environment
Mini Co-op Fair in Victoria, Sept. 16th, 2010
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sun 05 Sep 2010 at 8:15 PM
The Vancity branch in downtown Victoria is hosting a Mini Co-op Fair and you're invited to participate. Don't miss this opportunity to show off your co-op at a busy location and to meet other co-operat
Topics: environment
Hello world!
The Olive Ridley Crawl on Sat 04 Sep 2010 at 7:52 AM
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
Topics: environment
Speak out against the mega yacht marina - Support the down-zoning
Transition Victoria on Fri 03 Sep 2010 at 1:00 PM
IMPORTANT REMINDER
- Time is running out. If you are not going to be able to attend the
hearing on Tuesday night Sept 7th, please send the Mayor an email no
later than the close of business Friday Sept
Topics: environment
How should we treat sacred landscape?
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 01 Sep 2010 at 9:06 AM
What makes a piece of landscape "sacred"? That's a question brought up by Star Weiss in a reading at Overleaf Cafe-Bookshop this week, from her book Havens In a Hectic World, which discusses indoor and
Topics: environment
The green, the brown, and the ugly boxes
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 31 Aug 2010 at 7:42 PM
Why the current fashion for big box houses? To hold all the stuff people buy at big box stores? Long gone are the cute cottages, surrounded with flowers and shade trees. What does the box-y brutal fort
Topics: environment
Long time, no post
Corey Burger on Mon 30 Aug 2010 at 5:16 PM
Life has a been a little busy for me recently, but I have been taking just a few photos since then: Off the Grid Art Crawl Hiroshima/Nagasaki Memorial Johnson St. Festival AIBC Art Deco/Moderne Walking
Topics: environment
Top 20 Solar and Renewable Energy Job Sites
Solar Home Review on Mon 23 Aug 2010 at 7:15 PM
This is our second year posting a list of top solar and renewable energy job sites. We've rounded the list to our top 20 sites for 2010. One thing is sure, we are in the midst of a global transition
Topics: environment
Transition Picnic
Transition Victoria on Mon 23 Aug 2010 at 10:56 AM
Transition Victoria Summer Picnic
On Saturday August 21st Transition Victoria held a summer picnic in the park to showcase our working group activities and provide a fun community atmosphere for the
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: Community radio hiring new manager
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sun 22 Aug 2010 at 9:34 PM
Kootenay Co-op Radio is seeking a full-time station manager.
The board of directors has posted the new position as part of a restructuring process to create "single point accountability,” according t
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: New name and home for carshare co-op
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sat 21 Aug 2010 at 11:01 PM
The Nelson Carshare Co-op is no more. Now it's the Kootenay Carshare Co-op, after members voted overwhelmingly last week to change the name.
"Our operations have changed to serve not just Nelson,” sa
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: Meat move aids Island producers
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Fri 20 Aug 2010 at 11:00 PM
Sticking to the 100-mile diet and the slow food movement just got a little easier for people on southern Vancouver Island with the opening of a new custom meat processing service.
Operating out of the
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: Lee Fuge of FoodRoots
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Thu 19 Aug 2010 at 10:58 PM
Nowadays it seems many people know about food issues such as sustainability and security. Yet we're still unaware of those who've been blazing the West Coast food trail for the past decade and more. On
Topics: environment
Co-op Job Posting: Co-op housing co-ordinator (COHO Management Services Society)
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Thu 19 Aug 2010 at 10:56 PM
The COHO Management Services Society in Victoria, BC, is looking for an exceptional administrator to join their staff effective November 1, 2010.
Click above to read the full job posting! Do you have
Topics: environment
Senator thinks we're in a cooling phase
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 19 Aug 2010 at 1:29 PM
The Antarctic Peninsula continues to warm at a rate five times larger than the global mean warming
Topics: environment
Big Brother is coming to Mexico!
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 18 Aug 2010 at 4:35 PM
Leon is the first step. To implement the system, the city is creating a database of irises. Criminals will automatically be enrolled, their irises scanned once convicted. Law-abiding citizens will have
Topics: environment
Sound to Sight
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 17 Aug 2010 at 9:39 AM
A new device that restores a form of sight to the blind is turning our understanding of the senses upside down
Topics: environment
Support Rail Travel in all of Canada
Transition Victoria on Mon 16 Aug 2010 at 9:30 AM
Here is one way of supporting the E&N and enjoying a trip up-island too!
VIA announced this special offer last week, one of a number across Canada:
See beautiful Vancouver Island
It's a wonderful t
Topics: environment
World Car Free Day(s)
Transition Victoria on Sun 15 Aug 2010 at 9:11 AM
World Car Free Day is similar to Bike to Work Week. September 22nd is a day that I would like to see all of us promote and encourage the CRD to embrace. What do you think?http://www.worldcarfree.net/wc
Topics: environment
China Now | Why China's Energy Plan is Working
Solar Home Review on Sat 14 Aug 2010 at 8:46 PM
Pause for a moment and contemplate what China's energy brings to mind, while I share a short word on popular media. Globally we all ingest media, an often uncensored menu on today's tough issues, sendi
Topics: environment
Feminists' Rock Camp Showcase and Jam
The Olive Ridley Crawl on Fri 13 Aug 2010 at 6:15 PM
Hey! Want to watch a bunch of cool feminist folks rock out and play some original material from the first feminists' rock camp in Victoria? Want to watch them jam with some cool musicians? Then come to
Topics: environment
Stoned to Death
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 12 Aug 2010 at 10:30 PM
It is absolutely abhorrent how narrow minded religious zealots can cast themselves in the role of God and torture their fellow human beings based on their misguided and delusional ideas of justice and
Topics: environment
Fresh Air Fund needs more help
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 12 Aug 2010 at 10:23 AM
The Summer of 2010 is almost over, but The Fresh Air Fund still needs loving host families. We are looking for families in the following areas to host THIS summer Red Hook, Columbia County, Saugerties,
Topics: environment
On writing
The Olive Ridley Crawl on Thu 12 Aug 2010 at 9:25 AM
Sometimes, you have to read what you've written in order to keep writing. I have not felt like writing at all, except in 140 character snippets. There are lots of people saying lots of things all the t
Topics: environment
Reverse Engineer the Human Brain
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 11 Aug 2010 at 9:30 PM
Ray Kurzweil is a is an American inventor and futurist. He is involved in fields as diverse as optical character recognition (OCR), text-to-speech synthesis, speech recognition technology, and electron
Topics: environment
Software Lets Computers Sleep While Operating
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 11 Aug 2010 at 1:43 PM
Topics: environment
Powering Down Unused Servers
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 11 Aug 2010 at 1:41 PM
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IBM Introduces Water-Cooled Supercomputer
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 11 Aug 2010 at 1:38 PM
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Green your Employees Work Hours
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 11 Aug 2010 at 1:35 PM
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New Data Centre Plug-In to Cut Energy Use
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 11 Aug 2010 at 1:33 PM
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Brushing up on Virtualization
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 11 Aug 2010 at 12:47 PM
Topics: environment
TheChange introduces ethicalDeal! The latest way you can engage TheChange!
Annalea Krebs on Mon 09 Aug 2010 at 11:07 AM
We founded TheChange to help people discover companies committed to sustainability in a relevant and engaging way. We're on a mission to advance the sustainability movement on a city-by-city basis acro
Topics: environment
Interview | Kriss Bergethon owner of Solar Sphere
Solar Home Review on Sun 01 Aug 2010 at 12:01 PM
.
We are starting our - Interview with Experts Series - with Kriss Bergethon owner of Solar Sphere. Kriss and his wife have been living off-grid in Colorado for many years and we wanted to ask him a f
Topics: environment
The limits of protest groups - India
Transition Victoria on Sun 01 Aug 2010 at 10:09 AM
The following link will be of interest to all TV Working Groups:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/25/AR2010072502773.html?referrer=emailarticleActivists in India cry foul ove
Topics: environment
A decline in global oxygen is coming fast.
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 29 Jul 2010 at 1:30 PM
This new report in Scientific American is deeply disturbing. Researchers at Canada's Dalhousie University say the global population of phytoplankton has fallen about 40 percent since 1950 due to the
Topics: environment
Write For Queenswood - Deadline Extended to Friday, August 6th
Transition Victoria on Tue 27 Jul 2010 at 10:12 PM
Letters of support from the many friends of Queenswood are appreciated by Friday, Aug 6th and emailed to write4queenswood@gmail.com.
The Queenswood Centre has
been recently sold to the University of V
Topics: environment
Journalists in Jail
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 26 Jul 2010 at 9:53 AM
Thought this story is worth sharing. It is still not safe out there for telling the truth sometimes. We need to be proactive in exposing corruptions, slavery, lies, and the half truths told by the self
Topics: environment
Victoria: Please Buy Public Parks, Not Public Art
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 25 Jul 2010 at 11:55 AM
Apparently the City of Victoria has recently spent some hundreds of thousands of dollars on public art installations (e.g. outside the Save-On arena, in Bastion Square and other places), and is plannin
Topics: environment
Will the U.S. Scrap the Renewable Energy Standard?
Solar Home Review on Sat 24 Jul 2010 at 10:29 PM
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The far reaching and well planned climate and energy bill may not go forward for the U.S. At this point it's hard to see a clear reason why the U.S. seems to be leaning toward scrapping it's renew
Topics: environment
Write For Queenswood
Transition Victoria on Fri 23 Jul 2010 at 1:30 PM
Letters of support from the many friends of Queenswood are appreciated by Wednesday July 28th and emailed to write4queenswood@gmail.com.
The Queenswood Centre has
been recently sold to the University
Topics: environment
Campaign Brings Solar Awareness to America's Small Communities
Solar Home Review on Tue 20 Jul 2010 at 6:30 AM
Press release from Global Solar Center
In a climate full of disinformation, SolarBlox seeks to provide the public
with a standarized method of learning about solar energy based
on something t
Topics: environment
5 Easy & Affordable Ways To Use Solar Power
Solar Home Review on Sun 18 Jul 2010 at 6:39 PM
By Kriss Bergethon
There is so much talk of green and clean energy these days, most people have at least thought about how they can use solar in their lives. The problem is that with a tough economy
Topics: environment
Welcome to Victoria's No-fun Parks
TreeWatchVictoria on Fri 16 Jul 2010 at 8:19 PM
At this time of writing, it is July 16th: Bastille Day, in France. A friend in Paris writes that he will find the best place along the Seine where with friends he will drink a glass of wine while watch
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: Eurocan Viability Group releases co-op structure
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Thu 15 Jul 2010 at 9:59 PM
A standing room crowd learned how the Eurocan paper mill could be reopened at the community hall at Riverlodge Recreation Centre in Kitimat July 6.
The CEP, Viability Group and BC Co-operative Associat
Topics: environment
Meditating on the graceful monarchs of Harris Green
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 15 Jul 2010 at 7:53 PM
Sometimes, getting and spending and rushing about the city, we forget to look at the trees we pass near the downtown core, such as those which grace the grassy median that runs down Pandora Avenue (Har
Topics: environment
2010 Ashden Awards
Solar Home Review on Thu 15 Jul 2010 at 6:29 PM
."We champion practical, local energy solutions that cut carbon, protect the environment, reduce poverty and improve people's lives" - that in a nutshell describes the Ashden Awards.Created in 2001 th
Topics: environment
International Crack Down on E-Waste
Green IT TOOLS on Thu 15 Jul 2010 at 12:22 PM
Topics: environment
International Crack Down on E-Waste
Green IT TOOLS on Thu 15 Jul 2010 at 12:21 PM
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Cloud Computing for the Data Centre
Green IT TOOLS on Thu 15 Jul 2010 at 12:19 PM
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Green Data Centre To-Do List
Green IT TOOLS on Thu 15 Jul 2010 at 12:16 PM
Topics: environment
Green Data Centre To-Do List
Green IT TOOLS on Thu 15 Jul 2010 at 12:15 PM
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Energy Star Ratings for the Data Centre Official
Green IT TOOLS on Thu 15 Jul 2010 at 12:10 PM
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Mayan Messages - Penelope
Transition Victoria on Wed 14 Jul 2010 at 8:24 PM
(This post is three email requests from Penelope to pass on info.
Is there someone she can contact to help her sort out how to post blogs?
Cheers - Joy)
Dear Joy, this is very important and I don't kn
Topics: environment
Co-op Rendezvous, July 28, 2010
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Tue 13 Jul 2010 at 7:47 AM
Come join us for our summer Rendez-vous. Expect to have good conversations and to learn something about co-ops!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
4:30 pm - 6 pm
Victoria, BC
The Fernwood Inn
1302 Gladstone Aven
Topics: environment
Seeking hosts for educational youth exchange!
Transition Victoria on Mon 12 Jul 2010 at 10:52 AM
Hello!
I am looking to spread the word about the upcoming Canada World Youth program in greater Victoria!
On September 6th, nine Ukrainian and nine Canadian youth will arrive in Victoria participatin
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: Growing community
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sun 11 Jul 2010 at 12:30 PM
Today, there are dozens of community gardens scattered all over Vancouver and more than 2,500 individual garden plots where people without backyards can garden.
Four years ago, there were only 950 plot
Topics: environment
Here's a set of awesome posts from Life As A Human
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 11 Jul 2010 at 8:50 AM
Here's a set of posts from LifeAsAHuman.com. I'd love to have some comments about this site.
Thanks
Arrival by Christine Shaw Roome
What I really want is for him to play on his own for a bit so that
Topics: environment
Crop Circles and Life As A Human
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sat 10 Jul 2010 at 10:58 PM
Christopher Holt looks at how most adults lose our ability to appreciate magic and mystery in the world around us, and delves into one of the greatest mysteries of our time.
Topics: environment
Victoria in a single image
Corey Burger on Sat 10 Jul 2010 at 6:35 PM
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: Food co-op, First Nations make deal to join forces
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sat 10 Jul 2010 at 12:27 PM
A new partnership aims at developing Vancouver Island First Nations' potential in various food production initiatives.
The Vancouver Island Heritage Foodservice Co-op and the First Nations Agricultural
Topics: environment
Co-op Job Posting: Manager (Victoria Community Health Co-op)
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Fri 09 Jul 2010 at 12:25 PM
The Victoria Community Health Co-op (VCHC) is a community owned wellness and health co-operative, established in 2008. For two years we have provided wellness and outreach services to our member-owner
Topics: environment
Oil Industry Problems Persist
Solar Home Review on Thu 08 Jul 2010 at 8:41 PM
.It is sad beyond words and horrifying to see the deep ocean oil well disaster continuing to unfold in the Gulf of Mexico. It's business as usual in the Oil Industry. They operate like a pack of cra
Topics: environment
From Excess to Aesthetics
Transition Victoria on Thu 08 Jul 2010 at 1:25 PM
I recently published an article entitled "Sustainability: From Excess to Aesthetics". It is an academic article with some technical language but I hope all can still read it without too many problems:
Topics: environment
Transition Victoria, Cowichan and Salt Spring at the Organic Islands Fest this we
Transition Victoria on Thu 08 Jul 2010 at 9:26 AM
Regional Transition Initiatives will be sharing a table at the Organic Islands Festival (beside OUR EcoVillage) this Sat. and Sun. at Glendale Gardens in Victoria.Come and say hello and check out some
Topics: environment
Council asks for feedback on proposed bike lanes
Corey Burger on Wed 07 Jul 2010 at 8:00 AM
It seems those bike lane improvements I mentioned the other day might not be as slow as coming as I had feared. At the time council hesitated, asking for more information about traffic counts and resid
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: Is a Co-op in Your Future?
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Wed 07 Jul 2010 at 7:58 AM
Vancouver is among the least affordable housing markets in the world, according to a report by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.
That hardly comes as news to Vancouver families trapped between re
Topics: environment
Nuclear Energy: Technology Roadmap
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 06 Jul 2010 at 3:47 PM
The probability of generating almost one quarter of global electricity from nuclear power by 2050 and contributing significantly to cutting greenhouse gas emissions was the highlight of the Nuclear Ene
Topics: environment
A night of fireworks and booze
Corey Burger on Tue 06 Jul 2010 at 2:00 PM
A few days late, but I thought I would share a little bit of my evening on Canada Day. After my little walkabout to the various block parties, I braved the bus to head down to my brother's for a bit of
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: Building Burton's Co-op
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Tue 06 Jul 2010 at 7:58 AM
As part of Burton's push to revive a local grocer and implement a co-op, the community has come together and designed a local farmer's market.
The market runs every Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and f
Topics: environment
Che Guevara fights on
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 06 Jul 2010 at 7:46 AM
I was at the 3rd International Che Guevara Conference in Vancouver to interview Aleida Guevara, pediatrician and daughter of Che Guevara, one of the leaders of the Cuban Revolution.
Topics: environment
The Organic Islands Festival Needs Volunteers Friday, July 9, Saturday, July 10 o
Transition Victoria on Mon 05 Jul 2010 at 11:19 PM
The Organic Islands Festival, coming up this weekend, is very short
of volunteers. Can you help?
The Festival and Sustainability Expo at Glendale Gardens in Saanich needs more volunteers for festival
Topics: environment
Global Solar Center | Quality Service
Solar Home Review on Mon 05 Jul 2010 at 10:33 PM
.Global Solar Center based in New York state provides a comprehensive solar consulting service, providing FREE quotes to residential and commercial customers across the U.S. For the majority of us
Topics: environment
Marching with HSSE in the 2010 Victoria Pride Parade
Corey Burger on Mon 05 Jul 2010 at 7:44 PM
Yesterday I went down to the Pride Parade but instead of merely watching, this year I decided to march with Heterosexuals for Same Sex Equality (HSSE). It was a great deal of fun, mostly thanks to Shon
Topics: environment
Slay Those Dragons - We all have psychological dragons that test our resolve to a
Transition Victoria on Sun 04 Jul 2010 at 4:13 PM
Slay those dragons_Edgewise.pdfBy Peigi McGillivrayHow many times have you made a resolution to be a cleaner and greener you, only to fall back on old wasteful and energy-consuming habits?You're not al
Topics: environment
Last weekend on Saltspring…
Corey Burger on Sun 04 Jul 2010 at 12:00 PM
It may sound like the beginning to a great story, but it is really the intro to a series of pictures I took the last Saturday in June when I visited Saltpring Island with two friends. We hit the Saltsp
Topics: environment
Langford Mayor Stew Young blogs
Corey Burger on Sun 04 Jul 2010 at 8:00 AM
I failed to notice this earlier this year, but as of March 2010, the Mayor of Langford, Stew Young, has got himself a blog. It is mostly puff pieces and is likely written by the City of Langford's comm
Topics: environment
The Threat Facing Victoria Rail Service
Transition Victoria on Sat 03 Jul 2010 at 1:03 PM
The City of Victoria threatens to end access by rail to and from the Western Communities unless all interested parties contribute to the funding of such service the new or refurbished Blue Bridge. The
Topics: environment
A few pictures from a few block parties
Corey Burger on Fri 02 Jul 2010 at 7:00 PM
Yesterday I went for a bit a walk around Oak Bay to 5 different block parties: St. Patrick, Byron St, Pacific St, the lane behind Dalhousie St, and Oliver St. While out for my jaunt I took a few pictur
Topics: environment
African Countries Showcase Green Economy Initiatives at UNEP Event and Launching
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 02 Jul 2010 at 5:00 PM
South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have taken bold initiatives to achieve a green economy transformation. These initiatives were presented at a UNEP event during the 13th session of the African Min
Topics: environment
Totnes - Energy Descent Action Plan and Local Money Resources
Transition Victoria on Wed 30 Jun 2010 at 11:26 AM
Hi again,
Below are links to more on-line resources. The Totnes folks have released their Energy Descent Action Plan. I had a brief look - it downlaods very slowly. Also some articles on local money sy
Topics: environment
City of Victoria's Offical Community Plan
Transition Victoria on Wed 30 Jun 2010 at 9:46 AM
Hi Everyone,
I just came across this notice (below) on what is happening with the City of Victoria's future community plans. I am wondering if VTT folks are participating as individuals or as a workin
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: Neglected Chinatown lot will become community garden
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Tue 29 Jun 2010 at 7:36 PM
A neglected lot littered with trash and weeds in Chinatown could become the site of downtown Victoria's only community garden.
Hidden behind a Chinese herbalist store on Fisgard Street, a 75-square-met
Topics: environment
My Journey to Launch
Annalea Krebs on Tue 29 Jun 2010 at 4:47 PM
As published on: http://seechangemagazine.com I'm thrilled to have launched TheChange and to see my vision of advancing the sustainability movement locally coming to life with the help of a great team
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: High-end restaurants go wild for nettles, flowers and
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sun 27 Jun 2010 at 5:15 PM
You might not want them in your lawn but the city's top chefs are willing to pay top dollar for dandelions and other high quality weeds, organic farmers say.
"My salad mix is about 25 per cent wild pla
Topics: environment
Guerilla sharrows, the press release
Corey Burger on Sat 26 Jun 2010 at 8:00 AM
The guerrilla sharrows that have appeared on Lansdowne just south of Camosun College have made the news. A few days ago, the press release from OURS hit my inbox. I have been ruminating on what to do w
Topics: environment
Thank You to Our Visitors
Solar Home Review on Fri 25 Jun 2010 at 7:40 PM
.For all you wonderful people out there who come back to read about solar news and find solar information, we would like to extend our apology for the lack of content in our day to day blog posts, over
Topics: environment
Parents of special needs kids start co-op to create work experience
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Fri 25 Jun 2010 at 10:09 AM
A group of parents in Cedar who have special needs children have banded together to form a co-operative in an attempt to give their children some skills that they can use.
The Cedar Opportunities Co-op
Topics: environment
Victoria filmmaker's Brothel Project to make broadcast debut
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Wed 23 Jun 2010 at 6:38 PM
A homegrown documentary that made its world première at this year's Victoria Film Festival is heading for the small screen.
