Environment

“We have two silos,” says meteorologist, broadcaster and author Richard Zurawski. “Scientists communicate with scientists and assume society is interested, when really they view science as unimportant or esoteric.” The other silo is the media, “skewed by ratings wars.” Zurawski says its inability to deal with science is the worst it’s been in decades: “Reporters […]

The recycled plastics market “used to be so bad everything was going to China,” Ken Donnelly says. Donnelly specializes in large-scale public participation in environmental initiatives, and was involved in the creation of Halifax’s much-lauded solid waste program. It’s a strange phenomenon he describes, the lack of markets for recycled plastics. Much of our plastics […]

After two years of planning and waiting, this north end community greenhouse is finally beginning to blossom. Saturday afternoon marks the launch of the joint project between Imagine Bloomfield and its friendly neighbours the Ecology Action Centre that’ll open up the floodgates for urban gardening aplenty in a very active neck of the woods. Thanks […]

The ding-dongs ruling this shitshow are pushing for another free trade agreement—the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the European Union and Canada. Think the World Trade Organization, its General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the dozen or so free trade operational agreements covering the globe are related to that global economic hiccup that […]

Since NewPage announced it was closing its Nova Scotia operation, the province has scrambled to stash money on that sinking ship. Now premier Dexter has announced $15 million to keep 300 people cutting wood for a closed paper mill. Our energy sector runs on an equally archaic and sadistic model: an enforced private sector monopoly. […]

In the wake of Jack Layton’s death, our harmful obsession with individualism and saviours can be our undoing. How will the NDP move on from the loss of their charismatic leader?” the pundits ask. “Who will speak for the underdog? The environment?” I’m not worried. No more than usual. I’m sad, mind you. I met […]

Headlines don’t scream about it, but it’s a significant force in determining our fate. It’s the asexual, non-violent, uncelebrated five-year review of the Nova Scotia Environment Act. Let’s dance! Yes, it’s a standard bureaucratic operation, legislated within the act itself, but the current review illuminates some problems with attempting to legislate sustainability in a madly […]

Hydraulic fracturing—or fracking—is the latest example of making things worse in the name of saving the humans, and it looks to have a date with Nova Scotia. Just before Christmas, the department of energy announced it was taking bids on oil and gas exploration on the north shore. The province currently holds six inshore natural […]

Councillor Jennifer Watts (Connaught-Quinpool) says the planning efforts to widen Bayers Road go back to 1994. “Things have changed since then, so does [widening roads] reflect the reality today?” she asks. “Construction costing is based on oil-based products and the numbers are unbelievable—$292 million for the construction costs alone, from the actual Stanec study, for […]

In an age of self-made screen-addicted pundits, in which the winner is the one most heard/followed/friended, David McLearn is a rare breed. He doesn’t have an email account. He doesn’t self-promote. He doesn’t talk much. And he’s pretty soft-spoken when he does. But, his laughter could fill any space, even the wide outdoors where he […]

In 1971 in Gopeshwar, India (part of the Himalayan region), in the wake of devastating floods caused by deforestation, the area’s women had had it. The Chipko (“to embrace”) movement was born. Women surrounded trees and held tight. It was Vandana Shiva’s first social-justice fight. She’s now one of the world’s most revered, and effective, […]