PureGreenius.ca

Hopenhagen

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 18:40:21 -0600

Turning a New Leaf

Everyday I hear from people about the problems we face. The people of this province are not afraid to face these problems head on, so why is government? There are many solutions, and many more to be found. But solutions can not be enacted by governments who remain in a state of denial. Denial runs rampant among those in power, especially since they often have the most to lose if we take the necessary steps to end the oppression of people and the environment. How much longer do we as a society want to ignore people’s problems for the sake of our GDP? How much longer do we remain blind followers on the path of “business-as-
usual”?

Over the past year, the environment has sadly ended up taking a back
seat to the economy. It is only those of us with our eyes wide open to
reality who realize the environmental crisis and the economic crisis are
one and the same. Although most people recognize that
environmental degradation is generally caused by economic activity,
only Greens are standing up to say that the economy does not exist in a
separate bubble from the environment. The economy is actually
dependant on the environment. In otherwords, money can’t be
eaten.

Even when faced with great hardships, it is important to remember
that sometimes problems are also opportunities in disguise. The environmental crisis brings with it a chance to come together in solidarity as a world community to change our course of action. We can begin to imagine a world guided by the same principles our party is – a world guided by ecological wisdom, social and economic justice, participatory democracy, personal, social, and global responsibility, community based economics, cooperation and mutual aid, respect for diversity, peace and non-violence, decentralization, and gender equity.

The economic recession presents serious challenges to our everyday lives that require more than just short-term solutions. The rising cost of food has made those worse affected even more vulnerable to meeting their basic needs. Domestic violence is on the rise as a result of the recession. Job loss and layoffs continue. Yet, huge corporate subsidies to some of the world’s most environmentally destructive industries persist. While Bruce Power is ‘toasting in the New Year,’ even more Canadian children will be forced into conditions of poverty. The Olympics will present glorified and falsified images of Canada to the international community while massive debt is incurred during a serious time of recession. Where is the precautionary principle in all of this?

If the right decisions are not made now, future generations will pay. For the youth of this country and province, the way the economic recession has been managed by the Federal and Provincial Government is unacceptable.

It is time for Green Vision and Green Hope.

Just like the threat of a nuclear plant in Saskatchewan opening the door widely to public demand for green energy, the economic recession reaffirms the true importance of implementing a Guaranteed Livable Income (for more info, see www.livableincome.org). If we face these challenges head on, this too can be an opportunity for building a healthy and inclusive society.

The world today is more divisive than at any other point in my twenty-seven years on this planet. As more and more of us begin to exemplify and advocate for green values, those who prefer “business-as-usual” are working harder than ever to maintain the status quo. Premier Wall and Prime Minister Harper are no exception.

Hopenhagen

From December 7th to 18th, 2009, the international community will gather in Copenhagen, Denmark at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change to decide the fate of the world. Copenhagen marks the most important global summit of the 21st century as it has been identified as our last chance to lower our greenhouse gas emissions in order to avert the tipping point. Climate change is the #1 threat to our planet, killing our forests, acidifying our oceans, intensifying storms, diminishing food supplies, threatening mass extinctions, and becoming a driver of resource scarcity, massive dislocation of populations, and wars. Copenhagen truly presents the most crucial opportunity at a pivotal time in the planet’s future to create a successor treaty to the Kyoto Accord that will move the planet towards a solution before runaway global warming takes effect.

Where does Canada stand on the issues?

THE HARPER GOVERNMENT'S POSITION:
"The federal government intends to harmonize its climate change policies with those emerging in the United States in the hope of creating an integrated market to restrict greenhouse gases and allow polluting companies to trade emission credits with greener firms. Canada is also sticking to the goal of cutting emissions in 2020 to 20 per cent below 2006 levels, despite the urging of environmentalists and many other countries who have tougher targets."

Excuse me while I bury my head (and my Canadian citizenship) in the sand.

I remember the world I was born into. 1982 was a different time when Canada at least pretended to be a world leader in important issues such as human rights, peace, and the environment. There are days when I honestly feel embarrassed to be Canadian because of the actions of our Prime Minister, such as Harper’s recent statement at a G20 meeting of “Canada has no history of Colonialism”. What cloud is he living on?

The attendance by world leaders at Copenhagen will be crucial for reaching an agreement, but to make matters even worse for Canada’s reputation, Harper’s planned attendance at the talks has been on one day, off the next. It now seems our esteemed Prime Minister has made his decision, and will be attending the talks, but this is only after the American and Chinese presidents confirmed their attendance. Canada has gone from ‘world leader’ to ‘follow the leader’.
Although Harper has now promised his attendance, he will not be receiving a warm welcome from the international community. Canada’s position in the negotiations is perceived as a severe threat to the success of the Copenhagen talks.

