Contents
- 1 March 31, 2021
- 1.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 1.2 A Mighty Win for Wind: From The Beacon, from Grist.org by Shannon Osaka
- 2 March 30, 2021
- 2.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 2.2 LETTER: Don Mills’ urban bias is baseless - The Guardian by Gerry Gallant, Guest Opinion
- 3 March 29, 2021
- 3.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 3.2 JIM VIBERT: Climate change denial new ‘stinking albatross’ for federal Conservatives - Saltwire article by Michael Robar
- 3.3 Atlantic Skies for March 29th - April 4th, 2021 "The Sun, Moon and the Tides" - by Glenn K. Roberts
- 4 March 28, 2021
- 4.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 4.2 LETTER: Government, media are silent on proportional representation - The Guardian Guest Opinion by Marie Burge
- 5 March 27, 2021
- 5.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 5.2 Healthy food systems for a healthy planet - david suzuki.org article by David Suzuki with contributions from Senior Editor and Writer Ian Hanington
- 5.3 LETTER: Organic farming a potential boon for P.E.I. - The Guardian Guest Opinion by Chris McGarry
- 6 March 26, 2021
- 6.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 6.2 GUEST OPINION: We don't want more empty promises on climate - The Guardian Guest opinion by Marilyn McKay
- 7 March 25, 2021
- 7.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 7.2 LETTER TO THE EDITOR: P.E.I. government minister pushing limits of power - The Guardian article by Doug Campbell
- 7.3 Marswatch: high hopes for first powered controlled flight on another planet - The (U.K.) Guardian article by Stuart Clark
- 7.4 Mars mission’s next major milestone will be deployment of Ingenuity, a small helicopter
- 8 March 24, 2021
- 8.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 8.2 LETTER: What happened to P.E.I. government collaboration? - The Guardian Letter to the Editor
- 9 March 23, 2021
- 9.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 9.2 P.E.I. woman planning rental registry to help tenants - The Guardian article by Ryan Ross
- 10 March 22, 2021
- 10.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 10.2 Letter: World Water Day is March 22nd - The Guardian Letter to the Editor
- 10.3 Published in the print Guardian on Saturday, March 20th, 2021 (not online yet)
- 10.4 Atlantic Skies for March 22nd -- March 28th, 2021 "A Swarm of Celestial Bees" - by Glenn K. Roberts
- 11 March 21, 2021
- 11.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 11.2 STEPHEN HOWARD: Modernizing electricity and energy poverty in P.E.I. - The Guardian Guest Opinion by Stephen Howard, MLA for District 22: Summerside-South Drive
- 12 March 20, 2021
- 12.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 13 March 19, 2021
- 13.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 14 March 18, 2021
- 14.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 15 March 17, 2021
- 15.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 16 March 16, 2021
- 16.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 16.2 Canada is drowning in plastic waste — and recycling won't save us - National Observer article by Marc Fawcett-Atkinson
- 17 March 15, 2021
- 17.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 17.2 Atlantic Skies for March 15th - March 21st, 2021- by Glenn K. Roberts
- 17.3 The backroom battle between industry, Ottawa and environmentalists over plastics regulation - The National Observer article by Marc Fawcett-Atkinson
- 18 March 14, 2021
- 18.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 18.2 Easy way out for wildlife conservation isn’t what it appears - davidsuzuki.org post by David Suzuki with contributions from Boreal Project Manager Rachel Plotkin
- 19 March 13, 2021
- 19.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 19.2 Lego is aiming to go oil free - The Beacon by Grist article by Adam Mahoney
- 19.3 David Schindler, the Scientific Giant Who Defended Fresh Water - The Tyee article by Andrew Nikiforuk
- 20 March 12, 2021
- 20.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 21 March 11, 2021
- 21.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 21.2 Greens and Liberals Both Wrong on Public Service - The Eastern Graphic Against the Tide opinion column by Paul MacNeill, publisher
- 21.3 P.E.I. premier wants to dial down the political rhetoric of mental health - The Guardian article by Daniel Brown
- 22 March 10, 2021
- 22.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 22.2 Wanted: Land to let P.E.I.'s organic farm sector get 7 times bigger - CBC Online post by Kevin Yarr
- 23 March 9, 2021
- 23.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 23.2 GUEST OPINION: Seemingly different programs for different farms - The Guardian Guest Opinion by Rita Jackson
- 23.3 City of Charlottetown moving ahead on new rink project - The Guardian online article by Dave Stewart
- 24 March 8, 2021
- 24.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 24.2 Atlantic Skies for March 8th - March 15th, 2021 - by Glenn K. Roberts
- 25 March 7, 2021
- 25.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 25.2 P.E.I.'s Frontier Power Systems helps northern communities get off diesel fuel - The Guardian article by Terrence McEachern, Business Reporter
- 26 March 6, 2021
- 26.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 26.2 Brendel report out of Bloyce Thompson's hands - The Guardian article by Stu Neatby
- 26.3 Green, PC MLAs question new minister on changes to P.E.I.'s Water Act - CBC News online post by Kerry Campbell
- 26.4 Why targeting the NDP is bad for the Greens and the climate - The National Observer Opinion piece by Amara Possian
- 26.5 | Opinion | March 5th 2021
- 27 March 5, 2021
- 27.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 28 March 4, 2021
- 28.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 28.2 Seven Women Who Made the World Better for Birds and People - Audubon.org post by Emily Silber
- 29 March 3, 2021
- 29.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 29.2 LETTER: Throne speech soft on climate -The Guardian Letter to the Editor
- 30 March 2, 2021
- 30.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 30.2 UK urged to create green apprenticeships to help Covid recovery - The (U.K.) Guardian article by Fiona Harvey
- 30.3 Atlantic Skies for March 1st - March 7th, 2021 - by Glenn K. Roberts
- 31 March 1, 2021
- 31.1 Chris Ortenburger's CANews
- 31.2 GUEST OPINION: Marking 50 years of wetland conservation and loss - The Guardian Guest Opinion by Dan Kraus
March 31, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events:
Wednesday, March
31st:
Deadline for public
feedback on changes to National Park Skmaqn - Port la Joye -Fort Amherst.
Background, plans, video, contact info here:
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/pe/skmaqn/info/plan
The P.E.I.
Legislature sits from 1-5PM today. It's all Government's agenda today,
after the regular order of the day.
P.E.I. Legislative
Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative
Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
Yesterday, the
Legislature opened with some comments about the Ice Walk across to Lennox
Island, held Monday and on the road for safety reasons: from a media release
before the event in The
Buzz:
The Ice Walk will consist of a walk (originally scheduled to be)
across the frozen path between Port Hill and Lennox Island by those who wish to
unite in solidarity with the Mi’kmaq people, and acknowledge the actions of
their ancestors or the entities they represent, who were responsible for many
of the horrors faced by the first people of this land (Residential schools, Day
schools, The 60’s Scoop).....
The walk will be followed by traditional teachings and cultural ceremonies,
including a Forgiveness Ceremony. The purpose is to not only bring awareness
and understanding to the history and realities of the Mi’kmaq on PEI, but also
to many other Indigenous communities across the country where ice roads are
still active, and lives continue to be lost as a result.
Video Archive
(listed by date, for yesterday, March 30th, 2021):
https://www.assembly.pe.ca/video-archive
The Matters of Privilege and Recognition of Guests time took long enough
(showing their privilege to do so, ironically) possibly affecting the time able
to be spent on reviewing the budget, before the Floor had to be handed over to
the next order of business, that Deputy Speaker Hal Perry was incredibly testy with MLA Stephen Howard, who was genuinely confused
about which section was being called up for discussion (with Economic Growth,
Tourism and Culture Minister Matt MacKay). And there is really no one who
can rebuke the Chair for uncalled for unkindness (except I suppose I am
here). MacKay, by the way, goes out of his way to be willing
to work with other MLAs on their concerns.
