I have figured out the secret to overcoming writers' block; have a ton of stuff to do. Seriously. Procrastination appears to be the secret mojo. The more stuff I have to do, the more I want to do none of it and, instead, write. This clears up for me why I always seemed like such a keen writer while in school. Again, like now, there were more tasks than hours in the day, and I managed to fill it with a healthy dose of commentary on life's issue.
I have been reading a book lately (again, more procrastinating) on the loss of natural play in children's lives. Children now spend less time outside in nature, and more time indoors or in manufactured landscapes (playground, fields, etc). The result is a disconnection with nature and a host of social and psychological problems. The book cites studies that link ADHD with nature (time outdoors lessens symptoms), improved learning outcomes in children (children with more nature-based learning had higher test scores), and improved creativity and critical thinking (nature can be combined in infinite ways, while a manicured field of grass is limiting). The gist of the book is fairly simple, but speaks to a theme that is occurring in other areas of research as well. In health care, patients heal faster when provided views of natural settings. House prices increase in neighbourhoods with more green space. Crime decreases. It does seem obvious in hindsight. 'Oh you mean if my child spends more time outdoors than in front of the play station, she's likely to be better adjusted?' According to the book, yes.
When I was younger, being outdoors felt like the default option. I struggle to know how or why that is. I think it was a combination of our parents not having a ton of spare cash, liking to do cool things, and the good fortune of becoming horse and ski crazy at a young age. Winters were spent outside (the local ski hill was within walking distance), and so were the summers. I used to beg my parents to drive me out to the ranch at 8am each weekend morning, and would stay there all day. I'd come home for dinner, we'd have FB time (family bonding), then sleep and repeat. Cable was intermittent, depending on how my dad was feeling that month. Sometimes he'd declare TV the devil, and banish it from the household for months at a time. Instead we'd be forced to watch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles for the 74th time, or whatever was on channel 10. Being outside is still my default choice. Favourite summer-time moments are spent in a tent. Winter time, in a hut.
What am I really trying to say here? Get outside. Humans were not meant to live indoors, and we suffer the consequences of lives led inside of buildings in ways we cannot yet measure.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Are you doing what you love?
Some food for thought comes via a blog that I love to read and mull over.
http://www.raptitude.com/2011/11/why-do-you-do-what-you-dont-love/
Enjoy. Live your dreams.
http://www.raptitude.com/2011/11/why-do-you-do-what-you-dont-love/
Enjoy. Live your dreams.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Going to hell, in a run-down honda civic
What is it about living in small towns that creates a perceived license to drive big rigs, leave your behemoth running while at the grocery store, and generally treat the earth like your personal garbage bin? I don't know, but whatever it is, it's contagious, and I think I may be coming down with it. I have driven the 1.5 km to work more times than I care to admit, accepted plastic bags at the grocery store, and generally shown the environment the backside of my departing honda at every opportunity. I drive the dogs to our favourite walking spot (the one closer to me is not as 'pretty'), and have been actively seeking out the purchase of a gas-guzzling, polar-bear killing truck to ferry me, bikes, skis, and people up logging roads.
Last winter on my first trip to Revelstoke, I watched a couple get out of their truck, leave it running, and go into the store to buy something. We stood there staring in disbelief as they came back outside, realized we were gauking at them, and promptly explained that the truck doesn't restart reliably, so they have to leave it on. This occurred not 15 minutes after explaining to German visitors that yes, Canadians really care about the environment.
I am writing this blog post in an attempt to declare my sins, and my intentions, to snap out of it. I am but a shadow of my former bike-riding, pannier-wearing, walk-to-work self. It really is fascinating how quickly my motivations changed. Suddenly I am surrounded by vast natural beauty and clean(ish) air, so the urgency of what we are doing to the earth is diminished.
Out of sight, out of mind.
P.S. For the record, Revelstoke is a lovely blend of rednecks, hippies, mountain men and woman, and assorted people for which no category exists.
Last winter on my first trip to Revelstoke, I watched a couple get out of their truck, leave it running, and go into the store to buy something. We stood there staring in disbelief as they came back outside, realized we were gauking at them, and promptly explained that the truck doesn't restart reliably, so they have to leave it on. This occurred not 15 minutes after explaining to German visitors that yes, Canadians really care about the environment.
I am writing this blog post in an attempt to declare my sins, and my intentions, to snap out of it. I am but a shadow of my former bike-riding, pannier-wearing, walk-to-work self. It really is fascinating how quickly my motivations changed. Suddenly I am surrounded by vast natural beauty and clean(ish) air, so the urgency of what we are doing to the earth is diminished.
Out of sight, out of mind.
P.S. For the record, Revelstoke is a lovely blend of rednecks, hippies, mountain men and woman, and assorted people for which no category exists.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Truly Shocking
Paul Martin said it, and now Sheila Fraser has as well. Canada needs to move, and move quickly, on Aboriginal issues across the country. As a developed, wealthy nation it is ‘truly shocking’, according to Fraser, that First Nations communities around the country continue to live in poor, substandard conditions. While other Canadians experience improvements in their quality of lives, many First Nation communities continue to live in conditions that rival third-world countries. Water sources are undrinkable, housing is overcrowded or condemned due to mold, and all manner of social services from education to health care are underfunded. Some schools operate with limited or no running water, and allocated education funding is less for Aboriginal children than is it for other Canadians. Quality housing is hard to come by, and many First Nation communities have a significant number of homes requiring major repairs in order to remain habitable. Some families continue to live in homes that have been condemned, simply because there is no other choice. With the median income just $11,000 on-reserve, many residents are unable to service the debt that comes with owning a home, so instead rely on rental or social housing.
In a country with one of the highest standards of living, why do we continue to permit this country’s first inhabitants to live without clean water and safe homes? Equally as important, how do we go about fixing it? Some suggest that until Canadians care more about what is happening and demand action from Ottawa, the status-quo will continue. Others critique that we are imposing outside ‘fixes’ on a unique nation, and not relying on their traditional knowledge to guide the way. Lastly, some contend that we have created a culture of handouts; crippling communities from helping themselves. International aid organizations know from experience that providing financial handouts simply prolongs poverty and need, and does not get to the root of problems.
The causes are complex and multifaceted, and so too are the solutions. We need to seek creative alternatives that build capacity for First Nation communities, supporting them to help themselves without substituting our will for theirs. Aboriginal peoples have culture, knowledge, and relationships with each other and with nature that need to be the foundations of their future path, not relegated to museums of the past.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
If you know me, and you don't vote, we're no longer friends
I'm only kidding of course. But really, please do vote. I'd like to think that there is no moment in history when voting has been more important than now, but truthfully democracy has been and will continue to be one of the most important fundamental human rights. People all over the world are still fighting for it today, and as Rick Mercer cleverly pointed out, Canadians should be doing 'what young people all over the world are dying to do....vote'. You can watch Rick's Rant to young people of Canada here. Funniest man alive.
I posted a blog back in January on democracy and engaging with your vote, and discussed the ease with which we can now cast our ballet. Transportation is accessible, advanced voting is accommodating, and there are more polling stations than Starbucks. I also joked that 100 years ago they had to travel by camel, and was recently informed by one of my colleagues that actually, Canada did at one point have camels. Not indigenous mind you, but still, camels in Canada!
I rode the elevator to my office this morning, and on the fancy screen in the elevator news feed it said, 'Voter turnout expected to continue to decline'. Please help prove them wrong. May 2nd, 2011. Vote.
Plug into this great organization who is helping to engage voters, particularly youth, across the country. http://leadnow.ca/
I posted a blog back in January on democracy and engaging with your vote, and discussed the ease with which we can now cast our ballet. Transportation is accessible, advanced voting is accommodating, and there are more polling stations than Starbucks. I also joked that 100 years ago they had to travel by camel, and was recently informed by one of my colleagues that actually, Canada did at one point have camels. Not indigenous mind you, but still, camels in Canada!
