How is Environment Canada managed?

So, in the news today are stories about oilsands tailings showing up in groundwater and river water
(see http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/oilsands-study-confirms-tailings-found-in-groundwater-river-1.2545089)

Yet, when I went to the Environment Canada website there was nothing on the splashpage that referred to this work.

It's like the government is trying to avoid any stories that go against the oil industry as it is the economic driver for the economy at the current time.  This to me is short sighted and living in British Columbia, this dependence on the oil and gas industry strikes close to home with the proposed LNG developments.

It's all about the short term gains but the long term effects seem to be disregarded.  The environment is being put at risk because of the water needed for hydraulic fracturing, the issues of pipeline construction, and the push for more electrical power which is require for the compression of natural gas.

Things are getting scary and we need to figure out how to live with less before we back ourselves into a corner and face chaotic times.

Cesare Marchetti

So, in the planning seminars I have attended in the last few months, there has been reference to something called the Marchetti Constant.  This referred to the distance that humans are willing to travel to get to work, or simply travel during the day which is a one hour per day.  Thus, original cities were designed to accommodate how far someone could walk in an hour.  As different modes of travel emerged, cities got bigger, but still tot he limit of one hour.

Planners use this constant in determining how far a car or public transportation can get someone.  Thus, when things go beyond a thirty minute commute, efforts are made to reduce travel time.

[I am editing this soon after waking so some of the sentences may not make complete sense yet.]

Interestingly Cesare Marchetti only came up with this observation in the mid 1990's and published a paper titled Anthropological Invariants in Travel Behavior.  Technological Forecasting and Social Change 47: 75-88.
http://www.cesaremarchetti.org/archive/scan/MARCHETTI-052.pdf


He did based part of his work on the research of Yacob Zahavi.  Zahavi did his work for the U.S. Department of Transportation and the World Bank in the late1970s and early 1980s.

This article from Atlantic Cities provides a better account of Marchetti's work:
For Pedestrians, Cities Have Become the Wilderness

I should have been an urban planner, perhaps in another life.

Urban Planning is fascinating as it involves elements of sustainability that for me did not connect right away.   I have been following this field more closely in the past while I realize it's a critical element for creating a sustainable society.

This talk by Vishaan Chakrabarti discussing cities and how the way the Americans have designed cities in the past and how they need to be designed to make cities more livable.

Interesting publication about Livable Streets

The Wellesley Institute has a couple publications on building healthier cities:

• Building Population Health Into Municipal Policy

• Getting to Know the Built Environment as a Complex System

Part of the issue is that more than half the world's population lives in cities.  If we do not design our cities in a sustainable fashion then we are dooming ourselves.  Elements such as social activities, green space, transit and having a walkable city are important.  Planners play an important role in ensuring that cities include these elements but is also important that individuals understand the importance of these elements.

As civic elections are coming this year to the Metro Vancouver region make sure you carefully research the candidates to see who supports making your city more livable.  Allowing further developments with cul-de-sacs far away from transit or other amenities such as stores, schools, and medical offices isn't livable.  Developments that require someone to drive should be highly discouraged if we want to be able to have a region that isn't clogged with traffic 12 hours a day, every day of the week.

Linux at last works for me!

For the past decade I've been wanting to try Linux on my computer but I have had a herky jerky relationship with distros, mounting files, CLIs, debian, red hat, penguins and the such.

I can strip a computer down and build it up again but unless the OS came on an easy to use CD with a user friendly GUI, I tended to stay clear of it.  This was the case for early Linux distributions that I tried.  I didn't have the knowledge base to mess around with the CLI to try to get a video card working or connect to the internet.  And realistically the material online was basically techies talking to techies.  I could have learned it but had so many other things going on in my life at the time that I kept putting it off.

Only in the past couple weeks have I successfully found much easier to use distributions that I have actually got loaded and running on my computer.  I'm impressed how easy it is to use and how well it recognized all the equipment on the computer - video card, screen resolution, internet (wired and wireless) and sound card.

What really gets me is I bought an old P4 system (with hyperthreading) off Craigslist for $60 on which the previous owner had installed Windows 8.  Interestingly Windows 8 runs well on this old P4 system but it did not recognize the older Wireless G adapter.  Yet when I installed the Mint 16 version of Linux, it recognized it and had it running with no problem.

The system fires up well, I can access youtube and it doesn't drag like a Windows system.  I really have nothing against Windows but the search for drivers was always a problem and the constant updating was frustrating at times.  I'm going to give Linux a big thumbs up for working so well on technology that would be well past its due date in the Windows world.  And in this web based world where Google Chromebooks are actually making a tiny dent in the market, I see no problem with giving new life to an old computer that allows me to do basic web tasks.  A bonus is this distribution also has a version of Libre Office which allows me interactivity with the MS Office suite.