Congrats to Stephen Howard and his partner Amber, who had a baby daughter born
last week.
Howard is also working on his Opposition Bill No. 103 (search here) to modernize renewable
electricity generation legislation for the Island, which is likely coming up
again this week. More details from the Green Party of PEI if you wish for
more information and perhaps to contact your MLA about supporting the
legislation, here: https://www.greenparty.pe.ca/renewableenergyact?
from the United States: https://grist.org/
A Mighty Win for
Wind: From The Beacon,
from Grist.org by Shannon Osaka
Published on Tuesday, March 30th, 2021
The
Biden administration announced plans on Monday to set aside a swath of ocean
off the East Coast of the United State for the development of offshore wind and to more than
double the country’s existing offshore wind power capacity by 2030.
According to a fact sheet released by the White House, the
administration plans to cordon off a shallow stretch of the Atlantic Ocean known
as the New York Bight, off the coast of Long Island and New Jersey, as a
“priority Wind Energy Area.” If all goes according to plan, the area should be
leased to wind developers by late 2021 or early 2022.
The White House is
also aiming to add 30 gigawatts of offshore wind to the U.S. electricity grid
by 2030, generating enough energy to power around 10 million homes and
providing around 44,000 jobs. At the moment, the country only has one operational offshore wind farm, which is off the
coast of Rhode Island and produces around 28 gigawatts of electricity. (In
contrast, the U.S. currently generates around 111 gigawatts of electricity from turbines located on
land.)
“This offshore wind
goal is proof of our commitment to using American ingenuity and might to invest
in our nation, advance our own energy security, and combat the climate crisis,”
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a statement.
-30-
An icy swan dances
for this lake:
from the BBC News
Service:
A Russian ballerina from the world-renowned Mariinsky
Theatre has performed scenes from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake on the frozen Gulf of
Finland. Local people have started a petition calling on President Putin to
halt the construction of a port in Batareinaya Bay, a popular beach about 100
km west of St Petersburg, Russia's second largest city. Ilmira Bagrautinova
danced in -15C and posted her videos online. She hopes her performance will
save real swans which nest in the bay.
YouTube News Video
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Strauss’s Capriccio, today until 6:30PM
Starring Renée Fleming, Sarah Connolly, Joseph Kaiser, Russell Braun, Morten
Frank Larsen, and Peter Rose, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. Production by John
Cox. From April 23, 2011. Oh, that wonderful Renee Fleming!
Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux, tonight 7:30PM until Thursday
about 6:30PM
Starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Elīna Garanča, Matthew Polenzani, and Mariusz
Kwiecień, conducted by Maurizio Benini. Production by Sir David McVicar. From
April 16, 2016. Queen Elizabeth I deals with her duties and her heart,
and Polenzani cares for her but also the beautiful Elina Garanca as a
noblewoman. Two hours 40 minutes.
"Forget
injuries; never forget
kindness."
---Confucius
March 30, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
It was one
of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is
summer in the light, and winter in the shade.
---Charles Dickens, Great
Expectations
------------------
Events:
Charlottetown Farmers' Market adds
Saturday pickup option.
*place your order
between Tuesday at 5pm and Thursday at 5pm at: www.cfm2go.ca
*pick up your order
from the Market between 2PM and 4PM on Saturday
a few conditions:
Only 30 orders
accepted (shop closes when this number is reached), with a minimum value of
$50. And you have to be able to go in the building to get your stuff.
Orders before
Tuesday at NOON for Thursday pickup retain the same protocol.
------------------------
Dr. Heather Morrison
will give a COVID-19 update, probably at 11:30AM, on the Government website,
Facebook page, and covered by CBC Facebook, and some parts by Q93 Radio.
----------------------------
The P.E.I.
Legislature sits from 1-5PM today.
After the routine
order, there will be government business until 4PM and then Private Members'
Business until 5PM.
P.E.I. Legislative
Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative
Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
Op-Ed, from the
doing-OK,-thanks-hinterlands...
LETTER: Don Mills’
urban bias is baseless - The Guardian by Gerry Gallant, Guest Opinion
Published in print on Wednesday, March 17th, 2021
Thanks to Don
Mills for his opinion piece in The Guardian (Positive news on population growth,
March 5) endorsing the value of
census data and its use as a public policy and business tool. As a 40+ year
management consultant, I value such data and encourage Islanders to participate
in this year’s important census exercise.
That said, Mr.
Mills uses census and other data to sell his ongoing assertion (in this and a
previous June 4, 2019 column) recommending P.E.I. pursue an economic hub
strategy focusing on urban communities. His basic premise is founded on a
centrist view that the younger, dynamic demographic of the working population
should live within a reasonable commute to urban communities (Charlottetown,
Stratford and Summerside) to gain employment, perhaps helping stem the
outmigration of youth. This economic development strategy for P.E.I. is flawed
for many reasons. The P.E.I. economy’s three largest and successful industries
— agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, and tourism — are in rural
communities. Do we move these industries with commuting distance to urban
centres? Mr. Mills' 2019 column also suggested the need to grow critical
infrastructure such as post-secondary institutions, major health-care
facilities, retail and professional services in the urban hubs as critical mass
to attract new business. This policy ignores the economic development successes
achieved by rural communities and potential new opportunities that contributes
to growing P.E.I.’s economy, including its urban centers.
Case in point,
Souris and Eastern Kings’ economy is robust, as noted in Alan E. MacPhee’s
rebuttal to Mr. Mill’s June 2019 column. Rural Eastern P.E.I. has the largest
potato dehydration facility in the world, largest wind turbines in the world, a
half dozen highly automated potato packing plants, the most highly automated
dairy farm in the world, the largest Etsy seller in the world, the best tuna
fishery in the world, the largest parabolic sand dune system in the world, the
best beach in Canada, one of the best restaurants in Canada by Canada's most
famous chef, a thriving 350-fleet lobster industry, and other successful farms,
retail and service businesses.
The Souris
Harbour Authority Inc. repurposed a former seafood plant, now hosting a
world-leading aquaculture and research company, 12-million-pound cold storage
warehouses and an organic french fry processor. Those recent developments at
the Souris Food Park now employ upwards to 60 people.
Rural P.E.I.
contributes more income and property taxes to the province than it receives in
government services. Rural districts, towns and villages represent 54 per cent
of P.E.I.’s population. The decline in rural populations is not as high as
often perceived. Urban population has grown 14.5 per cent between 2001 and 2016
census years while P.E.I.’s rural populations declined 3.6 per cent over those
15 years.
While Mr. Mills
recommends commuting to urban centers to work, the COVID-19 pandemic has
demonstrated working remotely at home is the new normal. Employers weren’t
prepared for their workforce to work from home but, thanks to technology and
innovation, it’s working out well for many employers/employees. That is why the
Daniel J. MacDonald Veterans Affairs building in downtown Charlottetown is
relatively empty. All around the world, more and more employers are embracing
flexible schedules for their remote teams leading to new remote work trends and
more remote work options. Finally, may I suggest highways allow commuting both
ways?
Gerry Gallant of
Souris West is enterprise management consultant and co-chair for the P.E.I.
Rural Communities Council.
-30-
Fun(gi) Science
from The
(U.K.) Guardian:
Why
is it hard to get our head around fungi? (part one) – podcast
Our
colleagues from The age of
extinction, Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield, are back with two
new episodes. We often talk as if we know what species exist in the world – but
we don’t. Could misclassifying the notoriously cryptic fungi have broader
implications for what we know about the environment, and how we care for it?
