guardian about a community group suing...
Legal Action Could End Use Of Toxic Sewage Sludge On US Crops As Fertilizer
New legal action could put an end to the practice of spreading toxic sewage sludge on US cropland as a cheap alternative to fertilizer, and force America to rethink how it disposes of its industrial and human waste. A notice of intent…
Corporate Lobbying Needs to be Kept Out of the Food System
In my last three columns, I looked at the health and economic burden of unhealthy diets, the role of large parts of the food industry in producing and marketing an unhealthy diet, and the ways in which our current food system harms the planet.
Fifth Annual Water Research Roundup
Our fifth annual Water Research Roundup featured emerging researchers Bridget McGlynn, Christiana Onabola, and Ella Martindale. They spoke on topics ranging from how governance systems align with the environmental challenges they are trying...
Sustainability Blueprint – New Approach towards Balance and Harmony
The Sustainability Blueprint – Practical Climate Adaptation Actions for You, Your Family, and Your Community offers an action-oriented and practical new approach to the two major challenges threatening humanity and the planet: the climate crisis and the ongoing disasters.
The Sickening Side of the Food Industry
Last week, I noted the private sector is the key player in the provision of a healthy diet. But the food industry also makes a great deal of money from the production and marketing of unhealthy food. It is estimated that globally, unhealthy diets account for about 11 million premature deaths annually.
CRD Open House on Biosolids Was Anything But
I’m writing today to express my disappointment and concerns about the recent CRD Open House on biosolids. Since the hosts opted to hide the number of participants, and since cameras, mikes and even the “chat” sidebar were disabled for participants, it was impossible...
A Helpful Guide to Understand the CRD Biosolids Survey (deadline March 6th)
Would you knowingly eat food, drink water or breathe air that contains toxic chemicals and microplastics linked to cancer that are contained in sewage sludge from Victoria, BC’s wastewater treatment plant? Right now, forever...
Is B.C. About To Radically Transform Governance?
As far back as 1964, Paul Sears, an eminent American ecologist and former chair of the graduate program in Conservation at Yale University, described ecology as “a subversive subject” and asked “if taken seriously as an instrument for the long-run welfare of mankind…
Fossil-Fuel Industry Doubling Down, Pushing for Growth
Last week, I documented the massive impact of the fossil-fuel industry on people and the planet, an impact the industry generally ignores or downplays in its rush to make money and maintain its power, earning it the title of “the new tobacco.”
Applications welcome: MEd in Leadership Studies (UVic)
The Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies at UVic is pleased to welcome applications for our 2024 MEd program in Leadership Studies! Applications deadline extended to March 1, 2024.
National Youth Climate Activism Award
Calling all Canadian youth interested and active in climate activism. Now in its third year, it requires applicants under 20 years old to demonstrate devotion to taking meaningful steps toward improving the outlook for our planet concerning climate change. The award...