Greenhouses and ponds, shore birds and parks, BC shows leadership, and the benefits of sustainability
Northern Greenhouses, July 18
The U of S International Centre for Northern Governance & Development and the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science are offering a mini greenhouse symposium for those interested in learning about sustainable energy and food production in the greenhouse environment from 3:30 to 5 pm on July 18. RSVP in advance (susan.prpich@usask.ca or 966-1238).
Lucky Lake Shorebirding, July 28
Pack a lunch and rubber boots, and join Saskatoon Nature Society members in observing shore birds at Lucky Lake. Call 374-8571 for additional information.
Survival Celebration Camp, August 3-6
The Committee for Future Generations is hosting a Survival Celebration Camp for Sustainable Earth at Lac Ile à la Crosse Recreation Site from August 3 to 6. There will be workshops on sustainable energy sources, daily talking circles, speakers, and campfire music jams. For further information, contact Candyce Paul (306- 288-2079 or 288-3157, committeeforfuturegenerations@gmail.com).
Pond at Innovation Place
The staff at Innovation Place has been busy re-establishing a healthy ecosystem in the pond. Microbes, insects, frogs and fish all have a role to play in creating a healthy water environment that is home to various transient wildlife.
Status of Canadian Parks
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) has just released its annual report on the State of Canada’s Parks. The report points to four key concerns: the impact of federal budget cuts, inappropriate tourism and recreational developments, growing industrial development pressures, and new park boundaries that maximize neighbouring industrial development opportunities rather than protecting ecosystems.
BC Leads the Way
There has been a drop in fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions are declining. At the same time, economic growth has been unaffected, and the tax has been revenue neutral, with tax cuts exceeding carbon tax revenue.
Sewage as Energy: Vancouver and Whistler became the first cities in North America to use sewer systems to provide energy and hot water when they decided to create neighbourhood energy-generating plants for their Olympic Villages.
The carbon signature for this method of energy creation is low because most of BC’s power comes from hydroelectric generation. “'In Alberta, [where power would be generated from coal] the carbon signature with that heat pump can be worse than burning natural gas,’ said Mr. Homenuke” [engineer with Kerr Wood Leidal that designed the Whistler system].
Emphasize the Positive
In Recrafting the Green Message, Tyler Caine comments on a lecture by Francis Moore Lappé in which she says that we should stop focusing on society’s environmental shortfalls and start advocating the benefits of sustainability. “So here’s the irony: Much of what gets labeled self-seeking consumerism may actually reflect our deep need for connection with others. The seemingly endless purchasing by some modern humans might not be about “things” at all or the comfort or convenience they bring us. Might the urge – be it for a McMansion or cool new sneakers – really be about relationships, our yearning to enhance our status with others?
“…If there’s truth here, then an effective strategy for calming our mad shopping may not be to scold us as selfish consumers. Might the scorn only diminish further our sense of self – and therefore backfire? If so much more effective would be to foster new, compelling connections in communities of common purpose instead of common purchases–a shift enabling us to feel more secure and powerful.”
EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. A complete listing of all upcoming events can be found on our Calendar.
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