Now, I'm not saying this will work for everyone as it took a bit of wrangling for me but it is much, much easier than it was ten years ago.  I doubt Linux will ever take off and become a major player in the computer world but the dedicated and loyal following it has will ensure it will remain a viable option.

Where to find the news on sustainability issues.

Tired of trying to find my bookmarks on different computers, I have decided to compile an easier to access list of websites, blogs, and other resources that contain information about environmental, sustainability, collaboration resources and news.

I would ask that you submit any resources that may be useful.
----------
Next City - Inspiring Better Cities

EMBARQ
http://www.embarq.org/

EMBARQ’s mission is to catalyze and help implement sustainable transport solutions to improve quality of life in cities.

Since 2002, the EMBARQ network has expanded to Mexico, Brazil, China, India, Turkey and the Andean Region, collaborating with local transport authorities to reduce pollution, improve public health, and create safe, accessible and attractive urban public spaces. The network employs more than 120 experts in fields ranging from architecture to air quality management; geography to journalism; and sociology to civil and transport engineering.

Forum for the Future - action for a sustainable world
http://www.forumforthefuture.org/

European Climate Foundation
http://europeanclimate.org/


David Suzuki Foundation


GreenBiz


Guardian Sustainable Business


On Earth


The Tyee


Stanford Program on Social Entrepreneurship


Stanford Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law


Pembina Institute

• "The Pembina Institute is an organization unlike any other working to protect Canada's environment today.  We combine the research and technical capacity of a think tank with the values and advocacy of an environmental NGO and the entrepreneurial and business sense of a for-profit consulting firm.  This equips us with a unique ability to employ multi-facted and highly collaborative approaches to change."
• "Leading the transition to a clean energy future is no small task, and it requires advancing solutions to today's energy challenges from various angles.  The Pembina Institute has spent close to three decades working to reduce the environmental impacts of Canada's energy production and use in several key areas."

Sustainability Solutions Group


Light House

• Light House is a not-for-profit company dedicated to advancing green building and the sustainable infrastructure and economic systems into which green buildings are intrinsically integrated.

Board of Change


Transition Network

Transition Network is a charitable organisation whose role is to inspire, encourage, connect, support and train communities as they self-organise around the Transition model, creating initiatives that rebuild resilience and reduce CO2 emissions. 

Ultimately it’s about creating a healthy human culture, one that meets our needs for community, livelihoods and fun.  We’re here to support you.

We run events, conferences, trainings, blogs, webinars. We produce  monthly newsletters, books, films, guides, tweets, and more,  all with the intention of best supporting those around the world who are doing Transition.


National Geographic - The Great Energy Challenge


Wellesley Institute

The Wellesley Institute is a Toronto-based non-profit and non-partisan research and policy institute. We focus on developing research, policy and community mobilization to advance population health.

Vision: A healthier and more equitable Greater Toronto Area for all.

Mission: Advance population health and reduce health inequities by driving change on the so­cial determinants of health through applied research, effective policy solutions, knowledge mobilization, and innovation, and assisting communities to mobilize around health choices.

The Atlantic Cities website has articles relating to transportation and neighborhoods which are relevant to urban planning and a healthy built environment.

University of Michigan - Center for Sustainable Systems

Mission

The Center for Sustainable Systems advances concepts of sustainability through interdisciplinary research and education. CSS collaborates with diverse stakeholders to develop and apply life cycle based models and sustainability metrics for systems that meet societal needs. CSS promotes tools and knowledge that support the design, evaluation, and improvement of complex systems.

Vision

The University of Michigan’s Center for Sustainable Systems at the School of Natural Resources and Environment will be a global leader in systems-based approaches to sustainability through creative and effective teaching and research.

Values

Fundamental to the Center’s success in accomplishing its mission and realizing its vision are the values in which we believe and practice:

• Applying systems analysis to establish metrics
• Promoting change through education and communication
• Restoring and enhancing ecosystem health, structure and function
• Meeting basic needs with inter- and intra-generational equity
• Valuing ecologically and socially sustainable systems in the marketplace
• Using nature as a model
• Using interdisciplinary, multi-objective approaches and multi-stakeholder participation

Ceres (www.ceres.org)

Ceres is an advocate for sustainability leadership. Ceres mobilizes a powerful network of investors, companies and public interest groups to accelerate and expand the adoption of sustainable business practices and solutions to build a healthy global economy.

Our mission is to mobilize investor and business leadership to build a thriving, sustainable global economy.

Tree Hugger (http://www.treehugger.com/)


Sapiens (http://sapiens.revues.org/)
This is an online journal that focuses on integrating knowledge to foster advances in sustainability.

