We’re More Powerful Than We Think
Reading this I was reminded of a dance protest that I was in a few weeks back in front of the Legislature protesting the Fairy Creek issue as well as old-growth forest logging in the province. Fifty people, all six feet apart and masked, danced a specific routine to... Read more
Working Together Enhances Community Well-Being
We couldn’t help but share this good news story that shows what is possible when people come together to take a stand for common good. Fortunately, the developer of this project had the right attitude, was open-minded and understood how their actions would... Read moreWireless Networks and Climate Change
This Earth Day presentation has a lot of detailed information about the greater amounts of energy required for wireless devices and networks than wired ones. This information should be presented to anyone concerned with climate change. If people don’t care about... Read more
Old Growth Forest Defenders Share Facts Public Needs to Know
This past week, with hundreds of people busy mobilizing to multiple frontlines prepared to risk arrest for the last real forests at the peak of public support and pressure on government to act now to deliver on its promise to protect old-growth forests, the... Read more
May All Our Words and Actions be Shaped Like Compassion
When we give a tree all our attention, when we listen intently, there is much we can learn about living in community and caring for one another.
Read more
Memo to John Horgan: Don’t Blow it for the Next Generation
I was struck by the immense irony of John Horgan’s recent exhortation to young people not to blow it for the rest of us with respect to COVID. The irony, of course, is that he and his government are blowing it for the younger generation by continuing to treat the environment as a resource for industrial activity and failing to protect species at risk.
Read more
Need Trees for Projects? Growing Canada’s Forests Program
In 2020, the Government of Canada launched a program to plant two billion trees in Canada over 10 years. On Feb 24, 2021 the federal government issued calls for Requests for Information (RFI) under the Growing Canada’s Forests program which are due May 27, 2021... Read more
Earth Week 2021 Events Roundup
Since 2012, more than 10,000 people have attended Creatively United’s live zero-waste Earth Day events. Now, every day is Earth Day on CreativelyUnited.org’s free community solutions sharing hub where people can post and see events, information, resources,... Read more
Canada Needs Action, Not Just Words
This lead story has some great assessments which could form the basis of an open letter to Trudeau (under a title, introduction, or close such as “Why I am ashamed to be Canadian”, or “All talk, no action”, “We are now a force for extinction”, “Can the hypocrisy... Read more
Saanich Housing Strategy Task Force Report Survey
We would like your feedback on strategies to improve housing affordability, choice, and supply in Saanich based on the Housing Strategy Task Force recommendations. Your input on Task Force recommendations for principles, focus areas, strategies, and actions is... Read more
Meaningful Action for Earth Day
Why have a special day to celebrate and care for the Earth? Shouldn’t we do that every day? Well, as organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970 realized, it’s an opportunity to raise awareness about climate issues, get on the political agenda, and create... Read more
Sooke Rally – Protect Fairy Creek & Support Blockades – Sat. April 17
Hats off to all who attended last Saturday’s Sooke rally. And thank you to Rene and Jane for being safety peeps and Wow to banner makers! yes!! We can support the Rainforest Flying Squad and help protect Fairy Creek… We will rally to defend Fairy Creek and... Read more
Historic Moment for our Forests and Climate Change
John Horgan will have an emergency cabinet meeting on the Fairy Creek situation and our old growth forests this month. This is a good time to send letters to the premier and MLAs. Contacts are provided below. Please ask your friends, family, neighbours and other... Read more
Metchosin Wilderness Camp Update
As a new step in Metchosin’s response to concerns with subdivision of the Metchosin Wilderness Camp, community members have initiated a Go Fund Me campaign, to assist in bringing professional legal knowledge in the practice area of non-profit and charity law, into the... Read more
Petition in Support of Farmer’s Market Program
With the support of MP Gord Johns of Courtenay – Alberni, the BCAFM is bringing a petition forward to the House of Commons asking the Government of Canada to help expand the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program (FMNCP) across the country. The FMNCP connects... Read more
Circling the new local economy with the six R’s
Becoming a One Planet region is a mammoth challenge, but one we have to meet unless we prefer to leave it to Mother Nature to do it for us (and to us). But that is not going to be pretty! The key to becoming a One Planet Region is in principle very simple; use and consume a lot less stuff and energy — especially fossil fuels — and produce much less waste.
