West Coast Climate Action Network – Seeking Indigenous Engagement
We would be most grateful if you could share the opportunities below with any Indigenous people you know who are engaged in any kind of climate action or initiative. The West Coast Climate Action Network is a new non-profit society: we work to support and promote the... Read more
Getting Back to the Garden at Fairy Creek
I came upon a child of God, he was walking along the road, And I asked him, “Where are you going?”, and this he told me, I’m going on down to Fairy Creek, I’m gonna try and save some trees, I’m gonna camp out on the land, I’m gonna try and get my soul free
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A Call To Provincial & Federal Governments
British Columbia has the greatest ecological and biological diversity in Canada, from magnificent but highly endangered old-growth temperate rainforests to semi-arid grasslands, from valley-bottom wetlands to high alpine tundra. The BC NDP government can become a... Read more
Of Fairy Tales and Fairy Creek – How Fairy Creek is Far From Being Saved
Once upon a time, there was a premier who pretended that saving the magnificent old-growth forests of BC might be of some interest for him. “We are embarking on the journey to transform forestry.” he declared to the media while announcing two-year old-growth... Read more
Guinness World Record with Giki Zero
Giki Zero invites Canadians to join them in setting the Guinness World Records title for the most people pledging climate action in one month! Creatively United supports this Guinness Book of Records Climate Action endeavour led by Jo Hand of Giki Zero, one of our... Read more
Children of the Trees
This past summer I watched two dozen cedars slowly die outside my window in False Creek. In a matter of months, they turned from green to rust, stood like candles ready to be lit on a day of mourning. I watched men climb them with chainsaws, slice them, and feed them to the wood chipper. I sat behind my glass door in vigil.
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Who Has the Right to Cut Old Growth?
The new ‘War in the Woods’ to protect old-growth forest in Fairy Creek and far beyond raises an important issue that has been neglected. By what right are those trees being cut? Who gets to decide?
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Frontline Fundraiser for Land Defenders
From the the Unist’ot’en Solidarity Brigade: Frontline Fundraiser for Land Defenders including the Unist’ot’en and Gidemt’en camps has been extended until Saturday June 19th. Please support the fundraiser if you can, and check out the... Read more
Open Letter: Demand that Trans Mountain’s Insurers drop TMX immediately
From LeadNow: We are in the global week of action to stop insuring Trans Mountain! From Europe to Africa to the Pacific Islands, and all across North America, folks are organizing actions in their communities to help make Trans Mountain uninsurable. Trans Mountain has... Read more
Bill C-12 Tweet-Storm: Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act
There are only a few days left for Parliament to pass Bill C-12, the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, before the summer recess. The amended Bill C-12 is not perfect but it’s a much-needed foundation we can build on to make sure Canada never misses... Read more
The World is Watching: Protect Old Growth Forests in B.C
Indigenous leaders, celebrities and scientists are coming together to demand B.C. Premier John Horgan take urgent action to protect the last old growth forests in British Columbia. Join Mark Ruffalo, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, David Suzuki and more in calling on the... Read more
Save the Old Growth Event – Bus Ride Available
We are organizing a luxury tour bus which has a washroom for Saturday’s event; there is plenty of luggage space to accommodate bikes, camping gear and supplies etc. Please let your friends know that the bus can pick up donations at the pick up points. The cost is $20... Read more
B.C. Court of Appeal Decision Spotlights Urgent Need for Reform of Mines Act
The HDCA’s case presented to the Court of Appeal centred on a failure on the part of the province’s Statutory Decision Maker (since renamed Mines Inspector) to consider climate change impacts before approving a mining permit to OK Industries (OKI) for a bedrock strip mine in the Highlands last year, making his decision unreasonable.
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Update: Mount Work Coalition joins Peninsula Biosolids Coalition to Oppose Spreading of Biosolids at Hartland Landfill
On other matters related to the Landfill and Mount Work Park, MWC has become an active member of the Peninsula Biosolids Coalition–a group formed to oppose the spreading of biosolids at Hartland Landfill. Biosolids are a dried, processed product produced from sewage... Read more
Orca Month and the Legal Fight For Captive Whale Freedom
June is Orca Awareness Month in BC, and part of the team’s focus is the struggle to release cognitively advanced, self-aware, emotionally sensitive whales and dolphins from aquariums where they suffer physical and mental harm due to imprisonment.
