Vancouver Blogs
The Russia—Sweden—Sundin—Vancouver Connection
From Canada’s Vancouver Province to Sweden’s Dagens Nyheter, baseless hockey rumors seem to be infecting the mainstream media world lately, and at a rapid pace.
Yesterday’s “Sundin Picks Vancouver” kerfuffle created a storm of attention, so I contacted the author of that claim last night—Dusan Umicevic— to request more information.
He was generous enough to write back, but after hearing his explanation I don’t believe he had any basis to write the explosive story that he did.
Continue reading "The Russia—Sweden—Sundin—Vancouver Connection"
Kentucky: Head of Illinois nonprofit cooperating in U of L grant probe
Kentucky: Living large, but lying low on the dole
Emission Offsets Regulations Intentions Paper for Consultation
Dear Stakeholder:
The Ministry of Environment is in the process of developing the Emission Offsets Regulations under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act (GGRTA). Given Royal Assent on November 29, 2007 and enacted on January 1, 2008, the GGRTA legislates B.C.’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by at least 33% below current levels by 2020 and to achieve a carbon neutral public sector by 2010. The Emission Offsets Regulations form part of the work under taken by the Ministry of Environment (MoE) to support these provincial government commitments.
The ministry’s objectives and the proposed contents of the regulations are provided in a policy intentions paper for consultation (intentions paper). This intentions paper is available for review on our website at the following link: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/codes/ggrta/offsets_reg.htm.
This intentions paper will provide a framework for legal drafting and consultation. A response form to seek responses and comments from stakeholders and the public is also available on the website indicated above.
Additional information on the GGRTA is also posted on the ministry’s website and can be accessed by clicking on the address below, or from the Ministry of Environment homepage, by following the Environmental Protection Division and Climate Change links. See: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/codes/ggrta/
If you are an “association”, please forward this correspondence and website address to your members. You are also encouraged to forward this information to others who you feel may wish to comment on these regulations. Due to the number of responses that are anticipated, it would be appreciated if organizations could consolidate all comments and feedback into one submission. The ministry welcomes all suggestions and comments regarding the proposed intentions of the ministry in regulating greenhouse gas offset projects will be considered in the development of these regulations. The deadline for submission of comments is on or before August 29, 2008.
All submissions will be reviewed for inclusion in a consultation summary report. Comments received will be treated with confidentiality by ministry staff and contractors when compiling these consultation comments. However, please note that comments you provide and information that identifies you as the source of those comments may be publicly available if a Freedom of Information request is made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
The ministry has contracted Cindy Bertram of C. Rankin & Associates to manage the information collection process. If you have any questions regarding the information-gathering process, check the ministry website http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/codes/ggrta/consultation.htm or contact Cindy Bertram at:
Email: cindybertram@shaw.ca
Fax: 250 598-9948
Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to receiving your comments.
Sincerely,
Lee Thiessen
Manager, Climate Change
Environmental Quality Branch
BC Ministry of Environment
COMMENTARY: Our Flat Earth
COMMENTARY: Our Flat Earth
A Call for Environmental Sanity
By Dale Stephens
Always there have been hot days, so I can’t vouch for global warming but I’d lay money on the fact the world is getting flat. It takes a few times passing through my Ripon, Wisconsin neighborhood but eventually I see it; something has changed, the sky is closer, things are opened up to heat and glare. It is astonishing how adept we are at taking away from our natural environment. New homes and businesses are a subtraction, cement flattens, power lines expose with belligerence what is green and living, garbage spreads ugliness, trees are cut down for no other reason than that a land owner is tired of raking up leaves and acorns, or a half-a-hundred of them are lost at once when a road is improved, areas are shorn of tall grass and flowers on a cutting schedule.
'There is no box'
For those following the to and fro on the carbon tax and emmissions issues locally and for Cascadia this might be of interest.
Lester Brown unveils plan for 80 percent cuts by 2020:
Lester R. Brown, President of the Earth Policy Institute and author, most recently, of Plan B, Version 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization, released a new study today called "Time for Plan B: Cutting carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2020."http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/7/2/111857/0690
The Perils of Playing Nice
The Perils of Playing Nice
By David Spratt and Philip Sutton http://www.newmatilda.com/2008/07/04/perils-playing-nice
In shooting for the political mainstream, the climate movement has shot itself in the foot, argue David Spratt and Philip Sutton
Global warming is an emergency, and "for emergency situations we need emergency action," UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon told the world in November 2007.
Why, then, has climate policy moved in such a painfully slow manner? How can the impasse be resolved between what needs doing quickly, based on the science, and what seems a "reasonable" thing to do in the current political environment?
It seems as if there are two great tectonic plates - scientific necessity and political pragmatism - that meet very uneasily at a fault line.
High oil prices put the brakes on a future of endless progress - Sun
High oil prices put the brakes on a future of endless progress
Climbing fuel costs threaten to affect how we'll proceed as a region in B.C.
Pete McMartin, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, July 03, 2008
Remember when the future was hurtling toward us at breakneck speed?
It's arrived.
