MAY 2009

The Sustainable Environment Network Society (SENS) Newsletter

 

Support Us! You can become a member (Family - $20.00, Individual - $15.00, Basic - $5.00), attend our monthly meetings (the 4th Thursday usually), donate and/or volunteer.  Mailing address: c/o the Boys and Girls Club, 3300-37th Avenue, Vernon, V1T 2Y5.  Website:  www.sensociety.org 

*** SENS provides tax-deductible receipts for donations ***

 

SENS MEETINGS/EVENTS

May 4: 7pm, Performing Arts Centre. All-Candidates Forum  for any questions/topics. Questions plus candidate answers from SENS on Sustainability and the Environment will be posted in the foyer.

 

May 28: Movie Night . FLOW to be shown. More details to follow. Planning still…

 

May 30: 3rd Annual Green Enviro-Fair, sponsored by SENS for green/sustainable businesses and not-for-profit ‘green’ groups,  10 am – 4 pm, Vernon Rec Centre auditorium with business award presentations by the  City of Vernon and NORD starting before 3 pm. Quiet, easy listening music  on stage all day for those who need to sit and vegetate for a bit….

 

May 30 – June 5, Environment Week: Get involved! Watch the papers for details of daily events.

May 30 – Enviro-Fair – see above

June 1 – Becker Park - weed education and clean-up.

June 2 -  Commuter Challenge Kick-off

June 2 – Water Day Events

June 3 – Clean Air Day/Astronomy at OSC/Guided Bike Rides

June 4 – Waste Reduction Day Activities

June 5 – Commuter Challenge Wrap-up/Local Food Promotion Day

 

LOCAL STUFF

1. Community Food Mapping Initiative: Vernon’s People's Place, Rm 001, 3402  27th Ave, Wednesday, May 13th, 7pm

The Food Action Society of the North Okanagan and the Centre for Social, Spatial and Economic Justice at UBC-Okanagan, are launching a regional food project and are looking for community volunteers to help in developing the map and in showcasing our local food growers, producers, markets and community food projects.   The initiative will tell the story of our region’s food and build a valuable community resource to help in sustaining a strong regional food system. Come learn about the project and share your ideas around local food in your neighborhood.   For more information contact Pamela Tudge at  ptudge@gmail.com or (250) 938-2310.

 

SENT BY MEMBERS AND READERS

1. Efficient Solar Thermal Generation: This next generation technology can generate up to 24 hours of power from sunlight at about ½ the cost of competing technologies. This is great news as the cost to meet our energy needs continues to rise. To learn more, go to www.shecenergy.com

 

2. Biodiversity BC Book: Just released, Taking Nature’s Pulse is a comprehensive report that scientifically assesses the health of B.C.'s biodiversity to date. Described as one of the best “state of biodiversity” reports, it has input from leading provincial and international scientists and provides 23 major findings. This valuable read can be found at: www.biodiversitybc.org

 

3. Stopping Waste Incineration: Limiting exposure to cancer causing chemicals is undeniably important. Sadly though, we’re still incinerating solid waste, a major source of these toxins. There are safer, more responsible waste reduction strategies out there that are far more efficient. Join us in calling on the government to phase out current incinerator facilities and prohibit the building of new incinerators (preventcancernow.ca/main/issues-actions/stop-incineration).

 

4. Interview with Corky Evans: Save Our Rivers Society is pleased to present this 5 min interview (http://saveourrivers.ca/video-library-mainmenu-29/334-corky-evans-video) with retiring NDP MLA Corky Evans.  In it, Evans reflects on threats to the public trust and the very social fabric of his beloved province.  Discussing our rivers, forests, democracy, and heritage, Evans shares some important thoughts on the grave challenges we face today.

  

5. Green Power Points: Think you know about Green Power? Well, here are some sobering facts:

We are sending our power, our water, our environment, our money and our sovereignty to outside and often foreign interests. May 12th is our watershed election. Get informed and vote wisely!

 

6. BC STV Pro and Con - A few you tube videos:

Gummy Bears for BC-STV  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=887sGavI9kY&feature=related

Sock Puppet Debate & BC-STV song www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNuAakGBUt4&feature=related

Debate between Bill Tieleman of NoSTV.org and Antony Hodgson of BC STV on April 1, 2009 in Vancouver  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjKZ2stLCDc&feature=related

From the no-STV Campaign: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVw-H6N0xyw

From the Pro STV Campaign: http://www.stv.ca/fairresults

 

7.Public Forests: Innovative report on improved stewardship of the forest environment. http://www.savebcjobs.com/newsarchive/090416_PublicForests.htm

 

FROM RECYCLING COUNCIL OF BC

1.Cache Creek Landfill Leakage:  The landfill is sealed with a liner that is supposed to last for 200 years, however it must be faulty. Traces of leachate ( heavy metals, hydrocarbons and other chemicals) were found by environmental consultants everywhere  they looked outside the site – in the Thompson River and even 6 km away.