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BC Government Announcement One Small Step to End Old Growth Logging in BC
Despite today’s announcement by the Province of British Columbia, deferring logging in key areas in Fairy Creek and the Central Walbran, protesters will remain in the Fairy Creek Area. Large-scale logging could still occur in old-growth forest directly adjacent to... Read more
Update: CRD Revised Solid Waste Management Plan
The CRD’s revised Solid Waste Management Plan, modified after consultation with the public, including the Mount Work Coalition, was adopted by the CRD Board on May 12. Among the changes to the original Plan were the following (taken from the CRD document “Proposed... Read more
Getting to Fairy Creek
“Hop on the bus, Gus. Make a new plan, Stan….” Here’s an ambitious project to bus people up to the front line, maybe even daily. Leaving from the Leg, they offer a pick-up stop at Edward Milne School in Sooke. You can be a day-tripper and know you’ve been there. ... Read more
The Road to Forest Destruction is Paved with Good Intentions Papers
On June 1st, I tuned into the announcement of the BC Government Intention Paper for modernizing forest practices. I had hoped old-growth forests might be thrown a lifeline. No such luck. Premier Horgan and Forest Minister Conroy were all smiles as they described how... Read more
Rainforest Flying Squad Responds to Today’s First Nations’ Request to Defer Logging in Fairy Creek and the Central Walbran Valley
The Rainforest Flying Squad welcomes this morning’s announcement that the Pacheedaht, Ditidaht, and Huu-ay-aht First Nations are calling for logging deferrals on Fairy Creek and the Central Walbran. While it’s a welcome step in the right direction, we, and... Read more
On Climate, It’s Short-Term Pain for Long-Term Gain, Backed by Courts
One of the biggest challenges in addressing climate change is that it’s a very slow-moving crisis. We need to take action now in order to avert problems many years, even decades, into the future, but our system is biased against such action.
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The Buzz About Bees
The QMS Eco-club has been working on a super exciting initiative to celebrate our success in getting Queen Margaret’s School declared a Bee School, and supporting the City of Duncan in making a commitment to protecting pollinators, and becoming the first Bee... Read more
B.C. Flunks International Biodiversity Targets
Sadly, Ecojustice and the Wilderness Committee gave B.C. a failing grade in four of the five areas they considered: protection and recovery of both species at risk and ecosystems, the protection of natural habitats of all species and ecosystems and other laws to protect biodiversity.
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A Strip Mine In Highlands?
The District of Highlands was established in 1993 to give residents control over development within their community. Twenty eight years later, a strip mine is underway on land zoned Greenbelt, adjacent to Thetis Park and a toxic waste dump site.
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A Top German Court Toughens the Nation’s Climate Goals, Requiring Explicit Details
In September 2016, the German parliament unanimously adopted the Paris Agreement. The government then translated Germany’s commitments under the agreement into a Climate Protection Law, which was approved by the Bundestag in November 2019 with a wide majority, making Germany the first country in the world with a greenhouse gas neutrality plan.
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When a Tree Falls in the Forest, The NDP Government Hears Not a Thing
Hears nothing, says nothing. So far, the silence of the NDP government and, most notably, NDP MLAs, continues amid the buzzing sound of clear cutting. Once considered the party of social justice, the NDP have joined the ranks where corporate greed trumps public... Read more
A Call for a New Forest Framework in British Columbia
During Season 2 of Climate and the Artist Series, Creatively United sponsored a Call for a New Forest Framework in British Columbia. One of the authors of the letter is Kathleen Code who is Vice Chair of the Ecoforestry Institute Society which manages the Wildwood... Read more
B.C. is now a Biodiversity-Loss Hotspot
There was a time when B.C. was a global leader in fish, wildlife and habitat conservation, said Jesse Zeman of the B.C. Wildlife Federation in a May 10 news release. But now it is “a landscape which can be characterized as at risk, endangered and extirpated,” he said.
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Harvest & Volunteer Coordinator
LifeCycles is seeking a staff person to support harvest coordination, distribution and volunteer training for the LifeCycles Fruit Tree and Farm Gleaning Projects as well as manage volunteers for the broader organization. The successful candidate will work as part of... Read more
Greater Victoria Naturehood
Greater Victoria NatureHood, a Nature Canada initiative, has launched Nature in the City: Guide to Many Adventures map! The map’s design tells stories of urban habitats, captivating species and local parks to explore. Detailed environmental information is woven... Read more
Wild Lives Matter
Our Regional Parks and the species that depend on them for survival are at risk. Mountain biking wants more access to our parks and the CRD is hearing from them. These are your parks too so if you have a concern about this please read on and take action!
