September 30, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
A bit of a name adjustment -- we are not stopping "Stop
Plan B", but smoothing out the title of this daily(ish)
mailing. If you are new to the list, welcome! Some
news items from yesterday's Guardian regarding pesticides: Lead editorial Pesticide Guidelines Unacceptable - The Guardian Editorial
Published on September 29th, 2014 “Based on Health Canada guidelines” was a phrase used repeatedly by P.E.I. Environment Minister Janice Sherry last week in her arguments that the province’s drinking water is safe from pesticide contamination. She used those benchmarks to say that detected pesticide levels range from 10 to more than 100 times lower than the Health Canada drinking water guidelines. The data was contained in the most recent pesticide monitoring program conducted across the province. Ms. Sherry says the department monitors pesticide levels in groundwater on a regular basis and makes the results available to the public. That is partly correct. The results are made available on an irregular basis and apparently only when data appears favourable. Testing has been carried out annually for the past 10 years with some 100 groundwater samples collected from private wells, seniors’ housing facilities, municipal systems and schools. Yet this is just the first time since 2008 that such complete results have been released. There is good news and bad news in the data. Ms. Sherry noted that no pesticides were detected in groundwater from the majority of wells across the province. And it’s reassuring the department is doing regular testing at a large number of private and public institutions. But those results should be released each year. There is no reason to wait six years until the next group of statistics are released. Withholding annual data suggests just one obvious conclusion — bad news. While no pesticides were detected in a majority of wells, it means that toxins were detected in a minority of wells, including persistent positive tests at Cardigan Consolidated and L’Ecole Evangeline. The centre of the argument depends on whether we can accept Health Canada guidelines as reliable. To hear the federal agency say that low amounts of pesticides are acceptable in our drinking water is just not very reassuring. This would not be the first time we got such assurances which later turned out to be vast mistakes. So Ms. Sherry and Health Canada will have to accept the fact that Islanders will be a little skeptical to take those assurances at face value. Obviously, no one wants to see any pesticides in any wells. But that is a remote dream, especially for schools and other facilities in rural areas of this largely agricultural province. Anyone familiar with Cardigan school is well aware it’s surrounded by fields under cultivation, including potatoes. Ms. Sherry cannot be satisfied and presume that all is well. To suggest that her department is content to solely monitor water quality and be satisfied if it remains below the guidelines is disappointing. Her department should be working hard to eliminate any pesticide amounts from the water supply, especially in schools. Pesticides are deadly synthetic toxins designed to kill insects, fungus and weeds. They are not designed to break down easily in soil, air and water and it’s inevitable they will enter the drinking water system. Health Canada is expected to produce guidelines that set out basic requirements for every water system to achieve in order to provide the cleanest, safest and most reliable drinking water possible, explains Dr. Heather Morrison, the province’s chief public health officer. She also seems willing to accept Health Canada assurances that any detectable levels of pesticides are well below guidance levels. Dr. Morrison and Ms. Sherry should join forces and tell Islanders that while pesticide levels are below benchmark guidelines, they won’t be content until all traces are eliminated from our water supply and that a strategy is urgently needed to accomplish that goal. It won’t be achievable right away and maybe not for many years, but it should be a permanent guideline and ultimate goal for P.E.I. And
a great letter: Making Some Sense of the Schwarcz Lecture - The Guardian Letter to the Editor
Published September 29th, 2014 As I recall, he said buy organic food if it is the same price as conventional. If it costs more, buy conventional. Plants absorb pesticides. Organic produce has lower levels of pesticide residues. Nutrients are dependent on seed quality, weather, and soil fertility. Farming organic uses natural occurring pesticides, versus conventional which uses synthetic. The major concern with using synthetic is the environmental harm they cause such as poorer soil fertility, killing of fish and other vital life/plants, and they produce more pollutants. While he stated major concern for food grown by these pesticides in developing countries and their improper use by migrant workers in the US, he indicated no real safety concern for those approved and used in Canada. He failed to acknowledge our government does not provide a guarantee of safety. Synthetic Pesticides DDT, Alachlor, and Fenitrothion, not to mention lead, mercury, PCBs, and asbestos, are only a few of the chemicals which received government approval in the past, only to be banned because of severe health problems, as well as, tremendous ecosystem damage. Many additional hazardous synthetic pesticides are banned in numerous other countries but not in Canada. Increasingly, findings from scientific studies indicate their significant harmful effects to human health and our ecosystem. Conversely, he did state the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, who is responsible for monitoring pesticide levels in all the food we buy, cannot possibly test everything, which results in allowable levels being exceeded. It makes sense to buy organic food, regardless if it costs more. The true cost of food is not necessarily the price listed on the grocery receipt. If we have to pay more, it is a small price to pay for food that is overall safer and healthier for us, and our precious ecosystem. Maria Eisenhauer, Charlottetown September 29, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
Tonight
David Suzuki, with Catherine MacLellan, Paper Lions, and poet Shane Koyczan,
will be at Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside for the PEI stop on the Blue Dot
Tour. If you are going from Charlottetown, or another location, consider
using social media to carpool with friends. (We tried to charter a small
bus for the drive to and from Charlottetoen, but unfortunately didn't hear back
from the bus company.) Suzuki’s
last tour promises to be a good one - The Journal Pioneer article by Brett Poirier
Published on-line on September 28th, 2014 Blue Dot Tour stops in Summerside MondaySUMMERSIDE — Even David Suzuki says it won’t be easy, but it’s a challenge he’s ready to face. David Suzuki talks to a sold out crowd in St. John's, N.L. during his Blue Dot tour. Suzuki recently began a 20-stop Canadian tour encouraging everyday citizens to demand clean air and water from government. In an exclusive interview with the Journal Pioneer, the environmentalist said his last tour is a meaningful one. “We have to get out of the old way of thinking and realize how dependent we are on nature for our air, water and soil,” said Suzuki. Organized by members of the David Suzuki Foundation, the seven-week trek began in St. John’s, N.L., and wraps up in Vancouver, B.C. The sold-out Blue Dot Tour stops at Summerside’s Harbourfront Theatre Monday night. Suzuki will give the audience a simple message: take action. “We need grassroots involvement at the municipal level, then provincial and finally federal support.” The goal is to amend the Canadian Constitution so it includes a standard for residents to live in a healthy environment. But that’s not an easy feat, said Suzuki. To make a change, the House of Commons and the Senate would need to approve. That’s not all. Two-thirds of the provinces would have to agree with the revision. If the campaign is successful, it could mean harsher penalties for people who spray harmful pesticides, for example. But, said Suzuki, this tour isn’t just about the environment. “We’re looking for a future that is truly sustainable, and I believe that comes from clean air and clean water. Social justice is just as important to us as the environment.” Suzuki, now 78, has tackled dozens of environmental and political issues in the past. However, the award-winning author and broadcaster doesn’t think any of his previous projects measure up to the importance of this one. “If you don’t have air for three minutes you’re dead, and if you don’t have clean air you’re sick. If you don’t have water for three days you’re dead and if you don’t have clean water you’re sick.” At any given moment there are more than 1,000 boil-water advisories in Canada, and nearly half of the country is living within limits of unsafe air pollution, according to Suzuki’s foundation. “Canadians really think we live in this great place,” said the environmentalist. “Canada is really failing in many ways to protect these important things.” Taking a step away from the harsh reality, Suzuki is making the best of his last tour. While in Halifax he was spotted by locals swimming in the harbour. Realizing he’s not as young as he once was, Suzuki now finds humour out of his age. “All old people feel like young men and women but every time I look in the mirror I go ‘Jesus Suzuki you’re an old man’,” he laughed. Suzuki wanted to make clear, this isn’t the last Canadians will see of him. “As long as I’m still healthy I’m not going to pull away from everything. I’ll be around.” Suzuki takes centre stage at the Harbourfront
Theatre at 7 p.m. Special guests include Shane Koyczan, Danny Michel,
Jeremy Fisher, Paper Lions, and Catherine MacLellan. David Suzuki may also be interviewed on CBC Radio today, likely during Mainstreet, but I am not sure. Tuesday, September 30, 7-9PM, Greenhouse Building Workshop, Farm Centre. from: https://www.facebook.com/events/1489504297985223/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming "Do you want to get involved in the design, building and management of a community greenhouse in the Legacy Garden? Join this workshop to learn more about greenhouse design and management. Lessons will be applicable to greenhouses in general, but will focus on our efforts to build a community greenhouse in the Legacy Garden. What do you want from a communal greenhouse?! Speakers include Darcie Lanthier and Phil Ferraro. Optional potluck at 6pm." September 28, 2014Chris Ortenburger's UpdateFarm Day in the City is
