Environment

The shocker in Rodney MacDonald’s recent cabinet shuffle is the replacement of environment minister Mark Parent with veteran David Morse, who leaves natural resources. It’s a sign of an urgent environmental crisis that Morse considers this a promotion. As Ecology Action Centre director Mark Butler puts it: “Ten years ago, that’s a demotion.” After a […]

The horses at the halifax Junior Bengal Lancers on Bell Road have been coughing for five years, but only now are doctors and management zeroing in on a solution. Jill Barker, stable manager for the Lancers, declined to comment in depth. “There really is no story—we’re not moving them, they’re being treated and we’re dealing […]

There are secrets to greening Halifax in the coastal barrens of Peggys Cove. Scott MacIvor is conducting groundbreaking research there as part of his master’s degree in applied science at Saint Mary’s University: “I’m studying the plants.” MacIvor notes that coastal barrens plants live in similar conditions to those you might find on a Halifax […]

They’re here…scurrying around Halifax, with their own network of tunnels, their own social hierarchy, their own inquisitive natures, 75 per block. And construction disrupts their homes, disturbs their little rat cities. So here they come into our city,

Ho ho ho. Time to paint Santa green. For a Sustainable Santa, Christmas shopping is a chore. Finding sustainable merchandise for a global economy is hard enough; figuring out who has been naughty and nice to the environment is a nightmare. Even David Suzuki has a travel itinerary that generates more carbon emissions than an […]

Last time in Sustainable City, human rights and environmental activists took on three multinational mining companies and Nova Scotia Power in a war of words. But Margaret Murphy, spokesperson for Nova Scotia Power, won’t comment on the controversial forced relocation of 700 villagers by Cerrejon mine in Colombia, from which our province imported about about […]

For a Nova Scotia coal miner, if the mine doesn’t get you, the coal dust will. Back in the day, at least the unions were strong and after many hard-fought, occasionally bloody battles with Devco (the crown corporation that used to run the coal mines), a coal miner could earn a decent living. Devco, on […]

Last week, HRM council decided to spend $1.4 million on security cameras on Metro Transit buses. This is our leadership’s response to a recent spat of dirty (like the groping of a bus driver) and sometimes violent deeds committed on city buses, usually late at night. There’s a debate to be had about whether this […]

It’s typical of modern democracy that in an October 8 debate—covering big topics like uranium mining, alternative energy, sustainable transportation, pesticide use, food supply, planning, green building and waste management—a comment that road tolls are not such a bad idea may have cost Sheila Fougere her remote shot at becoming mayor. “Asphalt is a petroleum […]

The discourse from our national leaders on the environment has changed so much since last election, I’m reminded of that Johnny Cash song, “The One on the Right is on the Left.” Closer to home, long-time Halifax MP Alexa McDonough’s reign is over and four political newbies are fighting for her old Halifax seat, so […]