The Brothel Project, directed by Victoria's April Butler-Parry and written a
Topics: environment
A pictorial journey along the E & N Rail Trail
Corey Burger on Wed 23 Jun 2010 at 12:40 PM
The E & N Rail Trail, boldly promised to be finished by "the 2010 Olympics” just a few years ago by the CRD (PDF), is now finally taking shape in Langford. I thought I would bike out there and see ho
Topics: environment
Phase out of Hazardous Chemicals in the Mediterranean by 2019
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 21 Jun 2010 at 5:00 PM
Mediterranean countries adopted new concrete measures and mandatory timelines to limit the impact of dangerous chemicals and pesticides originating from industrial and agricultural activities on the ma
Topics: environment
E-Com is nuts these days
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 21 Jun 2010 at 12:00 PM
So here's the thing, the e-commerce world is getting crazy out there. Makes my head ache.
When this online shopping thing started out about 12 or 15 years ago, it was a simpler albeit less technologica
Topics: environment
State of the Planet
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 20 Jun 2010 at 11:25 AM
The UN Environment Programme has released a report on the state of the world's environment called Global Biodiversity Outlook 3 - VNR. It is the most comprehensive report yet compiled on the state of l
Topics: environment
Nuclear Energy: Centres of Excellence and the Role Universities Play
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 20 Jun 2010 at 10:07 AM
A centre of excellence, in a simple sense, is defined as a structure where research and technological research is performed to world standards, in terms of measurable scientific production (including t
Topics: environment
Transit sucks for seniors, so let's have less of it
Corey Burger on Sat 19 Jun 2010 at 1:59 PM
Sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture to see the absurdity of it all. The Times Colonist has a pair of stories today, both talking about long running issues that are plaguing our region. The
Topics: environment
Botany and Fantasy - images by Linda Foubister
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 19 Jun 2010 at 9:23 AM
Images by Linda Foubister of trees at Goward House: the intricacies of old arbutus bark, and canopies spiralling against the sky. Across from Goward House are the imperilled Haro Woods, though it seems
Topics: environment
Bowker Creek Greenway arrives … in Saanich
Corey Burger on Fri 18 Jun 2010 at 5:04 PM
The Bowker Creek Greenway is starting to appear in Browning Park in Saanich. As I mentioned last fall, it is funded by provincial money via LocalMotion and federal stimulus dollars. When I was there ye
Topics: environment
Congressman's BP Apology apology
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 18 Jun 2010 at 2:06 PM
Members have been increasingly vocal since a succession of strong rebukes of BP by U.S. President Obama and lawmakers at Thursday's congressional hearing, which they are calling a "lynch mob”.
Topics: environment
Congressman to BP: "I apologize”
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 17 Jun 2010 at 9:46 PM
Senior member of Congress called the real tragedy of the Gulf oil disaster not the hundreds of thousands of livelihoods destroyed, but that BP can be subjected to a "shakedown" -- referring to the fund
Topics: environment
Funding Opportunity - BC Climate change data catalog - Advocacy Tool - Homeowner
Transition Victoria on Thu 17 Jun 2010 at 2:58 PM
Hi VTT folks - just came across these resources and thought they might be useful to some of the working groups and/or members.
Joy
Funding OpportunitiesThe Province of BC's Apps 4 Climate Action cont
Topics: environment
Bike corrals appear downtown
Corey Burger on Thu 17 Jun 2010 at 8:00 AM
For those that bike downtown, there is a welcome new sight: more bike parking. The Downtown Victoria Business Association has been partnering with the City of Victoria, Bike to Work Week Victoria, Capi
Topics: environment
CRD Bike/Ped plan open house
Corey Burger on Tue 15 Jun 2010 at 5:06 PM
With Phase 1 complete, the next phase of the CRD Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan is afoot. There is a public open house on the 29th of June from 5pm to 8pm. It will be held in the lobby of the CRD B
Topics: environment
Secondary suites report finished, more discussion coming
Corey Burger on Tue 15 Jun 2010 at 12:50 PM
The Secondary Suites Review Committee has finished its long and quite extensive consultation and has handed in its final report (PDF) to council last night. Predictably, council opted to talk a little
Topics: environment
More Companies Investing in Forestry Offsets
Green IT TOOLS on Mon 14 Jun 2010 at 8:26 PM
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Google PowerMeter releases API
Green IT TOOLS on Mon 14 Jun 2010 at 8:07 PM
Topics: environment
Greenpeace Releases Newest "Cool IT" Rankings
Green IT TOOLS on Mon 14 Jun 2010 at 7:47 PM
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What's BP up to with GIS data?
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 11 Jun 2010 at 2:43 PM
The only copy of the GIS database we created is behind the BP firewall, managed and edited only by BP IT staff and their contractors. It is our understanding that several agencies, most importantly US
Topics: environment
Here's an awesome inspirational video by Simon T Bailey
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 10 Jun 2010 at 10:13 PM
Simon T. Bailey, bestselling author of "Release Your Brilliance", wants to know: what does Appetite for the Spectacular mean to you?
Topics: environment
BC Transit talks its future
Corey Burger on Thu 10 Jun 2010 at 4:00 PM
With the Victoria Regional Rapid Transit planning coming along and the province-wide 2030 strategic plan just finished, BC Transit held a pair of workshops recently to discuss their latest planning end
Topics: environment
Bike lanes delayed in Oak Bay
Corey Burger on Thu 10 Jun 2010 at 8:00 AM
After a good half hour debate about the relative merits of adding bike lanes and bike boxes on two different routes to UVic, council ultimately decided to delay doing any work until Director of Enginee
Topics: environment
Nuclear Energy in the United States
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 07 Jun 2010 at 9:04 PM
More than $8 billion in new federal loan guarantees to build two nuclear reactors in Georgia could be the first step toward a nuclear renaissance in the United States, three decades after the Three Mil
Topics: environment
Tea Party pictures
Corey Burger on Mon 07 Jun 2010 at 4:18 PM
I uploaded some Tea Party pictures from sunny Saturday to a Flickr set today. Sadly I missed out on getting pictures of the parade due to me forgetting my battery from my camera at home, but I managed
Topics: environment
CloverPoint June 2010
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 07 Jun 2010 at 3:52 PM
Hey check out CloverPoint's newsletter for June..got some awesome stuff in there, especially for you GIS types or anyone having fun with Google Earth.
Oil Spill Response System
CloverPoint and CORI
Topics: environment
Greenpeace activist attacked.
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 06 Jun 2010 at 12:53 PM
I'm passing this on. The fight for the environment and the survival of our planet is real and we can not be ignoring it.
Press release - June 4, 2010
Mediterranean Sea - Greenpeace activists took direc
Topics: environment
Never Mind Flowers, Victoria Needs an Annual Tree Count
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 05 Jun 2010 at 5:01 PM
It should be at least as easy as a flower count, and a lot more accurate. Of course accuracy isn't the point; drawing attention to the splendours growing in our parks and gardens is the point, and tree
Topics: environment
Conduit Is the First Company to Provide Platform for Creation of Custom Apps for
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 04 Jun 2010 at 3:55 PM
The mobile app world continues to heat up with the battle between Apple and Google being the forefront of this intense battle. You can't help but notice if you even only glance at any mainstream TV the
Topics: environment
What an Oil Covered Bird Looks Like - Thanks to BP
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 04 Jun 2010 at 2:58 PM
AP Photographer Charlie Riedel just filed the following images of seabirds caught in the oil slick on a beach on Louisiana's East Grand Terre Island.
As BP engineers continue their efforts to cap the u
Topics: environment
Visualizing SACRED ECOLOGY at Overleaf Cafe-Bookshop
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 03 Jun 2010 at 4:32 PM
The trees around us with their attendant species of wildlife, grasses, flowers, bees etc., are connected to rather than separate from us. Their energy is our energy, connected through the natural eleme
Topics: environment
Apple Co-Founder Ron Wayne's Long, Strange - and Sad - Trip
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 03 Jun 2010 at 1:10 PM
We don't hear much about Ron Wayne, one of Apple's three founders. That might be because he gave back a stake that would be worth $22 billion today 12 days after he got it from his partners, Steve Jobs
Topics: environment
Green machine: Cars could run on sunlight and CO2
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 02 Jun 2010 at 8:46 PM
Greenhouse-gas-pumping cars are, let's face it, never going to be green. But innovative sunlight-powered fuel production techniques could inch motor vehicles towards carbon neutrality.
Topics: environment
Bethlehem Priest Joins Avatar's James Cameron and Global Thought Leaders in Calli
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 01 Jun 2010 at 11:10 PM
This is worth paying attention to, especially this week regardless of belief.
Powerful invitation from the Parish Priest and head of the Franciscan Order of the Church of the Nativity in the holy cit
Topics: environment
Awesome 3D video of impossible objects.
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 01 Jun 2010 at 9:26 PM
Check out this amazing video of impossible objects. Crazy fun from New Scientist.
Topics: environment
Nvidia Dreams of a Three-Dimensional Future for PCs
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 01 Jun 2010 at 7:50 AM
"This is the beginning of the 3D revolution…. There is no reason to buy another PC unless it has 3D in it,” advises Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang, whose company has lined up partners including Asus, So
Topics: environment
Why HP Thinks Sensors Will Lead to The Next Big Wave of Computing
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 31 May 2010 at 10:53 PM
The basic premise of CeNSE is to create a worldwide network of sensors that is connected to the Internet, which in turn creates a feedback loop for objects and people.
Topics: environment
CONSCIOUSNESS BEYOND LIFE by World Renowned Cardiologist, Pim Van Lommel Reveals
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 31 May 2010 at 6:47 PM
As a cardiologist, Pim van Lommel was struck by the number of his patients who claimed to have near-death experiences as a result of their heart attack. As a scientist, this was difficult for him to ac
Topics: environment
Risk of giant quake off American west coast goes up
feeds.nature.com on Mon 31 May 2010 at 12:00 PM
A magnitude 8 or greater earthquake has a one in three chance of hitting in the next 50 years.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/news/rss/most_recent/~4/Q6thMyUy-Es" height="1" width="1"/>
Topics: environment
Typhon Mobile Launches FANTASY DJ, Freestyle Music Creation and Sharing for Socia
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 30 May 2010 at 7:32 PM
Madrid, Spain (PRWEB) May 30, 2010 - Typhon Mobile, a developer of entertainment software, announces its latest release, Fantasy DJ.
It's a music making and mixing application like no other, for all
Topics: environment
Co-op benefits from donation
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sun 30 May 2010 at 10:47 AM
Community First Health Co-op, a volunteer organization operating the Nelson and Area Wellness Centre at 518 Lake Street, has received a donation of the delivery of landscaping rocks from Nelson Ready M
Topics: environment
Meat Co-op selling assets to tackle outstanding debt
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sun 30 May 2010 at 10:45 AM
The Northwest Premium Meat Co-op's abattoir is for sale.
The Co-op voted in favour of a resolution at their last annual general meeting that would list their assets for sale.
The resolution was a last
Topics: environment
Co-ops get repairs from grant money
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sun 30 May 2010 at 10:42 AM
Two Victoria housing co-operatives are among 39 to receive federal money for renovations.
Superior Street co-op with 18 units, and Springride co-op with 22 units, will receive about $200,000 in funds f
Topics: environment
SIRCNet/SIRCC-CCCBE Research Report: Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sun 30 May 2010 at 10:34 AM
The South Islands Regional Co-op Council (SIRCC)
Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead
A Community-Based Research Initiative between the South Islands Regional Co-op Council (SIRCC) and the Centre for Co-o
Topics: environment
U.S. Solar Installers | Cooler Planet Connects You
Solar Home Review on Sat 29 May 2010 at 6:00 AM
.Cooler Planet is a unique company with a clear philosophy. Based in Seattle, Washington, it was created and is run by passionate environmentalists with backgrounds in software engineering and online
Topics: environment
Financial meltdown imperils reactor
naturenews on Fri 28 May 2010 at 4:36 PM
Faced with a huge budget shortfall, Europe rethinks future of ITER fusion project.
Topics: environment
Report 2010: Global Justice Gap Condemns Millions to Abuse - Media Release and Re
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 28 May 2010 at 10:59 AM
A global justice gap is being made worse by power politics despite a landmark year for international justice, said Amnesty International today in its annual assessment of human rights worldwide.
Topics: environment
Big Win for the Arctic - New Drilling Put on Hold
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 28 May 2010 at 7:36 AM
President Obama today announced that new exploratory drilling off the coast of Alaska that was set to begin as soon as July 1 has been put on hold until at least 2011.
Topics: environment
UK Drops Low Carbon Buildings Programme | Keeps FITS
Solar Home Review on Thu 27 May 2010 at 6:32 PM
.The UK's coalition government headed by Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron and Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minster Nick Clegg have handed out swift cuts to the department of Energy and Climat
Topics: environment
Bike improvements possibly coming to Oak Bay
Corey Burger on Wed 26 May 2010 at 4:48 PM
Bicycle commuters to UVic may have an easier time next September as the municipality moves to fix a few gaps in the existing bike lanes. Initially promoted by Councillor Jensen, Council last night aske
Topics: environment
Island Governance and Community Plans
Transition Victoria on Mon 24 May 2010 at 8:41 PM
All TV Groups will be interested in this summary of Island problems and need for action:
Reshaping Victoria's Economy for a Sustainable Planet
- by Rob Wipond
An expert panel discusses how our municip
Topics: environment
Victoria OCP "Community Circle" to be held at Overleaf Cafe-Bookshop May 29th
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 22 May 2010 at 5:30 PM
Which do you want to see?Anyone interested in the preservation of Victoria's urban forest and extension of the parks system is invited to share their thoughts at a Community Circle on LAND USE, at Over
Topics: environment
Beam Me Up Scotty - not quite
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 20 May 2010 at 11:58 AM
Chinese experimenters have succeeded in teleporting information via entangled photons over the longest distance yet, some 16km. This is a solid step in the right direction for creating quantum communic
Topics: environment
Request for Volunteer(s) to Coordinate "Nut Capital of Canada" Initiative
Transition Victoria on Thu 20 May 2010 at 12:35 AM
Hello All Transitioners and Community Members,(Don't worry, this initiative has nothing to do with people who stand on street corners with signs claiming that the "Apocalypse is Coming"! ;-)The Food Se
Topics: environment
Wow. Build your own mobile app..fast, free and easy.
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 17 May 2010 at 9:32 PM
Check out this video by Appwhirl on how to make your own mobile app. It's pretty cool and probably freaking out the Iphone app developers. It is a testament to how fast technology changes. This is awes
Topics: environment
Gonzales Guardians
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 16 May 2010 at 10:26 AM
Battered by sea winds but proudly occupying their rocky point - tree sentinels on Gonzales Bay commune with the Olympic Mountains. .
Topics: environment
UVIC buns to be evicted from heaven?
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 15 May 2010 at 9:09 AM
Sent by J.L. Just to lighten things up -- (Change the last word to "Victoria"):A couple made a deal that whoever died first would come back and inform the other if there is sex after death. After a lon
Topics: environment
Energy Star May Have Some Not so Green Products
Green IT TOOLS on Fri 14 May 2010 at 11:49 PM
Topics: environment
Office Lighting Gets Greener
Green IT TOOLS on Fri 14 May 2010 at 11:15 PM
Topics: environment
Greener Printer with GreenPrint
Green IT TOOLS on Fri 14 May 2010 at 10:49 PM
Topics: environment
Green Shipping Practices for Your IT Department
Green IT TOOLS on Fri 14 May 2010 at 10:00 PM
Topics: environment
Long time, no post
Corey Burger on Fri 14 May 2010 at 1:26 PM
It has been over a month since I posted, not good. However, I have been busy with the end of the school term and a trip to Hawaii - you can see some of the pictures my brother took here - so to placate
Topics: environment
Watch this Gulf Spill Video
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 14 May 2010 at 9:50 AM
Here's an amateur video of the current Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster which is going to go down in history as the largest spill ever.
Topics: environment
Oil Spill Emergency Response System
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 12 May 2010 at 10:41 AM
Check out the A Channel video clip of the work CloverPoint and Coastal and Oceans Resources Inc. are doing on the US Government's ShoreZone project. It's a nice piece and relevant to what's happening i
Topics: environment
Rally to Save BC Salmon
Transition Victoria on Tue 11 May 2010 at 11:00 PM
Saturday afternoon's Rally to Save BC Salmon at the Legislative Building was one of the largest environmental demonstrations the city has ever
seen, close to 4,000 people turned out for the culmination
Topics: environment
Official Community Plans
Transition Victoria on Mon 10 May 2010 at 4:11 PM
Canadian-cities-at-crossroads.pdf and VisioningOurFuture.pdf
These are two recent articles which I believe should interest all VT and related groups.
CRD, Saanich, Victoria and most communities are i
Topics: environment
More rabbit-and-trees feedback
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 09 May 2010 at 11:38 AM
Growing rabbit gang problem -- now moving on to bike wheel vandalism! Ha ha: that's just a joke by Treewatch, not by the photographer who took these pictures. They were sent by Anthony Perodeau, and th
Topics: environment
Thirst for Water - A power point presentation about water and the planet
Transition Victoria on Sun 09 May 2010 at 5:51 AM
Suggested by Carolyn Herbert:
"This is an excellent and informative powerpoint presentation about water and the planet! Definitely food for thought for all of us"
Thirst for WATER.pps
Topics: environment
Gardens don't "waste" water, they conserve water
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 08 May 2010 at 5:01 PM
In a book from 2005 (Curious By Nature), Candace Savage tells us that in Nebraska, fully 250 kilometers of fibrous roots were measured under half a square mile of grassland. The roots of grass are what
Topics: environment
Municipal Wastewater Effluent
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sat 08 May 2010 at 11:55 AM
Three billion people lack safe sanitation services around the world and more than one billion people have no access to safe water that means they had to revert to unprotected wells or springs, can
Topics: environment
Know Your Food Event - Thank You & What's Next? - AND MP3 files foreach speaker e
Transition Victoria on Thu 06 May 2010 at 11:44 PM
Next Up with Home Grown Collective:
Home Grown Collective :: Education Series
Director Hosted Documentary Screening Island On The Edge
Hosted at Sunset Room | 401 Herald Street (behind Value Village)
Topics: environment
Some Related Reasons for the Oil Spill…Headlines
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 02 May 2010 at 4:18 PM
Image via Wikipedia
We're mad…all bloody mad and there are no headlines…just actions…
WASHINGTON - Interior Department officials, while handling billions of dollars in oil and gas royalty pa
Topics: environment
Crosby Shoots, Can Jesus Save?
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sat 01 May 2010 at 8:24 PM
Here's a great post by Peter Miles I just need to share from over at lifeasahuman.com..too funny.
A few weeks ago, my eight-year-old daughter asked, "What religion are we, Daddy?” I just about choke
Topics: environment
Transformation of Colwood into a University City
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 29 Apr 2010 at 5:54 PM
"It has for a long time been my dream to capitalize on the virtue of the Royal Roads University (RRU) and transform the City of Colwood into a University City instead of just saying that we have a u
Topics: environment
A Greenpeace video.
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 28 Apr 2010 at 9:42 PM
This video just has a very simple and beautiful way to say what we should be striving for.
Topics: environment
Uplands Park Celebration, April 25th
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 28 Apr 2010 at 6:20 PM
Scenes from the Friends of Uplands Park and the Oak Bay Community Association's day of walks, art and music. It all took place in that beautiful spot where the Garry oak woodland/grassland meets the vi
Topics: environment
The cruelest month
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 27 Apr 2010 at 5:01 PM
"April is the cruelest month, breeding ..."It is tempestuous anyway, this year. Stormy weather: and each storm seems to give officials another reason to cut down an array of the city's trees. Seen once
Topics: environment
Upcoming pay-what-you-can workshops for local sustainable businesses
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Mon 26 Apr 2010 at 6:52 PM
MARKETING 101 FOR GREEN AND LOCAL BUSINESSES
WHEN: Thursday, May 13th, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
WHERE: Burnside Gorge Community Centre
SPACES AVAILABLE: 20
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107020
Topics: environment
Co-op sector and universities awarded $1 million in research funding
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Mon 26 Apr 2010 at 6:40 PM
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) announced in February 2010 that Canada's co-operative sector, in partnership with four Canadian universities, has been awarded fund
Topics: environment
Complaining or Taking Action
Solar Home Review on Sun 25 Apr 2010 at 8:18 AM
.Complaining about the state of the world is at epidemic proportions. Hand-wringing, reactionary postures and useless sarcasm have become nothing more than a bad habit, that serves nothing except to i
Topics: environment
2D to 3D conversion
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sat 24 Apr 2010 at 10:06 AM
While 3D TVs, 3D broadcast channels and 3D cinemas pop up like daisies, content owners develop a growing need to get their 2D content converted to a 3D format. The fact is that people are paying more t
Topics: environment
Social Media Wheely
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 23 Apr 2010 at 2:49 PM
Here's a cool gadget that demonstrates the world of social media. You can interact with it. Click on a name and go to that site and use your scroll wheel to move in closer. They've done a nice job of s
Topics: environment
Fox News Going Green, no, but maybe
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 23 Apr 2010 at 2:37 PM
Ok..so here's some hypocrisy. I just have to point to this article as another one of those WTF things.
In the Fox News universe, the world is definitely not warming. Quite the opposite: Climate change
Topics: environment
Facebook Takes Over Internet
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 23 Apr 2010 at 11:16 AM
Yes, Facebook is going crazy and things are shifting in the cyber world. This is a great article by Catharine P. Taylor on how Facebook is changing everything.
Yesterday, while you might have been bus
Topics: environment
Don't Build It. Print Your House. Celebrate Earth Day
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 21 Apr 2010 at 10:08 PM
d_shape is a new robotic building system that enables full-size sandstone buildings to be made without human intervention, using a stereolithography 3-D printing process that requires only sand and a s
Topics: environment
40 Years In. Are we doomed?
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 21 Apr 2010 at 4:10 PM
On April 22nd, Earth Day celebrates its 40th anniversary. Beginning at 9pm PST on April 21st, Life As A Human will begin publishing features from our authors about our relationship to Mother Earth,
Topics: environment
We Have to Save the Whales AGAIN
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 21 Apr 2010 at 3:49 PM
Within days, a proposal will be unveiled that could legalize commercial whale hunting for the first time in 24 years.
