David Suzuki's Blog, page 59

Kaitlyn's 8th Birthday for the Planet

(Credit: Kevin D.)

This year Kaitlyn asked her friends and family to make a donation to the David Suzuki Foundation in lieu of personal gifts. She raised an astounding $850 for the David Suzuki Foundation!

This amazing young environmentalist has been trail blazing her way to environmental stewardship for quite some time already. Kaitlyn has been especially interested in the impact of garbage and pollution on oceans and the water supply. During her research she found out about the David Suzuki Foundation and the Blue Dot Movement. She chose the David Suzuki Foundation to "highlight the exceptional life's work of a great Canadian and his Foundation's efforts to ensure our Earth is healthy for future generations."

(Credit: Kevin D.)

We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to Kaitlyn not only for her outstanding fundraising efforts but more importantly for spreading the word about protecting our fragile water supply.

You are truly inspiring kid Kaitlyn!

It is easy and fun to set up a birthday party that supports the David Suzuki Foundation. For more information, check out our community fundraising page.

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Youngsters Megan, Sydney and Kira raise Blue Dot awareness (and dollars)

(Credit: Samantha Heiydt) Left to right: Kira, Megan, Cameron, Sydney

Megan Brown (11 years old), Sydney Heiydt (10 years old) and Kira Heiydt (8 years old) of Richmond Hill, Ont. spent last winter busily planning for a Blue Dot summer fundraiser.

Participating in a shoreline cleanup inspired Megan to further action. She and friends Sydney and Kira came up with a plan to raise awareness AND fundraise for the Blue Dot mission to bring the right to a healthy environment to all Canadians.

This was not your usual lemonade stand. They created charts, posters and strategic plans that included exchanging ideas with neighbours about how to be kinder to the Blue Dot we call home. Their big day involved:

A treasure hunt
Water balloon toss
Candy guess
Lemonade stand
Sponge relay
Raffle
Balloon animals
Much more!

The event was a resounding success that mobilized their neighbourhood and raised $410!

Thank you Megan, Sydney and Kira for helping us spread the Blue Dot message.

To get involved in the Blue Dot movement in your area, please check out www.bluedot.ca/volunteer

If you would like to fundraise for the Blue Dot movement or the David Suzuki Foundation in general, please visit our community fundraising page.

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Keegan Kelly: Walking the talk

(Credit: Jennifer Dickison)

Eleven-year-old Keegan Kelly of Fredericton, N.B. noticed that many people get in cars to travel short distances. He wants to change that.

So he organized a 100-mile walk with his mom, Jennifer Dickison, with the goal of getting us all to stop and think the next time we consider using the car. He wants to help everyone choose walking over driving.



Keegan and his mom celebrated Canada Day by starting his five-day walk of 20 miles (32 kilometres) per day. They'd prepared in advance with some neighbourhood walks but had a big challenge ahead of them! Two other things made Keegan's walk even more special: his dad joined him for much of the walk and he was able to stay with friends and family along the way. Finally, on July 5, Keegan was nearing the end of his walk. His brother and dad crossed the finish line with him. Tired, but happy, Keegan completed his remarkable journey!

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Why be a Queen of Green Coach

Are you ready to have a transformational experience? Or, to start a "butterfly effect"? (Credit: Jode Roberts)

In my nine years at the David Suzuki Foundation, I've crossed paths with some really cool people. I toured twice across the country with David Suzuki, and met Canadian celebs like Rick Mercer, Jim Cuddy, Sam Roberts (and his band), the Barenaked Ladies, Gord Downie (of the Tragically Hip), Andrew Ferrence (NHLer) and more.

Celebrity encounters are worth a Facebook status update but they're not what inspires me and brings me into work each day with a hopeful attitude.

That special status goes to real people, like you and Becky of Winnipeg, Man. (one of my 120 Queen of Green Coaches)! Below, Becky shares why you might consider becoming a Queen of Green Coach this fall. Apply now for my fall session, which runs September 21 to December 21.

We've all heard of the butterfly effect (e.g. a butterfly flapping its wings in South America can affect the weather in Central Park), right?

Last fall, after abandoning my previous agenda in the corporate world and taking an enormous pay cut -- the kind where people question your sanity -- I accepted a job at an environmental non-profit, Green Action Centre, to pursue values-based work.

