Take it up for Earth Day

Earth Day Canada (www.earthday.ca) is issuing action-based challenges urging all Canadians –kids, classrooms, groups, businesses, individuals and families – to make positive changes to their daily habits. The challenges run from April 1 to April 30 and encourage participants to take up a new action for 21 days, a period long enough for the action to become a part of their daily routine.

Lifestyle choices are typically based on convenience, complacency and habit, but these come with a price. Earth Day Canada’s “Take it up for Earth Day” [http://www.earthday.ca/takeitup/] campaign can help you make better decisions about what you eat, drink and what resources you use. Try something new that’s good for you and the planet. Take up one (or more) of these pro-environmental behaviours:

  • Eat and prepare plant-based foods at home.
  • Drink tap water and get water-wise.
  • Detox your personal care routine.
  • Activate your lifestyle with outdoor, unplugged activities.

Earth Day Canada (EDC), a national environmental charity founded in 1990, provides Canadians with the practical knowledge and tools they need to lessen their impact on the environment. In 2004, the Washington-based North American Association for Environmental Education, the world’s largest association of environmental educators, recognized EDC as the top environmental education organization in North America, for its innovative year-round programs and educational resources. In 2008, it was chosen as Canada’s “Outstanding Non-profit Organization” by the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication. EDC regularly partners with thousands of organizations in all parts of Canada.

www.earthday.ca

Job losses inevitable with Gateway

Thank you for shining the spotlight on Canada’s rising petro-dollar. [Gateway Pipeline Pros and Cons, Common Ground, March 2012]. This issue has been completely ignored by the mainstream media. Both the Gateway pipeline and the expansion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline would definitely put a premium on the Canadian dollar. In addition, at least two natural gas liquefaction facilities are planned for the BC coast, to boost exports of natural gas, further pushing up our petro-dollar. On top of that, we have rapidly rising coal exports.

Job losses in the Canadian manufacturing sector will be inevitable, as our strong currency makes our products non-competitive in foreign markets. Canadians shopping south of the border will lead to job losses in Canadian retailing. All of this is blissfully ignored by Mr. Harper and his crew.

All of the power generated by Site C on the Peace River (not yet approved) will be required for these projects. Natural gas liquefaction requires immense amounts of electricity. The Gateway pipeline alone would gobble up 20 percent of site C power.

It is easy to see why BC Hydro and the BC government argue that the demand for electricity will rise by 50 percent in the next 20 years. The demand will come from these mega projects – from the aggressive export of fossil fuels – not from domestic needs. Never mind that the unique and beautiful Peace River will be flooded, 8,000 acres of the most fertile agricultural land will disappear and that these fossil fuels will accelerate global warming. The fossil fuel exporters require electricity and they will get it at a fraction of what the public pays. These grandiose schemes are sold to the public on the false premise that they create jobs.

By Canadian law, Enbridge’s liability is capped at a mere $40 million dollars in case of an off shore spill.

Tina Childs

“Big O” hits the mark

 

I read your “Big O” article in the recent issue of Common Ground [Drug Bust by Alan Cassels, June 2011] and in this case, I agree with you whole-heartedly.

My mother, who is 95 years old and lives in Berlin, Germany, fell and broke her hip in November 2010. She was immediately hospitalized, had surgery and was back in her own apartment, living on her own. She had a nurse coming daily and a physiotherapist three times weekly, within two months. In the meantime, she has fallen several times, but each time manages to get up and get moving again without any outside help. She is not superwoman by any stretch of the imagination, but has lots of determination and persistence.

About 30 years ago she was diagnosed with osteoporosis. I have seen her X-rays and her spine looks like Swiss cheese. During those years, she has fallen fairly often, but her first actual fracture was at age 95 in November 2010.

I’m a firm believer in “seeing is believing”, and in this case, I can affirm that your article hits the nail on the head.

Thanks for providing this important information to us, the elderly.

– Sabine Schouten

Rioters yearn for “clear and deep purpose”?

