I first became aware of climate change in
2004 when, in my teen years, comedian Rick Mercer jumped on my television to
promote the One Tonne Challenge, an imperfect attempt by our federal government
to place the burden of decarbonization...
It’s almost that time of year when we open our wallets
and let their contents scatter to the winds of consumerism, buying things we
almost certainly don’t need in order to enjoy the short lived thrill of
newness. I do...
Spring can be an informative time, as
the veil of winter is pulled back to reveal the indiscretions of a season
filling our ditches. Into these reservoirs of outright laziness we discard
styrofoam, rubber tires and old boots, occasionally fridges...
I find it exhausting when we declare problems
unsolvable, as though dedicated dollars and engineering haven’t already granted
us the gifts of flight, cell phones and space travel.
By comparison, the things we have yet to...
Let me start by saying that planting trees, by the
millions or billions as promised by various world leaders, is an excellent
idea. These miraculous plants have the power not only to stabilize soil, purify
water, shelter biodiversity, improve public...
To recap, I wrote a column last spring expounding on
the climatic consequences of eating meat and dairy, and shamelessly promoted
veganism.
In it I quoted a landmark study published last year in
the journal Science, concluding
that,...
You do not have the right to a healthy environment…
There, I said it. Neither Nova Scotia nor Canada at
large has ever formally recognized your right to clean air, clean water, clean
soil, or any...
Invasive species are a problem with no easy solution,
and, in my experience, are so often misunderstood by the general public, so if
you’ll bear with me, I’ll start from the top.
We live in a...
“Remote islands are Canada’s most endangered
ecosystem,” said Ian Jones, a professor of biology with Memorial University who
specializes in seabirds and island conservation.
An island qualifies as remote if its ecosystem formed
more or less in...
Our appreciation for the natural world is limited by
our understanding thereof.
That’s been my mantra for the better part of a decade
now and research has since vindicated me, demonstrating that an individual’s
concern for local...