finding - David Suzuki Foundation

5
6
10
David
Suzuki digs
your garden
Putting a
value on
nature
The truth
about
transit
Contest winners
announced –
great photos too.
Natural services
must be part of
the equation.
9
Government
can no longer
take a pass.
A good catch
Enjoy seafood
without harming the
planet.
finding
www.davidsuzuki.org
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION
• fall 2008
Foundation opens Montreal office,
launches French website
David Suzuki kicks
off DSF Quebec
David
Suzuki
recently
teamed up
with the
Montreal
Alouettes.
see page 4
PHOTO BERNARD BRAULT, LA PRESSE
By Jason Curran
In a bid to expand its presence across
Canada, the David Suzuki Foundation
formally announced the opening of a
new Montreal office in late September,
and with it, appointed Karel Mayrand as
its regional director in Quebec.
“We simply could not be a truly national organization in Canada without Karel Mayrand
having a presence in Quebec, in French,”
said Mr. Mayrand at the time of the launch of what’s being
dubbed DSF Quebec. “I firmly believe that we can, in working with our partners, motivate many more residents of
Quebec to work toward sustainable development.”
Mr. Mayrand is the former co-founder and head of Planetair, a not-for-profit organization that helps individuals,
corporations, and institutions offset their greenhouse
gas emissions and
We could not be a truly
reduce their climate
footprint. In addition
national organization in
to working with the
Canada without having a Foundation’s program
teams, Mr. Mayrand
presence in Quebec.
will lead a four-member Quebec team that will develop projects specific to the
province, including issues involving the St. Lawrence River
and environmental health.
The new office also coincided with the launch of a French
website (www.davidsuzuki.qc.ca), enabling residents of la
belle province to join the roughly 350,000 Canadians who
have already taken David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge and
committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
“Canadians and Québécois must realize that we all are
part of nature; there is no line or border that separates us
continued on page 4
After completing a master of science
in environmental assessment and
management, former Ontarian Jenna
Watson moved to Barcelona, Spain, where
she is developing projects related to lifecycle and environmental risk assessment.
H
How long have you been a supporter
of the David Suzuki Foundation? I have
donor profile
Jenna Watson
“Small steps lead
to big change.”
followed the David Suzuki Foundation for a
number of years, and I remember watching
David on The Nature of Things, but I only
became a financial supporter this year.
What inspired you to donate to the
Foundation? I was inspired by multiple things,
mainly by seeing David speak live for the first
time last fall while volunteering at a donor
event. Also, a light came on one day when I was
about to offset my carbon emissions, which I
normally do via other organizations. I decided
that I would calculate what I would have to pay
to offset using another website and then I took
the same amount and donated it to DSF.
How has being a supporter changed your
life? Supporting DSF inspires me to recognize
that we can all make a difference when it
comes to the environment. Small steps lead to
big change.
What is Canada’s biggest environmental
challenge? One of our biggest challenges is
educating people about what they can really do
and helping people realize that they can make
easy changes at home (that will actually save
them money) to help fight global warming.
What would you do to protect the environment if you were prime minister? I would
take a serious look at the oil sands in Alberta
and their environmental impacts. Perhaps create an investigation into the real positive and
negative impacts on the three pillars of sustainability: environment, society, and economy.
members write
Clearing up plastics info
I’m confused. I recycle with a
local recycling program and in
it we can recycle plastics numbered 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7. Your
article on plastics in the Summer 2008 issue of Finding
Solutions does not exactly
match and says we should not
reuse plastics 1, 3, 6, and 7.
Am I confusing reusing with
recycling or why is there this
difference?
Leanne Mitchell
Regina
Answer:
“Plastics by the Numbers”
explained what numbers 1
through 7 are called and in
what products you’ll find
Slow down, save fuel
them. You are correct in assuming that reusability and recyclability are two different things.
All numbers are potentially
recyclable, depending on your
town or city’s recycling program. The safest plastics to
reuse (e.g., for food and beverages) are 2, 4, and 5 (sing it: 2,
4, 5; keep yourself alive)! That
means, 1, 3, 6, and 7 are best
purchased in moderation and
should be recycled after one
use.
nature
is life.
If governments around the
world passed legislation to
reduce vehicle weight (trucks
and cars) and at the same time
reduced speed limits, fuel consumption would decrease significantly. There are currently
about 600 million cars on the
road. If vehicle turnover is on a
10-year cycle, the impact would
start to be felt soon. Combine
that with hybrids, etc., and the
impact would be even greater.
