Community Stories
The Case Against ‘Strategic’ Voting in BC
This video is a very good explanation of how the biggest political parties operate in BC and across Canada. Right now British Columbian voters have until Saturday, October 24th to decide who to vote for. Fear mongering and divisiveness is a hallmark of the status quo….
Esquimalt-Colwood Provincial Candidate Meeting Recording
Learn where the candidates for the Esquimalt-Colwood (including Vic West + View Royal) stand on a variety of issues. Hosted by the citizen-led South Island Climate Action Network (SI-CAN) and the Gorge Waterway Action Society. Moderator: Judith Cullington PROVINCIAL…
Call for Indigenous Artists
OPPORTUNITY for Indigenous artists to create art for the entrance to Sooke Region Museum. Artwork created by Indigenous artist(s) from the local communities of T’Sou-ke, SC’IȺNEW̱, and Pacheedaht located at the Museum entrance.
Bill-44 Should Be Front and Foremost During A Snap Election On Top Of An Election.
The Issue We the signed residents of British Columbia, call upon the Province of B.C. to repeal (or amend) BC Bill-44 (2023), in order to restore public hearings and municipal powers over zoning, which are being taken away by the bill. We do so, because Bill 44 is: 1….
Resources to Learn More About Truth and Reconciliation
Review the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and the final report from the National Inquiry on MMIWG2S’s 231 Calls for Justice. Read a book written by an Indigenous author and watch CreativelyUnited.org’s Listening Once Again to Our Great…
La Rose v. His Majesty the King – A Canadian Climate Trial Worth Watching
On October 26, 15 young Canadians will attend Federal Court in Vancouver to ask the court to order Canada to produce a real, science-based Climate Recovery Plan – not just the legislated 2050 target, but a plan with actual mechanisms behind it. The trial is…
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Housing Requires a Balanced Approach
The “build it and they will come” approach is in line with conventional economic thinking: that more tax income will fund affordable housing and the homeless crisis. It’s overlooked that the current approach to development results in related infrastructure and services consuming the increased property tax revenue.
Tree of Life
This song is the result of the convergence of various aspects of my life: a forty-plus-year career in forest fire research, dabbling in writing song lyrics, a love of music and collaborating with others. The lyrics for Tree of Life came about in response to a challenge from a friend to write about a topic I know well: BC’s old growth forests. A local songwriter, Sian Elen, agreed to set the lyrics to music…
High levels of inequality incompatible with a well-being society
That is also true globally: “Bonds across countries do not work when bonds within them are broken,” noted the UN’s recent report Our Common Agenda. Which brings me to the World Inequality Report 2022, released in December. The report is published by the World Inequality Lab, based in France, whose major funders include the…
Say NO to selling our precious public school land and stream
Dear friends, neighbours, Lansdowne neighbours, Bower Creek neighbours, fellow concerned citizens, Please sign this petition to communicate to SD61 Trustees your opposition to the sale of school land at Lansdowne Middle School south campus. This land is needed to…
When it comes to health, inequality is inevitable, but inequity isn’t
The World Health Organization’s December 2021 Geneva Charter for Well-being expresses “the urgency of creating sustainable well-being societies, committed to achieving equitable health now and for future generations without breaching ecological limits.” So far, I have mostly focused on the need to stay within ecological boundaries…
Inside the Fight to Save an Ancient Forest (and the Secrets it Holds)
This PBS video is a powerful testament to the courage and tenacity of determined protestors to protect the old growth forests in the Fairy Creek Watershed and surrounding areas in southwest Vancouver Island in British Columbia. The subtitle, “And the Secrets It Holds” is even more powerful for the film illustrates that forests have more to tell us…
The Postcard Climate Show
Close to 600 artful solutions to the climate crisis by participants from Victoria, British Columbia and abroad will be displayed in The Postcard Climate Show at Gage Gallery, Victoria, BC, from February 22 until March 6, 2022.
Shell’s Massive Carbon Capture Plant Is Emitting More Than It’s Capturing
Many fossil fuel companies are championing carbon capture technology as a way to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 in order to continue producing fossil fuels for the market. The federal government has committed to placing a cap on carbon emissions from the oil and…
The Hurricane They Call Lady
I’m a Métis singer/songwriter from Victoria/Vancouver BC. Recently, I’ve been blessed to spend 60 days in my car feeling and learning about homelessness and have now become a humanitarian and advocate for many causes! I recently met a lady in a wheelchair at the…
GDP needs to be replaced with more meaningful indicators
Last week, I described the growing global attention to the concept of a well-being society and economy. The latter has already been the focus of work by several national governments. In particular, New Zealand (Aotearoa) was the first country in the world to develop and present…
Celebrating World Water Day — Ripples 2022
We wanted to share some exciting news with you in hopes that you may share it to your circles, as well as in any upcoming e-newsletters. POLIS is collaborating with the University of Victoria Sustainability Project, the Canadian Freshwater Alliance, and the Cowichan…
When We Almost Gave Up Until We Caught the Tail of the Rainbow
Dear Friend of the HeArt, Greetings! The year 2020 was grappled with the global pandemic and we were caught in the midst of it when we moved from one island to another – to settle at my mother’s hometown; a farming community located 35 miles from the capital city of…
