Court Strikes Down BC Gov't gag law on Pre-campaign political ads

The BCCLA is pleased to report that the BC Court of Appeal unanimously rejected the BC Government’s latest attempt at gagging third parties from advertising about political issues.  The government had tried in the lead up to the 2009 election to impose restrictions on advertising for 60 days before the election campaign period.  The court struck down that law as an infringement of free speech rights.  The government pushed another set of amendments to the Elections Act through the Legislature earlier this year.  This time, they proposed restrictions for up to 40 days before the election campaign period and provided for a shorter duration of restrictions if the Legislature was in session.  The government referred the constitutionality of those amendments to the court and asked if they violated the Charter.  The court ruled that these amendments violate the Charter of Rights as well.

Mr. Justice Lowry wrote the decision of the court.  He quoted from Supreme Court of Canada decisions saying “It is difficult to imagine a guaranteed right more important to a democratic society than freedom of expression.  Indeed a democracy cannot exist without that freedom to express new ideas and to put forward opinions about the functioning of public institutions.”  He added that advertising by individuals and groups other than political parties and candidates is something that “enriches the political discourse”.  Some issues are unlikely to get attention if parties and candidates are the only ones who set the public agenda.  The court said that interfering with political expression is allowed “only where there are the clearest and most compelling reasons for doing so.”  It then found that the government had failed to show any such reason.

Robert Holmes, Q.C., counsel for the BCCLA in this case and past President of the BCCLA, said, “This is an important day for democracy in British Columbia.  Another attempt to stifle political speech, particularly from individuals and groups likely to oppose government policy, has been thwarted.  The court’s holding that the amendments pushed through the Legislature last spring are an unjust interference with the rights and freedoms of British Columbians should be taken to heart not just by this government, but by all politicians.  Twice now politicians have been reminded that they are the servants of the people.  Attempts to restrict the people’s ability to speak out are undemocratic and reflect an attitude by government that it knows best.”

Water Project for Haiti

by Kyle Adam

A typical installation inside a Haitian home with children eager to try the water and see how the BSF works

Water Project for Haiti is an Okanagan Valley organization, based in Vernon BC, with the objective of proving water management solutions to the people of Haiti from the SOURCE to the GLASS. Officially founded in 2011, this non-profit organization is made up of board members that have not only been involved with projects of this nature before, but have spent time in Haiti. They have gotten to know the culture and the people that make the country so great. With an onsite partnership at the compound of Project Help-Haiti in Borel, Haiti, we are set up and in full production. But even with all of this beauty, the people of Haiti face a great disadvantage that most of us take for granted; their ability to obtain clean, drinkable water. Before, and certainly after the wake of the earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010, many found themselves in a constant battle to find clean, potable water for their families. In some parts of Haiti, people still wake up every day with constant worry about whether the water they consume will make their children sick. Cholera, as well as many other diseases, still haunt the water supply more than ever. Thousands die every year due to this ongoing problem, and unless action is taken it will continue. The reasons for the spread of disease are a combination of the little infrastructure they had to start with, the lack of outside help continuing after the devastation, the treatment of local water supplies, and poor sanitary conditions that keep the cycle of disease only a glass away. Here at Water Project for Haiti we know it all starts at the household level. We can provide them with the tools they need to combat this threat. The common situation for the majority of Haiti’s populous is this; the latrines and toilets most Haitian homes can support are holes dug in the ground about 5-8’. These have walls built around them, and when they reach their capacity they are filled in, and a new latrine is build right next to the original. The problem here is, located in most cases 10-30’ away, is the 10’ well that the Haitian people get their drinking water from. In addition to this issue is the fact that ¾ of Haiti sits only 600 feet (183 m) above sea-level and many of its communities are in areas with very high water tables. Simply put, this is giving anything that sits in the ground the ability to travel quite easily, and in most cases it gives the diseases a free ride to enter the source of the well. This isn’t just a problem in Haiti; it happens all over the world, but luckily there is a very simple, affordable and proactive solution, Bio-Sand Filters (BSF). .

In our valley, water is a focal point, with Skaha, Okanagan, Kalamalka and Shuswap lakes giving visual promise of abundant fresh water. But we cannot take it for granted, even here.

