Tag Archives: FOCI position

Transportation

Our deep concerns regarding the airstrip

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(Originally published on the Cortes Tideline)

June 20th 2024

Dear Michael and Martine

We are writing to express our deep concerns regarding the improvement of an airstrip on Cortes Island. This development is likely to lead to the increased use of private aircraft, which are significant emitters of CO2 and other pollutants. At a time when global emissions need to be drastically reduced, encouraging luxury emissions like private air travel is detrimental to our planet. Limiting these unnecessary emissions is crucial for supporting the billions of living creatures – human and otherwise – affected by climate change and preventing further environmental degradation.

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Environment, Housing, Transportation

FOCI’s Recommendations for the Official Community Plan

On Monday, Dec 11, the Strathcona Regional District will be holding an open house at Mansons Hall, pertaining to updating the Cortes Island zoning bylaws. This is the first of a series of steps that will also include a revision of the island’s Official Community Plan. The Friends of Cortes Island has prepared a 22 page study of suggested recommendations for revisions to Cortes Island’s plan for the future. 

“It’s really critically important at this moment in history that we make sure that every decision made in the community plan is made taking climate change and  climate adaptation into account,” said Forrest Berman-Hatch, author of the report. 

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Forests

Feb 25 in Victoria: Local Organizations preparing for Old Growth Rally

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On the eve of the 2020 provincial election, Premier John Horgan declared, “I’m committed to keep moving forward to protect old growth, create good jobs, and maintain family-supporting livelihoods in communities across the Province. A re-elected BC NDP will implement the full slate of proposals from the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel. We will act on all fourteen recommendations and work with Indigenous leaders and organizations, industry, labour and environmental organizations on the steps that will take us there.”

It has been almost two and a half years and very little of this has come into being.

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Forests

Letter to Mosaic, from FOCI

Hello Colin Koszman and Molly Hudson, representatives of Mosaic:

In the face of a climate emergency and the accelerating loss of biodiversity, the Friends of Cortes Island Society (FOCI) has serious concerns regarding Mosaic’s current plans to cut ecologically significant forests on Cortes. We would like to see Mosaic join the efforts of the Cortes community to create an alternative model for forestry that would sustain the environment and local communities over the long term, rather than spend our time and energy in opposition.

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Health

Being In Nature Is Good For Us

Originally published on Cortes Radio.ca

Most of us intuitive understand that being in nature is good for us. On Friday May 22 Helen Hall joined Manda Aufochs Gillespie on Folk University’s Friday Folk U Talk Show on CKTZ 89.5 FM to explain just how true this is according to the research. 

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