Petition in Support of Farmer’s Market Program
With the support of MP Gord Johns of Courtenay – Alberni, the BCAFM is bringing a petition forward to the House of Commons asking the Government of Canada to help expand the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program (FMNCP) across the country. The FMNCP connects... Read moreEnergy, Housing & Transportation Matters
Knowledge Powers Action What specific actions can we all take to lower our carbon footprint and save money? We explore answers to this question and many others. Learn practicable and achievable actions that can move us along…
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REFORM to TRANSFORM: Climate Education Reform BC Action Toolkit
As youth who grew up unaware of the magnitude of the looming Climate Crisis, our team’s concern arose knowing how complacent our governments and the educational system has remained amidst the downfall and unnecessary destruction of our natural world.
Read moreCircles and Doughnuts – Towards a One Planet Economy for Our Region
The economy – linked to equity – is one of the 10 principles of Bioregional’s One Planet Living framework. But what sort of local economy do we need that respects both ecologically sustainable and socially just development. A number of different models are being... Read more
Esquimalt’s Active Transportation Network Plan
Have your say in developing Esquimalt’s first Active Transportation Network Plan! Get involved There are multiple ways to share your feedback! You could check out: Complete the survey to help us better understand the existing barriers, issues, and opportunities... Read moreHeart Brain Solution for Positive Change
About 30+ years ago, neurobiologists discovered that the human heart has a brain that has many characteristics and capabilities distinct from the cerebral brain with which it communicates. For a quick look at some amazing properties of your heart, watch this short... Read moreTruth Matters: Media and the Science Behind Truth
Why do people reject the science of climate change; what are the consequences of accepting misinformation and what role does psychology and the media play in overcoming this resistance? This webinar features internationally…
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Creating Communities Fit for the 21st Century
Last week, I noted three ways proposed by Prof. Graham Smith to reform our democracy to safeguard the future, and dealt with two of them: re-shaping legislatures and constitutions and bringing an independent voice to decision-making.
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Old Growth Forest Rally
So great to see such a fantastic turnout for the old growth forest rally at the Victoria Legislature. Thank you to everyone for taking a stand for our forests. Here’s a letter, complete with email addresses to share: Subject: A call for a New Forest Framework in... Read more
Opportunities to Help Protect Nature
Two opportunities to help nature are coming up soon. You may not be aware that in BC, there is less than 1% of the biggest old-growth trees left. Keeping these forests standing is among our best tools for mitigating climate change. Yet government and industry still... Read more
Controversial Developments
Focus Magazine wants people to let them know about any controversial developments in Greater Victoria. “Are you concerned about a particular development in Greater Victoria? Keep Focus posted and we’ll add it to our coverage. Email focusedit@shaw.ca or use... Read more
The Nanaimo Area Land Trust is Calling all Interested Wetlands Stewards!
The wetlands of Nanaimo are a precious ecological resource. To understand their natural values they need to be properly mapped, classified and monitored. This wetlandkeepers course will give you the tools to help steward our local wetlands. Sign up now for the 2021... Read more
On Time and Water
Café Books is very good to me. When they see books in catalogues that they think might interest me, they order them in and then put them aside for me to consider them. One such book is the translation from Icelandic of a new book by Andri Snaer Magnuson entitled On... Read more
They’re your venues, have your say. Email your recommendation to create a Regional Arts Facilities Service by March 10th!
Please show your support for the arts, and write an email to the Capital Regional District Board in support of the recommendation to create a Regional Arts Facilities Service. Please encourage your arts loving friends to do the same! A decision will be made at the CRD... 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 moreMen, Masculinity and Learning
A discussion of the oppressions of men and boys. What traps us and keeps us from happiness, satisfaction and feeling loved?
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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
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
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 moreSeeing Beyond the Obvious – Artists as Changemakers
Join three incredibly talented and well-established visual artists: Roy Henry Vickers, Roberta Pyx Sutherland and David Ellingsen for an insightful look beyond the obvious, hosted by multi-media artist Frances Litman….
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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
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 moreThanks for featuring us! Our new album is now available
We were featured as artist/changemakers on the Creatively United webinar in the fall 2020, and received many requests for a link to our album once it was released in Jan. It is now available on bandcamp or other platforms & in shops, check our website
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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
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
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 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 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 moreRe-Imagining Our Future – Charting The Way Forward
Season 3 of Creative Solutions for a New World launched January 13th, 2021 with policy experts, Bob Sandford and Jon O’Riordan, uncovering the systemic challenges to reach carbon neutrality and a review of national and local…
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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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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
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.
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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
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.
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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.
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The Climate Vaccine
At present, our planet is doubly afflicted. We have become the most dominant and most dangerous species on Earth. We have only one serious competitor – and that one happens to have been around for more than 2 ½ billion years before the appearance of multi-cellular life and that is the virus and, but for vaccines, it could still win.
Read moreInvitation from Spirit of Canada Dialogue Project
Invitation to join the Spirit of Canada Dialogue Project, either as one of the many hosts across Canada or as a member of the core team. An online event from Nov. 27 – 29 will provide an introduction to this project.
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Creative Community Partnerships Help Reduce Carbon and Waste and Save Natural Spaces
Creatively United is committed to championing solutions at the community level to support a shift to carbon neutrality by 2050. Both the federal and provincial governments in British Columbia are committed to achieving carbon neutrality. A number of local councils... Read more
B.C. Should Follow the Lead of Scotland and Bring In a Well-Being Budget
Anyone watching Knowledge Network these days will be aware it’s all about Scotland, from clan wars to wildlife to railways. Good things come from Scotland, from Scottish ales and whisky to haggis and Robbie Burns — well, OK, not everything is wonderful, although haggis is way better than it sounds.
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New Park for South Jubilee Neighbourhood
A new park has arrived in the South Jubilee neighbourhood thanks to the City’s purchase of a 12,700 square foot parcel of land comprised of a Garry oak meadow at the corner of Leighton Road and Bank Street. The new park is named Agamemnon and Eleni Kasapi Park in recognition of the family’s preservation of the property in its natural state for the benefit of the community.
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A Zero Waste Response for Regional Tree Protection
“The natural world is the larger sacred community to which we belong. To be alienated from this community is to become destitute in all that makes us human. To damage this community is to diminish our own existence.” — Thomas Berry Thank you everyone for your interest... Read moreCelebrating Eight Years of CommUNITY
Eight years ago on November 9th, Creatively United for the Planet became a non-profit society. So much has happened since we incorporated, including: eight zero-waste festivals and dozens of events with hundreds of musicians, artists, speakers, authors and non-profit... Read more
Building Healthy Communities — The Social Dimension
Courtesy of the Times Colonist Photo: A residential neighbourhood in Victoria. ADRIAN LAM, TIMES COLONIST Last week, I suggested our region would be well served by a centre focused on how to create healthy, just and sustainable “One Planet” communities and that it... Read moreUS Election Results – The Impact on Canadians
Leading US political commentator and Washington DC lawyer, Mace Rosenstein, distilled the US election results. Mace was joined by Tom Axworthy, a senior policy advisor to the Canadian Federal government, and Bob Sandford…
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Bhoomitra – Friend of Earth
Songs for River Dolphins of Punjab . Dr Sunny Sandhu aka Bhoomitra in 2011 rediscovered his love for nature while on an exploration of River Beas and its biodiversity. From a medical doctor he turned into full time Climate healer, musician and teacher.
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