today, 11AM to 5PM, along Queen Street by the Confederation Centre area. unable to upload :( Please check our facebook page for photo. https://www.facebook.com/groups/220834614673617/
Temp bridge on right, pad for new bridge
starting at left and center. Bonshaw River at Green Road and Crosby
ravine. September 27th, 2014 Sturdy-enough, but off limits: the sign says, "Notice: Authorized Personal
Only" September 27, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
Many Farmers' Markets are open today, and it's a good time
to get extra to save for winter. More regarding Transportation Minister Vessey's assertion Thursday, in a news article about Plan B sediment, that "You're gonna have water running red anywhere in our province." (from this CBC on-line article yesterday ) (Is that like, some schools' drinking water always have a little pesticide in it?) These are just the normal price to pay for how we use our land? Hmm. A very observant Islander wrote: --Mitch MacKinnon Our sense of humour and perspective prevails. :-) September 26, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
Compass TV news last night -- CBC Radio is conducting a short interview with me sometime around 8:15 about the Blue Dot Tour with David Suzuki Monday. In an odd bit of timing, they gave away the pair of free tickets in the first hour, instead of at the end of the interview. I heard from the David Suzuki crew (now setting up for Halifax Saturday night) that they had some tickets on hold for "tour purposes" for Summerside, and have released them for sale to people on the waiting list. Here is a four minute film, narrated by Morgan Freeman, made to inspire the United Nation leaders to move on climate change:http://billmoyers.com/segment/whats-possible/ September 25, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
David
Suzuki's Tour started in St. John's last night, the first of about thirty
stops. This is the production that was at Orwell this summer. September 24, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
Pesticide
Free P.E.I. is meeting tonight at the Sobey's in Summerside, and those in
Charlottetown wishing to carpool are meeting at the Sobey's on Allen Street at
5:30PM. More info here. Pesticide Free P.E.I. Deserves Support - The Guardian Letter to the Editor
Published on September 23rd, 2014 I have a strong desire to protect the health of my own and all fellow men — of air, water, soil, crop and each and every creature and plant on Mother Earth. In my conviction and desire it is I alone who is the expert. P.E.I. is being contaminated by pesticide and pesticide-contamination-related illnesses here exceed the national average. I cannot expect any help from the provincial government, for their Health Department is silent re the obvious correlation between excessive spraying on P.E.I. and excessive illness on P.E.I. — the Environment Department appears equally indifferent. No surprise, their agenda is not serving the people, but re-election. Health Canada’s wisdom on pesticide safety is questionable since they once decided that DDT was safe. I cannot trust the good stewardship of struggling farmers, who seek desired contracts with the large grower/pesticide industry, including stringent demands for spraying. These farmers are also victims, not culprits. I cannot expect understanding of my concerns from the growing and pesticide industry, for their agenda is profit, not compassion. I cannot trust some residents, who proudly sport an immaculate lawn, but in the process contaminate the soil and groundwater and air around their (and neighbours’) houses. I trust the self-help groups like “Pesticide-Free P.E.I.” and “Citizens’ Alliance of P.E.I.” and others, and I applaud Joan Diamond for her quick and up-front outspokenness. Obviously, she has no favours from the above-mentioned industries to lose. Health exceeds economy as a value basis for all reasoning! Un-contaminate P.E.I.! The upcoming lecture by Dr. David Suzuki will provide great clarification for us all. Karl Hengst, Summerside P.S. Also, the Kimchi workshop is tonight at 6:30PM at the Farm Centre. September 23, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
Despite
all the electronic voting glitches, it does appear that David Alward has been
defeated in the New Brunswick provincial election. He billed the election
as a vote on fracking. Fair comment on pesticide story - The Guardian Letter to the EditorPublished on September 22, 2014 There are innumerable studies on the harm caused to humans by pesticide use. There are as many scientists who will argue against their safety as there is who will argue for it. The Canadian Cancer Society states that ‘If chemical spraying is needed, people must be warned about the risks and helped to protect vulnerable family members such as infants, elderly people and people with weak immune systems.’ And that ‘Widespread chemical spraying should be used only as a last option to protect human health and safety.’ The Society believes that when pesticides are needed to protect our health, safety or food supply, they should be part of a plan that includes pest prevention, using pesticides in the lowest amounts possible and using safer choices. To be fair, Ms. Diamond was commenting on an article The Guardian has published. I see no reason that anyone needs to attend an event to do so. Unless he feels the article unfairly represented the speaker he brought in, (in which case, his issue is with the paper, not Ms. Diamond) I’m not sure what his objection is. Incredulously, John Jamieson followed up a personal attack on her with the line ‘When people do not like the message and can’t come up with a scientifically based response, they attack the creditability of the messenger.’ I find this incredibly pharisaical, and I suspect I am not the only one. Lynne Lund, Clinton -----------------------------------------Events: Wednesday night, September 24th, has the Pesticide Free PEI meeting in Summerside, 7PM, at the Sobeys, in their community room. from: https://www.facebook.com/events/356167621226087/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming Our bi-weekly meeting will be held in The City of Summerside, next Wednesday evening. Items up for discussion are: strategies on how to eliminate cosmetic pesticides, educating the general public on the harmful effects of pesticides and alternatives to chemical pesticides. Pesticide Free PEI is also starting an Indiegogo crowd-sourcing funding for future projects: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pesticide-free-pei ---------- Also, in Charlottetown, on Wednesday evening, a Kimchi workshop: from: https://www.facebook.com/events/1474227612852214/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming In this workshop we will review the basics of fermenting vegetables, learn how to make different kinds of kimchi to suit your taste and discuss how you can use kimchi in your everyday meals. The kimchi we are making is suitable for vegans. Sometimes called Korean saurkraut, kimchi is finding its way into the American diet as we become more aware of the benefits of probiotics. Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria that aid in maintaining the balance of microorganisms in our body's intestinal tract. There are hundreds of different varieties of kimchi using various combinations of vegetables and other foods. The most common kimchis are based on napa cabbage, radish, or cucumber, with a pasty sauce of crushed chili pepper, garlic, and salt. Sharon Labchuk, a self sufficient homesteader who has fermented food for many years, has volunteered to show us how to make kimchi. Sharon facilitated the very popular “Introduction to Fermenting Vegetables” in 2013 and we are honoured she is returning to share more of her knowledge. This is a hands on workshop so bring any of the items listed below that you can so you can make your own: sharp knife cutting board 1 litre wide mouth glass jar (to take your share home) 2 litre mixing bowl (any material - glass, plastic...) scissors (to cut green onions) vegetable peeler (for ginger and carrots) microplaner rubber gloves (your hands will get messy mixing the paste with the veg). You are invited to bring along samples of any ferments you have made to share or get advice. There is no charge for this workshop, donations are gratefully accepted to help ensure we can continue providing food skills workshops. If there is any extra Kimchi, you may take some home for a donation. (So bring some cash if you might like to have this option). The workshop is co-hosted with the PEI Farm Centre. We thank the Legacy Garden farmers for providing the produce for this workshop. The Food Exchange is a grassroots food security initiative that seeks to enhance local food systems and improve access to fresh produce with dignity. For more information about the Food Exchange log onto http://peifoodexchange.weebly.com/ and join the facebook group Food Exchange PEI for current happenings. ---------- Thursday, September 25th, is Island Nature Trust's AGM, at 7PM at Beaconsfield Carriage House. from: http://www.islandnaturetrust.ca/island-nature-trust/contact-us Annual General Meeting The Island Nature Trust’s Annual General Meeting will take place on September 25th at 7:00 PM at the Carriage House behind Beaconsfield at the corner of Kent and West Streets. Gary Schneider of Macphail Woods will speak on “Bringing Back Our Native Forests”. The presentation of the Hon. J. Angus MacLean Natural Areas Award will also take place. Everyone is welcome to attend! September 22, 2014Cindy Richards Environmental Reporthttps://www.facebook.com/groups/220834614673617/695999647157109/?notif_t=group_activity Chris Ortenburger's Update
Many
people came out on a gorgeous, windy day to yesterday's PEI International Day
of Peace and Climate Change Walk: unable to upload :( Please check our facebook page for photo.
