I copied below the header of a recent email I received and a link to the article in the Edmonton Journal. In Alberta they just don't get it that it is not of public interest to have water issues dealt with by energy industry leaders! Environmental matters are getting neglected more and more every time there's change in who gets to deal with it. How dare they?
Dear supporters of Our Water Is Not For Sale,
Research into water is critically important to our collective future, yet this research is being compromised and controlled by corporate interests.
The article below, printed in the Edmonton Journal last week, addresses the changes with the Alberta Water Research Institute, whose work will now be directed by a board with energy industry priorities. The board is chaired by a former Syncrude CEO, and includes a former vice president for Petro-Canada, a senior director with Agrium, a former CEO for Nexen, and a senior vice president for Capital Power.
This move further indicates the corporate hold on water and the steps the corporate sector is taking to control a substance that is vital to all life. We continue to be concerned by the push towards water markets in our province, and protecting the public interest requires research that is not dominated by corporate interests.
Please help us spread the word! Share this article with anyone who might share your concern. Thank you for your continued support to Our Water Is Not For Sale!
Read the full article below, or click here to read it on the Edmonton Journal website.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Culture Shock continued
I suppose I should say a few more things about our little farm adventure. Sure, we did not mind to have our running water back at home, and internet. I think one would get used to cooking on the wood burner, heating water this way, and cooking and baking without electrical appliances (blender, coffee machine etc.). The reason they don't need a fridge is that the first room when you enter the house lies a foot lower than the rest of the house and is tiled. So even with the wood burner going in the same room, the tiles stay cold and keep the food fresh. That's so simple. Compare that to our apartment desgined to keep all rooms equally hot and we need a fridge to cool our food. What a waste of energy.
I was wondering why they have not hooked up the well, 15 m from the house, to the house, or why they put in a water toilet instead of a compost toilet, why they don't have a black water container outside to heat water, or a wind turbine for a bit of electricity. Maybe one day. They for example know about the Earthships and want to go see them to figure out what would fit into their farm. They also consider a "treadmill" that would pump the water and gently exercise the horses (http://www.treadmill-horsepower.com/ and http://www.alphaag.net/HorseTreadmills/tabid/127/language/en-US/Default.aspx. )
Actually, I thought every single person should live for a week in our friends' conditions. Imagine carrying all the water you need - those 300 something litres that a Canadian wastes - to where you need it e.g. toilet, shower, kitchen. I bet you every single person would very quickly use a lot less. Since both of our friends are teachers they started taking school classes on a once 12 day, now 8-day-trip to Southern Alberta. Each child is given a certain amount of money per day to shop for food and prepare it. They go visit places, hike, explore nature, camp, learn about history, animals, plants etc, and learn to look after themselves including that bit of financial literacy. It seems that most parents are not capable of doing that. I bet you this kids have all a great time.
Really, human beings are flexible and capable of easily changing their behaviour. We are able to adapt but we also have stubborn minds that might be prevent us from doing exactly that, including adopting a more environmentally friendly life style.
I was wondering why they have not hooked up the well, 15 m from the house, to the house, or why they put in a water toilet instead of a compost toilet, why they don't have a black water container outside to heat water, or a wind turbine for a bit of electricity. Maybe one day. They for example know about the Earthships and want to go see them to figure out what would fit into their farm. They also consider a "treadmill" that would pump the water and gently exercise the horses (http://www.treadmill-horsepower.com/ and http://www.alphaag.net/HorseTreadmills/tabid/127/language/en-US/Default.aspx. )
Actually, I thought every single person should live for a week in our friends' conditions. Imagine carrying all the water you need - those 300 something litres that a Canadian wastes - to where you need it e.g. toilet, shower, kitchen. I bet you every single person would very quickly use a lot less. Since both of our friends are teachers they started taking school classes on a once 12 day, now 8-day-trip to Southern Alberta. Each child is given a certain amount of money per day to shop for food and prepare it. They go visit places, hike, explore nature, camp, learn about history, animals, plants etc, and learn to look after themselves including that bit of financial literacy. It seems that most parents are not capable of doing that. I bet you this kids have all a great time.
