A Movement in the Making

I kayaked with a beluga whale! I saw a beaver in the wild! I climbed a sand dune! I could not have said that until a few weeks ago and the exhilaration of it spilled over to my blog – see posted about a week ago. I was truly awestruck and still am marveling that this was indeed my country – really, came at me from out of the blue. If anything, it’s made me even more eco-conscious and a great advocate for eco-travel and conservation.

Ironically, just as the thrill for the natural world subsides, my mood falls in to an abyss as word of wildlife destruction in the Gulf Coast starts to permeate the headlines. Not just any wildlife, but the whales that I had so fondly become accustomed to. Shockingly, these massive animals that fear none have found their match in deadly oil that slowly is killing everything it touches.  What an awful thought! I’m not surprised then that the tourism industry would be affected, not only on the Gulf Coast, but also in Canada where oil exploration continues throughout northern Alberta.

Prospecting for oil is big business, which regardless of good intentions and taking the necessary precautions, is driven by consumerism and is done at the expense of another reliable industry. Opting for greater investment in green technology and alternative energies just might save tourism, or save just about every other business out there. Business are waking up to the realities that consumers do not want to support products that are damaging to the environment, cause wildlife extinction or cause air qualities to deteriorate and alas, the CSR executives, Green PR Consultants and Tech junkies are finding more and more areas for work.

Most of the world is waking up to this reality and Canadian industry is well poised to lead the way. Bombardier was just awarded to created energy savings high speed trains for Chinese expansion (think China’s version of the TGV), but Canada’s National VIA Rail hasn’t yet upgraded. Is it that our politicians and CEO’s are simply too old to adjust in their ways of thinking? It seems counter productive to support oil exploration in the name of business development when it destroys others, while at the same time destroying our quality of life through the air we breathe, the water we drink, the animals we enjoy…the list goes on.

The contradictions are astounding and in searching out solutions and sharing ideas, I’ve recently started to blog on another site : http://www.greeniters.com where I hope to continue to share my thoughts and also learn something new along the way about all things Green. Feel free to visit!

Memoires de la Belle Province

There are no words to describe the wonders that a good holiday can do to the psyche! I’ve just come back from a few days away and could not be more refreshed! Sunshine and salt water air did a world of good and I’m ready for anything the world throws  at me – well, maybe. I didn’t go far, I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, but was surrounded by good friends, good laughs and good food! I went to Montreal (so many memories!), then on to Quebec City, and then further on to the Saguenay region along the St. Lawrence river.

I can’t believe I’d never experienced this region before – absolutely breathtaking! Just outside of Quebec City, the roads turn hilly – maybe more than hilly, more  like moutain-esque – and our tank of a rental car made for interesting driving! Nature was beautiful, nothing but the green of the trees and the glare of the water to keep our attention on the way. Then as the highway nears the river, little towns dot the sea banks, tourists emerge from the hiking trails and stalls with fresh produce taunt the hungry driver.

The lure of the area is for the sea, the boats, the fresh fruits de mer and …. les baleines! This part of the river is unique for its buffet of underwater treats, attracting underwater creatures of all types, including whales! So beautiful and amazing to see from the coast and even more breathtaking to kayak with the whales! Our first attempt was delayed because of wind and cold, but the following morning at 5am (it takes something special to get me out of bed at that time!) off we went to suit up and get in the water and within 10 minutes, a beluga came our way and swam in between us and  under us and gave us a  little wink Unbelievable and so relaxing to sit in the boat, watch the sunrise on the water with whales  swimming below.

Our trip focused on the outdoors and all it has to offer. What an Adventure! Not for the weak at heart or bad shoe-ed as hiking, bike riding, rock jumping, sand/stair climbing and kayaking were major staples of the trip, and then was proceeded by scrapes, bruises, cuts, heavy breathing and a trip to the doctor :s  Despite the setbacks, it was worth it and my muscles are thankful in the long-run. The wildlife we saw – the belugas, the birds, the beaver – and the views from just about everywhere are unforgettable.