I rode the elevator to my office this morning, and on the fancy screen in the elevator news feed it said, 'Voter turnout expected to continue to decline'. Please help prove them wrong. May 2nd, 2011. Vote.
Plug into this great organization who is helping to engage voters, particularly youth, across the country. http://leadnow.ca/
Climate change needs IT, but at what cost?
Mitigation strategies meant to address climate change often require new technologies, connectivity, and access to information in order to achieve their targets. Smart meters, smart grids, and energy efficiency buildings all rely heavily on information technology (IT) and communications as a means of reducing energy consumption and promoting or enabling energy conservation. Other mitigation strategies such as the dematerialization of goods and services (think e-books, e-services, and the proliferation of all things accessible through the web) also rely on IT, in particular the storage and computation of vast amounts of information. Facebook, Google, Amazon, and other IT players have many large data centres located around the globe providing continuous access to searching, information, and other online services (known as cloud computing). And by ‘large’, we mean ‘tremendously huge’. Apple’s new data centre, iDataCenter, is expected to use as much power as 80,000 US homes.
Data centres are an energy utility’s best friend; that is, if you are a coal powered or nuclear plant. Data centres consume a nearly constant supply of energy, creating the predictable 24/7 baseload that these plants desire. Traditionally data centre site selection, or ‘siting’, is evaluated based on three main criteria:
- Reliable, low-cost source of power
- Reliable telecommunications infrastructure with sufficient capacity
- Minimal risks such as earthquakes, floods, civil unrest, etc
As such, energy utilities and the regions that house them offer data centres large tax incentives to build infrastructure investments in their region, creating a compelling financial case. Greenpeace’s report makes the strong case for including additional criteria when evaluating potential sites, in an effort to shift data centre construction to low-carbon regions:
- Availability of and proximity to renewable energy sources; located away from coal and nuclear plants
- Carbon shadow pricing
Data centre owners have the unique opportunity to spur new demand for renewable energy and shift policies both regionally and nationally. Data centres the size of Apple’s iDataCenter can force the issue, demonstrate leadership, and create investments in renewable energy sources. Just last year, Google created a subsidiary, Google Energy, that can buy and sell electricity, effectively allowing Google to act as it’s own energy utility. Google has since invested $100 Million in a joint venture to build a wind farm in Oregon, and last year signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with a wind farm in Iowa . The electricity will not be used in their data centre; instead Google will resell the electricity and retire the renewable energy credits.
Welcome to Canada
It just so happens that many areas of Canada, notably certain regions of British Columbia and Quebec, meet the criteria outlined above. Renewable energy is abundant, telecommunication lines runs east-west across the country, and Canada is a safe place to invest. Canada, in particular British Columbia, has an opportunity to leverage the report published by Greenpeace and advocate for the location of data centres in regions such as BC, where renewable energy sources are abundant. ISIS has recently produced a similar report (link) discussing the opportunities of creating carbon neutral data centres through proper siting and the use of direct or indirect investments in renewable energy (RECs or green premiums).
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Do we really have an impact?
I have been shirking my blogging duties lately, partly because it becomes exactly that, a sense of duty. I have realized that I don't like to blog about timelines and day-by-day happenings. I'd rather be inspired by something, have an opinion, and write about it.
To wrap up the travel portion of this blog, I spent another couple days in Luang Prabang where we did some touristy things including visiting a beautiful waterfall, ate at some incredible restaurants, shopped at the night market, and (surprise) ate more food. We also watch the morning alms at 6am, as monks gather food from the locals along the main street. I opted to cut short my trip and fly home from Luang Prabang, but went out for a farewell morning ride with everyone. It was a rainy and very wet ride, and I turned around at about the 20km to ride back into town, as I still had to track down a bike box and disassemble my bike. The rest of the group had a very big day ahead of them, including 2000m climb and 70 km in the pouring rain. Sounds like fun. I've been informed that it has rained every day since I left...a sign if there ever was one. I definitely miss the carefree and zero-stress feel of Laos, and also 'team punishment'.
I'm back in Vancouver now, and officially declare that jet lag is the devil. I also have a renewed sense of gratitude for being born and living in such a great place. Lastly, I wonder how we are going to make a difference in the world, while large swaths of the population are concerned with other issues such as making a living, surviving, and getting by.
To wrap up the travel portion of this blog, I spent another couple days in Luang Prabang where we did some touristy things including visiting a beautiful waterfall, ate at some incredible restaurants, shopped at the night market, and (surprise) ate more food. We also watch the morning alms at 6am, as monks gather food from the locals along the main street. I opted to cut short my trip and fly home from Luang Prabang, but went out for a farewell morning ride with everyone. It was a rainy and very wet ride, and I turned around at about the 20km to ride back into town, as I still had to track down a bike box and disassemble my bike. The rest of the group had a very big day ahead of them, including 2000m climb and 70 km in the pouring rain. Sounds like fun. I've been informed that it has rained every day since I left...a sign if there ever was one. I definitely miss the carefree and zero-stress feel of Laos, and also 'team punishment'.
I'm back in Vancouver now, and officially declare that jet lag is the devil. I also have a renewed sense of gratitude for being born and living in such a great place. Lastly, I wonder how we are going to make a difference in the world, while large swaths of the population are concerned with other issues such as making a living, surviving, and getting by.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Surprise, we're here!
Did I mention yet that I love Laos? It really is an amazing country. I could find myself a hammock and stay for a very long time. The day before yesterday was a well-deserved rest day, which I spent almost entirely in a horizontal position on the hammock, reading, eating, and dozing. Banana pancakes with chocolate sauce, coconut shakes, and vegetables and cashews. Delicious. We were in Nong Khiaw, a town 150 km from the old capital city, Luang Prabang. B and I did get out for a little while when we went to check out some caves a few km outside of town that were used by the villages during the IndoChina war.
Yesterday we were meant to cycle about 40km, part way to Luang Prabang. However when we made it to our 'destination' before 10:30 am, we decided to push on all the way to Luang Prabang, another 110 km. We were only able to do this because the road was flat, paved, and it was slightly overcast which took some of the bite out of the sun's heat. It was still quite hot though and a few of us ended up with heat rashes all over our body. We drafted each other almost the entire way, which has its benefits and drawbacks. The upside; it's much easier. The downside; I can describe in intimate detail the look and colour of Monica and Peter's back tires. I wasn't able to look around much since I was concentrating on not running into them.
Today for breakfast I ate more banana pancakes ( I think I might actually be pancaked-out), then visited some of the many temples around the city, spent the afternoon in the shade (you sweat in the shade while doing nothing), and had a massage at the Red Cross in town. They train local students to do massages, which provides employment and also some funds for local Red Cross programs. While we were at the wat (temple) some of the monks were chanting, which is an experience like no other. I'd like to find that again before we leave.
Yesterday we were meant to cycle about 40km, part way to Luang Prabang. However when we made it to our 'destination' before 10:30 am, we decided to push on all the way to Luang Prabang, another 110 km. We were only able to do this because the road was flat, paved, and it was slightly overcast which took some of the bite out of the sun's heat. It was still quite hot though and a few of us ended up with heat rashes all over our body. We drafted each other almost the entire way, which has its benefits and drawbacks. The upside; it's much easier. The downside; I can describe in intimate detail the look and colour of Monica and Peter's back tires. I wasn't able to look around much since I was concentrating on not running into them.