Jordan MacPhee turned 24-year-old Sunday and he
said there was no place he would rather be than at the Climate Justice March. Other great comments (from Facebook): from
primary organizer, Kathleen Romans: A walk in the right direction - The Guardian article by Maureen CoulterPublished online Sunday, in print September 22nd, 2014 A Climate Justice March was held at Province House in Charlottetown Sunday giving Islanders a chance to join in solidarity and to voice their concerns of climate change.Sunday was International Peace Day and across the world several peace walks took place with the biggest one in New York City. The march on P.E.I. was put on by The Council of Canadians, the Island Peace Committee and Earth Action. Eliza Starchild Knockwood of Abegweit First Nations said individuals have a huge responsibility in this lifetime to be at peace with what’s going to happen in the future. “Walk with peace within ourselves and to know that our Mother Earth is here to provide everything we need to survive.” The march started off with a 10 minute meditation followed by Knockwood playing her drum and singing a Mother Earth song. Jordan MacPhee turned 24-year-old Sunday and he said there was no place he would rather be than at the Climate Justice March. MacPhee said he comes from the generation that is going to inherit the consequences of the environmental destruction that has happened over the past few generations. “Stay active, stay involved stay political and transform yourself into the kind of individual that the world needs.” MacPhee addressed the crowd in hopes of reaching to people his age and younger. “I think we just need to recognize that it’s a fallacy to believe that we are powerless. We have a responsibility to ourselves and to our future generations to heal some of the damage that has been done.” Leo Broderick of the Council of Canadians said he believes climate change is the issue of the century. “We need renewable energy and we need to stop giving billions of dollars to the oil and gas industry in this country and concentrate on renewable.” Broderick said it can be done because the technology is there. “I think today is an extremely significant day around the world. It does indicate that people are very concerned about the climate change issue.” After several people take the microphone to talk about climate change a sheet with lyrics with Imagine and Get Together was handed out. At the end, the group walked around the block for their march. ----------With all the coverage of the Scottish referendum and such, the New Brunswick election coverage has not been too overwhelming. It's turning into a jobs vs. the environment referendum, many have said. Tonight is journalist's Gwyn Dyer talk on World War I, at 7PM at the MacDougall Business Building at UPEI. Parking may be a bit of challenge, but there are visitor spaces off the University Avenue entrance nearest the business building. September 21, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
A
big thing today is the PEI climate gathering at about noon, on the Grafton
Street side of Province House. This is in solidarity with the big climate
change gathering in New York City. If you have any amount of time, head
over to it.
If you are not able to get to town, due to transportation, responsibilities, or
mobility issues, or just want to see what is happening in New York City,
EcoWatch is live-streaming from New York, starting at 11:30AM our time, here. (I hope the link works!) or Sunday afternoon is the first of three performances of Fading Away, tickets to benefit the Alzheimers's Society on PEIAn Afternoon of Music & Drama in Victoria, 3PM https://www.facebook.com/events/255030184707960/ September 20, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
Please
bear with these definitions: from
Merriam-Webster.com: b : one who makes a sales pitch or serves as a promoter
1: appealing to feelings or prejudices rather than intellect 2: marked by or being an attack on an opponent's character rather than by an answer to the contentions made
While Ms. Joan Diamond in her letter to The Guardian earlier this week
did discredit arguments made by Joe Schwarcz and called him a "shill for
Monsanto", my memory is that she did not attack him as a person. Dr. Schwarcz delivers balanced, fair presentation on nutrition - The Guardian Guest Opinion by John Jamieson Guest opinion by John Jamieson, executive director of the Federation of AgriculturePublished Friday, September 19, 2014 It is not often that I feel compelled to respond to a Letter to the Editor but Joan Diamond’s letter on September 17th attacking the credibility of Dr. Joe Schwarcz has changed my mind. Ms. Diamond’s reference to Dr. Schwarcz as a “so-called expert” and “well-known shill for Monsanto” is completely false. Dr. Schwarcz has impeccable credentials. He has a PhD in chemistry and is the only non-American ever to win the American Chemical Society’s prestigious Grady-Stack Award for demystifying science. He also won Canada’s premier prize for lifetime achievement contributions to chemistry in Canada. Dr. Schwarcz has taught at McGill University for many years and currently teaches, among other courses, nutrition to McGill medical students. In the spring of 2014 his group at McGill offered an online university course on food that saw 32,000 people from around the globe take it. Dr. Schwarcz has authored many best-selling books and his current project is a collaboration on a healthy eating cookbook with the proceeds from the book being donated to cancer research in Canada. As far as being a “well-known shill for Monsanto”, Dr. Schwarcz has not received any funding or payment from Monsanto and if Ms. Diamond has evidence of this I challenge her to produce it. Had Ms. Diamond bothered to actually attend Dr. Schwarcz’s public lecture at UPEI she would have heard a very balanced and fair presentation on nutrition that did indeed dispel many myths on fad diets, cleanses, and miracle cures. When asked about pesticides, Dr. Schwarcz noted that both organic and conventional farmers use pesticides that are approved by Health Canada through rigorous processes. This is the same organization that approves the medications Canadians take every day. He noted that all pesticides are dangerous but when properly and legally used do no pose a threat to humans. There is no doubt that P.E.I. has environmental challenges that relate to farming but farmers and the industry continue to improve practices. Ms. Diamond would have you think that organic and conventional farmers spray for fun in an effort to make people sick. An absolutely ridiculous assertion. All Islanders have an impact on the environment and we all need to make improvements in our environmental stewardship. If anyone’s credibility needs to be questioned it is Ms. Diamond’s. This is a lady who claims to be afraid of pesticides and was on the front page of the Guardian complaining about her farm neighbour. Her neighbours are sixth-generation family farmers who call her every time they apply a spray. She had no problem trespassing onto the farmer’s field for a photo op. And guess what, she brought her daughter with her and allowed her daughter to walk in the supposedly pesticide-laden potato field with shorts and flip flops. Does this sound like someone who is credible? When people do not like the message but can’t come up with a scientifically based response they attack the credibility of the messenger. This is exactly what Ms. Joan Diamond did when she attacked the credibility of award-winning Canadian scientist Dr. Joseph Schwarcz. John Jamieson is Executive Director, P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture I did not go to the talk last week. I do appreciate someone who can break down complex concepts into easier-to-understand parts, which is why I enjoy listening to Dr. Peter Lin's weekly health chat on CBC Radio Island Morning. Saturdays are for farmers' markets, getting local food or learning what more to do with it, enjoying sitting outside if possible and chatting with bright people who don't need to tell me they are the smartest person in the room. But I did read these two articles on food, which are not as
acrimonious as they sound, perhaps. We are all trying to feed our
families, and most of us have some choices about how we go about doing that in
