Tomorrow marks the day that the Ford Government enacts Bill 23, The Gift To Developers Act. It can also rightfully be designated The Environmental Destruction Act, since it will not only fill the already overloaded bank accounts of Ford’s wealthy friends, but also deplete the natural reserves we have to
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Politics and its Discontents: Crisis Deferred, Not Ended
I recently wrote about a plan to bulldoze the Duffins Creek wetlands to make way for an Amazon distribution centre. Facilitated by an MZO (Ministerial Zoning Order), a heavy-handed tool designed to shortcut environmental assessment and speed development (“It’s all about jobs,” says Doug Ford); (“It’s all about promoting the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Developers’ Friend
Wetlands, or marshes, fens, bogs, and swamps, are the link between land and water. Wetlands include trees, grasses, shrubs, moss, and other plants that require at least some water coverage. Wetlands provide an abundance of essential ecosystem services, including: Water storage, storm protection, and flood mitigation Water purification through retention of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Our Paradoxical Species
Anyone who reads this blog regularly probably knows that I am something of a cynic when it comes to our species. Sure, there are many exceptions, but as a whole, we seem oblivious to our obligations to the world around us. Cossetted by our conveniences, our technologies and our bloated lifestyles, we far too often prefer to ignore all the evidence of the toll such indulgences take on the world.
I doubt that yesterday’s message from the Pope will have much effect on us, given our endless capacity for kicking the ball down the road. The CBC reports the following:
In the message, Francis said the faithful should use the holy year to ask forgiveness for the “sins” against the environment that have been committed by the “irresponsible, selfish” and profit-motivated economic and political system.
He called for all of humanity to take concrete steps to change course, starting with repaying what he called the “ecological debt” that wealthy countries owe the poor.
“Repaying [the debt] would require treating the environments of poorer nations with care and providing the financial resources and technical assistance needed to help them deal with climate change and promote sustainable development,” he wrote.
But on a personal, more local level, we all have a role to play, he said:
For example: “avoiding the use of plastic and paper, reducing water consumption, separating refuse, cooking only what can reasonably be consumed, showing care for other living beings, using public transport or car-pooling, planting trees, turning off unnecessary lights, or any number of other practices”.
Each of the above is easy to accomplish, but my hunch is that most can’t be bothered, consumed as they are by the busyness of their lives.
Is our collective indifference because we can’t personalize the existential threats we face (until, of course, we are flooded or burned out, of course)? I pose the question as I acknowledge the deeply paradoxical and conflicting facts of our nature. When, for example, we are called upon to act to help individuals, our courage can reach heroic, almost mythical proportions, as witnessed in the following:
How can we simultaneously be so selfish and so selfless? And more importantly, how can we harness what we are truly capable of for the common good? I wish I had some answers.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Our Paradoxical Species
Anyone who reads this blog regularly probably knows that I am something of a cynic when it comes to our species. Sure, there are many exceptions, but as a whole, we seem oblivious to our obligations to the world around us. Cossetted by our conveniences…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Friends In High Places: The NEB Continues Its Bromance With Enbridge
Last week I posted a story about the National Energy Board taking pity on Enbridge, reducing a fine levied against the energy delivery giant for the damage it caused to private property in Manitoba. Unfortunately, we now learn that this was just the st…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Enbridge Shirks Its Moral Responsibility
The National Observer reports the following:Enbridge Inc. will save $22,000 after convincing Canada’s pipeline enforcement agency that it shouldn’t have been punished for failing to help neighbouring landowners with property damage.The savings will com…
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Wake Up Call – Animated Short
A tonic against the slash and burn capitalism we’re supposed to worship. Filed under: Education Tagged: Capitalism, Environmental Destruction, Supply Chains, Wake Up Call
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Response From The Mound Of Sound
The Mound of Sound, who knows a great deal about the topic, offered the following response to my post on our hubris and our folly. Thanks for posting that video, Lorne. Any species that cannot live in harmony with its environment, that even comes to dominate and overwhelm its environment
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Next System Project
Bloggers far more skilled and knowledgeable that I have written extensively about how our societal systems are broken. Whether we look at the current model of rapacious capitalism, environmental non-regulation, fraying medical and social support programs, it is obvious that almost everything is largely rigged in favour of the few,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Dangers Are Only Too Apparent And Predictable
I was taking a bit of a break from blogging today when this came up, a sobering object lesson in the environmental disasters that we flirt with on the West Coast: A 135-metre container ship laden with bunker and diesel fuel is adrift off the west coast of Haida Gwaii,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Effective Counter To Oil Companies’ Greenwash Propaganda
The following definition of greenwashing is offered by Wikipedia: Greenwashing (a compound word modelled on “whitewash”), or “green sheen,”[1][2] is a form of spin in which green PR or green marketing is deceptively used to promote the perception that an organization’s products, aims or policies are environmentally friendly. Most of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: "I’ve Gone To The Dark Side": A Guest Post From The Mound Of Sound
I received this essay from Mound yesterday. He asked me to read it carefully before deciding whether to post it, given its dark, apocalyptic overtones. I acquiesced in the Mound’s request and concluded there was no way I would not put it on my blog, dealing as it does with
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Guest Post From The Mound Of Sound
I have missed reading the Mound of Sound since he put his blog, The Disaffected Lib, on hiatus about five weeks ago. A man of wide-ranging interests and passions, his posts on climate change and politics never failed to catch my attention and stimulate my own reading and research. Yesterday
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Timely Reminder
In light of the National Energy Board’s rubber stamping of the Enbridge Line 9 reversal with very few safeguards, here is a timely reminder of the inherent dangers of pipelines: Post by West Coast Native News. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Good Question
But what is the answer? Re: ‘Golden age’ for Poland caps 500 years of pain, Dec. 22 Seeing the statement “communism’s iron grip” was too much. What about capitalism’s iron grip? Communism has come and gone in Poland, Russia and many other countries. But we have endured capitalism for centuries
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Pensée Du La Jour
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Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Perhaps Its Time To Stop Talking And Start Acting?
For obvious reasons. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: David Letterman On Fracking
This was most gratifying to see, although I was puzzled by the laughter that periodically erupted from the audience: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Master of the Universe Speaks
ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson: ‘What good is it to save the planet if humanity suffers? Chilling, vile, and depraved words. H/t Nathan Cullen Recommend this Post
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