Garry Oak Comic Strip
A love of Garry Oaks and their Ecosystem compelled me to find a simple way to show my appreciation. Maybe through shared laughter it may bring more awareness.
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First They Came for the Whales…
While there has been an increasing public focus on climate change in the past few years, and a slow awakening to the threat it poses, we have yet to wake up fully to an even bigger problem. I noted in a September column that we face not only a climate emergency but an extinction emergency.
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Oppose Military Exercises in Washington State Parks
Tell the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to not renew the military’s permit to access our public parks! In 2015 the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission issued a 5-year permit allowing the U.S. Navy to occupy five Washington State... Read more
Save Craigflower Creek
The BC government wants to turn an existing park into a bus depot, despite the presence of a salmon spawning creek and many trees. The details are on the website: https://www.savecraigflowercreek.org and we have a petition started here:... Read more
Wet’Suwet’en Overview
On December 31, 2019, BC Supreme Court Justice Marguerite Church extended Coastal GasLink’s injunction order from an interim injunction to an interlocutory injunction. Members of the Wet’suwet’en nation have been stewarding and protecting their traditional territories... Read more
Indigenous Rights Trampled by Rule of Law
On Wet’suwet’en Territory, The Hereditary chiefs and matriarchs were holding a ceremony to honour the memories of the missing and murdered indigenous women when they were arrested on February 10, 2020. The hanging of red dresses along fences posts and trees has been a... Read more
Faith in a Sustainable Future is Vital
I recently touched on the interest among local faith communities in the challenge of becoming a One Planet region. But that local interest is part of a wider national and global movement across many faiths that links concern with ecological change — especially but not... Read more
We’re Spending Our Children’s Inheritance
Photo: Petteri Taalas, secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization, says the world is on track for a temperature increase as much as 3 to 5 C. Photograph By TWITTER Courtesy of the Times Colonist No doubt you have seen — perhaps you even have — a... Read more
Recognizing the Spiritual Value of Nature
The Midwinter Solstice is nearly upon us, and it is a powerful time of the year. For our ancestors, the shortening days and the growing cold must have been a source of concern every year; would the sun come back, would winter end?
Read moreSupport Needed to Stop Strip Mine in the Highlands
The Highlands District Community Association (HDCA) announced this week that it has petitioned the BC Government to reject the 2017 Application by OK Industries (OKI) for a strip mine. The petition, conducted over the summer, was tabled today in the BC Legislature by... Read more
How to Make Studying Interesting to Kids
Making studying and learning as much fun as possible isn’t an easy task, but it’s absolutely necessary if you want to help your kids. Not everything will go smoothly and there are bound to be obstacles along the way, but you need to be persistent.
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The Nature Fix – Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams
“I’m no tree hugger but The Nature Fix made me want to run outside and embrace the nearest Oak. Not for the tree’s sake, but mine.” – Eric Weiner
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Smart Climate Action Slideshow
Here is a slideshow presented November 19 to the Vancouver Island Section of the Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers (CITE). This presentation reviews our regional transport emission reduction targets, and identifies a specific set of local and regional... Read more
Creatively United Does It Again!
An East Sooke home is creating a building revolution that is catching the attention of major media. Bloomberg, a privately held financial, software, data, and media company headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, reports in a recent business article that... Read more
Special Request! Cellphones exceed radiation exposure guidelines
Please share and support my request for a cellphone ban in our schools by sending this template or writing your own letter to Deputy Minister, Don Wright about your concerns. Thank you. To alison.wensink@gov.bc.ca cc your MLA... Read more
Langford Developer Increases Greenspace
Firstly, a huge pat-on-the-back is in order for all of us: all of your letters to council, phone calls and actions back in July made a difference! Because of you, the city and developer increased the required greenspace in the development proposal from 25% to 40%. As... Read more
Creative Climate Messaging
Waste Land aptly describes the experience I had of visiting an incredibly metaphor rich exhibition space in a house slated for demolition on Fifth Street in Victoria, BC. I didn’t know what to expect, but was in awe of the curation, effort and creativity expressed for... Read more
Waste Land: Climate Anxiety Haunted House Brings New Art Form to Victoria
This is brilliant. If you live in Victoria, seize the chance to visit before it closes on Sunday! – Guy Dauncey — This is the first time that a home slated for the wrecking ball has been used as an exhibition space in Victoria. Aryze Development has given... Read more
Key Federal, Provincial & Municipal Government Contacts
Writing a letter to voice your opinion is not only therapeutic but can make a difference. The more of us who do it, the more likely some action will come of it. Here we have conveniently compiled a list of emails for city councilors and mayors for most municipalities,... Read more
Working Together to Rethink Waste – The CRD Wants To Hear From You!