Speed-limit reductions from say
100 kilometres per hour to 90 or
even less would result in significant consumption reductions.
Former U.S. president Jimmy
Carter’s speed-limit reduction
initiative in the 1970s demonstrated the huge impact of
slowing down. These two initiatives are within the power of
governments.
Duane Pederson
Calgary
If you’d like to send a letter to Finding Solutions, please mail it to Finding Solutions Letters, David Suzuki Foundation, 219 - 2211 West 4th
Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6K 4S2, or e-mail findingsolutionsletters@
davidsuzuki.org. Please keep your letters short, and note that we may
edit them before publication.
Sustainability is about a Legacy of Life.
Build the David Suzuki Foundation
into your financial and estate planning.
Consider your legacy. Consider building a permanent
Named Endowment as your Legacy of Life.
To discuss your plans contact the Planned Giving Office at
(604) 732-4228 / 1-800-453-1533 / [email protected]
briefs
DSF rides Flick Off Express
your donations at work
Stores pull toxic pesticides
Moves show power of customers
Sometimes, asking one question can go a long way. As part of the
David Suzuki Foundation’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the use
of toxic chemical lawn and garden pesticides, we surveyed eight
major Canadian retailers to find out if they had any plans to stop
selling these products in their stores.
The survey prompted RONA, one of Canada’s leading home hardware and gardening retailers, to become another industry leader and ban chemical pesticides
from its stores. RONA developed and announced a plan to phase out the sale of
chemical lawn and garden pesticides by July 2009.
“Non-toxic gardening strategies are gaining momentum across Canada,” said
Lisa Gue, health and environmental policy analyst with the David Suzuki Foundation. “Retailers can be part of the soThe move by retailers is
lution by discontinuing the sale of synthetic chemical pesticides and dedicating
a perfect example of how
their shelf space to ecologically safer
supply and demand can
products.”
work to create safer options. RONA will join Home Depot and Loblaws in pulling these harmful pesticides
from its shelves. Loblaws was first to discontinue sales in 2003, while Home Depot recently announced plans for a phase-out by the end of this year. Canadian
Tire has also indicated that it will soon follow suit. Meanwhile, Home Hardware,
Lowe’s, TruServ, and Wal-Mart currently have no plans to stop selling chemical
pesticides.
The move by retailers is a perfect example of how supply and demand can
work in creating ecologically safer options for consumers. Retailers’ voluntary
bans of these products are not only a reflection of Canadians’ choices and demands, but are also recognition of the unnecessary health and environmental
risks of using chemical pesticides.
Although the efforts of RONA and other retailers are an encouraging step in
the right direction, the David Suzuki Foundation supports provincial bans and
encourages consumers to urge other retailers to voluntarily stop selling chemical lawn and garden pesticides, which will send a message to provincial leaders.
Only Ontario and Quebec have passed laws that ban the cosmetic use of chemical pesticides. n Sana Khan
DSF lent its support as the scientific
partner to the cheeky Flick Off campaign,
which encourages young Canadians to
conserve energy and fight global warming. In October, a train tour called the
Flick Off Express, featuring advocates,
environmental experts, and musical
groups, travelled to four Ontario universities for rallies and live concerts. Also
riding the rails were our very own climate change researcher José Etcheverry
and science director Faisal Moola. David
Suzuki also spoke at the final rally in
Ottawa.
Deloitte counts on change
Our Nature Challenge at Work program
so inspired a group of employees at professional services firm Deloitte Canada
that they dedicated their 2008 Impact
Day to spreading the word about going
green at work. DSF trained the volunteers, who delivered Sustainability 101
workshops to 16 Toronto area non-profits. According to one volunteer, “It was
amazing to see the resolve that came
from the team making a decision and
commitment together.”
Cool for sports
Some cool Canadian athletes brought an
important message to the summer
Olympics in Beijing through the Play It
Cool campaign. The David Suzuki Foun­
dation teamed up with athletes in 2006
to launch Play It Cool to profile athletes
who are committed to reducing their climate impact – and to inspire others to
do the same. Congratulations to the following Play It Cool Olympians and good
luck to the dozens of athletes training
for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Van­cou­
ver/Whistler: Men’s Eight Rowing Team:
Andrew Byrnes, Kyle Hamilton, Malcolm
Howard, Adam Kreek, Kevin Light, Ben
Rutledge, Dominic Seiterle, Jake Wetzel
(Gold medalist, rowing); Adam van
Koeverden (Silver medalist, K-1 500
kayak); Catharine Pendrel (4th pl., mountain bike); Nikola Girke (windsurfing).
