Will You Help Put Comfortable, Affordable Homes Within Reach for More Canadians?
A House of Commons petition is calling on the government to make energy efficiency a nation-building priority. We’re asking the federal government to set double the rate at which we improve energy productivity, and to end energy poverty. The benefits of... Read more
New Westminster Joins Sue Big Oil
In February, the New Westminster City Council became the 12th BC community to support a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking to recover a share of climate-related costs from global fossil fuel companies. Local residents and young people played a pivotal role in... Read more
Is This the Way the World Ends?
ChatGPT has been all over the media, and none of the news is good. The mother of a Tumbler Ridge shooting victim is suing OpenAI (the mother company) for culpability in the mass killing. And a recent article in The Guardian expressed the deep concern of academics who... Read more
War in Middle East Fueled by Oil Industry
“The world is caught again in the bloody tangle of war, fossil fuels and climate change,” writes Chris Hatch in a recommended piece this week in Canada’s National Observer. The unintended dominoes are falling. As in the past, it appears this war will last much longer... Read more
Valhalla Wilderness Society Seeks Support for Parks
Valhalla Wilderness Society (VWS) is campaigning in support of three proposed parks for the Inland Temperate Rainforest—the result of 25 years of research: the Rainbow-Jordan Wilderness, the Selkirk Mountains Ancient Forest and Quesnel Lake Wilderness. The aim is to... Read moreBC’s Timber Numbers Don’t Add Up
New Video from Jennifer Houghton Jennifer’s videos are always worth the watch. She simplifies, clarifies and takes a scalpel to the policies and words of the Ministry of “Forests and Corporate Logging”. In this latest 12-minute video she cuts to the chase:... Read more
Camosun College’s Devastating Clear-cutting Last Week
It’s been an ongoing theme on CRD Watch, and in my writings that Post-Secondary Institutions on Southern Vancouver Island, shackled to the unsustainability of ecology destroying growth-based capitalism and a government also under its shackles, in particular to the... Read more
Request Your Participation in Supporting CRD Biochar Incinerator Facility
We are requesting your support to encourage the (CRD) Capital Regional District, to move ahead with plans for purchase of a thermal conversion biochar facility. It would be incredibly useful to have Nanaimo and the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) send letters of... Read more
It’s Not Just the Ecosystem; Our Economy is Socially Unfit, Too
Last week, I discussed a couple of recent global-level reports that identify serious problems with our current economic system. In particular, the UN Environment Programme, in its 2026 report…
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The World’s 280 Million Electric Bikes & Mopeds Are Cutting Demand for Oil Far More Than Electric Cars
We hop in the car to get groceries or drop kids at school. But while the car is convenient, these short trips add up in terms of emissions, pollution and petrol cost. Close to half (44%) of all Australian commuter trips are by car – and under 10km. Of Perth’s 4.2... Read more
Environment Groups Condemn Mining Permits Violating First Nation’s Consent in Clayoquot Sound
Environment groups comprising the Clayoquot Sound Conservation Alliance (CSCA) condemn the recent permits issued by the BC NDP provincial government to clear forest and build exploratory drill pads…
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BC Parks Foundation Creates New Bird Sanctuary Near Victoria
METCHOSIN, BC (Mar 3, 2026) – Along the Pacific Flyway, where millions of birds travel north and south each year, a 21-hectare property in Metchosin has now been permanently protected by BC Parks Foundation. The acquisition was made possible by support from the Wilson... Read more
Yes, There is a Problem With Our Economic System
In a recent article in the Hill Times, I noted that while Prime Minister Mark Carney was right to identify a rupture in the world in his Davos speech, he focused on the wrong rupture. The rupture he focused on — the geopolitical state of the world — is a minor inconvenience compared to the drastic impact…
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How Contemporary Art Is Reimagining the Climate Crisis
Vancouver Art Gallery’s upcoming exhibition “Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change”, is set to unveil the visual, and often misconceived, reality of global warming through contemporary art.