Topics: environment
New Federal Program an "Innovation Game-Changer”
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 20 Apr 2010 at 9:20 PM
"Following the federal budget's doubling to $30 million in annual research granting council funds for innovation projects involving colleges, polytechnics and SMEs, today's announcement reinforces Otta
Topics: environment
Earth Day Founder Speaks Out: All Certified Wood is Not Equal
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 20 Apr 2010 at 8:59 AM
Denis Hayes Disavows "Strong-arm” Effort by Industrial Forest Companies to Force the U.S. Green Building Council to Award Points for Wood from All Forest Certification Systems in its LEED Program
Topics: environment
3D Virtual Campus
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 19 Apr 2010 at 10:55 PM
Clover Point is changing the game when it comes to creating 3D virtual worlds. I know because I'm helping..so this is a bit of a shameless plug, but why not? It's still cool. Below is the latest vide
Topics: environment
Pepsi To Give Away Over $1 Million Dollars To Fund Positive Ideas
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 19 Apr 2010 at 10:21 PM
"The Pepsi Refresh Project will feature significant social engagement around people and the power of ideas, and it was developed with the belief that great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere, anytime
Topics: environment
Ukrainian Journalist, Julia Gorodetskaya, Sends World's First Underwater Tweet
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 19 Apr 2010 at 3:36 PM
Ukrainian TV journalist, Julia Gorodetskaya (@gorodetskaya), recently sent the world's first documented underwater tweet from the floor of a 19-feet-deep dolphinarium in Odessa, Ukraine. The event was
Topics: environment
Malcolm Gladwell and Social Media and F5 Expo
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 19 Apr 2010 at 5:51 AM
I recently went to the F5-Expo in Vancouver as a lifeasahuman reporter. And as this is a venue for supposed new technologies that will transform business, I thought it might be worthwhile to point to m
Topics: environment
Beyond the Ipad with Surface
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 18 Apr 2010 at 9:10 PM
So Microsoft is developing an amazing surface computing interface which makes it unbelievably cool to interact with your technology. It makes it that much more intuitive and hence I must present a bit
Topics: environment
Print New Skin
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 18 Apr 2010 at 6:05 PM
The Bio Printer
Now this thing would definitely come in handy after a few wild parties and some forest fires.
A new "bioprinter” medical device that works like an inkjet printer is being developed b
Topics: environment
An Animated Character Responds to the Real World.
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 18 Apr 2010 at 5:18 PM
Now this is going to have some interesting potential:
POWERPOINT presentations are about to get a sprinkle of fairy dust. A hand-held projector can now create virtual characters and objects that inte
Topics: environment
Community Circles for the Official Community Plan
Transition Victoria on Sun 18 Apr 2010 at 11:56 AM
Hi all,
I have pasted below the text of an e-mail about Community Circles which can be organized to feed citizen ideas into the City's Official Community Plan. Many of our working groups are ideally p
Topics: environment
Save Victoria Harbour - Speak Up Now Before We Lose the Harbour We Love
Transition Victoria on Sun 18 Apr 2010 at 9:30 AM
* It is important to tell the decision-makers how you feel about a
proposal that will have significant visual, environmental and social
impacts on our harbour. Save Victoria Harbour has produced a
comp
Topics: environment
Time Traveller Uncovered in old photo. You be the judge.
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 18 Apr 2010 at 9:00 AM
OK so time machines are still in the design stages…which of course means that people from the future already have them. Here's a photograph from a BC Museum which seems to show a time traveller caugh
Topics: environment
Light Blue Optics unveils Light Touch: a 10-inch touchscreen pico projector based
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 18 Apr 2010 at 12:03 AM
Check out this fabulous little device.
They promised us a device in 2010 and sure enough, Light Blue Optics just announced Light Touch. As the name implies, LBO's product is a laser projector that t
Topics: environment
Iphone Vs Kindle
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sat 17 Apr 2010 at 10:13 PM
Image via CrunchBase
What device do you take with you when you're biking across the Baja, sleeping in tents and raising dust and craving convergence? iPhone? Kindle? iPad? Neil Johnston does the roa
Topics: environment
World Moon Bounce Day is Today
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sat 17 Apr 2010 at 12:45 PM
Image via Wikipedia
Today, the 1000-foot dish at Arecibo will be activated for amateur-radio Earth-moon-Earth (EME) contacts on the 432 MHz amateur band.
Many of the world's large parabolic antenna
Topics: environment
Personalizing Medicine - A New Era
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 16 Apr 2010 at 7:07 PM
Image via Wikipedia
Published online Wednesday in Nature, a paper authored by over 200 members of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) describes a new era of personalized medicine for
Topics: environment
Renewables Interactive Global Map | REN21
Solar Home Review on Thu 15 Apr 2010 at 10:06 PM
.REN21 is a global "policy" network connecting governments, NGOs and international organizations to facilitate a transition to renewable energy systems globally. They provide a forum that serves to ai
Topics: environment
Caught In the Act: a bad rabbit
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 15 Apr 2010 at 6:02 PM
On March 31st a Treewatch post requested that someone "Show us a tree at UVIC that a rabbit has harmed" -- and UVIC's Communications Department has obliged. See the illustrations above. The post had sa
Topics: environment
Update: Canada's Carbon Targets Survive
The Olive Ridley Crawl on Wed 14 Apr 2010 at 3:45 PM
In a vote today, the Canadian Parliament voted to keep debate on Bill C-311 alive. The vote was 155-137. This is good news, though the bill likely faces an uncertain future even if it passes parliament
Topics: environment
Hello world!
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 13 Apr 2010 at 6:15 PM
Hello…we'll be back up again soon…just moved hosts….sorry for the delay my friends
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: Car Share Program Launched in Smithers
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Mon 12 Apr 2010 at 8:35 PM
Northern B-C's first carshare cooperative was launched in Smithers yesterday.
Developed by One Sky and the Canadian Institute of Sustainable Living, Program Coordinator Kim Struthers says the Go-2 CarS
Topics: environment
VCHC to host Community Wellness Clinic on April 18th
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Mon 12 Apr 2010 at 8:23 PM
Time:
2010 Apr 18 - 10:00am - 4:00pm
Get personalized integrative care
at the community wellness clinic
The Community Wellness Clinic will take place at the Alembic Healing Arts Centre in Market
Topics: environment
The Change Generation
Annalea Krebs on Mon 12 Apr 2010 at 4:35 PM
New Granville blogger Annalea Krebs gets tips for jump starting a green career from BC's young environmental entrepreneurs.
Topics: environment
Canada's only proposed Carbon Targets in Danger
The Olive Ridley Crawl on Mon 12 Apr 2010 at 2:18 PM
Bill C-311, Canada's Climate Change Accountability Act, is back in the "news” (no silly, not the media, who have more important things to worry about). I had written about this before the Copenhagen
Topics: environment
Spring at Harris Green
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 11 Apr 2010 at 11:51 AM
April in the city -- spring at Harris Green
Topics: environment
Spring
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 11 Apr 2010 at 10:03 AM
Pointing the way to spring at Lockier Garden on Estevan - hanging from each of these delicate fingers are long new buds soon to unfurl.Above: chestnut leaf budding. Middle: goodwill messages people hav
Topics: environment
Central Saanich Land Use/ Food security alert
Transition Victoria on Sat 10 Apr 2010 at 8:26 PM
For those who haven't heard, Central Saanich council wil be considering a request for a majjor development on land which is currently in the Agricultural Land Reserve. This would be contrary to the Off
Topics: environment
So much for that garden
Corey Burger on Fri 09 Apr 2010 at 7:11 PM
Despite my predictions to the contrary, UVic Grounds moved in last night, went to town with their heavy machinery before putting up a beautiful fence. Ball's in the guerrilla gardeners court now.
Topics: environment
Green Building in India: NOT
The Olive Ridley Crawl on Fri 09 Apr 2010 at 12:12 PM
There is a buzz about green buildings. But the question is: what does one mean by building green? And how does one design policies to make the green homes of our dreams?Green is not about first buildin
Topics: environment
Guerrilla gardeners ask for the moon
Corey Burger on Thu 08 Apr 2010 at 1:20 PM
The lawn diggers of UVic finally released a set of demands (PDF). Do these things or the lawn gets it. Oh, wait…
What exactly do they want? The first and most logical demand is for new community gard
Topics: environment
The UKs New Low Carbon Rewards
Solar Home Review on Wed 07 Apr 2010 at 9:40 PM
.As promised The UK has introduced 2 carbon reducing incentive programs for homes and businesses with a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 34% of targets set for 1990. The two wings that make this
Topics: environment
Krugman takes on Climate Change Economics
The Olive Ridley Crawl on Wed 07 Apr 2010 at 9:55 AM
Paul Krugman takes on climate change economics, just read the whole damn thing, but I will summarize so you don't have to wade through 8 pages. In what follows, I will offer a brief survey of the econo
Topics: environment
Why the new war on trees?
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 06 Apr 2010 at 4:36 PM
Fifty of them have just been killed at Mount Douglas Park. Municipalities talk as if our parks are war zones full of lethal trees on all sides, all out to get us. Is "kill them before they kill us" the
Topics: environment
Co-op Rendez-Vous
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Tue 06 Apr 2010 at 12:07 AM
When: April 21st, 2010: 4:30 - 6:00pm
Where: The Fernwood Inn, 1302 Gladstone Avenue at Fernwood Rd. (across from Belfry Theatre)
This Co-op Rendez-vous, we're taking a casual approach. Come with your
Topics: environment
We Can Change the World
Transition Victoria on Mon 05 Apr 2010 at 9:00 PM
Discover new opportunities to make a
real difference in accelerating the emergence of an environmentally
sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just human presence on
this planet!
.... Plan
Topics: environment
CRD Parks under threat
Corey Burger on Mon 05 Apr 2010 at 5:48 PM
Between ATVs and the Colwood Council, CRD has found its parks under a great deal of strain recently. The local ATV groups have started a drive to allow ATV access to the regions parks. Then Turner Lane
Topics: environment
Ecoguide for Victoria in the new Yellow Pages
Transition Victoria on Mon 05 Apr 2010 at 5:30 PM
Check out the Ecoguide in the latest Yellow Pages, a lot of helpful addresses and information on:- Find the resources to reuse, recycle or dispose of waste in a responsible manner, - Understand the dif
Topics: environment
Roots and Roofs Housing Co-op has a 1-bedroom apartment available for May 1st
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sun 04 Apr 2010 at 10:36 AM
Roofs & Roots Housing Co-operative is committed to developing co-operatively owned housing that is affordable, ecologically sustainable and healthy for the members who live in our buildings. We are loo
Topics: environment
April 1st: Bunzilla Destroys Golf Course
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 01 Apr 2010 at 6:55 PM
Aren't these animals monstrous? Invaders and destroyers, they have been spotted at Henderson Golf Course on April 1st. This is a dark day: by April 2nd, no tree will be left standing. This rabbit may l
Topics: environment
Show us a tree at UVIC that a rabbit has harmed
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 31 Mar 2010 at 8:41 PM
Students are on this date ripping up the ground in front of the Library at UVIC. Rabbits are not ripping up any ground, yet Uvic wants to kill the rabbits. What's going on here? Victoria News in today'
Topics: environment
UVic guerrilla garden reappears
Corey Burger on Wed 31 Mar 2010 at 5:33 PM
The guerrilla gardeners at UVic have - technically still are - struck again, replanting the garden in front of the McPherson Library. With the current community gardens under threat of being turned int
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: Profile of Joey MacDonald from Olio Artists and Worke
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Wed 31 Mar 2010 at 4:02 PM
Renaissance plan: Joey MacDonald's ideas run through cultural landscape
Artistic inspiration is hard to come by when you're worried about how to pay for the end product.
Materials cost money. So does s
Topics: environment
Nuclear Energy and Canada
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 31 Mar 2010 at 2:04 PM
By Mir F. Ali
In addition to generating safe, reliable, and affordable electricity without emitting carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, nuclear energy is capable of help producing technologies which
Topics: environment
Co-op Job Posting: Fleet Manager (Victoria Car Share Cooperative)
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Mon 29 Mar 2010 at 7:58 PM
The Victoria Car Share Cooperative is hiring a Fleet Manager!
We are looking for an enthusiastic, detail-orientated, and self-directed person with a passion for the VCSC and automobiles to become our n
Topics: environment
Times Colonist: Gary Lunn joins the Progressive Conservatives
Corey Burger on Sat 27 Mar 2010 at 8:27 PM
I saw it in the news, therefor it must be correct. In an article about the excellent news of $1 million for the E&N Rail Trail was this line (emphasis mine):
The funding was announced by Gary Lunn, PC
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: Farm defies court ruling on raw milk
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sat 27 Mar 2010 at 6:38 PM
Members of a cow-sharing collective in B.C.'s Fraser Valley say they will continue distributing raw milk, despite a court ruling.
The Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled the Home on The Range co-op
Topics: environment
SIRCNet Presents: Flourishing With a Co-operative Economy
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sat 27 Mar 2010 at 6:30 PM
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
6:00pm - 9:00pm
City Hall, 1 Centennial Square
Victoria, British Columbia
In recognition that environmental efforts must include plans and actions for the economy and a differen
Topics: environment
Community Initiatives Committee for the win
Corey Burger on Fri 26 Mar 2010 at 5:43 PM
Active transportation and a new plan for Oak Bay Ave. Formerly homeless, these ideas are now part of the expanded role of the Community Initiatives Committee. To fit the expanded role, council added Co
Topics: environment
Gardens at UVic
Transition Victoria on Fri 26 Mar 2010 at 11:53 AM
Hey all,I thought some of you might be interested in this student initiative:UVic Administration Bulldozes Students' Garden Plots, Students Pledge to Continue Resistance
Friday March 26, 2010 - Coast
Topics: environment
Biking on Shelbourne, April 11
Transition Victoria on Thu 25 Mar 2010 at 9:07 PM
I'm posting an email from a friend:Dear friends and associates,
I'm taking the unusual step of mining my email contacts to promote an
upcoming event. My hope is that you can share the attached informat
Topics: environment
That Oak Bay Lodge resolution
Corey Burger on Wed 24 Mar 2010 at 4:39 PM
As has been reported elsewhere, Oak Bay Council passed a resolution on Monday night that essentially tells private developers that they aren't going to get that land rezoned. Unfortunately, the Times C
Topics: environment
Solar Big Business and You
Solar Home Review on Tue 23 Mar 2010 at 7:14 PM
.Seeing solar companies on a historic business roll and punch in a global market like First Solar, Juwi or China's Sunergy shows us that the energy market is adapting to something better and that energ
Topics: environment
High fructose corn syrup makes you fat
The Olive Ridley Crawl on Mon 22 Mar 2010 at 3:53 PM
This well designed and well executed study provides rather conclusive proof that High Fructose Corn Syrup, the sweetener most commonly used in North America, makes you gain weight in a way not explaine
Topics: environment
LAST CHANCE TO SAVE OUR WILD COAST & WATERSHEDS FROM SPRAWLING DEVELOPMENT!!
Transition Victoria on Sat 20 Mar 2010 at 3:00 PM
Jordan River Steering Committee
Last chance to save our wild coast and watersheds from sprawling development!
Dear Wild Coastsupporter -
It's time to make our voices heard.
We're thrilled that so
Topics: environment
New Report Helps Small Businesses Bring Sustainability to All Aspects of Business
Green IT TOOLS on Sat 20 Mar 2010 at 1:02 PM
Topics: environment
Help Reduce IT Vendor's Packaging
Green IT TOOLS on Sat 20 Mar 2010 at 12:50 PM
Topics: environment
Ranking the Sustainability of the Information and Communication Technology Indust
Green IT TOOLS on Sat 20 Mar 2010 at 12:45 PM
Topics: environment
Nuclear Energy: Rating of Safety and Security
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 18 Mar 2010 at 3:28 PM
By Dr Mir. F. Ali
The notion of rating nuclear reactor designs currently in the market based on safety and security purely for the marketing purposes doesn't make any sense. The convention wisdom ave
Topics: environment
Will Victoria's new Official Community Plan include room for the urban forest?
TreeWatchVictoria on Mon 15 Mar 2010 at 8:44 PM
On the same weekend that the City of Victoria is kicking off its request for public input into the new Official Community Plan (March 27th) a group of urban forest/wildlife supporters is meeting at OVE
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: Salt Spring Cooperative Preschool
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Sat 13 Mar 2010 at 10:01 AM
Registration time is already here for fall's education programs, and the upcoming season will offer more reasons than ever to check out the Salt Spring Cooperative Preschool.
School administrator Cla
Topics: environment
Stalled interchange project delays development
Community Environmental Consultation on Fri 12 Mar 2010 at 6:42 PM
Huge subdivision plan condemned as destructive to indigenous sites, rare ecosystems Langford's stalled interchange project may lead to costly delays for the West Shore municipality's next urban sprawl
Topics: environment
Calculate Carbon Emissions with New Search Engine
Green IT TOOLS on Fri 12 Mar 2010 at 11:22 AM
Topics: environment
Ensure your E-waste gets the Green Treatment
Green IT TOOLS on Fri 12 Mar 2010 at 11:15 AM
Topics: environment
Track your electronics origins with Sourcemap
Green IT TOOLS on Fri 12 Mar 2010 at 11:09 AM
Topics: environment
Stay current with SIRCC: Subscribe to our site by email!
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Wed 10 Mar 2010 at 12:06 PM
Would you like to be up-to-date with the latest news and information from the South Islands Regional Co-op Council, with new content conveniently emailed directly to your inbox? Now you can, by subscr
Topics: environment
Check out this great post by Kerry Slavens
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 08 Mar 2010 at 11:51 PM
I have no idea what will happen on December 21, 2012 when the Mayan Calendar ends*. Maybe the world will end. Maybe it won't. Maybe the poles will shift? Maybe the Earth's axis will wobble? Maybe we'll
Topics: environment
Co-operation in the Media: A More Shareable World
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Mon 08 Mar 2010 at 12:50 PM
Our world is inherently Shareable, though it's easy to take that for granted. We are already connected by climate, roads, fisheries, language, forests, culture, and social networks, all of which are pa
Topics: environment
Overleaf Cafe - Irish nature readings for St Pat's week
TreeWatchVictoria on Mon 08 Mar 2010 at 8:35 AM
They say everybody becomes Irish on St. Patrick's Day, and that's the day when Irish song and poetry come to the fore. We think about the Irish landscape as a poetic subject, but not so often about the
Topics: environment
Scheer's Revolution
Solar Home Review on Sun 07 Mar 2010 at 9:38 AM
.I seem to have found inspiration to continue blogging this week - in the person of Dr. Hermann Scheer. He echoes the conviction of many, that solar energy is the "It" technology solution to our energ
Topics: environment
New SIRCC website feature: Mapping Co-operation
South Islands Regional Co-operative Network on Fri 05 Mar 2010 at 1:17 PM
A new feature has been added to the website of the South Islands Regional Co-op Council! Drawing on the work of the Centre for Co-operative and Community-Based Economy at UVic, there are now two inter
Topics: environment
E+Co Energy through Enterprise
Solar Home Review on Mon 01 Mar 2010 at 9:01 PM
.I haven't posted for awhile and have been re-evaluating whether to continue blogging on renewable energy. Call it writers fatigue, or simply questioning if blogging makes a difference, it could be a
Topics: environment
HOW TO BUILD RAISED BEDS AND HOOP HOUSES
Transition Victoria on Mon 01 Mar 2010 at 7:30 AM
Patti Moreno, aka "The Garden Girl", has a great YouTube channel
that some of you might be interested in (ie - a great resource for
beginner urban gardeners) "Urban Gardening: How to Build a Raised Bed
Topics: environment
ART at Overleaf Cafe: Oak Bay Artist Joan Turner
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 28 Feb 2010 at 7:36 PM
Sixteen canvases by well-known Oak Bay artist Joan Turner now grace the walls of the new "Overleaf Cafe and Bookshop" at 1105 Pandora Avenue (Pandora & Cook, in the Medical Arts Building).Turner specia
Topics: environment
Word Quiz For Tree Lovers
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 28 Feb 2010 at 5:30 PM
How many of these lovely old-fashioned tree words do you know? They're not much heard in this era of mechanized household gardening using a plethora of electrical equipment, but in his splendid 2007 ti
Topics: environment
Feedback and Thanks: Working Groups 201
Transition Victoria on Sat 27 Feb 2010 at 5:38 PM
Much thanks to all those who came out to participate today at the Working Groups 201 Workshops.We would love to have your thoughts and comments on what worked and how we can move forward as a group at
Topics: environment
Report from BC's Olympics Pavilion
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 25 Feb 2010 at 6:56 PM
Photo by Linda Foubister: an interestingly twisted tree outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, where the BC/Canada Pavilion is located for the Olympics. The Pavilion featured the value of BC forests in red
Topics: environment
Slow motion arboreal acrobatics
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 24 Feb 2010 at 5:58 PM
Over the course of their lives trees make the most amazing adjustments. In an incredibly slow-motion ballet over decades and centuries, they might crisscross their own limbs (largely in response to lig
Topics: environment
Reimagining the Light: Luminara in the future
Corey Burger on Mon 22 Feb 2010 at 2:09 PM
With Luminara 2010 not happening in July, Luminara host organization the Inter-Cultural Association, have organized a series visioning sessions to gather ideas for the future, of which the first was h
Topics: environment
A Personal Forest
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 20 Feb 2010 at 6:43 PM
Someone planned ahead: cottage nestled behind sentinel-trees in Oak Bay.
Topics: environment
Cycling and the Blue Bridge
Transition Victoria on Sat 20 Feb 2010 at 1:19 PM
Those in the Mobility Working Group and anyone who cycles for business or pleasure should go to the following url for a vital discussion on what is happening or should happen in the Blue Bridge saga:
Topics: environment
An Olympic experience
Corey Burger on Tue 16 Feb 2010 at 5:11 PM
Courtesy of a good friend, a bunch of us went over on the weekend to see Canada's Women Hockey Team play Slovakia. It was the game where the poor Slovakians lost 18-0 and were outshot 67-9.