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your donations at work
Nooksack dace is an
important test case
The Nooksack dace is a small fish with an odd name.
It’s also in trouble in Canada. The fish, which managed to survive the last ice age, can only be found in
four streams in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley, as
well as about 20 streams in northwest Washington
State. But because development for housing and industry in the Fraser Valley is threatening its habitat
and polluting the waters, the fish is now listed as
endangered under Canada’s Species at Risk Act.
Several conservation organizations, including
the David Suzuki Foundation, won a court hearing
in September to get the government to protect its
habitat. Although habitat is a critical component of
species protection, the government’s draft strategy
for the Nooksack dace, released in November 2006,
did not identify habitat necessary for its survival.
The David Suzuki Foundation submitted formal
comments noting that sufficient science was available to identify and delineate the dace’s critical
habitat. But when the final recovery strategy for
the dace was posted on the SARA registry on July
24, 2007, those comments were ignored and so we
launched the legal challenge in August.
touchdown
for the
environment
Following on the heels of the Quebec
launch, the David Suzuki Foundation
partnered with the Montreal Alouettes
to announce the football club’s
move to become the first Canadian
professional sports team to “go carbon
neutral.” The Alouettes will now offset
400 tonnes of CO2 annually – the
equivalent of taking close to 100 cars
off the road for one year. “We hope the
Alouettes will be able to inspire other
professional teams that are seeking to take
significant actions to fight climate change
and show greater social and environmental
responsibility,” said Dr. Suzuki.
4
4
The tiny Nooksack dace is endangered.
Mike Pearson photo – courtesy of Ecojustice.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada then re-released its
Nooksack dace recovery strategy, with critical habitat identified, and then argued that the lawsuit was
unnecessary. But our allies at Ecojustice Canada
showed that the federal government is following
a policy of not identifying critical habitat unless
forced to do so by legal action. The Nooksack dace
strategy is evidence of a systematic failure to respect the law, and therefore the groups argued that
the court should still hear the case.
In other words, this is about more than one small
fish in a limited area; it’s about protection of all endangered or threatened species and the integrity
and effectiveness of Canada’s Species at Risk Act.
n Ian Hanington
DSF in Quebec
continued from page 1
from the rest of the world,” said Dr. Suzuki. “Quebec
possesses exceptional biodiversity in its plentitude
of lakes, rivers, boreal forests, and other natural
resources. In this respect, the province has a huge
responsibility to continue to nurture and protect its
natural capital.”
For many years, the Foundation collaborated with
various Quebec-based groups on a number of issues,
ranging from global warming to cosmetic-pesticide
legislation. This collaboration was never more apparent than during the 2007 If You Were Prime Minister national tour when Montreal-based Equiterre
joined the Foundation to host events in Quebec and
Montreal.
“Québécois understand environmental issues as
well as anyone in Canada, and we need them to
help us bring a truly national scope to our efforts
to achieve sustainability within a generation,” said
Peter Robinson, the Foundation’s chief executive officer.
The Montreal office now joins operations in Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa.
david suzuki digs my garden contest
Growing Communities
undreds of entries poured in for the
2008 version of our pesticide-free garden photo contest David Suzuki Digs
My Garden. And we couldn’t have been
more pleased with how many Canadians were inspired – literally, at the grassroots – to tend their
green spaces without synthetic chemicals.
Picking finalists was no easy task. We could have
dedicated an entire illustrated coffee-table book
to the transformative stories and gorgeous photos
we received. You can see them on our website at
www.davidsuzuki.org/GardenContest.
Here’s a sampling of winning entries and quotes
from the entrants. n Gail Mainster
Ornamental
There are many insects in my garden that help
me. So it makes no sense to me that to kill the
few bugs that are harmful I should kill all of
them.
Gail Spring Dundas, Ontario
Balconies
Lawns
Melanie Rekola Barrie, Ontario
Marie Lynn Hammond Stouffville, Ontario
It was never an option for us to use chemical fertilizers
or pesticides. My husband and I teach our three-year-old
daughter much about nature here. It is a joy to pass on the
interworkings of the ecosystem and our environmental
responsibilities to her!
Last year, I decided to replace the entire front lawn.
People looked at me funny, but this year, when
things started blooming, I got lots of compliments.
The amazing thing is, I’ve never had much of a
green thumb!
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5
What is Natural Capital?
N
ecosystems as stocks or assets that provid
Can we put a price
on priceless nature?
