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….
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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
The Future of Saanich Wetlands
On Monday, Feb. 22nd, Saanich Council will be deliberating on the future of the Panama Flats. The 2013 master plan for this remarkable 62-acre property has the ingredients of bird and wildlife sanctuary, wetlands, walking paths, Garry Oak preservation, flood plan... Read more
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: City of Victoria Advisory Committee
The City of Victoria has a range of advisory committees. We’re currently looking to fill up to 12 positions for a two-year term on our Active Transportation Advisory Committee. Candidates should have an interest and passion for sustainable transportation... Read more
Our economic system needs to recognize the price – and value – of nature
A cynic, Oscar Wilde wrote, is someone who “knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” On that basis, our dominant economic system — corporate capitalism — is beyond cynical. It takes Wilde’s aphorism one giant step further because it doesn’t even know or take into account the price of everything, never mind recognize and account for that which is priceless.
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Are you concerned about the climate crisis?
We are looking for eight guinea-pigs. Of the human variety. Might you be one? I am part of a new group called the Nanaimo Community Climate Connectors. We share a deep concern about the growing climate emergency, which is threatening our whole world, and the future of... Read more
Can you support the Yellow Point Ecological Society?
Once a year, we put out an appeal for financial support – by Becoming a Member – here! https://yellowpointecologicalsociety.ca/join-us/ Some of our initiatives cost us nothing, but we have costs to keep our various technologies going, and some of our new... Read more
Trees Matter – Shareable Graphics
Trees are among the hardest working members of our world community. Every day, 24 hours a day, they provide a huge host of incredible services that they receive little thanks or recognition for. I created these graphics to visually show some of the many attributes of... Read more
The Green Party is looking for talented people who believe in bold, progressive politics to run for a seat in Parliament
The Green Party is looking for talented people who believe in bold, progressive politics to run for a seat in Parliament.
It’s time for diverse representation. Nominate your local leader, or yourself!
Learn more: greenparty.ca/civicm/mailing/ur
Achieving Human Potential is True Prosperity
Last week, I suggested that true prosperity is doughnut-shaped, but I did not define what I mean by true prosperity, nor what Doughnut Economics means for this region. I will explore the first of these topics this week and the second next week. One understanding of... Read more
Esquimalt adds EV capacity to new buildings
The Township of Esquimalt is taking steps to ensure that new residential builds are electric vehicle-ready. Last week, staff introduced a bylaw amendment to include requirements for parking stalls in new residential construction to have a minimum number of energized... Read more
ProActive Health Involves Natural Options
You are likely aware that health officials are only focusing on hand sanitization, wearing masks, “social” distancing and the hope for a vaccine. While there’s nothing wrong with any of these (except that we need to be socially connected, even if physically safe!)... Read more
Have Your Say for a Resilient Saanich
Here is an opportunity for Saanich residents to provide input to the District on issues such as zero waste. Please take a moment and let your voice be heard by following this link. Read more
A New Morality
When one thinks about morality, it is most commonly associated with the sanctioned values and ethics of a particular religious creed or belief system. Of the thousands of extant religions, Christianity and Islam have by far the greatest number of adherents. The many... Read more
Forest Defenders Needed for West- Coast Ancient Forest Frontlines
The Rainforest Flying Squad is looking for valuable long-term in-camp volunteers to help continue to grow this movement of direct action protection of endangered old-growth forests. Currently needed are responsible, hard-working, conscientious people, who can get... Read more
Fight against the OKI Strip Mine in the Highlands – Update
Thanks in large measure to the power of the BC Provincial Mines Act, OKI has recently won two legal decisions, one each against the Highland District and the Highland District Community Association (HDCA). While the HDCA has decided to appeal one of these decisions,... Read more
How To Give Back More to Your Community
When we talk about giving back to the community, any small or big action can make a great transformation. Either you’re volunteering at your community food bank or giving money to a needy person that creates a positive impact in your town. During the celebration... Read more
Old Growth Worth More Alive
Once every five years the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) reviews its sustainable forest management certification for BC logging companies and this is a chance to let them know that logging old-growth forests, 10,000 years in the making, is not possibly... Read more
True Prosperity is Doughnut-Shaped
It will come as no surprise to fans of the British satirical fantasy writer Tom Holt that economics has something to do with doughnuts. In his YouSpace series, a doughnut is the wormhole to an alternate reality, a parallel universe inhabited by elves, goblins, gnomes, dwarves and other fairytale characters who are ripe for exploitation.
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“Sustainable” Forest Management Standards Clearly Not Sustainable
Once every five years the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) reviews its sustainable forest management certification for BC logging companies and this is a chance to let them know that logging old-growth forests, 10,000 years in the making, is not possibly... Read more
The 2021 Conversations Program
Our Conversations in 2021 will be focusing more on imagining and starting to design and create a One Planet Region, exploring what local and personal and actions are needed and the policy changes needed to support those actions.
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Stop Massive Landfill Expansion at Hartland
Did you know that 73 acres of precious urban forests situated next to our Hartland Landfill are slated to be destroyed in order to provide a bigger hole for more garbage? In an era of climate crisis, we, the Dogwood South Island Regional Team (SIRT) feel this is... Read more
Stop the Boys and Girls Club of Victoria from subdividing 40 acres in Metchosin!
