Editor's Take: August 21, 2008
penmachine, flickr
Putting a Stop to Sprawl
In today's news, California takes another leap forward as it works to factor sprawled development into its landmark goal of reducing carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Not to be outdone, Seattle announces plans to double its energy savings. Also, a huge victory is made for guest workers in BC as they are allowed to unionize for the first time.
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California Aims to Curb Sprawl, Global Warming
Los Angeles Times
08/21/2008
Will Californians drive less to reduce global warming? Maybe not on our own -- but state officials are ready to nudge us.
The Legislature is on the verge of adopting the nation's first law to control planet-warming gases by curbing sprawl.
Go to article.
Foreign Farm Workers Unionize: A First in BC
The Tyee
08/21/2008
For the first time, foreign workers imported to pick B.C. crops have been allowed to join a union.
Migrant workers at Greenway Farms in Surrey have voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) of Canada. The historic certification was granted with the support of more than 75 per cent of the roughly 40 affected workers.
Go to article.
Seattle Plans to Double Energy Savings
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
08/20/2008
Seattle City Light officials and Mayor Greg Nickels announced a $185 million plan Wednesday to double the city's energy conservation over five years -- an amount equal to the annual energy use of 180,000 Seattle homes.
The program, which targets residential and commercial electricity use, could save customers $310 million over that time.
Go to article.
Views: Puget Sound - Treat the Whole Patient
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
08/21/2008
We're not going to save the Sound by only rejiggering how we currently spend our protection and restoration dollars; we're going to have to address seriously the size of the problem and scale up the financial commitment to the tasks at hand.
We want to bring the patient back to health. Trying to save its heart at the expense of its kidneys and liver is the path to failure.
Go to article.
Food Costs Just Keep On Rising
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
08/21/2008
As prices for crude oil and other commodities ease, consumers have gotten a small dose of relief at the gas pump. But don't expect less pain at the grocery counter.
Food inflation is here to stay, and will probably get worse for some things.
Go to article.
TransLink Rolls Out Service Increase
Vancouver Sun
08/21/2008
TransLink hopes to make the annual post-Labour Day commuter crush just a little easier this year with its largest single increase in service.
The region's transit authority will add bus service totalling 80,000 hours annually starting Sept. 3 to its total of 2.8 million hours per year, according to TransLink spokesman Drew Snider.
Go to article.
Party Conventions Go Green
Seattle Times
08/21/2008
Democrats say their convention in Denver next week will be the greenest ever.
Anyone watching on TV probably won't notice much. But the 50,000 people attending will discover little environmentally conscious changes all around.
Go to article.
Saving BC's Giant, Gentle Shark
Vancouver Sun
08/21/2008
The hunt is officially underway for B.C.'s biggest, gentlest, most elusive marine creature.
Decades after Ottawa sought to eradicate basking sharks from local waters, federal fisheries researchers are fighting for the recovery of the species -- assuming they can find any at all.
Go to article.
Views: Recognition for Chinook Tribe Overdue
Vancouver Columbian
08/20/2008
Praise the patience of the Chinook. More than 200 years after helping Lewis and Clark at Dismal Nitch and at Cathlapotle, the tribe is on the road to federal recognition. Finally!
Only this time, it's called Tribal Restoration.
Go to article.
Beauty and Sustainability in the Garden
New York Times
08/21/2008
Over the past five years, as climate change has become more obvious and energy costs have spiraled up, a number of designers have begun to champion an approach to landscaping that marries traditional environmental concerns, sustainability, biodiversity, restoration, conservation, with a sensitivity to aesthetics and a flexibility that they said was missing from green-gardening crusades of the past.
Go to article.
