By by Granville Online
| Image: Douglas & McIntyre
|
Published: August 08, 2008
This is the video accompaniment to the book "Flight of the hummingbird," which we reviewed in the Summer issue of Granville.
The parable of a hummingbird that takes small steps toward achieving a big goal has its origins with the Haida people of the Pacific Northwest and the Quechan people of South America. It forms the basis for this slim volume illustrated by Vancouver-based artist Michael Yahgulanaas in his contemporary “Haida manga” comic book style.
Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas produced this short insightful clip highlighting the main character (Dukdukdiya). Animated in the same 'haida manga' style, the animals are displaced after their forest catches fire. Dukdukdiya carries single drops of water to the raging fire, doing what she can herself to fight the flames. Small in length but huge in feeling, this video is only the beginning of the message.
By
Katie Lister
| Image:
TreeHugger |
Published: August 06, 2008
For those of you used to party tricks that involve uncles, ears and nickels, Jessica Ernst has a new one: lighting your tap water on fire. Take a look at this bizarre sequence of photographs here, on TreeHugger.
Now, as we've written (here and here), British Columbia may have nothing to brag about when it comes to water, but Alberta, it seems, is taking it to a whole new level
Jessica lives just east of Calgary, in the village of Rosebud. An environmental consultant for several oil and gas companies, Jessica knows a thing or two about flammable liquids—the conventional kind. Jessica lives near EnCana, one of the leading companies in the recovery of oilsands bitumen. Recently, Jessica had tests done on her well: they revealed high levels of methane, ethane and various other fossil fuels. Really, though, that's just scientist-talk: when your dogs won't drink the water—and you can, you know, light it—not much further testing is necessary.
A provincial report on Jessica's dog-snubbed water concluded that the gas there was occurring naturally and had nothing to do with her neighbours at EnCana. Regardless, Jessica asked Gywn Morgan, the erstwhile CEO of EnCana, to come to Rosebud and check out the gases. She's still waiting for a response to her invitation.
Anyone perform the Bic lighter test on Vancouver's water recently?
By
Granville Online
| Image:
RMarinello |
Published: July 30, 2008
A surprising bit of news this week from the Electric Power Research Institute, via the Canadian Press:
Which draws more juice from the electric grid, a big-screen plasma television or recharging a plug-in hybrid car?
The answer – a plasma television – is what is easing the minds of utility company executives across the U.S. as they plan for what is likely to be a conversion of much of the country's vehicle fleet from gasoline to electricity in the coming years.
Plasma TVs, industry officials say, consume about four times the electricity as recharging a plug-in hybrid. Yet utilities have managed to cope with the increased loads as thousands of new televisions came on line.
So as long as the changeover from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles is somewhat gradual, they should be able to handle it in the same way, Mark Duvall, program manager for electric transportation, power delivery and distribution for the Electric Power Research Institute, said Tuesday.
"We've already added to the grid the equivalent of several years' production of plug-in hybrids," Duvall said at a conference on electric vehicles in San Jose. "The utilities, they stuck with it. They said, 'All right, that's what's happening. This is where the loads are going, and we're going to do this.'"
Automakers, such as General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., are planning to bring rechargeable vehicles to the market as early as 2010. But speakers at the Plug-In 2008 conference say it will take much longer for them to arrive in mass numbers, due in part to a current lack of large-battery manufacturing capacity. Auto and battery companies still are working on the lithium-ion battery technology needed for the cars, and on how to link the battery packs to the vehicles.
Read on...
By
Katie Lister
| Image:
L.I at Flickr |
Published: July 25, 2008
This year, the sexiest male vegetarian in the world is Red Hot Chilli Peppers' front man, Anthony Kiedis, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The 45-year-old singer recently switched to a vegan diet—okay, lifestyle—after learning about worldwide fish depletion.
Kiedis beat out such notable veggies as Paul McCartney, Moby and Prince—in my books, something like a horse beating a geriatric, an ox, and a trike in a speed race. Joaquin Phoenix, though, was also in the running, and I reckon he could convert even the most committed carnivore to the cause.
Worry not, localistas: PETA scoured North America for the "sexiest vegetarian next door" and stumbled upon someone in our own backyard: B.C.’s Chris, a 29-year-old hockey player from Panorama who might just give Joaquin a run for his money. Chris (surname unknown) credits vegetarianism with his rarely feeling sick or tired and, he says, "Knowing that I am saving animals' lives makes me feel more alive every day."
