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Gregor Robertson has decided to run for Mayor of Vancouver in the 08 civic election. This would be the best thing that could happen to Vancouver. I want to see Vancouver become one of the most sustainable, livable and vibrant cities on the planet. I believe we can develop a local economy that values well being and a society that takes care to make sure all its citizens are given full opportunity to create a better future for themselves. We need a government that is committed to transparency and community engagement. Gregor is all of this and much more. Check out his websites: Gregor for Mayor, Gregor - MLA Vancouver Fairview and join his Facebook Group.

Sharif came and spoke in my social justice class in January. He articulated a vision of a world that works for all with the profound clarity of someone who has weathered many wars and come out wiser and committed to a higher path based on inclusivity and understanding.

You can see him on Quantum Shift here:

1. Catalyzing a Common Society with Sharif Abdullah (part 1)
2. Catalyzing a Common Society with Sharif Abdullah (part 2)
3. Catalyzing a Common Society with Sharif Abdullah (part 3)
4. Catalyzing a Common Society with Sharif Abdullah (part 4)

Currently, Canadians are being presented with one of the most exceptional conservation opportunities in our history. The BC and federal governments have agreed to undertake a Feasibility Study for a potential national park to protect the desert, grasslands, and Ponderosa pine ecosystems of the South Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys in southern British Columbia. The local residents and the millions of Canadians who’ve visited the area know it is perhaps the most beautiful region of the country. Whether the national park becomes a reality - or a lost opportunity - depends on YOUR input and the input of all Canadians.

Sign the petition here.

Feeling a little down on the state of the environment, pissed off about social justice or global poverty?

Spend a little time watching videos from the recent Pop!Tech conference.

I have been feeling increasingly conflicted about contributing a significant portion my life’s energy to building the status quo. Our consumerist society is destroying the planet on which everything else is based and I’m helping it by making it easier for people to buy anything and everything online. I used to think ecommerce was a rather benign industry as we are not causing direct harm with the products and services that we produce. I was able to defend the belief by limiting my world view and denying the reality that our business model depends on growth and consumption. Elastic Path is thriving because we are riding the endlessly upward trend of economic growth. Can this growth continue unchecked? How long can it go before we start running into the limits of what nature can provide?

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I’m part way through a lecture called Navigate the Falling Dollar and I had to stop to post the link to it. It’s an incredibly well articulated lecture by Catherine Austin Fitts, an investment banker who seems to have a substantial grasp about what is happening economically right now.

BC Hydro has a Green Power program available to businesses within British Columbia. From their website:

“Power Smart Green Power Certificates (GPCs) are a simple, practical way for your organization to ensure that your electricity use is environmentally friendly.

BC Hydro has purchased Green Power, at a premium, to supply the GPC program. The more GPCs that are purchased by B.C. organizations, the more Green Power BC Hydro can continue to buy, to add to the grid, which will protect the environment for all British Columbians.”

This is awesome that BC Hydro offers this option to business but I would to see it opened up to residents so we all have a choice where our power comes from.

Louise Graham is the contact person at BC Hydro for this program and her response to my request was:

Thank you for enquiring about BC Hydro Green Power Certificates (GPCs). At present, GPCs are only available to business customers. A residential offer is under review. I can add your name on the contact list to advise you of new developments.

Can all residents of BC who would like to see Green Power offered to residents send Louise an email: louise[DOT]graham[AT]bchydro[DOT]com and ask when BC Hydro will be offering Green Power to residents.

References

• http://www.bchydro.com/business/gpcerts/gpcerts3621.html

[tags]Green Power, BC Hydro, Global Warming[/tags]

I just finished a week long vacation with my dad. I wanted to keep the footprint of my holiday as small as possible without limiting myself to sitting at home with the heat and lights off, reading by candle light under a pile of blankets. My dad made the three day journey from Ontario with VIA Rail to join me for some almost carbon neutral fun.

Successes

1. The train trip was less carbon intensive that air travel. (approx 0.6 tonnes vs 0.8 tonnes)
2. We only made four car trips, including the taxi to and from the train station.
3. We made numerous trips to Home Depot with Bob trailers to fetch odds and ends (including concrete blocks & a shop trolley!) for the house and garden.
4. We made it up to Grouse Mountain to go skiing and boarding using public transit alone (see pics below).
5. We built the cedar fence I had been hoping to create for the last year from locally harvested wood.
6. We assembled the fence using the Stil electric chainsaw (no smelly 2 stroke engine) Lisa got me for Christmas.



7. I found 7 of the 10 concrete blocks I needed for the fence in the blackberry bushes accross the street. Free and recycled!
8. I learned how to get around the lower mainland via transit much more efficiently.
9. Lisa tested and purchased a new three wheel recumbant for our almost carbon neutral honeymoon bike tour of BC.
10. We turned all compost into the garden, planted peas, lettuce and spinach.



11. I offset 2 tonnes of CO₂ with offsetters.ca for $40 CDN

Failures

1. We made four car trips, I had hoped for zero.
2. It’s really difficult to not make any garbage when you take a holiday to fix everything around the house and garden.

Photo journey to Grouse Mountain using Public Transit

Total trip time each was about 2 hours each way. Take the #50, to sea bus, to #136 to Grouse Mountain gondala.

Chris with our gear trolley

Chris on 50 bus to Waterfront Station

Chris & I on the Seabus

Chris on the Gondola Skyride up to Grouse

Broken Wheelchair Lift on the Bus on the way Home.

[tags]Carbon Neutral Vacation[/tags]

Make yourself some local, organic popcorn and cozy up with your favourite eco-geek. Here is a great video lecture by Carol Sanford at MIT on creating a regenerative economy: http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/420/.

It’s inspiring to see such visionary leadership demostrated in one of the world’s most prestegious schools in the world. The rate and enormity of evironmental degradation underway necessitates an enormous leap in evolution in all that we do if we are to avert devastaion. This rapid evolution must be led by business and governments alike if we are to realize sustainability on a scale vast enough to reverse the trajectory of the discordant civilization we have created. Carol presents the vision of where we need to go in concise business lingo.