Really, human beings are flexible and capable of easily changing their behaviour. We are able to adapt but we also have stubborn minds that might be prevent us from doing exactly that, including adopting a more environmentally friendly life style.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Culture shock
Easter is over when you consider that my husband has the pleasure to work on Easter Monday. Never mind. We spent the last 2.5 days in rural Alberta with a farmer (he's over 70) and his partner (50 something). We also got to know half the family, they have a total of 6 children and several grandchildren. They have built the farm all by themselves, started out 10 years ago. The house is an insulated! joint-venture of two wide trailers and very cosy. There are no doors to any rooms - just has not been a priority. The sheds and barns are self-built of wood. The fences are wood as well as wire (for the cattle & chickens). Between all the family members they own 27 horses for riding and driving. They regularly go on trails into the Rockies, camping out for days. For them it's fun, not roughing it, especially since they don't have running water, cook and heat with a wood oven/ stove, and use electricity scarcely because it comes from a battery that they have to recharge in the nearest village, 11 km away. So no fridge. They have a well near the house and pump water up as much as needed, fill it into a variety of containers and carry it to where ever it is needed. They do drive cars. They also have cattle, sheep, goats, chickens and ducks, and a dog of course. That provides them with meat, eggs and milk. The meat from slaughtering is kept frozen in a freezer in the village (friend's farm?). Besides they have a garden from which they preserve lots of the produce for winter (carrots, beans, potatoes, beets, ...) Especially in winter they still need to go to the supermarket but are not as dependent as city-dwellers are.
They love their life (style). Both teachers, they are well educated. They have a great interest in alternative building options, healthy food, the environment, and he's an expert on the failures of current government systems but that's a different story. When we talked to each other it turned out we'd seen the same documentary's or read the same books/authors (The world of Monsanto, Food Inc., Michael Pollan etc). They plan on putting up solar panels on their house. I was actually surprised they don't have a compost toilet. But the farm is a work in progress and will always be. They take it one step at a time, invest what they can afford without taking a mortgage and enjoy. I'm sure they enjoy their life much more than most people who have all the amenities and gadgets they desire (think they "need"). We had a great time. It was an experience. Getting up with the animals out the window, no city noise, no city smell, actually fresh air. Unfortunately it's no all that glamorous. They regularly have problems with city idiots coming out on 4WD and Ski-doos, ignoring private property, breaking fences, destroying trails, causing noise and even stealing from private property! The local paper listed the crimes of the week and you just knew that those were not committed by farmers stealing from their neighbours - why would they, they all know each other and they help each other. The rural people feel a bit helpless. They don't drive into the city to scavenge in people's front and back yards and take home what they please. They can't do much against the motorised rowdies in the countryside but have the damage.
I think lots of city people are so ruthless because they don't respect nature, take it for granted to get their joy out of it when desired and don't care about damage since they don't have to deal with it , they don't see how they depend on the land. I have just started reading this book that the farmer gave me: Last child in the woods, Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. The intro alone is great but I'll write about it later.
Before I forget. The culture shock is being back in Edmonton with the noise, smell and garbage that we did not miss out on the farm.