25 minutes:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2021/mar/30/why-is-it-hard-to-get-our-head-around-fungi-part-one-podcast
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Bellini’s Norma, today until 6:30PM
Starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Joyce DiDonato, Joseph Calleja, and Matthew Rose,
conducted by Carlo Rizzi. Production by Sir David McVicar. From October 7,
2017. This opera is one of the best "examples" of the bel canto
genre.
Tuesday, March 30
Strauss’s Capriccio, tonight 7:30PM until 6:30PM
Wednesday
Andrew Davis conducts Renée Fleming is Countess Madeleine, the beautiful,
enigmatic woman at the center of Strauss’s sophisticated “Conversation Piece
for Music.” She is being courted by two men: Joseph Kaiser sings the composer,
Flamand, and Russell Braun is Olivier, the poet...(the) elegant production
places the action in the 1920s.
From April 23, 2011.
2 hours 28minutes
March 29, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
If people sat outside and
looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently.
– Calvin, from the
cartoon Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson
Events:
Local Food:
Organic Vegetable Delivery, order by tonight
for delivery Friday, April 2nd.
More details here:
https://www.organicveggiedelivery.com/
Charlottetown's Farmers' Market 2 Go, order by
Tuesday noon for pick-up Thursday
https://charlottetownfarmersmarket.com/online-market/
Tonight:
PEI Certified
Organic Producers Cooperative (COPC) AGM, 7-9PM, in-person
at the Farm Centre, and via Zoom, with meeting ID: 861 8036 4396
Besides a regular AGM meeting, there will be an appearance
by Agriculture Minister Bloyce Thompson and Special Projects Working Group
Updates on:
Organic Land Network –
Morgan Palmer
Organic Grains &
Oilseeds Markets – Sebastian Manago
Local Food Hub – Karen
Murchison
and PEI COPC
Water Use Strategy – Member Ratification
Note that the Zoom meeting details may not be complete, so
refer to the Citizens' Alliance Facebook page or the COPC page for adjustments.
----------------------------------
End of the day:
Deadline to comment
on the proposed Stratford Waterfront Development (where
the sewage lagoons were). More information and input form:
https://www.townofstratford.ca/
----------------------------
The Legislative
Assembly sits Tuesday and Wednesday this week, then not again
until next Tuesday. Catch up on any parts by visiting:
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
The Leap organization (of the climate
justice group that wrote The Leap Manifesto) has announced it is disbanding in
the next few months.
They had great ideas, but I think they needed a consensus Canadians just
weren't ready for, but their ideas can be promoted and adopted without The Leap
being the driving force.
Message from Kate McKenna at The Leap
The Leap website
A reminder that when there is a federal election, there will be four people on
P.E.I. running for the Conservative Party of Canada, representing the
party.
https://www.saltwire.com/opinion/national-perspectives/jim-vibert-climate-change-denial-new-stinking-albatross-for-federal-conservatives-566370/
JIM VIBERT: Climate change denial new
‘stinking albatross’ for federal Conservatives - Saltwire article by Michael Robar
Published online on
Sunday, March 21st, 2021, on the Saltwire network of publications.
Canada’s Conservatives – the label they prefer over the
stodgier Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) – metaphorically murdered another
sea bird over the weekend and hung its stinking carcass around the neck of
their leader of six months, Erin O’Toole.
Meanwhile,
hunkered in separate bunkers – for safety’s sake – but collectively watching
the CPC’s national policy convention, the federal Liberal braintrust, giddy in
their good fortune, moved the spring/summer federal election out of the
‘likely’ and into the ‘very likely’ column, provided vaccines keep rolling in.
Among some lesser
objectives, O’Toole and the Conservative leadership went into their convention
determined to address, if not put to rest, the party’s clinging credibility
problems on climate change.
Instead, the
Conservatives exited the convention with no credibility on climate change
whatsoever.
If you had better
ways to spend the first weekend of spring than watching federal Conservatives
convene virtually, you might have missed the news that transformed their policy
convention into a political train wreck.
The Conservative
Party’s reliably unreliable membership voted down a resolution that said
climate change is real. Yes they did. You can look it up.
The rejected
resolution also said Conservatives are willing to act, presumably to mitigate
and adapt to climate change, that polluters bear responsibility for the
greenhouse gases they belch and that Conservatives support innovation and green
technology.
But by a vote of
54 per cent to 46 per cent, Canada’s Conservatives rejected that statement of
accepted climate change orthodoxy, if not motherhood, and by so doing they
reaffixed to the party the very label O’Toole was determined to erase – climate
change deniers.
The act of
political self-immolation came on the heels of O’Toole’s address to the
convention, when he told delegates that the Conservatives "cannot ignore
the reality of climate change" and that the debate over climate change
"is over."
“I will not allow
338 candidates to defend against the lie from the Liberals that we are a party
of climate change deniers,” O’Toole pledged.
But alas, more
than half of the Conservative delegates could ignore the reality of climate
change and voted to do so, ensuring that the debate over climate change is very
far from over, no matter what their leader may think, want or hope.
And so, those 338
Conservative candidates – that’s one for every federal riding – are saddled,
not with a Liberal lie that the Conservatives are a bunch of climate change
deniers, but with evidence to that effect supplied by the CPC itself.
You likely recall
that after the 2019 federal election, Peter MacKay, former Conservative cabinet
minister and long-serving PC and CPC MP from Central Nova, said that socially
conservative views about issues like abortion and same-sex marriage haunted
former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer throughout the campaign.
MacKay, who
subsequently ran for and lost the party leadership to O’Toole, famously said
those issues “hung around Andrew Scheer’s neck like a stinking albatross.”
Well, a new
reeking carcass now hangs around O’Toole’s neck, as well as around the necks of
the other 337 Conservatives who will run for Parliament, likely later this
spring or summer. This one is the “stinking albatross” of climate change
denial, and the Conservatives themselves supplied both the rope and the
deceased bird.
COVID is the
crisis of the moment, and recovery from the pandemic will monopolize public
policy here and worldwide, probably for several years to come.
But climate
change is still the defining challenge of our times, and a Canadian political
party that’s unable to adopt a clear and simple statement recognizing its
existence is, or should be, unelectable nationally.
The Conservatives
will protest that their policy documents already include a statement about
climate change or that a decision from the convention is not binding on the
leader or the elected members.
And O’Toole will
eventually deliver a climate change policy absent a carbon tax, and the
Conservatives will claim it’s a good one.
But the damage is
done. Every time climate change comes up during the next election campaign,
Conservative candidates will – and should – have to deal with their party’s
rejection of a simple statement that climate change is real.
In election
campaigns, simple messages work best.
This weekend, the
CPC handed the Liberals and every other party a simple message to use as a
political cudgel against them: Canada’s Conservatives refused to admit that
climate change is real.
Journalist and
writer Jim Vibert has worked as a communications adviser to five Nova Scotia
governments.
-30-
Here is a link to a recent Journal-Pioneer story on the PEI Conservative Party
meeting last week: https://www.journalpioneer.com/news/provincial/despite-conservative-vote-against-acknowledging-climate-change-pei-rep-jody-sanderson-highlights-environmental-platform-566818/
Atlantic Skies
for March 29th - April 4th, 2021 "The Sun, Moon and
the Tides" -
by Glenn K. Roberts
In addition to
all things celestial, my granddaughter, Scarlet, is enamored of the ocean,
especially waves - she loves being on the beach on a stormy day, when the waves
come crashing ashore. While chatting about the tides the other day, my
inquisitive little sprite asked, "How does the Moon cause the tides to
rise and fall, Poppy?"