In his November 30th editorial in the Guardian, George Monbiot, author of the bestseller Heat, tellingly writes: “Until now I believed that the nation that has done most to sabotage a new climate change agreement was the United States. I was wrong. The real villain is Canada. Unless we can stop it, the harm done by Canada in December 2009 will outweigh a century of good works.”

Read George Monbiot’s full editorial titled Canada's image lies in tatters. It is now to climate what Japan is to whaling. At this link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/nov/30/canada-tar-sands-copenhagen-climate-deal

The simple reason behind Harper’s shameful attitude in the face of climate change is that Canada is developing the world's second largest reserve of oil—the tar sands. Saskatchewan is fully implicated in the process. Tar sands exploration (itself a destructive process) has been going on in Northern Saskatchewan for some time now. Never before has the need to elect Greens to Government been more imperative.

The United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen is the last major chance the world has to decide on a concrete and effective plan for reducing carbon emissions. It’s time to turn a new leaf. Copenhagen, also called Hopenhagen, is an amazing opportunity for humanity and the planet to come together to build a better future.

What is Hopenhagen?

“Hopenhagen is a movement, a moment and a chance at a new beginning. The hope that in Copenhagen this December – during the United Nations Climate Change Conference – we can build a better future for our planet and a more sustainable way of life. It is the hope that we can create a global community that will lead our leaders into making the right decisions. The promise that by solving our environmental crisis, we can solve our economic crisis at the same time. Hopenhagen is change – and that change will be powered by all of us.”

Sign the petition, learn more, and spread hope at www.hopenhagen.org.

Larissa Shasko,
Leader of the Green Party of Saskatchewan.

Pawsitive Ecology

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 18:32:18 -0600

You are what you eat!

If you keep an eye on social media, you’ll have noticed all the buzz regarding the ecological impact of pet ownership lately. Many are even going so far as to suggest that the best way to green your lifestyle is to dump your pets. A little digging reveals all this paranoia regarding our animal friends is due to a new book that hit the market at the end of October.

Time to Eat the Dog: The Real Guide to Sustainable Living takes on Fluffy,
Fido, Max, and Molly. And, as the title suggests, the book claims that one
way we can help lower their ecological pawprint is to serve them up on a
platter with home-grown organic sweet potatoes and squash. Of course, it
does not urge folk to run out to their local butcher ASAP - they figure we
should wait until their natural dénouement. But still... WOW!

The point that is being “driven” home on sites like Twitter compares Fido’s
ecological footprint to that of an SUV. Robert and Brenda Vale, the New
Zealand researches who wrote the book, base this comparison on the diet of
our furry, finned, and feathered friends. Articles abound on blogs and news
sites that show how the couple arrived at this conclusion, with just as many
claiming that said conclusion is erroneous. If you wade through all the hype
and outrage, at the very least they have succeeded at getting people talking.

What we should take away from the Vale’s work - whether the figures are
correct or not - is exactly what this column is focused on... finding ways to
lower our pets net footprint.

What we choose to feed our pets is as important, if not more so, than any
other choices we make surrounding their care. Not just for their health,
but for their (and our) ecological impact. There is no reason we cannot aim
at the same target we aim at for ourselves. A healthy, hormone-free,
locavore diet. Sure, it’s not as easy as hitting your local grocery store for a
bag of whatever dry or canned food is being peddled... but it is BY FAR
the best choice you can make.

A raw diet made up of offerings from local producers and family farms just
makes the most sense. Aquatic turtles will be better off being fed on leafy
greens, berries, apples, and snails then any commercial pellet. Cats are
obligate carnivores and should be provided with a diet of locally raised
meats. Dogs are omnivores and scavengers so can be raised healthfully
feeding off our scrap meats, and compost materials (like eggs, yogurt, and
old produce). Birds, rodents, and herps are no different. Each has a species
specific requirement - but all can be met feeding raw foods.

As science progresses, and as consumers are insisting on better options for their animal family members, companies are listening. So, even if you feel you cannot adequately meet the nutritional needs of your pets by feeding a home prepared raw diet, there are better and better prepared options available. Of course, you then have to weigh in higher carbon output as factory production warrants... but choosing local is still an option. In Saskatchewan have a look at Horizon Legacy, which contains locally sourced meats and produce. In Alberta check out Orijen. In Manitoba I recommend Pawesome.

It may seem like a daunting task at first. But the more you read, the more research you do, the better prepared you will be to confidently provide your pets with the very best.

Tobi-Dawne Smith,
President of the Green Party of Saskatchewan
and Editor in Chief of Pure Greenius Magazine.

Greening Your Winter

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 17:55:55 -0600

We all know the joke, about Saskatchewan having six months of Winter during which the province is uninhabitable... but like all the best humour, it’s based (at least partly) on reality. We do face a long, cold, dark season ahead. A season, during which we often end up with a much higher ecological footprint. So here are a few tips on greening up your Winter, and the accompanying holidays.

