Hope amid these times is for chances to help decide what follows

This is the all-time challenge for our species. Will we show the wisdom to act with the guidance of science? Will we have the compassion to help those most impacted by the unavoidable global warming already happening? Will we have the intelligence to find new opportunities in transforming our sources of energy and the way… Continue reading Hope amid these times is for chances to help decide what follows

Musings on garbage

by Stan Hirst Sitting at my kitchen window and staring out at the North Shore street view on a promising spring day, I was struck by three things – how profoundly our lives have been impacted by something measuring just 0.000000089 metre in diameter; how fortunate I am to be living in a society where… Continue reading Musings on garbage

Humanity and nature are not separate – we must see them as one to fix the climate crisis

by Heather Alberro It’s no coincidence that almost every single sector of industry is contributing to the planet’s downfall, either. A deeper issue underlies each one’s part in the malaise enveloping the planet’s ecosystems – and its origins date back to long before the industrial revolution. To truly bring ourselves into harmony with the natural… Continue reading Humanity and nature are not separate – we must see them as one to fix the climate crisis

Given how little effect you can have, is it rational to vote?

Voting is underway at the Sonora Community Centre to elect a new Osoyoos town council. The turnout has been steady and busy. Polls close at 8 p.m. If you haven't already voted, bring two pieces of ID and get down there!

by Julia Maskivker For far too long, the accepted wisdom among scholars of politics has been that the interests of the individual and the interests of society are not in harmony when it comes to voting. The American economist Anthony Downs, in his foundational book An Economic Theory of Democracy (1957), argued that a truly… Continue reading Given how little effect you can have, is it rational to vote?

On Lethal Overwatch

by Bob Worcester Many of us were rightfully shocked to read a recent report that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) were prepared to assign snipers to the removal of the Wet’suwet’en roadblock opposing the northern liquid natural gas (LNG) pipeline. Reports suggested that “lethal overwatch” (a newspeak term for the deployment of armed snipers)… Continue reading On Lethal Overwatch

The Green New Deal in Canada: transformation to better stewardship and a restoration economy

by  Josef Kuhn  & Ray Travers  Climate change, unhealthy ecological and economic systems, and human conflict require a fresh approach to business and government in the twenty-first century. A rapidly growing number of Canadians and like-minded people in many countries around the world are working to create an innovative approach to our decision making. The… Continue reading The Green New Deal in Canada: transformation to better stewardship and a restoration economy

A time and place for Elder opinions

by Stan Hirst The Suzuki Elders trace their existence back to 1996 when a “Council of Elders” was established under the umbrella of the David Suzuki Foundation. The details of this are given elsewhere on this site. Some four years later we reinvented ourselves as the Suzuki Elders, and duly penned the Elders’ Declaration as… Continue reading A time and place for Elder opinions

Political Tribes: Group Instinct and  the Fate of Nations

Political Tribes: Group Instinct and  the Fate of Nations by Amy Chua Penguin Random House | 2018 | 304 pages Amy Chua is probably best known through social media as the Tiger Mom following widespread publication of her 2011 Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. More importantly from the perspective of this book review, she… Continue reading Political Tribes: Group Instinct and  the Fate of Nations

Stormy Weather

by Marilyn Krislock Pomeroy ‘Pray for Florida’ pops up on my Facebook page repeatedly the last couple of days. While I wish all the good folks in the path of that hurricane safe passage through it, I’m not much into praying. If I was so inclined, however, I would instead be praying for a neighbouring… Continue reading Stormy Weather