While most
people probably know that the Moon does, indeed, influence the tides' rise and
fall each day, I'm probably correct in stating that very few understand exactly
how and why it happens. It all has to do with tidal forces between two
celestial objects, in this case Earth and the Moon. When two celestial objects
are in close proximity to one another, there is a mutual gravitational
attraction relative to their respective masses and the distance between them.
This attraction is referred to as tidal force.
The Moon exerts
different gravitational tidal forces at different locations on the Earth. The
side of the Earth facing the Moon experiences a stronger tidal force than does
the center of the planet, while the side of the Earth facing away from the Moon
experiences less tidal force than does the center of the planet (this explains
why the side of Earth facing away from the Moon also experiences a high tide at
the same time the side facing the Moon experiences a high tide). These
contending tidal forces attempt to stretch the Earth along a line connecting
the center of the Earth and the Moon. However, because the Earth is fairly
rigid, it cannot deform very much in response to the tidal forces of the Moon,
but can only flex a small amount, resulting in the Earth becoming slightly
non-spherical and somewhat flattened at the poles. The Earth's equatorial
diameter is 12,756 kms and 12,720 kms from pole-to-pole, while its equatorial
circumference is 40,075 kms, and 40,008 kms pole-to-pole.
The Earth's
oceans, however, are not rigid, and can, and do, respond to the tidal forces of
the Moon much more readily. As the Earth rotates, any point on the Earth's
surface directly below, including the Earth's oceans, is subject to the Moon's
gravitational pull. As a consequence, the ocean water at that point goes from
shallow to deep, and back again, as the Moon orbits the Earth, resulting in the
twice-daily low and high tides experienced at most, but not all, locations. As
well, on any given beach, the actual timing and height of the tides depends on
the shape of the coastline and the particular beach, the slope of the seabed
running up to the beach, and the prevailing winds and coastal currents.
The Sun also
exerts tidal forces on the Earth's oceans, although only about 50% as great as
the lunar forces. When the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned (as at Full and New
phases), the Sun and Moon's tidal forces reinforce one another, resulting in
lower and higher tides than normal. The high tides at this time are sometimes
referred to as "spring tides", with no reference to the season, but
,rather, that the water level "springs up" to a greater height than
normal. This is even more pronounced with supermoons, when the Full or New Moon
is at its closest approach to Earth (perigee). During the Moon's First
Quarter and Last Quarter phases, when the Moon and the Sun are at right angles
to one another (relative to the Earth, as viewed from above the poles), the
tidal forces of the Sun and Moon partially cancel each other out, resulting in
smaller tidal shifts, referred to as "neap tides".
Neither Mercury
or Venus are observable this coming week. Mars (mag. +1.3, in Taurus - the
Bull) becomes visible around 8:20 p.m., 49 degrees above the western horizon,
before dropping down and setting about 1:30 a.m. Saturn (mag. +0.8, in
Capricornus - the Sea Goat) and Jupiter (mag. -2.1, in Capricornus) are both
visible just above the pre-dawn southeast horizon between 5:10- 5:30 a.m.,
although you will need a clear and unobstructed view of the horizon to see
either planet, as they won't rise very high above the horizon (Saturn - 9
degrees, and Jupiter - 10 degrees) before they are both washed out as dawn
breaks around 6:30 a.m.
If you're
looking for a really challenging night sky object to find, have a look for
V1405 Cas (in Cassiopeia - the Queen), a recently discovered nova (a star that
brightens suddenly and quite dramatically). It is currently (as of Mar. 21)
around mag. +7.6, bright enough to be seen in binoculars. Either Google it, or
go to https://earthsky.org for more information and charts. Novae can dramatically
brighten and then, just as dramatically, dim and disappear in a matter of days,
so be quick. Cassiopeia is visible above the northwest horizon by about 8 p.m.
this coming week; look for the constellation's distinctive, stretched-out
"W" shape.
Until next week,
clear skies.
Events:
Mar. 30 - Moon
at perigee (closest to Earth)
Apr.
4 - Last Quarter Moon
-30-
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Wagner’s Der Fliegende
Holländer,
today
until 6:30PM
Starring Anja Kampe, Mihoko Fujimura, Sergey Skorokhodov, David Portillo,
Evgeny Nikitin, and Franz-Josef Selig, conducted by Valery Gergiev. Production
by François Girard. From March 10, 2020.
Week 55 of Nightly free Metropolitan Opera HD broadcasts
Theme: Love
Triangles**
Bellini’s Norma, tonight 7:30PM until
Tuesday about 6:30PM
Starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Joyce DiDonato, Joseph Calleja, and Matthew Rose,
conducted by Carlo Rizzi. Production by Sir David McVicar. From October 7,
2017.
(**This could be a whole year of operas)
March 28, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Look deep
into nature and then you will understand everything better.
– Albert Einstein
(Missed) Event:
Earth Hour, a time to "unplug"
and enjoy an hour without artificial light, was last night, and the date
slipped by me (again), so here's a suggestion to pick a time to celebrate your
own Earth Hour this week.
--------------------------------------
Something missing is a renewed discussion
of electoral reform, specifically voting systems and Proportional
Representation (though kudos to the Green Party Official
Opposition for proposing to lower the voting age on P.E.I.). The
topic does not appear to be mentioned in the Premier's Mandate Letters to
Ministers (which have not been updated since November 2019) nor in the most
recent Speech from the Throne (though I may have missed it).
Note that this letter was written before the Speech
from the Throne on February 25th.
https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/local-perspectives/letter-government-media-are-silent-on-proportional-representation-553482/
LETTER: Government, media are silent on
proportional representation - The Guardian Guest Opinion by Marie Burge
Published in print on Thursday, February 18th, 2021
It must be a
mystery to all Islanders why proportional representation (PR) has practically
disappeared from the communications of all four political parties.
Just two short
years ago PR was a real possibility and a well-founded hope for many P.E.I.
residents in most sections of the province. It was top of mind for the majority
of the voting population across 23 of the 27 electoral districts. Do
politicians feel that the people of P.E.I. are tired of democratic reform or
that they are not interested?
It is hard to
believe that the Island population would so easily give up after such a long
history of fighting for democracy and for needed changes to the electoral
system. If our ancestors had listened to twisted and false advertising, we still
would not have the secret vote, women’s vote, or Indigenous vote. In no other
stage of P.E.I.’s democratic reforms would Islanders have given up. So why
would we give up now when we are so close to reaching our goal of proportional
representation?
The organization
Islanders for Proportional Representation (IPR) notes that with the exception
of a sentence or two in an op-ed or a letter to the editor, PR is “dead in the
water” for the media. Who or what is influencing the media’s silence on this
crucial issue?
Islanders for
Proportional Representation has expected that at least the P.E.I. government
would keep democratic renewal and electoral reform as a high priority. In
reviewing the mandates of the various cabinet ministers we are struck by the
shocking reality that no department is responsible for democratic renewal. It
appears, therefore, that having no other ministerial home, this responsibility,
by default, falls back on the premier.
We remind the
current government, including the official opposition and the third party, that
they are dishonouring almost 50 per cent of Island voters by not keeping
proportional representation in the limelight. It is the hope of Islanders for
Proportional Representation that it will show up in the speech from the throne
on Feb. 25.
In particular,
it is important to remember that many more Islanders voted “yes” for PR than
the number who voted for the Progressive Conservatives, the party brought to
power in the 2019 election. Where are their voices heard?
Marie
Burge,
Islanders
for Proportional Representation
-30-
In
Case You Missed It:
Saturday, April 24th:
Viewing Party,
Re-broadcast of Forum from Fall 2020 "PR Vision 2020 and Beyond",
with Willie Sullivan of Scotland, 2-3:30PM, hosted by Islanders
for Proportional Representation.