Services provided by
the environment must
be part of the equation
hile many agree that putting a price on na-
by Jason Curran
A forest, for example, is much more than the timber it holds.
ture is, well, unnatural, recognition for its
­irreplaceable value – and the impact of human
development on it – is emerging globally.
It can provide habitat for critters, recreational opportunities
for hikers and hunters, and filtration and storage of drinking
water. And because forests scrub carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their trees and soils, they are a critical
“hedge” against global warming. All in all, the value of the ecosystem services that are critical to biodiversity, human health,
Ontario’s wealth,
Canada’s future
quantifies the
value of
ecosystem
services in
Ontario’s
greenbelt.
and community well-being is enormous.
What are Ecosystem Services?
Ecosystem goods and services are the collective benefits
derived from natural ecosystems and include products like clean drinking water and services such as the
decomposition of wastes. These benefits are dependent on ecosystem functions, and what makes them so
valuable is the human demand for these natural assets.
6
Natural Capital refers to the Earth’s natural
de resources and a flow of services.
In September, the David Suzuki Foundation, with support from the Friends
of the Greenbelt Foundation, released
a report that values the contributions
of Ontario’s Greenbelt at $2.6 billion
worth of non-market ecological services to the province each year. The
report, Ontario’s wealth, Canada’s future:
Appreciating the value of the Greenbelt’s
eco-services, quantified the value of
ecosystem services provided by the
more than 1.8 million acres of protected area surrounding two of Ontario’s
most populated cities: Hamilton and
Toronto. This region includes green
space, farmland, communities, forests,
wetlands, and watersheds, including
habitat for more than one-third of Ontario’s species at risk.
“It’s less expensive to preserve the
natural environment and the benefits
it provides us than to replace it with
man-made infrastructure. The highest
economic value the environment affords us is when it is left undisturbed,”
said report author Sara Wilson of Natural Capital Research & Consulting.
The conservation of natural ecosys-
of carbon worth $366 million per year
based on the average damage cost related to carbon emissions. Similarly,
because wetlands act as natural water
retention reservoirs, the value of flood
control offered by the region’s wetlands is estimated at $380 million.
“It’s a good remindBecause wetlands act as natural water
er to decision-makers
that if we don’t protect
retention reservoirs, the value of flood
our green spaces, we’ll
control is estimated at $380 million.
end up paying a higher
price in the future, not
tems, for example, is vital because of
just with our health and the planet’s
the carbon they store and the habihealth, but economically as well,” said
tat they provide, including migration
Rachel Plotkin, biodiversity policy ancorridors for species as the climate
alyst with the Foundation. “Ontario’s
changes. In total, the Greenbelt’s forGreenbelt is a world-leading example
ests, wetlands, and soils combine to
of how to grow our communities in a
store more than 102 million tonnes
balanced way.”
New report examines the value of forests
Increased forest conservation
yields better economic returns
than does status quo.
Meanwhile in B.C., another Foundation
report, Dollars and Sense: the economic
rationale to protect spotted owl habitat
in British Columbia – based on a scientific study by researchers at Simon Fraser
University – provides a detailed and
broad analysis of the economic implications of protecting or conserving oldgrowth forest in Canada, with a specific
focus on old-growth forest inhabited by
the spotted owl. The spotted owl, as you
may remember, is among the most
endangered wildlife species in Canada in
large part because it is directly dependent on old-growth forests for its survival.
Dollars and Sense examined not just
the value of timber in old-growth forests
in B.C. inhabited by the endangered
spotted owl, but also at the value of recreational uses, non-timber forest products, and the role the forests play in storing carbon. The study determined that
“in 72 of 81 scenarios, increased forest
conservation yields better economic
returns than does status quo logging
and limited conservation.” This conclusion contrasts sharply with the traditional, narrowly focused view, as expressed
in countless land-use debates in British
Columbia, that increased forest conservation is simply too costly an option for
society.
“We are excited by these findings, and
keen to see what further research on the
economic value of forest conservation
shows when the full spectrum of forest
values, such as protecting water supplies, is considered,” said Faisal Moola,
Dollars and
Sense looks
at the
ecosystem
value of
old-growth
forests.
science director at the David Suzuki
Foundation. “Taking into account all the
values of a forest doesn’t mean an end to
logging and mining; it just means finding
better ways to manage all our activities
in these ecosystems – and it means putting a value on the very real services they
provide.”
Copies of the natural capital reports are
available online at: www.davidsuzuki.
org/Publications
* Values refer to ecosystem services provided by Ontario’s Greenbelt, according to:
Ontario’s wealth, Canada’s future: appreciating the value of the Greenbelt’s eco-service.