To start of
Topics: environment
Improvements to Cridge Park
TreeWatchVictoria on Mon 15 Feb 2010 at 8:52 PM
In any little scap of space she can find, Nature creates something amazing - here is a holly tree growing as an epiphyte on an older tree in Cridge Park, a greenspace hemmed in by pavement, roads and b
Topics: environment
New Zealand's
Solar Home Review on Sat 13 Feb 2010 at 8:30 PM
Topics: environment
LifeAsAHuman Valentine's Day Special
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sat 13 Feb 2010 at 8:17 PM
Image via Wikipedia
Hey all you lovers check out www.lifeasahuman.com for their Valentines day special. Very sweet.
You might also check out Al Cram's article about his experiences in Afghanistan un
Topics: environment
Performing Topsoil
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 13 Feb 2010 at 5:05 PM
The quaintly described project of "obtaining a Performing Topsoil Layer to advance rainwater management and water conservation goals" will be explained at the Bowker Creek Forum to be held February 23r
Topics: environment
CRD plans next Regional Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan event
Corey Burger on Sat 13 Feb 2010 at 10:00 AM
The CRD Regional Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan (PCMP) is having its next public event on March 11. The event will cover the completed first phase of the plan, including the unveiling of the Bikeway
Topics: environment
What exactly did the reporter mean?
Corey Burger on Thu 11 Feb 2010 at 11:00 AM
In the latest Times Colonist article about fares going up, there is this line (emphasis mine):
The commission is facing major capital expenditures in coming years, including bus replacement and develop
Topics: environment
Why merit pay for teachers makes no sense
Corey Burger on Thu 11 Feb 2010 at 10:00 AM
First of all, full disclosure. I come from a family of teachers. My mother was a teacher, my maternal grandfather went from school principal to deputy minister in the Dept. of Education here in BC, bot
Topics: environment
Vancouver's Downtown Eastside makes the Beeb
Corey Burger on Wed 10 Feb 2010 at 3:52 PM
On the eve of the Olympics, right on the front page of BBC News is a story about Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The story is lovingly titled Vancouver: 'Drug Central' of North America and recounts many
Topics: environment
Asset tracking and 3D
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 10 Feb 2010 at 3:19 PM
Clover Point's Insight 3D modeling module is defining the world of large-scale asset development presentation. Insight 's GIS and 3D Geo-visualization is live linked and injects an unprecedented level
Topics: environment
Small Wind Turbines
Solar Home Review on Sun 07 Feb 2010 at 9:56 PM
.Small wind turbines are a simple way to create clean energy for your home. It's a smaller financial investment than solar panels in most places and easier to install. Harnessing the energy of the w
Topics: environment
Rethinking the Shelbourne Corridor
Corey Burger on Wed 03 Feb 2010 at 11:55 AM
Saanich has recently launched a project to rethink the Shelbourne corridor, or at least the section from the Victoria border to Feltham Rd. in Gordon Head. The project is partial update to the venerabl
Topics: environment
Just how bad are the transit cuts?
Corey Burger on Tue 02 Feb 2010 at 10:00 AM
As I have mentioned here many times, BC Transit is one of the few transit agencies in North America not currently cutting service. How bad are those cuts? Here is a map of US transit cuts compiled by T
Topics: environment
Life As A Human has begun
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 01 Feb 2010 at 9:25 PM
Several months ago we concieved of an idea to bring together some fantastic writers around the topic of our universaility, our lives as human beings. www.lifeasahuman.com is the result of those discuss
Topics: environment
The future of Oak Bay allotment gardens
Corey Burger on Sat 30 Jan 2010 at 10:22 AM
Oak Bay's allotment gardens are expanding. With the recent clearing of the land on the south side of Bowker Creek, space was created for a dozen new garden plots. Given the expansion, Oak Bay Parks and
Topics: environment
More on the empty 7th transit commission seat
Corey Burger on Fri 29 Jan 2010 at 12:33 PM
After I reported that the seventh seat was empty, I emailed Joanna Morton, who works for BC Transit in media relations. When asked about the seat, she replied that:
BC Transit hasn't heard if a seventh
Topics: environment
Drivers..the bane of PC existence
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 28 Jan 2010 at 9:17 PM
Image via Wikipedia
Drivers and more drivers..you'd think once you'd bought a machine the stupid thing would just work. But no the thing about computers is that they need drivers, sound drivers and
Topics: environment
Henderson bike lanes are not places to park: Oak Bay Police
Corey Burger on Thu 28 Jan 2010 at 3:08 PM
In the Oak Bay News' Jan 27th Police Brief is this little tidbit:
Police remind motorists who park their vehicles in the bike lane along Henderson Road that doing so is a safety concern, not to mention
Topics: environment
CRUDE - directed by Joe Berlinger
Solar Home Review on Tue 26 Jan 2010 at 9:09 PM
.Having been immersed in a world of intense consumption driven lifestyle for the last 60 years, we are now attempting to extricate our habitation on the planet from the carelessness pursuit of using ev
Topics: environment
Alternative fuel cars redux: burning what you should eat
Corey Burger on Tue 26 Jan 2010 at 3:25 PM
GDS Digital, who have a great set of interesting infographics on Flickr, have done this wonderful one on grain use: eating vs biofuel.
Image is licensed Creative Commons By Attribution. Hattip to Urba
Topics: environment
Uplands sewage to get more study
Corey Burger on Tue 26 Jan 2010 at 10:00 AM
In the latest round of this saga, Council had received a note from Bill Cochrane, the Chief Administrative Officer of Oak Bay, rehashing history and offering a few new points. They eventually opted to
Topics: environment
Wall of Fame and Community Initiatives Committee looking for people
Corey Burger on Mon 25 Jan 2010 at 8:00 PM
The Wall of Fame selection committee is looking for people to add to the wall in 2010. The Wall of Fame is:
a means to honour individuals who have been instrumental in the development of Oak Bay's park
Topics: environment
Oak Bay Green Committee Survey Results Show Strong Support For Urban Forest
TreeWatchVictoria on Mon 25 Jan 2010 at 6:31 PM
Survey Analysis: Urban Forest and Watershed Public ForumA public forum on Oak Bay's urban forest and watersheds, jointly sponsored by the Oak Bay Green Committee and the Friends of Bowker Creek, was he
Topics: environment
Pesticides and your lawn
Corey Burger on Mon 25 Jan 2010 at 6:00 PM
As Oak Bay debates the merits of a cosmetic pesticide ban, the recent Victoria premiere of A Chemical Reaction could not have come at a better time. The film charts the course of pesticide bans across
Topics: environment
Quick note from the Bowker Creek forum
Corey Burger on Mon 25 Jan 2010 at 2:00 PM
The Bowker Creek Initiative held an open house on Saturday to unveil their 100-year plan (PDF, 6.5mb) to the public and collect comments on it. They setup in an empty storefront in Hillside Mall, maxim
Topics: environment
Oak Bay Council debates Uplands sewage again tomorrow night
Corey Burger on Mon 25 Jan 2010 at 2:00 AM
The latest round of debate about the Uplands Sewage Separation project will happen during tomorrow night's council meeting (PDF). This is the last meeting that Council can decide to move forward with t
Topics: environment
Globe and Mail: electric cars will not save the world
Corey Burger on Sun 24 Jan 2010 at 10:00 PM
The Globe and Mail had an excellent article yesterday about a panelist at the Detroit Auto Show daring to go against the conventional wisdom and point out that electric cars will not save the world. No
Topics: environment
Where is the seventh Transit Commission member?
Corey Burger on Sun 24 Jan 2010 at 6:15 PM
Why has the Victoria Regional Transit Commission only currently have six members on it? Since the 2008, the seventh seat has sat empty. According to the BC Transit Act, "A regional transit commission c
Topics: environment
The Invisible Forest
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 23 Jan 2010 at 9:28 AM
Miniature forest of lichens and mosses growing on old fence rail, Jubilee area.OliverSacks reminds us (in Oaxaca Journal) that the big trees around us would not exist without the uptake of minerals an
Topics: environment
Want to help lead Oak Bay? New Chief Administrative Officer sought
Corey Burger on Fri 22 Jan 2010 at 6:00 PM
With the pending retirement of Oak Bay's Chief Administrative Officer William Cochrane, Oak Bay Council now has the task of finding somebody to fill his rather large shoes. Bill, who has worked for the
Topics: environment
Further thoughts from the Uplands sewage meeting
Corey Burger on Thu 21 Jan 2010 at 10:00 PM
As I (and others) have reported, Oak Bay Council ultimately rejected the low-pressure gravity system, but unlike the Oak Bay News and Times Colonist inferred, many of the councillors didn't so much rej
Topics: environment
The Urban-Wilderness Tree Partnership
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 21 Jan 2010 at 7:06 PM
Near Shawnigan LakeAt this year's Truck Loggers Conference, Premier Campbell said of BC that our past was wood, our present is wood, and our future will be wood. So no eco-vision there, no fresh insigh
Topics: environment
Solar Survival Gear
Solar Home Review on Wed 20 Jan 2010 at 3:57 AM
.Our world of creative tech has provided for a succession of cool dependencies in the form of debit machines, social media, credit card instant access, application after iphone application of stuff tha
Topics: environment
More on Cook Street Chestnut Tree Demolition
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 19 Jan 2010 at 6:22 PM
Fairfield photographer Penny Tennenhouse records the "inglorious demise" of the beloved Cook Street horse chestnuts. "They didn't even leave stumps in front of the bank and MOKA House -- just like they
Topics: environment
Tinto rocks to stay for now
Corey Burger on Tue 19 Jan 2010 at 6:00 PM
After a great deal of discussion today around the council table and with the members of public that showed up, including the Monterey Middle School Principal Brenda Simmons, council ultimately opted no
Topics: environment
Added calendar of Oak Bay events
Corey Burger on Tue 19 Jan 2010 at 1:48 AM
I have added a calendar of Oak Bay events, including an iCal feed so you can add it to your own calendar. I will update it as I get new events, but feel free to contact me if you have anything you thin
Topics: environment
Cook Street Chestnut Tree Demolition
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 19 Jan 2010 at 12:03 AM
Bottom: Futile budding in an attempt to get ready for spring. Does this wood look diseased?Above: Sun sets for the last time on a magnificent, strong, living being. Buildings rising, trees falling..
Topics: environment
Goodbye to Five Dear Friends
TreeWatchVictoria on Mon 18 Jan 2010 at 7:34 PM
Last chance to shelter here. Last time to fill the winter sky with branches, and to house the nests of birds. Five massive elder chestnut trees in the Cook Street village are to be killed today -- life
Topics: environment
Jeff Rubin on peak oil
Corey Burger on Mon 18 Jan 2010 at 6:00 PM
Jeff Rubin, the former Chief Economist of CIBC, has a great speech about the realities of high oil prices in the next few years:
Topics: environment
Unintended consequence: parking police cars on the shoulder
Corey Burger on Mon 18 Jan 2010 at 12:47 AM
The Times Colonist has a great piece today about the Integrated Road Safety Unit using their empty cruisers to be phantom speed traps. Slowing down cars is all well and good; the problem is in the impl
Topics: environment
Why couldn't Victoria and Oak Bay do what Saanich did?
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 17 Jan 2010 at 8:15 PM
Saanich recently announced that it will buy the waterfront lot next to the McMorran's restaurant property now up for sale on Cordova Bay. The lot beside the McMorran's property will now become a small
Topics: environment
Bowker Creek Open House next week
Corey Burger on Sun 17 Jan 2010 at 6:00 PM
On January 23rd, the Bowker Creek Initiative will be holding an open house (PDF) to discuss their new plan, the 100-year The Bowker Creek Blueprint. Interestingly, they are holding it in a mall, specif
Topics: environment
Rocking the boat on Tinto Street
Corey Burger on Sat 16 Jan 2010 at 6:00 PM
The much discussed rocks on the Tinto St. boulevard are again coming before the committee of the whole this Monday (PDF), after staff was asked to prepare a report into the following options for the ar
Topics: environment
Your chance to contribute to the Bowker Creek Blueprint
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 16 Jan 2010 at 5:32 PM
"The Bowker Creek Blueprint presents a vision of how an urban creek can be transformed into a natural oasis for wildlife and people. Healthy urban watersheds foster habitat for native flora and fauna,
Topics: environment
Alert: Do Not Give Pets and Plants Dirty Bathwater to Drink!
TreeWatchVictoria on Fri 15 Jan 2010 at 5:14 PM
In a recent segment on conserving Greater Victoria's water supply, Shaw TV's "The Daily" gave this household tip: "when running a bath use cool water to collect for pets". Treewatch contacted The Daily
Topics: environment
Solutions for empty buses on the 15
Corey Burger on Thu 14 Jan 2010 at 6:00 PM
Yesterday I talked about some of the teething challenges that the new UVic/Downtown express bus, the 15, nee Dogwood Line, was having. Thankfully a lot of these problems have fairly easy fixes:
New-ne
Topics: environment
Solar Power is Convenient | Find Solar Power Kits
Solar Home Review on Thu 14 Jan 2010 at 3:51 AM
. I often think we under-estimated the full benefits of what the Sun provides us. As a perpetual source of warmth, light and energy we've harnessed to create electricity, the Sun is essential to life.
Topics: environment
The empty buses of route 15
Corey Burger on Wed 13 Jan 2010 at 11:24 PM
Late last year BC Transit introduced a new express route to UVic from downtown, the 15 (previously called the Dogwood Line). While this is only the second week of the new UVic/Camosun term, the buses a
Topics: environment
Fortuitous Fusion - A Recipe
The Olive Ridley Crawl on Wed 13 Jan 2010 at 8:21 PM
No, this is not about the sun and why we are all alive today, it's more about writing down a cooking experience for me to not forget Anyway, we were having a couple of people over for dinner, and I was
Topics: environment
FAQ: Green Civil War: Projects vs. Preservation
The Olive Ridley Crawl on Wed 13 Jan 2010 at 11:05 AM
Environmentalists are more openly at odds over two goals: the preservation of wide open spaces vs. the use of public lands for renewable energy projects. via Green Civil War: Projects vs. Preservation
Topics: environment
MSR and INI
Corey Burger on Wed 13 Jan 2010 at 2:00 AM
There are a lot of confusing terms associated with the Uplands sewage separation project, but two of the most common acronyms that were tossed around were MSR and INI. In the hopes of lifting some of t
Topics: environment
Chief Administrative Officer Bill Cochrane to retire
Corey Burger on Tue 12 Jan 2010 at 11:21 PM
Yesterday evening the mayor announced that in a few months, shortly after the budget, Bill Cochrane, the CAO for the Municipality of Oak Bay for the past 10 years will retire. It isn't clear to me how
Topics: environment
In Quotes: Tonight's council on Oak Bay Lodge and Uplands sewage
Corey Burger on Tue 12 Jan 2010 at 8:18 AM
As will undoubtedly be reported tomorrow in the TC, Oak Bay Council elected to delay the Uplands sewage project, mostly by simply deciding to not do anything. This almost certainly means that that the
Topics: environment
Sewage, Oak Bay Lodge and more at tonight's council
Corey Burger on Tue 12 Jan 2010 at 1:20 AM
Tonight's council agenda (PDF) is very full and with the dual contentious issues of Uplands sewage and Oak Bay Lodge, it should be interesting. First up is VIHA with a presentation on what happens with
Topics: environment
Greenpeace Publishes Guide To Greener Electronics for 2010
Green IT TOOLS on Mon 11 Jan 2010 at 5:15 PM
Topics: environment
Adaptation | Smart Grids and Solar Power
Solar Home Review on Sun 10 Jan 2010 at 4:47 AM
.
Running across the terms smart grid or super grid has become common enough by 2010. What can smart grids do for civil society and our future? In the context of global scale clean energy systems it
Topics: environment
Arbutus at the End of the Rainbow
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 10 Jan 2010 at 12:24 AM
Local poet Rosalee van Stelten sends a photo of West Bay, taken from the Songhees neighbourhood. (R. van Stelten Copyright (c) 2010. Used with permission.)
Topics: environment
Greater Victoria Treescape, Late 2009
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 09 Jan 2010 at 8:01 PM
Top two: Along Bowker Creek, near Richmond Road/Haultain Middle: Downtown, looking south from Johnson Street Bottom two: Oak Bay Avenue. (vines creeping up municipal hall are unpopular with some, but
Topics: environment
Urban Forest
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 09 Jan 2010 at 7:56 PM
Top: a well-treed gardenBottom: a still nicely-forested enclave in a South Oak Bay/Victoria border neighbourhood
Topics: environment
Uplands and their sewage, again
Corey Burger on Thu 07 Jan 2010 at 8:07 PM
The Uplands sewage plan again drew a packed room last night, this time in the much Garry Oak Room of Monterey Centre. As the Times Colonist reports, scores of speakers, largely from the Uplands, were s
Topics: environment
Fluent English - Racism in Mainstream Reporting
The Olive Ridley Crawl on Wed 06 Jan 2010 at 6:47 AM
From Canada's paper of record… Speaking fluent English, he described the gruelling 42-day high-seas journey and talked of the deteriorating living conditions in his homeland. He also described his di
Topics: environment
Another reason not to log old growth
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 04 Jan 2010 at 3:59 PM
Check out Gil's post at Mushroom Man for yet another reason we should be preserving the last vestiges of our old growth forests. There is a great short clip by film maker Bill Weaver which will inspire
Topics: environment
Fiber Optic Networks: Connect Communities
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 04 Jan 2010 at 2:30 AM
Image via Wikipedia
Dr. Mir F. Ali
Fiber optic technology advanced at an astonishing rate in the second half of the twentieth century. The discovery of fiber optics in 1966 was indeed a major landm
Topics: environment
Happenings this week
Corey Burger on Sun 03 Jan 2010 at 7:55 PM
Lots of interesting things happening this week, including UVic (and thus me) heading into the spring term on Monday. Other events include:
Monday:
Funeral procession for Lt. Nutall, from McCall Brother
Topics: environment
Clean Energy in 2010
Solar Home Review on Fri 01 Jan 2010 at 9:46 PM
.Following the Climate Conference in Copenhagen and a year filled with new and ambitious starts in renewable energy we can expect to see greater cooperation and support of clean energies like solar, a
Topics: environment
Happy New Year
Corey Burger on Fri 01 Jan 2010 at 7:21 PM
Ten years ago today I stood on a beach on the island of Cousin (Wikipedia info) in the Seychelles, idly wondering if Y2K could bring down the global air traffic systems, thus preventing me from leaving
Topics: environment
Nuclear Energy: Safe, Clean, and Affordable
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 27 Dec 2009 at 9:44 PM
Image via Wikipedia
Dr. Mir F. Ali
In these days of climate change and energy crisis, it's too bad that the word "Nuclear” has a connotation that brings back memories about the nuclear disaster of
Topics: environment
A Christmas Thought For the Velvet Friends
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 27 Dec 2009 at 5:40 PM
Boxing Day: the ground is frozen, a hostile wind bites and the branches are bare of growth. Where are the urban deer hiding, what are they eating now, after we've been told so recently by the media tha
Topics: environment
Weekly links roundup
Corey Burger on Thu 24 Dec 2009 at 6:00 PM
The province has decided to blog, this time about their upcoming changes to the Water Act, changes that are very controversial, to say the least. It will be interesting to see how their comments policy
Topics: environment
Crazy use of augmented reality
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 21 Dec 2009 at 7:20 AM
This is crazy. Check out inventor researcher Pranav Mistry's unbelievable use of augmented reality. Amazing. The next decade is going to be fun when it comes to technology. Kudos to TED for this as wel
Topics: environment
The largest picture in the world.
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 21 Dec 2009 at 12:00 AM
You may have guessed I am interested in photography. With that in mind, here a link to the largest photo ever created. Maybe this will start some kind of competition.
The picture was made with the Cano
Topics: environment
Ban Ki-moon Announces A Climate Deal
Solar Home Review on Sat 19 Dec 2009 at 4:24 PM
.Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon announces a climate deal today after delegates were asked to stay on into the weekend. Watch this video clip of the press conference announcement. You can wa
Topics: environment
The Year of the Rampaging Rabbit
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 17 Dec 2009 at 6:59 PM
Clearcut heritage garden, four houses now to be crammed in.From reports in the local newspapers, you'll know that we see this year out with some extraordinary giant-rabbit wreckage. They have knocked d
Topics: environment
Life As A Human
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 16 Dec 2009 at 5:37 AM
So it's getting close to Christmas…we're only 10 days away. So happy Christmas all!
And don't forget to go to life as a human and sign up. We had a winner last month, (Xeeban) of $250 and all he did
Topics: environment
Computer spy thingy
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 16 Dec 2009 at 5:27 AM
So this computer spy gizmo is leaving a bad taste in my mouth; but that's because I have a very liberal nature and would not want to spy on anyone. I'm pretty much up for letting folks do as they want;
Topics: environment
The Bones
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 14 Dec 2009 at 2:50 AM
A belief in hell and the knowledge that every ambition is doomed to frustration at the hands of a skeleton have never prevented the majority of human beings from behaving as though death were no more t
Topics: environment
The Twelve Days of Copenhagen Christmas
Solar Home Review on Sat 12 Dec 2009 at 6:33 PM
.I have to say I would easily weigh in on the side of all well intentioned delegates working toward a common goal in Copenhagen, rather than be so quick to point out how we seem to think things aren't
Topics: environment
Master Planning Tool
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 11 Dec 2009 at 6:51 AM
Image via CrunchBase
I think some of these cool social networking mashups are awesome - like Slideshare which enables the sharing of PDFs and Power Point presentations across platforms. I have this
Topics: environment
Copenhagen | Climate Justice
Solar Home Review on Fri 11 Dec 2009 at 3:37 AM
.Some focus points emerging this first week in Copenhagen revolve around climate justice. This is important to define on many levels. The US, in a press conference this week, completely rejects the
Topics: environment
Living Stories
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 09 Dec 2009 at 7:07 AM
Image via Wikipedia
Check out Google's new news aggregation service. I selected a rather topical item for a test. It's s kinda cool. The idea behind Living Stories is to experiment with a different
Topics: environment
Copenhagen 15 | Climate Change Conference Dec 7-18
Solar Home Review on Mon 07 Dec 2009 at 2:33 AM
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As the historic Climate Change Conference is poised to begin in Copenhagen, where it is presently 3:30 Monday morning, I pause while writing at 6:30 on this chilly Sunday evening in Canada, imaginin
Topics: environment
Congratulations Xeeban
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sat 05 Dec 2009 at 6:04 AM
RT @Xeeban I never ever win contests or prizes, but today I won the FIRST @lifeasahuman prize!! Yay! - http://tinyurl.com/yj4mbfc
Follow the links and you can win too…
Send post as PDF to
Topics: environment
IT Industry looks for Inclusion in Copenhagen Talks
Green IT TOOLS on Thu 03 Dec 2009 at 8:03 PM
Topics: environment
Discreetly dissuading deer from entering
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 02 Dec 2009 at 7:12 PM
It is not all that difficult to keep deer out of a garden -- here someone has hung soft thin reflective strips that (to a deer) sparkle threateningly, while others use motion-sensitive sprinklers that
Topics: environment
Oak - surviving against all odds
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 02 Dec 2009 at 6:58 PM
This tree was already large and mature when someone tried to cut it down. Stumps can be full of new life. (This triumphant oak is extending its arms in joy toward the sky on Despard Street.).