Islanders for
Proportional Representation is hosting a viewing party on April 24 at 2:00
pm for the recording of our event from the fall, "PR Vision 2000
and Beyond", featuring Willie Sullivan from the UK Electoral Reform
Society, explaining the evolution of Scotland's voting system from an
antiquated FPTP system to a modern electoral system based on proportional
representation. This was carried out in a system similar to the Westminster
System on which our Parliamentary form of Government has been based. Many other
Parliamentary forms of government like New Zealand had adopted proportional
representation voting systems. Islanders for Proportional Representation have
remained active since our last Provincial Election. This viewing
party will be held on the week of the second anniversary of the Provincial
Election held on April 23, 2019 when the majority of (Districts) on
PEI voted in favour of PR and many others offered substantial
support. The Webinar begins at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 24th.
This is the link to
our Facebook page where further information is posted: https://fb.me/e/3Jrt4mpK5
There is further
information to be found here and a link to the online event: https://www.islanders4pr.ca/events/
And
before that:
Webinar on PR Basics:
Saturday, April
10th, 8PM, online, hosted by FairVote Canada
excerpts from Anita
Nickerson's their e-mail:
Are you new to
electoral reform and want to get up to speed on the basics of the campaign for
proportional representation?
What is proportional representation? Why do we need it?
How do the two most popular systems recommended in Canada
actually work?
REGISTER FOR PR 101
Special guest: Dennis Pilon is an Associate Professor at York
University and Canadian electoral reform expert....
Learn how winner-take-all voting is failing us, what proportional
representation is and the research behind it. Find out how PR will empower
voters, encourage cooperation, and build a more inclusive Parliament!
Dennis Pilon will explain the basics of the two systems most
often proposed in Canada: Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) and Single
Transferable Vote (PR-STV).
Following the presentation, we will have Q+A where you can ask
questions via the question box.
Only proportional systems can deliver on our most important
values: effective votes, fair representation, collaborative politics, voter
choice, diversity, regional balance, and more accountable government.
Please share this webinar....
-30-
Let me know if the link
doesn't work right, please.
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Mozart’s Don Giovanni, today until 6:30PM
Starring Renée Fleming, Solveig Kringelborn, Hei-Kyung Hong, Paul Groves, Bryn
Terfel, Ferruccio Furlanetto, and Sergei Koptchak. Production by Franco Zeffirelli.
From October 14, 2000.
Wagner’s Der Fliegende
Holländer,
tonight
7:30PM until Monday about 6:30PM
From March 10, 2020.
Now a whole year ago...
"In March 2020, the Met made the difficult choice to cancel the remainder
of the 2019–20 season in an effort to keep audiences, performers, and staff
members safe from the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision also meant ending the
Live in HD season early, only days before a scheduled transmission of François
Girard’s stirring new production of Der
Fliegende Holländer. Fortunately, as part of regular preparations
for an HD broadcast, a prior performance of the opera was recorded as a camera
rehearsal. In this high-definition “scratch taping,” celebrated conductor
Valery Gergiev is on the podium for Wagner’s breakout operatic masterpiece, an
eerie ghost story about the otherworldly Flying Dutchman. Having already sung a
number of the composer’s works at the Met, bass-baritone Evgeny Nikitin
delivers a commanding performance in the title role, opposite soprano Anja
Kampe in her debut season as Senta. The thrilling cast also stars tenor Sergey
Skorokhodov as Erik, bass Franz-Josef Selig as Daland, mezzo-soprano Mihoko
Fujimura as Mary, and tenor David Portillo as the Steersman." With
gorgeous, oil-painting inspired sets, and amazing short for Wagner, at just 2
hours 20 minutes.
March 27, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events:
Farmers' Markets planned to be open in
Summerside (9AM-1PM) and Charlottetown (9AM-2PM), but take it easy on the
roads and understand some vendors may not be able to get there.
Summerside Farmers'
Market suggests you visit their page on Facebook before heading out:
https://www.facebook.com/SummersideFarmersMarket
And here is Charlottetown
Farmers' Market page:
https://www.facebook.com/CharlottetownFarmersMarket
Crafters at the Seaport Spring Craft Sale,
9AM-5PM, Seaport, 1 Weymouth Street. $2 admission. No
updated word about this event featuring local crafts, but you can check the
status here:
Facebook event link
Nobody's being too judgey here, and
most of this is no surprise, but a good summary of a complicated issue -- just
offering food for thought (!). https://davidsuzuki.org/story/healthy-food-systems-for-a-healthy-planet/
Healthy food systems for a healthy planet - david suzuki.org article by David Suzuki with
contributions from Senior Editor and Writer Ian Hanington
Published on Tuesday,
March 23rd, 2021
We all
have to eat. But the ways in which we grow, harvest, process, transport,
prepare and consume food are profoundly affecting everything on the planet,
from climate to biodiversity to water.
A comprehensive new study finds food systems are
responsible for about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. The study
in Nature Food,
by researchers from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the European
Commission’s Joint Research Centre, includes a database that examines every
stage of the global food chain from 1990 to 2015 by sector, greenhouse gas and
country.
Most of the emissions,
71 per cent, come from agriculture and associated land use and land use change,
including about 39 per cent from early stages — agriculture, aquaculture,
fishing and fertilizer use — and one-third from agricultural land use and
change, mainly due to carbon loss from deforestation and soil degradation,
including peatland destruction.
The rest are from the
supply chain: “retail, transport, consumption, fuel production, waste
management, industrial processes and packaging.” In industrialized countries,
these downstream sectors make up a larger average share.
Agriculture also takes
up half the world’s habitable land. Livestock accounts
for 77 per cent of that (including land for growing feed) while producing only
18 per cent of the world’s calories and 37 per cent of total protein. That
continues to increase with human population growth: global food production
increased 40 per cent between 1990 and 2015. So shifting to more plant-based
diets can save habitat and natural spaces while reducing emissions.

a ratty-looking ratatouille I made once
Although the study
shows the percentage of total emissions from food systems declined, that’s only
because emissions from other sources — mostly burning oil, gas and coal for
energy — increased.
The research has a
silver lining. Sonja Vermeulen, program director at the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research, told Carbon
Brief that it shows we can feed the world’s eight billion people if we
address the problems.
“It is theoretically
possible, even with population growth, for everyone in the world to eat a
healthy and culturally appropriate diet without transgressing planetary
boundaries for carbon, biodiversity, nitrogen, phosphorus and water,” she said.
“But that will take a lot of effort both technically and politically.”
(Vermeulen wasn’t involved in the study.)
She noted resolving the
climate crisis means addressing emissions not just from agriculture (which
includes shifting to more plant-based diets) but also from energy and
transport.
Although a major share
of transport and energy emissions are carbon dioxide from burning coal, oil and
gas, food systems are more complex. CO2 makes up only half of food-related
emissions. Methane makes up 35 per cent — mainly from farming, livestock and
rice production and waste treatment. Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than CO2, but it
remains in the atmosphere for a shorter time, so reducing these emissions can
have rapid effects.
Interestingly,
packaging creates more emissions than “food miles” — 5.4 compared to 4.8 per
cent.
The study also found
the top six economies are responsible for 51 per cent of global food system
emissions: China (13.5 per cent), Indonesia (8.8 per cent), the United States
(8.2 per cent), Brazil (7.4 per cent), the European Union (6.7 per cent) and
India (6.3 per cent).
The research also
“highlights how global food systems are becoming more energy intensive,
reflecting trends in the retail, packaging, transport and processing sectors,
whose emissions are growing rapidly in some developing countries,” according to the FAO. Potent fluorinated
greenhouse gases, used in refrigeration and other industrial applications, are
rapidly increasing in industrialized countries.
This database helps
identify the problems and their sources — a major step toward solving them. A
wide range of other research points to solutions.