Despite the planet’s vast oceans, only about 3.5 percent is fresh water and two-thirds of that is locked into what are now the melting glaciers and polar ice caps. We have no substitute for this resource, and implementing solutions to this continually challenges our ecological intelligence.
Water Project for Haiti has teamed up with The Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST) out of Calgary to start a project that will provide every family with clean drinking water. This will also create jobs locally, requiring resources found in Haiti to assemble the filters. Water Project tries to empower Haitians with skills that they can spread throughout Haiti’s work force. We create jobs by using all raw material from Haiti, such as the sand and rock, we contract out lids and molds from locals and hire and train Haitians to run the day to day operations. We want to try and spend every dollar donated to our project to keep the Haitian economy stimulated.

below, Blosand Filter

The biosand filter is a very simple design, and simple is what makes this project work. Its purpose is this: take contaminated well, river or canal water and filter out diseases. As illustrated in the photo, the filter is made of a concrete casing and filled with different sizes of sand and stone. Daily water is poured through the top of the filter, and the diffuser plate catches large debris. Now the magic starts. The design is to use pathogens that already sit in the first 5-6cm of the filter’s sand to eat the new pathogens that have just been poured in. Simply by controlling the speed of the flow of water, and with precise quantities of natural material (sand and stone) that make up the filter, we can eliminate most all of the diseases that currently cause sickness in Haiti. It is that easy. As well, with minimal maintenance the filters can last more than 10 years.

Three Bio-Sand Filters ready for installation (below)

As well as provide biosand filters, Water Project for Haiti has got its feet wet with receiving funding to build, in partnership with Project Help Haiti, its second composting and community toilet in Borel, Haiti. The goal of projects like these are to educate Haitians on why they are getting sick, and provide them with better sanitary conditions. The concept behind this project is to build a location where the community can go that is safe, clean and is properly designed to store human waste, while preventing it from leaching back into the water source. From there Haitians are employed to manage both the latrine and composting site where the humanure is brought and made into compost. This compost is then in turn given to the famers to grow their crops, proving a full turnkey solution. It creates jobs and allows everyone to see all the benefits of having a program like this. This project will be comprised of one community toilet located at the central church in Borel, with a composting facility design to be able to handle three toilets. The goal over the coming year is to raise enough money to build two more toilets at each end of the community and have the waste brought to the central composting site, where it can all be managed by Project Water and Project Help Haiti.

Okanaganite, Leah Riley and children in Haiti (below)

This isn’t a Band-Aid solution; the board members were there before the earthquake and will continue to be there well after the rebuilding. This project is focused on the long term, but can provide immediate results. However, in order for Water Project for Haiti to survive and continue its work, we rely 100% on private donations. With a donation of $50 dollars you can provide 10 Haitians with clean, drinkable water for 10 years.

The Water Project for Haiti work site in Borel, Haiti (below)



We are a new organization and depend on the support of the citizens of British Columbia to keep this goal moving forward. If you want to find out any more information, want to get involved with fundraising or wish to be so kind as to bless the Haitians with a donation,
please email info@waterprojectforhaiti.com or visit the website:
www.waterprojectforhaiti.com
Every family has the right to clean water and we can do this with your help, one filter at a time.

Peaceful act of civil disobedience planned for October to defend Canada's west coast from tar sands pipelines and tankers

This press release from Greenpeace, arrived on my desk this morning ...

Over 80 influential leaders from the business, First Nations, environmental, labour, academic, medical and artistic communities across Canada today announced an upcoming mass sit-in in front of the provincial legislature in Victoria, British Columbia on October 22. The sit-in will oppose tar sands pipelines and tankers and the threats they would pose to the west coast.

"There are moments in history when it's clear that our elected leaders are failing us and it is necessary to take a stand,” said prominent author and environmentalist Tzeporah Berman. “Today we are stating our intention to defend our coast and calling on others to join us. The risk of oil spills and irreversible harm to our tourism and fishing industries from these pipelines and tankers is just too great.”

 Over 80 community, union, business and First Nation leaders have endorsed the October 22 sit-in, including Stephen Lewis, David Suzuki, Maude Barlow, Naomi Klein, Tom Goldtooth, David Coles, Vandana Shiva, Bill McKibben, John O’Connor, and Tony Clarke.  You can view the full list at http://defendourcoast.ca/about-us/

 The October sit-in builds on the success of protests against tar sands expansion and pipelines that have taken place in the U.S. and Canada in recent months.  The August 2011 sit-ins in Washington D.C. that helped delay approval of the Keystone XL pipeline and the September 26, 2011 sit-in in Ottawa that helped put Canadian tar sands pipeline proposals in the national spotlight.

“We’re meeting in Victoria to show that you can’t gut Canada’s environmental legislation and try to put a price tag on the B.C. coast without a public response,” said Maude Barlow, Chair person for the Council of Canadians. “Canada’s iconic coast is far too valuable to risk on tar sands pipelines and tankers and we pledge to defend it.”

“This October, we pledge to defend our coast and the mountains, rivers, forests, wildlife and First Nations communities of B.C. against tar sands pipelines and tankers,” said Susan Spratt, Western Regional Director of the CAW. “We want long-term green jobs that will take us beyond fossil fuels, not short-term high risk pipelines.” 

Organizers expect people from across Canada to join British Columbians in calling on elected officials to stand up for Canada’s west coast and the rights of First Nation peoples.

 “We hope people from all walks of life and from across the country join us in Victoria and defend the natural beauty and cultural richness of the B.C. coastline,” said Chief Jackie Thomas, Saik'uz First Nation.  “We will be there to show the widespread opposition to tar sands pipelines and tanker proposals and to show the strength of the support for First Nations people’s rights to land and title and the internationally protected right to free, prior and informed consent on any development impacting our traditional territories.”