relation to everything else. full article: http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/09/03/home_cooked_family_dinners_a_major_burden_for_working_mothers.html?wpsrc=fol_tw excerpt: The researchers quote food writer Mark Bittman, who says that the goal should be “to get people to see cooking as a joy rather than a burden.” But while cooking “is at times joyful,” they argue, the main reason that people see cooking mostly as a burden is because it is a burden. It's expensive and time-consuming and often done for a bunch of ingrates who would rather just be eating fast food anyway. If we want women—or gosh, men, too—to see cooking as fun, then these obstacles need to be fixed first. And whatever burden is left needs to be shared. ---------- Joel Salatin, a farmer from Virginia, writes what he feels, in his earnest, opinionated way. http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/slate-family-dinner-zb0z1409zsie.aspx#axzz3CkF4c7Xt Slate' Criticizes the 'Home-Cooked Family Dinner': Joel Salatin Responds - Mother Earth News article by Joel SalatinVictimhood escalates to stratospheric whining with Amanda Marcotte's recent Slate post titled "Let's Stop Idealizing the Home-Cooked Family Dinner." The piece concluded more often than not family members (especially the male ones) were ingrates and, generally, home-cooked meals were too stressful, expensive, time-consuming, and utensil-dependent to be worthy of the trouble. Marcotte's indictment of what she considers a romanticized cultural icon certainly speaks volumes about where our cultural mainstream food values reside. Indeed, the average American is probably far more interested and knowledgeable about the latest belly-button piercing in Hollywood celebrity culture than what will become flesh of their flesh and bone of their bone at 6 p.m. In the circles I run in and market to, the home-cooked meal is revered as the ultimate expression of food integrity. The home-cooked meal indicates a reverence for our bodies' fuel, a respect for biology, and a committed remedial spirit toward all the shenanigans in our industrial, pathogen-laden, nutrient-deficient food-and-farming system. I would imagine most of the ungrateful males in these families watch TV or see a lot of food ads on their computers. You won't find integrity food advertised on TV or pop-culture web sites. It'll be a steady brainwash of junk food, convenience, highly processed food-like materials. That we can physically chew and swallow the stuff does not make it desirable for our bodies. Further, since when are women the only ones who are supposed to shoulder the burden for integrity food? Why doesn't Marcotte, rather than whining about unappreciated women, write instead about families who seem to think sports leagues and biggest-screen TVs are more important than health? Who think pharmaceutical companies are responsible for wellness? Who think no difference exists between factory chickens and pastured chickens? Here's the question I would like to ask these families: "Are you spending time or money on anything unnecessary?" Cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, soft drinks, lottery tickets, People Magazine, TV, cell phone, soccer games, potato chips . . . ? Show me the household devoid of any of these luxuries, then let's talk. Otherwise, you're just unwilling to do what's more important, which is provide for the health of your family and your environment. That's a personal choice, and one that's entirely within your control. I'm amazed at the difficult situations I hear about in which people do indeed rise to the occasion. Whether it's sprouting mung beans or alfalfa seeds in a quart jar on the windowsill or buying grain by the bushel, resourceful, can-do people committed to changing their situation figure out a way to do it. For Marcotte to accept irresponsibility this easily underscores a profound courage deficiency. Turn off the TV, get out of the car, get off the phone and get in the kitchen — men, women and children. The most expensive potatoes in the nation are cheaper by the pound than the cheapest potato chips. Ditto healthful ground beef from pastured cattle versus fast-food burgers. With slow cookers, indoor plumbing, timed-bake and refrigerators, today's techno-enabled kitchens allow busy people to cook from scratch and eat with integrity far easier than during Great Grandma's time. She had to fetch water from the spring, split stove wood, start a fire and churn the butter and she still managed to feed a large family very well. If our generation can't do at least as well with our 40-hour work week and kitchen tech, then we deserve to eat adulterated pseudo food that sends us to an early grave. I don't know that anyone's children deserve this, however. While extreme hardship does certainly exist — and my heart breaks for impoverished people who truly have no resources — let's not excuse the other 98 percent from their responsibility on that account. If everyone who could do something would do it, perhaps we would all have enough left over to help the egregious hardship cases. Soccer moms driving their kiddos half a day one way to a tournament, stopping at the drive-by for "chicken" nuggets, and then dismissing the kitchen as "too stressful" is an upside-down value system. And how many of the men whining about not liking what they're being fed spend their Saturdays on the riding mower managing a monoculture, fertilized ecological-dead-zone of a suburban lawn, rather than using their resources to grow something nutritious for their families and wholesome for the planet? When do we start talking about them? Hmmmmm? Joel Salatin raises pastured poultry and
grass-fed beef at Polyface Farms in Swoope, Va. PS Zucchini workshop at 1PM at the Farm Centre. September 19, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
Lots going on tonight and this weekend! Woodlands are wonderful places at any time of
the year but a forest in autumn is always special. There are still lots of birds around, the
witch hazel is blooming, and many plants are showing their fall colours. On Sunday, September 21, staff of the
Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project will be leading an Autumn Woodland
Walk through the trails on the Macphail Homestead in Orwell. Over the past years, hundreds of people have taken part in the walks and workshops at Macphail Woods and become more observant of the natural world around them. Registration is not required and there is no charge for the workshop. For more information on this or upcoming tours and workshops, please call 651-2575, check out our web site (www.macphailwoods.org) or look us up on Facebook. Sunday afternoon is the first of three performances of Fading Away, tickets to benefit the Alzheimers's Society on PEIAn Afternoon of Music & Drama in Victoria, 3PM Sunday, September 21 is World Alzheimer's Day and we are excited to launch the first of our 3 performances of Fading Away and treat you to the magical sounds of Amy & Rachel Beck Music The Alzheimer Society of PEI in partnership with Dr. John Gillis Memorial Lodge present: Fading Away traces the story of an individual with Alzheimer's disease, the struggles of both the individual and the family as they come to terms with this devastating disease. https://www.facebook.com/events/255030184707960/
And the 11th Annual Organic Harvest Meal is Sunday, 6PM, at the PEI
Brewing Company.
Monday, September 22nd, 7PM
And in case your planning a walk or bike ride in the Bonshaw Hills this weekend
(screenshot from today's Guardian page A2): unable to upload :( Please check our facebook page for photo. Take care this weekend, September 18, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
Todd MacLean will be on CBC Radio Island Morning around 8:15AM, talking about the recent publication of the book he edited, Global Chorus. Todd will be the featured speaker at the Citizens' Alliance AGM next month (October 11th).
Joan Diamond's letter in yesterday's Guardian: Leaving to experts
got us in this mess - The Guardian Letter to the Editor
Published
on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 For instance, does he know that we have only two officers assigned to deal with pesticide-related issues for the entire Island? Has he been made aware of the serious problem we have with ongoing fish kills? Is he aware of just how many of our island waterways are dying due to an overload of nitrates? Is he aware the eight violations that are being brought up on charges this year are the direct result of citizens calling these very things in, and not the result of citizens turning a blind eye to the problem and ‘leaving it up to the experts?’ In fact, Islanders know the so-called experts have failed us miserably insofar as protecting our land, water and air. Leaving it to the so-called experts is what got us into this mess. I dare say that this year, the amount of violations that would have been prosecuted would be zero had it not been for an informed and educated public. He deflects from the issue at hand by comparing our situation with that of people in developing countries, saying, “They have the real issues, not the residues we have here.” In a recent pesticide monitoring study 15 to 33 pesticides were found in almost half the wells tested across P.E.I. Those “residues we have here,” have been responsible for rapidly accelerating nitrate level across the island, for fish kills too numerous to number, and many Islanders long-suffering with a plethora of health issues, all of which have been connected time and time again to pesticide exposure. So, no, we will not leave it to the experts. We will, instead, do our utmost to work with them to make the environment a priority and in turn protect the health of Islanders. It is our right and responsibility.