Farming in less
disruptive ways is key. That can be accomplished through restorative
agriculture to produce food in ways that don’t deplete soils and destroy carbon
sinks, and shifting away from diets that rely heavily on animals like cattle
and sheep, which require a lot of land and water and produce high methane
emissions. (Plant-centred diets are also healthier.)
Reducing emissions
related to packaging, transport, storage and processing is also important, as
is cutting food waste.
We have many
opportunities to resolve the climate crisis. Food systems are a big part of the
puzzle. We need to start making changes now!
-30-
Timely or not, the local reincarnation of Burger Love begins next week,
celebrating Island meat and potatoes (with a play on
pronunciation). Some places are serving creative interpretations of
this, by the way.
CBC article on the
new "culinary showcase": https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-meat-potatoes-march-2021-1.5949543
A letter from January
worth reading, though I quibble with the term "natural resources" as
this traditionally seems to mean exploitable minerals or fossil fuel deposits;
and P.E.I. has plenty of natural resources that matter, if we value and protect
them.
https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/local-perspectives/letter-organic-farming-a-potential-boon-for-pei-540430/
LETTER: Organic
farming a potential boon for P.E.I. - The Guardian Guest Opinion by Chris McGarry
Published in print
on Thursday January 14th, 2021
P.E.I. is the
only province in Canada without an abundance of natural resources. Therefore,
our rich soil is one of our most profitable sources of capital. While fishing
and tourism are a major part of the Island’s economy, without a doubt,
agriculture is our primary industry.
In recent years,
there has been a growing discord regarding the model of large-scale corporate
farming used in the province, a practice that is wreaking havoc on our soil and
– combined with the increasing demand for more acres of productive land – is
putting the prospect of getting into farming further out of reach for future
generations.
P.E.I. is known
internationally as Canada’s "food island" yet, according to a 2018
study by Statistics Canada, 23 per cent of Island children live in food
insecure households. With so much food production, why is this happening?
The COVID-19
pandemic has spurred many negative spinoffs, the most ominous to date being
rising food and energy prices, which in turn has prompted many younger couples
to want to return to the land and grow their food or start small organic farms.
In a basic lesson of supply and demand, increased corporate demand means even
higher land prices, thus putting even more obstacles in the path of people who
in the future may not have any other choice but to grow their own food in order
to feed their families.
As Islanders, we
must ask ourselves if the current model of industrial agriculture is in the
best interests of our soil, or even sustainable for such a small landmass over
the long term. P.E.I. is already unique in many ways. Becoming the first fully
organic jurisdiction in Canada (or the world for that matter) would make our
position on the map that such stronger.
Imagine, if you
will, tourists visiting Abegweit not only to marvel at our world-famous beaches
and stunning vistas, but to see and buy produce from the hundreds of small
organic farms dotting the pastoral countryside.
A great
initiative would be to set up plants in each county that bottle, pickle and
freeze Island-grown organic products which then are shipped around the globe.
Furthermore, with increased organic farming, the use of and demand for
pesticides will decrease considerably.
Chris McGarry is
an author, editor and freelance writer living in Belfast who has written
extensively on agricultural issues and has been involved in blueberry growing.
-30-
Double Don Giovanni Day!
"Mozart’s
outrageous comedy tells the tale of an incorrigible young playboy who blazes a
path to his own destruction in a single day." And it ends with
a bang!
Metropolitan Opera
Saturday Radio Matinee, 2PM, 104.7FM.
Mozart’s Don
Giovanni
Performance from March 10, 2012
Andrew Davis; Marina Rebeka (Donna Anna), Ellie Dehn (Donna Elvira), Isabel
Leonard (Zerlina), Matthew Polenzani (Don Ottavio), Gerald Finley (Don
Giovanni), Bryn Terfel (Leporello), Shenyang (Masetto), James Morris
(Commendatore)
Great cast! and such explanatory discussion at the beginning and between Acts.
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Mozart’s Idomeneo, today until 6:30PM
Starring Hildegard Behrens, Ileana Cotrubas, Frederica von Stade, Luciano
Pavarotti, and John Alexander, conducted by James Levine. Production by
Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. From November 6, 1982.
Mozart’s Don Giovanni, tonight 7:30PM until Sunday about
6:30PM
Starring Renée Fleming, Solveig Kringelborn, Hei-Kyung Hong, Paul Groves, Bryn
Terfel, Ferruccio Furlanetto, and Sergei Koptchak. Production by Franco
Zeffirelli. From
October 14, 2000.
And if staying inside and watching figure skating is the goal today, it's a
good one, as cbcsports.ca has coverage of the World Figure Skating
Championships, with the Men's starting about 7AM and the Ice Dance at 1PM, (online),
(the others finishing already) and wrap-ups beginning on TV at 3PM in the
afternoon.
CBC Sports online: https://www.cbc.ca/sports
CBC article on results so far
I am pessimistic about the
human race because it is too ingenious for its own good. Our approach to nature
is to beat it into submission. We would stand a better chance of survival if we
accommodated ourselves to this planet and viewed it appreciatively, instead of
skeptically and dictatorially.
― E.B. White (1899-1985)
...who also gave us Charlotte's
Web, Stuart
Little and The
Trumpet of the Swan, not to forget The Elements of Style and a bunch of
essays
March 26, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events:
Political Panel on CBC radio, 96.1FM, probably after the 7:30AM news.
Fridays 4 Future, 3:30PM, by Province House, all welcome.
The P.E.I. Legislature sits from 10AM-2PM today. Budget
and perhaps other Government business today. Note that next week the
House will sit Tuesday and Wednesday but not the rest of the week for
Easter holidays.
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
------------
Small notes:
I
did not listen to the Legislature much the past two days yesterday but
for small bits, but some of it has made me Sigh, Sigh and Sigh a little
bit...
...of course the province should cover Strangles testing, no matter who owns the horses.
...personal
social media accounts allow politicians to show us some of their
personal life, and air their opinions, of course and fine, but the
opinions should be read with a small grain of Island sea salt.
....the
lowering the Voting Age legislation debate on the floor seems to be
replaying the same questions, in the same tones of shock and near
apoplexia. Again. There is a Groundhog's Day-feel to the debate. I am
sure there can be consensus on this issue, if we look at the bigger
picture of engaging our younger citizens. Scotland has lowered its
voting age -- are there commentaries from youth and others about how
that's gone there? Aye?
Marilyn
MacKay, a true climate trooper on P.E.I., reminds us of what happened
last week, and of the continuing push for clear climate change-fighting
action (especially as the Legislature sifts through the proposed
budget).
GUEST OPINION: We don't want more empty promises on climate - The Guardian Guest opinion by Marilyn McKay
Published on Friday, March 19th, 2021
https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/local-perspectives/guest-opinion-we-dont-want-more-empty-promises-on-climate-565368/
The
international, youth led, climate group Fridays for Future has set
March 19 as a global climate strike day. The theme of the strike is
“#NoMoreEmptyPromises” – stemming from the belief that world governments
are making ambitious pledges to reach net zero emissions by 2050
without the action to back them up. They suggest: “Empty promises like
these can be a very dangerous phenomenon because they give the
impression that sufficient action is being taken, but in fact, that is
not the case as these targets are full of loopholes, creative accounting
and unscientific assumptions.”
This
skepticism is understandable. The International Energy Agency recently
announced that global carbon emissions were set to be higher for 2020
than pre-pandemic levels – dashing hopes that these levels might have
peaked in 2019. As well, the green recovery effort has thus far not lead
to stellar results. A March 2021 report by Oxford University’s Economic
Recovery Project and the UN Environment Project examining recovery
spending by leading economies found only 18 per cent of spending to be
“green”. The report concludes that: “Despite positive steps towards a
sustainable COVID-19 recovery from a few leading nations, the world has
so far fallen short of matching aspirations to build back better.”