 

The riots in downtown Vancouver on June 15, 2011 reveal how many people are still without a strong sense of meaningful purpose in their lives (and also honour). When you have a clear and deep purpose, you feel truly alive so spectacles of violence are not needed to bring that feeling of aliveness. It is even more important that we continue to spread inspiration and purpose to those who feel aimless, restless and thirsty for higher truth. It’s easy to feel sad and angry about violent behaviour, but it’s important to realize that everyone has the capacity for greatness when their energy is inspired by a higher purpose. That’s why we must shift our own responses away from shame and disgust into compassion and understanding of the root causes. And there are many causes!

This note is not meant to be a comprehensive analysis – just a reminder for us to reach for compassion. We can stop ourselves from simply calling others “assholes.” We can educate ourselves and our governing institutions about new ways to co-create and share a more beautiful reality. Otherwise, the result is martial law and removal of freedoms, or further apathy from hungering souls. Some of the energy dynamics involved: whenever there is going to be a large crowd of agitated humans (whether it’s a hockey game or a political protest), many people are magnetically drawn to that energy so they can experience the vivid life force that may erupt from such a field. Anger, violence and spectacle feel much more invigorating than boredom, shame and meaninglessness. The violence feels epic and larger than life and many hunger for opportunities to feel this. Many will watch for these chances, even at the cost of their own arrest, physical injury and at the cost of others’ safety and property.

If people were to find their purpose through the help of loving community and mentors who cared to understand their needs, they would not be attracted to these dark pools and instead find the life force through love-based actions. Their inner fire would find expression through creativity and meaning.

– Little Woo

Vancouver riots can teach us about compassion

 

In the days following the June 15th Vancouver riot, I feel I have been witnessing a second riot. A verbal and written riot against the rioters in the form of name-calling, insults, degrading comments, labelling, stereotyping, demonizing and out-casting. This second riot reminds me of George W. Bush’s “War on Terror” in the sense that it is supposedly “against” something and meant to put a stop to it, but is, in fact, creating more of the same energy. What I have found disheartening is that some members of my communities are engaging in this or supporting this to varying degrees, some subtly and indirectly and others obviously and directly. If a willingness to engage in hate and violence exists, even on subtle levels, among teachers and “conscious” communities, how can we expect or even hope for positive change?

If we have decided to lead conscious lives, to take on leadership roles or to stand for values such as non-violent communication, radical inclusion, love, compassion, healing and consciousness, these values must be put into practice at all times with all people, rather than at select times with a chosen few. Perhaps a measure of whether one has truly taken on and committed to these values is by their response to challenging situations and challenging people. I’m not saying that I’m perfect, or that I manage to respond from a place of love as often as I would like to. But in the past year, I’ve become increasingly aware of this issue and have begun to observe myself and practice this. Because my own consciousness in this area has recently expanded, I’ve become more sensitive to how those around me use language, the energy dynamics that are created by it, and whether it’s coming from a place of consciousness and love or from a place of unconsciousness and fear. To move from one to the other is a choice and a practice.

We’re all at different places on our journeys, but we are all divine beings and equal members of the human family. In many ways, the rioters are our teachers, pointing to the flaws that exist in our culture and society. They also point to the darkness that exists within all of us, as well as the need to embrace it and to have safe and healthy ways of expressing, and not denying, the full range of human emotion. If we dug deeper and discovered the life stories and experiences of each and every individual rioter, if we opened our minds and hearts completely, we would find valid reasons for their actions, reasons that would make sense and that we could understand. I believe that everyone does the best they can given what they know at the time, that people who cause pain are in pain, and that when people know better they do better. The amount of love, compassion and forgiveness that we are able to extend to others is a reflection of how willing we are to look at our own faults and love ourselves.

Verbal and written insults are violence too. As Mahatma Ghandi said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” If we want a non-violent world, we must practice non-violence, including the words that come out of our mouths and fingertips. I believe that we can express all of our feelings and opinions in non-violent ways and take creative and proactive steps towards healing and repairing the multi-level damage that was done, while respecting the rioters as our fellow human beings at the same time. Many great spiritual teachers and leaders throughout history have done so and were highly effective. In fact, their non-violent, positive and loving approach even toward their “enemies” is what made them powerful, timeless and unforgettable community and world leaders who created positive and lasting change.

