Community Stories
The Infill Shock Doctrine on Arbutus Road: A Photographic Essay
Government in order to sell the idea, typically euphemizes “infill” as “gentle density”, but when applied as it is without protections for the natural environment and habitat, it is nothing other than another manifestation of the ‘Shock Doctrine’ of Capitalism used…
Will You Help Put Comfortable, Affordable Homes Within Reach for More Canadians?
A House of Commons petition is calling on the government to make energy efficiency a nation-building priority. We’re asking the federal government to set double the rate at which we improve energy productivity, and to end energy poverty. The benefits of…
New Westminster Joins Sue Big Oil
In February, the New Westminster City Council became the 12th BC community to support a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking to recover a share of climate-related costs from global fossil fuel companies. Local residents and young people played a pivotal role in…
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Social-housing crisis stems from 1993 federal cuts
This week, I will begin to explore our “Five Big Ideas” in more detail, from the perspective of human wellbeing and its achievement within the Earth’s ecological boundaries. These ideas are intended to provide a balanced and holistic perspective and be implemented…
All Aboard Family Cycling Program
Parents wanting to bike with their kids but who are concerned about safety and are not sure how to start, now have a “leg up”, with help by Capital Bike. This summer, Capital Bike’s All-Aboard Family Cycling program returns for the second year, funded by Island…
Public health plays key role in urban planning
In November 2021, the City of Ottawa completed the process of revising its official plan. My attention was drawn to Ottawa’s plan through a recent news posting by the Canadian Public Health Association, which focused on the role of public health in the development of …
Let’s stop calling people ‘bums’ or ‘undesirables’
I have had it with letters to the editor that seem to be trying harder and harder to be nastier and nastier about people who are, for whatever reason, down on their luck and living on the street. Too often, recently, I have seen references to such people as “bums,” …
The Dirty Truth About Combustion Engine Vehicles
This excellent video answers a lot of questions when it comes to choosing battery powered vehicles. Please watch and share widely. Watch on Vimeo here Shareable link: https://vimeo.com/519585463
One Planet Celebration Event
For those that missed the One Planet Celebration Event, please check out the recording! We profiled some of the amazing work that you are all doing, featured and awarded the winners of our One Planet Student Challenge, and heard congratulatory remarks from the…
Petition to Stop Old Growth Forest Logging
Friends, please sign the petition by Elizabeth May who has put forth a bill and petition to STOP OLD GROWTH LOGGING.
The Fairy Creek area and other rare Old Growth habitat are still slated to be logged. Thanks for caring!
We are falling behind in a world going backwards
We have missed other important environmental goals. An independent scientific report prepared for the recent Stockholm+50 conference examined progress across a range of environmental goals agreed since 1972, and found that “typically only one-tenth of targets show sig…
The Transformational Moment: Summer Solstice Dispatch
I wish to offer that two great societal forces seem to be cancelling each other out in terms of moving society forward during this critical moment. The first of these forces are those of hope and gratitude and promise for a better future; and the second those…
Call for Mural Artists and Selection Committee for Saanich’s Mural Project
The 2022 Community Canvas Mural Project aims to add vibrancy to Saanich this summer with three mural opportunities in public parks. Find more information on the project website: 2022 Community Canvas Mural Project | District of Saanich Information on the Call to…
The Scope of Hope
Question: Is there room for hope in the modern world? I’m a Delta, BC resident who writes poetry as a way to explore and understand myself and the wider world. My love of trees, the environment, poetry and the written word continue to inspire me.
Conventional economic growth is unsustainable
Rising concern about the impact of humanity on the environment led to the first UN conference on the environment in 1972. However, the issue of sustainability itself was barely touched on at the conference, with only one mention in the 80-page conference report. Nonethe…