So what do you think of PETA's choices? Got one of your own to submit?
By Katie Lister
| Image: Jupiter |
Published: July 23, 2008
Toilet paper is not something you can skimp on; that’s the bottom line. But you can minimize your eco-footprint by using 100 per cent recycled and chlorine-free toilet paper — no, it’s not recycled from previous toilet paper, just printed paper.
How do you feel about swapping your usual ‘cushy for your tushy’ brand for a more environmentally friendly variety, which may or may not feel like sandpaper? Capers (www.capersmarkets.com) stocks eco-friendly brands such as Seventh Generation and Mainstreet, which is wrapped in paper, not plastic. And Cascades (www.cascades.com) also produces recycled toilet paper.
At the risk of maybe a few paper cuts, you can save numerous trees (one ton of recycled TP spares approximately 17 trees) while accomplishing one of life’s little necessities.
By
Katie Lister
| Image:
Steve Nash Sports Club |
Published: July 23, 2008
The Steve Nash Sports Club on Granville St. is the basketball superstar’s latest initiative in promoting an active lifestyle that doesn’t step on Vancouverites’ green values—too much.
The health haven, which opened in Spring 2007, has bamboo lockers, floors made from recycled car tires and energy efficient lighting and cardio machines. Only one problem: every machine in this $5-million, 38,500-square-foot realm for the ripped comes equipped with its own television set. We can overlook this, perhaps: apparently, Nash’s design green met the standards set by the LEED rating system for commercial interiors.
See, even gym junkies can be green!
By David Jordan
| Image: Granville Online |
Published: July 10, 2008
Thank you, Gordon Campbell.
B.C. grabbed a moment in the world spotlight when Premier Gordon Campbell announced earlier this summer that not only would the province tax away carbon polluters, but it would give each and every citizen $100 to make their own dent in global warming.
Local online journal The Tyee whipped up public interest by spawning a contest to name the most worthy cause: your $100 might go toward conserving natural habitats, researching alternative fuels or supporting rooftop gardens.
But it seems that’s not quite what the premier had in mind. He set an example when he announced that he and his wife Nancy would put the $100 toward a new fridge. Not just any fridge: a super-efficient Energy Star fridge. But a new fridge nonetheless.
Walter and Joanne Worsfold of Kamloops went one better. Not content with a mere kitchen appliance, they lay their money on the line and went for the whole enchilada: a brand new house. With the $100 cheque burning a whole in her pocketbook, Joanne was lured by an advertisement for the 2008 YMCA-YWCA dream home lottery. She took a gamble, and learned on July 9 that she and her husband are proud owners of a dream home in newly subdivided land surrounding Sun Rivers golf course near Kamloops.
Wow! Way to go, Joanne and Walter. That new home will certainly make a big dent in global warming. It has all the green trappings, including geothermal heating, and stamps of approval from Built Green and Power Smart.
But what if we pause for just a moment and think of the alternative. No new fridge. No new home. Rather than perpetually expanding our carbon footprint with overflowing shopping carts, we leave our wallets at home. We look for solutions that don’t involve buying stuff.
The more than $400 million sent out to B.C. residents could have made a difference. It might have helped restore dead ecosystems or preserve natural habitats, like the “spectacular” South Thompson River Valley advertised by developers of the Sun Rivers resort in Kamloops. But no, it went straight to the wallets of every B.C. citizen. And I’m guessing the bulk of the money didn’t go to non-profit groups dedicated to making a measurable impact on climate change. I’m guessing business will be brisk in brand-new, super-efficient beer fridges this summer.
By
John Bucher
| Image:
Treehugger |
Published: July 10, 2008
How sexy is this? (Full-size image here.)
The man: George Clooney, celebrated actor and star of, oh, Ocean's Eleven, Out of Sight, Syriana, and Good Night, and Good Luck. A couple of more probably, too; those are just off the top of my head.
The machine: A Tango, a two-person electric car and celebrated star of this webpage, which is devoted to its virtues. Take a look.