People can sign up online at www.defendourcoast.ca to participate and become a coastal defender.

We were feeling a little radical this issue.

See the whole issue online at www.northof50.com

“The Dumb Waiter” at The Hub in Vernon on September 27, 28 and 29 at 8 p.m.

“The Dumb Waiter”       Press Release Sept. 2012        Entertainment

It’s Back.

The Tragically Comic Players will present Harold Pinter’s sensational comedy of menace “The Dumb Waiter” at The Hub in Vernon on September 27, 28 and 29 at 8 p.m.  This wonderfully off-beat classic is perfect for this exciting new venue.  Tickets are $10 at the door or in advance from members of The Tragically Comic Players or at The Bean Scene across from The Hub.

 

Nobel Prize winner Harold Pinter takes us into the minds of two hit men waiting for their next assignment.  Phillip Wagner, Artistic Director of The Tragically Comic Players joins with Ted Fox, actor/musician/songwriter, for this special performance.  They love it.

Rod MacDonald is Technical Director, and Annika Lauriston is stage manager.  A minimal, negative-space set design is by Wagner.  Sound effects play the part of the dumb-waiter.

When awarding the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005, the highest honour available to any writer in the world, Horace Engdahl, Chairman of the Swedish academy, said that Pinter was an artist “who in his plays uncovers the precipice under everyday prattle and forces entry into oppression’s closed rooms.”

 Pinter himself wrote, “There are no hard distinctions between what is real and what is unreal, nor between what is true and what is false.  A thing is not necessarily either true or false; it can be both true and false.  I believe that these assertions still make sense and do still apply to the exploration of reality through art.  So as a writer I stand by them but as a citizen I cannot.  As a citizen I must ask:  What is true?  What is false?”

The two characters in “The Dumb Waiter” are hit men who are ostensibly not too bright, but they deal with the absurd mystery that presents itself to test them in their “waiting room” with an arduous struggle of profound intensity.  The resulting comedy is subtle and menacing.

For more information regarding this highly entertaining masterfully written play or for reservations, please call 1-250-547-6045.  Thank you.

 

 

The University of British Columbia is serving more B.C. students on its campuses than ever before, with continued growth at its Okanagan campus.

UBC’s Vancouver campus will welcome 6,324 new first-year students, of which nearly 3,800 are from B.C. high schools, up four per cent. The incoming class is the first to benefit from a new-to-Canada personalized enrolment services model, dubbed the “Names not Numbers” project. Each incoming student is assigned to a single “enrolment services professional,” who will help guide them through registration, student financial support and more, throughout their entire university career.

“UBC’s strong reputation continues to attract large numbers of students from B.C. and around the world,” said James Ridge, Associate Vice-President and Registrar. “This year we have made some major enrolment innovations. Early responses are very positive. Our peer institutions have expressed a strong interest in how these changes improve student experience.”

Overall enrolment on the Vancouver campus is projected to be 48,768 (including 38,388 undergraduates and 10,380 graduate students), remaining at the same level as last year.

UBC’s Okanagan campus welcomes 1,933 new first-year students to its campus, including 1,249 students from B.C. high schools. Overall enrolment has grown to 8,307 (including 7,652 undergraduates and 655 graduates), up from 7,932 last year.

The total number of new international first-year students at the Vancouver campus is 1,271, and at the Okanagan campus is 187.

UBC has also expanded its admissions process to include not only grades, but also personal experiences, to better select students who will engage in all aspects of university life. Broad-based admissions (BBA) was part of enrolment for all incoming Vancouver first-year undergraduate students this year. This is being implemented for incoming Okanagan campus students next year. UBC is the first large public university in Canada to implement such programs.

 

Bee in the Bonnet - An Opinion Piece by Bernie Bates

This opinion piece by native writer Bernie Bates so incensed Jim Hawkins, President Elect of the Kelowna Ogopogo Rotary Club that he sent email to North of 50 advertisers and posted comments on advertiser's Facebook timelines, asking "... do you want your business to be associated with a magazine that publishes articles so demeaning to Christianty as that on page 12 of the July/August issue." We are not amused.

 

Bernie Bates

Bee in the Bonnet
WHAT WAS LOST AND FOUND

We Natives may no longer wear feathered bonnets as part of our daily attire - but, we've gained when it comes to the knowledge in our bonnet. We may have lost sight of the sacred circle, but we've created our own path in the 'new' circle of life.

Natives of today may no longer hunt for meat on the hoof, but that's not to say we don't scour the bargain bins for the best deals to feed our families.

In the name of the father, the son and the holy ghost; what ever happened to the circle, the mighty sun and the human spirit? Natives of yesteryear believed in good ol' mother nature then along comes these religious zealots and poof there goes thousands of years of traditional history.

