EcoSask News, March 31, 2020

“The life of ecosystems is based on the relationships between their constituent elements. It is this characteristic of interdependence which makes the equilibrium of these relationships fragile, and requires that ‘every living being, human or not, make space for the others – who we need to survive – so that they too may flourish.’” (Andreas Weber)

Local News
Martin Boucher will host a discussion of Covid 19 and the energy transition at an online breakfast meeting of the Saskatchewan Energy Management Task Force on Apr. 1.

Erin Bayne will discuss how many birds we kill, directly or indirectly, in a noon-hour webinar on Apr. 2.

Want to learn more about the SES Solar Co-operative and its newest, largest venture? Check out a video of the March 26 online information meeting.

Online Resources
Enjoy live birds and children’s stories in a Facebook Live event every Tuesday at 11 am hosted by The Raptor Centre.

Sask Parks has launched a new online program at 10 am, Mondays, with questions, activities, outdoor ideas, or recipes to enjoy with your family.

Fridays For Future is posting weekly webinars. The first one is with Naomi Klein and Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum.

A half-hour digital lesson on what makes beavers so special from Ben Goldfarb, author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter.

The Covid Conundrum
Effective stimulus to address both economic and climate emergencies will be timely, targeted, and temporary.

How can we design longer-term funding packages to help the oil and gas industry make a transition?

“Before this crisis, we took our parks for granted. . . . Now it turns out we need our parks like we need food: for basic survival. When the virus passes — and it will — let’s remember it was our parks that enabled us to endure this crisis.”

“We are a part of the biosphere and as we blunder into ecosystems we must be mindful of the greater systems that we are all a part of. A tweak to one part of the network can have far reaching consequences (good or bad) for us all.”

Serious Stuff
Can electric tractors overtake diesel?

“Next-generation solar modules offer a lot of potential but might be more toxic than we expect.”

87-350 million birds are killed by vehicles each year in the US, even when the birds obey the speed limit.

Curious?
Your nose is the best biosensor on the face of the earth.

Did all plant life evolve from algae 5 times older than the oldest dinosaur?

“In Ethiopian orthodox teaching, a church – to be a church – should be enveloped by a forest.” [short video]

Understanding cells’ rhythms – from circadian clocks to precisely dividing into two daughter cells. [short, colourful video]

Just for Fun
“Every day, members of the Cloud Appreciation Society publish images of clouds from the four corners of the world.”

Salisbury Cathedral: a 5-star hotel for peregrine falcons.

Bringing the outdoors inside – the best nature documentaries on television now.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

EcoSask News, March 17, 2020

“We need to turn to Mama Nature for shelter and peace. . . . What can we find there? Look to the sky...it is spring after all. Look for newly arrived birds. Look for new budding plants. Look for the tiny insect life. . . . Feel the breeze, sniff the air, feel the smooth bark of a sapling, the rough bark of mature trees.” (Dr. Joseph Conrad via Elva’s Field Notes)

Upcoming Events
Due to Covid-19, many events are being cancelled. To avoid confusion, we have removed all events from our Calendar for March and will continue to monitor the situation. Check directly with organizations to see what events they’re continuing to hold.

A great resource at this time are the nature/environmental radio programs in Regina and Saskatoon. You can catch past episodes of The Prairie Naturalist or listen to From the Ground Up (6:30-7 pm, Thursdays).

Another excellent resource is the Native Prairie Speaker Series. You can find past episodes on SK PCAP’s YouTube channel.

In Saskatchewan
Youth in Regina have just released a report: Youth Perspectives on Regina’s Energy Future. You can lend your support to the youth’s sustainability recommendations by writing to Regina City Council.

Plans are underway for the SES Solar Co-op’s seventh and largest project. The Solar Co-op has partnered with CNH Industrial for the installation of approximately 375 kilowatts or 1200 solar panels on their property in Saskatoon. A limited number of shares are now available.

From Information to Action
“Yard lists remain an understated and unsung birding pleasure” – and they’re perfect for a period of social distancing.

“The recovery of bald eagles is one of the most incredible conservation success stories ever told . . . . Solving that issue – far more complex than it first appears – can still provide a map to dealing with our biggest crises.”

Miistakis Institute, in collaboration with the City of Edmonton, has published a series of resources and case studies on using ecoroofs in cities to improve stormwater management, regulate building temperatures, reduce urban heat island effects, improve air quality, and increase urban wildlife habitat and biodiversity.

“Stone,” says architect Amin Taha, “is the great forgotten material of our time. In 99% of cases, it’s cheaper and greener to use stone in a structural way, as opposed to concrete or steel.”

If you are planning to start a Library of Things, using the existing infrastructure of a local library can help you save time and money.

Keystone species fill a critical role in their environment that cannot be occupied by any other species.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).