According to Treehugger, Mr. Clooney is driving the Tango until he can get his hands on a Tesla Roadster, which, in addition to looking vaguely like a Lotus Elise, can accelerate from zero to sixty in 3.9. In other words, about as long as it takes you to take a sip of coffee.
The polls are now open. Leave your comments below.
By Granville Online
| Image: Jupiter |
Published: June 23, 2008
From the desk of the BC Sustainable Energy Association:
At the end of June, every adult in British Columbia will receive a $100 cheque in the mail from the government, and every child will receive $30. "What's this?" you might think.
It's your personal Climate Action Dividend, part of BC's new Carbon Tax that kicks in on July 1st.
Here are 30 ideas that can help you to reduce your carbon footprint – and the amount of carbon tax you pay. If you don't live in BC - well, this may still be of interest!
In Your Home
1. An ecoENERGY home assessment, that will give you a list of energy upgrades that will make your home more efficient, and access to various grants from ecoENERGY and LiveSmartBC. ($150)
2. 30 compact fluorescent light bulbs. (Phillips are the best.) ($100)
3. 3 new LED light bulbs. ($108)
4. Programmable thermostats for your 2 or 3 of your most commonly used heating zones. ($100)
5. $100 of weather-stripping, caulking, and window film, to reduce heat-leaks in your home.
6. A Kill-A-Watt meter that will show you how much energy each of your appliances is using. ($30)
7. A Smart Strip Power Bar that you can use to control your stand-by power. ($30)
8. A low flow showerhead, that will save water and power. ($12)
9. A 20-foot retractable clothesline for your backyard. ($15)
10. An Eco-Fan for your woodstove, that will spread the heat around. ($150)
Travelling
11. A month’s bus pass. ($42 to $99)
12. A used bicycle to enjoy the summer ($100), or a bike a tune up ($50).
13. New bike lights, gear, and a new helmet, for safer riding. ($100)
14. A cycling commuting skills course, to make you a safer cyclist. ($100)
15. Put it towards buying an electric bike. ($700 to $1600)
16. For your car, pool your money to buy a Scan Gauge, that will give you a real-time fuel consumption read-out which you can use to train yourself to do “eco-driving”, and use 10%-15% less fuel, saving up to $250 a year. ($160)
17. A pack of 4 LED tire pressure indicator lights which you can use to use up to 3.3% less fuel by keeping your tires properly inflated, saving up to $50 a year. ($34.95)
18. Membership in the Victoria Car Share Cooperative or Vancouver’s Cooperative Auto-Network. ($400 - $500)
19. A good camera/microphone for your computer, so that you can substitute web conferencing instead of travelling.
20. A new pair of running shoes, to encourage you to hit the trails. The more fit you are, the further you can cycle and walk.
In Your Kitchen & Garden
21. A good vegetarian or vegan cookbook.
22. $100 of local organic food for a celebratory organic feast for your friends.
23. $100 of seeds, tools, and compost that you can use to start an organic garden, using simple Lasagna Gardening.
24. $100 of organic food delivered by Small Potatoes Urban Delivery, grown as locally as possible.
25. $100 worth of organic food to accompany a free a Vegetarian Starter Kit.
For the Next Climate Emergency
26. A St. John Ambulance Emergency Ready Kit, to help you survive the climate change related storms and power outages ($59.95) and a Ready Meal Kit ($44.95)
27. A Freeplay Solar Wind-up Radio ($59) and LED Wind-up Flashlight ($32).
Carbon Reducing Offsets and Gifts
28. Spend it on good carbon offsets. $100 donated to the Solar Electric Light Fund will offset 10 tonnes of CO2 by helping villagers in Nigeria to use solar lighting, instead of kerosene. $100 donated to Quest Outreach will ensure that $1200 worth of wasted food is used to feed people, putting its embodied carbon to good use in someone’s stomach and stopping it from releasing methane in a landfill.
29. Give it to an environmental organization that is working to tackle global warming or save BC’s forests, such as the David Suzuki Foundation, the BC Sustainable Energy Association, the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, the Sierra Club of BC, or The Land Conservancy.
30. Give it to one of the 50 “Green Your Campbell Cash” carbon-saving projects that are being proposed on The Tyee’s website.
If you found these suggestions inspiring, why not put your Dividend towards purchasing a membership in the BC Sustainable Energy Association?