Read more
REFORM to TRANSFORM: Climate Education Reform BC Action Toolkit
As youth who grew up unaware of the magnitude of the looming Climate Crisis, our team’s concern arose knowing how complacent our governments and the educational system has remained amidst the downfall and unnecessary destruction of our natural world.
Read moreCitizens Stand to Protect BC’s Old-Growth Forests
Premier John Horgan will be making an announcement at a forestry convention Thursday, April 8th Please get your emails and letters in today as soon as possible! On April 1, the BC Supreme Court handed down a decision to impose the injunction sought by Teal Jones. The... Read more
The Hidden Torture Chambers Nobody Thinks About
On World Day For Animals in Labs we educate ourselves about the virulent reservoir of cruelty to animals which exists in the international network of experimental labs, & take time to communicate with our political representatives on the issue.
Read more
Esquimalt’s Active Transportation Network Plan
Have your say in developing Esquimalt’s first Active Transportation Network Plan! Get involved There are multiple ways to share your feedback! You could check out: Complete the survey to help us better understand the existing barriers, issues, and opportunities... Read more
Creating Communities Fit for the 21st Century
Last week, I noted three ways proposed by Prof. Graham Smith to reform our democracy to safeguard the future, and dealt with two of them: re-shaping legislatures and constitutions and bringing an independent voice to decision-making.
Read more
Old Growth Forest Rally
So great to see such a fantastic turnout for the old growth forest rally at the Victoria Legislature. Thank you to everyone for taking a stand for our forests. Here’s a letter, complete with email addresses to share: Subject: A call for a New Forest Framework in... Read more
International Dark Sky Week
International Dark Sky Week (April 5-12) is just around the corner! We invite you to take a look at the new International Dark Sky Week website. There, you will find a map with popups that tells the stories of a small snapshot of the beautiful International Dark Sky... Read more
Fernwood Farms For Sale
Fernwood Farms for Sale- Interested in living in Victoria on a large city lot that has been developed into edible landscape based on permaculture principals? There are 6 veggie beds, drip irrigation with 18 fruit and 2 nut trees + 14 types of berries
Read more
Practising Democracy as if the Future Mattered
Too often, politics is focused on the short term. We see it everywhere: Support for clear-cutting the last stands of old-growth forest, fishing to the last fish, maintaining and even expanding the fossil-fuel industry — the list goes on. Only when it is almost too late do we act — and not always even then.
Read more
Sustainable Forest Management Will Help Drive Our Net Zero Future
Governments and stakeholders agree that we must urgently work together to build our net zero carbon future. The cost of inaction is simply far too great. The sooner we act, the more effectively we can reduce the risks and protect the health and safety of Canadians. It... Read more
Highlands Not the Place for a Strip Mine
The Highlands District Community Association (HDCA) is asking for public support requesting MLA’s (the Premier’s) support in stopping the OK Industries (OKI) strip mine, and in changing the Province’s Mines Act so this won’t happen again – here or anywhere in BC. Our... Read more
Greater Victoria Group Pushes Local Conversation for Climate Action
Humans act as if we have several planets to sustain us when in reality we only have one – that’s the motive behind a new six-week series of Monday evening conversations called Re-imagining Life In A One Planet Region.
Read more
Doughnut Economy Means Not Spending $100M on Interchange
Courtesy of the Times Colonist Photo: Housing should be moderately intensified, writes Trevor Hancock, not through high-rises but by sensitive in-filling to create moderate-priced housing in walkable neighbourhoods, as with a gentle densification housing project... Read more
Personal Reflections on Climate Change, Covid 19 and Stress
One of the common topics of conversation these days deals with how well we are faring with Covid lockdown. All the in-person people that I’ve met seem to be coping fairly well, even the dog walkers passing by or the strangers I meet at the nearby park. Actually, the... Read more
Opportunities to Help Protect Nature
Two opportunities to help nature are coming up soon. You may not be aware that in BC, there is less than 1% of the biggest old-growth trees left. Keeping these forests standing is among our best tools for mitigating climate change. Yet government and industry still... Read more
Controversial Developments
Focus Magazine wants people to let them know about any controversial developments in Greater Victoria. “Are you concerned about a particular development in Greater Victoria? Keep Focus posted and we’ll add it to our coverage. Email focusedit@shaw.ca or use... Read more
The Nanaimo Area Land Trust is Calling all Interested Wetlands Stewards!
