12 Prince Claus Mentorship Awards Recipients Announced!
Together with the Goethe-Institut, we are excited to announce the 2022 Mentorship Award for Cultural & Artistic Responses to Environmental Change! Floods and forest fires, storms and disappearing species: the climate crisis is being felt everywhere around the... Read more
Great Annual Family Christmas Tree Hunt
We set out early in the morning. A wintry sun grudgingly appeared as we piled into the car. Mom and Dad, siblings and cousins made up our party. The roof-rack was securely in place on which to bring home the quarry: the perfect Christmas tree which we’ll flush... Read more
In tackling biodiversity loss, it’s actions that matter, not words
The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the materials and energy we use — they all come from nature. We are part of the web of life, and as the Duwamish elder Chief Seattle is recorded as saying more than 150 years ago: “Whatever we do to the web of life, we do to ourselves.”
Read moreCome One, Come All, Including Ye Forest Advocates of Lore.
North Cowichan is conducting a consultation to determine the fate of our community forests — to log or protect our Six Mountains. No matter who you are, or where you live, near or far, our Council invites you to participate, to give perspective, to fill out our... Read more
Seven ways to include nature in our economic choices
From nature’s perspective, human civilization has been a disaster. It has caused the loss of 83% of all wild mammals and 50% of plants. Between 1970 and 2016 alone, humans wiped out 68% of the world’s mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. The world’s governments support this destructive activity with subsidies…
Read more
The Great Transition – Which Future Are We Living In?
The Great Transition scenarios, detailed in the 2022 Great Transition essay, stand the test of time. All six are alive and well, not as scenarios but as realities. In the two Conventional World scenarios, market forces still determine almost everything, regardless of... Read more
Why can’t we use the ‘F’ words?
Courtesy of the Times Colonist Photo: Young activists lobby world leaders at the COP27 United Nations Climate Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, this month. NARIMAN EL-MOFTY, AP Although I intended to continue my examination of Earth For All, the astounding hypocrisy... Read more
Guide for a Green Weekend! (and Avoid Black Friday/Cyber Monday)
WHAT IS BLACK FRIDAY / CYBER MONDAY? The term “Black Friday” had been used in the mid 1800s to indicate a decline in gold prices that caused a market crash The term became associated with this time of year, right around American Thanksgiving, in the 1950s when... Read more
Curious and Hopeful
As hope to substantially delay a 6th extinction fades it is, for me, being replaced by deep curiosity as to how it will all spiral down. How much, if at all, that impacts lifespans is in itself another matter for curiosity. And for what as well as how intensely the... Read more
Laughing Sense Into Us
How best to speak of our society’s ongoing self destructiveness in a way that our eyeballs, ear holes and heart might get it? How to “fool” us into a little unlearning of our learned disconnect from the watery animally earth? How to tease out a thread, a rope, an... Read more
Ecological sanity and social justice — we can’t have one without the other
More than 40 years ago, in my major paper for my master’s degree, I sought to identify the fundamental principles underlying public health. I concluded there are two: ecological sanity and social justice. The pursuit of these principles has defined much of my work to create a healthier society ever since.
Read more
Dance for the Trees! – Elders for Ancient Trees November Update
Hello Elders, This is a very short callout, mainly to let you know about what’s coming up in November. As BC’s new Premier is being sworn in, we Old-Growth Supporters need to raise a bit of a ruckus to encourage David Eby to implement old-growth deferrals immediately.... Read more
What has the Community Trees Matter Network been up to?
Since CTMN began, in 2018, our various passionate members have been involved in a variety of projects: Educational Outreach to the Public via technology: We created a website filled with information about trees and ways citizens can protect them, at... Read more
Canada must stop digging a deeper climate-crisis hole
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned last month the world is in “a life-or-death struggle” for survival as “climate chaos gallops ahead,” while the World Health Organization calls climate change “the single biggest health threat facing humanity.”
Read more
Executive Direction Position at Ecoforesty Institute Society
The interview process for this part-time position will take place over 2 phases during December 2022: Phase 1: an invitation for application based on high-level aesthetic qualities required for an ED position: leadership; team player; innovative; creative; ability to... Read more
COP27: The good, the bad, and what you can do
What is COP27? COP27 is the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference aka the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, the 27th COP conference since 1994 The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a treaty through which signing nations agreed to... Read more
As UN climate summit begins, not much good news, but room for hope
One of the five great turnarounds proposed in the recent Earth For All report to the Club of Rome is the energy turnaround. So with COP27 — the annual UN conference on climate change — opening in Egypt, this is a good time to look at this issue.