Topics: environment
Autumn - Winter Trees
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 29 Nov 2009 at 11:02 PM
Late fall scenes: Bottom - near Cattle Point (photo by JM)Middle - Abkhazi GardenTop - Vining Street, Fernwood: trees that were threatened with removal only the previous year
Topics: environment
Oak trees fusing trunks
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 29 Nov 2009 at 8:32 PM
Oaks on Fairfield Road that show how fusion takes place creating holes in trunks over the decades (as in the Chadwick Oak across the road) -- the mysterious relationship between oak trees and light --
Topics: environment
Another garden destroyed in Greater Victoria
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 29 Nov 2009 at 7:56 PM
"Shallow ecology has become a necessary ideology for "developers” and "growth-lovers” who march behind the nonsensical banner of "sustainable growth”. They see their task as to continue economic
Topics: environment
Carmanah Technologies | Making Solar Reliable for Life
Solar Home Review on Sun 29 Nov 2009 at 6:55 PM
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Established in Victoria, BC Canada in 1996, Carmanah Technologies designs and develops solar lighting and solar power applications for international clients in areas where highly reliable, durable l
Topics: environment
More on Sea-To-Sea Greenbelt Acquisition
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 29 Nov 2009 at 6:42 PM
TLC (The Land Conservancy) tells us that certain timber companies have balked in recent years at selling land needed to complete the Sea-to-Sea Greenbelt which the CRD has been attempting to preserve.
Topics: environment
A Sustainable Energy Community | Samsoe Island
Solar Home Review on Mon 23 Nov 2009 at 2:13 AM
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For many of us the discussion of how renewable energy production will save the world is now a fully hyped, media-ized, politicized and even debunked subject. As the global drama unfolds, silently
Topics: environment
Tax goes up while CRD green space goes down - what is wrong with this picture?
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 21 Nov 2009 at 6:57 PM
Nov 18, 2009THE CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT PARKS COMMITTEE HAS VOTED TO CONTINUE COLLECTING A TAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING PARKLAND. THE PARK ACQUISITION FUND WAS CREATED TEN YEARS AGO, WITH THE INT
Topics: environment
New Trade-In Program Turns Outdated Computers into Cash
Green IT TOOLS on Thu 19 Nov 2009 at 11:27 PM
Topics: environment
Grey Squirrels Have Complex Relationship With Oak Trees
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 14 Nov 2009 at 7:07 PM
This is something to remember now that we are in an "acorn year." Grey squirrels arrived here about 40 years ago, and Prof. Elizabeth Gillis of Vancouver Island University said recently on CBC Radio th
Topics: environment
Avis Rasmussen's "Oak In Peril" In Oak Bay Art Studio Tour
TreeWatchVictoria on Fri 13 Nov 2009 at 7:27 PM
This is the tree Avis Rasmussen's oak painting is inspired by.One of the images created of the "Chadwick Oak," which artists rushed to commemorate before the land it lives on was subdivided and sold, i
Topics: environment
University of Victoria: Students make war on grass
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 12 Nov 2009 at 9:43 PM
Uvic's student newspaper The Martlet reports that some students want to tear up Uvic's lawns under cover of darkness, and plant food instead. "Students For a Democratic Society" call this guerilla gard
Topics: environment
Oak Bay, Victoria, BC: We are asked to imagine the future we want
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 12 Nov 2009 at 12:53 AM
Imagine this property, which is being offered for sale on the waterfront at Foul Bay (McNeill Bay), being preserved as a meadow for grasses, wildflowers, birds, butterflies and other pollinators. Imagi
Topics: environment
Moss Rock Construction Site - Rationale To Be Presented November 16th
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 12 Nov 2009 at 12:31 AM
The construction site on the edge of Moss Rock Park, where neighbours never wanted to see one. Some were holding vigils on Wednesdays at noon for the blasted rock, feeling that they should bear witness
Topics: environment
Sustainability Organizations Help Individuals Get Green
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 11 Nov 2009 at 8:14 PM
Topics: environment
DIY Solar Part 4 | System Costs
Solar Home Review on Wed 11 Nov 2009 at 6:43 PM
We've been talking about Do It Yourself Solar and the steps involved. In the final post in this series let's get down to the brass tacks: solar cost. We'll approach it from two directions, component
Topics: environment
We're going for water!
Green IT TOOLS on Tue 10 Nov 2009 at 6:00 PM
Topics: environment
DIY Solar Part 3 | System Components
Solar Home Review on Sun 08 Nov 2009 at 3:03 PM
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In our previous posts we talked about the design process and then different kinds of systems to choose from. Now let's talk about the system components that you need to be aware of before tackling
Topics: environment
DIY Solar Part 2 | Choosing A System
Solar Home Review on Thu 05 Nov 2009 at 3:15 PM
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Last time we started talking about DIY solar and covering the topics that will help you decide if you can do solar yourself. There are plenty of different systems that can fit your solar needs. Let
Topics: environment
Protecting Woodland Outside Town (CRD Bylaw Deterioration)
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 03 Nov 2009 at 6:39 PM
A notice from the Sierra Club: The CRD is considering bylaws that will affect 2/3 of its total area, an area several times the size of the Saanich Peninsula. The proposed bylaws amount to the biggest l
Topics: environment
Tree Appreciation Day 2009 in Victoria
TreeWatchVictoria on Mon 02 Nov 2009 at 5:30 PM
Planting native trees in Stadacona Park on November 1st -- an exercise in current park-transformation thinking, although slopes of lawn are also an attractive park feature, especially to lie on or walk
Topics: environment
Is Do It Yourself Solar Doable? Part 1 | The Design Process
Solar Home Review on Mon 02 Nov 2009 at 3:00 PM
. For homeowners around the world, the idea of reducing their power bills and helping the planet is pretty enticing. The problem now as it always has been is money. Solar can be expensive, and even w
Topics: environment
Obama's $3.4 Billion in Grants for Smart Grid
Solar Home Review on Sun 01 Nov 2009 at 4:35 AM
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Speaking at Florida Power and Light's (FPL) DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, President Barack Obama announced the largest single energy grid modernization investment in U.S. history, fundi
Topics: environment
Amazing All-in-One Recycling Center
Solar Home Review on Sat 31 Oct 2009 at 5:38 PM
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Recycling in my house is a mess.
Newspapers and cardboard get stacked by the door. Plastic, glass and
aluminum sit beside my sink. The kids are supposedly in charge of
organizing the recycling in
Topics: environment
Typical autumn morning in Victoria
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 27 Oct 2009 at 7:06 PM
Two young deer cavort along Cedar Hill Cross Road at UVIC, mingling with joggers and dogwalkers and enjoying the sunshine before the rigours of winter set in. Then, the kindest people will put out gree
Topics: environment
More Landscape Destruction - Moss Rock
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 27 Oct 2009 at 6:43 PM
Neighbours living around Moss Rock in Fairfield are saddened by development right on the tiny park's border: "There's a new development planned just outside the park limits and the two existing homes a
Topics: environment
Part 2 | FITs - Incubating a Clean Energy Future
Solar Home Review on Sun 25 Oct 2009 at 9:01 PM
.With an interest in promoting renewable energy development governments around the world are looking to the FITs incentive model and many are already using programs that encourage the adoption of renew
Topics: environment
Watching the fall colours
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 22 Oct 2009 at 6:51 PM
Fall colour outside Jubilee Hospital, Fort Street..
Topics: environment
Trees in the autumn mist
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 22 Oct 2009 at 6:40 PM
Trees on a misty autumn morning. Top: near Gonzales Hill. Bottom two: in the Uplands -- the "disappearing curve"..
Topics: environment
Six Guidelines for a Green Data Centre
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 21 Oct 2009 at 9:12 PM
Topics: environment
IT Industries to Create Global Standard for Carbon Emissions
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 21 Oct 2009 at 9:07 PM
Topics: environment
Garry oak threatened by development is still hanging on
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 15 Oct 2009 at 7:12 PM
Top: Encircled by beauty. Below: Image of Waine Ryzak's sculpture nestles with protective stones on limb of the Chadwick Oak, still hanging on in the far NE corner of the development at 1972 Fairfield
Topics: environment
Energy Savings for Data Centers with Free Online Tool
Green IT TOOLS on Thu 15 Oct 2009 at 6:21 PM
Topics: environment
Part 1 | FITs - Incubating a Clean Energy Future
Solar Home Review on Sun 11 Oct 2009 at 4:30 PM
. Feed-ins "achieve larger deployment at lower costs." Sir Nicholas SternFor renewable energy projects to rapidly displace our old climate harming energy systems, like oil, coal and natural gas (high
Topics: environment
Solid Ink Printing Lowers Energy Use and Waste
Green IT TOOLS on Thu 08 Oct 2009 at 2:01 AM
Topics: environment
Canada's Feed in Tariff Program | North America's First
Solar Home Review on Sun 04 Oct 2009 at 7:28 AM
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Launched October 1st by the province of Ontario's Power Authority is Canada's new feed in tariff program for residential, small scale business and utility renewable energy operations. The groundbrea
Topics: environment
G20 Nations Commit to Phase Out Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Solar Home Review on Wed 30 Sep 2009 at 11:57 PM
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The 20 leaders of the world's top industrialized nations, as well as key countries with developing economies, have agreed to phase out their subsidies for fossil fuels. In a concluding statement from
Topics: environment
How is Solar Power Regulated?
Solar Home Review on Wed 30 Sep 2009 at 2:05 PM
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by Dan Harding
solar.calfinder.com
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Government regulation is a preeminent issue in any major industry. As the solar industry continues to grow at a fast rate, the debate on how the industry is an
Topics: environment
Japan's Fresh Air | Climate Leadership
Solar Home Review on Tue 29 Sep 2009 at 4:55 PM
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Japan's newly elected Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (Democratic Party of Japan) came into power at 2 minutes to midnight, leading without hesitation on plans to reduce green house gas emissions. It'
Topics: environment
DIY Solar Panels
Solar Home Review on Sat 26 Sep 2009 at 9:31 PM
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Have you wondered whether these DIY solar panel kits we see advertised, largely via Google Adsense and Adwords, are legitimate? How can an instructional manual or videos provide the right tools to b
Topics: environment
Bangkok to Copenhagen | Negotiating Climate Change
Solar Home Review on Mon 21 Sep 2009 at 1:00 PM
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We get the sense that there is tension going into Copenhagen. Indeed an awesome responsibility rests on the UN committee, IPCC and participating Governments to hash out the next steps beyond Kyoto.
Topics: environment
Tax sale includes chunks of Bear Mountain
Community Environmental Consultation on Mon 21 Sep 2009 at 9:08 AM
On Wednesday, September 16, the city of Langford posted its annual list of properties going to the auction block for back taxes. Two Bear Mountain properties are on the list, raising more questions abo
Topics: environment
WorldShift 2012 | Book Review
Solar Home Review on Sat 19 Sep 2009 at 2:00 PM
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WorldShift 2012, by Ervin Laszlo, arrived into bookstores this month, a succinct capsule about humanities current state, what we are faced with, and most importantly clarifying our opportunity for ch
Topics: environment
Forbes 50: How Your Favorite Brands Use Solar Power
Solar Home Review on Fri 18 Sep 2009 at 5:04 PM
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You might be surprised at how many of the fattest conglomerates in the world claim to care about solar power and renewable energy. And given that most are oil, gas or bank firms, they all have some c
Topics: environment
Life as a Human
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 13 Sep 2009 at 8:32 PM
Don't forget to click the Life as a Human link just over there on the right…go on..it won't hurt…it's not an ad, well sort of is I suppose, but it's not like I make any money if you click it, that
Topics: environment
NP-Project Management #4 - WBS
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 13 Sep 2009 at 8:27 PM
So our next stage in the PM business is to set project objectives.
Set project objectives
Now that you know who is involved and what's at stake you need to figure out all the 5+1W elements of who, wha
Topics: environment
British Columbia's Approach to Climate Change
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sat 12 Sep 2009 at 9:06 AM
Dr. Mir F. Ali
Like other Canadian provinces and territories across the country, British Columbia got sick and tired of waiting for the federal leadership for climate change and decided to adopt the at
Topics: environment
Driving, texting, dying
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 11 Sep 2009 at 3:22 PM
Yesterday my daughter was standing on the corner waiting to cross the street. She was waiting for a large black Lexus to stop, and while the car did stop it stopped very suddenly when the driver happe
Topics: environment
Restaurants
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 10 Sep 2009 at 6:03 PM
How Restaurants screw up.
By Mike Holt
I'm living alone at the moment so I tend to eat out quite a lot. It's tough to make roast beef and Yorkshire pudding for one, so when I feel like a decent
Topics: environment
Data recovery
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 09 Sep 2009 at 1:58 PM
So has it ever happened to you?
Have you been merrily working away on your PC and for whatever reason it stops working…the keys go dead, the screen goes blank or blue or you smell smoke, or hear a fu
Topics: environment
NP-Project Management #3 - Stakeholders
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 09 Sep 2009 at 8:44 AM
One must not forget that no project is going to be successful if one doesn't pay attention to the stakeholders. Projects are always affecting someone either positively (which is what you're working tow
Topics: environment
2 Billion Chinese Solar Watts
Solar Home Review on Tue 08 Sep 2009 at 3:02 PM
. Mongolia There has been an urgency with which many governments have been moving to develop clean, renewable energy programs. We've become acutely aware of those nations polluting the most, hoping th
Topics: environment
The Negative Vote
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 06 Sep 2009 at 2:19 PM
The Negative Vote!
By Mike Holt
Once again we are looking at more elections, both Provincially and Federally. Will it never end? I know its all part of the democratic process, and we are all supp
Topics: environment
Intelligence
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 06 Sep 2009 at 1:53 PM
Intelligence
By Mike Holt
With respect to a recent column in the newspaper by Nicholas Kristof regarding raising the intelligence of a new generation, I suggest the writer misses the boat on seve
Topics: environment
Why are we here?
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 06 Sep 2009 at 1:52 PM
Why are we here?
By Mike Holt
Does there have to be a reason? There seems to be some deep human need for a reason for our existence on this planet. I don't believe there is a reason. We are here sim
Topics: environment
Time doesn't exist.
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 06 Sep 2009 at 1:51 PM
Time Doesn't Exist
By Mike Holt
First of all, time does not exist in the Universe. Time is something we created to keep track of change and to bring some order and control into our activities. Im
Topics: environment
Why can't we ever learn?
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 06 Sep 2009 at 1:50 PM
Why can't we ever learn?
By Mike Holt
The world is a mess. There's no getting around that fact. We are the only species on the planet that seems bent on destroying the entire infrastructure th
Topics: environment
Submission
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 06 Sep 2009 at 1:45 PM
Submission.
By Mike Holt
Submission is probably the most degrading act that a man, or woman, has to endure in their lifetime. Few of us submit willingly to the vagaries of nature's mighty forces lik
Topics: environment
The great economic myth
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 06 Sep 2009 at 1:43 PM
The Great Economic Myth
By Mike Holt
Financial pundits would have us believe that the so-called free market system we are presently experiencing is the best system by far and that it produces an econom
Topics: environment
Interchange loan payback "postponed" indefinitely
Community Environmental Consultation on Fri 04 Sep 2009 at 10:20 PM
Langford's half-built interchange. Photo: Darren Stone, Times Colonist.Len Barrie, owner of Bear Mountain Resort and LGB9 development company, has failed to pay back $4.8 million owed to the City of La
Topics: environment
Canada Line thoughts
Corey Burger on Wed 02 Sep 2009 at 11:19 PM
This is a bit belated, but I did managed to get over to Vancouver for the opening of the Canada Line, the newest addition to the SkyTrain network. First, a little bit of history. The Canada Line is a P
Topics: environment
Twitter list of environmental orgs
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 02 Sep 2009 at 10:07 AM
For those of you whom twitter is an obsession here's a list of 80 environmental organizations you can follow on Twitter. Thanks to Alex Felsinger.
In alphabetical order:
AIDG - @aidg
Alliance for Clima
Topics: environment
NP-Project Management #2 - How to Plan a Project
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 01 Sep 2009 at 6:02 PM
How to Plan a Project
The success of your project will in large part, if not the whole part, be the direct incontrovertible result of your getting into planning and managing the process. So you mustn'
Topics: environment
100 Tools for Non-profits
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 01 Sep 2009 at 10:09 AM
Here's a great post on a bunch of online tools for non-profits by Wild Apricot (which by the way is a super CMS service).
Check it out…
Send post as PDF to
Topics: environment
Potential Impacts of HST on the Construction Industry
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 01 Sep 2009 at 9:33 AM
Dr Mir F. Ali
This article is a follow up to the article which was posted on the subject of the HST on July 24, 2009.
Unfortunately, at this stage, very little information on the proposed Harmonize
Topics: environment
NGO Project Management
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 31 Aug 2009 at 8:01 PM
So I thought I would write a series of articles on the process of project management after having just gone through a few projects.
Why "non-profit” project management?
Well technically a project i
Topics: environment
Developing Sustainable Cities | What is Clean Energy?
Solar Home Review on Sat 29 Aug 2009 at 4:06 PM
.The final post in our series on Developing Sustainable Cities covers clean energy. I use the word clean deliberately, as some new energy projects and ideas under the banner sustainable, renewable or
Topics: environment
The Cost of Building Green
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sat 29 Aug 2009 at 8:53 AM
Dr. Mir F. Ali
Commercial real estate executives are increasingly seeking greener office space - and are less inclined to pay premiums for it, according to a recent survey by CoreNet Global and Jones L
Topics: environment
Developing Sustainable Cities | Waste Reduction
Solar Home Review on Thu 27 Aug 2009 at 5:21 PM
.Garbage reduction is part three in our series on Developing Sustainable Cities. This is a major point worthy of our attention. Reducing what goes to the city dump is achieved through recycling plast
Topics: environment
Blackberries
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 21 Aug 2009 at 3:14 PM
So this post has nothing to do with the hand held Blackberry you can send email, and tweets on, but has to do with my thoughts picking some blackberries off the bush in front of the shopping cart you s
Topics: environment
Greenwashing is nothing but Hypocrisy
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 21 Aug 2009 at 11:25 AM
Dr. Mir F. Ali
The Climate Greenwash awards are out!
The Climate Greenwash Awards are organized by Corporate Europe Observatory, Attac Denmark, The Climate Movement, ClimaX and Friends of the Earth Den
Topics: environment
The Sentient Garden
TreeWatchVictoria on Fri 21 Aug 2009 at 11:06 AM
I received two messages today, one an old announcement from the CRD saying not to water our garden (because of water restriction due to supply decrease due to overdevelopment), and one from my trees, s
Topics: environment
Come to Velo Victoria
Corey Burger on Thu 20 Aug 2009 at 11:00 AM
This weekend in Centennial Square the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition and a whole host of community partners, including Safer Cycling Oak Bay, are hosting Velo Victoria: a celebration of bike cultur
Topics: environment
Spencer Road interchange useless
Corey Burger on Thu 20 Aug 2009 at 1:25 AM
The dirty little secret about Spencer Road interchange being useless is now official. Interchange project manager Tim Stevens told Saanich News that,
There is no functional urgency at this point. The S
Topics: environment
How Green IT Can Help You Find Your Competitive Edge
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 19 Aug 2009 at 11:57 AM
Topics: environment
The Five Things You Should Know About Green IT Baselines
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 19 Aug 2009 at 11:42 AM
Topics: environment
Why should I implement green computing in my organization? How should I start?
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 19 Aug 2009 at 11:20 AM
Topics: environment
Can small organizations afford to implement green IT?
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 19 Aug 2009 at 11:16 AM
Topics: environment
Wow - Social Media
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 18 Aug 2009 at 9:59 PM
Some days you wake up and just know the world is moving faster and faster. Check out this video on social media if you want to see how we are accelerating and how fast our mediums of interactivity are
Topics: environment
How to avoid 'green-washing' and promote your companies environmental efforts
Green IT TOOLS on Tue 18 Aug 2009 at 6:35 PM
Topics: environment
Developing Sustainable Cities | Green Spaces
Solar Home Review on Tue 18 Aug 2009 at 4:01 PM
.In part two of Developing Sustainable Cities we are looking at the benefits associated with boosting civic green spaces which improve our atmosphere and beautify our living experience within cities.