Today for breakfast I ate more banana pancakes ( I think I might actually be pancaked-out), then visited some of the many temples around the city, spent the afternoon in the shade (you sweat in the shade while doing nothing), and had a massage at the Red Cross in town. They train local students to do massages, which provides employment and also some funds for local Red Cross programs. While we were at the wat (temple) some of the monks were chanting, which is an experience like no other. I'd like to find that again before we leave.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Laos
I cannot think of anything witty or insightful to say about Laos. I am still in shock at the vast differences between it and Vietnam. Immediately upon crossing the border, everything feels different. The pace of life is slower, people seem happier, and best of all, there is no incessent horn honking. It is a much needed relief for the senses.
We were up very early the other morning to catch our truck to cross into Laos. The truck driver dropped us and our bikes off on the Vietnamese side of the border, a 35km climb up to the top of a mountain pass. It was without a doubt the best decision we made. The road is heavily used by construction trucks and trucks carrying rocks from the quarry. Navigating the trucks and a long uphill would have been less than ideal. Okay, it would have sucked. We crossed into Laos without much excitment, and immediately the terrain changed. The road was dirt, sometimes loose dust, for an entire 70 km of climbing and descending. We arrived to our first town, Muang Khoa, completely covered in red/brown dust. Laos has a significantly smaller population (8 M vs 85 M) so we see far fewer people and towns, and often went an hour or more without being pased by a scooter or truck (such a treat). My favourite moment on our first day in Laos was stopping for a break on a rather large hill, finding some shelter to hang out under, and was greeted by two boys on their way to go fishing. We shared some cookies and they showed me how to work their fishing spears.
While in Muang Khoa, we ran into some other bikers who are from, of all places, Vancouver, and went out for dinner with them to exchange knowledge. They told us of some hot springs we will bike by, so we'll be sure to check those out. The road from here is also paved the entire way, so it sounds like our 'adventure' portion of the trip is done. Civilived pavement from here on out.
Yesterday we took a boat along with some other tourists and locals down the Nam Ou river to the next town, Nong Khiaw. The ride is quite cramped, and seats consist of planks of wood, but it was a lot of fun and gives you lots of time to bond with everyone (5 hours to be exact). It's fairly touristy, but the peace, quiet, and simplicity of life more than make up for the fact every restaurant is comprised almost entirely of westerners. Oh yes, and the food is utterly outstanding. We are staying in a bamboo hut, complete with a squat toilet and a tap for a shower. Very primitive but it turns out you don't need much to live here. Just a book, a hammoc, and some free time.
We were up very early the other morning to catch our truck to cross into Laos. The truck driver dropped us and our bikes off on the Vietnamese side of the border, a 35km climb up to the top of a mountain pass. It was without a doubt the best decision we made. The road is heavily used by construction trucks and trucks carrying rocks from the quarry. Navigating the trucks and a long uphill would have been less than ideal. Okay, it would have sucked. We crossed into Laos without much excitment, and immediately the terrain changed. The road was dirt, sometimes loose dust, for an entire 70 km of climbing and descending. We arrived to our first town, Muang Khoa, completely covered in red/brown dust. Laos has a significantly smaller population (8 M vs 85 M) so we see far fewer people and towns, and often went an hour or more without being pased by a scooter or truck (such a treat). My favourite moment on our first day in Laos was stopping for a break on a rather large hill, finding some shelter to hang out under, and was greeted by two boys on their way to go fishing. We shared some cookies and they showed me how to work their fishing spears.
While in Muang Khoa, we ran into some other bikers who are from, of all places, Vancouver, and went out for dinner with them to exchange knowledge. They told us of some hot springs we will bike by, so we'll be sure to check those out. The road from here is also paved the entire way, so it sounds like our 'adventure' portion of the trip is done. Civilived pavement from here on out.
Yesterday we took a boat along with some other tourists and locals down the Nam Ou river to the next town, Nong Khiaw. The ride is quite cramped, and seats consist of planks of wood, but it was a lot of fun and gives you lots of time to bond with everyone (5 hours to be exact). It's fairly touristy, but the peace, quiet, and simplicity of life more than make up for the fact every restaurant is comprised almost entirely of westerners. Oh yes, and the food is utterly outstanding. We are staying in a bamboo hut, complete with a squat toilet and a tap for a shower. Very primitive but it turns out you don't need much to live here. Just a book, a hammoc, and some free time.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
'Two words...first word...sounds like'
Traveling in a country where few people speak English requires patience and a sense of humor. Our interaction with locals looks very much like a game of charrades; lots of pointing, drawing, and hand symbols. Yesterday I managed to communicate with the woman at our guest house (fancy name for a room with a bed and a shower in someone's house) that a) it was just me in the room, b) I did not need a towel since I had brought my own, and c) I could hang my laundry out to dry downstairs out back. All that without speaking a word of each other's language. It is a lot of fun when you both have that 'ah ha' moment of understanding. A few days ago we played the 'what is this kind of meat' game with a woman in a very small town between Sa Pa and Lai Chau. While we were never certain what type of meat it was, we were able to determine that it had horns and it was not a dog, on account of the fact that there was a dog right beside us and she did not point to it (process of elimination). I am getting a bit sick of pho and fried rice though, which is the only thing we are able to order in restaurants that don't have a menu (most don't).
It' s been a few days without internet, so I will give a condensed version of what we have been up to. We left Sa Pa a few days ago on the 76 km trip to Lai Chau, where we went from 12 degrees and dense fog, to 26, hot and humid. On the way we climbed up and over tram ton pass, Vietnam's highest alpine pass. The ride down the other side was tons of fun, and reminded me that I love going downhill at high speeds...what a rush! The next day we did a 105 km ride from Lai Chau to Muong Lay, one of the most difficult rides any of us has ever done. The road was meant to be paved, but it turns out that 'paved' is a euphimism for 'might have some pavement on it'. We rode over gravel, dust, and pot holes while dodging huge trucks in sweltering heat for much of the day; the entire road is under construction as the Vietnamese government is installing a series of dams along the river. We arrived after dark in Muong Lay to see the sign for our hotel on the other side of the newly formed lake. We then had to bike down the hill, cross the lake on a land bridge, and then hike-a-bike up a steep gravel road to our hotel. Needless to say, we were all exhausted and covered in dirt. The story of how people's lives are changing because of this dam is another blog post entirely, but it reminds me of what is happening in northen BC with site c dam. Here in Vietnam, they are flooding the valley, relocating entire towns, and abandoning farm land. It is probably for the best, since it will provide the country with large-scale hydro electricity, but has been very interesting to see it first-hand. One thing the vietnamese are not good at...erosion countrol. Entire sides of mountains have slid as they created roads above the new water line.
Yesterday was meant to be another 90 km day, but after the 105km day from hell, we decided to forgo a rest day and split the 90km into two days. In hindsight we may have been able to pull it off; the road was in pristine condition the entire way and it was much cooler. We covered 55 km today and arrived in Dien Bien Phu before noon. We stayed last night in a guest house and had the great fortune of meeting a Vietnamese woman who spoke English. We went out to a restaurant with her and had pig's intestine. In case you're wondering, it's very chewy. Tomorrow we have opted to cover some of our 95km day by truck. Peter has arranged for two trucks to carry us and our bikes to the Laos border, saving us 35 km and a grueling 1000m climb. We still have another 60 km and 600 m climb to get us to our destination.
A few fun facts about the Vietnamese: it turns out that curly hair and a voluptuous behind are a rarity here. Women, particularly in smaller towns, like to touch (or spank) both. John is also a hot commodity with his huge flowing red beard; people stare or laugh at him, some even take photos. It makes for a great conversation starter. People hand us things (money, food, etc) with two hands, though I'm not sure of the significance and I keep forgetting to reciprocate.
Next stop, Laos.
