Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Just a comment on plugging your ears
With reference to my last post I must say that even in cities it annoys me to see everyone walking around with their ears plugged listening to something from their ipods or talking on the phone. As a cyclist I have to pass pedestrians frequently and a bell often will not do the job of warning them of my approach. Yelling at the pedestrian does work mostly but that does not make me a pleasant companion on the trails. Admittedly, I had a time where I'd go jogging with plugs in my ears but I eventually came to the conclusion that it is much nicer to just listen to nature. Sure, walking around a city and even on some of the river valley trails in Edmonton there is not much nature to hear because the road is right there along the trail or sidewalk. Still, for safety's sake it's no good to pull yourself out of your immediate environment by listening to music while walking, or worse cycling.
Natural disasters & Parks Canada's 100. anniversary
The winter has made its departure even from Edmonton. In fact the last couple of weeks have been sunny and warm (up to 20 degrees C). And it's been so dry that Alberta is fighting its first wave of forest fires. The current extend of the roughly 100 forest fires, a quarter of them out of control, is covering an area equal to the whole area destroyed by fires in the 2010. And the fire season has only started ... The community of Slave Lake, 250 km north Edmonton, will hope to see no more of it since half the town has already been flattened by fires. Meantime Manitoba is being flooded and those who still have dry feet are trying to escape too much water. The USA has seen a huge number of tornadoes; the Mississippi has reached a 500-year-flood level.
I hate to say straight away it's all due to global warming. But no doubt the first months of this year have seen a lot of natural disaster all over the world. At a point where lots of people possibly hate the forces of nature that they have to give in to it's hard to advocate for the protection and conservation of exactly that nature. Mind you, nature has always done its thing, only human beings have never been so numerous and therefore find themselves in nature's way just about anywhere.
Parks Canada is celebrating its 100 anniversary this weekend. But doubts are rising that Parks Canada is not true any more to its original vision of preserving the wonderful landscapes of Canada's national parks. Although visitor numbers in Canada's national parks have remained steady over the last decade, compared to a noticeable decline in US national parks, Parks Canada seems to allow more and more installations in its parks to promote "more fun activities", trying to compete with the virtual worlds that modern gadgets offer. Some of those installations and what comes along with them do in fact threaten some already endangered species even more. People who long to have those installations should find them somewhere else, outside national parks, that's my opinion. If you can't enjoy a hike without blasting music into your ears, stay in the city and walk in the park there. Obviously, Parks Canada raises money through park entrance fees which in the end help to fulfil their duties but honestly, there's no point in wanting to have everybody in for the money's matter. Where people create more damage than good they might as well be kept away. I'm almost glad some of Canada's national parks are pretty much inaccessible, especially for cars.
I hate to say straight away it's all due to global warming. But no doubt the first months of this year have seen a lot of natural disaster all over the world. At a point where lots of people possibly hate the forces of nature that they have to give in to it's hard to advocate for the protection and conservation of exactly that nature. Mind you, nature has always done its thing, only human beings have never been so numerous and therefore find themselves in nature's way just about anywhere.
Parks Canada is celebrating its 100 anniversary this weekend. But doubts are rising that Parks Canada is not true any more to its original vision of preserving the wonderful landscapes of Canada's national parks. Although visitor numbers in Canada's national parks have remained steady over the last decade, compared to a noticeable decline in US national parks, Parks Canada seems to allow more and more installations in its parks to promote "more fun activities", trying to compete with the virtual worlds that modern gadgets offer. Some of those installations and what comes along with them do in fact threaten some already endangered species even more. People who long to have those installations should find them somewhere else, outside national parks, that's my opinion. If you can't enjoy a hike without blasting music into your ears, stay in the city and walk in the park there. Obviously, Parks Canada raises money through park entrance fees which in the end help to fulfil their duties but honestly, there's no point in wanting to have everybody in for the money's matter. Where people create more damage than good they might as well be kept away. I'm almost glad some of Canada's national parks are pretty much inaccessible, especially for cars.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The big oil spill near our back yard
Did you hear about the latest oil spill right here in Alberta? It's the by far biggest oil spill in Alberta in the past 30 years, the second one in the last week alone (yes, it happened last Friday and only got into the news today!!!!), and it happened "within the traditional territory of the Lubicon Cree, who lead a largely subsistence lifestyle within the pristine ecology of northern Alberta's boreal forest." Reading alone the quote I wonder why on Earth is a pipeline in this area?
