Have you ever wondered what life was like in a small island community in simpler times? Imagine: no ferries, no electricity, few roads or cars, no medical services, ambulance or firefighters. Back then life was what you made of it, with the help of your neighbours. Local self-reliance meant gathering and growing food, rowing and walking to get around, and generally having a great deal of practical knowledge and skills. And making your own entertainment. But that doesn’t mean life was dull. Not at all.
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The Rich & Connected Appear To Run British Columbia
By Roy L Hales
More than a week has passed since the New York Times carried the story. The author, Dan Levin, told Global News, “If this were in Russia or China or the Balkans or some developing-world country, it would just be written off as nepotism or corruption, but here (in British Columbia), because it’s not illegal, it seems to just get a pass.” Corporate and union donations to political parties are banned in Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario, but not in British Columbia. NDP MLA David Eby believes the corruption runs much deeper than the $50,000-a-year “commission” Premier Clark receives from her party’s campaign chest. The rich & connected appear to run British Columbia.
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How Much Damage Can Donald Trump Do?
By Roy L Hales
The fears seem especially strong across the renewable and environmental communities. David Suzuki writes that “a bigoted, misogynistic, climate change denier has been elected to the highest office in what is still the world’s most powerful nation.” Many fear that President-elect Donald Trump “is set to gut US environmental regulations, open up federal lands for fossil fuel extraction, and quit the Paris climate agreement.” Academics from many North American universities are copying information and data from U.S. government environmental websites before the new administration eradicates it. The next President’s personality “is certainly extreme by any standard.” How much damage can Donald Trump do to America?
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Protecting US Environmental Websites & Data From Trump
By Roy L Hales
North America’s academic community is taking President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seriously. Crucial scientific data could disappear, or be made less accessible. There are only five weeks left until he takes office. So this morning, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, researchers at University of Toronto (U of T) began protecting US environmental websites & data from Trump and his transition team.
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Reducing Natural Gas Pipeline Emissions 83%
By Roy L Hales
Some of PSE&G’s (PSE&G) natural gas pipelines were laid down a century ago. The New Jersey utility continued using cast iron until the 1950s. Now there is approximately one methane leak for each of the pipeline’s 3,900 miles. Though PSE&G intends to replace the entire cast iron and unprotected steel infrastructure, this is too costly ($1.5 million to $2.0 million per mile)to do overnight. With the help of new technology developed by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Google and Colorado State University. PSE&G is natural gas pipeline emissions by 83% in the area surveyed area, while replacing about 1/3 less mileage to do so.
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