Topics: environment
Employees: how to ensure they make - not break - your green IT program: Seven tip
Green IT TOOLS on Mon 17 Aug 2009 at 1:13 PM
Topics: environment
The pending Jordan River disaster
Corey Burger on Sat 15 Aug 2009 at 12:31 PM
The long struggle over the future of Jordan River is nearer to a conclusion after a court ruling in favour of Western Forest Products, the development company masquerading as a forestry company. Gordon
Topics: environment
Developing Sustainable Cities | Electric Cars
Solar Home Review on Fri 14 Aug 2009 at 3:18 PM
.This is part one in a short series covering positive change taking place toward creating sustainable cities. A year and a half ago I was researching electric cars from an interest point of solutions
Topics: environment
A series of articles by Dr. Mir F. Ali
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 14 Aug 2009 at 2:10 PM
Here's a series of articles from Dr. Mir F. Ali on various elements of environmental concern. If you've been reading Dr. Ali's posts you know they are comprehensive and filled with useful information o
Topics: environment
Best Job Seeker Sites for PV related jobs
Solar Home Review on Thu 13 Aug 2009 at 12:05 PM
Last night I pondered that literally millions of people are without work worldwide. The number made me feel less alone on my own quest to find full time meaningful work. Invariably we all take jobs t
Topics: environment
Rating Carbon
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 13 Aug 2009 at 9:01 AM
By Dr. Mir F. Ali
IDEAcarbon, an independent provider of ratings, analysis and advice in the carbon sphere, has launched, The Carbon Ratings Agency (CRA), "the world's first independent carbon credit r
Topics: environment
Carbon Neutrality
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 11 Aug 2009 at 7:20 AM
Dr. Mir F. Ali
An incredible number of businesses, universities, and governments around the world are totally committed to the principles of sustainability and they are going through the process
Topics: environment
Adaptation to Climate Change
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 10 Aug 2009 at 2:09 PM
For all you Dr. Mir F. Ali fans please check out the article he wrote on adaptation to climate change for Green Business.
Send post as PDF to
Topics: environment
Recycling Solar Panels and Task 12
Solar Home Review on Mon 10 Aug 2009 at 12:10 PM
.Recycling solar panels is thankfully a discussion gaining clarity within the solar industry. Understanding our need to engage in such a conversion is not a battle, in fact global plans for recycling
Topics: environment
Documentation
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 10 Aug 2009 at 11:13 AM
Just over a year ago I wrote about the process of accreditation with CARF. Well I am happy to report that all our efforts have paid off and we've been accredited.
Here's what CARF says about the value
Topics: environment
Communication
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 10 Aug 2009 at 8:00 AM
So now that everyone is tweeting, facebooking, youtubing down the internet river, LinkedIn, Orkutted, friendster'd out or yammered….
What? Yammer'd? What's Yammer you say…well if Twitter wasn't eno
Topics: environment
Work Grinds to a Halt, a Full Year Behind Schedule
Community Environmental Consultation on Sun 09 Aug 2009 at 11:03 PM
The Spencer Road Interchange (also known as the Bear Mountain Interchange) was scheduled for completion in May 2009. As of August 2009, it appears abandoned. All the heavy equipment, construction crew
Topics: environment
Birds Being Blasted Out of the Trees by Baseball Loudspeaker Noise
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 08 Aug 2009 at 2:46 PM
The website http://www.bancannons.tripod.com/ has a good definiation of noise: "Noise is unwanted sound ... (and) more ... It includes things like duration of the noise, frequency, time of day, persona
Topics: environment
Grab bag o' Links
Corey Burger on Sat 08 Aug 2009 at 11:35 AM
Saltspring Island Coffee Roastery runs into difficultly getting a new factory zoned (Times Colonist). I am deeply suspicious of statements by the proponents that appear to be ultimatums, such as Mickey
Topics: environment
Computer Spy
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 07 Aug 2009 at 1:55 PM
Security is a common problem for everyone never mind just non-profits.
Recent stats from computer spy show that 15% of children admit to chatting with strangers online? 1/3 of divorce litigation is cau
Topics: environment
Why is Renewable Energy Important?
Solar Home Review on Fri 07 Aug 2009 at 1:00 PM
Topics: environment
Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses is crucial to your success!
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 06 Aug 2009 at 10:31 PM
Here's a guest post by Gil Namur who is a friend and colleague of mine. Gil is a business consultant, motivator, musician, poet, karate enthusiast and visionary. I think you'll enjoy his post and I loo
Topics: environment
More on getting high on grass
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 06 Aug 2009 at 5:54 PM
Some thoughts from a commentator on Mother Jones -- something to consider as municipalites on Vancouver Island forbid people keeping their world green (by imposing garden-watering restrictions):"We hav
Topics: environment
Fresh Air Fund
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 06 Aug 2009 at 1:42 PM
Just a quick note for any readers in NYC that the Fresh Air Fund still could use a few host familes. For those who don't know: since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit agency, has provided free
Topics: environment
Personnel Management 101 or how can I help…
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 04 Aug 2009 at 5:15 PM
Some quick thoughts on Personnel Management 101.
I am often asked about my management style because after 30 years of managing people in a variety of environments I've run into it all. There are some
Topics: environment
Saanich police jaywalk
Corey Burger on Tue 04 Aug 2009 at 3:43 PM
Buried in a Times Colonist article about the shiny online stuff the Saanich police is doing, is this little gem:
One motorist was upset at having to brake for uniformed officers jaywalking across Verno
Topics: environment
Easy Solar Starter Kit | 250W Portable System
Solar Home Review on Tue 04 Aug 2009 at 2:47 PM
.Planning a residential solar installation may seem like a big project. Broken down into digestible pieces of information a simpler picture emerges. In fact home energy audits conducted by an agent c
Topics: environment
Municipalities must be vigilant in setting GHG reduction targets
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 02 Aug 2009 at 4:06 PM
Municipalities must be vigilant in setting GHG reduction targets
Dr. Mir F. Ali
It seems to be a popularity context in the midst of some municipalities to set higher targets for reducing GHG emissions
Topics: environment
Renewable Bangladesh
Solar Home Review on Sat 01 Aug 2009 at 9:48 AM
.Wondering why the World Bank just committed more money to the tune of $130 million in credit to Bangladesh? To increase the use of solar panels. It's not a one time deal but a lengthy partnership.A
Topics: environment
RENAC | Leveraging Renewable Energy Training
Solar Home Review on Wed 29 Jul 2009 at 7:48 PM
.Germany is lending it's rich experience with renewable energy development to instrumental global efforts that are seeing the quite and consistent expansion of knowledge, policy development and trainin
Topics: environment
What's the Carbon Footprint Deal?
Solar Home Review on Tue 28 Jul 2009 at 4:02 PM
____________________________________________________________________So what's the deal with the "Carbon Footprint" concept? We hear this term enough to know it somehow implies we should be mindful of
Topics: environment
Why Do Victoria City Councillors Hate Gardens? (1082 Richmond)
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 28 Jul 2009 at 3:38 PM
It's the hottest day of the year so far -- 40 degrees in the shade, and some of the shade on Richmond Street was provided by the grand mature chestnut tree which presides over the garden shown above, a
Topics: environment
My photography
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 28 Jul 2009 at 10:51 AM
Just thought I'd share with all my friends. The following is a slide show of some of my photography. It's summer so something lighter was in order; especially after talking about taxes and social activ
Topics: environment
Fierce Light
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 24 Jul 2009 at 7:20 PM
Yesterday my wife and I were having a chat about mainstream news media and the effect YouTube and the Net in general is having on the state of affairs.
This was in response to one of our two local te
Topics: environment
BC's New HST Tax
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 24 Jul 2009 at 2:26 PM
Dr. Mir F. Ali has written a primer here on the introduction of BC's new HST tax which I think should stir up some controversy. Whether or not you are in favour of this tax (it's too early to make a so
Topics: environment
Hearing Aid Solar Charger
Solar Home Review on Fri 24 Jul 2009 at 1:59 PM
This hearing aid solar battery charger is produced in Botswana by Godisa Technologies Trust. The company, established in 2002, meets a growing need for reliable and affordable hearing aid batteries.
Topics: environment
Wal-Mart the environmentalist?
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 22 Jul 2009 at 11:35 AM
I hope you enjoyed the global warming primer in the previous post.
Dr. Ali has certainly presented a great summary of the issue.
In that vein I thought it somewhat positive that Wal-Mart, that behemou
Topics: environment
Child's Play In Natural Settings
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 21 Jul 2009 at 4:57 PM
Artist Robert Bateman and partners have given local impetus to Richard Louv's campaign against "nature deficit disorder," the complex of problems that result from children growing up cut off from natur
Topics: environment
Nature Deficit Disorder Created by Urban Density
TreeWatchVictoria on Mon 20 Jul 2009 at 9:04 PM
"... Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine-Purdue University and the University of Washington reported that greener neighborhoods are associated with slower increases in children's body
Topics: environment
The Primer: Global Warming and Climate Change
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 20 Jul 2009 at 8:11 PM
The Primer: Global Warming and Climate Change
Dr. Mir F. Ali
In spite of unremitting controversy, the interest in global warming is increasing by the minute. It doesn't take a huge effort these days
Topics: environment
When green IT gets fun - it sees you when you're not sleeping!
Green IT TOOLS on Mon 20 Jul 2009 at 12:19 PM
Topics: environment
World Future Council | Feed in Tariffs Project
Solar Home Review on Sat 18 Jul 2009 at 3:51 PM
Since mid -2006 the World Future Council has worked on all continents providing print and web-based resources, as well as direct engagement through consultancy, advocacy, networking, coalition-building
Topics: environment
Sustainable Investing
Solar Home Review on Fri 17 Jul 2009 at 8:40 PM
Investing smart is investing in sustainable business for 2009. 2008 saw U.S. investors shoot for energy with solar energy investing in the top 4 on the list for overall investments. Investors ran for c
Topics: environment
6 story wood building survives test earthquake
Corey Burger on Wed 15 Jul 2009 at 1:00 PM
Given we live in an earthquake-prone part of the world and have recently approved the construction of six story wood buildings, you would think it might be good to test whether or not these shiny new b
Topics: environment
Fighting Energy Poverty in Africa
Solar Home Review on Mon 13 Jul 2009 at 4:17 PM
Approximately 74% of the African population lives without reliable safe electricity in 2009. The Alliance for Rural Electrification and the World Future Council have recently announced a partnership t
Topics: environment
Victoria Today
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 12 Jul 2009 at 5:51 PM
New edging out old, a remnant of woods, the sea beyond. (Looking south from Chateau Victoria)
Topics: environment
An Animal Tale
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 11 Jul 2009 at 12:51 PM
A deer, a cougar, a bear and a marmot: these are the characters in this week's version of a frequently repeating urban tale. These are not the characters of a classic children's story however, as their
Topics: environment
Managing Summer Heat at Home
Solar Home Review on Mon 06 Jul 2009 at 8:52 PM
Heading into what will likely be another hot summer we wanted to share some additional things home owners can do to combate indoor temperatures using solar solutions, and save on energy consumption at
Topics: environment
World clock
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 06 Jul 2009 at 11:42 AM
Go check out Gil's latest post on the world clock…think the data in the previous post was freaky, check this out…
Send post as PDF to
Topics: environment
Here's a scribd from IBM
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 05 Jul 2009 at 10:56 PM
Photo by Jurvetson on Flickr
A few weeks ago I introduced Scribd on my blog and thought it would be useful for non-profits to present issues…well, funny I run across IBM doing it.
While this is an ad
Topics: environment
The era of removing crosswalks is over…
Corey Burger on Sun 05 Jul 2009 at 11:00 AM
…and not soon enough. For the past several decades crosswalks have been scraped up under the misguided assumption that it causes "pedestrians to act recklessly". Even the US DOT Federal Highway Admin
Topics: environment
Helping out at the MEC Bikefest
Corey Burger on Sat 04 Jul 2009 at 11:23 PM
It has been a long time since I last posted, but I haven't been any less busy. Today was case in point, as I helped out with the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition's "booth” at the MEC Bikefest in Ma
Topics: environment
When Did Brown Become the New Green?
TreeWatchVictoria on Fri 03 Jul 2009 at 10:40 AM
Could the owners of this garden receive tax relief as an incentive to continue their contribution to keeping Greater Victoria beautiful? On CBC someone representing the development community was heard
Topics: environment
Looking At Trunks
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 02 Jul 2009 at 11:35 AM
Intriguing variety of shapes, textures, protuberances, blossoms, epiphytes -- Top - oak, and lichen2 - arbutus trunk sprouts leaves3 - cherry sprouts blossoms4 - after amputation: growth resumed from a
Topics: environment
Computer-Guided Nanoparticle Therapy Destroys Tumors
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 01 Jul 2009 at 9:48 AM
Here's a very interesting article on how nano technology is fighting disease and the hope for the very near future for cancer cures. This is amazing stuff and if we could only take this type of thinkin
Topics: environment
10 Steps for Home Solar Panel Installation
Solar Home Review on Tue 30 Jun 2009 at 2:43 PM
Solar energy for home energy use is a smart solution for homeowners needing to economize on the cost of home energy. Small to medium sized solar panel arrays installed on roofs or on your property can
Topics: environment
American Clean Energy and Security Act
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 29 Jun 2009 at 8:25 PM
Here's another article by Dr. Mir Ali on the Obama Administration's attempt to reduce carbon emissions. It certainly is a change; but is it enough?
American Clean Energy and Security Act
Dr. Mir F
Topics: environment
Remains of a Cherry Tree - R.I.P.
TreeWatchVictoria on Mon 29 Jun 2009 at 2:31 PM
Photos by Penny TennenhouseThe gorgeous cherry tree above which graced the boulevard on Moss Street, was hit by a huge truck last year and had to be cut down. Neighbours Penny and Bill have been grievi
Topics: environment
"The Town House Murder"?
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 28 Jun 2009 at 5:21 PM
Whatever happened here? It's like a summer garden crime scene in the middle of a sleepy town, Agatha Christie -style. Evidence is laid out in broad daylight: big healthy oak laid low -- wide trunk, fee
Topics: environment
Ursus horticulturis
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 28 Jun 2009 at 3:55 PM
It is always fun to see what theme the municipal gardeners come up with for the little bed under the oaks outside the Oak Bay Public Library - see this year's mini-landscape at top. Another Oak Bay gar
Topics: environment
The Return of Nature
TreeWatchVictoria on Fri 26 Jun 2009 at 10:28 AM
Experts predict that world population will peak around the middle of this century (at a terrifying 9 or 10 billion). Their calculations are fraught with technicalities of course, but basically it seems
Topics: environment
Volunteer this summer
Corey Burger on Fri 26 Jun 2009 at 10:00 AM
If you are looking for something interesting to do this summer, why not volunteer? There are a lot of places that you can do it, but here are a couple that might strike your fancy:
July 1st - Canada Da
Topics: environment
New approaches to street design
Corey Burger on Thu 25 Jun 2009 at 3:00 PM
Spacing Toronto, an excellent blog by the equally excellent people who create Spacing magazine, is running a well written piece on new approaches to street design. The key point made is that what we ha
Topics: environment
On being good citizens in nature's garden
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 25 Jun 2009 at 2:01 PM
Most residents of Victoria are familiar with the opinion of the earliest explorers and settlers that Vancouver Island was "paradise" and "a perfect Eden." The early colonials created estates and garden
Topics: environment
Top 7 free green IT tools and calculators
Green IT TOOLS on Thu 25 Jun 2009 at 11:49 AM
Topics: environment
Notes from yesterday's BCTransit open house
Corey Burger on Wed 24 Jun 2009 at 9:54 PM
The latest in the seamingly endless studies about rapid transit is entering it's public consultation and thus BCTransit is holding a series of open houses.This one is called the Victoria Regional Rapid
Topics: environment
A Doomed Tree
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 24 Jun 2009 at 7:07 PM
Subdivision: a SOLD sign on a garden. This is how a garden becomes reduced to a building site. A tree on the periphery of such a site will be in danger, endangered by architectural plans and/or bulldoz
Topics: environment
The "Biocentrics"
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 24 Jun 2009 at 10:56 AM
Artists and poets who celebrated the urban forest at Serious Coffee on Oak Bay Avenue on June 23rd. Participants agreed that the arts refresh the spirit of those fighting the uphill battle for nature i
Topics: environment
Threatened Chadwick Oak - another tribute
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 24 Jun 2009 at 10:45 AM
Drawing by Gordon Pritchard The Chadwick Oak draws the eye of many neighbours and visitors.
Topics: environment
Save up to 30% on Air Conditioning this Summer
Solar Home Review on Tue 23 Jun 2009 at 6:13 PM
With warmer weather upon us, air conditioners are on and costing us more in energy at this time of year. Cool-n-Save(tm) is an amazing new, patented product, that is based on the same scientific princ
Topics: environment
Climate Change | Are We Misinformed?
Solar Home Review on Tue 23 Jun 2009 at 4:23 PM
Anyone interested in understanding climate change, environmental issues and global renewable energy, will be challenged to get a solid take on what's going on. Just the other day I read an article on
Topics: environment
A technology and an inspiration
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 23 Jun 2009 at 8:11 AM
Here's a technology and a story to remind us about the resilience of people who face hard times.
Whirrl is an app you can use on your IPhone to capture photos and text to create PowerPoint like stories
Topics: environment
Come support Oak Bay Sea Rescue tomorrow night
Corey Burger on Sun 21 Jun 2009 at 10:19 PM
Tomorrow night the Oak Bay Sea Rescue Society, Coast Guard Aux. Unit 33, is up before council for a rezoning request for their new boat house. The Times Colonist has covered the story half-decently, bu
Topics: environment
What is a Father?
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 21 Jun 2009 at 9:26 AM
Happy Father's Day. And in celebration of this fine day I thought I'd post this piece I wrote many years ago while my wife was pregnant about the process of becoming a father. The preface to this is my
Topics: environment
Never Mind Cars, Plant a Forest Within Cities and Without, to Mitigate Global War
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 20 Jun 2009 at 3:04 PM
The Natural Fix: The Role of Ecosystems in Climate Mitigation is a new U.N. report identifying three ecosystems that are priorities in slowing down global climate change: tropical forests, peatlands, a
Topics: environment
Infinite Power
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 19 Jun 2009 at 11:18 PM
So heres a story I just have to share. Nokia has invented a phone system that can recharge cell batteries through pulling random radio waves out of the air, i.e, all that ambient radio frequency stuff
Topics: environment
Data Standards for Nonprofit Reporting?
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Fri 19 Jun 2009 at 5:15 PM
Below is a post I wrote in 2006. I was hoping by now, things might have changed, but I havent seen a lot of movement in this field. With the global economy still in a free fall, more and more people ar
Topics: environment
Things to do this weekend
Corey Burger on Thu 18 Jun 2009 at 3:00 PM
The Victoria Francophone Society is hosting St. Jean Baptiste Day in Willows Park this Saturday the 20th. The event runs from 12pm-5pm with lots of free music and dance all afternoon long, kids’ ente
Topics: environment
Oak Bay sewage forum tomorrow night
Corey Burger on Thu 18 Jun 2009 at 11:00 AM
After popular demand by our very own John Herbert, the CRD has added a public consultation in Oak Bay tomorrow evening at Emmanuel Baptist Church (2121 Cedar Hill X Rd (google map), right by the entran
Topics: environment
U.S.A. solar knowledge | Consumer survey results
Solar Home Review on Wed 17 Jun 2009 at 6:35 PM
When it comes to their knowledge about solar power, many Americans are both exuberant in their desire to see solar more quickly become a larger part of the country's energy portfolio and ignorant of ju
Topics: environment
U.S.A. solar knowledge | Consumer survey results
Solar Home Review on Wed 17 Jun 2009 at 6:35 PM
When it comes to their knowledge about solar power, many Americans are both exuberant in their desire to see solar more quickly become a larger part of the country's energy portfolio and ignorant of ju
Topics: environment
Notes from yesterday's CRD bike/ped plan launch
Corey Burger on Wed 17 Jun 2009 at 5:35 PM
The CRD is building a new bike and pedestrian master plan and to get the ball rolling, they hosted a launch & lunch party yesterday and they were kind enough to invite myself, Lesley Ewing and Gerald S
Topics: environment
Green IT is unavoidable
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 17 Jun 2009 at 10:12 AM
Topics: environment
Google's Wave. A tsunami? Or a duck splash?
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 16 Jun 2009 at 11:32 PM
I believe in the wave and it's heading this way.
Google Wave is Google's new invention of email. As Lars Rasmussen, one of Google's major serious geeks says, if you were to invent email today, what wo
Topics: environment
Google’s Wave. A tsunami? Or a duck splash?
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Tue 16 Jun 2009 at 11:32 PM
I believe in the wave and its heading this way.
Google Wave is Googles new invention of email. As Lars Rasmussen, one of Googles major serious geeks says, if you were to invent email today, what would
Topics: environment
Will they be concerned when somebody gets killed?
Corey Burger on Tue 16 Jun 2009 at 4:41 PM
The Oak Bay Police are claiming that the intersection of Bowker and Cadboro Bay Rd. isn't a problem, because most people do the speed limit. Let me rephrase that, while the police watched, people didn'
Topics: environment
Batteries explained, 10 interesting facts
Green IT TOOLS on Tue 16 Jun 2009 at 9:30 AM
Topics: environment
For the start ups
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 15 Jun 2009 at 10:09 AM
Heres a great blog for those wishing to start a business and who need venture capital.
It is no small task to raise funding for a business enterprise. Angel investors are not called angel investors for
Topics: environment
OAKS IN PERIL Art Show Moved To Serious Coffee, Oak Bay Avenue
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 14 Jun 2009 at 7:11 PM
In honour of the threatened Garry oak tree in the corner of the newly subdivided lots at the "Chadwick Estates," which was made out of the heritage garden at 1972 Fairfield Road, the art display called
Topics: environment
Bowker Creek Celebration Walk
Corey Burger on Sun 14 Jun 2009 at 6:27 PM
This Saturday was the Bowker Creek Celebration walk, co-hosted by the Oak Bay Community Association and Bowker Creek Initiative The walk started out at the upper parking lot of the Oak Bay Recreation
Topics: environment
Amazing Habits of Holly Trees
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 14 Jun 2009 at 5:15 PM
Part of a hedge which is a remnant of a holly farm which existed between Foul Bay Road and McNeill Avenue (Victoria/Oak Bay border) until the early 1950's. The farm was subdivided into residential lots
Topics: environment
Climate Thoughts - Don't keep them to Yourself
Solar Home Review on Fri 12 Jun 2009 at 10:06 PM
Now it is possible to read many of the thoughts passing through people's minds on the issue of climate change and add your own personal thoughts to the collection of climate thoughts a three-dimensiona
Topics: environment
Bixi comes to Vancouver
Corey Burger on Fri 12 Jun 2009 at 11:00 AM
The Montreal bike-sharing program is coming to Vancouver, for one day at least. The Georgia Straight is reporting that this Friday through Monday there will a test of the bikes on the seawall near Scie
Topics: environment
Cyclist hit on Beach Dr at Estevan?