 

2.BC’s “Green Power” is Only a Claim…: California has rejected BC’s claim to have green power as it relates to run-of river  hydroelectric exports to California due to damage that is done to rivers and streams. The environmental footprint is too big.

 

3.Prince George’s Bottled Water Ban: It is being considered here given that Canadians have some of the best tap water in the world. There is recognition that 1/3 of a liter of oil ‘wasted’ to produce the plastic bottle of water and ship the product.

 

4. Mexico City Bans Plastic Bags:  Within a year, Mexico City will no longer allow shop owners to use plastic bags. The average city resident uses 288 plastic bags per year (20 millions bags per day are used in the City), trash dumps are overflowing and litter is everywhere.

 

FROM LIVING OCEANS SOCIETY

1.Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Disaster 20 years later: 284,000 barrels of crude were spilled and communities still suffer from loss of livelihoods and irreversible environmental damage. The shipping industry assures us that design improvements and new regulations reduce potential for accidents, however a recent spill has damaged 60 km off Australia’s coastline and only 1685 barrels of crude were involved. Tell our government to improve shipping safety on BC’s coast.

 

2.Farmed Salmon: across Canada, more universities, hospitals and cafeterias are no longer using this salmon due to commitment not to, by their food service provider company, Compass Group.

 

3.Idiotfish bottom trawl fishery: To supply the Japanese market, these rock fish (longspine thornyhead) were harvested… until  populations crashed and fuel prices became too high. Many other deep water species (important to deep water ecosystems)  that were caught but not wanted, were thrown back dead or dying. Despite low reproductive rates and slow growth, when fuel prices are low enough, trawlers will return to overfish this species that may soon be considered a species at risk. Contact Fisheries Minister Gail Shea and ask for an immediate moratorium on the longspine thornyhead.

 

FROM CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK

1. Canadian Biotechnology Ban: Before parliament is Bill C-343, which proposes to ban the release, sale, importation and use of Terminator technology, a technology that genetically sterilizes seeds at harvest. Designed to force farmers to buy seed each season instead of replanting, this technology, never field-tested or commercialized, is nothing but a cash-grab by biotech firms. To help this bill pass, go to www.cen-rce.org/eng/action_alerts/09_04_terminator.html. Or…send an instant e-mail: http://www.cban.ca/terminatoraction  

 

2. The WaterSmart Toolkit: This toolkit offers practical resources for community water conservation, supports communities’ transition from supply-side management to long-term integrated water conservation planning, and is designed to help municipal staff and community leaders plan and implement effective conservation initiatives that will work to ensure a sustainable water future. For more information about the toolkit, please visit www.poliswaterproject.org/toolkit.

 

FROM ECOJUSTICE

1.Endangered Species Legislation: BC and Alberta are the only two provinces in Canada that do not have an Endangered Species Law. 1640 species at risk here in BC  are without adequate legal protection. Past Liberal and NDP governments have both failed to act. BC has the richest biodiversity of any Canadian province. It is home to 76 per cent of Canada’s bird species, 70 per cent of its freshwater species, and thousands of other animals and plants. 80% of BC residents polled want such legislation, and the petition is being supported by the Sierra Club of BC, the David Suzuki Foundation, the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Forest Ethics, and EcoJustice.  Go to www.saveourspecies.ca and sign the petition asking the BC government for such legislation. You can also download a petition, and ask your friends and neighbours to sign.

 

2. Orca habitat:  In response to an Ecojustice lawsuit, the federal government has declared that is now illegal to destroy the critical habitat of the northern and southern resident killer whale. To be effective the Order must be used to tackle the key threats to killer whale survival: increased disturbance, not enough salmon and too much pollution.


 

FROM GUY DAUNCEY’S ECONEWS

1.Electric Cars: Amsterdam, Holland has just announced that it wants all cars in the city to be electric by 2040, and will be opening 200 electric charging stations by 2012. In Denmark, the government is charging a 180% tax on the purchase of regular cars and 0% on electric vehicles, to encourage the change.

The project known as Better Place is working with Israel, Denmark, Hawaii, Australia, San Francisco, and Ontario to deliver an integrated electric infrastructure with Nissan/Renault EVs, recharging posts, and battery replacement stations.  CEO, Shah Agassi, wants to see 100,000 electric cars on the road by 2011, and 100 million by 2016-2020. The cars will cost around $20,000, plus a monthly lease for the lithium iron phosphate battery, which will last for 20-25 years.

FROM SMART GROWTH BC

1. Healthy Living: Here are (http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/169973/0b5df9b70) three great new publications that all have links between health and neighbourhood design/land use. The key goal of these articles is to create communities where residents of all ages, abilities and income levels can connect with others in their neighbourhood, find housing options for different stages of their life, breathe cleaner air, make healthy eating choices, and more.