It' s been a few days without internet, so I will give a condensed version of what we have been up to. We left Sa Pa a few days ago on the 76 km trip to Lai Chau, where we went from 12 degrees and dense fog, to 26, hot and humid. On the way we climbed up and over tram ton pass, Vietnam's highest alpine pass. The ride down the other side was tons of fun, and reminded me that I love going downhill at high speeds...what a rush! The next day we did a 105 km ride from Lai Chau to Muong Lay, one of the most difficult rides any of us has ever done. The road was meant to be paved, but it turns out that 'paved' is a euphimism for 'might have some pavement on it'. We rode over gravel, dust, and pot holes while dodging huge trucks in sweltering heat for much of the day; the entire road is under construction as the Vietnamese government is installing a series of dams along the river. We arrived after dark in Muong Lay to see the sign for our hotel on the other side of the newly formed lake. We then had to bike down the hill, cross the lake on a land bridge, and then hike-a-bike up a steep gravel road to our hotel. Needless to say, we were all exhausted and covered in dirt. The story of how people's lives are changing because of this dam is another blog post entirely, but it reminds me of what is happening in northen BC with site c dam. Here in Vietnam, they are flooding the valley, relocating entire towns, and abandoning farm land. It is probably for the best, since it will provide the country with large-scale hydro electricity, but has been very interesting to see it first-hand. One thing the vietnamese are not good at...erosion countrol. Entire sides of mountains have slid as they created roads above the new water line.
Yesterday was meant to be another 90 km day, but after the 105km day from hell, we decided to forgo a rest day and split the 90km into two days. In hindsight we may have been able to pull it off; the road was in pristine condition the entire way and it was much cooler. We covered 55 km today and arrived in Dien Bien Phu before noon. We stayed last night in a guest house and had the great fortune of meeting a Vietnamese woman who spoke English. We went out to a restaurant with her and had pig's intestine. In case you're wondering, it's very chewy. Tomorrow we have opted to cover some of our 95km day by truck. Peter has arranged for two trucks to carry us and our bikes to the Laos border, saving us 35 km and a grueling 1000m climb. We still have another 60 km and 600 m climb to get us to our destination.
A few fun facts about the Vietnamese: it turns out that curly hair and a voluptuous behind are a rarity here. Women, particularly in smaller towns, like to touch (or spank) both. John is also a hot commodity with his huge flowing red beard; people stare or laugh at him, some even take photos. It makes for a great conversation starter. People hand us things (money, food, etc) with two hands, though I'm not sure of the significance and I keep forgetting to reciprocate.
Next stop, Laos.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Finally some photos...
The steed, taking a break against someone's house. No one was
home.
Peter being over taken by a very large truck on the way up to Sa Pa.
Our lunch stop; really just the living room of someone's house. It was a delicious meal.
Group shot. Opps, missed Bridget.
A very common view.
Local bike, complete with suspension.
Fog.
Taking in the breathtaking view. Imagine a huge mountain...
home.
Peter being over taken by a very large truck on the way up to Sa Pa.
Our lunch stop; really just the living room of someone's house. It was a delicious meal.
Group shot. Opps, missed Bridget.
A very common view.
Local bike, complete with suspension.
Fog.
Taking in the breathtaking view. Imagine a huge mountain...
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The guide book says it's beautiful here...
...but the fog is so dense you cannot even see 1oo meters down the street. We are in Sa Pa today, taking a rest day after a long 34km slog uphill from Lao Cai. The fog is truly lovely, with a distinct 'lord of the rings' feeling. The locals think we are pretty fascinating. While they have seen tourists before, not many are silly enough to make the trek up the mountain on bikes. For a few km we had a large following of kids, who got a real kick out of walking along side us. By this stage we were not moving very fast. They laughed a lot, and I'm certain we were the butt of some very funny jokes. We stopped off in a very small town for lunch - Tak Co, pop. 12 - where we ate, you guessed it, more pho. We opted for the pho with egg option, since our phrase book does not include the question 'what kind of meat is that?'; a key question in a country that eats dog and horse. The people we meet along the way love to practice their english. We are greeted with lots of 'hello' and 'good morning!'.
Sa Pa is in north west Vietnam, and is famous for the hill trips people, particularly the H'Moung. The 'thing' to do here is to go hiking into the mountains and stay overnight at their house, where they feed you, drink rice wine with you, and generally show you a good time. Our group is torn between going on a trek to see the villages or not. A a tourist, whenever you visit a place, you inevitably change the course of their lives. Not at an individual level, but the aggregation of visitors over time alters their course. Many of these places now rely on tourism as a source of income, so the flipside is that we would be supporting their economy. We are also uneasy with the idea of going to their village and 'gawking' at them or taking photos.
Our trip out of Hanoi was definitely a highlight. We got the opportunity to navigate Hanoi traffic on our bikes, which should be a new Olympic event. The thrill of joining the chaos of traffic and surviving to tell the story was quite the rush. We all arrived at the trainstation with huge grins. Our overnight train left Hanoi around 9pm, and there were a few nervous moments when we loaded our bikes onto the cargo train and were told we could not lock them. A VERY common question asked by locals here is 'how much are those bikes?', or 'those bikes look really expensive'. I spent a few sleepless moments worrying whether our bikes would still be on the train in the morning.
Tomorrow we have a 76 km bike along what is supposed to be the most beautiful area of Vietnam, including summiting the highest mountain pass in the country. The other side of the pass is supposed to be much warmer and sunnier. Looking forward to it.
Sa Pa is in north west Vietnam, and is famous for the hill trips people, particularly the H'Moung. The 'thing' to do here is to go hiking into the mountains and stay overnight at their house, where they feed you, drink rice wine with you, and generally show you a good time. Our group is torn between going on a trek to see the villages or not. A a tourist, whenever you visit a place, you inevitably change the course of their lives. Not at an individual level, but the aggregation of visitors over time alters their course. Many of these places now rely on tourism as a source of income, so the flipside is that we would be supporting their economy. We are also uneasy with the idea of going to their village and 'gawking' at them or taking photos.
Our trip out of Hanoi was definitely a highlight. We got the opportunity to navigate Hanoi traffic on our bikes, which should be a new Olympic event. The thrill of joining the chaos of traffic and surviving to tell the story was quite the rush. We all arrived at the trainstation with huge grins. Our overnight train left Hanoi around 9pm, and there were a few nervous moments when we loaded our bikes onto the cargo train and were told we could not lock them. A VERY common question asked by locals here is 'how much are those bikes?', or 'those bikes look really expensive'. I spent a few sleepless moments worrying whether our bikes would still be on the train in the morning.
Tomorrow we have a 76 km bike along what is supposed to be the most beautiful area of Vietnam, including summiting the highest mountain pass in the country. The other side of the pass is supposed to be much warmer and sunnier. Looking forward to it.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Pinch me, I'm in Vietnam
If you are looking for some sensory overload, come to Vietnam. People, noises, smells, foods, they have it all. Crossing the street here is like cheating death, repeatedly. There are very very few traffic signals, most intersections have nothing at all, and it is a free-for-all of motor bikes and cars weaving around each other. Lanes on the road are merely suggestions, not often followed. The trick to crossing the street is to step out, don't make any sudden moves, and walk slowly to the other side. It is surprisingly exhilarating, and so far no one has been hit.
The food is incredible, and eating has been our main activity for the last 24 hours. We are all looking forward to getting some exercise soon. The many street-side vendors look amazing, but we are still a bit worried about getting sick, so we have only eaten at restaurants that cater mostly to tourists. Today I think we will take the plunge.
A few quick lessons on travelling.
Lesson one: never order the 'vegetarian Raw' food option while flying. I had dreams that it would be some delicious raw salad or something with at least a hint of creativity. All I got was some cut up broccoli, celery, and carrot sticks. While healthy and nutritious, it left me wanting. Luckily I had some cliff bars in my carry on.