TH E D AV ID SU ZU KI F OU N D ATION
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askANexpert José Etcheverry
Renewable energy is good
for the environment and
the economy.
Why all the fresh interest
in renewable energy?
DSF’s climate
change
research and
policy analyst
José Etcheverry
Renewable energy usually refers to electricity generated from wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal
resources. Up until now, only hydro has achieved
large-scale popularity in Canada.
But recently, more Canadians have demanded action on climate change, and politicians and green
entrepreneurs are looking at renewable energy to
power the country in the 21st century. It may sound
like a brand new idea, but European countries with
the highest standards of living have incorporated
renewables into their mix of energy sources for decades. All we need to do to replicate their success in
Canada is create the vision, regulations, and infrastructure.
Countries such as Germany, Spain, and Denmark
are on the vanguard of this issue, and they are a fantastic model for Canada to follow. Germany, for example, has added more than 24,000 megawatts to its
electricity mix. That total is about the same amount
Ontario currently generates from non-renewable
coal and nuclear plants.
Now is the best time to transition away from our
Parliament passes Sustainable Development Act
Sustainability: it’s the law
When an issue rises above the fray of partisan politics, it’s a sign that it has been recognized as universally imperative. This summer, all parties came together to pass the Federal Sustainable Development
Act in a Parliament led by a minority. It happened
with little fanfare, but it completely revolutionized
the way our government will deal with environmental issues.
“The act imposes a duty on
the
government to consider the
The new act holds the
environment in every major
government accountable
decision it makes,” explained
for its responsibility to Pierre Sadik, senior policy adprotect the environment. viser for the David Suzuki Foundation. “Governments typically
run hot and cold on environmental protection; this
act keeps the environment on the front burner.”
Under the new act, the government must set measurable targets for protecting Canada’s environment. The law applies to all departments and many
federal agencies. Every government decision must
account for the environment. The Foundation has
long been calling for such a law grounded in basic
environmental science, and helped draft the origi-
8
dependence on fossil fuels. As most people well
know, generating power from fossil fuels such as
gas, oil, and coal creates pollution that damages our
health and causes global warming.
Renewable energy is a key strategy to address
climate change and make the air pollution-free as
soon as possible. This is a key sustainability strategy
that, along with efficiency and conservation, has the
potential to revolutionize our economies with green
technology, save us huge amounts of money, create
thousands of new jobs, and power our homes and
businesses with fewer risks than any other form of
energy generation. All in all, this is an exciting time
for renewable energy in Canada!
nal bill based on its report Sustainability
Within a Generation.
This is no toothless law. It establishes
the second legislated cabinet committee
in Canada’s history in order to develop
and enforce a federal sustainable development strategy. The government
must produce a strategy for meeting
each target in writing, identify the
minister responsible, and allow
the Environment Commissioner
to review these in advance and
perform audits. An advisory
council including provinces,
business, First Nations, environmental organizations,
and labour groups will inform the overall process.
The strategy must be revised every three years.
The new act holds the
government accountable
for its responsibility to
protect the environment.
Our own responsibility lies
in ensuring the environment stays above party
lines. n Sana Khan
Protecting BC’s bountiful sea
Book shows that North
Coast environment is
important to everyone
Canada’s new fisheries minister has
an immediate task to consider. The
previous government identified five
large ocean areas in Canada in which it
would implement integrated management efforts. The government defines
integrated management as “an ongoing
and collaborative planning process that
brings together interested stakeholders
and regulators to reach general agreement on the best mix of conservation,
sustainable use and economic development of marine areas for the benefit of
all Canadians.”
One of these large ocean areas is an
88,000-square-kilometre area off the
north coast of B.C. referred to as the
Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area, or PNCIMA. The new fisheries minister must immediately let
Canadians know if and when the government will move forward with this
planning process.
As a prod to the government, the David Suzuki Foundation, along with the
Living Oceans Society, Sierra Club B.C.,
and
Canadian
Parks and Wilderness Society, recently published
BC’s Bountiful Sea:
Heritage
Worth
Preserving. The organizations have
made the reader-friendly book
available to government agencies
as well as to the
people who live
and work in the area. The book, released
in conjunction with a larger, more technical report called State of the Ocean in
the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area, has created a buzz among
the region’s fishermen, tourism operators, local governments, First Nations
chiefs and councils, whale watchers,
shipping industry, cruise-ship companies, fish farmers, local organizations,
A good catch
You can have your seafood and eat it too
Jill Lambert figured there must be a cookbook that would tell
her how to prepare the most sustainable seafood choices.
