Green Canada Day

Dana Haggarty wants Canadians to show their support for the environment- and displeasure with the federal government's Bill C-38-by adding a splash of green to the typical red and white celebration on Canada Day (July 1st). Haggarty is a marine biologist from Nanaimo who truly cares about the environment, and who expresses her frustration with the federal program cuts, layoffs and amendments to environmental assessment, including the federal Fisheries Act and Canadian Assessment Act- did you know that there will be cuts to a program regarding contaminant research on marine mammals!? This is serious. We need to stand up for the environment-when you allow harm to the environment, you allow harm to its people. Support Dana and her stand for the environment! Wear green on Canada Day!

david Suzuki foundation: 30 x 30 challenge

Take the David Suzuki Foundation 30 x 30 challenge and spend at least 30 minutes outdoors with nature each 30 days of June! Spending time outside is important: physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Nature has a way of installing peace, wonder, imagination, and joy within us. Physically, nature boosts our immunity and keeps us active and moving. With an uprising of obesity, stress and anxiety disorders, depression, low energy levels, and anger, it more important than ever to reconcile our wounded relationship with Mother Earth. Go to http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/book-club/take-the-30x30-challenge/ and take the challenge today. Awesome prizes (besides relishing in nature's beauty) are available!

Cascadia Green Building Council: Living Building Symposium

 

LIVING BUILDING SYMPOSIUM  

Victoria, BC, Canada

Thursday, May 31st 2012

 http://cascadiavi.org/lbs/

"The Vancouver Island Branch of the Cascadia Green Building Council is excited to host the Living Building Symposium on Thursday, May 31st, 2012 at the Victoria Conference Centre. The Symposium will provide an introduction to the different elements of the Living Building Challenge – the world's most stringent building standard. Our speakers, including keynote Jason McLennan, will explore the twenty imperatives of the Living Building Challenge.

Drawing on the perspectives of architects, builders, environmental professionals and health experts, the Living Building Symposium will attempt to demystify the theory and practice of the cutting edge of green building. If you are continuing your professional development or are looking to learn more about the industry and the future of our region, the Living Building Symposium will expand your knowledge base and challenge your imagination.

The Living Building Symposium is intended for industry professionals and citizens alike who are looking to make a positive change in their community. The Vancouver Island Branch of the Cascadia Green Building Council works to promote sustainability in the built environment through advocacy, education and outreach."

In order to make this event as easy and accessible as possible to everyone, we're offering one unified ticket price which allows you to attend the day event, the evening event, or both, depending on your schedule. If you are only able to attend the evening portion, please pick up your nametag by 6:30pm!

12:00 PM - Sign-in and Nametag pickup begins
12:30 PM - Lecture Theatre doors open
1:00 PM - Opening remarks & introductions
1:10 PM - Adapting to the Living Building Challenge - Marsha Gentile
1:50 PM - Break
2:00 PM - Building Ecology through Low Impact Development - Brianne Czypyha
2:40 PM - Break
2:50 PM - Hacking Your Environment for Optimal Health - Dave Asprey
3:30 PM - Break
3:40 PM - Healthy Environments and Living Buildings: The Rammed Earth Process - Keenan Turner & Joss Krayenhoff
4:20 PM - Break
4:30 PM - Net Zero on a Budget: The Okanagan College Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence - Robert Parlane
5:10 PM - Dinner Break - (Note: Dinner is not provided as part of this event)
6:45 PM - Lecture Theatre doors open
7:00 PM - Keynote introduction: Ecodistricts: Bringing it all Together - Richard Iredale
7:30 PM - Keynote address: A Vision of the Future - Jason McLennan
8:30 PM - Book signing with Jason McLennan 

 