– Celina Mikolajczyk

Cell tower gets the green light in Coquitlam

 

I wanted to say thanks to you good folks for bringing us balanced and truthful information on many environmental issues that affect our lives. The information you released about the privatization of BC rivers, via the Campbell government’s BC Energy Plan, has been disturbing, interesting and vital for those of us concerned about our public water and our beautiful rivers. [“BC’s Water Sold to the Highest Bidder” by Randy Christensen, March 2011].

I live in Port Coquitlam where after this long weekend [Victoria Day weekend], our Mayor and council will decide to put a Rogers cell tower in one of our parks near an elementary school. Despite serious opposition – 500 petition signatures, a rally at city hall and numerous letters sent and meetings held to express concerns – the city has decided to ignore its citizens and bend to the pressure of the almighty multinational corporation.

I would welcome more information from your publication with regard to the concerns and risks surrounding the rapid expansion of so much wireless technology such as Wifi, smart meters and cell towers. Most of these lack proper long-term testing and regulation, and there is virtually no effective policy and public consultation process.

I am sad for the precedent this sets for our parks, distressed for the residents and the schools that are close to these radiating towers, and I am very worried about our democracy under a Conservative majority. I thank you too for your election edition with honest information and attempts to sway! Too bad so many voters have their heads in the sand. We have so much to lose and lose it we will.

Please keep up the important work you do and stand up for those important things that make us Canadian. We appreciate what you do.

– Laura Dupont, Port Coquitlam, BC

Whose NSF?

 

Dear sirs:

In view of what seems to be happening internationally with banks at the moment, I was wondering if you could advise me correctly. If one of my cheques is returned marked “insufficient funds,” how do I know whether that refers to me or to you? Thank you.

A customer

Fight for your pets’ rights

 

You can choose to take your child to a homeopath, chiropractor or doctor of Chinese Medicine without a referral from a doctor, but you need a referral from a veterinarian to make the same choice for your pets. And many veterinarians will not refer pets to alternative health care practitioners, effectively limiting your access to these important modalities.

If you want your pet to see a homeopath or other alternative health care practitioner, you must pay for a veterinarian to supervise the visit. This added cost makes access to qualified alternative health care impossible for most pet owners. Veterinarians need only minimal training in homeopathy, chiropractics and acupuncture – often for only a few weekends – to be “qualified” to practise these modalities on your pet.

The BC government is contemplating changes to the BC Veterinarian’s Act that may further limit or even eliminate your freedom to make choices regarding your pet’s health care. You have the power to stop this from happening. The government of BC has requested advice from the public (by December 2, 2009) regarding proposed changes to the BC Veterinarians Act that is currently under review. There is significant concern that the changes being contemplated would provide the BCVMA with greater power to regulate itself. In recent years, the BCVMA has been involved in legal proceedings that have not served the public or their animals. The BCVMA has not acted in a manner that has instilled confidence in the public and accordingly should not be given the power to change bylaws and regulations or govern itself unchecked by the public it is supposed to be protecting.

For further information, visit www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2009AL0016-000551.htm or contact the Strategic Policy and Legislation Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands at P.O. Box 9303, Stn. Provincial Government, Victoria, BC, V8W 9N1send the Ministry a fax at 250-387-2410.

– Marilyn Bell, Vancouver

No safe levels of radiation

 

In a recent press release, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission claims to be expert on the subject of “junk science.” I believe it. How else could the CNSC claim there is “no risk” to health from elevated levels of radioactive materials in the environment when so many major scientific bodies say the opposite? The US National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) have all stressed that existing scientific evidence reveals no safe level of radiation exposure.

The CNSC knows perfectly well that atomic workers around the world have been shown to suffer from excess cancer and leukemia as a result of radiation exposures on the job. Moreover, Canadian atomic workers have shown a much higher excess of radiation-caused leukemias than atomic workers in other countries, possibly because of their exceptionally high exposure to tritium.

I have yet to see the CNSC publically correct any of the fallacious claims made routinely by the Canadian nuclear industry, yet here it is criticizing a public interest organization for daring to say that deliberate releases of radioactive carcinogens like tritium into public drinking water supplies should be stopped. In its latest press release, the CNSC has revealed itself as a defender of the industry’s right to pollute rather than as a champion of the public’s right to a hygienic environment.

– Gordon Edwards, Ph.D., President, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. www.ccnr.org.