For the most part, traveling was easy. Driver’s and speed limits weren’t nearly as dangerous as in Montreal or Ontario, and finding a place to stay took just a few phone calls – during the summer, many houses turn in to Gites (B&B’s) where traveler’s get a good taste of local culture and cozy atmospheres that only Grandma’s know how to provide. French is widely spoken and my skills were sharpened to the Quebecois accent, though like most foreign places, hand signals and smatterings of English will always helpful.

On our way back, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad that our trip was coming to a close. I’m very nostalgic for the province which always has something new to offer and has captivated my heart for years and saying good bye to out-of-town friends is never easy. Every place I go that I’d like to return to, I always leave something behind that I haven’t done or seen for the next time, promising to return some day. Although I’ve been to Montreal and Quebec as a province more times than I can count, it never seems that I can get to the end of the list of new things to do and see. Can’t wait to starting planning the next one!

Healthy Confusion

Somewhere, mixed up in the mumbo jumbo of the good, bad and ugly of healthy eating, we’ve gotten our priorities mixed up. How else could you explain the mound of literature dedicated to both revealing the sickening trends in the food industry and de-coding the ingredients that dot nearly every package in the supermarket. Michael Pollan’s books In Defense of Food and Food Rules are prime examples, as are documentaries (Food Inc. was top of the list of Oscar nominees and Super Size Me was a box office hit!) and tv sitcoms (Law & Order: SVU just released an episode featuring the gruesomeness of the meat packaging industry).

All this makes me think that we’re not healthy – we just think we are! As consumer’s, I think most of us are blinded by marketing gimmicks, like KFC’s “Bucket for the Cure” campaign which has gone pink for the month in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. The irony and shock as I read about this is astounding – do they actually think that buying fried chicken will put an end to breast cancer?

Traditional views of nutrition – the four food groups, portion control and weight loss myths – are also tough to beat and gets even more complicated when you throw in pesticides, fertilizers, GMO’s and substitutes. I’m convinced that buying local is the way to go – I’m over the moon that the weather is getting close enough to spring that the farmer’s markets will soon be opening up and I can peruse the aisles of fresh produce under the sun! My support of organic is also growing slowly – I really hate to admit it knowing that buying organic will put a dent in my wallet, but I think we just might be better off for it. Making wise decisions about our health is so important at all ages to ensure our quality of life well in to our retirement years that jeopardizing it now seems reckless.

Blurring the Line

It’s been on everyone’s mind for the last several weeks, but no one has dared whisper it for fear that we’ll be jinxed and it’ll fade into the distance like a dream. It’s been hinted at and even overjoyed when we got a snippet of it a few days ago…the sun! Winters are everlasting in Canada and Mother Nature simply can not make up her mind, flip-flopping back and forth between sunny rays and dreary days that I simply just want to hid until it makes up its mind! I marvel at it though, thinking that the sun is such a life-source for every person, animal, or plant on the earth and we never get tired of it. Won’t ever be replaced by Apple’s newest ap or NASA’s expanding technology. Instead, we imitate it , thank God for it and trade stories about what it was like when we didn’t have it.

In general, I love natural landscapes or environments and all things that are a part of it. In fact, most of my ‘to-do-before-I-die’ List is based on natural landscapes / scenery.  So, it should be no big surprise that when I saw Disney’s ‘Earth’, I really enjoyed it.  It shadows four animals and the struggles that they go through to survive, most of which meant migrating with the sun to warmer climates at different times of the year. It really was fascinating and showcased exactly how these animals were having to deal with global warming. It also highlighted the importance of forests, fauna and ecosystems as vital for human development and sustainability.

I don’t want to complain about my government…again – then I’d really turn into a broken record! What I do want to do is more or less to highlight how many people have turned their profession in to a cause in support of conservation, sustainability and advocacy. Journalists, social scientists, film-makers.  There clearly are scores of people out there who have made the environment,conservation and spreading awareness about it a priority, but I’ve noticed that the line between environmental advocacy and reinforcing social norms is getting to be a bit blurry.