Corey Burger on Thu 11 Jun 2009 at 7:00 PM
According to the Oak Bay News, a cyclist was hit at the corner of Beach Drive and Estevan Avenue on Friday. Given the claim of the vehicle running the stop sign, it must have been on Estevan, not Beach
Topics: environment
Possible sewage treatment location in Oak Bay
Corey Burger on Thu 11 Jun 2009 at 12:46 PM
The CRD has now identified the three possible locations for the Saanich East/Oak Bay North sewage treatment plant and one of them is in Oak Bay, despite the fact that the only public consultations this
Topics: environment
Greenpeace and Kleenex
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 11 Jun 2009 at 12:33 PM
Interesting Greepeace video here. I wonder what people think about this ad, especially those in BC?
Send post as PDF to
Topics: environment
Giving is down
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 11 Jun 2009 at 11:49 AM
Check out this article in the Phoenix Business Journal. Looks like philanthropy has taken a hit over the last year. Thats no surprise, but whats encouraging is its not the end of the world and an amazi
Topics: environment
Community Association is holding plant swaps at Estevan Market
Corey Burger on Thu 11 Jun 2009 at 11:00 AM
Spring is here and many people have excess plants from their vegetable or flower gardens. Thankfully the Oak Bay Community Association has a solution for you. They are planning on holding plant swaps s
Topics: environment
Notes from last nights council meeting
Corey Burger on Tue 09 Jun 2009 at 5:55 PM
For the second time in a row, a report from the council meeting last night. The meeting was the usual grab bag of stuff such as variance and bylaw approvals, plus the latest chapter in the ongoing saga
Topics: environment
Renters! Your voice is needed on secondary suites
Corey Burger on Tue 09 Jun 2009 at 11:00 AM
Oak Bay has been considering legalisation of secondary suites for most of this year already and they have recently sent out a form asking for opinion on secondary suites as part of the tax notice. But
Topics: environment
Sustainable Transportation - the time is now.
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 08 Jun 2009 at 10:27 PM
Heres another guest post below from Dr. Mir F. Ali about sustainable transportation.
His article makes me think about riding my bike more and maybe signing up for Victorias car share program and dumpin
Topics: environment
Monday Quick Links
Corey Burger on Mon 08 Jun 2009 at 6:21 PM
There are a few interesting announcements today from the CRD and the Federal Government regarding communities, planning and green space.
The CRD is looking for people to sit on their Regional Parks cit
Topics: environment
Oak Bay Tea Party + Willows Park = no bike parking
Corey Burger on Mon 08 Jun 2009 at 11:00 AM
Managed to finally get to the Tea Party today, after being quite busy yesterday. Even though I arrived after 3 and after the airshow, there were still tonnes of people there. I did see large numbers st
Topics: environment
How did lawns become the enemy?
TreeWatchVictoria on Mon 08 Jun 2009 at 9:35 AM
One of the pleasures of summer in the city is walking across a thick springy green lawn in bare feet, under the shade of leafy trees. It used to be an innocent pleasure, but seems to have been reframed
Topics: environment
Bringing Light to the World - SolarAid UK
Solar Home Review on Sat 06 Jun 2009 at 4:02 PM
SolarAid is a non-profit organization based in London, England whose mission it is to bring clean renewable power to the poorest people in the world. If you are looking for a organization to support,
Topics: environment
Oak Bay Tea Party parade with no camera
Corey Burger on Sat 06 Jun 2009 at 12:12 PM
Today is the Oak Bay Tea Party Parade, an event I remember fondly from my youth. Sadly, I ended up having to run down to a friends house and thus I had no camera to take pictures. I did notice a few th
Topics: environment
Japan's Home Solar Incentives
Solar Home Review on Thu 04 Jun 2009 at 10:21 PM
Japan currently has a goal to see 30% of Japanese homes installed with solar panels by 2030. This is a voluntary commitment, that demonstrates Japan's interest in mitigating climate change going into
Topics: environment
Getting to the game by bike, transit or walking
Corey Burger on Thu 04 Jun 2009 at 10:18 PM
One of the most persistent problems facing non-car drivers is that complete auto-centricity of directions listed on most websites, of which sports teams and their stadiums seem to be especially bad for
Topics: environment
Belated post on the ducky race
Corey Burger on Thu 04 Jun 2009 at 12:52 AM
Been a little bit busy recently with real life, so I have been sitting on these pictures of the Bowker Creek Rubber Ducky Race. This is the 11th annual hosted by the Oak Bay High Environment Club, but
Topics: environment
10 Best Green Jobs
Solar Home Review on Wed 03 Jun 2009 at 4:32 PM
Here's a quick share on top 10 green jobs found at Fastcompany.com. More and more info is coming online for green jobs and training. Opportunities will be opening up in the renewable energy sector an
Topics: environment
Solar Projects around the World | 2. El Dorado Solar PV Plant, Nevada
Solar Home Review on Mon 01 Jun 2009 at 10:50 PM
Apologise for the delay in posting, what was meant to be a smooth reading experience of 'solar projects around the world'. All postings in this category can be found under the 'energy files' if you ju
Topics: environment
Starting a Business
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 01 Jun 2009 at 10:36 AM
Gils written a great article on starting a business, which if youve ever considered this idea, youd be well advised to read. I know people often say do what you love and the money will follow, and I be
Topics: environment
Australia's Solar Incentives Change on June 30th
Solar Home Review on Sun 31 May 2009 at 10:44 AM
The Australian Government's Solar Homes and Communities Plan $8,000 cash rebate for grid connect solar power will end June 30, 2009. The Australian government's generous bundle is changing. On July
Topics: environment
Help the Sierra Club
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sat 30 May 2009 at 12:37 AM
Heres an initiative by Microsoft and the Sierra Club to use hot mail and Windows Live to generate funds for Sierra Club. Cool idea. Check it out. These are great ways to generate income for worthy caus
Topics: environment
Followup on BCI’s presentation to council
Corey Burger on Fri 29 May 2009 at 4:02 PM
As I mentioned on Tuesday, Monday nights council meeting was started with a presentation by Tanis Douglas, Bowker Creek Initative Coordinator, and Jody Watson, chair of the BCI, about the BCIs activiti
Topics: environment
Intersolar Munich 2009 News Roundup
Solar Home Review on Thu 28 May 2009 at 5:53 PM
Some 60,000 solar insiders from around the world have gathered in Munich this week for the annual Intersolar Conference. As prices for solar panels fall and solar developers face financing challenges i
Topics: environment
Ordering the Preservation of Trees
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 28 May 2009 at 11:24 AM
Here's a tactic used by one of our partners in the effort for worldwide urban tree preservation, Bristol City Council in the UK:"Yesterday the City Council's South East planning committee voted to con
Topics: environment
No post on Bowker Creek Initiative yet
Corey Burger on Wed 27 May 2009 at 3:36 PM
I did promise a post on the Bowker Creek Initatives presentation to council on Monday night but I havent yet finished right it. This is because I managed to injure my shoulder somewhere and typing is a
Topics: environment
10 Simple Steps toward an Energy Efficient Home
Solar Home Review on Tue 26 May 2009 at 4:34 PM
Let's get simple and lay out some home energy efficiency steps you can begin taking today. Consider for a moment the benefits of making your home energy positive. The changes we make individually at
Topics: environment
Notes from last night’s council meeting
Corey Burger on Tue 26 May 2009 at 10:00 AM
Last nights council meeting was an interesting one, not just because of the content but also because there were several split votes, a relative rarity in Oak Bay. There was also a whole variety of thin
Topics: environment
How to Start a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Mon 25 May 2009 at 9:27 PM
Heres an article in Wiki How that explains the process in the US to start a charity.
Always useful info to have handy.
And I love the open source attitude here from wikiHow. Content sharing for social
Topics: environment
IRENA hosting first Meet in June 2009
Solar Home Review on Mon 25 May 2009 at 5:15 PM
The International Renewable Energy Agency, which officially launched in January of 2009 in Bonn, Germany, will be hosting their next internationally attended Meet in Sharem el Sheikh, located at the ti
Topics: environment
Plant Amnesty
TreeWatchVictoria on Mon 25 May 2009 at 4:47 PM
Why do we need an amnesty for trees? Because we're at war with them. Growing cities conquer and overrun the countryside, mowing down the tree-citizens. The mission of the group Plant Amnesty is "to end
Topics: environment
International Society of Arboriculture helps tree guardians
TreeWatchVictoria on Mon 25 May 2009 at 4:22 PM
How can each individual homeowner/family help maintain the urban forest? Get guidance and inspiration from the International Society of Arboriculture, whose Pacific Northwest chapter includes BC, by go
Topics: environment
Vancouver demos an electric car
Corey Burger on Mon 25 May 2009 at 11:00 AM
I managed to miss this last month, but the province, BC Hydro and the City of Vancouver signed a deal with Mitshubishi to test a production-ready electric car, the MiEV. Unlikely the low-speed electric
Topics: environment
On tomorrow night’s Council agenda
Corey Burger on Sun 24 May 2009 at 6:30 PM
Tomorrow night the Council has a fairly busy schedule, with a few things that people might want to comment on:
Renewal of funding for Bowker Creek Initiative - Come and speak for this as the BCI is a
Topics: environment
Good comment in previous post on banning bottled water
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sun 24 May 2009 at 11:28 AM
Check out Maxs comment in my previous post.
Max is from http://www.ensobottles.com.
Send post as PDF to
Topics: environment
Vancouver embraces open standards, data and open source
Corey Burger on Sun 24 May 2009 at 11:00 AM
A few days ago Vancouver was considering becoming an open city, embracing open source, open standards and open data. This week, that idea became a reality as Vancouver City Council adopted Andrea Reime
Topics: environment
Banning Bottled Water
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Sat 23 May 2009 at 10:48 PM
Heres another story from Dr. Mir Ali which Im happy to post. I have never understood why people buy bottled water when tap water is so prevalent and we spend so much of our tax dollars keeping a health
Topics: environment
Planes return to Lansdowne Field
Corey Burger on Sat 23 May 2009 at 9:43 PM
Model radio-controlled ones, that is. While walking home today I ran across two guys flying their planes: a Beech Staggerwing biplane, a de Havilland Canada Beaver and a Supermarine Spitfire, buzzing t
Topics: environment
Notes from last night’s forum on urban watersheds and forests
Corey Burger on Fri 22 May 2009 at 5:00 PM
Last night the Friends of Bowker Creek Society and the Oak Bay Green Committee co-hosted a well-attended forum on urban watersheds and urban forests. The forum was an outgrowth of an internal effort by
Topics: environment
Vote square in Vancouver
Corey Burger on Fri 22 May 2009 at 11:00 AM
The Vancouver Public Space Network, an awesome advocacy group for celebrating, preserving and expanding public space, is hosting a design competition called Wheres the Square? for potential future publ
Topics: environment
Serious Tree Talk at "SERIOUS COFFEE" Outlet ("Oaks In Peril")
TreeWatchVictoria on Fri 22 May 2009 at 10:32 AM
Tree lovers had a vibrant evening in Victoria's Cook Street village Serious Coffee outlet on May 19th. (A big thank you to managers Sydney and Kevin!) To go along with the oak portraits on the wall sev
Topics: environment
Skoll Foundation and new SE directory
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Thu 21 May 2009 at 2:09 PM
Heres an announcement from the Skoll Foundation that I think is worth forwarding. Social entrepreneurs are making a huge difference around the world because they combine our desire for positive change
Topics: environment
A daily grab-bag of links
Corey Burger on Wed 20 May 2009 at 10:03 PM
The world keeps turning, even if I have been crazy busy with various non-bike relating things. So I present a grab-bag of fun links and commentary on news stories:
Packed in like sardines. It is a cli
Topics: environment
New Trends: Smaller, Affordable, and Energy-Efficient Houses
Intuitech -NGOs & Tech on Wed 20 May 2009 at 11:13 AM
Home Sweet Home
Heres another guest post from Mir Ali about the current trend in home construction. If one takes the idea of net-zero emissions and smaller construction and pushes it further, ma
Topics: environment
Solar Projects around the World | 1. Waldpolenz PV Plant
Solar Home Review on Wed 20 May 2009 at 10:05 AM
Presently we are seeing unprecedented growth in a variety of solar projects around the world, some of which we would like to capture here, to reflect upon the enterprising efforts being made to use ren
Topics: environment
DSIRE SOLAR - Renewable Energy Website Launch
Solar Home Review on Sun 17 May 2009 at 9:03 PM
The US Department of Energy has launched the next ramp up of the DSIRE program promoting solar and renewable energy for citizens, industry and professionals. The Database of State Incentives for Renew
Topics: environment
“Winning” at the expense of pedestrians
Corey Burger on Fri 15 May 2009 at 10:00 AM
This week the biking community won a pair of battles to add bike infrastructure in a pair of cities. But what did they really win? First, lets look at Toronto:
The 5-lane Jarvis Street is being redevel
Topics: environment
London's Offshore Breezes By
Solar Home Review on Thu 14 May 2009 at 7:39 PM
The London Array, an offshore wind farm project, which was hanging in tidal limbo due to the economic downturn, has been able to hang in there. This is currently the largest offshore wind project in t
Topics: environment
One last morning celebration station at RJH
Corey Burger on Thu 14 May 2009 at 10:52 AM
Today was the last 6 am morning for me this week and it was a cold one. The celebration station at the Royal Jubilee Hospital was shadowed by one of the buildings, which made standing around a little c
Topics: environment
Tri-City News backs more bike infrastructure
Corey Burger on Wed 13 May 2009 at 7:39 PM
The Tri-City News, covering Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Maple Ridge and part of the Black Press stable of regional newspapers that includes Oak Bay News, has published an editorial calling for govern
Topics: environment
Busy station at Oak Bay municipal hall this morning
Corey Burger on Wed 13 May 2009 at 11:34 AM
This mornings celebration station on the front lawn was a busy time for me and my fellow Safer Cycling OB volunteers, Jane and Leona. We managed to get nearly everybody that came by to tell us where th
Topics: environment
Out With the New, In With the Old
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 13 May 2009 at 10:06 AM
North of us: behind the Malahat. A housing development next?The day after the 2009 provincial vote: so that's that election over. "Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing"? Not even much sound and f
Topics: environment
Biki launches and Akerley charged
Corey Burger on Tue 12 May 2009 at 5:15 PM
Montreals pioneer bike sharing program, the first in Canada, has just launched with 3,000 bikes spread across 300 stations. This is only a small part of a very ambitious plan of stations across Montrea
Topics: environment
Pictures from the morning UVic station
Corey Burger on Tue 12 May 2009 at 12:09 PM
On this, the second day of Bike to Work Week 2009, I dragged myself out of bed at a very early hour of 6 am to attend the morning celebration station at UVics main fountain. As UVic is the single large
Topics: environment
Pictures from Sidney’s celebration station today
Corey Burger on Mon 11 May 2009 at 11:20 PM
To celebrate the first day of this years Bike to Work Week, I made the trek up to the most northerly celebration station in south Sidney. Todays big story ended up being the weather, with a little bit
Topics: environment
Aussie Goverment Ups Green Home Incentives
Solar Home Review on Mon 11 May 2009 at 5:16 PM
This July Aussies will get greater benefits from their already awesome green home incentives opportunities. The Australian Government is helping Australian citizens tackle climate change by offering a
Topics: environment
Bike to Work Week starts today
Corey Burger on Mon 11 May 2009 at 10:49 AM
Today marks the first day of the annualBike to Work Week. This years is two weeks early, to coincide with events across North America. The kick off this morning at the south end of the Selkirk Trestle.
Topics: environment
Random links from the provincial election
Corey Burger on Sat 09 May 2009 at 4:47 PM
The internet is a wonderful thing. You can spend hours looking up all kinds of things about people, especially those who are involved in politics in any way. So without further ado, a random collection
Topics: environment
Estevan Village FoodRoots market has returned
Corey Burger on Fri 08 May 2009 at 9:00 AM
Yesterday marked the return of the Food Roots pocket market in Estevan Village. This means good, local produce is now available every Thursday from 3pm to 6pm. Of course, I had to go down buy some vege
Topics: environment
Pictures and notes from the East Saanich Rd. open house
Corey Burger on Thu 07 May 2009 at 6:25 PM
I had heard the rumours of bike lanes and sidewalks on East Saanich Rd., so when I learnt that North Saanich was hosting an open house to display the plans, I decided to check it out. The open house to
Topics: environment
Israel's Zenith Amplifies Solar Efficiency
Solar Home Review on Thu 07 May 2009 at 2:01 PM
Zenith Solar Inc. is working in the Negev desert of Israel achieving 75% solar efficiency, or about 5x greater power efficiency than standard solar panels using concentrated solar energy. Who are the p
Topics: environment
Happy? Hindenburg Day
Corey Burger on Wed 06 May 2009 at 3:30 PM
Today in 1937, the Hindenberg caught fire and burnt at Lakehurst Naval Station. Along with its 36 passengers and crew died any hopes of a commercial airship industry. As a result today blimps and dirig
Topics: environment
East Saanich Rd. bike lane Open House tonight
Corey Burger on Wed 06 May 2009 at 8:00 AM
I will be at the East Saanich Rd. bike lane project Open House tonight. It is being run the Municipality of North Saanich and is being held at the Panorama Rec. Centre and runs from 5pm to 8pm. On hand
Topics: environment
Wordle on Sunday’s raindrops and rainbows
Corey Burger on Tue 05 May 2009 at 5:33 PM
It is no secret that I like tag clouds. They provide a great way to see what people are saying by popularity. They have really taken off in the past few years. Even the CBC was gotten into the act, wit
Topics: environment
Arborial Beauty in Unexpected Places
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 05 May 2009 at 3:39 PM
Downtown spring: a young blossoming tree tucked in the corner of a parking lot outside a liquor store at Yates and Blanshard.
Topics: environment
Solar Efficiency Series #6 - Step 4 | Incentive Programs
Solar Home Review on Tue 05 May 2009 at 10:57 AM
Incentives, rebates or other monetary benefits for renewable energy home upgrades are presently available to home owners in many countries. Governments around the world are offering incentives to cons
Topics: environment
Rainbows & Raindrops from the community fair
Corey Burger on Mon 04 May 2009 at 1:18 PM
At the Community Fair yesterday we put out two piece of bristol board, sticky notes and pens and then we asked people who came by to tell us about biking in Oak Bay, both what they loved and what they
Topics: environment
Pictures from today’s Community Fair
Corey Burger on Sun 03 May 2009 at 2:43 PM
Despite the beautiful weather, todays Community Fair and Emergency Services expo was well attended. The community fair had booths from Safer Cycling Oak Bay, the Oak Bay Green Committee, Oak Bay Volunt
Topics: environment
Come to the Oak Bay Community Fair today
Corey Burger on Sun 03 May 2009 at 8:00 AM
Safer Cycling Oak Bay will be at the Oak Bay Community Fair today between 11:30am and 1:30pm. The fair, which is co-hosted with the emergency prepardness people, is in the Oak Bay Recreation Centres in
Topics: environment
Found a blogging councillor
Corey Burger on Fri 01 May 2009 at 9:06 PM
While on a random web search the other day I came across the blog of Cairine Green, one of councillors for the municipality of North Saanich.While this might not be the only councillor in the CRD who i
Topics: environment
5 Leaders in the Business of Green
Solar Home Review on Thu 30 Apr 2009 at 2:28 PM
With government money flowing and traditional industries fading, 2009 is set to be a watershed year for green business. Reuters News and Venture Capital Journal have selected five decisionmakers who wi
Topics: environment
Tidal current vs. paddlers
Corey Burger on Wed 29 Apr 2009 at 2:20 PM
On my way to a friends place last night, I was treated to the sight of two different boats filled with paddlers do battle with the strong in-rushing tide at the Tillicum Narrows. This part of the Gorge
Topics: environment
We value Victoria because of what grows on its trees -- and we don't mean money
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 28 Apr 2009 at 4:43 PM
We learn today that MoneySense magazine has named Victoria the number one best place to live out of 157 cities in Canada. In an interview with CBC, the editor of the magazine did not have much to say a
Topics: environment
Today is a just a little bit brighter
Corey Burger on Tue 28 Apr 2009 at 2:54 PM
Why? Yesterday gay and lesbian couples in Iowa finally got to enjoy the many benefits of marriage, something that similar couples here in Canada and a select few other countries (and a few states in th
Topics: environment
Urban Eco-Map from Cisco Systems
Solar Home Review on Tue 28 Apr 2009 at 1:00 PM
Urban EcoMap provides local communities with information on their progress toward meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals, and with access to the most useful, locally available tools and resources
Topics: environment
Solar Efficiency Series #5 - Step 3 | Solar System Cost and Efficiency
Solar Home Review on Mon 27 Apr 2009 at 11:09 AM
With a good grasp of how much energy you use, taking into consideration changes throughout the year for air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter, you are equipped to effectively evaluat
Topics: environment
IEA Urges Collaboration on Carbon Capture to U.S.