Read more
November Elders for Ancient Trees Update
Dear Elders,At this time of the year, some of us may identify with the Latin American tradition of Día de los Muertos or with the Celtic tradition of Samhain. Día de los Muertos honours and remembers the Dead. Samhain marks the end of the harvest season and beginning... Read more
Will We Lose Downtown’s Last Garry Oaks?
This should not be a battle between supportive housing and the urban forest canopy. Everyone should have access to the mental and physical health benefits provided by mature trees. Every neighbourhood should gain from the carbon sequestration and enhanced biodiversity... Read more
A Symbolic Gift
Symbolic Gift was written in an attempt for me, to brake away from our hectic world and to slow down take a breath and just see, taste, smell, feel the wonderful gift that is around us, and to, LIVE LIFE FOR EVERYTHING IN THAT GIFT AND IT’S FUTURE!
Read more
The human and environmental cost of growth-obsessed ‘extractivism’
The new Club of Rome report Earth For All addresses the two greatest challenges facing humanity: the massive and rapid ecological triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution — to which I would add resource depletion — and the social crisis of massive inequality.
Read more
Earth for all, not just for some
Way back in 1977, the World Health Organization declared the goal of achieving Health For All by the Year 2000. This should be understood in the way the U.S. Public Health Service defined a goal in 1980: “a timeless statement of aspiration.” learly, Health For All was not achieved, and is still not achieved today. But nonetheless…
Read more
Climate Champions Elected!
In Saturday’s local elections, out of 256 confirmed results, 148 climate champions candidates were elected. 57.5% of the candidates who were either endorsed by a local climate action group, or who self-declared as a climate champion with WE-CAN, were elected to... Read more
Tree removal should be last alternative
Too often, municipalities seem to think mature trees are just in the way. That needs to change, because those trees benefit public health and even save lives. Like every municipality, Saanich needs bike lanes, safe sidewalks, and up-to-date utility pipes. But were any... Read more
“It’s called outside” – We need licensed outdoor childcare
There is an apocryphal story of a mother taking her young daughter out into the backyard. The child looks up from her iPad and says: “Where are we?” Her mother replies: “It’s called outside.” The point is obvious: We have become so screen-oriented that we…
Read more
Can Using ‘Rights of Nature’ Protect B.C.’s Old Growth Forests?
“If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise.” In fact, if you do go today, you may have to go in disguise! For the de facto owners of every old growth tree that ever there was may not want you to see that they are destroying those woods.
Read moreThe New Old Growth: Voice of Promise
Icel Dobell has just released The New Old Growth: Voice of Promise. Through beautiful images and storytelling, this fourth video in the Sovereignty of the Six Mountains series reveals the nature of the giving Six Mountain Forest, rare and endangered ecosystems— our... Read more
The F-Word
Your grocery bills are skyrocketing. Your favourite restaurant put up a sign warning of increased menu prices. You’re dipping into your savings to make ends meet. This is the reality of the cost of living crisis facing Canadians. But not so for fossil fuel executives... Read moreVoice of the Unexpected
Our municipal election could determine the future of the North Cowichan forests. Or at least for the next few hundred years while evolution sets a new course. For four years, public consultation about the future of the Six Mountain Forest has unfolded as the North... Read more
Vote for Climate Champions
With the municipal elections just around the corner – October 15th – those of you on Southern Vancouver Island that may not as yet have completed your selection of Mayoral or Council candidates (let alone those for school and park boards) may find the following... Read more
With Housing As Key Election Issue, Here Are My Picks for Mayor and Council
With so many candidates running and so many vacancies on Council, I’ve been asked many times over the last month for “my list” – who will I be supporting in the upcoming election. Having completed our final Council meeting last night, I now feel free to make my... Read more
HALT Saanich Council Action Plan: Help Save Remaining Shelbourne Trees!