Motivated by Gandhi's wisdom to "Be the change that you wish to see in the world," I stepped out of my comfort zone to lead and inspire others to live their lives a little greener as a Queen of Green Coach. I was new to creating a green life for myself and felt I had a lot to learn. Plus the extrovert in me was curious about the idea of bringing five families along for the ride.

With the support of my workplace, I applied. I was accepted in spring, 2015!

Was I nervous? Yep. Did I face feelings of inadequacy in my ability to coach others? Oh yes!

There were moments where I wondered: What if a family asked a question I didn't know the answer to? Or, what if I talked too aggressively, too passively, too fast or too slow to hold their attention?

I took a deep breath and told myself to calm the heck down!

Surely I'd done things more intimidating in my life than making my own laundry soap or start composting food scraps! And so my journey began, head up and heart open.

During the first online video meeting, I knew this process would be a positive in my life; from compassionate leadership to abandoning judgements, Lindsay (the Queen of Green) selflessly takes you on a "green" journey littered (pun intended!) with tips, solutions, personal growth, validation and community resources.

There's a warmth to her facilitation style; with open dialogue she offers a safe place to share, explore and ask questions. I found myself looking forward to sessions like one might look forward to setting time aside for a music or cooking class.

Since completing my first 12 weeks as a Coach and, effectively, as a coachee, I feel grateful, inspired and strong in the support of the like-minded community that surrounds me across Canada. Who knew shared values could have such an impact?

Did I change the world? I like to think so.

It reminds me of what yoga teaches, to "stay on your own mat as it's your true mirror". Progress, not perfection.

It feels good to contribute, to inspire, to be inspired, to explore, to discover and to challenge yourself. Empowerment breeds change. I encourage you to be it, too! Head up, heart open.

Are you ready to have a transformational experience like Becky's? Please take five minutes to apply for my next round of Queen of Green Coaches for fall, 2015.

Sincerely, Lindsay Coulter

A fellow Queen of Green

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A national carbon price would score big in Paris

(Credit: Banff Lake Louise via Flickr)

Over the past decade, Canadians have seen a willingness on the part of provinces to implement progressive policies to address climate change. In particular, interest has grown in using market-based strategies to encourage industries to reduce the amount of carbon pollution they put into the air.

From Alberta's tax on its highest emitters to the B.C. carbon tax and, most recently, Ontario's decision to join Quebec and California in creating a cap-and-trade market, carbon pricing has proven effective in stimulating regional economies while looking out for the long-term interests of the global climate. B.C.'s carbon tax is still lauded as a world-leading climate action policy, despite being frozen until 2018. The work we've seen at the provincial level, however, can't compete with what would be possible under a federally guided carbon pricing strategy.

Think of Canada as a hockey team and each province as a player. If everyone jumps onto the ice with their own ideas about how to put the puck in the net, they will probably score a few goals. You might even see some truly creative play-making that leads to highlight-reel material, but in the end, it won't likely win as many games as a team with a well-coordinated strategy.

The federal government plays double duty in this metaphor, acting as coach and goalie. It's up to the coach to develop the team's strategy to play a complete game and ensure that every team member is following the rules. It's up to the goalie to make sure that outside forces (the other team/international markets) do not derail the team's efforts. If you don't have both of these elements working with the players on the ice, you're likely to get into serious trouble. You might even attract negative attention from the referee, a role played by the United Nations in addressing climate change.

In a recent interview on CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said of carbon pricing, "We will not bring in a single program from Ottawa because the time for that has passed." This echoes Conservative Party strategy, which leaves carbon pricing up to individual provinces. The NDP has not released its environment platform, but industry critic Peggy Nash told the National Observer on August 7 that the party is committed to introducing a national cap-and-trade program.

Regardless of which party Canadians choose to govern, one of the prime minister's first major trips will be to Paris in December for the UN climate change conference, where world leaders hope to come up with legally binding commitments to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change. Canada's federal actions so far have been widely criticized, and Paris presents a clear opportunity to alter this reputation. It remains to be seen whether our international climate action skills can live up to the gold standard of our hockey teams.

The message to Canadians who care about our health, environment and economy is clear: On October 19, voting is the most important thing you can do to protect the people and places you love. In the fight against climate change, Canadians should call on MP and PM hopefuls to show national leadership with ambitious, proven climate policy strategies, including a national carbon price. To put it another way, we need to keep our stick on the ice.

