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Say "I Do" to a recession wedding
Toronto Globe and Mail
07/02/2009
The recession has left a lot of victims in its wake -- weddings included.
According to the consulting firm The Wedding Report, Inc., couples planning their weddings are significantly scaling back spending on their day of bliss by at least 10 per cent this year, on top of an already larger cutback in 2008.
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Canada to match US climate change rules
Toronto Globe and Mail
06/30/2009
Canada will adopt climate-change regulations comparable to those of the United States - including new rules for oil sands producers and refiners - to avoid punitive "green" tariffs, Environment Minister Jim Prentice says.
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Setback for BC's guest farm worker union
The Tyee
06/29/2009
Labourers at Greenway Farms have filed to withdraw from the union certification won by the United Food and Commercial Workers.
If the de-certification attempt is successful in hearings slated for June 30 at the LRB, it will mark a set-back for the UFCW's multi-year drive to unionize agricultural workers in Canada.
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BC Homeless shelters get more cash
Vancouver Sun
06/30/2009
The provincial government has agreed to provide another $8 million to fund four Homeless Emergency Action Team (HEAT) shelters that will operate in Vancouver until April 2010.
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Scientists use genomic research to tackle mountain pine beetle
Vancouver Sun
06/30/2009
A new research project probing the genetic blueprint in the war between the mountain pine beetle and the lodgepole pine trees it attacks is expected to yield key information on how molecular-level triggers in a tiny pest can destroy a landscape as vast as Canada’s northern pine forests.
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Views: The high cost of affordable housing at BC's Olympic Village
Vancouver Sun
06/30/2009
Vancouver could have, should have, built double the number of affordable housing units that the Olympic Village project will deliver on less expensive city-owned land.
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The pantry recession
Toronto Globe and Mail
06/25/2009
Many consumers hit hard by the recession are being extra careful about their purchases and using up what they have at home before replenishing their pantries. An environment of conspicuous consumption has switched to an environment of conspicuous conservation.
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A Smog Index for the economy?
Toronto Globe and Mail
06/25/2009
Is there a correlation between economic activity and the environment? More important to investors, should you sell on smog (top of the market) and buy on clear skies (bottom of the market)?
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Canadian teens most satisfied with life
Vancouver Sun
06/25/2009
Most of us are content with our lot in life, according to a new survey -- but Canadian teens are getting the most satisfaction. Compared to their fellow Canadians, 94 percent of teenagers report being satisfied or very satisfied with their lives, shows a survey released Thursday.
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One nation, under a canoe
Toronto Globe and Mail
06/25/2009
In these times of cutbacks and soaring fuel costs and increasing concern about the environment, the canoe deserves its special day. Happy Canoe Day, Canada.
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Small BC cities creating vibrant downtowns
The Tyee
06/23/2009
Prince George's downtown development project began in 2008 when the city teamed up with Smart Growth on the Ground (SGOG), an offshoot program of Smart Growth BC that seeks to help BC communities prepare more sustainable neighborhood plans. It looks at land use, transportation, urban design, and building design plans in small to mid-sized BC communities and develops new concept plans that encourage smarter development socially, environmentally, and economically.
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Saanich beats emissions target
Victoria Times Colonist
06/23/2009
The District of Saanich has exceeded its target for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions - ahead of schedule.
Officials announced yesterday that in 2008, municipal emissions fell by 10.6 per cent compared with 2004. In 2007, the target for beating 2004 was set at 2010.
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A global plan-of-action against climate change
Guardian
06/23/2009
The IPCC wants nations to work together to fight climate change - and mitigation could bring economic benefits too.
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Job hunters 'dumbing down' resumes
Vancouver Sun
06/21/2009
Some professional resume writers have noticed a spike in strange requests recently. Instead of being asked by job seekers to help them embellish, they want to omit years of work experience and leave out the number of degrees they have - to stay competitive and not appear overqualified.
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Law protects BC abortion seekers, providers
Vancouver Sun
06/18/2009
A Supreme Court of Canada decision confirms a unanimous ruling by the BC Appeal Court that upheld the province's so-called "bubble zone" law prohibiting demonstrators from protesting, or attempting to influence, anyone within 50 meters of abortion clinics.
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Putting a price on nature to save it
The Tyee
06/17/2009
Putting a price on nature and its vital functions isn't some abstract academic notion. We're now trading carbon on a global market, and a similar model is being used in the US for ecological services, like water filtration, or flood control. Some conservationists say it's a system BC, and the rest of Canada should adopt.
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Economy down, but a baby boom may be coming
Vancouver Sun
06/17/2009
In one of the worst economies Canada has ever seen, Amanda Brouwer is taking on a commitment that will cost her an estimated $166,761 over the next 18 years. Any day now, the Edmonton woman will have a baby -- and new research suggests she's in ample company.
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Report: Most Canadians ignore air-quality advisories
Vancouver Sun
06/17/2009
With the summer smog season upon us, a new report concludes most Canadians pay scant attention to air quality advisories, in part because they've become psychologically "acclimated" to air pollution.
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Does homeownership make us fat?
Vancouver Sun
06/16/2009
Researchers discovered homeowners, on average, outweighed renters by 12 pounds. In addition to excess weight, female homeowners were also carrying around more aggravation, making less time for leisure, and were less likely to spend time with friends.
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Eco-friendly dry cleaning? It's in the bag
Toronto Globe and Mail
06/14/2009
As many “green" dry cleaners are switching to less toxic cleaning agents and closed-loop systems that minimize waste, another culprit is being targeted. Here's a hint: It's filmy, repels water and is a suffocation risk for children.
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Would white roofs slow global warming?
Washington Post
06/14/2009
Climate scientists have come up with an idea that is either fairly new, or as old as Mediterranean villages and Colonel Sanders' summer suit. They say that the reflective properties of the color white, if applied on enough of the world's rooftops, might actually be a brake on global warming.
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Groceries in BC ban non-sustainable seafood
Vancouver Sun
06/12/2009
While restaurants and chefs have been working on seafood sustainability, it's been more challenging for home cooks to keep up with the dos and don'ts of seafood-buying. Now Overwaitea Food Group stores will help shoppers do right by no longer offering non-sustainable seafood at more than 100 stores in BC and Alberta.
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Canada plans to establish cap-and-trade market
Vancouver Sun
06/10/2009
The Canadian government announced plans Wednesday to establish a national carbon trading market in which all companies and individuals could participate. The system, also known as cap-and-trade, is aimed at providing a financial incentive for cutting emissions that cause climate change.
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Environment minister unveils key part of Canadian carbon market
CBC BC
06/10/2009
The Canadian government has issued rules for claiming greenhouse gas reductions or "offsets" that will form the basis for a national carbon market.
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The carbon cost of feeding Canada
CBC BC
06/09/2009
The energy required to put food on the table in Canada produced nearly 46,000 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases, or nearly seven percent of the country's emissions, a new report shows. The estimate included all energy expended in bringing food from the farm to the table that could be measured, and in food production, processing, distribution, retailing and advertising.
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