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
Why Eat Regeneratively, Locally, and In Season
I do not want to overwhelm you, with more information yet I feel that this information is some of what we need to know, so we will have the knowledge to be motivated to do everything possible to secure a future on earth not just for humans but for the whole... Read more
CRD Biosolids Update
On October 30, 2024, the CRD approved a provisional budget for 2025, which included the establishment of an Innovative Project Work Unit. This decision indicates that the CRD is turning the corner from a focus on waste dumping to a growing emphasis on green... 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
Loss of Nature Has Huge Impact, but Doesn’t Get Attention it Deserves
There was a lot of attention paid in the recent election campaign to the provincial deficit, by which various politicians and commentators meant the budgetary deficit. But important though that might be, there is another deficit that is much more concerning, and yet largely ignored…
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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.
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Environmental Costs of Growing Food Aren’t Reflected in the Price We Pay
Carbon pricing is a form of pollution pricing. But air pollutants from fossil-fuel combustion and greenhouse-gas emissions from a variety of sources are not the only forms of pollution we face. And pollution pricing itself is just one aspect of the broader field of full cost accounting.
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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 more
BC Assessment Denied that it is a Paying Member of the UDI, a Lobbying Org – Evidence Shows Otherwise
In November of 2023, the Urban Development Institute (UDI), a registered organization on the BC Lobbyists Registry, that offers political influence to its paying corporate member companies that profit from development and real estate – took to hiding its members... Read more
Why Carbon Pricing is Good for Your Health
It is very clear that pollution causes harm. Oxford Reference defines it as “contamination or undesirable modification of soil, food, water, clothing, or the atmosphere by a noxious or toxic substance,” adding that “any form of pollution can have adverse effects on health.”
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Update on Biosolids Management in the CRD
Currently, 80% of the biosolids produced by the Residuals Treatment Facility located at Hartland are being used as a fuel at the LaFarge cement facility in Richmond. The balance of the biosolids are mixed with sand and land applied at a quarry located at Cassidy near... Read more
Forget ‘Axe the Tax.’ Try ‘Pay the Price’
By proclaiming that the carbon tax “is an existential threat to our economy and our way of life” and that it threatens a “nuclear winter” for the economy, Pierre Poilievre has entered the world of full-on craziness and inverted logic. The reality is exactly the opposite. The “carbon tax” — actually…
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Seniors Demand Action on Climate Change
I was born in 1948, when the average annual atmospheric CO2 level was about 311 ppm. When I started writing this column in December 2014, average annual CO2 was 399 ppm. Today, it is 422 ppm. The impacts of these heightened CO2 levels, as well as increased levels of methane…
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Save the Mighty Sequoia Tree at Centennial Square, Victoria BC, from Wrongful Demolition
An inconvenient tree? Sign the petition here. On Jul 11, 2024 Victoria’s mayor and a majority of council members approved the updated concept design for Centennial Square and directed staff to proceed with implementation as outlined in the Centennial Square... Read more
Ryan Senechal: Removing Sequoia Would Violate City of Victoria Policies
The redesign of Victoria’s Centennial Square is moving closer toward breaking ground, and there remains a chance for sober second thought on the fate of a highly appreciated giant sequoia. We’ve been informed that the removal is to improve sightlines for public safety…
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Community Conversation on Housing August
Leadnow is launching a housing campaign to push politicians for solutions that put people, not profits, first. Your neighbours are getting together to help shape this campaign – will you join them? Right now, Leadnow supporters across the country are organizing... Read more
Water Scarcity, Forced Displacement Among Challenges We Face
The UN Environment Programme’s new report Navigating New Horizons, produced in partnership with the International Science Council, is not easy reading. It’s not just that it is a dense 100-page document, but because it paints a grim picture of the challenges we face.
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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
Petition that the Province of British Columbia define the word “lobby” as a noun in the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA)
Background: The so-called Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) of British Columbia is not as transparent as its name makes it appear on first sight. On the contrary, it lacks crucial transparency by not defining lobby as a noun and thus as a thing or entity.