 

2. Get Physical: Here’s a 3-minute, You Tube video on physical activity and neighbourhood design: (www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjbHRa2MtNU)

 

3. New Healthy Communities Website:  www.smartgrowth.bc.ca/Default.aspx?tabid=197

 

4. B.C. Fitness Levels: According to a recent study, B.C. residents who live in neighbourhoods where it’s easy to walk to schools, shops, work or play tend to be significantly healthier, and less likely to be overweight, obese or suffer from high blood pressure. This makes sense, as a past report found that adults who walk at least 30 minutes a day (it needn’t be continuous), five days a week can reap significant health benefits and help ward off many chronic illnesses.  Now if we could just encourage land-use planners and local governments to design communities that make healthy choices easy choices... This is vital for reversing Canada’s alarming chronic disease burden.

  

5. Gateway Project Doubts: Premier Gordon Campbell believes the provincial Gateway Program, a program that replaces the Port Mann Bridge with a 10-lane bridge, encourages transit and funds widening of various other road/bridge works, will result in a reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions across the region. By one estimate this is false, as 176,000 tons of greenhouse gases will likely be added in the Lower Fraser Valley annually until 2021. Critics were quick to point out how nonsensical this belief is! They note that transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions in B.C. and that widening the roads will simply mean more traffic and more emissions.

 

6. Renting Woes: According to one economist, homelessness initiatives in Canada that focus on the "usual culprits" of mental illness, family breakdown, addiction, crime and violence are missing the biggest causes: high rent and low income. Research from the U.S. supports this (none for Canada) and shows that it's the crucial relationship between income and affordable housing that drives homelessness in different cities, regardless of the other risk factors at work.  This can easily be fixed by improving the income side of the problem by providing government funds or making welfare more accessible. Raising people out of homelessness would also have the added bonus of saving public funds on health care, policing and other interventions.

Approach efforts are starting to shift toward prevention, helping people transition out of homelessness and raising awareness. For instance, one big misconception held by many people is that the homeless aren't working. In truth, many homeless people are employed - some part-time jobs, some full-time jobs - but their income isn't adequate to pay for affordable housing.

7. Vote Wild! Get informed before you vote on Tuesday May 12. The Wilderness Committee, a non-partisan organization, is putting out a newspaper that addresses the environmental concerns of voters, like the decline in salmon numbers, the growing list of endangered species, the loss of our old-growth forests, the rampant privatization of our rivers, and the catastrophic impacts of increased greenhouse gas emissions. To read the paper and learn how you can help, go to http://votewildbc.org/media/2009_vote_wild_web.pdf

 

5. Are the B.C. Liberals Ignoring the Environment? One has to wonder because Gordon Campbell left the environment out of their election platform. Disturbingly, this could be an indication of a strategy of moving away from a focus on environmental issues. As the Wilderness Committee (see above) points out, “The reality of the impact of the Gateway project pretty much undoes whatever it is they’re talking about in their campaign materials. … It seems to me like the reality of this government has to do with spending billions of dollars on things that will significantly make things worse.” Yes, they do have the carbon tax and have created some protected areas, but is that enough? Come May 12th, we find out. Oh, and vote YES for STV. J


FROM POLISWATERPROJECT.ORG

1. Saving Water and Energy: A report out by Water Sustainability Project (WSP) demonstrates how conserving water translates into saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is especially important when you consider that municipalities in Canada consume more electricity than any industrial sector outside pulp and paper, with as much as half of this used to power water and wastewater treatment plants and pumps. Water conservation is needed if we are to meet our climate change commitments. To learn more, go to www.poliswaterproject.org/publication/91

2. Putting Ecosystems and Watersheds First: Going with the Flow?, a new report on Canada’s water markets, addresses a growing concern that water scarcity is a challenge in some parts of Canada and will require new approaches to water management and governance. The report highlights a number of shortcomings in the existing systems. One conclusion drawn from the report is that only after sufficient water for ecosystem function and watershed health had been ensured, should policy innovations even be considered. It also places emphasis on continued dialogue, increased understanding of policy options within their regional contexts, and established ground rules should be minimum prerequisites to expanding the role of markets in Canadian water allocation regimes.
To read the report, go to www.poliswaterproject.org/publication/200


3. Water Sustainability Guide: The WSP has released a water conservation planning guidebook. The Guide shows how B.C. communities can unleash the full potential of water conservation planning in seven steps using strategies developed by leaders in Canada and beyond. The publication is much needed for, according to a recent study, over 17 percent of B.C.'s surface water sources have reached or are nearing their capacity to reliably supply water in a normal year. The guide can be found at www.poliswaterproject.org/publication/243 

4. WaterSmart Scenario Builder: Interested in visioning a sustainable community water future? If so, this water soft path analysis tool is for you (www.poliswaterproject.org/toolkit#calculator).

5. www.poliswaterproject.org: Check out their redesigned webpage for various articles, reports, commentaries, presentations and much more.

*** Thank-you to Egan Mandreck for his clear and concise editing***