Natives believed in something we could experience; like the Great Sun Spirit. We traded something that we could actually feel and see for something 'up there'. Native people could witness the Great Sun Spirit grow the flowers of summer. The Sun Spirit was a real hands on kind of god.

The Circle fed the people for countless generations and we turned our backs on creation for some son of a god, who supposedly fed multitudes with a few fish and a loaf or two of bannock. Yeah, like that really happened!

And why in the name of the Great Spirit didn't this mega-Messiah ever pull off any of these so-called miracles here in North America?

Maybe he could've put a hoard of locusts down General Custer's pants or maybe part the sea of red tape. So far all he has ever done for Aboriginals across the globe is cultural devastation, child prisons and the naughty men in black.

If you get some comfort from your belief in a god then all the more power to you. If you draw strength from the word of the lord and if it has instructed you to do the right thing, then, Amen to you brother. All I'm trying to do here is shed light on the ancestral ways of the Native people. The rest of the World is finally taking a closer look at the ways of the circle. The way Natives showed their respect to the animal kingdom. We also acknowledged: plants, water, fire, family and even to the dirt under their feet.

In recent years monstrous forest fires have ravaged the forests. Only after tremendous monetary losses are the powers that be taking a closer look at the old ways.

Natives used to burn the dead grasses and under brush in the spring. The result was a carpet of lush green grass growing between trees so large that three adults couldn't reach their arms around them. Other benefits included: controllable fires, low insect infestations, larger more valuable trees and less erosion.

I've heard stories from some elders about salmon runs so massive it would take days for a single run to pass a given point on the river. Now an Indian needs a fishing licence, a big damn net and a boat full of luck just to catch sushi for two.

Native families and communities have also suffered over the loss of our traditions. Take a look around most reservations today; count how many single mothers there are. Count the number of homes that have been destroyed by firewater or the new scourge drugs. Times have changed. "Remember when?"

In my humble opinion, I think if everyone came together and took a serious look at the old ways of life. It's not too late to live in peace under the Great Sun Spirit - and live within the 'Circle'. If we use unity as a shield and education as an arrow we can all regain what was lost.

Today, Natives wear shoes, not moccasins. Ride in cars not on horses. We now learn about the old ways in modern classrooms.

Natives may no longer crap in the woods, but we should still give a sh*t about the environment.

---

Bernie Bates is a writer and an artist
Please feel free to contact, B. H. Bates at: beeinthebonnet@shaw.ca

Askews - A Truly Sustainable Grocery Store

Askew’s Uptown: Sustainability in a Beautiful Package

By Don Sawyer

What saves money and has a great view? No, it’s not a frugal giraffe. It’s the new Salmon Arm Askew’s Uptown grocery store, most likely open for business by the time you read this. In keeping with this issue’s theme, if we want an example of sustainable architecture and green building principles, we need look no further than the Shuswap, where General Manager David Askew’s vision of a truly sustainable grocery store that is also beautiful to look at -- and look out from -- is nearing completion.

Though a visit to the store with its spectacular views through soaring windows on all sides and a sweeping ceiling constructed entirely of locally-accessed fir is truly stunning (my comment when I first entered: “Wow! Look at this! Holy Smokes!”), Askew is more than a dreamer. He is also a savvy businessman. He points out one energy-saving device after another: the hot water for the in-floor heating comes entirely from the heat produced by their refrigeration and freezer units; the abundance of natural light is backed up by full-spectrum lighting automatically regulated by an energy-saving rheostat. While the initial cost per square foot of Askew’s innovative design is somewhat greater than most groceries, based on BC Hydro assessment, he says they can expect to save 400,000 kilowatts per year, enough to power 36 homes for the same time period.

“That’s the point of sustainability,” David tells me. “It’s about looking into the future and acting responsibly and seeing that an investment today can pay off in many ways down the road. We seem to always be looking only at the immediate cost, not the long-term environmental or even business costs.” As an example, he points to research that shows sustainable commercial buildings have lower vacancy rates, higher rents, increased property values and happier, more productive employees.

There isn’t a whole lot that is conventional about the Askew’s Uptown store. Unlike most supermarket buildings, which are simply designs taken off the shelf and plopped down on a lot, the Askew’s structure is “site specific.” That means it was purposely designed for the 6.7-acre parcel where it sits. As a result, the building, a giant crescent, is set into the bank below the TCH, which provides natural insulation for the refrigeration units. To further help reduce refrigeration needs, the section built into the ground is covered with a “living roof” that will be planted in shrubs and ground cover. The north-facing floor-to-ceiling windows at the front of the store provide a gorgeous view of Shuswap Lake and the mountains beyond.

What about rainwater? Just send it down the drain? No way. All water is collected on the roof, routed through a watercourse that runs over the main entrance, tumbles in a cascade into a feature pool in the parking area, and is then directed into an underground reservoir. From here the water is used for irrigating the landscaped gardens and the living roof. Virtually all rainwater that falls on the site will be used on the site.

