In British Columbia and other western provinces, we will soon be working to reshape the economy. Now is a perfect time to commit to reduced production of fossil fuels and move vigorously toward a clean energy economy. Instead of public relations campaigns, we need action. Real action.
Unmeasured GHG emissions ignored
One of the pre-election promises made quietly by the BC NDP to me and other concerned citizens was to apply best scientific practices in regulating British Columbia’s northeast gas fields. In another post-election policy reversal, John Horgan’s NDP government decided the only action needed was a little green washing…
Perverse leadership in ‘immunity via collective failure’ globally.
Effective mitigation now must mean a regulated managed decline of fossil fuel production in Canada and globally. No new infrastructure; no new production facilities – oilsands or LNG; a Green New Deal style plan to build renewables and help fossil fuel producing regions transition. Nothing less…
God Bless the Children
Climate protest. A story in pictures of dedication and courage. And urgency.
Natural gas is not a bridge fuel
Cornell University scientists, including Professors Robert Howarth and Anthony Ingraffea, have been credited with raising scientific and public awareness of fracking and its dangers. As a result, the fossil fuel industry has funded academics and PR groups to attack both the scientists and their science…
Denying the existential threat
Much of climate change denial is driven by money. The world’s ten largest fossil fuel companies are collectively worth trillions and their managers are not going away quietly. For years, they have invested heavily in assets that influence public opinion. These involve squads of online trolls and influencers paid to spread gospels of climate change denial. Acquiring control of corporate media output was another strategy. So-called think tanks conducted widespread skirmishes, including use of Fraser-Institute-style “learning resources” foisted on naive members of media and places of education, including students and faculty. Academics and scientists who don’t care about science have opportunities to pocket more than spare change…
Liberal rebrand: Hypocrisy ‘R’ Us
For years, BC Liberals relied on millions of dollars contributed by a relative handful of wealthy donors, many based outside the province. Along with developers hungry to acquire public lands below market […]
Fugitives in our midst
Politicians in British Columbia’s two major political parties may speak about the need for urgent climate action in Canada. But, their moves to ramp up this province’s fossil fuel production put them firmly in the camp of climate change deniers.
Economic illiteracy in Canadian media
The Fraser Institute declares Tax Freedom Day each year. It is an inaccurate trick to further interests of the millionaires and billionaires for whom the “charity” works. Many of those people use overseas tax shelters so their tax freedom day falls in January. Don’t expect Fraser Institute to mention Earth Overshoot Day, “the date when we (all of humanity) have used more from nature than our planet can renew in the entire year.” Do not expect Canada’s mass media to pay much attention either
We are the cause, we are the solution
BC Government webpages pay little or no attention to climate change as a driver of wildfire. Public servants have sound advice for homeowners and recreationalists but government provides few comments about the elephant in the room, which is fossil fuel production, something BC is working to increase.
Climate change: money today vs survival tomorrow
Even if evidence of global warming was not overwhelming, the precautionary principle dictates a radical change in the way we conduct ourselves. Yet, our governments, banks that fear stranded assets, the fossil fuel industry and their many agents, deny the science.
Puzzled or muzzled?
Strangeness in BC coastal waters. CBC reports scientists are puzzled. Commenter asks “Puzzled or muzzled?” #cdnpoli http://t.co/DNfs7ueBts — Norm Farrell (@Norm_Farrell) November 8, 2013 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
We can do better… we must do better
Driving me to blog about public issues is passion for my grandchildren to inherit a better world. Unfortunately, the more I learn about the roads we travel, the more pessimistic I become […]
What is Coke doing with Koch
From the Center for Media and Democracy’s PR Watch What is Coca-Cola doing behind closed doors with Koch Industries at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)? The Center for Media and Democracy […]
Callow victims support billionaires’ coup
Coup: A quick, brilliant, and highly successful act; a triumph. By extension, a takeover of one group by another. Guardian columnist George Monbiot provides his view of a coup against democracy in […]
An intelligent view of America’s democracy crisis
Annihilating Democracy with the Tea Party Commentary by Dr. Gregor Peter Schmitz, correspondent in the Washington office of DER SPIEGEL: Democracy depends on compromise and the American government depends on all branches […]
Daddy, where do laws come from?
Bloomberg: Koch, Exxon Mobil Among Corporations Helping Write State Laws: Koch Industries Inc. and Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) are among companies that would benefit from almost identical energy legislation introduced in state […]
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