GreenJean Bags
Leona is taking her upcycled products to Government Street Market this Sunday, from 11am to 4pm. Government Street Market is on the block beside China Town Gates, this market is full of local artists and craftspeople (we have loads of fun as well). Come on down - ask all the questions you like, get tips on eco friendly living (or not) or even just to say hello.
Grolsch Goblet
LetsRecycle reports that the cost of exporting UK recyclates to Asia has increased due to increased shipping container charges. The West’s dependence on Third World imports of our waste material is destructive on so many levels. Canada needs to adopt Zero Waste, which is about making recycling profitable, providing jobs and opportunities here…instead of dumping ‘over there’.
Recycle2shop.com encourages Canadian artists, craftspeople and entrepreneurs (social and other) to use recyclates (waste material) to make new products…known as ‘upcycling’ . This closes the recycling loop - keeping our waste in Canada, as well as the profits made from waste upcycling.
April 8th at the University of Victoria was the scene of a dynamic panel discussion on “Scientists, Scribes and Spinmeisters” and Climate Change Facts. Jim Hoggan (desmogblog straight talker), Tom Pederson (PICS Director), Peter Calamai (Science Writer, Toronto Star) and Lucinda Chodan (Times Colonist Editor-in-Chief) panelists stated their opinions based on facts - as opposed to climate change deniers’ ”cherry picked” fictions. The good news is that scientists and journalists are learning how to talk to each other about the science behind climate change.
The audience was invited to ask question of the panel. Vicky Husband (eco activist) and Elizabeth May (Green Party) both asked incisive questions that broadened the theme. We did have to listen to the obligatory hobby horse , pontificating speakers from the audience - thankfully the moderator soon cut them short and asked them to ask the question (there’s always somebody whose ego leads them in strange directions).
The lecture hall was standing room only, which is encouraging.
There are eco warriors making a difference who don’t often make it to print. Today, at Fern Street Quaker Meeting we heard about a Quaker science teacher who painted a life sized blue whale on her school’s parking lot - the entire school fit inside…I bet those kids learned more about the wonder of nature than they could ever learn from a TV screen.
Meet an environmental scientist who is practising what he preaches. He lives in a straw bale house, off grid; he is involved in a sustainable community of like minded people (in Arizona); his blog is full of knowledge on how to establish community wherever we live with whatever life skills and resources we have to offer - taking the 100 mile economy one logical step further.
Circuit Board Frames
Thank you to Keith Farnish and his Earth Blog for this connection. Keith is an environmental writer and activist living and working in the UK.
Success in an earth friendly world is to see a conference about landfill and recycling, headlined as “Zero Waste”.
The Recycling Council of British Columbia is hosting May 25 weekend in Whistler, BC for all waste management professionals. This means that local government officials/officers will hear speakers talking about ’Zero Waste and Closed Loop Recycling” as the targets for producers as well as tax funded waste systems.
Gwynne Dyer and his words of wisdom: On a different but related topic I found a video of Gwynne Dyer on Transition Towns website this is for those of us who missed his visit.
The ‘Transition Movement’ started in England as a way to engage local communities in making real changes to their dependence on fossil fuels and dwindling resources; and they have come to Victoria. My Fernwood neighborhood has already started working groups. What makes Transition Towns a successful model is it involves community leaders, businesses and organizations in cooperatively seeking practical steps and actions to “localize” communities into a “powered down” future.
The Sierra Club in Victoria, BC is holding an open house at their 733 Johnson Street Headquarters this Thursday (Feb 18) from 430 to 630.
They have made a clear and accessible video about our Pacific Northeast Ocean health.Sierra Club on YouTube
Such a title - this subject may not excite your brain cells but is riveting stuff to a self confessed recycling and composting nerd.
Victoria, BC and the CRD (Capital Regional District) are gradually leading us toward curbside collection of green waste. We are running out of room for landfill, (after all we are an island) and landfill leachate contaminates our water supply…see the latest studies at the CRD website.
Ontario cities are taking lessons learned from Europe and building (since 2003) successful solid waste recycling programs. Solid Waste & Recycling Magazine has some fascinating (remember, the nerd enthusiasm is at work here) videos.
So hurry up Victoria and get on board.
On the buses: another great ride with a thoughtful driver - this one giving precise directions to a confused tourist, waiting for a late running passenger and slowing down approaching each stop (some bus drivers think they are in a rally - or have I groused about that already?).
Bus travel can be travelling theatre:
- A young guy telling his friend and consequently the entire bus, the difficulties and successes in his lovelife at college - thankfully without the addition of procreative descriptors.
- Man gets up and offers his seat to woman, she refuses - yowzers!
- Bus driver calling out the name of a stop and every uni student saying “thank you” as they alight. I wonder if the drivers get bored with saying “you’re welcome, every time”?
There are people going to work, shopping, travelling (suitcase in hand to transfer to the Ferry/ Airport buses); everyone transported in every way for the cost of a cup of coffee.
Central Middle School in Victoria, BC has gone Eco in a big way. They are recycling everything in the school - they are even composting the kids’ leftovers, a prime example of their dedication.
We have a great resource for composting information and supplies right here in Victoria: The Compost Education Centre. Every Spring they host a plant sale, with many unusual herbs and vegetables - organically and locally grown.