The Capital Regional District (CRD) is developing a new Solid Waste Management Plan—the plan that guides how the region will manage solid waste in the coming years, including recyclables, compostable material and garbage from homes, businesses, institutions, and... Read more
Esquimalt Park To Receive 450 New Trees & Shrubs
These native plants will add to the biodiversity in the park, as well as increase tree coverage in the region. There will be 23 species planted in total, including Garry oaks, Douglas fir…
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Rare Bird Sighting in Panama Flats
On Saturday, October 19, Geoffrey was on the 5 p.m. edition of the local Live CHEK NEWS with a rare bird sighting in the Panama Flats. The bird is a Yellow-browed Warbler from Siberia. Geoffrey Newell is the leader of our monthly Bird Walks in Uplands Park. He is one... Read more
Poverty and Health is an Election Issue
Forty years ago, I wrote about two principles that I considered fundamental to the health of the population: Ecological sanity and social justice. If we do not pay attention to these principles and what we now call the ecological and social determinants of health, the health of the population will be seriously harmed.
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Takaya, The Lone Wolf
I watched this beautiful documentary about the lone wolf on Discovery Island, off Oak Bay shoreline. The film is made by local wildlife photographer Cheryl Alexander. It’s on CBC, The Nature of Things: Takaya, Lone Wolf and will be repeated on TV, on the CBCNN... Read more
Affordable Meeting Spaces
The HUB – a free space on 829 Fort St. for booking community meetings, seats 25. Free, but subject to interruptions / walk-ins from the street. www.thehubvictoriabc.org or e-mail thehubvictoriabc@gmail.com. Greater Victoria Regional Library (public meeting rooms... Read more
New Forest Management Policy
Great news! North Cowichan Councillor Rob Douglas, has just let us know Resolution B 156 Regional Management of Forests, was passed this morning at the UBCM Convention in Vancouver. This resolution is copied below. Maybe now BC forestry will be above politics and... Read more
Victoria, BC Climate Strike
Estimates are that about 20,000 people attended today’s climate action strike and march with parts of Government, Belleville, Douglas and Fort Street closed off to traffic as the group moved from the lawns of the Legislature up Douglas to Fort Street. People of... Read more
Climate Action Teach In and Rally
Despite heavy rain, about 300 people, mostly teachers, parents and youth, turned out Monday for the Climate Action Teach In and Rally at the Legislature. There was a definite buzz of energy with connections and conversations made and visits to a variety of exhibitors,... Read more
Global Guide on DRR, Children & Youth Released for Public Review
Child and youth are often negatively impacted by climate change—in ways that threaten their rights. Working with them as agents for change in their communities reduces risks and enables adaptation. Learn more in a new global guide: https://bit.ly/2mSv7CR.
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City of Victoria Announces Participation in UN’s Trees for Cities Challenge
At a time when urban forests are rapidly diminishing, the City of Victoria this year made a commitment to expanding and protecting ours, by adding $1 million to the Parks budget. It also committed $850,000 annually going forward.
Read more“This is Not a Drill” Cideo From Greta Thunberg and George Monbiot
Environmental activists Greta Thunberg and George Monbiot have helped produce a short film highlighting the need to protect, restore and use nature to tackle the climate crisis. Living ecosystems like forests, mangroves, swamps and seabeds can pull enormous quantities... Read more
Six Green New Deals: How Do They Compare?
I spent this week digging into six different Green New Deals, to see how they compare, policy-by-policy. Five American, one European. The Canadian versions are seemingly not ready yet. Here’s my results. I hope you find them helpful! Read more
Trees (and Shrubs) For Free!
