Submit to Ripples Youth Art Zine
Learn more about Ripples, a youth arts zine released annually for World Water Day! Ripples is brought to life by works of art, poetry, and photography, created by kids and youth (between the ages of 6-25) from across BC.
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City Needs to Rethink Priorities
Two death knells for any city are the loss of urban trees/green space and the arts. People are attracted to Victoria, BC’s downtown area because of its inherent natural and architectural beauty and the vibrancy of the wide variety of art-based programming... Read more
Save Our Neighbourhoods in Central Saanich
Hovey Road development in Central Saanich that violates the Official Community Plan Zoning. Do you live in Central Saanich and are concerned about uncontrolled development?
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Why Women Are Key To Solving The Climate Crisis
There’s no denying women are leading the fight to save our planet. In every society worldwide, women and girls are responding more effectively in times of crisis and actively working towards creating a more just and sustainable future for all. Yet, gender inequalities... Read more
Towards A Well-Being Society and a Healthy One Planet Community
Throughout my career I have focused on the well-being of people in our communities and around the world, and on the state of the Earth’s ecological systems, which are the bedrock of our well-being.
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How to Reduce Holiday Waste: 50+ Eco-friendly Tips
As someone who has been involved in the world of social media storytelling for environmental causes for over a decade, there is one piece of content that I always look forward to seeing circulate at this time of year: an image from Toronto artist Sarah Lazarovic... Read more
The Little Town That Could
It is the year 2019. The skies are clear with white low clouds. A climate emergency has been declared in the small town of View Royal, but little did the town know that it would lead the way for climate actions across British Columbia in the years to come.
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Save Harewood Plains
by Wylie Thomas, conservation biologist Please send a message to BC’s new Minister of Water, Lands, and Resource Stewardship, Randene Neill, to let her know how important it is to protect Harewood Plains in the Nanaimo area on Vancouver Island (and please cc the... Read more
Desire for Better Public Policy Sparked Early ‘Green’ Parties
In my concluding major paper for my master’s degree at the University of Toronto in the late 1970s, I identified two major principles that have guided my career ever since. The first is ecological sanity…
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Corporations Out In Force at Biodiversity, Climate Conferences
It’s global conference season, and once again the corporate sector is spending huge amounts of money — money that comes from us when we purchase their products and services — to lobby for their own…
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What a Trump Presidency Might Mean for the Planet
Thanks to tens of millions of Americans who just voted to turn the American Dream into the American Nightmare, we now have to deal with the consequences of a second Trump presidency. Let’s be clear: Donald Trump is not only a fascist who is a threat to democracy in America, as two former generals…
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November Concatenations
This month of November has witnessed an especially abundant series of worrisome events, from local to global. These include billions of dollars of catastrophic damages from newly emerging wildfires, flooding, and storms. Warfare is on the increase, not only in the... Read more
We Are More Than Just An Economy, Stupid
We awake this morning to a Trump world. This, despite his lies, his racism, his hatred, his divisiveness and complete disregard for democratic ways and institutions. He has already declared his intention to become a dictator, stating there will be no need for further... Read more
Have Your Say on the City of Victoria’s 2025 Draft Budget
Each year, the City of Victoria’s financial planning process provides an opportunity for Council to set service levels and approve an annual budget. You are invited to provide feedback on the City’s 2025 Draft Budget to help inform Council’s budget decisions. The... Read more
Event Recap: Movement Building and Justice with Judy da Silva
“I try to speak for the water. Not just for Grassy people, but for future generations, for the kids not born yet. That’s why we do this work.” This statement is the key point that Judy da Silva kept returning to during her talk, Movement Building and Justice, held... Read more
We Need a Government That Cares About the Well-Being of the Planet
Last month, Planetary Boundaries Science, an international partnership of Earth scientists based out of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, published the first of what will be an annual Planetary Health Check. It makes for grim, if unsurprising, reading.