The documentaries nominated at last week’s Oscar ceremony were phenomenal and most of them to shed light on hidden atrocities.  The film that won, The Cove, documented a particular Cove in Japan where dolphins were lured and then killed for their meat. In light of the typical Western view that dolphins are the beloved Savior of the Seas, it’s an awful reality, but one that may also be a Japanese food source, like cattle would be in middle America. It is Difficult to enforce  social norms on other nations, isn’t it? Just as I’m sure that dogs in China, guinea pigs in Peru, tarantulas in Cambodia or crickets and scorpions in Thailand are not exactly the delicacies of the North American palate, as long as it is safe to eat and they are not endangered of extinction, then I find it difficult to condemn a practice that may be to the locals as what salmon is to us. If the documentary highlighted how the dolphins were endangered or were vital to other ecosystems in the area, then I might feel more inclined to appreciate this type of cinematography. And although I don’t like to see murdered dolphins, I can accept it as synonymous to a poultry farm or other meat breeding establishments.

By blurring the line between environmental conservation and social advocacy, we’re not really getting anywhere – just a lot of hot air.

Pet Controversy

Throughout my early childhood years, I remember vividly wanting a pet, a dog in particular. I suppose I met the usual resistance from my family, thinking that it’s a lot of work, a lot of responsibility and also, knowing how kids can be, could have been an impulse prompted by the neighbor’s new cat or best friends’ new guinea pig. But…it wasn’t and my family finally gave in to getting our little dog (which I sometimes write about here) and it was a good decision. She’s still little and cuddly, but she’s old and treated like a queen – maybe better than a queen :S She is a part of our family and has given us a lot of laughs.

I think it’s great that animals have integrated nicely into our domesticated lifestyles, so much so that we go to great lengths to make sure they’re safe; rescuing a dog  on an iceflow; or in the middle of  flood waters. We’ve also created blogs and reported on pet safety and health. It’s just a testament to how far we would go for the furry members of the family. And so, when cases of abuse or mishandling of animals is recorded, we are right to be outraged and upset, just as we would for people.

“Are Animals People?” by an Ethics Professor, Margaret Somerville, breeches the subject and tries to name the relationships that humans hold with animals and what our behavior should be toward animals and what the law enforces.  It’s a complicated subject; how do we differentiate those that we have as pets and those that we consume for dinner? Sommerville claims that there is a responsibility to protect (sounds like familiar political jargon used in international circles?), but not to equate animals with humans – I assume she means domesticated animals. Slippery slope, indeed and it opens many doors. Protect = do not abuse, provide loving home, teach behavior, provide medical  attention, put down when necessary.  We do the same for our loved ones, don’t we? All but the latter, which some may argue is what we should be doing.

When you think about it, we really do go to tremendous lengths for our pets, be it a dog, cat, hamster, potbelly pig or bird and when we see them abused, homeless or hungry, our hearts reach out to them, much in the same way we do for humans. I know that animals are not the same as people; their knowledge, capabilities etc. but knowing my own dog’s (aka *baby*) role in our family, it’s hard to say she isn’t a part of us.

Divine Intervention

I’m not a particularly religious person.  I’d consider myself a Christian and was brought up going to church occasionally and on the holidays.  I know the basics and have tremendous respect for religious practices.  So sometimes when there is no explicable answer to things, I turn to God and ask blindly, what the deal is.  Such is the case when I read the newspaper and think when things could have gone so differently. You know, God could have stepped in years ago, changed things around or even looked into the future to see problems arising (I think he has that power) and said ‘oh, I think I can change that around, save those humans down there a lot of grief!’

This idea came to me after reading about the new blood diamonds – the old one’s being the precious stones that fueled civil war and subsequently the subject of a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio – the new ones are rubies; emerals and precious metals that continue to fall into the hands of military juntas, rebels, questionable dictators and corrupt governments.   You know, how hard could it have been for Him to re-arrange where people were put, how a river flowed or where shiny little stones spat up all over the earth.  It certainly would have helped to avoid the chaos that has followed.

