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.
Read more
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.
Read more
“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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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!
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.”
Read more
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.
Read more
Climate Emergency Transportation Policy
I would like to share information on local and regional multimodal transportation policies that can significantly reduce climate emissions and provide other social, health and environmental benefits. This is important because motor vehicles are, by far, the largest... Read more
Seeking Indigenous and South Pacific Youth for Stories of Resilience – Deadline Dec 22
Pacific Peoples’ Partnership is delighted to offer Stories of Resilience: a transformative cultural and artistic experience designed to lift spirits, recognize resiliency and build Allyship through a celebration of Indigenous stories and art. This program will... Read more
The Cult of Individualism is Toxic
I suggested last week that our society is remarkably immature in its approach to life. Central to this is an exaggerated form of individualism that has achieved a cult-like status. With that comes an acquisitive, greedy and selfish culture that really doesn’t care about other people or about nature.
Read more
NDP Punishes Poor
Our NDP government has decided to punish the poor by reducing the $300 increase to welfare and disability rates to $150, and then eliminating the $150 on March 31, 2021. People on disability and welfare have been unable to receive CERB and other benefits collected for... Read more
Money Talks… So Have Your Say!
Many people pay into the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) through paycheque deductions and become beneficiaries of the same when they retire. For those of you that are concerned on where your investments are going, including the CPP where one of the largest pension plans in... Read more
Zero Waste, Circular Economy Possible
The CRD just released its draft solid Waste Management Plan for the Victoria region and wants your feedback. Landfills are not sustainable, produce greenhouse gases and should not be expanded. Other options are available. The CRD needs to do more to move to Zero Waste... Read more
Education for life: Creating a more mature society in the 21st century
In exploring the German concept of bildung and the Nordic experience of folk-bildung I am indebted to a lengthy 2018 overview by Jonathan Reams of the 2017 book The Nordic Secret by Lene Andersen and Tomas Björkman.
Read moreThe SOLUTON for the Season – An Eternal Gift With Special Benefits
A rare opportunity exists to give a beautiful living gift that will not only last lifetimes, supports everyone in our local community and beyond, is convenient, plus is a climate solution in alignment with zero waste. If you are looking for the best Christmas gift,... Read moreFood Future: Rooted in Change
The pandemic has shed light on the injustices and discrepancies within our Food Systems, igniting a collective awareness of the need to rethink and restructure the way we interact as a food movement. This December 3rd and 4th, ‘Food Future: Rooted in Change’ will... Read moreWhere Do We Go From Here? – Season 2 Finale
Unlike COVID-19, there is no vaccine for curing the climate crisis. At best, we have to become carbon neutral by mid-century to have any chance of managing this existential threat. In this video, a panel of leading solution…
Read more
Cultural evolution and value shift – Towards a sustainable, just and healthy future
We may be talking about and even acting on climate change — even though our actions usually fall short of our words — but we are not yet talking seriously about the far greater challenge of living as if we have four or five planets, when in reality, we only have one, never mind the implications of that realization.
Read more
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
This November marks the 4th anniversary since Madame Justice of the BC Supreme Court gave the Ecoforestry Institute Society the right to buy Wildwood, keeping it in the public domain forever. We could not have done it without your unwavering support, your generous donations and your love and hard work. It took hundreds of people three years and a big pot of money to get this done.
Read more