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One year later, B.C. must heed Mount Polley disaster's lessons

(Credit: Kris Krug via Flickr)

It was a dramatic image: millions of cubic metres of waste cascading from the Mount Polley mine breach into the Quesnel watershed in B.C.'s Interior. Besides destroying a nine-kilometre creek and endangering salmon and the neighbouring community of Likely, the catastrophe damaged the mining industry's reputation. In the months following, fingers pointed, independent panels weighed in and committees were struck. One year later, the Mount Polley mine is operating again, this time with a conditional permit and no long-term plan to deal with excess tailings.

In British Columbia, after metals are extracted from large mines, the finely ground rock that remains is stored under water behind earth-and-rock dams, which can prevent acid mine drainage. (Acid mine drainage occurs when water flows through exposed acidic minerals and becomes contaminated.) But storing massive quantities of water in large open pits near towns and waterways is risky.

First Nations, scientists and the independent review panel investigating the breach point to dry stacking as a safer, proven alternative to century-old wet tailings technology. The review panel encouraged this costlier method, yet all 10 B.C. mine proposals either approved or waiting for approval are planning to use wet tailings.

Seabridge Gold's $5.4-billion KSM copper-gold proposal, already approved by the B.C. and federal governments, includes a 239-metre-high earth dam, which would be among the world's highest, to store 27 times more tailings than were stored at Mount Polley. The company rejected dry stacking, citing costs and concluding it wasn't feasible in the wet, mountainous region. The Blackwater gold and silver mine southwest of Prince George, which plans to store four times as many tailings as were stored at Mount Polley, also rejected the safer alternative.

Elsewhere, dry stacking is being used or considered for larger mines. The Greens Creek mine in Alaska was among the first in the world to use it. La Coipa gold-silver mine in Chile, about one-third the size of the proposed Blackwater project, and Hudbay Minerals' proposed Rosemont Copper mine in Arizona also plan to use dry stacking.

B.C.'s mining industry is growing faster than ever, raising concerns about pollution, community impacts and damage to fish and habitat. Fishermen point to threats to their livelihoods.

B.C.'s auditor general has questioned whether the government is effectively considering the cumulative impacts of decision-making on natural resource development, including mining. First Nations are challenging industrial activity in their territories in light of the Supreme Court's Tsilhqot'in decision affirming rights to land and resources.

The risk of more mining accidents -- and more environmental damage -- is real. The B.C. First Nations Energy and Mining Council found mining operations threaten more than 230 northern aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities, including drinking water in Prince George, Terrace and Smithers. The report, Uncertainty Upstream: Potential Threats from Tailings Facility Failures in Northern British Columbia, found 35 tailings ponds at 26 mines in 48 watersheds could affect fish-bearing waters.

B.C.'s government has taken action in the Mount Polley aftermath, but it's too early to tell if it will be enough. A provincial mining code review is considering ways to implement recommendations from an independent expert engineering panel, which include using dry stack technology where appropriate and improving safety and regulation at tailings-storage facilities. But it doesn't address the review panel's conclusion that reducing dam failures requires reducing the number of dams.

Canada's mining industry and government regulators must do a better job of managing risk. At the very least we need stronger environmental assessments, a requirement that adequate financial bonds be posted before mines are approved and recognition of First Nations' rights and title.

British Columbia could learn from Quebec. It requires almost all new mines to undergo a rigorous environmental-impact assessment overseen by an independent review panel. Financial assurances have been increased and at least half must be put up before a mine opens. Municipalities will soon have a say in designating "no-go zones" for mining in sensitive areas.

We'll likely get more answers on the Mount Polley breach following investigations by the chief inspector of mines and Conservation Officer Service. But with timelines reduced and environmental-assessment processes streamlined to fast-track mine approvals, we can expect more events like the one at Mount Polley. We need to take steps now to reduce risks from mining operations.

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Election 2015

The latest news, analysis and tips on how you can make an impact this election.

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Park Crawl 2015 looking for restaurants!

Dear Chefs and Friends,



On Sunday, September 27th, the David Suzuki Foundation will host the third annual Homegrown Park Crawl to celebrate the Homegrown National Park Project.