Solar Home Review on Sat 25 Apr 2009 at 4:28 PM
The International Energy Agency, a body of scientists, energy advisers and member countries, who's job it is to advise world governments about energy security, environmental protection and economic gro
Topics: environment
Entitled Driver Syndrome hits Liberal candidates
Corey Burger on Sat 25 Apr 2009 at 3:31 PM
Candidate vetting is always a tricky process. It is far, far too easy to miss something that will bite the candidate and the party in the butt when they least expect it. This is partly the reason I duc
Topics: environment
Sewage experts to Colwood: “Screw you”
Corey Burger on Thu 23 Apr 2009 at 2:42 PM
The experts have decided: One giant sewage plant in Colwood is a great idea. Except of course, if you live in Colwood. Too bad one giant plant is a terrible idea for local land values, the environment
Topics: environment
G8 Environment Ministers meet - Earth Day 2009
Solar Home Review on Wed 22 Apr 2009 at 11:05 AM
SYRACUSE, Italy (Reuters) - The United States and other rich nations must do more to help clinch a landmark deal on climate change this year, a top U.N. official said at a meeting of global environment
Topics: environment
Solar Efficiency Series #4 - Step 2 | Estimating Home Energy Usage
Solar Home Review on Tue 21 Apr 2009 at 6:45 PM
Once your home energy assessment is done, and you've made changes to maximize home energy use, you will want to estimate your energy consumption in both the warmer and colder times of the year. You wi
Topics: environment
Some people have a strange sense of humour
Corey Burger on Mon 20 Apr 2009 at 5:33 PM
In response to my post about the secondary suite consultation (specifically the part about the call for a vote by homeowners, not voters):
Image created by Wirelizard Designs
Topics: environment
Earth Day 2009 - Wednesday, April 22nd
Solar Home Review on Mon 20 Apr 2009 at 3:03 PM
What are you doing this Earth Day? Find events in your area or volunteer your time. We are in Canada and one way the city I live in celebrates Earth Day is by hosting an Earth Walk on April 25th. H
Topics: environment
Irony
Corey Burger on Fri 17 Apr 2009 at 6:24 PM
Yesterday evening I managed to make it to the community roundtable on the legalization of secondary suites. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people who actually supported the legalization of
Topics: environment
Jennifer Aniston goes Solar
Solar Home Review on Fri 17 Apr 2009 at 6:03 PM
Jennifer Aniston is enhancing her green credentials by renovating her sprawling Beverly Hills home - complete with plenty of solar panels. A reflective metal roof has also been installed to conserve e
Topics: environment
OAKS IN PERIL Art Show at Serious Coffee, May 4 - June 8th
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 16 Apr 2009 at 12:59 PM
On the leafy residential borderland where Victoria meets Oak Bay, a heritage garden is being ripped apart by diggers and earth movers in spring 2009, in preparation for the building of five houses. A g
Topics: environment
Solar Efficiency Series #3 - Step 1 | Home Energy Audits
Solar Home Review on Tue 14 Apr 2009 at 1:02 PM
Home energy audits are somewhat foundational to achieving better home energy efficiency and are central to achieving your maximum home energy efficiency, with renewable home energy systems like solar p
Topics: environment
What are YOU waiting for?
Green IT TOOLS on Thu 09 Apr 2009 at 5:25 PM
Topics: environment
Solar Efficiency Series #2 - Optimizing Solar Panel Efficiency
Solar Home Review on Thu 09 Apr 2009 at 4:36 PM
Solar Home Review focuses on renewable energy planning for home owners, providing reviews for solar or wind systems that can be purchased or built by hand. Any type of solar efficiency research or effi
Topics: environment
Unconscious bias: the new BCTransit logo
Corey Burger on Mon 06 Apr 2009 at 9:51 AM
BCTransit has slowly been rolling out the new corporate look for the past few months and as part of the new look, they got a new logo:
One of the interesting things about this new logo is the inclusio
Topics: environment
Blossoms in the Hospital Window
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 01 Apr 2009 at 6:13 PM
It is well known that hospital patients benefit from a view of trees outside their windows. Patients on the second floor of the Memorial Building at the Jubilee are currently enjoying a view straight i
Topics: environment
Stop the Presses: Trees Enhance Children's Health!
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 01 Apr 2009 at 2:33 PM
Recent studies indicate many ways in which an extensive urban treescape enhances children's health -- to no surprise to nature-lovers. Because the incidence of childhood asthma has increased dramatical
Topics: environment
Five Easy Ways to Green Your IT
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 01 Apr 2009 at 11:01 AM
Topics: environment
Apple has improved, Greenpeace Guide Reports
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 01 Apr 2009 at 9:14 AM
Topics: environment
Recruiting a Website Developer / Technical Co-Founder (CTO) for Early Stage Start
Annalea Krebs on Tue 31 Mar 2009 at 5:24 PM
We are looking for a technical co-founder (CTO) to lead the development of an online platform that will unite the sustainability community. It will be an online community for individuals and organizati
Topics: environment
Advancing Sustainability Through Purchasing
Annalea Krebs on Sun 22 Mar 2009 at 6:02 PM
I attended a day-long conference hosted by the Sustainability Purchasing Network (SPN) this week on Greening Your Organization Through Purchasing. Having studied logistics and supply chain management a
Topics: environment
The Last Spring
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 21 Mar 2009 at 1:58 PM
This will be the last spring in which these wildflowers bloom over the mossy rocks and around the ponds at 1972 Fairfield Road. The large heritage garden is being subdivided into five building lots, th
Topics: environment
Trees and Their Absence
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 19 Mar 2009 at 4:51 PM
Here's why we are not preserving enough space for a healthy urban forest.MIDDLE: A battered half-cut-down old cherry tree keeps coming into bloom year after year (Balmoral Street). TOP: Branches and br
Topics: environment
Victoria Tree Stats
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 18 Mar 2009 at 3:15 PM
There are an estimated 40,000 trees in Victoria, about half of which are publicly owned boulevard trees. 30% - 40% of our tree canopy is on private land. That such a precious resource rests precariousl
Topics: environment
Cute Amtrak ad
Corey Burger on Thu 12 Mar 2009 at 3:00 PM
Many transit agencies dont know how to sell themselves, Amtrak included. But I think they really nailed it with this latest ad:
Hat tip to the Seattle Transit blog for this.
Topics: environment
Sustainability Continuums
Annalea Krebs on Wed 11 Mar 2009 at 4:25 PM
As much as the media makes corporate responsibility and sustainability (CSR) out to be mainstream, it isnt. There are still way more companies that are in transition and unfortunately only a handful of
Topics: environment
Bottled water ban suggestion passes
Corey Burger on Sun 08 Mar 2009 at 12:05 AM
The Federation of Canadian Muncipalities has passed a resolution to urge cities to ban bottled water. As I mentioned last Wednesday, the environmental impact of bottled water is two-fold. Not only does
Topics: environment
Oaks and Cranes
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 07 Mar 2009 at 5:01 PM
Competing for sky-space -- branches and construction cranes.
Topics: environment
We'll need new politicians if we are to save old growth
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 07 Mar 2009 at 4:18 PM
Western Canada Wilderness Committee pleads for old growth forests in rallies leading up to the provincial election in May. What issue could matter more than preserving the last remnants of our original
Topics: environment
Banning bottle water sales for fun and profit
Corey Burger on Wed 04 Mar 2009 at 11:29 PM
Late last year Toronto decided to ban sales of bottled water on city property, it the latest in a long series of muncipalities that have banned bottled water sales. This Saturday here in Victoria the F
Topics: environment
Driver who hit pedestrian charged with attempted murder
Corey Burger on Mon 02 Mar 2009 at 11:08 PM
On Saturday, when I sadly noted that killing a person with a car nets you a $1500 fine, I also was pleased that the RCMP seemed to take the recent hit and run in Port Alberni seriously enough to consid
Topics: environment
Making a Difference While Making a Living
Annalea Krebs on Mon 02 Mar 2009 at 1:00 PM
Making a difference while making a living may sound like an oxymoron to some, but Ive never really thought of the two as mutually exclusive.
Opportunities abound with the advent of greener enterprises
Topics: environment
Kill person with car, get $1500 fine
Corey Burger on Sat 28 Feb 2009 at 1:48 PM
There was another great example of how little our society values the lives of the non-car driving public. A woman with extensive speeding tickets and moving violations has been fined $1500 and given a
Topics: environment
New Safer Cycling Oak Bay website goes live
Corey Burger on Fri 27 Feb 2009 at 12:00 PM
Lesley Ewing and I have been working on a new Safer Cycling Oak Bay website for the past few weeks to correspond with the launch of a new project we, amongst others, have been working on. Rather than b
Topics: environment
Metrocascade: a new website of Victoria blogs
Corey Burger on Thu 26 Feb 2009 at 9:11 PM
A new one-stop shop for all of the blogs about Victoria, including the Times Colonist, was launched recently at Metrocascade.com. Alongside a whole bunch of blogs I didnt know about, Metrocascade inclu
Topics: environment
Jaywalking and pedestrian space
Corey Burger on Thu 26 Feb 2009 at 12:26 AM
There is a minor little stink going on in downtown Victoria over a recent crackdown on jaywalking. The Downtown Victoria Business Association is quite annoyed, feeling it will drive people out of downt
Topics: environment
Why was this tree killed?
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 18 Feb 2009 at 10:17 AM
Right top and bottom: large hearty oak body placed on boulevard at Brighton Street path and Hampshire Road. Upper: superficial discolouration at one end. Was this healthy giant cut down because someone
Topics: environment
Do Trees Die?
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 10 Feb 2009 at 1:20 PM
"Whole civilizations may come and go in the lifetime of a single veteren beech." So says Richard Mabey in Beechcombings, his glorious history of "the nation of trees," whcih gives particular attention
Topics: environment
Top 4 Articles for February 1 - 8, 2009
Green IT TOOLS on Mon 09 Feb 2009 at 10:24 AM
Topics: environment
A few thoughts on tonight’s town hall meeting
Corey Burger on Thu 05 Feb 2009 at 11:56 PM
Mayor and council held a poorly-publicized open house tonight at Windsor Pavillion. Despite that fact, the attendance wasnt too bad, as about 20 people attended the two hour event. As an open forum, th
Topics: environment
Owls in the Oaks in Oaklands
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 05 Feb 2009 at 11:09 AM
It's the time of Imbolc, the cross-quarter celebration halfway between Yule and Oestre (and between solstice and equinox), and the moon is waxing, nearly full. On the frosty night of February 4th, the
Topics: environment
Bike parking on the Avenue
Corey Burger on Tue 03 Feb 2009 at 12:15 AM
At tonights Committee of the Whole meeting, the council discussed the addition of covered bicycle parking to the avenue. Apparently instigated by the Mayor, this is long overdue recognition that bike p
Topics: environment
Top 5 Articles for January 19 - 30, 2009
Green IT TOOLS on Mon 02 Feb 2009 at 9:22 AM
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Green IT from the Design Phase
Green IT TOOLS on Thu 29 Jan 2009 at 6:39 PM
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Books for Tree Lovers
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 27 Jan 2009 at 12:09 PM
Tree lovers of Victoria are probably interested in trees everywhere, so here's a short list of fascinating recent titles. Salman Rushdie in Haroun and the Sea of Stories talks about "Streams of Story (
Topics: environment
The Garry Oak Habit
TreeWatchVictoria on Mon 26 Jan 2009 at 11:33 AM
Left: Fawn lillies in the backyard, by Joanne Thomson. Right: Midnight Oak, by Caroline Stengl There's still time to see the Island Illustrators Society show "The Garry Oak Habit" at the Cedar Hill Rec
Topics: environment
Victoria's Urban Forest Workshop Stimulating & Informative
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 24 Jan 2009 at 3:55 PM
Green Oaks Terrace: this bit is still attractively not infilled -- slightly messy, and very essential. The City of Victoria's Urban Forest Workshop, held twice this week, was stimulating and informativ
Topics: environment
Top 5 Articles for January 12 - 18, 2009
Green IT TOOLS on Fri 16 Jan 2009 at 4:43 PM
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Top 4 Articles for January 1 - 11, 2009
Green IT TOOLS on Sun 11 Jan 2009 at 9:00 PM
Topics: environment
City Workshop on Victoria's Urban Forest
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 10 Jan 2009 at 10:57 AM
A message from Corporate Communications, City of Victoria:WORKSHOP: What's Your Vision for Victoria's Urban Forest?Victoria, the City of Gardens, lies nestled beneath a protective canopy of trees – o
Topics: environment
Labour intensive buses are a problem
Corey Burger on Wed 07 Jan 2009 at 11:19 PM
So laid-off lumber workers dont want to relocate to Victoria or commute to get paid less driving our buses? So says the Globe and Mail.
Imagine if we had a transit vehicle that would have a better ride
Topics: environment
Top of the Top of Green IT for 2008
Green IT TOOLS on Tue 06 Jan 2009 at 11:45 AM
Topics: environment
A Clearing in the Concrete Jungle
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 03 Jan 2009 at 4:48 PM
Dec. 24, 2008: view of CPR Lawnbowling Club in snow, from the Marriott Hotel on Humboldt St. Photo taken by Stuart McDiarmid, visiting from the US (a New Zealander).Peering from one of the recently bui
Topics: environment
Do we want to live with Nature, or just visit her?
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 27 Dec 2008 at 11:52 AM
A bird-friendly gardenUVIC Political Science prof Jeremy Wilson, in the essay "Sticks, Carrots, and Sermons (and Workshops, too): Environment Canada and Calls for a Robust Bird Conservation Toolkit" (a
Topics: environment
Book Review: Stuck in Traffic
Corey Burger on Sat 20 Dec 2008 at 4:30 PM
I was lucky enough on one of my recent trips to the second hand book stores of Victoria to find a bunch of good books and magazines, including back issues of Urban Land, by the Urban Land Institute. Ho
Topics: environment
The Dawn Chorus Is "Nature's Daily Miracle"
TreeWatchVictoria on Sat 20 Dec 2008 at 1:24 PM
To celebrate "nature's daily miracle", the chorus of birds at dawn, bird-lovers in Britain have established an International Dawn Chorus Day (actually various days in May are included). This is somethi
Topics: environment
Rebuilding Canada: a look at P3s
Corey Burger on Thu 18 Dec 2008 at 10:05 PM
Can P3s (Public-Private Partnerships) save our infrastructure? This is the focus of TCs series latest story on rebuilding Canada. The second looks at the negative side of P3s, with cost overruns and so
Topics: environment
Central Saanich council decides to be nice
Corey Burger on Thu 18 Dec 2008 at 12:10 PM
A few weeks ago, before the last election, the Central Saanich council decided it would be a great idea if they cut off the water to homes with illegal suites. Earlier this week council decided to hold
Topics: environment
"standing person" by Rosalee van Stelten
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 17 Dec 2008 at 12:33 PM
(Tree in winter, from the treewatch files)standing personthis person standinggreen arms outstretchedbeneath an arching skybower to birds, rootedhome to scampering thingssustenance keeper of shadowshist
Topics: environment
Cars kill 300 year old tree
Corey Burger on Wed 17 Dec 2008 at 12:06 AM
Another piece of Oak Bays urban forest was lost this week. A large Garry Oak in the 500 block of Victoria Avenue was removed because it was diseased and thus was a potential risk to falling over. Given
Topics: environment
TC’s special on Rebuilding Canada
Corey Burger on Mon 15 Dec 2008 at 4:47 PM
The Times Colonist (and presumably the whole Canwest newspaper chain) has a special entitled Rebuilding Canada. That they are running such a piece now isnt really a surprise, given the massive number o
Topics: environment
Silly pedestrian, sidewalks are for cars!
Corey Burger on Mon 08 Dec 2008 at 10:36 PM
Today while walking back from Camosun, I saw no less than three trucks parked on the sidewalk. Frustrating.
This looks like a contractors truck, given the construction in the house right at this locat
Topics: environment
Top 5 Articles for December 1 - 5, 2008
Green IT TOOLS on Tue 02 Dec 2008 at 8:37 AM
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Road, rail and Canada’s emissions up 21%
Corey Burger on Sat 29 Nov 2008 at 9:22 PM
The province has just committed $500,000 to a study of using the EN rail line as a commuter route. I think Les Leyne says it best in his column when he said EN study could lead to right track. Like Les
Topics: environment
Thoughts on the election
Corey Burger on Fri 28 Nov 2008 at 3:10 PM
It has been almost two weeks since the election and I have been doing a great deal of thinking. . These past two weeks have been a mad scramble as I finish up coursework for my college term. I have had
Topics: environment
Top 5 Articles for November 24 - 28, 2008
Green IT TOOLS on Tue 25 Nov 2008 at 10:54 AM
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Top 5 Articles for November 17 - 23, 2008
Green IT TOOLS on Mon 24 Nov 2008 at 11:18 AM
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Innovative laneways from Vancouver
Corey Burger on Thu 20 Nov 2008 at 7:48 PM
Like Oak Bay, the City of Vancouver is blessed with a great deal of laneways. Vancouver has already made the great leap to allow laneway housing, as I talked about early this month, but now they are lo
Topics: environment
Urban Density Encourages Rural Sprawl: Both Bad News for Trees
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 20 Nov 2008 at 2:18 PM
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at a double interview on CFAX Radio the other day. Two men from the development community (one promoting condos in the new downtown highrise, the "Juliet"), were t
Topics: environment
The Debate About Global Warming is Over?
Green IT TOOLS on Mon 17 Nov 2008 at 8:42 PM
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Rich Colours in the November Sun
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 16 Nov 2008 at 1:37 PM
Top left - bright lichen and leaves, Cook Street villageLeft - mossy rock in the westerly sun, Oak Bay Native Plant Garden, Beach DriveRight - arbutus bark
Topics: environment
Jane's Oak Bay Garden
TreeWatchVictoria on Fri 14 Nov 2008 at 3:52 PM
The pond in the heritage garden of artist-gardener Jane Ramsay is surrounded with native plants busily shedding seeds. All manner of pods are curling open, fluff is floating on the autumn air, and heav
Topics: environment
Cridge Park Rescue
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 09 Nov 2008 at 12:07 PM
The green space to the west of the Church of Our Lord -- the CPR Lawnbowling Club's space -- is another one in danger of being paved and swallowed by development. There are some magnificant trees in th
Topics: environment
Tree Appreciation Day in Porter Park, November 08
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 05 Nov 2008 at 10:27 AM
Under the benevolent-looking gaze of Government House, neighbours helped Parks personnel on November 2nd to plant native tree seedlings in Porter Park, behind Sir James Douglas School and the Fairfield
Topics: environment
Which Council Candidates Care About Trees?
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 23 Oct 2008 at 2:06 PM
The issue of tree preservation and the protection of greenspace in the face of rampant development has received no attention at all in the current municipal elections in the Victoria region. Few candid
Topics: environment
Homeless People Camping in City Parks
TreeWatchVictoria on Thu 16 Oct 2008 at 1:21 PM
Now that campers (homeless or otherwise) are allowed to set up shanty towns in tax-funded urban greenspace, how safe will the trees, wildflowers and wildlife be for which the parks are meant as sanctua
Topics: environment
Found under a tree
TreeWatchVictoria on Sun 12 Oct 2008 at 11:28 AM
Apples and mushrooms: Matter decaying into and growing out of soil. Walking among trees, looking at the ground can be as interesting as are the trunks and canopies -- trees make a world for all kinds o
Topics: environment
Ryan Street Greenway a Nursery for a New Generation of Oaks
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 08 Oct 2008 at 3:35 PM
On the Ryan Street slope in North Fernwood a swath of urban streetscape is being gently "greened" -- new baby oaks and arbutus as well as native shrubs are being planted to create a continuum with the
Topics: environment
Plants Around Town
TreeWatchVictoria on Fri 03 Oct 2008 at 3:55 PM
All twisted up beside St. Andrew's Cathedral, gripping the fence beside Bowker Creek in Oak Bay, and a graceful willow in Fernwood
Topics: environment
Top Ten Reasons to Kill Urban Trees
TreeWatchVictoria on Fri 26 Sep 2008 at 3:37 PM
Cities around the world are struggling to keep their large shade trees. The struggle is against developers, municipal councils with little imagination, and a surprising number of people who unaccountab
Topics: environment
Is Fully Sustainable, Green IT Possible?
Green IT TOOLS on Fri 05 Sep 2008 at 8:52 AM
Topics: environment
Wild Deer in Victoria: Should They Have Legal Rights?
TreeWatchVictoria on Tue 26 Aug 2008 at 10:32 AM
Some years ago the CRD held a referendum to ask whether the public would approve a property tax hike of 6% in order to fund purchase of "sea to sea greenbelt" lands north of Victoria. The referendum pa
Topics: environment
Beacon Hill Park -- beacon of peace in a too-loud world
TreeWatchVictoria on Wed 20 Aug 2008 at 2:20 PM
There has just been one of those periodic spats in Monday Magazine about whether Beacon Hill Park should be kept commercial-free for nature lovers, or turned into a concert/fast food/touristy venue for
Topics: environment
Six months behind schedule, and more
Community Environmental Consultation on Thu 14 Aug 2008 at 5:37 PM
August 14, 2008 - Construction of the Bear Mountain Interchange is now six months behind schedule, a situation that the consultation team warned could happen when we met with City of Langford staff in
Topics: environment
Certification for IT Asset Disposal Providers
Green IT TOOLS on Fri 18 Jul 2008 at 10:24 AM
Topics: environment
Developing Energy Star 5.0
Green IT TOOLS on Wed 16 Jul 2008 at 8:42 AM
Topics: environment
Xerox Sustainability Calculator for Printing Devices
Green IT TOOLS on Tue 25 Mar 2008 at 9:51 AM
Topics: environment
Energy Consumption as Key Employee Performance Metric
Green IT TOOLS on Fri 21 Mar 2008 at 9:04 AM
Topics: environment
Interchange construction begins
Community Environmental Consultation on Thu 01 Nov 2007 at 8:40 PM
On February 13, work crews began clearing most of the forest in the path of the interchange. Click on images for a closer view. Many people feel strongly about this interchange project. We are still re
Topics: environment
Welcome to an independent consultation on the Bear Mountain Interchange
Community Environmental Consultation on Sat 25 Aug 2007 at 9:23 PM
Please share your thoughts and opinions on wildlife, caves, rare species, hydrology, transportation, housing, First Nations culture, impacts on climate and quality of life. Comment here, or email us at
Topics: environment
Events in Victoria
07 Sep 2010
Cut Offs -Theme Party- Jeremy Baker (The Zone), Arowbe of Times Neue Roman, Dj Nigel at Lucky Bar
3:30 PM
MAX & RUBY LIVE at Royal Theatre
6:30 PM
MAX & RUBY LIVE at Royal Theatre
7:00 PM
SEBASTIAN BRITNEFF at The Superior
08 Sep 2010
Victoria Welsh Society presents: Cor Godre'r Aran, Welsh Male Voice Choir at Alix Goolden Hall
Rock Island Ramblers at Hermann's Jazz Club
