On World Nature Conservation Day, we want to expand our thinking on the right to be housed. The housing crisis affecting humans is a severe and urgent issue. Many people—especially marginalized and racialized communities that have suffered historic and ongoing systemic injustices—face homelessness, inadequate shelter, and a lack of access to safe and affordable housing. … Continue reading
Read more »Posts Tagged: environmental protection
Bigger buffer zone for orcas, but not in Canada
Washington State signed new legislation that requires boats to keep 914 metres from orcas, more than doubling the current requirement, beginning in January 2025. Unfortunately, Canada isn’t following suit. Originally published in PostMedia’s The Province on May 18. Endangered southern resident orcas are on the verge of getting a lot more space, but not if … Continue reading
Read more »Your wastewater is polluting the Salish Sea
“MY wastewater?!?”, you might be thinking. It’s true. Anything that runs down the drains of your sinks, showers, washing machines, dishwashers and toilets becomes wastewater. Personal and industrial use of items that contain complex, and sometimes harmful, chemicals means that wastewater contains a myriad of compounds including plastics, heavy metals, nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, … Continue reading
Read more »First marine spill training for Clean Marine BC
Twenty representatives from eleven Clean Marine BC facilities came together in our first ever marine spill training session. False Creek Harbour Authority hosted us at Fishermen’s Wharf, and mother nature provided the sunshine! Instructor Craig Dougans from Global Strategem Consulting led us through a full day of classroom and practical training covering planning, preparedness, spill … Continue reading
Read more »Is BC’s new spill response law really world-leading?
The provincial government’s new and long-awaited oil spill preparedness bill will soon be debated in the legislature for the first time. The bill is an important step forward, promising new provisions aimed at reducing the tremendous gaps in B.C.’s ability to respond to spills. Although this is good, and much-needed in our province, the bill … Continue reading
Read more »Ribbon fades on BC’s climate leadership
How long can you still crow about the ribbon you got for the science fair project in grade school? It’s a question that kept going through my mind as I stared into the BC government’s budget documents at the briefing on Tuesday. In the Finance Minister’s speech, the Ministerial Services plan, in the strategic plan … Continue reading
Read more »The power of hope
It feels just a little bit brighter. The elections results of October 19th have brought to an end a period of great darkness for civil society. If that sounds melodramatic, I can tell you from direct experience it is not. Deemed enemies of the state, attacked, tied up in administrative burdens so we could be … Continue reading
Read more »A big win for stronger local spill preparedness
Today was a good day. Local government leaders from big cities, small towns and regional districts across BC voted unanimously in favour of strengthening community oil spill preparedness. In a giant meeting room at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention, hundreds of our local elected representatives raised their hands and endorsed Resolution A4, calling … Continue reading
Read more »We’ve got work to do, Salish Sea Savers!
Year-end reviews are supposed to be positive and upbeat, as everyone heads into the holidays wanting to think of nothing more than festive parties, mulled wine and relaxing time off with family and friends. But it’s hard to relax and stay positive when it feels like we are swimming against a tidal wave of fossil … Continue reading
Read more »The greenest city… or the biggest coal exporter in North America?
Port Metro Vancouver is currently considering an application from Fraser Surrey Docks to build a coal facility at its terminal in Surrey, designed to handle coal from United States producers who are struggling to find export routes south of the border. When complete, the coal terminal would be responsible for about 17 million tonnes of … Continue reading
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