April 5, 2011

- GEORGIA STRAIT ALLIANCE MAP HAS SOME PROBLEMS
- NDP HOPEFULS VOW HIGHER PROFILE FOR ENVIRONMENT
- OAK BAY'S PESTICIDE BYLAW BECOMES REALITY TODAY
CLIMATEGATE TACTICS DETAILED IN UPCOMING TALK 

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GEORGIA STRAIT "COMMUNITY" MAP HAS SOME PROBLEMS

ARESST: Note that the Georgia Strait Alliance map - a "community" map according to their map website (http://mapping.uvic.ca/gsa/), is part of
a UVic "green mapping" project. However, the current map of the Victoria shore area is misleading, in that it lables the Macaulay and
Clover Point effluent land-based pump sites as "outfalls", but that the end of the pipe are 2 kms offshore and 60 metres underwater in the Strait. 
Also missing on the map are the locations of the CRD's 40 hazardous storm drains

I'm sending them my comments on the outfall and storm drains issue - lets see if they include it in their browser update!

Georgia Strait Alliance's "community" map: http://mapping.uvic.ca/gsa/geobrowser

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NDP HOPEFULS VOW HIGHER PROFILE FOR ENVIRONMENT
 
Cassidy Olivier
Victoria Times Colonist
Postmedia News
April 03, 2011
Letters to editor: letters@timescolonist.com

They joked around about what kind of salmon they would be, drew big laughs with their self-deprecating humour and elicited cheers from the packed auditorium with their directed jabs at the governing Liberal party.

But the main message coming out of Saturday's B.C. NDP leadership debate on environmental sustainability in Vancouver was a serious one: The province needs a government that makes the environment a top priority. And that's what they promised to do.

Like the previous six leadership debates, the five candidates vying for the top job differed little on the policy issues -ranging from water stewardship to pollution taxes -raised at the Creekside Community Centre in the former Olympic Village.

As John Horgan, MLA for Juan de Fuca, put it in a line borrowed from himself Thursday in Victoria: "It's another love-in, as you can see. There's not a lot to divide the five of us with respect to policy or the issues of the day."

The differences, then, were found in the way they performed and the themes they pushed forward as part of their ultimate goal of convincing party members that they are the right choice to lead New Democrats into the future, and the best bet of beating Premier Christy Clark at the polls.

Vancouver-Kingsway MLA Adrian Dix, one of three perceived front-runners, spoke passionately about the need for environmental assessment legislation that was "worthy of its name."

He said the carbon tax shouldn't be revenue neutral and promised a rollback on the tax to fund transportation and education.

Mike Farnworth, MLA for Port Coquitlam and another perceived front-runner, spoke frequently of unity -both in terms of uniting the province under a shared vision and progressive voters who are desperate for change.

Farnworth spoke of adequately funding the Ministry of Environment so that "they can do what they are supposed to do" and of a government that looks at sustainability, as it applies not only to the environment, but also public policy.

Horgan, who appears to be making a late push, said the Liberals aren't adequately protecting the province's resources. He said more science needs to be applied when making decisions that have environmental impacts, and spoke of putting forward a strong agenda based on sustainability that the voters are proud of.

The other contenders are Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons and marijuana activist Dana Larsen.

NDP members choose a new leader April 17.


EXCERPT FROM FARNWORTH AND HORGAN'S ENVIRONMENTAL PLATFORMS:

Establish an expanded Environmental Assessment process that is independent, fully-funded and utilizes a triple bottom line to assess the full spectrum of economic, social and environmental considerations and the cumulative impacts of project proposals...Ban the use of cosmetic pesticides in residential and public areas, including parks and school yards.

Restore Integrity to the Environmental Assessment Act: The Environmental Assessment Act was progressive legislation when it was introduced by Mike Harcourt in 1994, but over the past decade the BC Liberals have gutted it. We will work with academics, industry, First Nations and working people to address the Act’s shortcomings including appropriate thresholds for review, process accountability, Crown obligations to First Nations, environmental sustainability and cumulative impacts.

NDP LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENTAL DEBATE VIDEO, April 2, 2011 (after delay and long introductions, debate starts 42 minutes into video, but no mention of sewage treatment): 
http://www.bcndp.ca/newsroom/video/environmental-sustainability-leadership-debate-vancouver-april-2-2011

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OAK BAY'S PESTICIDE BYLAW BECOMES REALITY TODAY (1 APRIL)
  
Erin McCracken
Oak Bay News
March 31, 2011

Oak Bay’s new pesticide regulation bylaw comes into effect Friday (Apr. 1).

The regulation prevents property owners from applying non-essential pesticides to their outdoor greenery, from trees and shrubs to flowers and turf on public and private land.

The bylaw was adopted and passed by Oak Bay council on Jan. 24 as a means to protect the natural environment from chemicals. The bylaw does not apply in all scenarios, such as when agricultural land is involved.

Permit applications, however, can be made to the municipality to seek permission for limited use of pesticides. Examples include pest problems that may be financially detrimental to a property owner, when sensitive ecosystems are at risk, and controlling the spread of an invasive species or weeds that could make people sick.

Those who don’t obey the bylaw could face a summary conviction and a fine of up to $10,000.



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ARESST: Climate "anti-science" to be discussed at talk, but when will sewage anti-science be so popularly discussed?

CLIMATEGATE TACTICS DETAILED IN UPCOMING TALK

Black News Group
April 04, 2011

U.S. computer scientist and technology expert Dr. John Mashey speaks on climate anti-science Thursday (April 7) at the University of Victoria.

His speech, entitled the Machinery of Climate Anti-Science, will touch on the lobbying tactics of the climate change denial campaign and its success convincing the public of a rift in the scientific community on the issue of global warming.

Mashey’s talk will address the organization and activities of anti-science funders, think tanks and spokespeople over the last 20 years as well as recent developments and initiatives to counter their efforts.

The free lecture is open to the public. It runs from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Flury Hall (Room B150) of the university’s Bob Wright Centre.



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