Here
in Canada, our government has failed to reach every climate target it
has set thus far and continues to invest heavily in the fossil fuel
industry in spite of wide spread calls from economists and
environmentalists alike to stop. While it has made significant
investments in a green recovery via funding for renewable energy, green
transport and building retrofits; a recent report by the International
Institute for Sustainable Development indicates that pandemic spending
resulted in a massive increase in federal aid to fossil fuel producers.
While three-quarters of that aid was for cleaning up abandoned oil wells
– therefore reducing methane emissions; Vanessa Corkal, the report’s
author, suggests that "... any kind of financial support to companies
that produce fossil fuels could ultimately help those companies invest
to produce more oil and gas.“ Thus the good news may be bad news in
disguise.
On
the P.E.I. front, the 2021-22 provincial budget released last week
includes the good news of a $60 million investment in green research and
technology and the bad news of a meagre $250,000 for an Island wide
public transit system (to develop a plan and a few pilot routes). After
massive spending on road projects and paving it is disappointing to see
so little ambition applied to public transit. Our provincial government
has set ambitious climate targets – to reach net zero energy by 2030 and
net zero emissions by 2040. To avoid falling into the category of
“empty promises” these targets will require a bold climate action plan –
which we are anxiously awaiting.
In
the meantime, Fridays for Future, P.E.I. will hold its regular climate
rally on March 19 at 3:30 p.m. on Grafton Street (at Province House) in
support of the global climate strike. All are welcome to join in.
Marilyn McKay is a member of the P.E.I. Fridays for Future Climate Action Group.
-30-
Metropolitan Opera video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Strauss’s Elektra, today until 6:30PM
Starring
Nina Stemme, Adrianne Pieczonka, Waltraud Meier, and Eric Owens,
conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Production by Patrice Chéreau. From
April 30, 2016. Modernish production, of a very unhappy family reunion.
Mozart’s Idomeneo, tonight 7:30PM until 6:30PM Saturday
Starring Hildegard Behrens, Ileana Cotrubas, Frederica von Stade, and Luciano Pavarotti. From
November 6, 1982. About 3 hours. Still more post-Trojan War
epilogues. Pavarotti is the King of Crete, shipwrecked returning home
from the War, Frederica von Stade in the "tunic-role" of his son
Idamante and Elettra (yes, poor Elektra in yet another version of
another chapter in her terrible life) is understandably miserable.
March 25, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
In an age
when man has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential
needs for survival, water along with other resources has become the victim of
his indifference.
---- Rachel Carson (1901-1964)
Events:
The P.E.I.
Legislature sits from 1-5PM this afternoon.
To watch live and to
access background related materials, Records, links and video clips, go to:
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative
Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
-------------------------
Webinar today:
"Seed Activism: Global
Perspectives", 4-5:30PM ADT,
hosted by the National Farmers Union's "NFUniversity"
"In Canada and
around the world, there has been a corporate push in the past two decades to
strengthen laws and regulations governing seeds and plant varieties. These
developments have proven highly controversial and have prompted a resurgence of
activism around seeds. In this NFUniversity session, Dr. Karine Peschard will
draw on the experiences of Brazil, India, New Zealand and Norway to provide a
global perspective on these developments. How have different groups – peasants
and family farmers, large farmers, Indigenous peoples and civil society
organizations – come together to oppose these legislative changes? What are the
parallels with recent developments in Canada (namely, Bill C-18 and the Seeds
Act Regulations), and what can be learned from these countries’ experiences?
This session will highlight common trends among countries with different
agricultural landscapes, and present successful examples of mobilizations
against seed enclosures."
Registration Link:
https://www.nfu.ca/nfuniversity/seed-activism-global-perspectives/?
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: P.E.I. government
minister pushing limits of power - The Guardian article by Doug Campbell
Published online on
Wednesday, March 10th, 2021
https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/local-perspectives/letter-to-the-editor-pei-government-minister-pushing-limits-of-power-561893/
District
1 of the National Farmers Union commends the action of MLA Cory Deagle in the
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly. Deagle, the Conservative chair of the Legislative
Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability had
the fortitude to question his own government’s Environment Minister, Stephen
Myers, on his blatant disregard for the recommendations of the all-party
committee regarding the Water Act, which will come into play on June 16.
In disregarding
the recommendations of the committee, Myers showed contempt, not only of the
committee but of the many P.E.I. volunteer community groups that put hours of
work into preparing educated briefs for presentation to the committee. All of
these groups have vested interest in ensuring the Island's resources of land
and water are protected in an environmental manner conducive to the welfare of
all Islanders.
Yet, Mr. Myers
informed Deagle that he and his unnamed experts are in the driver’s seat when
it comes to the Water Act. The NFU finds that a highly questionable statement.
There is no hiding whose interests were made the priority or whose interests
overrode all the positive work brought to the committee, and acted on by the
committee.
Recent days are
showing Islanders that many of our government ministers are out of touch with
the issues facing average Islanders. Water was removed from the title of Mr.
Myer’s department, which is now known as Environment, Energy and Climate
Action. Does anyone other than the NFU find this ironic? Perhaps the actions of
Mr. Deagle will influence other MLAs into taking a stand to represent and act
for the democratic rights of all Islanders, and not let the environmental
dinosaurs, unsustainable thinkers, and self-serving corporations win the day.
Douglas
Campbell, Southwest Lot 16
District Director of
the National Farmers Union
-30-
Shared on social media, this poor copy of
Wayne Wright's recent editorial cartoon (sorry not to have original source, but
please share with me if you find it)

Wayne Wright editorial
cartoon
Different planets....
What's news with the planet Mars rover? from the U.K. Guardian today: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/25/marswatch-high-hopes-for-first-powered-controlled-flight-on-another-planet
Marswatch: high hopes for first powered
controlled flight on another planet - The (U.K.) Guardian article by Stuart Clark
Mars mission’s next
major milestone will be deployment of Ingenuity, a small helicopter
Published online on
Thursday, March 25th, 2021
Welcome
to the first in a new series of occasional Marswatch columns. With the change
of administration in America, the moon landings scheduled for 2024 are likely
to be moved back to their original target of 2028. So we thought we’d change
our focus to Mars.
The big news at Mars
is the landing of Nasa’s rover Perseverance. It touched down on 18 February and
has been successfully exploring the 28-mile-wide (45km) Jezero crater ever
since.
The next major
mission milestone will be the deployment of Ingenuity, a small helicopter that
is stowed beneath the rover. Perseverance is heading towards the deployment
zone, a flat stretch of land largely clear of boulders that measures 10 by 10
metres across.
Once there, it will
place Ingenuity to the ground and drive away. In preparation, on 21 March, the
rover dropped the guitar-shaped debris shield that had been protecting the
helicopter. Once on the ground, Ingenuity will begin its series of test
flights. If it succeeds, it will be humankind’s first powered, controlled flight
on another planet. The attempts will begin no earlier than 8 April.
-30-
If you're a figure
skating watching enthusiast, the World Figure Skating
Championships are going on in Sweden right now, with summaries packaged on CBC
Sports on CBCTV Saturday at 3PM and Sunday 1PM, and live coverage mornings
(about 7AM) and afternoons (about 2PM) today through Saturday streaming
online. Broadcast schedule here: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/figureskating/broadcast
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
More on aftermath from
the Trojan War, dealing with the Orestes and his tragic and dysfunctional
family...
Gluck’s Iphigénie
en Tauride, today until 6:30PM
Starring Susan Graham, Plácido Domingo, Paul Groves, and Gordon Hawkins,
conducted by Patrick Summers. Production by Stephen Wadsworth.