It's unclear yet how long the clean-up will take. My sarcasm tells me that this is due to the fact that corporations in Canada pay enormous tax rates and it's therefore likely that the culprit oil company has little spare cash to deal with the issue quickly and responsibly! Five days have past and the extend of the incident is unknown - who are you trying to fool?
The suggestion of the David Suzuki Foundation is to get of oil and find alternative energy sources - sorry, but with a strongly oil-addicted leader of this country this seems an overly ambitious suggestion so why don't we keep doing business as usual and ignore what happened while pumping further subsidies into the oil & gas industry. Long live Stephen Harper!
It's unclear yet how long the clean-up will take. My sarcasm tells me that this is due to the fact that corporations in Canada pay enormous tax rates and it's therefore likely that the culprit oil company has little spare cash to deal with the issue quickly and responsibly! Five days have past and the extend of the incident is unknown - who are you trying to fool?
The suggestion of the David Suzuki Foundation is to get of oil and find alternative energy sources - sorry, but with a strongly oil-addicted leader of this country this seems an overly ambitious suggestion so why don't we keep doing business as usual and ignore what happened while pumping further subsidies into the oil & gas industry. Long live Stephen Harper!
Increase in bikes requires change in people's thinking
Montreal (in Quebec!) has Bixi bikes though which have proven to be very popular and will now be offered in Toronto, too. For some reason, the Toronto Bicycle Union thinks that would be great for tourists to go sightseeing. Personally, I don't think any sane tourist will go on a bike ride unless they see a certain number of local cyclists, for me an indicator for how
safe and convenient cycling in this location is.
I do love cycling and I enjoy cycling even in Edmonton, although I mostly cycle in the river valley where I hit no roads. But the comments I hear are surprising, as I would not get those in Europe where walking and cycling is far more wide-spread. Some people just admire me (for being "brave" and fit), others are scared especially about baby's safety in the trailer (what if a car bumps into it? - I know you are poor driver, is that why you freak at the sight of a cyclist on the road?), some people think I'm enduring a lot of hardship living with alternatives to driving a car.Actually, you should feel sorry for yourself for depending on that fossil fuel consuming metal box so much.
An acquaintance reported from her daughter who studies in the Netherlands that she really enjoys it. She can hop on a bike or train and go places so easily. She went to some event by train recently and got all caught up in the festive atmosphere on the train. Surely, that's not going to happen to car drivers stuck in a traffic jam wanting to attend that event.
safe and convenient cycling in this location is.
I do love cycling and I enjoy cycling even in Edmonton, although I mostly cycle in the river valley where I hit no roads. But the comments I hear are surprising, as I would not get those in Europe where walking and cycling is far more wide-spread. Some people just admire me (for being "brave" and fit), others are scared especially about baby's safety in the trailer (what if a car bumps into it? - I know you are poor driver, is that why you freak at the sight of a cyclist on the road?), some people think I'm enduring a lot of hardship living with alternatives to driving a car.Actually, you should feel sorry for yourself for depending on that fossil fuel consuming metal box so much.
An acquaintance reported from her daughter who studies in the Netherlands that she really enjoys it. She can hop on a bike or train and go places so easily. She went to some event by train recently and got all caught up in the festive atmosphere on the train. Surely, that's not going to happen to car drivers stuck in a traffic jam wanting to attend that event.
4.5 years of suffering ahead
I will need a long time to recover from that devastating election on Monday. Still, I dared to look into the paper today, but only the Metro. The first page is sickening already. It reports on Harper's goals for the next term:
— Ongoing cuts to corporate tax rates.
— Ongoing increases to provincial health-care transfers.
— Many more felons behind bars for longer terms, in more prisons.
— An end to the long-gun registry.
— An end to the per-vote taxpayer subsidy of political parties.
— New laws targeting group refugee arrivals by boat.
— Relaxation of rules for the telecom industry and foreign investment.
Reading those goals I wonder what the average Canadian gets out of them - almost nothing!!, unless you are high in the hierarchy of a corporation that will pay even less taxes and stuff the pockets of its high ranking staff even more so. That's why the rich get richer in Canada, and the poor poorer. And where is the environment??? Harper possibly does not even know how to spell this word.
