Anishinaabe economist and writer Winona LaDuke identifies two types of economies, grounded in different ways of seeing. Speaking in Vancouver recently, she characterized one as an “extreme extractive economy” fed by exploitation of people and nature. The second is a “regenerative economy” based on an understanding of the land and our relationship to it. We […]
environment
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SCIENCE MATTERS: Climate science deniers’ credibility tested
We base our arguments about environmental issues on sound research and evidence. Sometimes people challenge us—which is often positive, as informed debate leads to greater knowledge. But many challenges come from people with suspect motives. In comments, letters and opinion articles, people spread nonsense from the likes of Ezra Levant, Tim Ball, Tom Harris and […]
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Protest potpourri scheduled for Province House
Nova Scotians are spoiled for choice when it comes to protesting their government. In what’s practically become an annual tradition, this week hundreds of people will once again gather outside Province House demanding change and voicing their opposition to a growing portfolio of disappointments. The Nova Scotians Rise Up event—scheduled for noon on the 27—will […]
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Public coffers, private bonanza
It’s torture watching this loop play over and over again: Public money filling the already-deep pockets of the corporate elite, while they hypocritically tout the mantra of the free market economy. Last week the feds announced that Ocean Supercluster, a consortium claiming to be Atlantic Canada based—including big names like Emera, Clearwater, Petroleum Research Newfoundland […]
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SCIENCE MATTERS: We can’t close our eyes to climate change
Contrary to a common perception, ignoring climate change won’t make it disappear. Global research going back to 1824 in fields ranging through physics, oceanography, biology and geology have confirmed human activity—mainly burning fossil fuels, raising livestock and destroying carbon sinks like forests and wetlands—is increasing greenhouse gas emissions and causing global temperatures to rise rapidly, […]
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Dalhousie looks at fossil fuel divestment
The province’s biggest university will look at divesting its financial portfolio from fossil fuel companies. The Halifax school’s board of governors approved the motion Tuesday to investigate a new ecological option for its investment portfolio. A third-party financial consultant will be hired to figure out a financial strategy free from climate-changing fossil fuels is viable. […]
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SCIENCE MATTERS: Save the planet; eat an insect
People sometimes get bugged by insects, but we need them. They play essential roles in pollination, combatting unwanted agricultural pests, recycling organic matter, feeding fish, birds and bats, and much more. They’re the most numerous and diverse animals on Earth and form the base of many terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Our admiration for these critters […]
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Q&A: Sadie Beaton on the Shades of Green environmental podcast
Sadie Beaton is exploring the meaning of environmental justice—but she didn’t want to do it through an academic paper. Beaton, who has been part of The Ecology Action Centre team for 14 years, started a broadcast interview series under the title Shades of Green in 2016. Shades of Green launched its second season on February […]
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SCIENCE MATTERS: Emergency order aims to protect resident orcas
Canada is losing a lot of its wildlife. The World Wildlife Fund’s 2017 Living Planet Report Canada found half the monitored mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian and fish species declined from 1970 to 2014. Threatened and endangered species continue to disappear despite federal legislation designed to protect them and help their populations recover. What’s going wrong? […]
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Nova Scotia biomass plant has been running 24/7 for months
It’s been nearly two years since the province lifted regulations requiring NS Power’s biomass plant to run around the clock. Nevertheless, the facility has been operating non-stop for over a month now due to soaring natural gas prices. Nova Scotia Power spokesperson Tiffany Chase confirms the Point Tupper plant has been running “fairly consistently” over […]
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SCIENCE MATTERS: On climate, OECD head embraces environmentalism
Angel Gurria sounds like the leader of an environmental or social justice group. In a recent University of Toronto lecture, “Climate Action: Time for Implementation,” he stressed that climate change is a public health issue “disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable as well as those least responsible for anthropogenic warming.” Gurria is secretary-general of the Organisation […]
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City buys 200 acres of land for Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes park
The municipality has finally put some of its money where its mouth is to protect Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes. On Friday afternoon HRM announced it had purchased nearly 200 acres of property near Hobson Lake from West Bedford Holdings. It’s the first land acquisition by Halifax towards creating a new regional park around the Blue […]