Joan Diamond, Fairview September 17, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
David
Suzuki is launching his Blue Dot Tour in about a week, stopping in St. John's
and Halifax before coming to PEI on Monday, September 29th. The Blue Dot Tour with David Suzuki and Friends The "simple yet powerful idea" is that of environmental rights. Tickets are still available, mostly towards the back, but as they say about Summerside's Harbourfront Theatre, every seat is great. Tickets can be purchased through Harbourfront's website or the tour site's. **There is a contest that the David Suzuki Foundation is putting on for
people to win a pair of tickets and backstage passes**: September 16, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
Some
climate change updates:
"A
news report shows that nearly all of the 1.1 million barrels a day of crude oil
the proposed Energy East pipeline would carry would be exported unrefined. The
report, TransCanada’s Energy East Pipeline: For Export, Not Domestic Gain,
shows eastern Canadian refineries would process only a small amount of crude
from Energy East, given that they already rely substantially on two other North
American sources, with a third source imminent." Gasoline prices a big tax rip-off - The Guardian Letter to the EditorPublished on Saturday, September 13th, 2014 I often hear people complain about the high cost of gasoline and how the oil companies are ripping us off. Hold on – there is another culprit here as well – our federal and provincial governments. I’m sure most people have no idea how much the government rakes in every time we put gas in our vehicle. Would you believe 45 per cent? The dealer base price (the cost per litre delivered to your gas station) of regular unleaded gasoline on August 15th, 2014, with a pump price of 132.9 was 88.0 cents. How does the price go from 88.0 cents to 132.9? The federal government imposes an excise tax of 10 cents per litre, while our benevolent and caring provincial government imposes a 13.1-cent levy. The dealer gets a mark-up of 5.5 per cent. After all this is calculated, add the HST of 14 per cent which is added on top of all other taxes. When I purchased $55.04 in fuel on the weekend, $16.30 was taxes. I’m sure our government officials have no idea and really don’t care how most Islanders struggle on fixed incomes and pensions in order to have a decent living. A vehicle is really a necessity on the Island for work, day-to-day errands and necessary appointments. We don’t have the luxury of government credit cards and perks. Unlike Ron MacKinley, I can’t bill the government for my Tim Hortons or McDonalds purchases. We are also unfortunate to have a premier who has totally lost touch or just doesn’t care about how much most Islanders are struggling financially. I can’t afford to golf at Crowbush or buy Shania Twain tickets and I resent the fact that our premier accepts $450,000 from large corporations to treat his fellow politicians. Let’s speak up Islanders – enough is enough….Morley LaBelle, Long Creek September 15, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
From
the front page of this morning's Guardian: Published on Monday, September 15th The encouragement and use of social media by the general public to hunt out pesticide infractions by farmers is “utter nonsense,” says the director for McGill University’s Office for Science and Society. Joe Schwarcz, an award-winning chemist, best-selling author and television personality, spoke on pesticides and genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) during a public lecture hosted by the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture in Charlottetown Sunday. In August, a group called Pesticide Free P.E.I. encouraged Islanders to turn their cellphones on Island farmers and take pictures of chores such as spraying and fertilizing. Those pictures would then be posted on social media websites to catch farming violations, such as spraying in high winds. Schwarcz came to the defence of many conventional Island farmers and said while there are some who don’t follow regulations in place, the burden to catch those infractions should not be placed on the general public. “If you saw someone applying pesticides in a way that shouldn’t be applied, that’s a different story, but how is some passerby going to be able to judge whether or not the farmer is using that pesticide in a proper manner,” said Schwarcz during an interview with The Guardian. “It’s utter nonsense, and it sends the message you shouldn’t be using pesticides.” Pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were just two topics Schwarcz touched on during the presentation and question and answer session at the University of Prince Edward Island. Much of the presentation focused on his office’s work with personal nutrition and demystifying claims of fad diets, miracle foods, detoxes, and supplements. However, the Q&A session saw the focus shift towards pesticides and organic vs. conventional farming, two hot topic issues on P.E.I. as of late. When asked by an audience member to go over the pros and cons of both types of farming, Schwarcz said it is a complex issue with a lot of misinformation. Schwarcz said while arguments for environmental concerns are strongly supported, the main reason people buy organic produce is because they believe there is no pesticide residue, which is not the case. Farmers are able to spray pesticides on organic produce if it comes from a natural source. Schwarcz said while there are fewer organic pesticides available than conventional, both are also approved by the same group, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency. “It doesn’t matter if they’re going to be used organically or conventionally, there’s no such distinction,” he said. “While there may be somewhat more pesticide residue on conventional than organic produce, according to Health Canada it doesn’t’ matter because everything has been approved and the levels are monitored. “When a pesticide is registered, these things are all examined in excruciating detail.” Schwarcz also acknowledged that while regulations are in place, problems can be created when some do not follow those regulations. He also pointed to areas in the developing world, where farmers don’t know how to dilute the pesticides, and even among migrant workers in the United States. “You see things you don’t want to see… they’re out there with no equipment whatsoever spraying, they go back home to their huts drenched in pesticides and transferring it to their kids,” he said. “Those are real issues, not the residues we have here.” Today starting at 10AM, tickets for this year's Symons Medal Lecture, on Friday, November 21st, to be given by human rights activist Stephen Lewis, go on reserve at the Confed Centre. They are free and limited to four per person, but it sounds like phone and website are busy and they recommend going to the box office, which you may or may not be able to do! Box Office (902) 566-1267 and the website might work from here Mr. Lewis will actually give a public talk related to Confederation and be given the medal in a public ceremony (as opposed to Prince Charles getting a special giving of the medal in a private ceremony last May). He seems to have quite an interesting background and sounds like a great public speaker. Background on the Lecture here Lewis' daughter-in-law is Naomi Klein, who has written several books on economics and the environment, and has a new book coming out, This Changes Everything http://www.naomiklein.org/tour-dates-2014 And
finally, DEMOCRACY WEEK is September 15 to 20. If you haven't signed onto Fair Vote Canada's Declaration of Voter's Rights, why not celebrate the International Day of Democracy (Monday, September 15) by doing just that! You can sign online at https://secure.fairvote.ca/en/declaration. Even better get your friends and family to sign too! Fair Vote is looking to have 100,000 signatures by the time of the 2015 election! Our team on PEI will be capping off the Democracy Week by having a table at the Charlottetown Farmer's Market this Saturday, September 20 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Come by and see us or if you have a free hour or two, contact me about volunteering. If we can get enough volunteers we'll look at leafletting outside the market with derby hats to commemorate the 150th Charlottetown Accord! from
Brenda Oslawsky, PEI Fair Vote Team, September 14, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
A
couple of workers set out to enlarge the sediment pond at Crosby's Ravine and
place rocks at the head of the ravine, in order to be ready for the next rain.
They worked from late this week and were still working later on Saturday. unable to upload :( Please check our facebook page for the photo. https://www.facebook.com/groups/220834614673617/ A long-reach excavator and operator rest while an apparent supervisor or kindly gnome checks the work. Saturday's
Guardian was filled with odds and ends. Mostly odds. What will be the 2014 legacy for P.E.I.? - The Guardian article by Dave Stewart
Published on Saturday, September 13, 2014. While 2014 isn’t going to leave a major piece of infrastructure, people say it raised awareness about P.E.I.’s history and did a lot for Island communities Whether it was the Celebration Zone or Shania Twain in Charlottetown, or the Rock the Boat concert in Tyne Valley, 2014 will certainly leave Islanders with some lasting memories. What it won’t leave Islanders with is a major piece of infrastructure, a so-called ‘built legacy’ project. Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference cost close to $29 million — $18.5 million from the province and the rest from the federal government, municipal governments and some corporate sponsors. That’s a lot of money to most people but not nearly enough for a larger scale project, at least on the level of, say, the Confederation Centre of the Arts, a legacy from the 1964 celebrations, or the Eastlink Centre, a legacy from the 1991 Canada Winter Games. Many have been clamouring for years for a provincial museum but it wasn’t in the cards for 2014. Premier Robert Ghiz says more opportunities for a built-legacy component lie ahead. “I think if you’re looking for a building legacy
like a museum we’ll probably look to 2017, to be quite frank,’’ Ghiz said,
referring to the 150th anniversary of Confederation when the entire country
will celebrate. And
our Premier embarrassing holds out his overturned top hat for more federal
taxpayer money for 2017 celebrations to spend. Alan
Holman criticize our willingness to let our government be unwilling to accept
criticism of its goals. The Souris bridge says a lot about us - The Guardian column by Alan HolmanPublished on September 13, 2014. Now that they have started work on the replacement of the bridge across the Souris River it is another reminder of how complacent we’ve become about provincial expenditures and how bull headed the provincial government is. The bridge replacement project is budgeted to
cost $5.5 million, who knows what the final cost will be. However, on the face
of things it seems that the government is going out of its way to make the
project as costly as possible. The main editorial Friday praised the Trans Canada Trail. An excerpt: In the photo of the story about it Saturday on page A4, footwear choices are diverse - Ms. Pringle and the philanthropist are wearing serious hiking shoes, the Premier is wearing dress shoes and Mrs. Harper is wearing open-toed sandals. It is not like this was a surprise decision to walk the trail -- it was the reason for Mrs. Harper flying here. Then
there were two ridiculous commentaries closing up the actual lead editorial