The Metro also did a survey and asked readers how they spent election night. The results are as follows:
- watching Dancing with the stars: 0%
- cheering: 22%
- crying: 22%
- planning my emigration: 55% - There's an idea!!!, as the cousin of my mother-in-law would say.
Yip, I fall into that last category, too. Thank goodness, I have a German passport, already, still, forever. My husband and I have been considering moving to Ontario but it just got the blues really badly and I'm now more inclined to join the French-Canadians. Well, not really, but we ought to live in a NDP riding. Unfortunately, that's not the only requirement since I'm pretty damn demanding when it comes to living where I ought to be happy (not complaining). House with garden, quiet location, close to childcare, grocery store, my husband's and my workplace, near countryside (preferably in walking distance - In Dunedin (NZ), Nelson (NZ), Edinburgh (UK), Malaga (Spain), Cozumel (Mexico) I could walk or cycle right from the town into the countryside, no vehicle required). Close means within walking/cycling distance or on a convenient bus route - think we can find that in Canada? Let me know where! I don't think we get away without a car but we don't want to depend on it.
Here a little joke my husband told me. Justin Trudeau was asked if he would run for the leadership of the Liberal party. He replied he did not know if a cute leader would make a difference. My opinion: Yes, it does. Why would so many women otherwise vote for Layton. Not that he's cute (he's too old to be cute) but he was by far the best looking candidate. Surely, Trudeau would certainly bring a few more votes for the Liberals, no matter the policies (which obviously didn't matter to 40% of Canadians who voted) and kick Harper's visage off the front pages.
— Ongoing cuts to corporate tax rates.
— Ongoing increases to provincial health-care transfers.
— Many more felons behind bars for longer terms, in more prisons.
— An end to the long-gun registry.
— An end to the per-vote taxpayer subsidy of political parties.
— New laws targeting group refugee arrivals by boat.
— Relaxation of rules for the telecom industry and foreign investment.
Reading those goals I wonder what the average Canadian gets out of them - almost nothing!!, unless you are high in the hierarchy of a corporation that will pay even less taxes and stuff the pockets of its high ranking staff even more so. That's why the rich get richer in Canada, and the poor poorer. And where is the environment??? Harper possibly does not even know how to spell this word.
The Metro also did a survey and asked readers how they spent election night. The results are as follows:
- watching Dancing with the stars: 0%
- cheering: 22%
- crying: 22%
- planning my emigration: 55% - There's an idea!!!, as the cousin of my mother-in-law would say.
Yip, I fall into that last category, too. Thank goodness, I have a German passport, already, still, forever. My husband and I have been considering moving to Ontario but it just got the blues really badly and I'm now more inclined to join the French-Canadians. Well, not really, but we ought to live in a NDP riding. Unfortunately, that's not the only requirement since I'm pretty damn demanding when it comes to living where I ought to be happy (not complaining). House with garden, quiet location, close to childcare, grocery store, my husband's and my workplace, near countryside (preferably in walking distance - In Dunedin (NZ), Nelson (NZ), Edinburgh (UK), Malaga (Spain), Cozumel (Mexico) I could walk or cycle right from the town into the countryside, no vehicle required). Close means within walking/cycling distance or on a convenient bus route - think we can find that in Canada? Let me know where! I don't think we get away without a car but we don't want to depend on it.
Here a little joke my husband told me. Justin Trudeau was asked if he would run for the leadership of the Liberal party. He replied he did not know if a cute leader would make a difference. My opinion: Yes, it does. Why would so many women otherwise vote for Layton. Not that he's cute (he's too old to be cute) but he was by far the best looking candidate. Surely, Trudeau would certainly bring a few more votes for the Liberals, no matter the policies (which obviously didn't matter to 40% of Canadians who voted) and kick Harper's visage off the front pages.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Caribous or no caribous
The Big Wild referred in its latest newsletter to two articles that kind of aim for opposite goals - one to protect the caribou, the other one to simply not care about caribou for industry's sake.
The first article from Globe and Mail reports on the newly established Boreal Business Forum that will try to ensure that the 21 member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) take actions towards meeting the goals of the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. The (unfortunately only) three-year-agreement was signed last year and aims to protect much needed habitat for caribou and other species as well as to implement more sustainable wood harvesting practices.