Read moreThe Economy Should Serve Well-Being, Planet Health, Not Dominate Them
In exploring the need for a transformation of our values so they are fit for purpose in the 21st century, I have been using a piece of “scripture” from the World Wide Fund for Nature’s 2014 Living Planet Report. The third realm from my piece of “scripture” is the economy, and the text makes an important but often overlooked point…
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BC Gov’t Just Announced Rebates for Household Solar and Battery Storage Systems
On June 27, the Government of B.C. announced that we’re introducing new rebates for customers looking to install solar panels and battery energy storage systems. To be eligible for rebates, equipment must be installed after the official launch of the program,... Read more
PFAS Lawsuit Smacks of Irony
Dear CRD Board, Senior CRD staff, and Minister Heyman, I’m sure many of you saw the following article on CBC this weekend highlighting a lawsuit launched by the BC government against the manufacturers of PFAS chemicals for contaminating drinking water and... Read more
B.C. Launches Class-Action Lawsuit Against Makers of ‘Forever Chemicals’
The BC government has filed a class action law suit in the BC Supreme Court against a number of chemical companies which manufacture so called ‘forever chemicals’ or PFAS which commonly occur in household products and do not break down in the environment. The US... Read more
CRD’s Biosolids Plan Beset With Issues
The report by Sidney Coles of Capital Daily exposes the problems with disposing biosolids at the Lafarge cement plat at Richmond and at Cassidy Quarry at Cassidy. The CRD Board will approve the long term pan for biosolids management on Wednesday June 12. Creatively... Read more
Petition that the Province of B.C. Protect Native Tree Species within Building Envelopes
With the recent housing Bills, protecting the natural environment within so-called building envelopes couldn’t be more crucial.
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 moreFORWARD! for a Frack Free Future
Get ready for a weekend of connection, training, scheming, and dreaming of a Fossil Free Future. Build the power of the BC climate movement for a climate-safe future! From June 7-9, activists, organizers, and changemakers from across the B.C. will gather on the... Read morePetition – MPs: Put Big Oil on Trial This June
In early June, executives from the largest fossil fuel companies in Canada – Enbridge, Imperial, Cenovus, Enbridge, and Shell – will testify before the House of Commons’ Environment Committee. The purpose of their summons? To answer for their failure to rein in... Read more
Our ‘Ignore-ant’ Elites Blindly Adhere to ‘Business As Usual’
My colleague Paul Kershaw is a professor of public health at UBC and founder of Generation Squeeze, a “Think and Change Tank” that promotes wellbeing for all generations. It does so “by turning evidence into action and rejuvenating democracy to protect what is sacred for younger and future generations…
Read moreChoosing Your Next Stove
Electric Stove • Affordable and easy to operate. • Electric stoves with ceramic cook-tops are easy to clean. • No harmful fumes are produced by the appliance.. unless you’re not a very good cook! • No electromagnetic field (as experienced with induction cooking),... Read more
Harms of PFAS, the CRD’s contract with Lafarge, and Celebrating the Long-standing Ban on the Land Application of Biosolids
A CTV news story on the pervasiveness and dangers of PFAS, a VicNews story on the ongoing issues with biosolids disposal at the Lafarge Cement kiln, and an op-ed by BioSolids Free BC founder, Philippe Lucas, celebrating the popular CRD ban on the land application of... Read more
Petition: Uphold the Ban on Land Application of Biosolids in the Capital Regional District
The Capital Regional District (CRD) in Victoria, BC, Canada has a long-standing and popular ban on the land application of biosolids. This is a crucial regulation that protects our local drinking water, environment and public health. Biosolids contain PFAS,... Read more
CRD Pressed to Come to a Long-Term Solution for Biosolids Management
Under pressure from the province, the CRD needs to come up with a definitive plan to deal with the mounting quantity of dried biosolids pellets at Hartland. Biosolids are the byproduct of the region’s wastewater treatment processes. As of now, the CRD says…
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A Big Idea for Climate Leadership: Colwood As a Model Municipality for Renewable Solar Energy
Introduction: Climate change presents an urgent global challenge, demanding innovative solutions at every level of society. Colwood, in its commitment to climate leadership, has an opportunity to spearhead transformative change through the implementation of renewable... Read moreSite C and Water Bombers
