A lament for Strathcona Park
Almost a century ago, people saw the beauty of the area as an equivalent to Banff. Elk Valley was bounded by Buttle Lake and Campbell Lake with Myra Falls at the end of it. The valley was full of giant …
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No boil-water advisories in Cumberland
Cumberland residents have avoided boil-water advisories with their own water system, which they are improving with additional levels of treatment and rebuilding some 100-year-old infrastructure …
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Wild salmon on brink of disaster
A long-time Clayoquot Sound resident writes a first-person account from the Broughton Archipelago, where First Nations occupied a fish farm. She wonders if wild salmon, bears and other wildlife can survive fish farming …
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Solidarity with salmon defenders
The science surrounding Atlantic salmon farming and First Nations’ opposition to these farms on their territories in the Broughton Archipelago came together at a powerful event Thursday night in Courtenay.
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Who wields the real power: staff or elected officials?
Who do you think makes the important decisions that affect our communities? It’s natural to answer, “Our elected officials.” That’s who we hold accountable for our government’s performance. But all too often …
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Ruth Masters — environmentalist
Ruth Jessie Masters was a war veteran, avid hiker, historian, naturalist, environmentalist, protester but maybe most importantly she was one of ours – born and raised in the Comox Valley. She was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital …
read moreMunicipal election countdown
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Your Morning Briefing
Garbage news before Earth Day
Earth Day is Sunday, and the Comox Strathcona Waste Management board on Thursday gave the planet cause to celebrate early.
On the recommendation of the board’s select committee studying advanced recycling methods, two companies will be invited to pitch their technologies in-person to CSWM directors. Sustane Technologies and WTT Technology will show how they can convert household and commercial garbage into reusable products and reduce the waste buried in landfills by up to 90 percent.
The board also will invite the B.C. Ministry of Environment to explain its “70 percent rule,” which CSWM directors consider a vague guideline restricting implementation of waste-to-energy or advanced recycling programs.
The recommendations passed with about 75 percent of directors supporting them, Comox Council representatives Barbara Price and Marg Grant voted against the motions.
On Earth Day watch “Decoding the Weather Machine”
There are many ways to celebrate Earth Day, which falls on Sunday, April 22 this year. You could plant a tree or other leafy plants that absorb carbon through photosynthesis. You could create a rain barrel to water your garden.
You could also sit down with your computer and stream the latest PBS program from NOVA called, “Decoding the Weather Machine.” Better yet, share it with people who don’t realize the full impact of climate change.
The program uses weather to cut through the confusion about climate change, and illustrates how changing weather will affect us.
“And what it will take to bend the trajectory of planetary warming towards more benign outcomes. Join scientists around the world on a quest to better understand the working of the weather and climate machine we call Earth, and discover how we can be resilient — even thrive — in the face of enormous change,” says the description of the program at PBS.org.
FURTHER READING: Earth Day found calls for end to plastic pollution; Earth Day Canada; Earth Day theme video
Day of Action for Proportional Representation
Fair Vote Comox Valley supporters will wave banners and sign in support of electoral reform from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 21, at the northeast side of the 17th Street bridge. They are inviting like-minded people to turn out for this Day of Action being held around the province.
“Are you concerned about your student loan debt? Do you need access to affordable housing? Do you want the province to act now to curb climate change? Are you frustrated by politicians who care more about staying in power than the needs of voters?,” said Barbara Berger, of the Fair Vote CV committee. “These are just some of the issues that proportional representation helps resolve.”
For more information, write to fairvotecomoxvalley@gmail.com.
Lame Joke Du Jour
A guy walks into a bar, and there’s a seal sitting at the far end of the room.
The seal says to the man, “I like the way you smell. You’ve got a great haircut. Your jacket looks great on you. Nice tan.”
The man says to the bartender, “Who is he?”
The bartender says, “That’s the Seal of Approval.”
Need a laugh? Check out our archive of lame jokes.
Thought Du Jour
“None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.”
— Henry David Thoreau