Lesson two: Really, really check your itinerary before you book it. Getting to the Vancouver airport, and then having the woman at the check in counter ask 'What would you like us to do with your luggage during the stop over?' is a shock. Um, what stop over? Turns out I had a 14 hour layover in Hong Kong. Luckily, the couple I am travelling with had some friends in HK, so they picked us up and took us to their favourite vegetarian restaurant. It was delicous! Then we a good night's sleep at their place before returning to th airport for our flight to Hanoi.
Tonight we leave on an overnight train to Sa pa, and then begin the actual bike trip with a hellish 34km ride covering 1500m of vertical. Not exactly a warm up ride. When we told our waiter last night where we were planning to go with our bikes tomorrow, he laughed. Really, really hard.
I'm excited.
P.S. Fun fact #1: The govt here has blocked networking sites like Facebook and twitter.
The food is incredible, and eating has been our main activity for the last 24 hours. We are all looking forward to getting some exercise soon. The many street-side vendors look amazing, but we are still a bit worried about getting sick, so we have only eaten at restaurants that cater mostly to tourists. Today I think we will take the plunge.
A few quick lessons on travelling.
Lesson one: never order the 'vegetarian Raw' food option while flying. I had dreams that it would be some delicious raw salad or something with at least a hint of creativity. All I got was some cut up broccoli, celery, and carrot sticks. While healthy and nutritious, it left me wanting. Luckily I had some cliff bars in my carry on.
Lesson two: Really, really check your itinerary before you book it. Getting to the Vancouver airport, and then having the woman at the check in counter ask 'What would you like us to do with your luggage during the stop over?' is a shock. Um, what stop over? Turns out I had a 14 hour layover in Hong Kong. Luckily, the couple I am travelling with had some friends in HK, so they picked us up and took us to their favourite vegetarian restaurant. It was delicous! Then we a good night's sleep at their place before returning to th airport for our flight to Hanoi.
Tonight we leave on an overnight train to Sa pa, and then begin the actual bike trip with a hellish 34km ride covering 1500m of vertical. Not exactly a warm up ride. When we told our waiter last night where we were planning to go with our bikes tomorrow, he laughed. Really, really hard.
I'm excited.
P.S. Fun fact #1: The govt here has blocked networking sites like Facebook and twitter.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Excuse me, do you have that in organic?
I would be lying if I said I was not a little nervous about my trip to Laos, but not for the reasons you may think. I'm not nervous about getting lost, or injured, or having all my things stolen; I have no where I need to be, I'm tough, and the only thing I am bringing is my bike and the clothes on my back. I'm also not nervous about language issues or bike malfunctions; I know how to point and am going with friends who make my bike mechanic look like a beginner. As an aside, it turns out my bike mechanic is a pretty witty guy. When I dropped my bike off for repairs this week and told him I needed a new part, he pulled out the holy grail of catalogues, pointed to the part that was labeled 'Galaxy', and said, 'We'll get you this one because it will work everywhere.' I stared at him blankly, at which point he said, ' it was a joke', and then I laughed. I could write an entire post on 'how to tell if you're bike mechanic is hitting on you (you can't), and what do to about it (act smarter next time)'.
Being a big supporter of all things to do with food (okay a 'foodie'), what has truly been on my mind this last week is the sort of food system that exists in Laos. Did that chicken live a good life? Was that mango grown without pesticides? Can I eat that and not die? Virtually everyone I have spoken to has told me I will get sick and/or lose 10 pounds the first week I am there. Who doesn't want a smaller ass, but I'm less keen on puking off the side of my bike for 2 days. In Canada we are very lucky (read spoiled) to have supermarkets jammed full with every imaginable fruit, vegetable, dead thing, and corn-derivative-masquerading-as-food on the shelves. Vancouver in particular is blessed with more organic food choices than all other cities combined (don't quote me on that, I made it up).
The key point here is, we have choices, and lots of them. We can choose organic, non-organic, local, pesticide-laden or pesticide-free. Choice over what we put into our bodies feels to me like a fundamental right, but it is one that many people don't have. Much of the world population does not get a choice about what they eat that night for dinner (if they eat at all), where it came from, and how it was grown. This is environmental justice, or a lack of it. Some of us can afford to purchase healthy options, while others are not even given the choice, or if they are they cannot afford it. It is therefore up to us, those of us who have the choice, to make the right one. As demand grows for organic food systems, so to does the supply, so every ethical and sustainable purchase you make is moving us one step closer to a more sustainable agriculture system. Choose food that was grown organically, humanely, and supports local farmers where possible. If you have the choice, exercise it for all those who can't.
Being a big supporter of all things to do with food (okay a 'foodie'), what has truly been on my mind this last week is the sort of food system that exists in Laos. Did that chicken live a good life? Was that mango grown without pesticides? Can I eat that and not die? Virtually everyone I have spoken to has told me I will get sick and/or lose 10 pounds the first week I am there. Who doesn't want a smaller ass, but I'm less keen on puking off the side of my bike for 2 days. In Canada we are very lucky (read spoiled) to have supermarkets jammed full with every imaginable fruit, vegetable, dead thing, and corn-derivative-masquerading-as-food on the shelves. Vancouver in particular is blessed with more organic food choices than all other cities combined (don't quote me on that, I made it up).
The key point here is, we have choices, and lots of them. We can choose organic, non-organic, local, pesticide-laden or pesticide-free. Choice over what we put into our bodies feels to me like a fundamental right, but it is one that many people don't have. Much of the world population does not get a choice about what they eat that night for dinner (if they eat at all), where it came from, and how it was grown. This is environmental justice, or a lack of it. Some of us can afford to purchase healthy options, while others are not even given the choice, or if they are they cannot afford it. It is therefore up to us, those of us who have the choice, to make the right one. As demand grows for organic food systems, so to does the supply, so every ethical and sustainable purchase you make is moving us one step closer to a more sustainable agriculture system. Choose food that was grown organically, humanely, and supports local farmers where possible. If you have the choice, exercise it for all those who can't.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
getting old, or not
Once a week there are a group of men who gather near my house to play football, or rather, toss a football around. When I first came across them I thought they were practicing some sort of drill in slow motion, but then I realized, 'That's as fast as they run; they're 80.' They appear to be having a lot of fun, though no one is moving faster than a snail, or as one witty friend put it recently, 'like turtles stampeding through peanut butter'. The visual image of that makes me laugh every time.
I like to imagine what sort of lives they have led, and how they arrived at 80, fit and still enjoying life. I have them pegged as part of the 1943 UBC Varsity football team, married to their high school sweethearts. Lucky ladies. I hope my guy (mythical at this stage) is half as virile as them when he's 80. I also think they genuinely get a kick out of running around catching the football (I know I sure do) and enjoy it when others watch them, if only for the security of knowing that someone can call 911 when something fails. They are the 80 yrd old versions of the guys you know today who go to every practice, suck up an injury, and think that all great parties happen in the locker room. These men are dedicated to their passion, even at this late stage, and appear to be committed to staying active doing something they love.
I recently took the greyhound bus to Revelstoke (an eye-opening experience if you're looking for one), and along the way I met a lovely older man who sat behind me and shared stories until Salmon Arm. He was adventurous, loved to travel, had some great and funny stories about his run-ins with the border guards, and had to be pushing 80 years old. He talked about the little community he now lives in, and even though he had only been there for a year (moved from the coast to get away from the dampness; it bothered his breathing) he had an entire network of friends who took care of each other, and a family who live next door with kids who treat him like a grandfather. As he got off the bus in Salmon Arm, the last thing he said to me was 'don't get old'. I smiled and promised him I would not.