They love their life (style). Both teachers, they are well educated. They have a great interest in alternative building options, healthy food, the environment, and he's an expert on the failures of current government systems but that's a different story. When we talked to each other it turned out we'd seen the same documentary's or read the same books/authors (The world of Monsanto, Food Inc., Michael Pollan etc). They plan on putting up solar panels on their house. I was actually surprised they don't have a compost toilet. But the farm is a work in progress and will always be. They take it one step at a time, invest what they can afford without taking a mortgage and enjoy. I'm sure they enjoy their life much more than most people who have all the amenities and gadgets they desire (think they "need"). We had a great time. It was an experience. Getting up with the animals out the window, no city noise, no city smell, actually fresh air. Unfortunately it's no all that glamorous. They regularly have problems with city idiots coming out on 4WD and Ski-doos, ignoring private property, breaking fences, destroying trails, causing noise and even stealing from private property! The local paper listed the crimes of the week and you just knew that those were not committed by farmers stealing from their neighbours - why would they, they all know each other and they help each other. The rural people feel a bit helpless. They don't drive into the city to scavenge in people's front and back yards and take home what they please. They can't do much against the motorised rowdies in the countryside but have the damage.
I think lots of city people are so ruthless because they don't respect nature, take it for granted to get their joy out of it when desired and don't care about damage since they don't have to deal with it , they don't see how they depend on the land. I have just started reading this book that the farmer gave me: Last child in the woods, Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. The intro alone is great but I'll write about it later.
Before I forget. The culture shock is being back in Edmonton with the noise, smell and garbage that we did not miss out on the farm.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Canada's biggest parties and their goals for the environment
.. if they get elected that is. CPAWS together with a bunch of other environmental organisations went to ask the 5 major parties to answer a few questions about greenhouse gas emissions, protecting public water sources, public transit, oil sands, chemicals in every day products and more. Follow the link to read the answers. Guess what, the blue party (Conservatives, for all Non- Canadians) did not reply at all! Do I dare to say it?: Don't you dare voting for them!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
On the bike now
We got a second second-hand bicycle today. That means we can go on bike trips together now! My better half started cycling to work this week but it lasted only two days until winter returned. We really hope it's been the last snow for this winter. Last year at this time we had a BBQ outside without jackets on. Anyway, we took our first bike ride today and baby is fine in the trailer being pulled along. The hills in and out the river valley will be a little pain but hopefully the muscles grow quickly. The river valley is still the best way to get around by foot or bike, although somewhat limited in where one can go. Cycling on the road with the worst drivers of all of Canada on the wheels is still a bit of a scary thought but we'll get around it some day soon and fingers crossed it does not turn out suicidal. It just confirms to me why I want to move to a smaller city - hopefully safer, hopefully more cyclist, hopefully more sensible drivers (that's probably a challenge).
Checking out the Edmonton bike map today also made me realize how few designated bike lanes there are actually outside of the river valley. It's terrible. I'm also waiting for the building management to complain about where we lock the bikes up outside. These people with their stupid "strict rules" are even more terrible. We live in a "family building" with no provisions for strollers and bikes. Assuming we are all driving a car because there's one parking spot for each apartment and that's what one does here. Still getting stupid looks when I mention we don't have a car. Wonder why I don't like the people here?
Checking out the Edmonton bike map today also made me realize how few designated bike lanes there are actually outside of the river valley. It's terrible. I'm also waiting for the building management to complain about where we lock the bikes up outside. These people with their stupid "strict rules" are even more terrible. We live in a "family building" with no provisions for strollers and bikes. Assuming we are all driving a car because there's one parking spot for each apartment and that's what one does here. Still getting stupid looks when I mention we don't have a car. Wonder why I don't like the people here?
Friday, April 15, 2011
More bits and pieces
Winter made a return yesterday and dumped at least 10 cm of wet, sticky snow on the ground. Big sigh. I went to meet a friend and our good old stroller, the one we had right from the beginning, lost a wheel. It simply broke off after it got all covered in gooey, dirty snow, stopped rolling and I gave it a little kick. I thought about taking it home because there's a big items garbage bin outside at the moment. The apartment complex is having "spring" clean-up. I did not though because a closer look revealed that we would not be able to fix the wheel. So I left the stroller at a public garbage bin as I was now loaded with baby, diaper bag, blankets and too much clothing. My friend said, 'you do so much for the environment, you are allowed to do that for once.' Did I write a while ago about how convenient excuses are? Anyway, I hope the city disposes of the stroller properly when they empty the garbage bins.