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Biosolids Update and Important Time Sensitive Survey
Thanks to the efforts of the Peninsula Biosolids Coalition, a non-profit citizen’s group, plus numerous individuals, businesses and other proponents for integrated resource management (including Creatively United for the Planet Society), the CRD is now... Read moreMaking Sense of BC Budget 2026
Lots of people are analyzing BC’s Budget Speech. I just watched this webinar – BC Policy Solutions – Making Sense of the BC Budget 2026 (text also at https://bcpolicy.ca/2026/02/17/bc-budget-2026/). The first two speakers from BC Policy Solutions were... Read more
The Rights of Trees, Woodlands and Forests Toolkit
The University of Sussex, UK has created a comprehensive guide to delivering rights-based protection for trees, woodlands and forests. Read more here Read more
Sustainable Living in Seniors Homes
One Planet Saanich and OneEarth Living, in partnership with the District of Saanich presents the Sustainable Living in Seniors Homes Action Guide – created specifically for 55+ stratas, independent living, and care homes – provides achievable ideas to... Read more
Volunteers Monitor Coastal Water Quality
The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF), Surfrider South Vancouver Island’s volunteer-run water testing education and advocacy program, aims to promote environmental stewardship and ensure safe and healthy access to coastal habitats. We sample water from more than 15... Read more
City of Victoria Updates Construction Standards to Prevent PVC Pollution
Last year, Surfrider SVI identified PVC pollution near Victoria beaches and storm drains caused by the outdoor dry cutting of PVC pipes during construction. PVC is one of the most toxic forms of plastics, comprising up to 60% known carcinogens and endocrine... Read more
Volunteers Needed for Wild Animal Care
If you are passionate about wild animals and their welfare, want to invest 2-4 hours a week from April to September, and don’t mind cleaning up the odd animal mess, you may be exactly what the BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) in Metchosin, BC... Read more
Save 100 Majestic Oaks
The majestic Garry oaks at 4015 Braefoot Rd. in Saanich, British Columbia, are at critical risk. Over 100 of these magnificent trees, stand on the property; many have done so for centuries These trees are not just flora; they are vital keystone components of the... Read more
Petition to save the Mighty Braefoot Oaks!
The majestic Garry oaks at 4015 Braefoot Rd. in Saanich, British Columbia, are at critical risk. Over 100 of these magnificent trees, stand on the property; many have done so for centuries. These trees are not just flora, they are vital keystone components of the... Read more
Like Wooden Tombstones: The Latest Tree Decimation in Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park
In the morning hours of Feb 19, 2026, tree cutting trucks towing wood chippers behind them made their way into the vicinity of Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park, which is managed by the CRD. In the evening, I approached what looked like a funeral.... Read more
Open Letter to David Eby
Dear Premier Eby, Ordinarily I would be classified as a natural strong supporter of an NDP government, given the claim of the party to represent the interests of the working classes and those disadvantaged by the prevailing economic system and cultural biases. I had a... Read moreLessons from History on Tyranny, and Another Way to Promote Electoral Reform
This 10-minute video with actor John Lithgow is extremely timely and well-worth sharing: On a similar note, Peter MacLeod and Richard Johnson, the authors of Democracy’s Second Act: Why Politics Needs The Public, argue that the first act of democracy – anchored in... Read more
Situation Critical: Please help save The Tongass National Forest in Alaska, from Clear Cutting
The Tongass National Forest in Alaska is the largest National Forest in North America. It covers nearly 17 million acres and makes up a significant part of the world’s temperate forests. I’m reaching out to share a documentary project that needs support. The... Read more
Old Growth Logging Near Fairy Creek Ridgeline
Teal Cedar is seeking approval for Cut Block 56684 8027 in Pacheedaht territory, an old growth clearcut just 30 metres from the Fairy Creek ridgeline, along with the construction of a new logging road into ancient forests. This proposal threatens to log millennia-old... Read more
Protesters Thwart Plans for Goldstream Park Highway Expansion
A big shout out to Carl Olsen and all the people who have come out in support of protecting and preserving Goldstream Park and for the Vic News for sharing this “good news” story. Read more
We are a Part of Nature
Secret #1: Humans are a cooperative species Secret #2: Self-Importance is the Enemy of Kindness Secret #3: We are a Part of Nature Every breath we take, every thing we feel, Every hope we hold, every wound that heals. Every birth that starts, every death that ends, We... Read more
Dear MPs, Don’t Give My Tax $ to American Billionaires
The Wall Street sickos who bankrolled Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump are hoping for a special gift: billions of dollars from Canada’s Liberal government. The Ksi Lisims LNG project would be 100 per cent American-owned and built in Korea, then floated over and hooked... Read more
Speak Up For Wildlife!