column Saturday (after the restaurant editorial): Weekend thoughts One widely accepted definition which appears on the Canadian Cancer Society website reads: “Cosmetic pesticides are chemical or biological substances used to destroy living things such as: insects (insecticides), plants (herbicides), and fungi (fungicides) for the purpose of enhancing the appearance of a lawn or garden . . .” Charlottetown and Stratford are calling on the province to pass legislation enabling the municipalities to ban all cosmetic pesticides while NDP P.E.I. and Green Party are calling for the province to pass a province-wide ban. If homeowners are expected to accept a less than perfect lawn or garden, how soon before the lobbying becomes deafening that farmers be forced to accept a less than perfect crop in a pesticide-free province? Great. The Public Service Alliance of Canada wants its members to be able to take off 10 paid grieving days for “aboriginal spirit friends.” A spokesman for the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples said he’s never heard the term before. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says it is stunned with the request, suggesting the term appears to be a creation of a PSAC committee. The name appears to be a reference to spirit guides that are “commonly considered to be religious spirits or ghosts and can take human or animal form.” One wonders if an inebriated member of that PSAC committee saw a strange halo around the head of Rover while carrying on a two-way conversation with the family pet? September 13, 2014Chris Ortenburger's UpdateSome weekend notes: September 12, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
please
mark your calendar now for next month's ---------- Speaking of planning beyond, here is my entry to a recent CBC contest, asking for Islanders' wish for how Canada will look in 150 years: My Bold Vision of Canada in 2164 would be: --a country whose land is healthy and green, with strong rural agrarian communities, smart land use choices, and clean energy for transportation, mechanical work and communications. --with our government evolved on all levels to one of much more transparency, and direct citizen-participation in decision-making, with initiatives and measures (like recall) being standard and effective. --with good financial stewardship; living within our means on all levels. -and a healthy Society having the right mix of personal responsibility, and support when people need it. :-) Dum spiro, spero. (While I breath, I hope --paraphrasing Cicero) It would be great to hear others' thoughts. September 11, 2014Chris Ortenburger's UpdateSomething to read from Paul MacNeill's West Prince Graphic, as his paper took the bait, so to speak, and sent a reporter to talk to fisher Malcolm Pitre about his observations on the local waterways: http://www.peicanada.com/news/article_f5df05fa-3852-11e4-917f-0019bb2963f4.html Local Fisherman Express(es) Concern Montrose Water Quality Unacceptable - The West Prince Graphic article by Cathy ChantPublished Wednesday September 10th, 2014 Tignish resident and long time shell fisher Malcolm Pitre has a lot of environmental concerns, but one in particular is the water quality at Montrose. “I drove by last week and the colour of the water is of concern to me,” said Mr Pitre. “I fish oysters on the Kildare River, which is connected to Montrose and for that reason I need this government to deal with these issues.” Mr Pitre has been making a living off the water for the last 14 years by fishing oysters, clams and quahogs. “I’ve seen oyster and clam mortality more and more because of poor water quality. I have fished (or should I say attempted to fish) through blankets of sea lettuce. It is no fun.” According to Mr Pitre, no one will ever know the amount of money Island shell fishers have lost and will continue to lose because of a government who fails to take this issue seriously. “There have been round table meetings, letters, emails, phone calls, presentations, you name it, but yet the fish kills, anoxic events, rotting sea lettuce, smelly rivers, continue every summer in PEI,” said Mr Pitre. “I am fed up with the attitude.” Mr Pitre has been concerned since it was said the province will not be removing the sea lettuce which was revealed by the provincial surface water biologist Cindy Crane, at an April 9 Cascumpec Bay Watershed Association’s annual general meeting. “She says they must cut it off at the source which is the amount of nutrients that are entering our waterways feeding the sea lettuce which in turn causes it to grow at an alarming rate. I told her that will not happen, so let’s remove the sea lettuce,” said Mr Pitre. “She told me I was welcome to go and rent the machine and do it. The province has a responsibility to Islanders and the environment and to deal with these issues, not me. I don’t get paid to harvest sea lettuce.” Mr Pitre admits he does not have an agricultural background, but wants the province to step up to the plate when it comes to talking to farmers about their farming practices. “I had over 2,000 names on a petition to clean up the rivers and bays in PEI and had it tabled in the legislature...What more do they need to know” They know it’s happening.” Mr Pitre figured as many as 30 rivers every summer in PEI go anoxic and nothing is being done to prevent it. “Wake up and take care of our environment. Stop for a second and look around and see the condition of our rivers and bays. Listen to someone who cares about what is going on in this province. Do you think it is acceptable for children to be swimming in water with zero oxygen levels?” said Mr Pitre. “My livelihood is at stake here...This is unacceptable...If this is the attention you want, that is what you will get.” Mr Pitre figures he is doing what he should be doing by contacting the government and expect action to be taken. Members from the Department of Environment could not be reached by press time for comment. http://www.peicanada.com/eastern_graphic /article_47d54530-3859-11e4-9438-0019bb2963f4.html By the way, The Graphic website (www.peicanada.com) allows you seven free articles a month.
The Party is Over and the Foundation is Crumbling - The Eastern Graphic article by Paul MacNeill
Published on Wednesday, September 10th, 2014, in The Eastern Graphic 2014 will be remembered as a big party with a lasting hangover. There is no legacy to commemorate Charlottetown’s role in the creation of the country. Fifty years ago Confederation Centre was built. Fifty years later there is a sign at the foot of Hillsborough Bridge that stands as testament to our visionless political masters. And as Island life returns to normal the Ghiz government continues to ignore the single greatest issue to our future viability as a province – how do we chart a path forward to attract new residents, build new business, revive rural communities and provide services for a growing number of seniors? Released in February, The Ivany Report is Nova Scotia’s significant first prong in attacking the very same issues Prince Edward Island faces. In contrast to the Ghiz government, Nova Scotia is following a non-partisan path forward. Every elected leader, municipal, provincial and federal, on PEI should be forced to read the Ivany Report. It uses stark language and a command of irrefutable data to argue that the Bluenose Province is a mere 10 years away from reaching a tipping point of no return. The issues, particularly in rural communities, are that severe. Aging and declining population, increased demand for public services, soaring health care costs which leads to centralization of services, global pricing pressure on traditional industries, youth who see a future in large regional centres or in western provinces, over-reliance on government jobs to drive the economy and tiny pockets of power that only serve to benefit those within the countless silos built up over decades. Most importantly Ivany tackled a largely ignored issue in Atlantic Canada: Attitude. Too many believe we are owed something. Too many believe simply pouring more money at our issues will magically make them disappear. Too many steadfastly refuse to ignore the demographic reality we face. Premier Robert Ghiz is one of those with his head firmly stuck in the sand. Since taking office in 2007 our premier has done nothing to position PEI for the future. He has done nothing to tackle the issues outlined in Ivany. Contrast Ghiz’s do-nothing attitude with new Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil, whose follow up to Ivany is as important as the report itself. A non-partisan commission, One Nova Scotia, is charged with driving implementation of the report’s recommendations. It is chaired by the premier, with co-chairs the Conservative Leader of the Opposition as well as the Leader of the NDP, the party in power when Ivany was commissioned. It includes union, business and academic leaders. It is an unprecedented show of political non-partisanship. Even One Nova Scotia is facing criticism for a lack of urgency in moving forward and it has only been several months since the province created the commission. Prince Edward Island needs an Ivany-like kick in the butt. We need non-partisan leadership as is being shown in Nova Scotia, a similar economic basket case to PEI but in a much stronger position to move forward given its natural resources, strong post secondary infrastructure, promise of a $30 billion shipbuilding shot in the arm and the fact that Halifax is the Maritime’s largest economic centre. Robert Ghiz has wasted seven years. He routinely uses catch phrases like ‘evidence based research’ but when confronted with the most pressing issue in our provincial history he ignores all available evidence. We have not even started to do the baseline work necessary to engage Islanders in a real discussion about our path forward. Our premier would rather ignore and hope the federal government miraculously turns on the funding tap to bail the Island out. It won’t happen. The only certainty our province faces is future calamity if our leaders - Liberal, Conservative and NDP - continue to play partisan politics while ignoring that the foundation of our provincial economy is on the edge of a cliff. Paul MacNeill is Publisher of Island Press
Limited. He can be contacted at paul@peicanada.com Two upcoming events, one tonight and one in about ten days:
Doug Sobey to Give Public
talk on Early Forests - The Guardian article
Printed today (September 11, 2014) Doug Sobey, a research associate of the Institute of Island Studies at UPEI and formerly at the University of Ulster, will give an illustrated public talk titled Mapping the Pre-settlement Forests of Prince Edward Island. It will take place today at 7:30 p.m., in the Wanda Wyatt Lecture Theatre, Room 104, K.C. Irving Chemistry Centre of UPEI. Sobey will report on the results of a study carried out by himself and William Glen ( formerly of the Forestry Division) into the forest descriptions found on historic manuscript maps in the P.E.I. Public Archives. Sobey notes that the archives houses a collection of more than 4,500 maps, most of which are unique and hand-drawn, and range in date from the late 18th to the 20th century. A small number of these maps, mostly from before 1840, have labels on them describing the type of trees or forest on specific areas, as well as, sometimes, the precise location of a particular tree of a named species that had been blazed during a survey (i.e. cut with an axe), usually to mark the corner-point of a township or the mile-points along a survey-line. Since almost all of the survey-lines were run through areas that had not been settled, collectively these forest descriptions constitute an important body of information on the composition of the forests of the Island prior to settlement by Europeans. Over the past several years Sobey has been assembling these descriptions and with the assistance of Glen, has been analyzing them to find out what they reveal about the pre-settlement forest. At the talk, which also marks the launch of a research report on the subject published by the Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division of the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture and Forestry, he will discuss what the descriptions on the maps reveal about the Island’s forest-types before their destruction by clearance and fire.---------- And a heads-up about a prolific syndicated columnist Gwynne Dyer coming to PEI on Monday, September 22nd, 7PM, MacDougall Hall (business building), Room 242, UPEI. "Canadian journalist and author Gwynne Dyer will speak at UPEI on Monday, September 22 as part of his cross-Canada university and college tour. >>"Sponsored by the UPEI Faculty of Arts, Dyer’s lecture is entitled What the First World War Taught Us. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend." September 10, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
A
great day to go to... ---------- ELJ and TIR staff met on site Thursday and have confirmed that the main cause of the siltation events appears to be the accumulated
Both Greg Wilson of Environment and Brian Thompson of TIR, have *always* been very communicative in the whole Plan B morass.