I like to imagine what sort of lives they have led, and how they arrived at 80, fit and still enjoying life. I have them pegged as part of the 1943 UBC Varsity football team, married to their high school sweethearts. Lucky ladies. I hope my guy (mythical at this stage) is half as virile as them when he's 80. I also think they genuinely get a kick out of running around catching the football (I know I sure do) and enjoy it when others watch them, if only for the security of knowing that someone can call 911 when something fails. They are the 80 yrd old versions of the guys you know today who go to every practice, suck up an injury, and think that all great parties happen in the locker room. These men are dedicated to their passion, even at this late stage, and appear to be committed to staying active doing something they love.
I recently took the greyhound bus to Revelstoke (an eye-opening experience if you're looking for one), and along the way I met a lovely older man who sat behind me and shared stories until Salmon Arm. He was adventurous, loved to travel, had some great and funny stories about his run-ins with the border guards, and had to be pushing 80 years old. He talked about the little community he now lives in, and even though he had only been there for a year (moved from the coast to get away from the dampness; it bothered his breathing) he had an entire network of friends who took care of each other, and a family who live next door with kids who treat him like a grandfather. As he got off the bus in Salmon Arm, the last thing he said to me was 'don't get old'. I smiled and promised him I would not.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Finding balance...
A recurring theme keeps showing up in my life - women - so I am taking the hint and have decided to write something about it. Usually I start off writing a blog knowing exactly what I want to say, where humor can be injected, and how it will end. This time you know as much as I do, so let's get writing...or reading...
A few years ago I picked up a book at the UBC book store called 'Women and the Gift Economy'. It was my first foray into women-specific (read feminist) literature, and I was really moved by the idea that women offer a very unique perspective and set of values to the world. The idea of a gift economy, one based not on exchange but on giving freely whatever we could, really spoke to me. Giving something without any expectation of a return is a vastly different experience to 'exchanging' something, as we can all attest to. When a gift is given, its value continues long after the act has taken place, for both the giver and the givee. Yet with an exchange, the value of the gift is cancelled in the act of exchanging. Gift giving is based on offering what you can, while exchange is measured by what you have. One creates a sense of wealth, while other a sense of scarcity. Unfortunately I never made it all the way through the book; it was so dense and read more like a 4th year women's studies text book.
Last week I ventured to the book store, hoping to find something I could read to offer a new perspective on life, and came home with not one but four books. One of the books, 'Staying Alive', discusses women's inherent role as protectors of the environment and producers of much of the worlds food...that is until recently. The loss of knowledge, seed saving, and other important factors of sustainable agriculture are tied directly to womens' rights, or lack of, according to the book. For thousands of years women have been the nurturers of family and food; gathering, harvesting, and passing on knowledge of plants. Staying Alive points the finger directly at white, Caucasian males for the erosion of this traditional knowledge and the privatization and patenting of nature and indigenous knowledge. While I firmly believe that this is indeed happening around the world, I found the finger pointing distracting from the more important messages, and finally had to put the book down. My hope is that feminist viewpoints could be about celebrating women's role, not blaming the other gender for all that has gone wrong.
Flash forward to today; I came across an article that was truly a breath of fresh air on women's perspectives in sustainability. Ironically, it was written by a man. The article, titled 'The Essential Role of Women in a Restorative Future", discusses the need for gender balance in our communities, decisions, and boardrooms. There is no blaming or finger pointing, rather simply an acknowledgment that a lack of female representation in many areas has gotten us to our current situation. The author articulates that men, like women, don't have all the answers, but together we do. Analogous to your right and left brain, the two halves work together to produce the whole.
A few years ago I picked up a book at the UBC book store called 'Women and the Gift Economy'. It was my first foray into women-specific (read feminist) literature, and I was really moved by the idea that women offer a very unique perspective and set of values to the world. The idea of a gift economy, one based not on exchange but on giving freely whatever we could, really spoke to me. Giving something without any expectation of a return is a vastly different experience to 'exchanging' something, as we can all attest to. When a gift is given, its value continues long after the act has taken place, for both the giver and the givee. Yet with an exchange, the value of the gift is cancelled in the act of exchanging. Gift giving is based on offering what you can, while exchange is measured by what you have. One creates a sense of wealth, while other a sense of scarcity. Unfortunately I never made it all the way through the book; it was so dense and read more like a 4th year women's studies text book.
Last week I ventured to the book store, hoping to find something I could read to offer a new perspective on life, and came home with not one but four books. One of the books, 'Staying Alive', discusses women's inherent role as protectors of the environment and producers of much of the worlds food...that is until recently. The loss of knowledge, seed saving, and other important factors of sustainable agriculture are tied directly to womens' rights, or lack of, according to the book. For thousands of years women have been the nurturers of family and food; gathering, harvesting, and passing on knowledge of plants. Staying Alive points the finger directly at white, Caucasian males for the erosion of this traditional knowledge and the privatization and patenting of nature and indigenous knowledge. While I firmly believe that this is indeed happening around the world, I found the finger pointing distracting from the more important messages, and finally had to put the book down. My hope is that feminist viewpoints could be about celebrating women's role, not blaming the other gender for all that has gone wrong.
Flash forward to today; I came across an article that was truly a breath of fresh air on women's perspectives in sustainability. Ironically, it was written by a man. The article, titled 'The Essential Role of Women in a Restorative Future", discusses the need for gender balance in our communities, decisions, and boardrooms. There is no blaming or finger pointing, rather simply an acknowledgment that a lack of female representation in many areas has gotten us to our current situation. The author articulates that men, like women, don't have all the answers, but together we do. Analogous to your right and left brain, the two halves work together to produce the whole.
Energy efficiency is not enough
Amongst the many discussions on climate change, it is often noted that widespread adoption of existing technology to reduce energy demand offers one of the greatest opportunities for avoiding catastrophic global warming. For this reason, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is rapidly becoming a hot topic for individuals, organizations, and regions looking to reduce their energy consumption. While only making up 2-3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, ICT presents an enormous opportunity to generate GHG reductions in other areas such as smart meters, grids, and buildings. A recent virtual event at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference noted that ICT can play a dramatic role in reducing or mitigating climate change through improving energy efficiency, enabling renewable energy technologies, monitoring of emissions and energy use, and collective systemic changes in the way we live and work.
The systemic changes in user behaviour offer the most interesting and unknown possibilities for change. Will users telecommute or teleconference? Will they purchase fewer physical goods and demand more digital products, thereby transferring more of their consumption to the digital realm? Will users react to the availability of more information by needing less of it? Or conversely, will users seek out more information and more digital products in such large quantities that they will offset the energy and emission gains made by producing fewer physical goods? This uncertainty in predicting user behaviors highlights the difficulty in projecting efficiency gains from the transition to a digital world. It is a known phenomenon that improving efficiency can result in increasing consumption rates. The Jevons Paradox states that ‘technological improvements that increase the efficiency with which a resource is used, tend to increase the rate of consumption of that resource’. In other words, as energy efficiency improves, the cost of goods or services decreases, which in turn drives up consumption.
So the question remains: will behaviour and efficiency changes enabled through ICT really reduce GHG emissions, or will increasing consumption offset the gains made? The most probable answer is likely ‘it depends’. Where ICT enables energy efficiency, particularly in the manufacturing sector, it is possible that reductions in manufacturing costs could indeed spur increased consumption. To offset this effect, policy changes and taxes, such as BC’s Carbon Tax, are needed to hold steady (or increase) the cost of certain goods and services, with the aim of preventing increased consumption. Where ICT can provide substitute products or services, policy instruments will again be key to promoting the desired changes in user behaviour that are systemic and are maintained over the long term.