It may still be chilly outside, but February is heating up with several opportunities to voice your support for wild lives and wild places. Below, we list 7 ways you can take action: from submitting public comments on wolf, bear, and caribou hunting, to signing... Read more
We Are in This Together: Shifting from Me to We
One of the most beloved teachings of the Vietnamese monk and Buddhist teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, is his reflection on a simple piece of paper. If we look deeply, he says, we can see the clouds in the paper. Without clouds, there would be no rain; without rain, there... Read more
144 Names for a New Economy
Compiled by Guy Dauncey, author of The Economics of Kindness: The End of Capitalism, the Birth of a New Ecological Civilization Palgrave/Macmillan, Spring 2026 This list illustrates the deep, persistent desire by so many people to create a new kind of economy, one in... Read more
What is The Finkelstein Formula? – And How is it Destroying Democracy
Worth reading if you care about democracy! This info helps us see where politicians may be coming from. Good to know, and good to share with others. “You’ve noticed the pattern: politicians who never discuss their own policies but spend every breath demonizing... Read more12 Powers Meditation – Meditation for Health
Meditation for Health – meditation reduces stress by lowering cortisol levels and physically shrinking the amygdala, the brain’s fight-or-flight centre. It consistently improves focus, emotional regulation and sleep quality while lowering blood pressure.
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Electoral Reform Opportunity
The best chance of having a citizens’ assembly focused on how to make the system more proportional is if it is written into the BC NDP and BC Green Party agreement for 2026. They are negotiating it right now. Let your MLA know that constituents care about... Read more
Did You Know? Bill C-15
The government is pushing through Bill C-15, the 600-page Budget Implementation Act. Buried inside it is something called the Red Tape Reduction Act. It lets any cabinet minister exempt any company from any federal law (environmental protections, public safety... Read more
Reclaim the Economy for People and the Planet
As readers of this column know, I often refer to a piece of wisdom put forth by the World Wide Fund for Nature in 2014: “Ecosystems sustain societies that create economies. It does not work any other way round.”
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Modernizing Industrial Water Rates in BC: Ending the Great Water Giveaway
Your voice is a key part of making water rates fair and protecting BC’s watersheds. Tell decision-makers that British Columbians care about clean water and strong, sustainable funding for our watersheds. Budget day is Feb. 17th. Talking points appear after you click... Read more
Science Alliance for Forestry Transformation Update
“SAFT is group of leading forest ecologists/forest practitioners advocating for both legislative/policy and forest practices changes in B.C. The forest industry to date has largely been one of unsustainable resource extraction and conversion of primary forests... Read more
Vancouver Island Duo Provides Free Pet Care for Owners in Treatment
The call would come in, a treatment bed ready, motivation high, everything lined up. Then the same answer, again and again. “I don’t have anywhere for my dog to go.” For Priya Sharma and Kayleigh Busch, it was one of the hardest…
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Twenty-Five Ways to Make Life Affordable for All
Robert Reich is right. In a recent Substack post he laid out how tariffs, monopolies, and corporate power are driving up the cost of living for ordinary people. Much of what we call “inflation” is not an economic inevitability, but the result of policy choices that... Read moreRare Wetland For Sale
Water is life and we desperately need to keep land for nature reserves. Please lend your support for Hamilton Marsh, the largest wetland between Nanaimo, Cumberland, and Port Alberni – located just minutes from the Town of Qualicum Beach by donating or writing a... Read more
There Is No Denying The Level Of Cycling Here
Hardly a day goes by that we don’t see letters to the editor decrying the waste of public money on bicycle facilities that apparently no one uses. Here are some numbers for those so afflicted with windshield myopia…
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Why Become a UNESCO Urban Biosphere Region?
Largely lost in the flurry of pre-Christmas distractions was a Dec. 10 announcement from the Greater Victoria Naturehood that the Capital Regional District board had approved a staff recommendation to prepare nomination documents designating Greater Victoria a UNESCO urban biosphere region.
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Growth, Grace, and Social Justice
An excerpt from Eclosion: An Artist’s Path to Power and Peace. Often, those of us who care deeply about justice shut people down for not being as far along on the spectrum of unlearning and relearning. We forget that it is a journey for all of us— that not so long... Read more
City of Victoria Draft Budget Missing Important Details – Public Comments Open Until Jan. 23rd
In response to the City of Victoria offering public input (until Jan. 23) on their draft budget, Creatively United has drafted this response. The public is encouraged to use this information to let the City of Victoria know that natural solutions, like trees, are an... Read more