The nine companies that make up the forum are consumers of the FPAC's products. They include newspaper and magazine publishers, office supply retailers, and consumer products companies such as Kimberly-Clark; Lowes, Rona Inc., Office Depot; Axel Springer AG, Time Inc., The Globe and Mail and Hearst Corp.
From the article: The signing of the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement “represented a historic milestone in the environment-forestry debate. But like many agreements, signing is not the end point – it’s the start,” said Yalmaz Siddiqui, director of environmental strategy at Office Depot. “As a business that uses forest products from Canada … we look forward to working with [the signatories] to achieve the desired outcomes of the agreement,” Mr. Siddiqui said.
Let's hope for the best.
Meanwhile in Ontario, the Ministry of Natural Resources, lead by the Honourable Linda Jeffrey, announced plans to exempt all industries from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for most of the caribou habitat in Ontario. This proposal, when enacted, would effectively remove all legal protections under the ESA for caribou. The Ministry is jeopardizing the recovery of caribou in Ontario and failing to uphold its North American-leading Endangered Species Act.
There is nothing Honourable about that intention! First of all there should not be any exemptions to this act because it beats its whole purpose. Second, the North American-leading act makes me roll my eyes. I do not know the act in word and detail but it makes it sound to me that it's kept rather vaguely so to ensure no endangered species gets overly protected. Considering North American recklessness with nature - in the name of progress and economic growth of course - I wonder how hard it can be to be leading in any environmental issue in North America. Yes, I'm sarcastic again. This woman ought to be fired. Ontarians will shriek now that they don't need more unemployment and I wonder if this step of the ministry has something to do with getting certain industries back on track. Quote: Ontario has spent the last three years and significant public resources to create massive exemptions for industry instead of implementing the ESA to protect species and using the tools contained in the Act to assist with industry compliance. The Big Wild was therefore so kind as to pre-write a letter to Linda Jeffrey and you should click and sign it, too, now.
The first article from Globe and Mail reports on the newly established Boreal Business Forum that will try to ensure that the 21 member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) take actions towards meeting the goals of the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. The (unfortunately only) three-year-agreement was signed last year and aims to protect much needed habitat for caribou and other species as well as to implement more sustainable wood harvesting practices.
The nine companies that make up the forum are consumers of the FPAC's products. They include newspaper and magazine publishers, office supply retailers, and consumer products companies such as Kimberly-Clark; Lowes, Rona Inc., Office Depot; Axel Springer AG, Time Inc., The Globe and Mail and Hearst Corp.
From the article: The signing of the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement “represented a historic milestone in the environment-forestry debate. But like many agreements, signing is not the end point – it’s the start,” said Yalmaz Siddiqui, director of environmental strategy at Office Depot. “As a business that uses forest products from Canada … we look forward to working with [the signatories] to achieve the desired outcomes of the agreement,” Mr. Siddiqui said.
Let's hope for the best.
Meanwhile in Ontario, the Ministry of Natural Resources, lead by the Honourable Linda Jeffrey, announced plans to exempt all industries from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for most of the caribou habitat in Ontario. This proposal, when enacted, would effectively remove all legal protections under the ESA for caribou. The Ministry is jeopardizing the recovery of caribou in Ontario and failing to uphold its North American-leading Endangered Species Act.
There is nothing Honourable about that intention! First of all there should not be any exemptions to this act because it beats its whole purpose. Second, the North American-leading act makes me roll my eyes. I do not know the act in word and detail but it makes it sound to me that it's kept rather vaguely so to ensure no endangered species gets overly protected. Considering North American recklessness with nature - in the name of progress and economic growth of course - I wonder how hard it can be to be leading in any environmental issue in North America. Yes, I'm sarcastic again. This woman ought to be fired. Ontarians will shriek now that they don't need more unemployment and I wonder if this step of the ministry has something to do with getting certain industries back on track. Quote: Ontario has spent the last three years and significant public resources to create massive exemptions for industry instead of implementing the ESA to protect species and using the tools contained in the Act to assist with industry compliance. The Big Wild was therefore so kind as to pre-write a letter to Linda Jeffrey and you should click and sign it, too, now.
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