Read moreClean & Reliable Water Matters
Water is life. A secure and reliable supply of water is essential for all life forms. This webinar explains that water is becoming increasingly insecure and unreliable due to climate change and increased demand by a growing…
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Keep Up the Pressure for Old-Growth in B.C.
Yesterday, new mapping revealed that the BC provincial government has approved 43% more old-growth logging during the period since it received the Old-Growth Panel Recommendations that it promised to implement last fall:... Read more
223 Interntional Scientists Call on BC Government to Save Old Growth Biodiversity
This is a letter that was sent to the BC Government in 2018, signed by 223 international scientists agreeing that old growth logging should stop. They haven’t listened so here it is again.
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Creating Well-Being, from the Personal to the Planetary
In 1948, the World Health Organization defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.” I find it a good and simple definition. One of its strengths is that it fully recognises both mental and social well-being, with the latter inevitably bringing in our relationships with others — our families, communities and society as a whole.
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Tuesdays for Trees Campaign
Tuesdays for Trees is a campaign devised by the Climate Action Research Team of Greater Victoria Acting Together. The idea is to have something happen every Tuesday to raise public awareness and pressure decision makers regarding the importance of trees and forests in... Read more
Rainforest Flying Squad Serves Notice to Appeal Injunction
The Rainforest Flying Squad (RFS) and others filed a Notice to Appeal in the BC Court of Appeal on April 28, 2021. This legal challenge requests a court hearing to argue that the April 1, 2021 decision by Justice Verhoeven be set aside. For the past nine months,... Read more
A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency
I’m writing to share some very exciting news – the launch of a new 5-year initiative, the Climate Emergency Unit. The response to my book A Good War has been very enthusiastic and gratifying. I’ve been giving about three book-related talks a week since the book was... Read moreCold Matters: Our Arctic Connection
In keeping with the “what really matters” theme, Creative Solutions for a New World Climate and the Arts Series explores how much Cold Matters in terms of the roles in which snow, ice and permafrost play in the stabilization…
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How do we evolve a regenerative bioregional culture in the Salish Sea? – May Day Murmuration
I am in Olympia, Washington and my personal focus is on local government reform and restoration infrastructure to support the evolution of regenerative bioregional culture. I’d like to work with you on the development of a network of Public Interest Science and Design... Read more
Reform To Transform Campaign Launch
Climate Education Reform BC has just launched our official Reform To Transform Campaign!! We are a student-led organization advocating for a justice-driven Climate Change Education in British Columbia’s K-12 system. We are presenting the BC Ministry of Education 6... Read more
Throne Speech and Budget Fail Future Generations
The B.C. budget, delivered two days before Earth Day, confirmed what the throne speech had already shown: the environment is very much an after-thought for the NDP government, tacked on at the end and lacking any real substance. Thus they fail to address the most important long-term issue we face: our excessive and unsustainable demands on the planet.
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Call of the Forest – Support for Fairy Creek
As we maintain our presence at blockades to protect ancient forests, Rainforest Flying Squad members are honoured to receive support from the esteemed Dr. Diana Beresford-Kroeger. Diana Beresford-Kroeger is a renowned biologist and author, and the subject of the... Read more
Working Together Enhances Community Well-Being
We couldn’t help but share this good news story that shows what is possible when people come together to take a stand for common good. Fortunately, the developer of this project had the right attitude, was open-minded and understood how their actions would... Read moreWireless Networks and Climate Change
This Earth Day presentation has a lot of detailed information about the greater amounts of energy required for wireless devices and networks than wired ones. This information should be presented to anyone concerned with climate change. If people don’t care about... Read more
Old Growth Forest Defenders Share Facts Public Needs to Know
This past week, with hundreds of people busy mobilizing to multiple frontlines prepared to risk arrest for the last real forests at the peak of public support and pressure on government to act now to deliver on its promise to protect old-growth forests, the... Read more
Need Trees for Projects? Growing Canada’s Forests Program
In 2020, the Government of Canada launched a program to plant two billion trees in Canada over 10 years. On Feb 24, 2021 the federal government issued calls for Requests for Information (RFI) under the Growing Canada’s Forests program which are due May 27, 2021... Read more
Earth Week 2021 Events Roundup
Since 2012, more than 10,000 people have attended Creatively United’s live zero-waste Earth Day events. Now, every day is Earth Day on CreativelyUnited.org’s free community solutions sharing hub where people can post and see events, information, resources,... Read more