[snip]
Take the Gateway project. The premier's vision to streamline truck and auto traffic with new perimeter roads, the construction of a tolled bridge over the Fraser and the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge exists on the premise that traffic will increase to the point of gridlock in the near future.
That the provincial government is spending billions to promote more vehicular traffic while introducing a carbon tax seems a little illogical, but forget that for the moment. There's a greater, unintended logic within it.
It's this. The carbon tax was introduced to change our driving habits, to force us to drive less, and with less environmental impact. That is good.
And which is why I believe the carbon tax is a good thing.
But this, high fuel prices have already done, and will continue to do so. Car buyers are abandoning SUVs and minivans, and using mass transit in growing numbers.
But a greater impact may be just down the road. A recent CIBC study I mentioned in Saturday's column predicted there would be 10 million fewer cars on the road in the U.S. within five years, and 700,000 fewer in Canada.
If that prediction becomes reality, and if gas prices go even higher and have a greater impact on traffic growth, then the need for Gateway is not only in doubt, so is its economic viability. Those tolls it will depend upon to pay for its construction will be slower in coming.
[snip]
"First of all," Falcon said, "if that happens, and traffic decreases, that's great news.
"If we hve less cars on the road, fantastic. But even if that scenario should arrive, I still believe we have [to go ahead with Gateway]."
Falcon believes Gateway must go ahead just to accommodate population growth projected for the Fraser Valley, that high gas prices or not, that growth will strain the existing traffic grid.
But Falcon also believes in the future of the car, in some form.
"My opinion is, as the price of fuel goes up, it will change the technology of what we're driving, whether it's hydrogen or solar-powered or electrical-powered vehicles, which I think is most likely. That's the weakness of the Peak Oil projections.
"I think the bottom line is, we'll all be driving something. So you just can't ignore the infrastructure."
Falcon may be right, he may also be very, very wrong. He is straying from the territory of projection -- which is what an economist or urban planner does -- and into wishful conjecture -- which is what an optimist or gambler does. . .
Full story at http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/columnists/story.html?id=71970077-d210-40a0-9fbe-a01f127f31a0&p=1
Wow! Mainstream (msnbc) news reports on commuter cycling. Things are really starting to move! Woot!
What was the question?
Humour or satire?
Originally uploaded by pure evil bunny
It is reported that there are 60 million+ members of the Communist Party in China. It is also a fact that they, each one of them, have sworn to “give their all for the people and the Party”.
Is any of this the usual political cant? Hypocrisy? Bad joke? Self delusion?
Does any of it really matter to Chinese, to the rest of the world?
Looking for: Large bird cage
Approximate required dimensions: 4' high x 2' deep, 3' wide. Requires removable tray and grate. No rust please, max distance between bars: 3/4".
Ideally I'm looking for a MidWest 2000, but if you have something or know someone wanting to sell a similarly sized cage, reply on here or e-mail me at jonners at shaw dot ca
Yes, I've checked craigslist, kijiji, buy & sell, etc...
Still Fantastic
I’m still bummed he lost at Wimbledon, but I love the video Nike did with Federer.
Lloyd McNary's Farm In Texas Creek, BC & Elk Sausages
We returned from Lillooet yesterday afternoon and this time the trip back seemed to be longer for the girls. Rosemary thought that because Hilary had come along the girls did not have the expectation of telling their mother all the things they had done when they got back and saw her.
What they didn't do is ride Lloyd McNary's horses Leo (the beautiful white horse seen here.) and Sunny at his farm in nearby Texas Creek. They had done just that back in June. Rebecca was quite angry at Ale for this and Ale had to explain that McNary had visitors from Alberta with many children and that he was perhaps not ready to entertain two more. So we invited McNary for our Saturday morning pankcake breakfast and he brought along some elk sausages he had made from an elk he shot last year. Rosemay, of course did not try them. We barbequed them and I did not find them gamy at all. The children enjoyed the stories of the over 80 McNary and he promised them that the next time they came they would be able to ride his horses.
A Broken Heart
I prayed for days without an answer, and then God showed me his heart. It was even more broken than mine. And in a moment it made complete sense to me. He was showing me his heart, through the pain and suffering of his children, the people that he loves. And then boldly I asked him what he was going to do about it? And the words of that famous story came to the front of my mind. "I did do something, I made you!"
Please lift us up in your prayers as we serve the Lord and the people he loves here at Union Gospel Mission. The workers are few and needs are many. But God is always at work in this place. And he changes lives right here in this tiny Drop-In Centre.
My Night on the Mobile Mission
We make our way out of the Downtown Eastside and drive through the West End. We leave behind the ambient light of the city and head into Stanley Park. The park streets are empty. It is dark.As we make our way through the park, Arnie stops the van and turns all the lights on. He opens the doors and yells, “Are you hungry? Come out! Union Gospel Mission, we have food!” In that moment it hits me. We are in the middle of a park, just steps away from the downtown core of one of the world’s most opulent cities. There are people here that are lost and sleeping in the woods.
A few seconds later, a gentleman stumbles out of the forest. He tells us he has been lost. He thanks us for lighting his path but refuses any help we offer.