The Uptown store is already having a positive impact on the area’s economy. Except for the architectural firm, Allen and Mauer, which is based in Penticton, and some specialized engineering services, virtually all tradespeople, suppliers, contractors, technical services and construction workers are local. One local contractor, who was applying a final seal-coat to the unique cement floors (designed to retain the heat from the hot water circulating in imbedded pipes) told me proudly that the floor would last 100 years. “You can drive a front-end loader on it and never scratch it. We usually do garage floors, so it was a real pleasure to get this job. Thanks to David for giving us the chance.”

After getting over my initial amazement, I asked Askew if there was any other supermarket like it in BC. He shook his head.

“So does that scare you? To be, well, so far out there?”

Askew gave a hearty laugh. “No!” he answered emphatically. “My ideas derive from research and from our more than 80 years of experience in the grocery business. For example, I discovered that health care facilities built with lots of natural light enjoy better therapeutic outcomes than those that use artificial light. There are also studies indicating that products in store areas that have natural light sell better. I think our existing Downtown store has a great feel to it, partially as a result of the abundance of natural light. It is a good place to work and has been a great success. In planning and designing our new store, I wanted to create the same ambiance that exists downtown. We consulted with our employees about what they and customers most valued about the Downtown store and incorporated their ideas into the Uptown store.

“We also hired Fast and Epp, one of the outstanding structural engineering firms in the country.” Askew went on. “They’ve built award-winning sustainable buildings all over the world as well as in BC, including the 2010 Olympic Speed Skating Oval and the Armstrong Arena. And Perkins and Will, who were architects for Vancouver’s new VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre, which is getting all kinds of attention as a model of sustainability, designed our living roof.” Askew laughed again. “So we know what we’re doing.”

Located near Salmon Arm’s growing residential area of east of the city and adjacent to the arena and recreation centre, the store is located where people live. When finished, it will become a neighbourhood centre with a deli, coffee bar and seating inside and out.

And it might just be the most beautiful and energy efficient supermarket in Canada.

Bob Harrington, It's Your World columnist in Salmon Arm, June 26

“LAND AWAKENING” COMING TO THE OKANAGAN VALLEY

This just in from Penticton - a feature documnetary premier at OK College in Penticton - June 11

 Volunteering at organic farms in the Mediterranean, Ottawa filmmaker embarks on a journey that will bring him to a life transformation.

Independent documentary film “Land Awakening” West Coast premiere, in the Okanagan College, Penticton Campus Lecture Theatre, in Penticton, B.C.

The Feature Documentary “Land Awakening” will soon have its West Coast premier in the unique and beautiful Okanagan Valley, June 11, 2012 at the Okanagan College in Penticton, B.C. Doors open at 6:30 PM.

Director Raul Alvarez’ personal journey in organic agriculture and other food technologies is an inspiring film about the goodness of food and the generosity of the land.

OZONE DRAMA FESTIVAL May 4th to 12th hosted by Asparagus Theatre

Asparagus Community Theatre

 presents

O-zone Drama Festival Behind the Curtain

 May 4th-12th

Centennial Theatre 3305 Pleasant Valley Road, Armstrong, BC

All Shows 8:00pm
Adjudicator: Ted Price

Performance Schedule

Sat May 5th Asparagus Community Theatre (Armstrong)
Tamarack by Ed Kuhn. A tragic-comedy

Sun May 6th Powerhouse Theatrical Society (Vernon)
The Woman in Black adapted by Stephen Mallatratt. A ghost story, from a book by Susan Hill

Mon May 7th Shuswap Theatre (Salmon Arm)
If I Were You by Alan Ayckbourn A British comedy

Tue May 8th Theatre Kelowna Society (Kelowna) Perfect Wedding by Robin Hawdon A farce

Wed May 9th Playhouse 25 (Kelowna) Waiting for the Parade by John Murrell A drama

Thu May 10th Bumbershoot Children’s Theatre (Kelowna) The Hundred Dresses by Mary Hall Surface A drama

Fri May 11th Kamloops Players (Kamloops) Dearly Departed by David Bottrell and Jesse Jones A comedy

Important Information

*There is a short public adjudication done after each performance *

“Green Room” is our lounge and social area to visit before and after the show as well as during intermission. It is located in the hall adjacent to the theatre. Your ticket stub allows you to access the green room, featuring, Larch Hills Wines and Crannog Ale on tap. Light snacks available.

*Coffee critique is an adjudication of the performance the night before. It’s from 9:30am-11:30am in the Green Room. It is open to cast/crew and anyone who had a ticket to that show, there is no extra cost, light refreshments available.

*Reservation packages are available to download on ACT’s website www.asparagus.theatrebc.orghttp://www.asparagustheatrebc.org until April 20th.