There wasn’t. She remedied that with A Good Catch (Greystone Books / David Suzuki Foundation). Chefs from across
Canada provided the recipes. The David Suzuki Foundation
supplied the information about sustainability, and David
Suzuki wrote the foreword. Here’s a recipe from the book.
Bisque Mussels from Flex in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp fresh chopped garlic
2 green onions, white and green parts, chopped
1 tomato, coarsely chopped
4 oz lobster meat (tail and claw meat only), cooked and minced
1/4 cup white wine
1/8 cup brandy
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 1/4 lbs mussels, cleaned and beards snipped off
2 sprigs fresh thyme, whole
1/2 lemon
sports fisherman, fishing charters, and
government managers.
And, B.C.’s cities and towns voted in
September at the Union of B.C. Municipalities annual convention in Penticton
on a resolution to support an integrated
oceans management plan for
this region. This clearly shows
that community-level support
to improve the management of
this productive and valuable living ecosystem is growing.
So far, the government has
been dragging its heels on this
process. We believe that the area
provides a tremendous opportunity to show how such a process
can work. The area is still in
good shape, with an abundance
of wildlife and habitat, not to
mention spectacular scenery. But pressure from human activity is increasing.
You can download a copy of BC’s Bountiful
Sea at www.davidszuki.org/Publications/
Bountiful_Sea.asp. And you can find
more information about PNCIMA at
www.davidsuzuki.org/Oceans/PNCIMA/
and www.pncimawatch.ca.
n Ian Hanington
Heat olive oil in a large (16- to 20-cup)
heavy-bottomed saucepan on mediumhigh heat. n Add garlic, green onions,
tomato, and lobster meat and sauté for
1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until
tomatoes begin to break down.
n Stir in white wine, brandy, and cream,
gently scraping the bottom of the pot
with a wooden spoon, and cook for 1
minute. n Add mussels and thyme.
n Cover with a tight-fitting lid and boil
for 4 to 6 minutes, stirring gently just
once, until all the mussels have opened
wide. n Using a slotted spoon, transfer
mussels to a serving dish. Discard any
unopened mussels. n Squeeze lemon
juice over the shellfish. n Reduce the
sauce by one-third, 2 to 3 minutes, or
until desired consistency is reached.
n Pour the sauce over the mussels
and serve immediately with plenty of
baguette slices.
Serves 4 as a first course
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Sana Khan
real LIFE
Government can’t
take a pass on transit
health effects of air pollution every year.
Many Canadians have creatively adjusted to using their extended commute time efficiently by eating breakfast, doing homework, or perfecting a skill
such as knitting. But the reality is Canada’s publicMobility is freedom. An efficient, affordtransit systems are facing serious challenges. It all
able, and reliable public-transit system
comes back to the fact that we are the only G8 counis not only the pulse of a thriving city
try without a federal commitment to continued, stabut an integral part of sustainable living.
ble funding for public transit.
A good public-transit system is vital to
Canada’s mayors report that the long-term fedreducing our greenhouse gas emissions
eral investment needed to maintain existing tranand our dependence on fossil
sit infrastructure and to
fuels. But for public-transit us- We are the only G8
expand service to meet
ers in Canada, it’s getting
country without a federal new demand is $2 billion a
harder to advocate.
year, with additional funds
The fact that a bus takes commitment to funding
coming from municipali50 cars off the road and for public transit.
ties and provinces. This
pollutes 18 times less is
year the federal governno comfort on cold winter mornment made a one-time transit investment of $500
ings when your toes are frozen
million, only a quarter of what is required, with no
as three packed buses pass by.
promise of future funding.
While stuck in a stalled lightThe three hours a day I spend on the subway,
rail train, the idea that it is
streetcars, light rail, and buses gives me lots of time
carrying as many people as a
to wonder why we remain one of the most developed
20-lane freeway means nothnations in the world without a nationally funded
ing if it can’t get you to work on time.
transit strategy. Considering it would help Canada
And not only do I fork over more than $100
address global warming, protect human health, and
a month in fares, but my taxes also help cover the
improve our quality of life, public transit deserves
$8 billion it costs the medical system to pay for the
the attention of our federal leaders.
funding solutions
Garden monkey brings in money
Dustin Carlson, who runs
art manufacturer said. “DurCountrywide Garden Oring the peak of it, I was pournaments in Duncan, B.C.,
ing them every 12 hours.”