From the middle of the park we wind over to the water. Our searchlight combs the beach looking for hungry people sleeping on logs. We find someone. Arnie hops out and goes to wake him up. “Wake up man, I have some food for you,” he says as he gently wakes him. A cart beside him holds all his worldly possessions. He is filled with gratitude when our volunteer offers him a new, clean pair of socks.
It is a very warm evening and the beach is full of people. Some people criticize us. Some people praise us. But everyone notices us. Everyone we help is full of thanks.
From there we make our way under the Burrard Street Bridge. It is a thick type of dark. We find people sleeping there. One is mentally ill. One has AIDS. And they all need help. Arnie and our volunteer wade through the darkness and bring them food and make sure they have everything they need for the night.
Jade's not jaded, Jacqui's got joy
Jade J. says: "Before coming to Lydia Home my quality of life was completely miserable. I did not really know how to take care of myself and really needed help to figure things out. But, I could not see that when I first arrived at Lydia Home.
However, in time my faith and my relationship with God strengthened so much that I was not at all what I once was. I am very excited about this. So many possibilities now!
I cannot express in words the gratitude I feel for this recovery home, for the girls I have met and most of all, for the staff. I am truly blessed to have had them all as part of my journey. All I can say is, thank you, from my heart."
And here are some tearful words from Jacquie H. When we received her application she had so many medications listed and had been on so many addictive drugs that we thought it over most carefully. Well, here was another trophy for the Lord, we took a chance and did it ever pay off. Having been on drugs from a very early age until her 50s did not make for a clear head. We gave her one month for the mists to clear, and we were off and running. She accepted the Lord into her life and has strong support from a daughter who herself has never even smoked a cigarette. The loving staff at Jacob’s Well were quite involved in her coming out here too.
Here goes: "Just before coming to Lydia Home my world came to a crashing halt. Drugs had taken over my whole being and had also taken my son John’s life. We were in active addiction together and he overdosed and passed away in January of this year.
I did learn that most important lesson of all at Lydia Home that God would help me through the process of my recovery and my grief. I was able to learn how to build self-esteem, which was hugely missing in my life, and I also found that I loved structure in my life. I also learned how to build boundaries and to stick to them. Going through the relapse prevention part of the program showed me how to focus on my own recovery so I could live a drug-free life.
I need to go to grief counseling as well as more drug and alcohol counseling once I leave here. Also need to go to AA and NA meetings and become part of a church. I now have all the tools I need to enable myself to make more positive changes in my life. I have been a drug addict for 35 years and am happy to say that I have now been four months clean and sober. Hurrah! Only through the grace of God am I still alive and can be the parent and grandparent I should have been in the first place."'
First steps in New West
Anna shared that over the last 5 years, UGM support was key in rebuilding her relationship with her boyfriend who was deeply addicted to drugs that almost destroyed their relationship. Despite the many times her boyfriend attempted recovery, it didn’t seem to stick long enough to help him over the hump of bondage. Anna mentioned that the Drop-in staff’s ongoing acceptance of her and her boyfriend Dave, was always the key to any hope wished for during the tough times.
Today, both Dave and Anna have come to a crossroad of choice that has moved them to a place of progress that has a direct link to family. Both of these individuals have sought out the refuge and support of those that have loved them from birth, which has miraculously put reality back into perspective. Endless prayers have reunited both Dave and Anna in reconnecting them to parents from both sides of the family. Only 2 years ago was Anna’s conclusion that her parents were not interested in her well being. But now, with pictures in hand, Anna showed staff that she has reunited with her family and they in turn have received their daughter back.
Both Anna and Dave are both employed with a wonderful place of residence in the Coquitlam area. Despite the still small voice of struggle with the addiction, counseling and participation in a small group is providing the foundation for a new direction for both of these former clients. Dave has the ongoing access to a sponsor that is keeping him accountable, which has significantly helped Dave to minimize his tendency for drug use.
The staff at the Drop-in Centre in New Westminster have again received God’s confirmation that His work is done in His time and His way.
Ray's Family
Joshua and I first came into the Union Gospel Mission Drop-In, to seek assistance in adjusting to the area. I found the support and kindness extended by the staff to be supportive and reassuring, as I sought guidance in a life in a new town.12 years later, I am still attending the Drop In Centre happily with my family, and utilizing its services today. Joshua is 14 now, and has 2 brothers, Quentin and Charlie, whose mother, Lila, I had met at the UGM 11 years ago. All three of my boys attend Camp Luther, through the years with the assistance provided by the UGM. Lila is currently involved with the UGM’s choir “Trading Sorrows”, and Josh attends its weekly youth program. Quentin also is currently enjoying weekly guitar lessons offered by one of the volunteers here.
Lila and I first accepted Christ into our lives seven years ago, with the former administrator of the Drop-in, Fred Walton Sr., and enjoy hearing the word here at its daily services. Through the years here, we have always enjoyed visiting the Drop-in Centre, and attending its highly anticipated functions, like its annual picnic, as well as the Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter dinners.
Today we have come to appreciate the support the staff has shown, and the guidance it has brought to our lives. It has been a positive experience in our lives and we appreciate and will remember this place for the rest our lives.