The Value of a Tree

Walking in a sanctuary of nature, a pocket of pure biology amidst the parameters of an expanding university, a collection of suburbia, a military training base all paved with tar-littered roads and sidewalks, I breathe in a refreshing dose of infiltrated oxygen. The trees along my path, the Douglas Firs, Red Alders, Arbutuses, and Garry Oak, seemingly embody numerous profound metaphors. I see the trees as my oxygen tank, separate from platonic hospitals I detest, mysterious eyewitnesses into history, a jungle gym, twisted branches guiding arms- a map into uncharted territory, perhaps the voices of my re-incarnated ancestors. I, an avid poet, find limitless inspiration among a preserved forest. I also feel an undeniable serenity and a closer connection to my company. For example, my brother, who is three-years-old, comes alive as interacts with nature. He runs freely, hollers enthusiastically, breathes easy, laughs uncontrollably, and refrains from tantrums and whines to reverently absorb the wonder of a traveling millipede on the forest floor. We explore and discover together; our bond is strengthened like the firm roots of the towering trees.      

However, the natural system of a forest is becoming an unacknowledged novelty. I fear the overpowering dominance of new technology has devoured my and my younger brother’s generation. Youth and children are loosing their connection with nature. What does that mean for our future? Why is it even important to love, cherish, respect, and sustain the forest ecosystem? I honestly do not have an answer that will satisfy my audience of industrialized economists, profit-seeking companies, debt-fearing governments, and technology-glazed young peoples. My argument is based on my passion for the preservation of the esthetic value of nature for future generations. In my defense, I do understand the basic principle that is that trees absorb carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas contributing to devastating anthropogenic climatic change, but then I have the argument of the validity of global warming pressed upon me, as well as the eager economists claiming my nativity: we need the trees to produce goods that will revive our national economy.

This leaves me with pending questions. Are we consuming too much? Do we really need to tear down a natural forest ecosystem to insert another sprawl of pricey condos? Can we, and our economy, survive without the massive inundation of global forests?   

Improvements Impending

Thank-you for visiting my blog! I am in the midst of improvement and would love to hear some ideas!
Thanks and stay green!

School Garden

My final goal for highschool is to establish our community garden, which I have been working on all this year. I have also set up a composting program at my school.

Why is gardening so important? 

Intellectual Benefits

1. Attainment of new skills.

2. Improved vocabulary and communication skills.

3. Aroused sense of curiosity.

4. Increased powers of observation. Leads to improved ability to plan and make decisions. 

5. Vocational and prevocational training.

6. Stimulation of sensory perceptions.

Social Benefits

1. Interaction within the group. The members of a group learn to relate to one another in a

more meaningful way as they work together toward a common goal. They learn to respect the rights of others, to be more cooperative, and to share responsibility. They also have an opportunity to develop leadership qualities. 

Emotional Growth

1. Improved confidence and self esteem.

2. Opportunities to relieve aggressive drives in a socially acceptable manner.

3. Activities that promote interest and enthusiasm for the future.

4. Opportunities for the satisfaction of creative drives.

Physical Benefits

1. Increased outdoor fitness activities. Flower and vegetable gardens as well as landscape

maintenance activities provide many opportunities for exposure to sunlight, fresh air, and

weather conditions.

Climate Change: Its a Fact (Interview with VIU professer Dr. Jeff Lewis)

Dr. Jeff Lewis has been a University College professor of Geography at Vancouver Island University, after receiving his PhD in Climate Modelling at the University of Victoria.  He is a faculty mentor for the Awareness of Climate change through Education and Research (ACER) project, a university based initiative to “promote a greater understanding of the science and social implications of climate change to students and the general public throughout Vancouver Island and coastal BC”. Lewis recently presented “Climate Change: Science and Public Perception”, as part of “The future of climate change: navigating the science in a changing political climate,” a VIU free public symposium on future of climate change. Jeff graciously obliged to be interviewed on the “hot” topic of Global Warming and Climate Change, in honour of Earth Day:

 What inspired you to become involved with spreading awareness about climate change?

I like big-scale, big-picture science and I think it’s incredibly important for not only for our generation, but future generations. I’d say its one of the biggest issues tackling humanity, certainly in the near future.

You are a faculty mentor for the Awareness of Climate change through Education and Research (ACER) project. Can you tell me what the project is about?