The wetlands of Nanaimo are a precious ecological resource. To understand their natural values they need to be properly mapped, classified and monitored. This wetlandkeepers course will give you the tools to help steward our local wetlands. Sign up now for the 2021... Read more
Update on Metchosin Wilderness Camp
Metchosin council took a bold move on March 15 in passing a bylaw that downzones the Boys and Girls Club property that we know as Metchosin Wilderness Camp. The community rallied to provide letters of support for this move. We have been blindsided by the Club’s... Read moreBiodiversity Matters – Re-Imagining Forest Management
‘The spiraling decline of our planet’s biodiversity is the true tragedy of our time’ – David Attenborough from A Life on our Planet The road to carbon neutrality can only be successful if nature’s biodiversity is not only…
Read more
On Time and Water
Café Books is very good to me. When they see books in catalogues that they think might interest me, they order them in and then put them aside for me to consider them. One such book is the translation from Icelandic of a new book by Andri Snaer Magnuson entitled On... Read more
They’re your venues, have your say. Email your recommendation to create a Regional Arts Facilities Service by March 10th!
Please show your support for the arts, and write an email to the Capital Regional District Board in support of the recommendation to create a Regional Arts Facilities Service. Please encourage your arts loving friends to do the same! A decision will be made at the CRD... Read moreA Holistic Approach to Agriculture
I missed the Reimagining Agriculture webinar in February but was able to listen/watch it today and was pleased to see the references to organic agriculture, water usage, and the spiritual connection to land use provided by the poet, Rhona McAdam. That research on... Read more
Cancel TMX Insurance
Last week, Indigenous youth land defenders Braided Warriors were violently assaulted and removed while holding a peaceful sit-in and engaging in ceremony at the offices of Trans Mountain’s insurers. [1] They were demanding these insurance giants stop backing the... Read more
Old Growth Blockades
Here’s some info on the old growth blockades (www.fairycreekblockade.com) that are in place near Port Renfrew: Since August 10, 2020, ancient temperate rainforests in the Fairy Creek watershed (TFL 46) near Port Renfrew have been protected from Teal Jones... Read more
Avoid – Shift – Improve
Much as I support circular and doughnut economy concepts, I am concerned that proponents often focus on recycling. Far more important is a conservation ethic which encourages overall resource efficiency. It is sometimes called “reduce, reuse and recycle”... Read more
Fundraiser for Anti-Racism Education and Book Giveaway!
This book is a powerful reminder of the Holocaust and of our ongoing need to fight racism in all its forms.
Read moreRe-Imagining Agriculture – Adapting to a New Climate Reality
Water required for agriculture is becoming a major concern for water and food security across the province of British Columbia. This issue will only get worse over the coming decade as the climate dries and warms….
Read more
Is Langford Following Best Practices?
Fairway Neighbours Unite for a Livable Langford While Langford appears to be following the letter of the law, they are certainly NOT following Best Practices for keeping their citizens informed: – Releasing plans and architectural drawings on the Friday... Read more
Transportation, Climate Change, Public Health and Equity
Vancouver has a wonderful Climate Emergency Action Plan (https://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/vancouvers-climate-emergency.aspx ) that increases resource efficiency (it significantly reduces per capita energy and land consumption), plus housing and transportation... Read more
CRD Now Spreading Sewage Biosolids at Hartland Landfill
After full commissioning of the Residuals Treatment Facility for the Capital Region’s Liquid Waste located at Hartland Landfill, the CRD has confirmed the Facility is now producing bio-solids from dewatered sewage sludge, and is spreading them at the Landfill. The... Read more
Making Peace with Nature
“Humanity is waging war on nature. This is senseless and suicidal. The consequences of our recklessness are already apparent in human suffering, towering economic losses, and the accelerating erosion of life on Earth.” – UN Secretary-General António Guterres “We... Read more
Langford Is About to Change
A lot has happened in our community in the past few years: entire mountainsides clearcut and blasted, residents unable to adequately access council meetings during the pandemic, residents of Danbrook, and Tri-way mobile home park displaced, all in the pursuit of... Read more