Read moreEsquimalt-Colwood All Candidates Meeting
Thank you to everyone who attended the online and live All Candidates Debate for the Esquimalt-Colwood riding (includes Vic West and View Royal) co-sponsored this past Wednesday evening at Esquimalt United Church, 500 Admirals Rd., by Creatively United for the Planet,... Read more
National Seniors Day Rally for Climate Action
Despite the drizzle and dampness of the day, a great afternoon was had by all who attended the national Day of Climate Action organized by citizens throughout Canada on October 1st. In Victoria, people of all ages attended this fabulous event featuring numerous... Read moreReconciling with Indigenous Peoples and the Land – Letter Writing Campaign
James Bay United Church is part of: Reconciling with Indigenous Peoples and the Land, an interfaith steering group formed to facilitate further steps in the work of reconciliation. Letter Writing Campaign: Voice Your Concerns! Explore our sample letter... Read more
Questions Regarding Critical Issues for BC Political Parties
These questions are provided by The Victoria Secular Humanist Association (VSHA), Eco-Humanism Committee. Indicate with a YES or NO, whether you will pledge to the following, if your party forms the next government. Describe which measurable goals and timelines will... Read more
Navigating Toward a Better Future Locally
Recently, I have been discussing the large-scale changes we need to make in the face of the eight critical shifts identified in the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report Navigating New Horizons. Those changes are a focus on intergenerational equity; a new social contract that reinforces shared values about how we relate not only to…
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We Need a New Social Contract and an Emphasis on Well-Being Metrics
In addition to a commitment to intergenerational equity, which I discussed last week, the recent UN Environment Programme report Navigating New Horizons also calls for “a new social contract reinforcing shared values that unite us rather than divide us” and “a new global emphasis on well-being metrics…
Read moreMisinformation, Declining Trust and Polarization Undermine Democracy
Last week, I summarized five of the eight critical shifts identified in a recent UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report, Navigating New Horizons, which is “a global foresight report on planetary health and human well-being.” I also touched on a sixth critical shift: persistent and widening inequalities.
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Power Play
Creatively United for the Planet was one of a number of community groups recently involved in PowerPlay, a free, family-friendly festival celebrating all things electric from EVs, E-bikes, solar power, heat pumps and more. One of the many fabulous finds at the event... Read more
CANE/CAPE Information Sheets added to Solutions Resources
Check out Creatively United’s Solutions Resource Section for a variety of downloadable and shareable graphics and information, such as these new additions from the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE) and the Canadian Association of... Read more
World Community Urged to Voice Concern
Approximately 70% of the global population or 5.5 billion people are internet users. Climate change and nuclear conflict are the biggest threats to life on the planet! Together, anything is possible. I urge our world community to share this message: Dear Secretary... Read more
Science’s Wise and Beautiful Older Sister
While we owe a great deal to the scientific method and its objective reasoning and always will, we need to transcend the mechanistic world view that we have inherited from it. Here we need to engage science’s wise and beautiful older sister, art. We have known this... Read more
We Are Deeply Connected to and Kin With All of Life
In a very real sense, we are indeed separated from nature. In North America we are 80 per cent urbanized and we spend 90 per cent of our time indoors — and a further five per cent in cars and other vehicles. So we — and especially our children — have very little contact with nature, and most of that is…
Read moreTake the Nanaimo Climate Pledge
Ever get the feeling that your family is the only one taking the climate emergency seriously enough to try to do something about it? Want to know that you are not alone or what else you can do? Take the https://www.nanaimoclimatepledge.ca/ Together we can make a... Read more
Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run (International)
You are invited to run with the International Peace Torch (peacerun.org) on June 24, 2024, at 10:00 am – from the Coho ferry terminal to City Hall (& beyond!)
Read moreGambling Industry Needs Stronger Regulation to Protect Public Health
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto just released a report on another industry that in various ways harms health — gambling. Not only can it be addictive and harmful to health and social wellbeing, its impact is disproportionately experienced by low-income people…
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It’s Time The Financial Sector Invested In Our Health and Well-Being
So far, in examining what the World Health Organization calls the commercial determinants of health, I have been looking at private sector firms that produce products that harm health, such as tobacco, fossil fuels or unhealthy foods.
Read moreWinter Update from Unist’ot’en
Unist’ot’en Healing Centre and Camp stand in solidarity with Palestine. Our hearts break witnessing yet another chapter of colonialism unfolding in Gaza. We know this story all too well and stand with Palestine to demand justice and to demand an end to genocide. Our... Read more
April 4th: Prayer Walk for our Sacred Ancient Forests
Join Elders for Ancient Trees on a bus trip to the Nanaimo courthouse on April 4th to show solidarity for Land Defender, Rainbow Eyes, and old-growth forests. Meet people from Nanaimo, Cowichan, Duncan, Comox and Saltspring Island. For those coming from the Victoria... Read more
Job Posting: Reuse Retail Manager
SUPPLY Victoria Creative Reuse Centre is hiring! We’re looking for a full-time, permanent Reuse Retail Manager to oversee day-to-day operations including retail sales, donation processing, and volunteer management at our art-meets-environmental nonprofit.