ICT has the capability to significantly alter the way we interact with each other and our world, and this power can be harnessed for positive environmental change. However, ICT alone will not bring about the reductions in GHG emissions that are needed to mitigate climate change. Good policy decisions are required to realize the full potential of ICT and drive long term reductions in GHG emissions.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Check in, not out, of democracy
Did you know that Canada had its worst voter turnout in history during the last Federal election? 58.8% percent to be exact. As a percentage of the population, more people voted in the 1882 Federal election (70.3%) than in 2008, and they didn't have the luxury of motorized vehicles. They had to get on their horses, carriages, or camels and make their way to the polling stations. Okay, they didn't have camels, but you get the idea...it required effort and dedication to the idea of democracy. It certainly makes the 41.2% of Canadians who didn't vote in 2008 look darn lazy. With polling stations on every other block, and the only requirement to cast your vote is that you have a pulse and are breathing, it's hard to come up with an excuse not to vote.
Why?
Why are people not voting? Where did the voter apathy come from? My two cents; it's partially Canadian culture, and partially our voting system. I recently met some foreigners, and speaking with them really drove home the idea that as Canadians, we are apathetic and far too polite for our own good. We roll over and take it, and never complain. Other countries demonstrate, go on strike, boycott, burn cars, and chain themselves to railways to make a point. Our most outspoken activists write letters to the Globe and Mail or organize kayak trips. I'm not advocating that you go out and burn cars when you are displeased with the tar sands, but hey, if you're unhappy with something, let someone know. And no, informing your dog of your discontent doesn't count.
Our first-past-the-post system rewards the large incumbents and hinders smaller parties; essentially preventing them from ever getting a meaningful number of seats in the House. Unless you vote for the winning party, your vote does not count. People are forced to vote 'strategically' in order to make their vote count. Proportional representation is what we need to be aiming for, where the percentage of votes for a given party translates roughly into an equal number of seats. To put this in perspective, in 2008 the Conservatives received 38% of the votes, but received 46% of the seats. The NDP received 18% of the votes, but only 12% of the seats. The Green party fared even worse, with 7% of the votes, but 0 seats. A voting system that allocated seats based on actual votes received (or some other fancy calculation) would ensure better representation for all Canadians, and give people more reason to vote.
Vote with your actions
You also 'vote' in actions and words, every day, by the things you buy, don't buy, do, and don't do. When I ride my bike over the Burrard St Bridge, and I cross those bike counters, I always think '1 vote for biking; 0 votes for cars'. My bike trip is being counted and noticed by someone at City Hall. When I go to the grocery store and buy organic produce, again, I'm voting with my food dollars. I'm saying to the grocery store and food producers, 'Hey, this is important, keep growing organic food'.
Be active, vote with your actions, and engage in our democratic process. It our best, heck our only, option for impacting policy and change.
Why?
Why are people not voting? Where did the voter apathy come from? My two cents; it's partially Canadian culture, and partially our voting system. I recently met some foreigners, and speaking with them really drove home the idea that as Canadians, we are apathetic and far too polite for our own good. We roll over and take it, and never complain. Other countries demonstrate, go on strike, boycott, burn cars, and chain themselves to railways to make a point. Our most outspoken activists write letters to the Globe and Mail or organize kayak trips. I'm not advocating that you go out and burn cars when you are displeased with the tar sands, but hey, if you're unhappy with something, let someone know. And no, informing your dog of your discontent doesn't count.
Our first-past-the-post system rewards the large incumbents and hinders smaller parties; essentially preventing them from ever getting a meaningful number of seats in the House. Unless you vote for the winning party, your vote does not count. People are forced to vote 'strategically' in order to make their vote count. Proportional representation is what we need to be aiming for, where the percentage of votes for a given party translates roughly into an equal number of seats. To put this in perspective, in 2008 the Conservatives received 38% of the votes, but received 46% of the seats. The NDP received 18% of the votes, but only 12% of the seats. The Green party fared even worse, with 7% of the votes, but 0 seats. A voting system that allocated seats based on actual votes received (or some other fancy calculation) would ensure better representation for all Canadians, and give people more reason to vote.
Vote with your actions
You also 'vote' in actions and words, every day, by the things you buy, don't buy, do, and don't do. When I ride my bike over the Burrard St Bridge, and I cross those bike counters, I always think '1 vote for biking; 0 votes for cars'. My bike trip is being counted and noticed by someone at City Hall. When I go to the grocery store and buy organic produce, again, I'm voting with my food dollars. I'm saying to the grocery store and food producers, 'Hey, this is important, keep growing organic food'.
Be active, vote with your actions, and engage in our democratic process. It our best, heck our only, option for impacting policy and change.
A leftie?
Blog from March 10, 2009
Yesterday was Monday, and like all Monday's prior to this one, my copy of the Economist arrived; stuffed in my mailbox in such a way that the cover always rips off. I read the Economist for two reasons. 1. It provides a good synopsis of the previous week's happenings, and 2. I still get a student discount rate of $100 for the entire year.
Being a liberal socialist, it's not often that I agree with the views expressed on those glossy, non-recycled, inked pages, but I choke it back because I think it's important to know what the other side thinks. This week's content however was singing a different tune all-together.
The cover, or at least what was left of it, was displaying a marijuana leaf and indicated the solution to drug wars was contained within those pages. My immediate thought was 'Oh no, the US wants to make marijuana punishable by the death penalty'. Imagine my surprise when they instead proposed to legalize drugs as a way to reduce illegal trade and subsequent drug wars, citing Mexico's 6000 deaths and drug wars as a serious issue, fixable only by legalization.
Hallelujah. This is some very progressive policies, and is divergent from the previous 'head-stuck-in-ass' way of conducting government policies. Next on the list, I propose that they legalize prostitution since it is also not going away, so long as there are men who want sex and women who need money. Sex, like drugs, have been around since the dawn of time.
The next article that warms my heart is one in which Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is cited as NOT being a contender in our clean green future. It has not been proven on a large scale, is many times more expensive than other clean energy technologies, and the only people investing in it are governments, i.e. not private investors, which is an indication that the market thinks it's not going to be viable. Instead The Economist cited carbon taxes as a productive method for reducing dependence on coal and fostering investments on alternative options.
Gasp! What a novel concept...a Carbon Tax. Everyone in BC, give yourself a pat on the back. Now all we need to do is make the carbon tax actually work for us by raising it to a level above negligible, which is where it currently sits at 2.4 cents a litre of gas.
If The Economist keeps this up, I'll be out of a career. Until then, I'll continue to get up every day and help to save our future.
Yesterday was Monday, and like all Monday's prior to this one, my copy of the Economist arrived; stuffed in my mailbox in such a way that the cover always rips off. I read the Economist for two reasons. 1. It provides a good synopsis of the previous week's happenings, and 2. I still get a student discount rate of $100 for the entire year.
Being a liberal socialist, it's not often that I agree with the views expressed on those glossy, non-recycled, inked pages, but I choke it back because I think it's important to know what the other side thinks. This week's content however was singing a different tune all-together.
The cover, or at least what was left of it, was displaying a marijuana leaf and indicated the solution to drug wars was contained within those pages. My immediate thought was 'Oh no, the US wants to make marijuana punishable by the death penalty'. Imagine my surprise when they instead proposed to legalize drugs as a way to reduce illegal trade and subsequent drug wars, citing Mexico's 6000 deaths and drug wars as a serious issue, fixable only by legalization.
Hallelujah. This is some very progressive policies, and is divergent from the previous 'head-stuck-in-ass' way of conducting government policies. Next on the list, I propose that they legalize prostitution since it is also not going away, so long as there are men who want sex and women who need money. Sex, like drugs, have been around since the dawn of time.
The next article that warms my heart is one in which Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is cited as NOT being a contender in our clean green future. It has not been proven on a large scale, is many times more expensive than other clean energy technologies, and the only people investing in it are governments, i.e. not private investors, which is an indication that the market thinks it's not going to be viable. Instead The Economist cited carbon taxes as a productive method for reducing dependence on coal and fostering investments on alternative options.
