August 23, 2010
26 million hectares of forest, $17 billion, and one lonely bush pilot
For years, Joel Theriault has waged a losing battle against pesticide spraying in Northern Ontario forests. He’s made enemies in the logging business, the Ministry of Natural Resources—and even among his fellow environmentalists. What keeps him going? Illustration by Dushan Milic On a chilly afternoon in mid-June 2009, bush-pilot-turned-environmental-activist Joel Theriault is once again flying... [More >>]
August 3, 2010
As green-collar jobs boom, Canada is mired in the tar sands
Canada and Abu Dhabi share one big trait: an economy addicted to oil. But while Canada doubles down on the tar sands, the emirate quietly plans a renewable energy hub in a gleaming zero-emissions city in the desert. Can either of these bets pay off? Artist's rendering of a Masdar public square. Click to enlarge. Looking out over the site of Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, it takes some imagination to... [More >>]
May 26, 2010
A graffiti artist ditches toxic spray-paint for eco-friendly DIY pigments
"Chickadeeday" (2010) by Stefan Thompson. Image courtesy the artist. Click to enlarge. Pablo Picasso had his so-called blue period. Ottawa artist Stefan Thompson is exploring a green period. Thompson first made a name for himself on the streets of the capital as a graffiti artist. Working under the pseudonym Maki, Thompson populated nooks and alleys throughout the city’s downtown with a... [More >>]
May 18, 2010
Are bamboo textiles really better for the environment?
The Claim Bamboo fabric is the perfect solution for the eco-chic shopper. The plant grows fast, with little water, few pesticides or fertilizers, and produces 30 percent more oxygen than trees. But does all that really mean guilt-free fashion—or is bamboo just a savvy marketing trick? The Investigation Last year, the Competition Bureau of Canada clamped down on the increasing number of textile dealers... [More >>]
May 17, 2010
Borneo experiment shows how saving the apes could save ourselves
A reforestation scheme in Borneo could radically reshape wildlife protection, land conservation, and indigenous stewardship—simultaneously. Sugar palms are one of the crops that make up the plantation. Photo by Shawn Thompson. Halfway around the world, on the eastern side of the island of Borneo, near the oil city of Balikpapan, a new tropical rainforest is being created out of what was once a... [More >>]
April 30, 2010
College students learn sustainable design—by building it themselves
Fleming College students constructing a green building. “No one would think it’s possible to have students with no construction experience making an entire selfsustainable building from scratch,” says David Elfstrom, a graduate of Fleming College in Peterborough, Ontario. But that’s what he and 25 of his classmates in the sustainable building design and construction program did in 2006, erecting... [More >>]
April 23, 2010
Kick the grass habit: why your home should go lawn-free
It's time to rid our neighbourhoods of the green menace. Creative Commons photo by Robert S. Donovan. From the first breath of spring, we North Americans dream of an expanse of green grass, a vast carpet that tickles our skin and stains our sundresses on which we can spend long, lazy days barbecuing and reading summer fiction. But our love affair with the lawn has got to stop. Even pesticide-free,... [More >>]
April 8, 2010
Six progressive religious movements throughout history
The French Revolution demonized organized religion, calling it an agent of conservatism that held society back. And while there’s no denying that organized religion is still generally a conservative force, every now and then it can push forward social reforms. Let’s look at how several major faiths have helped shape many societies into more inclusive, free, and democratic places to live over the... [More >>]
April 6, 2010
Six visionary designers who are planning for our post-oil future
A new generation of designers propose products and buildings that are energy efficient and elegant MIT Professor Sheila Kennedy's solar-energy-producing textiles. Courtesy Sheila Kennedy. Rick Mercer’s quip during the Copenhagen climate conference last December summed it up best: “So [Stephen] Harper flew to Copenhagen to have a club sandwich and hide in his room?” The post-Copenhagen doldrums... [More >>]
March 24, 2010
How to build an eco-village in five easy steps
Volunteers building a wall as part of an August, 2009 strawbale building workshop in Craik, Sask. Creative Commons photo by CSLP. Ever wanted to live in a truly green town, full of energy-efficient homes and people working together for the environment? Then follow the lead of Craik, Sask., and start up an eco-village. Located halfway between Saskatoon and Regina, the town of Craik (population: 450)... [More >>]