Reservation packages are also available at our Ticket Outlet “The Guy Next Door” 3450B Okanagan Street, 250 546-0950 until April 30th. Individual tickets will be available after April 30th at our ticket outlet or at the door of Centennial Theatre during Festival, upon availability at $22.00

*No performance Saturday May 12th which is the Awards Banquet. (If you didn’t purchase a banquet ticket as part of your registration package) tickets are$ 40.00 each. Click here for more info

Meadowlark Nature Festival Best Annual Community Event in South Okanagan

This just in from the Meadowlark Festival!

Meadowlark Nature Festival
15th Anniversary Event

From May 17th to May 21st immerse yourself in the unique natural diversity of the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys.

The Meadowlark Nature Festival was once again voted the ‘Best Annual Community Event in the South Okanagan’ by readers of Okanagan Life Magazine, a sign that eco-tourism is alive and well in the southern interior.

The Festival offers over 90 environmental tours and events held under the open sky, which will take people from Canada’s unique desert to the alpine meadows high above the Okanagan Lake. Indigenous cultural tours, horseback rides, canoe trips, guided walks, bird watching tours, geology and history tours, art exhibits, hands-on presentations on astronomy, nature photography, sustainable green buildings and more, are all designed to be fun and informative for people of all ages and abilities.

What started as a small environmental festival 14 years ago has evolved into one of Canada's premier outdoor celebrations of nature. People from across North America and as far away as Europe now come for the tours, lectures, workshops and other activities led by prominent naturalists, educators, artists and scientists.

The Meadowlark Nature Festival is organized by the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance (OSCA) to encourage people of all ages to experience, discover and explore their natural environment. The Okanagan-Similkameen hosts a rare mosaic of natural habitats; among them is one of Canada’s most endangered ecosystems - the hot, dry shrub-grasslands. A springtime look at these shrub-grasslands, known as Canada’s ‘pocket desert’, reveals a riot of colour flourishing in this seemingly harsh environment. This popular 5-day Festival especially celebrates and showcases the unique wildlife and habitats found in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys. Many distinct types of wildlife habitat are home to some of the most diverse and rare assemblages of plant and animal species in the country.

Walk-in ticket sales for the 92 events begin Saturday, April 14, from 11am to 2pm (doors open at 10am) at Suite 203, 246 Martin Street, Penticton. Tickets will be available online at www.meadowlarkfestival.bc.ca beginning the same day at 2pm. Visit the website for further details about all tours and events.

Get in touch with nature!

Canadian Indie Folk-Rock Superstar to play April 15th in Salmon Arm

On April 15th, Canadian Indie Folk-Rock Superstar Joel Plaskett and his band Emergency will play in Salmon Arm at the Salmar Classic Theatre at 7:30 pm. Joel will be on tour across the country to promote his new album, Scrappy Happiness; ten songs that he has written in ten weeks, each one featured on CBC Radio 3. It is an ambitious project that combines the best of both worlds - using a decades old approach to getting music to the public quickly and taking advantage of new technology to communicate and interact with audiences. Plaskett will document the process through social media with vlogs, twitter and online chats, which will be available at www.cbc.ca/joelplaskett.

Photo by Tim Brennan

Joel hails from Nova Scotia, where he has been a pop icon for over a decade, winning many awards including a Juno, two Canadian Folk Music Awards and numerous East Coast Music Awards, plus two Polaris prize nominations. In 2009, he opened for Paul McCartney in Halifax and in May 2011, he became the first artist ever to reach one million plays on CBC Radio 3. He writes catchy, infectious, lyrical rock and roll tunes that fill one with instant joy.
The Joel Plaskett Emergency Concert will be benefit for the Shuswap Environmental Action Society and will help with the project to raise funds to help purchase the property adjacent to the mouth of the Adams River, home to the world famous sockeye salmon run. This concert would not be possible without the generous support from these local sponsors: Askews, Salmon Arm Observer, Travelodge Salmon Arm, Barley Station Brew Pub, Mediability, Acorn Music, Salmar Community Association, and Earthtone Studios. Tickets are at Acorn Music in Salmon Arm (832-8669) and are available online at www.ticketbreak.com.

Our Kids Have Talent Top 12 Gala, March 31st!

This just in ... No credible review of Cdn Environmental Assessment Act...

This press release just came across my desk and I thought it worth sharing

Parliamentary Environment Committee’s ‘Paint by Numbers Report’ Fails to Produce Credible Review of Canadian Environmental Assessment Act
Source: Canadian Environmental Network Environmental Planning and Assessment Caucus

March 13, 2012: (Ottawa) Conservative MPs on the Committee reviewing the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) have set out recommendations that follow the party line to further gut the federal environmental assessment process while failing to consider expert testimony to improve it, according to environmental groups from across Canada.

“Today’s report from the House of Commons Environment Committee failed to meaningfully reflect any of the ten principles for a healthy, secure, and sustainable Canada released last month and now endorsed by nearly 50 civil society groups,” said MiningWatch Canada’s Jamie Kneen, co-chair of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Caucus of the Canadian Environmental Network. “The Committee is clearly just painting by numbers on a page given to it by the Prime Minister’s Office.”