wants to put a monkey
Dustin, who started his
in your garden and some
business on Saltspring Island,
money in the David Susaid he has sold about 500
zuki Foundation’s cofso far, at a cost of $59.99
fers. Inspired by the idea
each. For now, all the
of the Hundredth Mon- The Hundredth
profits go to the Founkey, in which a behaviour Monkey ornament. dation, but in the fupracticed by a few monture, a portion of the
keys becomes widespread once a critproceeds will be donated.
ical mass is reached, Dustin designed
Dustin said he was ina monkey garden ornament. He then
spired by David Suzuki
distributed the ornaments to garden
and his Foundation’s
stores and got the stores to agree to
work, and he has also
join him in donating all the proceeds
created some limited edito the Foundation.
tion David Suzuki garden
“I’m totally shocked at the success,”
gnomes. For information
the 29-year-old sculptor and garden
about the ornaments, email
[email protected].
10
Psst! Want to
buy a gnome?
Who knew that so many
people would want a David
Suzuki garden gnome?
You can help DSF promote a nationwide ban on chemical pesticides and
get your own David Suzuki gnome for a
minimum donation of $250.
Artist Elaine Brewer-White has
teamed up with Dustin Carlson to create
a limited-edition run of Suzuki gnomes.
These will be hand-painted by students
at B.C.’s Langley Fine Arts School and
delivered to purchasers in boxes crafted
from mountain pine beetle wood.
A gnome like you
Gnome No. 1 will be auctioned on
E-Bay. Contact naturechallenge@
davidsuzuki.org to find out when.
The winning bidder gets an added
bonus — a garden gnome sculpted in his
or her image!
recommended
A publication of the David Suzuki
Foundation, a registered Canadian
charity working through science and
education to protect the diversity of
nature and our quality of life, now and
for future generations.
2211 West 4th Ave., Suite 219
Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6K 4S2
Tel.: (604)732-4228
Fax: (604)732-0752
1-800-453-1533
www.davidsuzuki.org
Editor Ian Hanington
Contributors Dominic Ali, Jason Curran,
Katie Harper, Sana Khan, Gail Mainster,
Justin Smallbridge
Design and Production
Working Design
Board of Directors Ray Anderson,
John Bankes, Stephen Bronfman,
Dr. Tara Cullis (President),
Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Stephanie Green,
James Hoggan (Chair), Murray Pettem,
Miles Richardson, Peter Steele,
Dr. David Suzuki (Founder),
Dr. Peter Victor
Chief Executive Officer
Peter Robinson
Communications Director
Dan Maceluch
Science Director Dr. Faisal Moola
Program Directors Morag Carter,
Dave Waldron, Jay Ritchlin
Volunteer Services Manager
Aryne Sheppard
Privacy Officer Kenneth Eng
Printed on 100% postconsumer recycled paper,
processed chlorine free.
Bees: Nature’s
Little Wonders
By Candace Savage
(Greystone Books /
David Suzuki Foundation)
David Suzuki often relates
how a bolt of fear ran through
him when he heard that bee
colonies were dying off. Without these amazing creatures
to pollinate plants, we’d be in
big trouble. Candace Savage
gives us even more reasons
to love these fascinating and
complex insects in this beautifully illustrated book. Using
personal stories, science, and
even poetry, Ms. Savage illuminates her subject in a way
that will appeal to readers of
all ages.
David Suzuki’s
Green Guide
davidsuzuki.org
Check out
what’s new at
David Suzuki’s
Nature
Challenge
Take David Suzuki to work
Sign up for newsletters
Celebrity supporters!
By David R. Boyd and
David Suzuki
(Greystone Books /
David Suzuki Foundation)
Simple steps taken by many
people add up to create a big
impact. That’s the message in
this useful guide by David Suzuki and environmental lawyer David Boyd. The book provides practical ways for people
to live more sustainable lives
in the home, and with their
shopping, eating, and travel
habits. And it offers advice on
how citizens can hold governments responsible for encouraging sustainability.
Almost Green
By James Glave
(Greystone Books)
It takes a smart author to write
such a funny and entertaining
book about building a garden
shed. In this lively yarn, subtitled “How I Built an Eco-Shed,
Ditched My SUV, Alienated the
In-Laws, and Changed My Life
Forever” Bowen Island writer
James Glave shows that while
it may not always be easy to
go green, it can be amusing
and certainly worthwhile. And
readers may even learn something about building a shed –
which, in this case, is actually
a writer’s home office!
