I’ve worked on the EcoAction Teams program for over three years, and I’ve learned that taking positive environmental action in my life is not only simple but contagious. I’m not an environmental scientist or engineer, just a concerned urban dweller who decided she needed to mesh all her passions with environmental work. I also love words and social commentary, so blogging is a good fit. Born and raised in friendly Manitoba, I live in Toronto with my trusty bicycle.
Blogger: Prabhjit Banga
Since being captivated by the cartoon movie FernGully at the age of five, Prabhjit (Prabh) Banga has been an avid supporter of green causes. Prabh has over four years of experience working in the environmental sector on diverse topics, including conservation, waste management and environmental education. She recently received a Master of Resource and Environmental Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Born and raised in Toronto with roots in India, Prabh loves to travel and discover new places!
About ecoblogist
Like the tagline says, this blog is all about news, views and tips on living green. Read ‘em, share ‘em – we’re all in it together. Once you start doing a few things differently, it’s pretty hard to turn off that chip in your brain that says, “Should I be buying this? Should I be doing that?” Maybe it begins with remembering to bring your own bag when you go shopping, then suddenly you’re thinking about dual flush toilets, power bars, and energy efficient coffee makers before bedtime.
Ask Us
We won’t pretend to know it all, but we do know where to find the answers. Send us your green living questions and we’ll be happy to address them in an upcoming post.
Climate change is no laughing matter, but we can’t take things too seriously all the time. To bring some awareness to the issue, Fossil Fools Day aims to get the messaging of climate change out in a subversive but humourous way.
The day got its start in 2004 by a climate change action group called Rising Tide North America. The events they organized opposed non-renewable energy sources (energy from gasoline, oil, coal and natural gas), promoted education about renewable energy (solar, wind), encouraged support for climate justice, strong legislation and corporate responsibility.
The day itself is about organizing pranks/ events to get the attention of “fools” who believe that burning fossil fuels* is the only long term solution to meet our energy needs. Events are now held over the world on April 1. Last year in Johannesburg, Africa, a local environmental organization called Earthlife Africa awarded The South African Coal, Oil and Gas Corporation a Fossil Fool of the Year Award for producing 72 million tonnes of CO2 per year and for trying to build a new coal-to-liquid power plant. Pranks similar to this one and others such as banner drops, office occupations, street theatre and are organized to get the word across.
Want to get involved? Look for Fossil Fools Day events going on in your city. Get out and employ your senses of humor to bring attention to fossil foolery!
* Fossil fuels are created from burning large amounts of gasoline, oil, coal and natural gas. These sources of energy are used to power our cars and provide electricity. However, burning these fossil fuels also produces harmful greenhouse gas emissions. These gases gather in the atmosphere and create a barrier that prevents the earth’s excess heat from escaping. As this barrier gets bigger, the earth’s temperature increases, which in turn results in climate change.
The flowers are blooming and the air is fresh – spring has finally sprung! And with the season come the religious celebrations of Passover feasts and Easter bunny treats.
This year Passover begins on Tuesday, March 30 and lasts until Monday, April 5. Preparations for Passover include getting rid of leavened bread, preparing a large meal, and trying to make your home as clean and fresh as possible. As you prepare for Passover, review our more detailed suggestions for celebrating the ritual with consideration for the environment: http://www.ecoactionteams.ca/pub/resources/green_scene_2010.03.26.php
As for Easter, if you’re fasting on Good Friday, there is a good chance you are also avoiding meat. Why not go meat-free the entire weekend? When it comes to decorating your home, choose reusable Easter baskets. Not only will your baskets get used over and over again, you can be put to good use during the rest of the year as napkin holders or even as fruit bowls. If you and your children are dyeing your Easter eggs, use natural dyes from items you might already have in your refrigerator. This could include turmeric for yellow, cranberry juice for red, or red wine for purple.
Easter candy is a tradition so instead of grabbing the standard individually wrapped chocolate eggs, go for organic and natural candies. You can help the Easter Bunny leave a smaller footprint and make your children happy at the same time.
A very happy Passover & Easter to you all.
Have your own eco-friendly family traditions during this important time of year? Send us your suggestions
Earth Day aside, St. Patrick’s day is probably the greenest holiday in the calendar. But if you really want to go green on St.Paddy’s day, don’t drink the tinted brew, opt for a true green beer.
Mill Street organic beer
The truest green beer is an organic brew (made from organic barley and hops). Choose one of these fine Canadian brands if you can find them in your beer store or at the pub:
Failing that, choose a locally-brewed beer. Microbreweries make great craft beers and you’ll be supporting your local economy while reducing the transport greenhouse gas emissions required to ship the heavy glass bottles around the country.
Today, March 8, marks the 100th celebration of International Women’s Day. IWD is recognized around the world to appreciate the advances and accomplishments of women and to promote awareness that women’s rights everywhere is a constant struggle.
photo credit: UN photo/Tim McKulka
Women and the Environment
Gender equality and environmental progress are not often talked about in the same breath, but there are many reasons why they should be. Women can support sustainable development through increased access to education and economic opportunities, and involvement in governance and decision making. In their online toolkitClimate Change Connections: Ensuring women contribute to and benefit from equitable climate solutions, Women’s Environment and Development Organization demonstrates how women are uniquely positioned to curb the harmful consequences of climate change.
Another resource to learn about how women and the environment are connected can be found at United Nations Women Watch.
Women’s Issues in Canada
Some of the best research on gender equality is produced by CRIAW – the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. Find numerous helpful factsheets on issues like: women’s experiences of social programs,violence against women and girls, and women, health and action. This year, National Union of Public and General Employees points to the links between women’s care giving responsibilities, stress, and stress-related health issues in their 2010 campaign.
Moving Forward
To me, International Women’s Day is a time to recognize the unheralded contributions of women around the world, and to remember (as I work for environmental education and engagement) that women’s economic status, health and safety, and the health of our environment are all so connected.
The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver came to an official close last night, signaling an end to a very successful games by Canada (14 Gold Medals!).
These Olympics are being called the “greenest” Olympics of all times. In fact, the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) made environmental sustainability a priority for the games. It informed every decision from where to put ski trails to what materials were used in the buildings.
So the question remains, were the Winter Olympics green? It depends on how you look at it.
When American speed skater Trevor Marsicano got off the airplane he said, “What’s this green grass doing here?” Cypress Mountain, where major skiing and other events were held had no snow. Instead of switching locations to snow-filled Whistler, trucks and helicopters transported snow three hours-from Manning Park all the way to Cypress Mountain. This was certainly not very green at all.
On the success side is Vancouver’s athletes village. The villages and venues were built using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The village, in particular, was built according to LEED’s gold standard. Features considered included the selection of the village site, energy efficiency, the inclusion of green roofs, the reuse of rainwater and access to public transportation.
Critics, like Dr. Chris Shaw of the University of British Columbia, say all this attention to glossy, green initiatives is hiding more painful realities. For example: does contracting with a green paper supplier justify the Olympic deforestation and habitat displacement that occurred along the Sea to Sky highway or along sensitive ecosystems such as the Eagle Ridge Bluffs?
As environmental issues continue to become more and more pressing, it’s crucial that long-term, legitimate measures be taken on the part of organizations like the Olympic Committees. The Vancouver Olympics raised the bar for staging responsible, if not yet truly sustainable, events, so let’s wait and see what London 2012 has in store. Watch out for the full environmental assessment report of the winter games by United Nations Environmental Programme.
By the way, how green do you think the 2010 Olympics were?