“Instead of a Parliamentary committee hearing from a full range of experts and the people with real-life experience, Canadians have had to listen to Minister Joe Oliver repetitively asserting that the public can’t be allowed to interfere in decision-making that will affect generations – not because we’re not qualified to comment, but precisely because we are. What should have been an informed deliberation has turned into a predictable and ideological attack on one of Canada’s key environmental laws,” Kneen added.

Lawyers and environmentalists point to an abruptly truncated and procedurally unfair review process as evidence the Committee has not undertaken a comprehensive review of CEAA that considers the submissions of all witnesses and views of all Committee members.

“This is a core area of federal responsibility, but Committee members barely had time to familiarise themselves with the terminology, never mind look into the range of experience of affected communities, proponents, and even government agencies charged with carrying out assessments,” said Rachel Forbes, a lawyer with West Coast Environmental Law. “There were a lot of organisations, First Nations, and even federal administrators that the Committee didn’t hear from. Without having obtained sufficient information and input through a fair process, we don't think there is a basis for claiming that this is a credible or comprehensive report that takes account of or upholds the values of democracy, health, and sustainability that Canadians hold dear.”

“It’s deeply disturbing that the government is willing to make serious policy decisions, without giving them serious thought,” commented Kneen. “Experts and grassroots groups alike have been working for years to develop a rigorous, responsive, and participatory environmental assessment process.” The Caucus, a national network of environmental groups seeking to improve environmental assessment since 1985, has published an extensive series of papers on various aspects of its design and implementation.

Both the Liberal and NDP members of the Environment Committee have issued dissenting reports highlighting the inadequacies of the parliamentary review process and concerns with a number of the report’s recommendations.

“Re-opening the statutory review process, as proposed by the NDP, is the only reasonable solution,” said Stephen Hazell, Ottawa-based environmental lawyer and law professor. “It is not too late for the Committee to discard shopworn ideologies and engage in an informed deliberation on how to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and fairness of federal environmental assessment.”

– 30 –

See “A Checklist for Strong Environmental Laws” and the list of endorsing organisations at envirolawsmatter.ca/
See the Environmental Planning and Assessment Caucus’ “Resources” page at rcen.ca/caucus/environmental-planning-and-assessment/resources
For more information contact:

• Jamie Kneen, MiningWatch Canada, (613) 569-3439 or (613) 761-2271 (cell), jamie@miningwatch.ca

• Rachel Forbes, Lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law, (604) 601-2508 or (604) 345-9129 (cell), rforbes@wcel.org

• Stephen Hazell, Lawyer with Ecovision Law and Law Professor, (613) 422-1107 or (613) 724-1908 (cell), stephendhazell@gmail.com

Water Food & Climate Wisdom - Green Pary's Guest Professor Series

Water, Food & Climate Wisdom, March 7th at the Schubert Centre, Vernon.

“The Okanagan is the driest watershed in Canada”, world acclaimed water research and planning expert, Dr. Hans Schreier, affirmed Monday evening. Praising Vernon & Coldstream for their progressive performance in water management, UBC Professor Schreier warned an overflowing audience at the Schubert Centre; “Politicians at all levels must do more to control urban & agricultural water waste and prepare for climate change”.

“It is critical for governments to achieve better balance in water, food & energy accounting, conservation & management”, he said.

“70% of municipal water in the Okanagan is used for agriculture. The majority of that is irrigated to low value forage for livestock. It makes more sense to direct scarce water supplies to more value added crops such as grapes”, he recommended. Noting that the number of retention dams has grown 10 times since the 1920s, Dr. Schreier doubted that more storage capacity is possible, “especially when climate change predicts the Okanagan will become drier”.

“Planners must regulate consumption to match capacity. A 30% reduction in urban and agricultural water consumption is quite possible”, he suggests, “with modern irrigation, livestock management, low flow toilets & landscape techniques”

“The time has come to consider processing farm sewage as seriously as city sewage. Livestock produce seven times more toxic nitrogen than humans. Once teeming with fish, Lake Winnipeg is turning into a dead algae swamp, from the effects of manure and excess fertilizer runoff.”

Professor Schreier stated that fresh water is so scarce around Singapore that it is now re-processing treated sewage for its drinking supply.

A 50% increase in world food production will be needed over the next 10 years, to satisfy a 2 billion increase in population, rising demand in emerging economies, and diversion of edible crops to bio-fuels, which absorb 40% of current corn production. At the same time, climate uncertainty is leading to destructive drought & flooding. Water is basic to food production. Noting that it takes 15,000 litres of water to produce 1 Kg of meat but only 1,000 litres to produce 1 Kg of crop food, Dr. Schreier suggested that reducing meat consumption may be the only way to achieve future food requirements.