Tar Sands: Dirty
Oil and the Future
of a Continent
vivid writing will make you angry at times, it does offer some
hope, with solutions to the
mess we have created.
Grist.org
Website
This Seattle-based online portal for environmental news
and commentary completely
destroys the stereotype of serious and sanctimonious environmentalists. As the “About
Us” section cheerfully states,
“Grist: it’s gloom and doom
with a sense of humor.” In addition to thought-provoking
arti­cles and informative columns, Grist also features practical tips for making everything
more sustainable.
Climate Change:
What’s Your
Business Strategy?
By Andrew Nikiforuk
(Greystone Books /
David Suzuki Foundation)
In his latest book, award-winning Alberta writer Andrew
Nikiforuk offers up a gripping
and eye-opening account of
the life, money, and business
at the $100 billion and counting Alberta tar sands project.
Although the author uses scientific research to delve into
the environmental devastation of the tar sands, he also
looks at the lives of people
who live and work in the area,
from roughnecks and engineers to cocaine dealers and
the homeless. Although his
By John G. Woody and
Andrew J. Hoffman
(McGraw-Hill Ryerson)
This guide is intended to give
CEOs ways to help their companies succeed in a carbon-constrained world. Climate Change:
What’s Your Business Strategy?
does a thorough job of explaining just how global warming
will affect businesses and provides a framework for companies to develop their own
climate-change strategies. It’s a
great primer for your favourite
CEO.
THEE DDAVID
AVID SU
SUZU
ZUKI
KI FOU
FO UNNDDATION
ATION
TH
11
11
Dr. David Suzuki
Where to
from here?
Our young people can help
make Canada a leader
Many of us in the environmental
movement and Canadians in general
were welcoming an election campaign
based on a meaningful conversation
about our quality of life and the kind of Canada we
will be leaving for our children.
Instead, the debate degenerated into shooting the
messenger and distorting the message for political
gain. If anything, anxiety about the economy and
rising energy prices is hardening the sense of urgency that something must be done. Far from eclipsing
concerns about the environment, this anxiety points
to the fundamental need to husband our resources,
develop new technologies, and transform our economy to a more sustainable level.
Protecting the environment and increasing our
economic prosperity is not a zero-sum game. A transition to a new cleaner economy will require ingenuity; ingenuity leads to invention and new industry; and new industry and ideas lead to growth and
prosperity.
last wORD
Political and business leaders lag far behind Canadians in their sense of urgency about the environment. For our leaders to act, we must put their
feet to the fire. It’s tragic that some exploited our
fears to imply that environmental protection and
action on global warming and protecting our oceans
and natural capital are not compatible with a strong
economy.
Solutions to today’s environmental problems are
possible. And they are happening all around us. Scientists are making new discoveries, new businesses
are springing up in response to environmental challenges, and individuals are changing the way they
live.
As we have for close to 20 years, the David Suzuki
Foundation will work on behalf of our supporters to
hold politicians to account and encourage governments to show foresight and leadership at home and
abroad. But many of the answers will come from our
young people. The time has come to pass the torch
to a new generation of environmental leaders.
Governments and business will be forced to act in
the face of a growing onslaught of youth activism.
We must not be intimidated by the entrenched and
the powerful. If we speak loudly and clearly, we will
be heard – and heeded.
To find out if Dr. Suzuki is coming to your town,
please visit www.davidsuzuki.org/About_us/Dr_
David_Suzuki/Appearances.asp.
Give the Gift of a Healthy Future
This holiday season, honour someone by giving a gift membership of $20 or more
to the David Suzuki Foundation in his or her name.
You can choose from our wide
selection of ‘Healthy Future’
cards and send your gift
by postal mail, email or
through a monthly gift.
For more information,
please visit davidsuzuki.org
or call Kim Vickers at
604.732.4228 or 1.800.453.1533.
You can fill out the enclosed form
or make your gift on our website.
1 snail mail
3 ways
to send
your gift
• Recipients will receive a Holiday gift card in the mail
• An information kit that includes a subscription to Finding Solutions
• Please send your gift by Dec. 5, 2008
2 email
• Recipients will receive an e-card notifiying them of your gift
• An online information kit which includes a one-year subscription
to our e-verion of Finding Solutions
• A downloadable David Suzuki Foundation screen saver
• Please send your gift by Dec. 18, 2008
3 monthly giving
• You can also choose to give a gift that keeps on giving and
honour someone by giving a monthly gift
• If you give a monthly gift of $42/mo or more, recipients
will receive a 100% recycled cotton David Suzuki Foundation
shopping bag