Sign the petition here. As former BGCVIC employees, we are starting this petition to stop the application to subdivide an ecologically vulnerable parcel of land owned by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Victoria (BGCVIC). This land has been used for decades for... Read more
Think Globally, Act Locally
How are Covid 19, the economy, Climate change and us all connected? For the last seven years I have been working on climate change issues as a volunteer with two different organizations. I love the work. Better yet, I love the people that I have met and work with... Read moreEMF Medical Conference + Satellite Update
A reminder about the EMF Medical Conference that starts next week. This is a great opportunity for medical doctors to learn from and communicate with scientists about EMR while earning medical credits. The biggest conference ever on prevention, diagnosis, and... Read more
Wireless Technology Harmful?
For decades, the public has been told there is no evidence that wireless technology is harmful. Claims of 5G harms have been dismissed as “conspiracy theory.” Two lawsuits were filed against the FCC. One by the Environmental Health Trust (EHT) and Consumers for Safe... Read more
We need your help – climate motion rejected by Victoria School Board
18 months ago, teachers, parents, and students ran a campaign to have the Victoria School District declare a climate emergency, and put together a climate plan. They passed the motion unanimously, including this provision, that the Board would: a) direct the... Read more
We Need to Learn From Indigenous People How to be Stewards of Nature
The 2019 Human Development Report from the UN focused on inequalities in the Human Development Index, but did not look at an inequality that is particularly important in Canada: the HDI of Indigenous people. Happily, Indigenous Services Canada has done this, at the request of the Assembly of First Nations, although only for “Registered Indians,” which misses Inuit and Métis people.
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A Request for an Immediate Moratorium on Old-Growth Logging: A Letter to Premier Horgan and Minister Conroy
The Ecoforestry Institute Society encourages organizations and individuals passionate about our remaining old-growth forests to write their own letters to Premier Horgan and Minister Conroy. These irreplaceable forests are almost gone. Add your voice!
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Climate crisis is a major health issue
The state of the earth’s climate is a global health issue that all citizens, communities and nations need to take action on immediately. Children, elderly, immunocompromised and those impacted by socio-economic disparities are at highest risk of suffering from the... Read more
6 Selfcare Strategies To Apply When Working From Home
When you’re working from home, you must engage in self-care practices at all times. You need to be in a place of physical, mental, and emotional wellness so that you can do the tasks that your work-from-home job requires you to do.
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Canada is a major contributor to the global food waste crisis
The disparity between food waste and food insecurity is a somber phenomenon. Estimates from the United Nations report a rise in global food production of up to 300 per cent over the past 50 years whereas the number of people experiencing food insecurity has risen by... Read more
Parents for Safe Schools
Did you know all wireless devices emit microwave radiation? Did you know that it is now mandatory that every child attending school will be exposed all day to microwave radiation from wifi and all the other wireless devices? Did you know BC School Health Officer, Dr.... Read more
Introducing Tuesdays for Trees
GVAT’s Climate Action Research Team launched their Tuesdays for Trees campaign on the first Tuesday of the New Year. Due to the current Covid restrictions, only a few of us set up signage and a repurposed Xmas tree at the Legislature and walked with signs around the... Read more
Canada’s Heavy Ecological Footprint Hurts Its Human-Development Ranking
Last week, I quoted from a Dec. 2 speech by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the state of the planet. It made for grim reading, but it is the reality we need to face. Mr. Guterres did not end on a pessimistic note, however. Instead, he pointed to many indications of opportunity and hope.
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CRD extends public consultation period on draft Solid Waste Management Plan
Mount Work Coalition (MWC) welcomes the CRD’s decision to extend the public consultation period on its draft Solid Waste Management Plan to February 15, 2021. MWC, joined by other community groups, requested the extension so that more people could review and comment... Read more
Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Commitments
The following profile those portions of each of the Premier of British Columbia’s (John Horgan’s) new Cabinet member’s Mandate Letters sent to Provincial Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries on November 26th, 2020 that highlight ‘climate change or environmental... Read more
Climate Action – International to Local
The following are a sampling of climate action-related updates, activities or reports from an active Fall 2020, both internationally and closer-to-home: Internationally: On December 2, 2020, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres presented a sobering State of the... Read more
To heal the planet, we need to embrace solutions that are already here
On Dec. 2, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres gave an important if somewhat overlooked speech at Columbia University’s World Leaders Forum on the state of the planet. Guterres was blunt: “To put it simply, the state of the planet is broken,” he said. “Humanity is waging war on nature” – and that is “suicidal.”
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Climate Action Update
On November 19, 2020, the Climate Action Program presented an update to Victoria City Council on the progress made to meet our emissions reduction targets and advance the actions outlined in the Climate Leadership Plan which was released in July 2018. Information on... Read more
New Year’s resolutions, and how we choose the right recovery
First, and very obviously, a wish that might actually come true in 2021: That COVID-19 be over. If the vaccines are as good as promised, and if we can vaccinate around 60 to 70 per cent of the population there is a good chance we can return to something like normal.
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