Why couldn’t these stones and metals have been found in more peaceful nations, like Lichtenstein or Belize? Perhaps it is actually the riches that they bring that causes the problems.  I find it an intersting topic to explore and I did so in my graduate thesis, but after months of studying, I still turn to the heavens for answers.  And it’s not just stones and metals, it’s oil, it’s endangered species – all that are bountiful in countries that either have social unrest, unaccountable leaders or indifferent populations that just don’t care.

Granted when it was exposed that the world’s elite were financing civil war through diamond sales, inquiries and exposee’s ensued and resulted in a grand scheme that notorized the origin of diamonds, but even that has been criticized as it is very difficult to pinpoint exactly where the stones originated and at what time.  Will the same process be put in place for every other stone out there? with the same ambiguity?

On the other hand, how can you thwart the sale of oil to hostile nations, when oil is exactly that has created the world we live in.  Will we have to succumb to another Iraq? I am a strong supporter of alternative energies, for the benefits that it will bring to nature and the people living on the planet, but also to avoid making ourselves vulnerable to other nations, particularly those rentier states (those that are rich due to the natural resources they employ) that have less than perfect democratic histories.

When thinking just how globalized our world has become; that the pickles on my sandwich come from India; the chips in my computer from China and the clothes on my back from Mexico, picking and choosing who your trading partners are based on their internal politics drastically limits the quantities and types of goods that are available. It’s a crazy world, but fine line’s have to be drawn somewhere.  Either that or we could all just stop what we’re doing and look up and hope that He’s listening.

A Glance at Summits Past and Canada’s Place at Copenhagen

This week, it seems as though the world is holding its breath for the Copenhagen Summit and whether or not it will produce the results long hoped for.  Leading up to it, allegations of climate change fallacies have surfaced, two of the world’s top oil producing giants have deepened their relationship and Canada has finally decided to step up to the plate.  As story after story is reported from Denmark, I’m optimistic that goals will be reached or, at the very least, strived for. At the same time, I wonder how such Summit’s were ever to succeed in the past.

Scandals seem to lurk over the shoulder of any good summit of importance, though have evolved with time from spy allegations to political corruption to the sexual behavior of the day’s notables.  So, why should this be any different? It may be the case that researcher’s had joined two data sets to produce easier to understand results, but it shouldn’t shut down the Summit, after all it’s December in Canada and I haven’t had a chance to use my snow tires yet – hard to deny that climate change is all wrong.

Secondly, the strengthening of relationships between states is hardly new and rarely judged.  In fact, it’s because of such relationships that trade can be profitable, migration improved and criminal networks thwarted.  However, being aware of ties between nations can be significant, remembering a certain non-aggression treaty that foreshadowed World War Two.  Today, therefore, watching Iran and Venezuela continue their charade…er,… I mean, relationship, stresses the need for alternative energy sources in order to avoid two of the world’s top oil producer’s (and non-democracies) from becoming too powerful, which in the current world order, is not manpower or weapons, but the control of natural resources, which enable us to sustain our quality of life and ensure our continuance into the future.

Enter Canada.  We are a nation, full of natural beauty and bounty which should be preserved, not only for the sake of nature, but for the sake of our own sustainability.  Now is the time to be investing in clean energy, exploring new technologies and promoting the way of the future, particularly at a time of rising unemployment.  The PM’s decision to attend the Summit, following the American and Chinese delegations, is commendable, despite his lack of enthusiasm for it.  It will be interesting to see whether Canada will make a valiant effort at Copenhagen to listen, to compromise and to evaluate the events, as a global player, instead of making a less than graceful exit à la UN General Assembly, back in September.

Whatever the outcome and commitments that are made in the next weeks, climate change is here to stay, as I grab my sunscreen and shades and head out into the vast wilderness of the Wal-Mart parking lot to pick up a Christmas tree.