I wrote to Elizabeth May reminding her of two of her excellent ideas that I hope she’ll continue to promote regarding Site-C and water bombers. I remember when I first heard her mention these ideas several years ago and I thought “brilliant.” Elizabeth got right back... Read more
Biosolids & Thermal Conversion Frequently Asked Questions
Updated May 29, 2024. What are biosolids? Biosolids are the dried residual sludge created by treating municipal wastewater. What are the main contaminants in biosolids? Heavy metals, micro plastics, pharmaceuticals, and so called forever chemicals that never break... Read more
Before We Look For Housing Solutions, Check The Math
I am curious what Victoria’s missing middle housing initiative will do, and just as interested in what it will not do. We’ve already been told it won’t improve affordability. People were confused on that bit, apparently. When the text and subtext of elections is the housing crisis…
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Company Behind CRD Biosolids Sued in U.S. Over Health Issues, Animal Deaths
The company that produces biosolids at Hartland Landfill for the Capital Regional District is being sued by a group of Texas farmers. The farmers claim fertilizer made from a product of sewage treatment by Synagro Technologies’ operation…
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CRD’s Biosolids Maker Sued by Texan Farmers Over Illnesses, Animal Deaths
The company that helps produce the Capital Regional District’s biosolids is being accused of its similar products medically harming Texas farmers and fatally impacting their animals. Synagro Technologies is the majority…
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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
CRD Open House on Biosolids Was Anything But
I’m writing today to express my disappointment and concerns about the recent CRD Open House on biosolids. Since the hosts opted to hide the number of participants, and since cameras, mikes and even the “chat” sidebar were disabled for participants, it was impossible... Read moreA Helpful Guide to Understand the CRD Biosolids Survey (deadline March 6th)
Would you knowingly eat food, drink water or breathe air that contains toxic chemicals and microplastics linked to cancer that are contained in sewage sludge from Victoria, BC’s wastewater treatment plant? Right now, forever chemicals, which true to their name last... Read more
Fossil-Fuel Industry Doubling Down, Pushing for Growth
Last week, I documented the massive impact of the fossil-fuel industry on people and the planet, an impact the industry generally ignores or downplays in its rush to make money and maintain its power, earning it the title of “the new tobacco.”
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Update on Disposal of Biosolids by the CRD
The CRD wastewater treatment plant located at McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt produces 10 tonnes of biosolids every day. These biosolids are the residual waste products which are piped to the Hartland Landfill where they are treated into a pellet. The BC Ministry of... Read more
CRD Must Denounce the Heavily Biased, Inadequate Public Consultation on Biosolids
Dear Chair Plant, CRD Board and Senior CRD Staff, It is with great concern that I write you today regarding the recently launched public consultation on the long term biosolids management plan found at: https://getinvolved.crd.bc.ca/biosolids. To provide a bit of... Read more
Expansion of FortisBC Natural Gas Network in Okanagan Denied Despite Utility’s Warning of Shortfalls
An upgrade to FortisBC’s natural gas pipeline network in the Okanagan has been rejected by the BC Utilities Commission. The Okanagan Capacity Upgrade project would have included about 30 kilometres of new pipeline between Chute Lake and Penticton.
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Low-Density Development Carries Much Higher Costs
This week, I continue this exploration by looking at key recommendations related to buildings. The next main recommendation is: “In addition to energy efficiency and fuel switching we will make greater gains if we reduce the material intensity of our buildings, and ensure they…
Read moreLet Your MLA Know That LNG Is Worse Than Coal
Tell your MLA to read this new research that disproves the LNG industry myth that LNG is a climate solution to burning coal. Dogwood has created a web page (link below) to allow you to quickly contact your MLA to get them to read new research out of Cornell University that adds to existing an existing body of information to dispel the myth…
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