Why not try your hand at propagating some trees and/or shrubs? Not all species are easy to grow from cuttings, but many will respond to your care and effort. When the saplings or plants are established, you can plant them in your own yard, or ask friends and family... Read more
Free Trees! Garry Oaks, Bigleaf Maples & More
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago…The next best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb Fall is a great time to collect seeds and nuts that will grow into free trees. Even those of us who don’t own property can enjoy starting seedlings for others to plant in... Read moreWorld Ocean’s Day
World Oceans Day 2019 was a great success and we have had very positive feedback, so we will likely have the same layout next year as well. We raised $2,071.35, which puts us at a grand total of $4,783.94 (from 2017-2019) towards the purchase of a Seabin for... Read more
It’s Time We Stopped Treating Soil Like Dirt – Video
This is a fantastic, lively and very informative short video on the vital importance of dirt. Basically, soil keeps us all alive, because it grows the food we eat. It can also be an important carbon sink. “Soil provides 95% of our food, helps regulate the... Read more
Free Boulevard Tree Planting in Saanich & Oak Bay
If you live in Saanich, you can get a free tree planted on your boulevard! Check out this link for more info. (If you live in Oak Bay, they have a similar program! It is not posted, but for more info on Oak Bay’s boulevard tree program, call... Read more
Early Support For Children Is Essential
Brain development in infancy is astonishing. According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, a million connections are made in the brain every second — yes, every second — in the first three years of life.
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Humboldt Street Tree: A Case Study
An approximately 40 year-old white birch tree (“the Humboldt tree”) at the intersection of Humboldt and Government was cut down on January 28, 2019 to implement a complete redesign of the intersection. The redesign was scheduled as part of the implementation of the City of Victoria’s AAA Bicycle Network Plan.
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One Planet Saanich – Thinking Globally, Acting Locally
Based on Bioregional’s 10 “One Planet” principles, the initiative addresses the “usual suspects” of sustainability — energy, transportation, food, materials and waste, water, green space and so on. But Bioregional begins with three principles about people and community: Health and happiness, equity and the local economy, and culture and community.
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Is Canada Doing Enough to Protect Wildlife?
Most people are unaware that ALL LIFE is being harmed by the wireless devices that require more and more cell towers. We need education about this technology and its dangers.. not more electromagnetic radiation. Radiation affects all of life, including tiny... Read more
‘One planet’ Communities Look Forward
On July 29 we reached Earth Overshoot Day — the day when humanity’s overall Ecological Footprint (EF) exceeded the Earth’s ability to replenish sufficient biocapacity to meet our demands.
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It is Not Too Late To Stop 5G!
This is the terrifying map of cell towers and some of the Huawei Microcells that have already been laid out in Greater Victoria. Congratulations for Victoria having the least density so far. The map is not totally accurate, since locations such as Jubilee Hospital and... Read more
Care about the Colquitz? Elk/Beaver Lake are the head waters of the Colquitz
This event will provide an opportunity to learn more about water quality issues at Elk/Beaver Lake and how you can support the development of a watershed management plan. Tasty, light refreshments will be provided! Join the CRD and the community on Wednesday, July 31... Read moreSun Dancing
When I examined my past twenty years of life with Bipolar Disorder, I was shocked at the story I saw emerging. One that I feel must be shared. I have a creative and unique perspective on the topic of mental health. May it be helpful and inspiring.
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Fixing Primary Care? Help People Help Themselves and Others
Reducing the need for care means reducing the burden of disease within society. This requires both a government and society-wide provincial population health strategy and a much stronger commitment to public health and clinical prevention within the health-care system.
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One Planet Saanich
The Creatively United for the Planet Society has been involved since last year in the One Planet Saanich Initiative, with 12 local schools, businesses and other organizations. One planet living is a vision of the world in which people enjoy healthy, happy lives,... Read more
Putting Good Money To Work
Thank you to the incredible Vancity team for their support for CreativelyUnited.org, where local solutions for lighter living are shared 24/7. Vancity shares our common goals and values, as a result, we are creating more videos and a special limited edition magazine... Read more
Residents’ Group Fights for a New Park in Langford
(200 residents attended a rezoning meeting recently to request some of this property be left as parkland. Please read on for an update.) On July 8, 2019 the City of Langford Planning, Zoning and Affordable Housing Committee moved to proceed with comprehensive... Read more