ICMA

--> – International City/County Management Association

Based in Washington DC

CMA, the International City/County Management Association, advances professional local government worldwide. The organization’s mission is to create excellence in local governance by developing and fostering professional management to build better communities.

ICMA identifies leading practices to address the needs of local governments and professionals serving communities globally.

I never got the money

A few years back I got one of those emails saying I had won a lottery.  I responded on a whim to see what would happen.

Sadly I must report that I was never sent a cheque.

My brief correspondence is copied below:



IRISH LOTTERY WINNER
1 message

---

Vogt, Joann	Wed, Nov 28, 2007 at 4:34 PM
Attn: Winner,      ONLINE NOTIFICATION OF WINNING The IRISH LOTTERY, wishes to congratulate you on your success as one of our Ten(10) Star Prize Winner for the Xmas and new year bonanza. International Awareness Promotion (IAP) held in London. This makes you the proud owner of a prize of 1,000.000.00 Pounds (ONE MILLION POUNDS STERLING). To begin processing of your prize. Contact claims officer via below informations: Mr Walter Blakes Phone:  +447045731465 E-mail:  irishlotteryboard.claims@yahoo.com.hk Contact him, with your, Serial No: S/N-00167, Ticket Number: 564 75359565-188 Also provide listed informations: Names:   Address:  Sex: Marital Status: Age:  Occupation: Phone no: Country: Congratulations once again from all members of our staff Yours Sincerely, Mr. GREY LINPSON. +++++++++ Irish Lottery 1 message wes wong Thu, Nov 29, 2007 at 12:22 PM To: irishlotteryboard.claims@yahoo.com.hk But here's the information you requested for Serial No: S/N-00167, Ticket Number: 564 75359565-188. Name: B. Lo Mee Address:  666 Satan Drive, Denver, Colorado 80290, USA Sex: daily Marital Status: married, with 7 wives Occupation: Professional Wrestler Phone: (502) 491-6300 ---------------------------------------------------------- Funny how the Irish Lottery Board would be using a yahoo account. Figure if you're going to waste my time, I'd return the favor ++++++++++ CONTACT DELIVERY COMPANY 1 message Lottery Board Irish Thu, Nov 29, 2007 at 7:02 PM To: vancouverwes@gmail.com 2007 Winner The Lottery Department P O Box 101011 G Lower Dorset Street,Dublin 1, Ireland (Customer Services Dear B. Lo Mee How are you doing today? I am in receipt of your mail and I must say that you Should count yourself extremely lucky to have emerged as one of our winners in  This year孍 lucky deep sweepstakes. Each email address was attached to a ticket Number. Your email address (vancouverwes@gmail.com) was selected along with others as winners A certificate of prize claims and some vital documents will be sent along side your winnings cheque. The documents to be sent are; 1. WINNING CERTIFICATE. 2. WINNERS CHEQUE 3. CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES (C.S.F.C.); 4. CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN OF FUNDS (C.O.F.). world wide premier courier delivery has been contracted to deliver your Winning package to your location. Contact the courier company with the contact information below for further instructions on how to send the consignment to your location. Below are the contact details of world wide premier courier delivery and your bank transfer contacts. Choose any of your delivery optionsourier delivery . Contact  one of these options that are given to you. Contact:Mr.Lawson Anderson (TEL +447045765501 E-mail:worldwide.premiercourierdelivery@yahoo.com.hk OR BANK TRANSFER Bank Manager's name:CHRISTOPHER PRESTO (TEL +447045765551 Email: mr.mathewpresto_yorkshirebank@yahoo.com.hk Please do fill this form and send it to any of the option you choosed to be your mode of delivery. Name: Age: Marital Status: Country: Sex: Do contact the courier company and make proper arrangement for the delivery of your  winning cheque. Please note that we have already forwarded your contact address and  phone number to the courier company Warm Regards, (FIDUCIARY AGENT).                  Yahoo! 網上安全攻略，教你如何防範黑客! 了解更多 ++++++++++ RE: irish lottery 1 message wes wong Fri, Nov 30, 2007 at 3:38 PM To: worldwide.premiercourierdelivery@yahoo.com.hk Hello, This is in reference to the Irish Lottery - Serial No: S/N-00167, Ticket Number: 564 75359565-188 Could you deliver to B. Lo Mee at Room 70, 2146 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3. My phone number is 604.822.2173. The email received also requested some of the following information: Name: B. Lo Mee Age: 24 Marital Status: married, 8 wives now Country: Canada Sex: daily (got 8 wives you know) Please rush the delivery of payment as soon as possible - many mouths to feed. Thank you, B. Lo Mee