Gasp! What a novel concept...a Carbon Tax. Everyone in BC, give yourself a pat on the back. Now all we need to do is make the carbon tax actually work for us by raising it to a level above negligible, which is where it currently sits at 2.4 cents a litre of gas.
If The Economist keeps this up, I'll be out of a career. Until then, I'll continue to get up every day and help to save our future.
You're voting for who?!
Blog from May 11, 2009.
Voting on Tuesday feels much like having your wisdom teeth pulled. All four. At once. You don't want to do it, but the dull pain and advice of your dentist (who is supposed to know a little about these things) have pushed you over the edge. I'm not particularly fond of any of the parties, but if I don't vote, someone else will, and it might be more painful than what I'm currently feeling (dull pain, remember).
When comparing the lesser of evils, one needs to consider a) what is most important to them, b) the time-line under which decisions will be made, and c) what politicians are really like. Apparently someone once said that all politicians are the same...for the most part, I use this as my motto.
Any organization that has done any amount of research on climate change has concluded the same thing; changes - big political changes - need to happen soon if we are going to avert major climate changes. Most peg the window of opportunity somewhere between 18 and 30 months. Holy crap...that's soon. McKinsey Consulting, the UN, and every environmental NGO on the planet all agree. Hmm, makes one wonder if maybe they are right.
So if the air, trees, current outdoor temperature, health of your kids, and the water level in relation to your house are important factors for you, then so is environmental policy. The LIberals, while having done some great things - notably the carbon tax - they have also made some pretty stupid decisions when it comes to environmental protection, and they aren't repentant about it. Private US companies like General Electric (GE) now hold majority rights to some private electricity production in BC. I am going to make a wild speculation here: GE does not have our best interests in mind. Last I checked they were a publicly traded company, and Good Business 101 states that businesses are ultimately responsible to the shareholders. Yes it brought investment into BC, and created temporary construction jobs. However foreign investment dictates that money (revenues) will eventually flow out of the province. If GE invested billions of dollars into the private energy production, they are going to want their money back, plus a nice rate of return. Guess who is going to pay the interest...
The Liberals are also building a new, wider bridge in the name of progress. More lanes equals more cars, not less, and that equals more GHG emissions. But I thought we were supposed to be reducing our emissions?
Now, Carol James did a stupid thing; she said No to the Carbon Tax. She unfortunately missed the memo where Bill Clinton, The Economist, the UN, Al Gore, Michael Ignatieff, and heaps of other economists, environmentalists, and randoms all said that carbon tax is the right tool for pricing carbon into our lives and shifting habits. Similar stupid mistakes have been made by politicians going back a very long time, so I will forgive her this one. And while saying the motto over in your mind ('they are all the same') think about the countless politicians that have made promises that were not kept. What a concept.
So let's play the 'what-if' game: if the NDP does get in, do I think that Carol James will get rid of the carbon tax, even though everyone who is anyone says it's a good thing? She'd certainly look like a dumb-dumb if the federal govt imposed one as she tried to take it away. What is more likely? Well I'm not a political scientist, but other govts faced with similar issues have often 'cancelled' a policy, only to re-instate it under a different name, with a slight modification here and there. This will fool the masses, and appease the people who are really paying attention.
I am interested in protecting what it is about BC that makes me want to live here. I agree, it's not perfect, but I'm hoping my teeth won't hurt as much over the long run.
Voting on Tuesday feels much like having your wisdom teeth pulled. All four. At once. You don't want to do it, but the dull pain and advice of your dentist (who is supposed to know a little about these things) have pushed you over the edge. I'm not particularly fond of any of the parties, but if I don't vote, someone else will, and it might be more painful than what I'm currently feeling (dull pain, remember).
When comparing the lesser of evils, one needs to consider a) what is most important to them, b) the time-line under which decisions will be made, and c) what politicians are really like. Apparently someone once said that all politicians are the same...for the most part, I use this as my motto.
Any organization that has done any amount of research on climate change has concluded the same thing; changes - big political changes - need to happen soon if we are going to avert major climate changes. Most peg the window of opportunity somewhere between 18 and 30 months. Holy crap...that's soon. McKinsey Consulting, the UN, and every environmental NGO on the planet all agree. Hmm, makes one wonder if maybe they are right.
So if the air, trees, current outdoor temperature, health of your kids, and the water level in relation to your house are important factors for you, then so is environmental policy. The LIberals, while having done some great things - notably the carbon tax - they have also made some pretty stupid decisions when it comes to environmental protection, and they aren't repentant about it. Private US companies like General Electric (GE) now hold majority rights to some private electricity production in BC. I am going to make a wild speculation here: GE does not have our best interests in mind. Last I checked they were a publicly traded company, and Good Business 101 states that businesses are ultimately responsible to the shareholders. Yes it brought investment into BC, and created temporary construction jobs. However foreign investment dictates that money (revenues) will eventually flow out of the province. If GE invested billions of dollars into the private energy production, they are going to want their money back, plus a nice rate of return. Guess who is going to pay the interest...
The Liberals are also building a new, wider bridge in the name of progress. More lanes equals more cars, not less, and that equals more GHG emissions. But I thought we were supposed to be reducing our emissions?
Now, Carol James did a stupid thing; she said No to the Carbon Tax. She unfortunately missed the memo where Bill Clinton, The Economist, the UN, Al Gore, Michael Ignatieff, and heaps of other economists, environmentalists, and randoms all said that carbon tax is the right tool for pricing carbon into our lives and shifting habits. Similar stupid mistakes have been made by politicians going back a very long time, so I will forgive her this one. And while saying the motto over in your mind ('they are all the same') think about the countless politicians that have made promises that were not kept. What a concept.
So let's play the 'what-if' game: if the NDP does get in, do I think that Carol James will get rid of the carbon tax, even though everyone who is anyone says it's a good thing? She'd certainly look like a dumb-dumb if the federal govt imposed one as she tried to take it away. What is more likely? Well I'm not a political scientist, but other govts faced with similar issues have often 'cancelled' a policy, only to re-instate it under a different name, with a slight modification here and there. This will fool the masses, and appease the people who are really paying attention.
I am interested in protecting what it is about BC that makes me want to live here. I agree, it's not perfect, but I'm hoping my teeth won't hurt as much over the long run.
Snow in Vancouver...a Canadian affair
Snow in Vancouver allows its residents a brief moment in which to feel 'Canadian'. They awake to find their normally green lawn covered in snow, and promptly run outside, snow shovel in hand. They must shovel quickly and with great haste before the snow turns to rain, and the moment is lost forever.
Our infinitie wisdom on community planned coupled with the scarity of land means that most vancouverites do not have driveways upon which they can practice the sacred art of shovelling snow. Instead they are forced to shovel the sidewalk in front of their house, a less glamorous job considering the square area involved.
In similar Canadian fashion, the utmost consideration is shown to neighbours during this time. Each homeowner shovels only that snow which is directly infront of their house, so as not to infringe on the rights of their neighbours to enjoy this timeless tradition.
It is this brief and fleeting moment that links Vancouver's residents with the rest of the country. Soon the snow will melt and the city's residents will be returned to a life of holey shoes, umbrellas, and fair trade coffee.
Our infinitie wisdom on community planned coupled with the scarity of land means that most vancouverites do not have driveways upon which they can practice the sacred art of shovelling snow. Instead they are forced to shovel the sidewalk in front of their house, a less glamorous job considering the square area involved.
In similar Canadian fashion, the utmost consideration is shown to neighbours during this time. Each homeowner shovels only that snow which is directly infront of their house, so as not to infringe on the rights of their neighbours to enjoy this timeless tradition.
It is this brief and fleeting moment that links Vancouver's residents with the rest of the country. Soon the snow will melt and the city's residents will be returned to a life of holey shoes, umbrellas, and fair trade coffee.
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