Now that I got rid of the big plastic stroller I invested into a small plastic kitchen scale. That's coincidence, not intention. German recipes are in grams and it can be really difficult to convert different ingredients into cups so I finally gave in for the Easter baking. First I was told at the store that they are not selling scales any longer which left me in disbelief. Shortly after the clerk found three leftovers though, two with battery, LSD display and glass plates and one ordinary one with a scale that can be fine-tuned with wheel on the side, a bowl on top and increments of 25g. I took the latter one. Measuring flour on a glass plate seemed inconvenient so did the requirement of batteries. Batteries are a pain, to buy and especially to recycle. I have my dead laptop battery and other smaller batteries still in my kitchen. They have been there for many months. Now we live near an Eco-Station (Edmonton has 3) and since recently they are even open until late (6 PM) so I will send my husband around to drop the batteries off. Of course the Eco-Station is "conveniently" located in an industrial area but luckily it's the one my husband works in now and he cycles almost past there. Living local made easy (that's sarcasm).
My friend told me she had once found a blog where a woman was writing of her efforts to get rid of plastic in her life. I will search for it but if you have heard of that blog let me know please.
Did I mention that my husband has used handkerchiefs for quite a while now, that I don't use toilet paper any more at home, that I wash baby's diapers sometimes without detergent which makes them come out softer, that we signed up for wind energy, that I started using the Diva cup so no more of these wasteful tampons and pads and ... let me think about it.
My little contribution to the elections, just in case you have not made up your mind yet. You might have been at this site already since it has become very popular and oh yes it's good. S*** Harper did It's got comments on his environmental "achievements" in it, too.
Now that I got rid of the big plastic stroller I invested into a small plastic kitchen scale. That's coincidence, not intention. German recipes are in grams and it can be really difficult to convert different ingredients into cups so I finally gave in for the Easter baking. First I was told at the store that they are not selling scales any longer which left me in disbelief. Shortly after the clerk found three leftovers though, two with battery, LSD display and glass plates and one ordinary one with a scale that can be fine-tuned with wheel on the side, a bowl on top and increments of 25g. I took the latter one. Measuring flour on a glass plate seemed inconvenient so did the requirement of batteries. Batteries are a pain, to buy and especially to recycle. I have my dead laptop battery and other smaller batteries still in my kitchen. They have been there for many months. Now we live near an Eco-Station (Edmonton has 3) and since recently they are even open until late (6 PM) so I will send my husband around to drop the batteries off. Of course the Eco-Station is "conveniently" located in an industrial area but luckily it's the one my husband works in now and he cycles almost past there. Living local made easy (that's sarcasm).
My friend told me she had once found a blog where a woman was writing of her efforts to get rid of plastic in her life. I will search for it but if you have heard of that blog let me know please.
Did I mention that my husband has used handkerchiefs for quite a while now, that I don't use toilet paper any more at home, that I wash baby's diapers sometimes without detergent which makes them come out softer, that we signed up for wind energy, that I started using the Diva cup so no more of these wasteful tampons and pads and ... let me think about it.
My little contribution to the elections, just in case you have not made up your mind yet. You might have been at this site already since it has become very popular and oh yes it's good. S*** Harper did It's got comments on his environmental "achievements" in it, too.
Oil & gas spills happen "all the time"
Now it's official, after most of us have probably long guessed it. Americans are so addicted to oil that they knowingly put their natural environment at risk, at huge risks and don't give a s***. Yes, things often go terribly wrong but nobody blinks an eye because it has become business as usual. One could think the attitude is: Keep the cars rolling, keep the industry polluting, and hopefully the worst hits after me. (Might be helpful if you are of old age already).
Oil & gas spills happen "all the time"
Oil & gas spills happen "all the time"
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