CBC Compass TV from last night discusses cosmetic pesticide ban now
supported by all three mayoral candidates in Charlottetown, and a bit about how
the City tends its gardens without pesticides. September 9, 2014 CABINET TOUR HIGHLIGHTS POTATO INDUSTRY - Press Release from the PEI Premier's OfficeCHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- Provincial cabinet members met in Fox Island today with the PEI Potato Board and local potato producers to discuss the industry including opportunities and challenges associated with meeting future consumer needs, says Premier Robert Ghiz. “Prince Edward Island is the largest potato producing province in Canada and the industry is an extremely important and valued sector,” said Premier Ghiz. “Today’s cabinet tour was a great opportunity to learn more about initiatives of the Island’s potato industry and to explore ways that we can collaborate to move the industry forward.” There are more than 300 potato farmers in Prince Edward Island and 90,500 acres of potatoes were planted in 2014. The industry accounts for $1 billion in direct and indirect economic activity for the province which is nine per cent of Prince Edward Island’s GDP. Cabinet met at the Elite Seed Farm in Fox Island, a high generation seed potato production facility owned by potato producers and operated by the PEI Potato Board. The Elite Seed Farm ensures commercial Island growers that a local source of clean seed is available to them. All of the seed produced on the Fox Island Elite Seed Farm is sold within the province. Approximately 20 per cent of the potato acreage grown on P.E.I. is grown to seed certification standards. During the meeting, cabinet members received a presentation by the PEI Potato Board on the industry, its impact to the province and the work being done related to environmental sustainability. While in West Prince, cabinet members participated in a tour of the Barclay Brook area to see first-hand the positive work being done in partnership between industry, community and the local watershed group. “Our potato producers should be extremely proud of the work that they are doing to produce a high quality crop while staying committed to being good stewards of the land,” said Premier Ghiz. “The Province of Prince Edward Island will continue to work closely with the industry to grow the sector and open new opportunities for Prince Edward Island potatoes while keeping environmental sustainability at the forefront.”---------- September 9, 2014.02Chris Ortenburger's Update
Clifford
Lee says he is for a cosmetic pesticide ban in the City of Charlottetown, and
is calling on the Province to allow his city to be able to do this. The
article doesn't mention that *two* opponents, Phillip Brown and Keith Kennedy,
are already clearly in favour of a ban; with this kind of consensus, whoever
wins needs to keep this promise.
Charlottetown mayor calls for ban on cosmetic pesticides in city - The Guardian article by Dave StewartPublished on September 08, 2014, on-line, in The Guardian Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee says cosmetic
pesticides need to be banned in the capital city. The Town of Stratford, for example, recently
launched an education campaign on alternatives to cosmetic pesticides and
stated that it doesn't use chemicals on its properties. Rob Gallant, who owns Atlantic Graduate Pest
Management in Charlottetown, said he isn't surprised to hear the topic is back
on the agenda. Former city councillor Philip Brown, who is
running for mayor, has made a ban of cosmetic pesticides a big part of his
campaign, too. Lee said he isn't sure how enforcement would
work if in fact the province does amend the municipalities act. The city would
need the resources to regulate the products. The Pesticide Free PEI meeting is tomorrow, Wednesday, September 10th, at 7:30PM at the Sobeys at Allen and University Avenue. All are welcome and I am sure there is lots to discuss and to do. They have brought this issue forward for discussion.
A letter to the editor that brings up some unpleasant truths: Math Out of Sync for This Province - The Guardian Letter to the Editor
Published on Monday, September 8th, 2014 Yes it is always easier and often more convenient to blame others for our faults, but some facts are facts regardless of how inconvenient or unpleasant they may be. We are a province of 140,000 people (a town by others measures), which has a debt of over $3 billion. The majority of which has been acquired in the past 7 to 8 years. In any debt-to-GDP metric, this is an unsustainable debt load to carry and without harsh cost saving measures, will end in bankruptcy. Yes bankruptcy, we think often that is a word not applicable to a province or municipality, but I suspect you could ask the good people of Detroit their opinion of it a year before they filed for it and hear the same. This province has shown its inability to govern itself time and time again so why should Ottawa give the addict more money until the addict shows that they are attempting to better their wasteful habits? Does it ever do any good to create or through lack of understanding place blame on a false problem. The problem with the math these days is that Ottawa has less then it used to and that our province is fast closing in on insolvency, the bankruptcy mentioned earlier will come after the hand wringing and blame game is over. Too bad we wouldn’t look to our own yard first for solution before it is gone for the next generation. Armond Naninni, Charlottetown September 8, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
The
lead story in this morning's Guardian is on the Blue Whale Bash,
held yesterday to raise awareness about our vulnerable waterways. Potato Farming Not Only Industry - The Guardian Letter to the Editor
Published on September 6, 2014 One concern that I have heard raised on the topic of pesticide bans is the economy. What will happen to the economy if we do end up banning pesticides? Let’s look at this for a moment. So far, we haven’t banned pesticides and it’s Islander’s tax dollars that are propping up the potato industry, not the potato industry propping up Islanders. McCain’s is closing, Cavendish is threatening to leave and a lot of Islanders are now without jobs or are wondering how secure their jobs are. Even with the pesticides, we don’t have security, that’s for sure. However, another point that is worth mentioning is that potato farming isn’t our only industry. What about tourism and fishing? These industries are big here, and unfortunately are both being severely damaged in order to maintain this one failing industry. What will we do if we allow the potato industry to destroy our image as a desirable tourist destination, and poison the waterways, and then the potato industry collapses anyway? It seems like we may collectively have been putting all our eggs in the wrong basket. Amanda Simmons, Summerside And the lead editorial: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Opinion/Editorials/2014-09-06/article-3859661/Criticism-follows-fracking-decision/1 Criticism Follows Fracking Decision - The Guardian Lead EditorialPublished on September 6, 2014
How did P.E.I. escape similar attacks?
Public opinion persuaded the Nova Scotia government this week to place a moratorium on hydraulic fracking – a decision that has quickly drawn a lot of criticism. Despite facing a massive deficit, N.S. said it was following direction from citizens who appear strongly against fracking.
The Fraser Institute fired a quick broadside that the N.S. government has voted for higher taxes by curtailing oil and gas exploration. A spokesman for Corporate Research Associates, a Halifax-based polling firm, suggested it was hypocritical of N.S. to accept transfer and equalization payments from fracking provinces while it remains content as a have-not province.
Other criticism accused the N.S. government of trying to influence the New Brunswick election where the governing, pro-business, Conservative government of Premier David Alward has positioned its campaign on a strong, pro-fracking platform.
Polls show the Liberals with a commanding lead in N.B. The opposition party would require more study before allowing fracking, which is what N.S. has done. It appears the majority of citizens in both our sister provinces are not comfortable with fracking.