“We must invest in innovation, but unfortunately, business as usual keeps going faster” Dr. Schreier lamented. “30,000 new homes were constructed in BC last year but only 15% included low flush toilets. Quoting high volume water consumption in the tar sands and fracking, he called on politicians to reflect new water, food and energy realities in building codes and best practice regulations.

The next presentation in the GUEST PROFESSOR Speaking Series hosted by the Green Party, will be UBC Professor Ross Hickey speaking about economic adjustments required to create post-OCCUPY equity in taxation, corporate governance & income.

Hear Professor Hickey at 7:00 pm Monday, March 12 at the Schubert Centre.

Vernon ♦ Schubert Centre (3505 30th Ave) ♦ 7pm ♦ Admission by donation

Why is North of 50 on a subscription drive?

When North of 50⁰ was first published, almost 10 years ago, I could count the free magazines distributed in racks in the Central Okanagan on one hand. It was an efficient, cost-effective way to distribute our magazine - a win-win for the retailers and other high traffic businesses who allowed North of 50⁰ racks on their premises; each benefitting from the other’s clientele.

Recently,however, I counted 20 free magazines in Kelowna’s Capri Centre mall. We believe North of 50 is different. We present stories about social and political issues. We remain independent, not influenced by advertisers. We pay our writers and do not publish ads under the guise of advertorial. We are the ONLY magazine in the Okanagan that adheres to those high journalistic standards.

North of 50⁰ is the BEST READ magazine in our region. So here’s the thing. We’re changing our business model. We will now be a reader supported, subscription based, bi-monthly publication. We are still printing 14,000 and mailing to businesses and subscribers.

WHY SUBSCRIPTION BASED – A reader supported magazine makes us accountable to our readers. It gives us more freedom to print stories that some advertisers and mainstream media will steer away from. We’re not interested in turning into an ”off the wall” or “lefty” magazine; we ARE interested in being a progressive, forward thinking, publication, unafraid to dig deeper, to say more. We want to do more investigative reporting, print more opinion pieces and offer content different from mainstream media that relies so heavily on advertising for income.

That’s not to say North of 50⁰ doesn’t value advertisers. We do! We hope to attract advertisers who wish to be associated with a quality read, who believe there is a need for a progressive, independent voice in our region.

WHY BI-MONTHLY – It takes time to investigate stories. To ensure we can deliver the quality content we are committed to, we need two months to research and gather information, to arrange interviews, to check and double check sources. We want to bring you stories and interviews that mainstream simply can’t.

WILL YOU STILL CARRY THE SAME COLUMNISTS? Yes, we will. And more, too. Calvin White and Don Sawyer ‘went national’ years ago; each has been published in major magazines and newspapers across the country. They’ve been called the best opinion writers in Canada, and for good reason. Whether you agree with them or not, they certainly bring compelling editorial to the table.

We would like to hear from others, too and we invite submissions from authors from various backgrounds and levels of experience. We’re especially interested in social, political and cultural issues, especially as they relate to the Thompson/ Okanagan.

The new North of 50 will require more eyes and ears, more editorial focus than little old me can handle on my own. So I have asked Christine Pilgrim to act as editor. The idea of the new magazine with the new editorial focus is right up her alley. Christine Pilgrim has been a regular contributor for several years, and has tackled topics like poverty and homelessness, and arts and culture. Now, she will add a new title to her resume, as editor of the new North of 50.

HOW CAN I SUPPORT North of 50⁰? – Please show your support by sending us your contact / subscription information by email, fax or snail mail. Or call the office toll free, 1.877.667.8450. You can also subscribe online:

IF YOU ARE ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER, thank you, thank you. If you are already a subscriber, you will continue to receive North of 50⁰ for the number of issues you subscribed to.


http://www.northof50.com

Can you live on $610 /month? - Press Release from Raisetherates.org

“Welfare Challenge” group challenges BC to match Alberta’s disability rates

Raise the Rates, the BC coalition that challenged MLAs to live on the welfare rate of $610 a month issued a new challenge today:

“We challenge the BC government to immediately raise disability rates to the Alberta level of $1588 per month,” said Andrina Perry of Raise the Rates. “There is no reason for BC residents who have a disability to have their health issues compounded by trying to live on the mere $906 that they get in BC.”

Raise the Rates wants the BC government to increase all income assistance benefits, including those for single parents and single people, to levels that are adequate to live on.

“People with disabilities in BC are living in poverty,” said Robin Loxton of the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities. “We call on the BC government to immediately increase BC’s disability rates.”

“If BC copied the Alberta increase it means people with disabilities like me could go to the community fitness gym for physiotherapy without taking the money out of our food budgets,” said Brenn Kapitan. “It would mean I could get a massage for my inflamed joints, have a longer life expectancy and reduce my risk of cancer.”

Alberta also increased the amount of earnings that people with a disability can keep from $400 a month to $800.

raisetherates.org