ACER is a student initiative, and there are two or three faculty instructors that help the students out, but its really just students themselves that are driving the project. ACER spreads awareness of climate change through education and research. What it is, is university students that go mainly into the high schools, but also other grades, and to the general public and talk about climate change and do demonstrations. Basically trying to raise awareness and answer questions people have about climate change. It’s been going very well. I think to date we’ve talked to over 5000 individuals.

Has the earth’s climate ever changed before?  How so?

Absolutely. The earth’s climate is changing all the time. There have been times where they’ve thought the earth was completely ice and snow for a period of time. And there have been times where it’s been warmer, absolutely. There are a number of different things that cause the earth’s climate to change, and at different time periods, are more important than others. Right now the composition of earth’s atmosphere, and specifically the greenhouse gases, are what’s causing the current climate to change. Most of its caused by people burning fossil fuels.

Will climate change affect different areas of the world equally?

No. One of the challenges of using the term “Global Warming” is that it implies that the whole world would warm at about the same time, and that is pretty far from the truth. With climate change, different regions will heat up faster than others. Lands will heat up faster than oceans, because oceans have a lot of thermal properties that help to stabilize the temperatures, where as land generally heats up and cools down faster. Around the North, in the Arctic and Antarctica, also heats up faster mainly because of powerful feedback. As the snow and ice melts, more sunlight can be absorbed by the darker water or land surface. That will further increase the temperature locally, and causes more warming. We’re already seeing that the Arctic is warming up anywhere from 2-4 times the rate of the rest of the world.

How do you respond to global warming and climate change sceptics who produce arguments such as "Climate's changed before" and "It's just the sun". Is there a consensus in the world that climate change is likely caused by greenhouse gases created by humans?

Part of it is just looking at the science. There are climate scientists all over the world. There is a global government group- the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change- and they review all the latest peer-viewed science and they write a big synthesis report. And the science from that group, as well National Science Academies, more than 95% of all the leading climate scientists are all pointing in the same direction: there’s an overwhelming burden of evidence that shows that the climate is changing, temperature is increasing as well other changes, and that humans are the main cause of that, mainly through burning fossil fuels. So there’s the science side of it, and then there’s just often arguing with specific comments that people have. Absolutely the sun causes the climate to change, at some points it’s more important than other causes of climate change, but right now the main driving force for climate change is changes in our atmosphere, and mainly our greenhouse gas concentrations going up.

Do you think people should be made to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and thus their contribution towards climate change?  Why or why not?

I think that everything possible should be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, absolutely.

What are you doing to reduce your impact on climate change?

Great question. I try educating people a lot, and individually I make conscious decisions not to drive as much as I would otherwise. I attempt to eat a lot less meat. I try to eat local foods. I take public transportation where possible. I essentially just make decisions that have a lower impact on the environment.

Do you have any mentors, or people who inspire you in environmentalism?

David Suzuki has done a fantastic job. Andrew Weaver, as well, from the University of Victoria.

According to you how can youth take action in environment conservation?

I think youths should certainly educate themselves about the issues so that they are not misled. And I’d say a lot a lot of the movement with the social marketing and the technology that is allowing change to happen, the youth are going to be the most comfortable with it. Also at this stage, they have a lot to be lost because it’s their future that’s going to be severely impacted. I mean, we’re seeing climate change now but it’s only going to get worse in the future.

What do you think are some of the most important stories about climate change and/or global warming not being covered by the media?

I’d say the most important story is that along with changing the earth’s temperature, when we put more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the oceans absorb a lot of that carbon dioxide and it causes the ocean to become more acidic. As the oceans become more acidic, a lot of the life-forms of the ocean have shells made of calcium carbonate and will not be able to survive. So we’re looking at a huge impact to our global primary produces. That’s photosynthetic plants that produce oxygen. Our coral reefs around the world are heavily impacted by ocean acidification.

We’re seeing [the effects] now. Temperatures have already increased by half a degree in the last 40 years. We’re seeing that precipitation has changed. We’re seeing the ocean surface acidity has increased by 30%. Climate change is not something just for the future, its happening right now. It will get worse.