P.E.I. is in much the same position where fracking is on hold. It begs the question how P.E.I. escaped accusations of shirking its responsibilities since we are the province most dependent on transfer payments.
There seems to be a new feeling afoot that wealthier provinces think poorer ones should plunder their environment, if necessary, to increase tax revenues.
Before fracking could even be considered here, the government first has to make a decision on deep-water wells. Our water table is considered at risk from those wells so fracking is hardly on our radar screen right now. ---------- A
very tasty dinner and part of Fall Flavours tomorrow night at the Farm Centre, Feast
Alfresco, Lobster Tales in the Legacy Garden, 4 to 7PM. It is a
fundraiser for The Farm Centre, tickets $85 plus HST. Really
delicious-sounding dishes by Chef James Oja, folk songs and sea shanties by
Teresa Doyle and the Boys and Girls of Bedlam, and stories of the heritage of
agricultural and fishing presented by David Weale. September 7, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
The Environmental Rights workshop was a lot of fun
yesterday and very eye-opening. Please note that David Suzuki will explore
this topic on his Blue Dot Tour stopping in Summerside on Monday, September
29th, info here, we will
touch on this at the Citizens' Alliance AGM and Plan B Social on Saturday
night, October 11th. There are plans for more public events later in fall
and over the winter. This
afternoon, 1-4PM, at the Farm Centre, the Blue Whale Bash, details here.
And finally, an article about what seems to be a staple in the Wednesday Guardian
syndicated articles recipes (and I am NOT talking about the wonderful
local, seasonal food ideas from Margaret Prouse), the frozen shrimp. Note
that there are graphic descriptions in the article: The price of cheap shrimp - Island Tides article by Elizabeth May
Published on Thursday, September 4th, 2014 in Island Tides (presumably
her local constituency production) The readership of Island Tides is, in my experience, among the best informed and most conscientious about our collective and individual ecological footprint of any people on the planet. However, I keep encountering a blind spot. We wouldn’t touch farmed salmon but have very little awareness of the monstrous damage done by shrimp aquaculture. Vandana Shiva, brilliant scientist and campaigner, once told me that she thought of all the industries that had ever come to India—chemical factories, mining, industrial agriculture—shrimp aquaculture was the worst. In fact, thanks to protests and a court challenge, the Indian Supreme Court banned any expansion of shrimp aquaculture. It has not met with effective opposition elsewhere. Protesters in Bangladesh and Thailand have been murdered. Korunamoyee Sardar, a heroic Bangladeshi woman who fought the industrial shrimp industry, was beheaded in 1990; her head stuck on a pole to warn others. To explain the multiple levels of human and ecological devastation caused by the industry, we have to start with the mangrove massacre. We have lost nearly one quarter of the mangrove forests of the planet. Mangroves are remarkable habitat for creatures like the endangered proboscis monkey and even the Bengal tiger. In 2010, a collaborative project, involving numerous UN agencies, produced the World Atlas of Mangroves. Its lead author, scientist Mark Spalding, described the multiple benefits to humanity of this unique ecosystem: ‘Mangrove forests are the ultimate illustration of why humans need nature … The trees provide hard, rot-resistant timber and make some of the best charcoal in the world. The waters all around foster some of the greatest productivity of fish and shellfish in any coastal waters. What’s more, mangrove forests help prevent erosion and mitigate natural hazards from cyclones to tsunamis—these are natural coastal defenses whose importance will only grow as sea level rise becomes a reality around the world.’ We are losing mangrove forests to two major developments—coastal tourism and shrimp aquaculture. The intensive shrimp aquaculture in Thailand has essentially appropriated whole coastlines, with fishpen abutting the next fishpen. With the loss of the mangrove forests, salt water intrusion can also devastate local farms. The deforestation of mangroves undercuts the local fishery. Salt water has also contaminated village water supply, leaving them without potable water. The means people once had to feed themselves, both through agriculture and small scale fishing, is destroyed. The pens are stocked by stretching fine mesh nets at the mouth of the river. Children are often used for this work, pulling the tiny shrimp fry from the net. The rest of the small fish are by-catch, dead and discarded. Once the fry are in the pond, pesticides and antibiotics are routinely added. The ponds tend to last between 10 to 15 years, and then are left abandoned—a toxic, salty hole where a forest once thrived. And the industry clears more mangroves to build more ponds. All so that we can have ‘all you can eat’ shrimp specials at restaurants and buy cheap party shrimp rings. This is what I knew about shrimp aquaculture in the 1990s when Sierra Club of Canada worked with small NGOs from India, Honduras, Bangladesh, Ecuador and Thailand to raise awareness about the threat. We organized speaking tours for activists from the global south to share their stories with Canadians. I used to go to international biodiversity meetings equipped with a small red ink pad and a rubber stamp featuring a shrimp in the centre and the words, ‘Stop the Mangrove Massacre’ ringing the shrimp. Inevitably at the cocktail receptions, farmed shrimp was served. I would distribute the cocktail serviettes I swiped from the tables the night before, stamped with the message. I didn’t think there could be a worse example of human greed and stupidity trampling on the rights of people around the world, destroying critical ecosystems. And then in June of this year it got worse. An exposé appeared in The Guardian: ‘Globalised slavery: how big supermarkets are selling prawns in supply chain fed by slave labour.’ The shrimps in ponds are being fed with fish meal. The fish meal in the Thai prawn industry is caught in a supply chain that starts with stealing men and selling them to trawler companies. The Guardian exposé is not easy to read. It makes your hair stand on end as the authors, Kate Hodel and Chris Kelly, relate the brutality of the life on the trawlers and the reports of routine murders at sea. The article quotes Steve Trent of the Environmental Justice Foundation: ‘The supermarkets know this is happening,’ he says. ‘Everyone knows this is happening. From the boat to the shelf, the supermarkets have an opportunity to stop this… They are actively supporting slavery by not acting and, conversely, they could be actively working to get rid of it if they really had the desire.’ We are blessed to have a local and sustainable fishery in spot prawns. Small cold-water shrimp from Newfoundland and Quebec are also good options, especially since new technology has reduced the by-catch. But, please, never again buy Thai shrimp and let your supermarket know why they shouldn’t either. September 6, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
Two
people making a difference: Montrose water unacceptable - The Guardian Letter to the EditorPublished on September 05, 2014 I am a shellfisher and also a concerned citizen when it comes to environmental issues. I want to inform you all that the water quality at Montrose is unacceptable. I drove by last week and the colour of the water is of concern to me. I fish oysters on the Kildare River which is connected to Montrose and for that reason I need this government to deal with these issues. I also spoke with a few cottage owners who are very concerned about this condition because they have young children who swim in this water. This is a worry to them. Also I spoke with an eel fisherman who said that the first week of the eel season they didn’t open their nets because the eels would be dead by morning. The fisher told me that he was told the oxygen levels were zero. This is not acceptable. I think this info needs to be out in the public. Please send someone out to get to the bottom of this. Malcolm Pitre, Tignish And let's hope someone gets out there to do a story. This from Bradley Walters, in New Brunswick, who has been tirelessly sifting through news reports on fracking and passing on many worthwhile articles and news bits on an e-mail list: Please consider writing to Andrew Younger, congratulating him on his decision to ban fracking for shale gas. He is getting a lot of flack from industry, the media, and the Federal Minister of Natural Resources, and needs to know he made the right decision! energyminister@gov.ns.ca unable to upload :( Please check out our facebook page for the photos. https://www.facebook.com/groups/220834614673617/
And if you are interested in the discussion on PEI about
environmental rights and being part of the steering committee that comes out of
it, you are welcome to attend the workshop with presenter Jamie Simpson, this
morning at 9AM, at the Farm Centre on University Avenue in Charlottetown.
It's a topic sure to be discussed this Fall, at David Suzuki's Blue Dot Tour in
Summerside September 29th http://bluedot.ca/
and at our Citizens' Alliance AGM and Plan B Social, Saturday, October 11th. http://www.citizensalliancepei.org/ September 5, 2014Chris Ortenburger's Update
The
first quote in the Wheeler Commission Report (Report of the Nova Scotia
Independent Review Panel on Hydraulic Fracturing) is from the Roman
statesman, Marcus Tullius Cicero:
Announcement
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