We are concerned citizens who urge Saanich Council to pause implementation of Phase Two of its Shelbourne Valley Action Plan until after October 15, 2022 election. We wish the new Council to review the plan before proceeding. Click here to sign the petition The... Read more
Questions For & Responses from Candidates
The science is conclusive, trees matter! Not only can trees help regulate weather, filter smoke and pollutants, absorb stormwater runoff and prevent floods, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide beauty, shade, and shelter for thousands of needed insects,... Read more
Missing Middle Initiative and Voting
I wish there were simple answers to some of the big issues Victoria is facing re: affordable housing, density, as well as crises like drug overdoses and doctor shortages. Here are some deeper dives into housing affordability, as that’s my main focus this... Read more
September Elders for Ancient Trees Update
Dear Friends of the Ancient Forests, Fall is upon us. Sweet. Beautiful. Crunching leaves and intense fall colours touch our senses. Too dry. The promise of moisture is in the air as we lean towards the rainy season. My gratitude is all wound up with grief. On this... Read more
Will the Missing Middle Squeeze Victoria’s Trees?
This article, written by Community Trees Matter Network co-founder Grace Golightly, was recently published in Focus and speaks to what’s at stake with Victoria’s urban trees and livability.... Read morePlanetary Health with Suzanne Simard
This event is coordinated by the Lafayette String Quartet and will be its final health forum before the Quartet formally disbands after 37 years. The forum on Our Planet and Our Health will involve three extremely qualified speakers Katila Lafferty, Canada’s first... Read more
The October 15th Local Elections
2022 Local Government Elections – Climate Champions Registration Are you a climate champion who is running for council, school board or regional government? We are here to support you, and connect you with a climate group in your municipality. Use this form to... Read more
Local Climate Solutions Papers
On October 15th, candidates from all across BC will be elected to local councils, school districts, and regional districts. The urgency of the climate crisis is such that we need to elect a majority of climate champions on every council, in every regional district,... Read more
Urge the UBCM to Support the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty – Write today, no delay!
On Thursday, September 15th the Union of BC Municipalities will vote on whether to ask the Province of BC to enact a GHG emissions cap for natural gas utilities, and support the objectives of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. A strong YES vote would be a... Read more
Vancouver Island Pilgrimage
The Pilgrimage is a communal walk over four days from the Cowichan Valley to Metchosin to consider our place in the biosphere and connect with nature and spirituality. Details of the walk are here- Vancouver Island Anthropocene Pilgrimage. You are welcome to join the... Read more
Decline and collapse unpalatable, but not implausible
One of my professional roles throughout most of the 1980s and 1990s was that of a health futurist. Often that involved working with scenarios of plausible alternative futures. In addition to helping people understand the implications of past, current and future actions, these scenarios are useful in exploring their values…
Read more
The world is not ending, but humanity has a problem
Even the human species is probably not at risk, although we should remember that, over time, pretty much all species become extinct. But we are a highly adaptable and tough species, able to survive and indeed usually thrive in habitats as diverse as the Arctic, equatorial jungles, deserts and high altitudes.
Read more
Let’s Talk About BC Salmon – Why Are They Important?
Why are they important? What is threatening them? What can you do? • There are 5 species of pacific salmon in BC: Sockeye, Pink, Chum, Coho and Chinook • Salmon are keystone species in BC, meaning that many other organisms along BC’s coast rely on salmon to sustain... Read more
For a livable region, we must minimize building waste and energy consumption
In North America, we spend on average 90 per cent of our time indoors. So the design and operation of the immediate built environment where we spend the vast majority of our time is of great importance for our wellbeing.
Read more
For a more livable city, invest in cycling, transit, pedestrian infrastructure
Active transportation is a major focus of public health action, and has been for some decades. The health benefits include increased physical activity (in turn linked to reduced obesity and improved heart health), improved air quality (linked to improved heart and lung health), and reductions in injuries, noise and greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more
Painfully But Patiently Bearing Witness: The Rewards
I have felt sometimes lately like I am descending into some kind of limbo. So much seems to be going sideways in the world at the same time, yet there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do to slow or halt the decline. For the last three years, all I seem to have been... Read more
Rebuttal: Urgent news for Victoria tree lovers – missing middle housing
I’m a bit concerned about the recent missing middle article posted on Creatively United. It frames the proposed missing middle policy as an attack on trees and there are several reasons this is factually untrue. The missing middle policy has a max 40% site... Read more