The Homegrown Park Crawl is a marquee community event that increases the profile of the city's amazing parks and green spaces. The Crawl brings hundreds of people into the green urban corridor along the former path of the Garrison Creek for a one-day food-driven community event.



Check out the wrap-up video from last year's event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE4Nernc7tg



Our vision for this year's event is to have food vendor stations set up in Trinity Bellwoods Park from noon to 2pm and Christie Pits Park from 4 to 6pm to kick off and close the Park Crawl, with participants joining a musical parade through two parks in between.

We will provide a table, chairs and tent for each station as well as a volunteer to handle food tickets. Participating vendors will receive promotion through the Foundation's social media channels and will receive an honorarium to cover food costs.



Food tickets will be made available for purchase online as well as on-site during the event. Each ticket can be redeemed at any vendor station on September 27th. The aim is to have vendors provide portions with a value of approximately $5. The past two years each vendor was asked to prepare between 150 and 250 portions based on the expected number of tickets sold, and we anticipate the event will be similarly popular again this year.



If you are interested in participating in the Homegrown Park Crawl or would like more information, please contact: Megan Nobrega at mnobrega@davidsuzuki.org. We will follow up with further information upon your confirmation. On behalf of the David Suzuki Foundation, we thank you for your time. We hope and look forward to working with you!



All the best, 




The Park Crawl Committee

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Love butterflies? Sign the Monarch Manifesto!

Please sign the Monarch Manifesto, a pledge to do your part to help bring monarch butterflies back from the brink. It includes three simple things you can do this summer and two simple tasks to do this fall -- with help from the David Suzuki Foundation.

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How to go green in Winnipeg

Find an Eco-depot and drop off electronic waste, leftover paint, light bulbs, car batteries, pharmaceuticals and more.

I learn so much from each new cohort of Queen of Green Coaches. Thanks to the collective wisdom of Winnipeg Coaches -- Becky, Kerri, Leanne and Michele for making this blog possible!

Don't live in Winnipeg? Comb through "green" resource lists for Edmonton and Calgary or search out -- even copy -- the best ideas for your city.

Recycle

Find an Eco-depot and drop off electronic waste, leftover paint, light bulbs, car batteries, pharmaceuticals and more. Try the app!

Phoenix Recycling does larger shredding jobs and hosts an annual community shred event.

Stop junk mail. Purchase a $2 "No Flyers Please!" sticker for your mailbox.

Drop off art supplies and more to Art City or Arts Junktion.

Moving? Try Frogbox for your next home or office move.

Purchase a compost bin or rain barrel from Fort Whyte Alive.

Become a Master Composter with Green Action Centre and receive 30 hours of training in waste and organic composting!

Food

Rent a community garden plot.

Visit a neighbourhood Farmers Market.

Learn how to forage and try some wild edibles!

Visit organic grocers like, Crampton's Market, Vita Health, Scoop n' Weigh, Organza Market, and Organic Planet.

Find organic meats at Frig's Natural Meats, Marcello's Meats, Aunthill Farms and Wildfire Farms.

Sign up for homemade soup and bread from Soup Bee delivered to your office by bicycle -- even in winter!

Learn how to grow your own food at Fort Whyte Alive, Shelmerdine Garden Centre and Aurora Farm.

Support and volunteer for Food Matters Manitoba and Winnipeg Harvest.

Community

Book a green living presentation from the GAC for your workplace or community group.

Energy

Manitoba Hydro shares tips to make you home energy efficient and offers financing options, too.

Transportation

Join the Peg City Car Co-op.

Download a Winnipeg city Bike Map, check out local trails and join Bike Winnipeg.

Participate in the Jack Frost Challenge -- sign up a team of up to five people to skate, bike, ski, snowshoe, run or walk a combined total of 130 kilometres the second week of February.

Join the annual National workplace Commuter Challenge.

Support local bike shops: Woodcock, Natural Cycle, South Osborne Bike Hub and The W.R.E.N.C.H.

Rent the Bike Blender to make smoothies at your next office function!

Share your favourite "green" Winnipeg resource with a comment on this blog for a chance to win a glass straw made in the U.S.A. by glass dharma and a stick of deodorant made in Canada by Pure+Simple. (Draw date: September 21, 2015.)

Sincerely,

Lindsay Coulter, a fellow Queen of Green

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