Tobi-Dawne Smith,
President of the Green Party of Saskatchewan
and Editor in Chief of Pure Greenius,
wishing you all a wonderful and joyous holiday.

The Shift Home

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 17:51:56 -0600

Saskatoon’s first LEED certified private dwelling, dubbed the Shift Home, ushers in a new era. With modern green features, chosen with affordability in mind, and constructed in one of Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods, Curtis Olson and Darren McLean have forced local construction companies and builders to take another look at the potential for, and the marketability of, green in Saskatchewan.

While the Shift Home fails to offer some of the features die hard greens would have hoped (like dry composting toilets, grey water systems, and passive solar heat) it has still earned the right to boast. With double walls and r60 roof insulation it provides exceptional heat conservation in the Winter. Passive solar design takes advantage of the natural tilt of the Earth, while it’s solar ready roof sits waiting for it’s new owners to install panels. The list of green features finishes out with drain water heat recovery, low flow faucets, dual flush toilets, and triple glazed argon filled low-E windows. Still, Olson, one of the innovators behind the project claims “The greenest thing about it is the location: existing infrastructure, roads, parks, schools, retails, etc. It’s location minimizes automobile dependance considerably.”

“An urban act of renewal” this house heralds of things to come. As home buyers demand greener alternatives it’s clear that some in the industry are listening. And we can ensure they continue to listen by making our collective voices clear and precise by demanding green options. Olson and McLean have taken the first steps, by making green accessible and understandable to the folks involved in the building industry on the Prairie. With the Shift Home, they’ve proven that green can work here.

If Olson and McLean continue to push the envelope with such innovative projects, theirs will be the names to watch in the future of home building here in Saskatoon. Let’s hope they continue to strive for more than the status quo - forcing the rest of the industry to do so as well.

Learn more about the Shift Home, and the unusual way this house came to be, at http://www.theshifthome.com/

Tobi-Dawne Smith
President of the Green Party of Saskatchewan,
and Editor in Chief of Pure Greenius.

Louse Remedies

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 17:33:46 -0600

Home Remedies for Head Lice

When a child is diagnosed with head lice, most parents head to their local pharmacy, buy an over the counter medicated shampoo, wash the child’s hair, comb it out with a fine tooth comb and assume the problem is eradicated. What parents don’t realize is the fact that they are dosing their child’s head with an insecticide, and the shampoo isn’t necessarily killing all of the insects or their eggs (nits). Medicated shampoos should never be used on children younger than two years old. Treating head lice is typically a two week process, and does not require an insecticide. Home remedies work just as well.

Head lice are parasites that live on the human scalp, feed off of blood and can’t survive for more than 24 hours without a food source. They are highly contagious and are spread mainly through head-to-head contact. Lice do not jump or fly. School age children are most susceptible to infestation because they typically have close physical contact with each other and tend to share personal items such as hats, scarves and combs.

The first step to treating head lice is washing the hair and then applying conditioner to facilitate combing out the live lice. Using a fine tooth comb, start at the scalp and comb through half inch sections, rinsing out the comb each time. At bedtime, coat the hair with olive oil, vegetable oil or mayonnaise (not salad dressing). The oil immobilizes and suffocates the lice. Cover the hair with a shower cap to avoid soiling bedding and leave on overnight. In the morning, repeat the combing process again. Continue daily. The most effective part of treatment is combing out all of the lice and nits until they are completely gone.

Soak hair-care items in rubbing alcohol for at least one hour or just throw them away. Wash all bed linens in hot water. Vacuum mattresses, rugs and furniture the child has come in contact with, immediately empty the bag or canister into the trash can and take the bag outside. Stuffed animals can be put in a hot dryer for at least 15 minutes, or put in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks. Check all family members’ heads for lice and nits and treat accordingly.

Having head lice can be embarrassing, but it should not be considered something only “dirty people” experience. Head lice have specially adapted feet to allow them to hold onto human hair. Clean hair seems to be preferred, as dirty hair is more slippery and the lice can’t get a firm grip. If a child’s school is experiencing a bout of head lice, applying a leave-in conditioner to the child’s hair can deter lice from attaching.

There are ways to prevent lice infestations.
• Encourage children to avoid sharing hats, scarves, clothing, combs and brushes
• Make “head checks” a weekly event, especially during the school year
• Use leave-in hair conditioners
• Wash bedding on a weekly basis
• Pay attention to any notices coming home from the child’s school

More information can be found at http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/ipm/schoolipm/chap-11.pdf

Mary Evelyn Lewis,
mom of four, ages 19, 18, 12 and 7.
You can learn more about her at http://www.maryevelynlewis.com