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Sign on Letter to Trudeau: End All Public Financing of Fossil Fuels
The Government of Canada has made some progress in ending support for the fossil fuel sector, including introducing two policies over recent years aimed at ending international public financing and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. However, most of the support... Read more
Job Posting: Assistant Outdoor Naturalist Educator
Ecoforestry Institute is seeking an Assistant Educator/Naturalist passionate about protecting BC’s forests, to run interpretive ecoforestry and ecology based school workshops, summer camps, and public tours at Wildwood Ecoforest near Ladysmith.
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Sustainability Blueprint – New Approach towards Balance and Harmony
The Sustainability Blueprint – Practical Climate Adaptation Actions for You, Your Family, and Your Community offers an action-oriented and practical new approach to the two major challenges threatening humanity and the planet: the climate crisis and the ongoing disasters.
Read moreApplications welcome: MEd in Leadership Studies (UVic)
The Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies at UVic is pleased to welcome applications for our 2024 MEd program in Leadership Studies! Applications deadline extended to March 1, 2024.
Read moreNational Youth Climate Activism Award
Calling all Canadian youth interested and active in climate activism. Now in its third year, it requires applicants under 20 years old to demonstrate devotion to taking meaningful steps toward improving the outlook for our planet concerning climate change. The award... Read more
Does the Provincial Government of British Columbia Legally Recognize the Existence of Any Lobby?
The Executive Director of the Urban Development Institute Capital Region, told View Royal Council during public input: “UDI is not a lobbying group.” Not only is the UDI a legally registered lobbying group, according to the BC Lobbyists Registry but the Executive Director…
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Creatively United 2023 Wrapped
We connected with more of you in 2023 739 Instagram followers 1574 YouTube subscribers 3.3k Facebook followers 30,000 unique website visitors gave our website 165,000 hits 279 organizations on CreativelyUnited.Org ‘s PairUp Directory We reached new heights with our... Read more
Reflecting On 50 Years In The Service Of Good Health, With More To Come
The end of the year is always a time for reflection, but more so this past year, which has been significant for me in four key ways. First and foremost, I turned 75. That’s three-quarters of a century, and that’s given me pause for thought — I really am getting old!
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Neoliberal Elite Need a Christmas Carol-Style Conversion
It’s that time of year, when Charles Dickens’ story of Ebenezer Scrooge and the Cratchit family is everywhere. But it’s not just a charming story of how a mean old curmudgeon sees the light and becomes a kindly old gent and a generous benefactor to his employee, Bob Cratchit.
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Sustainable Gift Guide 2023: For Family, Friends and Loved Ones
Here is our list of sustainable gift ideas for this holiday season! There are lots of ways to show the people in your life that you care while being conscious of your consumption and environmental impact Leave us a comment below with your ideas USEFUL • Break the... Read moreAmnesty International Condemns Canadian Government and RCMP
Amnesty Canada has just issued a research report that documents and condemns a years-long campaign of violence, harassment, and racial discrimination inflicted upon the Wet’suwet’en Nation in British Columbia (B.C.). The land defenders at today’s press conference have... Read more
What To Watch, Read, & Listen To – Climate Action and COP28
WHAT IS COP28? COP is attended by industry stakeholders, politicians, researchers and scholars, Indigenous stakeholders, NGOs and other members of civil society. However, these groups are not given the same representation and privileges at COP events and negotiations.... Read morePublic Narrative Managed by Marketing Firm
I just finished a stellar expose of the world’s most powerful global consulting firm with claims to be the most prestigious – McKinsey and Company. The book, When McKinsey Comes to Town, by New York Times journalists Walt Bogdanich and Michael Forsythe, is a... Read moreRemembrance Day For Refugees
A call to care ever more deeply, widely. To see the interelated critical issues facing the world: Seven young activists who refuse to remain silent and inactive. A call for all of us to support them in their passions.
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