My writings - and those of others.
The Cost of Healing the Planet
Some friends and I are engaged in the Drawdown Eco Challenge heading toward Earth Day - when we hoped to have a different kind of celebration. But we are learning at our own pace - and even competing well at this writing as the team with the third most points in the Canadian section. We get points for doing things that help the planet and learning more about them.
This respected research organization has published its report in 2020 following the best selling book already referenced in our resources section. You can download the report here- which outlines the ten best solutions and their cost. It’s not insignificant - but what it also reveals is that the saving far surpass it. You can download the full report here.
Time for Reflection
In these days of withdrawal from our normal active lives, there are opportunities to poinder issues of importance now and those with implications for the future.
As I look from my 22nd floor at a freight train crossing through a dense part of the city, transportation of goods is even more important now. Since it is one of the major areas in need of rethinking to embrace climate change, here is what a new paper from the Pembina Institute has to say.
50 Simple Ways
The Guardian features suggestions from experts for things we can do in our daily lives to improve life for the planet. You can find them here
Valuing our Ravines in Toronto
City Council member Josh Matlow wrote in a recent newsletter
Toronto Moves Forward with Ravine Strategy Implementation Plan
“Toronto’s unique ravine system is one of our greatest and greenest assets. The scale and scope of this urban green space system – over 300 km and 11,000 hectares – makes Toronto the envy of urban areas across the world. In Midtown, we're lucky to have several ravines that offer peaceful escape from our busy lives. That's why I'm pleased that City Council unanimously adopted the Toronto Ravine Strategy implementation plan this week.
Ravines contain 87 per cent of Toronto's environmentally significant areas, as well as forests and wetlands, and significant plant and animal species. Unfortunately, this critical part of our green infrastructure is threatened by invasive species, climate change, and direct impacts from resident use.
This action strategy wouldn't have happened without advocacy from passionate residents in our community and across the city.”
This is good news, To keep it happening, citizen input is required.
About Oil
Justin Worland writes a good occasional newsletter for Time called One-Five Everything Climate and a recent one focuses on the fact that large oil companies are waking up to the fact that the engine that has fueled them for decades may have to address climate change.
He points out both how oil is damaging the environment and at the same time has brought us all the prosperity we value. We blame oil companies for their disinformation and at the same time savour all the benefits they bring us. He quotes Daniel Yergin’s book, The Prize which links both democracy and the rise of capitalism. But Blowout by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow takes a different stance, noting both its importance and its questionable governance. She calls it “the least well governed industry in the history of mankind.” She stresses its political power as historian Timothy Mitchell does in his book, Carbon Demoocracy. He stresses the importance of oil to the economy. He also notices how it can also enforce authoritarian governance as it has in the Middle East.
All recent - and all providing food for thought.