From February 26, 2011.
Strauss’s Elektra, tonight 7:30PM until 6:30PM Friday
Starring Nina Stemme, Adrianne Pieczonka, Waltraud Meier, and Eric Owens,
conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Production by Patrice Chéreau. From April 30,
2016.
March 24, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events:
Due in a week,
Wednesday, March 31st:
Deadline for public feedback on changes to
National Park Skmaqn - Port la Joye -Fort Amherst.
Background, plans, video, contact info here:
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/pe/skmaqn/info/plan
The P.E.I. Legislature
sits from 1-5PM today.
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
From the Ecology
Action Centre:
Take action: Tell (the federal) government to keep their
promises and invest in a green and just recovery for all.
Right now, decision makers in Ottawa are deciding how to
allocate billions of our tax dollars, with a new federal budget just around the
corner. In this moment, Canada has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild
a society that prioritizes collective wellbeing over profit for the few, and
recognizes that our own health relies on the health of the ecosystems that sustain
us.
More here: https://ecologyaction.ca/tell-federal-government-invest-equitable-sustainable-future?
Small notes from
yesterday's Legislative Assembly
Why....The Legislative
Assembly people explained this week
so well, I am copying from their Facebook page:
"The legislature is back in session today at 1:00pm,
and the budget will likely be part of the day's business. During the
winter-spring sittings, debate on the operating budget for the province is a
major component of the work in the House.
When members review and debate the budget, the process is
called “Committee of the Whole House on Supply”. The Speaker leaves the chamber
and all members collectively study the budget, with the Deputy Speaker serving
as chair. Ministers and their support staff sit with the chair as the budget
for their portfolio is read and debated in sections. Members can ask as many
questions as they wish in order to have a clear picture of how Government is
spending public funds.
Sigh...During an exchange in Question Period yesterday, Minister of
Environment, Energy and Climate Action (or just the "Minister of
Action" as a fellow Tory Caucus MLA referred to him as), countered
questions about determining water flow, asked directly by Opposition MLA Lynne
Lund, with unnecessary provoking remarks. (Countering that he never had a
briefing book, that her statements were untrue, etc.) Honed from years of
Opposition, perhaps, but still detracting from just answering questions.
But Minister Myers did clarify that holding ponds will have to meet Water Act
regulations within five years (an awfully long time for compliance). Question Period record page from Legislative Assembly
website
High...glimmers that there
can be serious discussions on the future of agriculture in this province, first
when Sidney MacEwen (MLA for Morell-Donagh, and Government House Leader) and
the Agriculture Minister and staff discussed rating the effectiveness of
environmental programs for improving soil health and such (during Department
budget analysis); and the other with the Opposition Motion No. 7, about Sustainable Agriculture with heartfelt, compassionate but realistic comments from Opposition Leader
Peter Bevan-Baker and Michelle Beaton MLA Mermaid-Stratford (and Opposition
House Leader). The debate on the Motion will be continued at
another date, and I hope there will continue to be vision on this.
Excellent letter: https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/local-perspectives/letter-what-happened-to-pei-government-collaboration-564203/
LETTER: What happened to P.E.I. government
collaboration? - The
Guardian Letter to the Editor
Published in print on
Wednesday, March 17th, 2021
What happened to collaboration?
The Dennis King
government is reaching the halfway point in its mandate. One primary promise it
made at the outset was a commitment to collaboration in its style of
governance. It could be argued that this has been fulfilled. Unfortunately, in
the critical files involving land and water, this collaboration seems to have
taken a different form than what Islanders envisioned. There doesn’t appear to
be any meaningful interest in collaborating with the elected representatives
from the other parties or, indeed, some members of their own caucus.
Recommendations made by standing committees bear little impact, it seems, if
certain industries fear loss of entitlement. King has highlighted the equal
representation in these standing committees to illustrate his collaborative
government model. To overlook their recommendations puts the premier’s
commitment to this model into question.
The short list of collaborators
outside of government becomes noticeably shorter as land use and water
regulations impact the potato processing industry. This list appears to be
limited to the Island version of Sen. Mike Duffy’s infamous “boys in short
pants”. In this instance they are tasked to relay standing orders from select
corporate partners’ desks and boardroom tables into the ears of the premier.
Furthermore, recent
statements released and levers pulled by this government reinforce the outdated
and dangerous fallacy that environmental degradation is the cost of doing
business. Clearly, diluting the purpose of the Water Act in tandem with further
dabbling with the pitifully underenforced Land Protection Act do not signal any
intent to facilitate positive change. A senior cabinet minister using
polarizing jargon to pit farmers against environmentalists does not lead to
consensus-based outcomes.
It is time for the
Dennis King government to relearn how to communicate with Islanders and show
enough courage to stop allowing lobbyists and industry surrogates to dictate
its agenda. Why not govern as promised and actually do things differently? We
will soon reach the point that we are unable to mitigate the damage.
Boyd Allen,
Pownal
-30-
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Berlioz’s La
Damnation de Faust,
today until 6:30PM
Starring Susan Graham, Marcello Giordani, and John Relyea. Production by Robert
Lepage. From November 22, 2008.
Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride, tonight 7:30PM until 6:30PM
Thursday
Starring Susan Graham, Plácido Domingo, Paul Groves, and Gordon Hawkins,
conducted by Patrick Summers. Production by Stephen Wadsworth.
From February 26, 2011. Under two hours. More fallout from the
Trojan War.
March 23, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Every aspect
of our lives is, in a sense, a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.
— Frances Moore Lappé, author of Diet for a Small Planet
----------------------------------------------------
Events:
Local Food Ordering -- Charlottetown Farmers'
Market2GO, order until noon today
for pickup/delivery Thursday.
https://charlottetownfarmersmarket.com/online-market/
--------------------
There will probably be a weekly "Dr. Morrison
Update" at 11:30AM, on the Prince Edward Island Government's website, Facebook
and YouTube spaces, and also CBC Facebook, and Q93FM Radio. If we hear
it's a different time, we'll post that on the Citizens' Alliance Facebook page.
-----------------------------
A correction
that the "Planning Your Garden for Seed Saving" Talk today at the
Library is being given by community organizer and Seed Saver Extraordinaire
Josie Baker (not community organizer and Chef Extraordinaire Morgan
Palmer). My confusion -- sorry.
I am also confused that for a webinar event, the registration closes at 4PM the
day before -- seems a mite inflexible in this virtual age, though the
Provincial Library Service is trying hard to stay connected with the public.
----------------------------
Today begins a
three-week sitting session of the P.E.I. Legislature, with the House sitting
from 1-5PM today, tomorrow and Thursday, and Friday from 10AM-2PM.
It looks like the week will consist of digging into the Operating Budget, along
with debate on Government Bills and Motions, and Opposition Bills and Motions.
"Watch
Live" links and many House Records are here:
P.E.I. Legislative
Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
and watching live and past video clips and information bites, are here:
P.E.I. Legislative
Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
Opinions on the House, from people who
would make a great contribution in one of those seats (but until we improve our
voting system, we won't easily elect some of these strong voices). Today,
here is one:
Lynne Thiele has run in a couple
of elections on P.E.I., including the District 10 byelection last Fall.
Her knowledge on issues is both deep and wide.
Around the time of the Speech from the Throne, I asked was she
thought, and what she would like MLAs to work on this session. Here is
what she responded, in her sharp and direct words:
1 Address the growing health
problems of addiction and mental health issue. A commitment to build
a mental health centre is again in future planning but if the (planning) staff
we have now has failed so miserably, how will a new building help?
2. The big promise to protect the land and
water must be met. It might take some money for legal fees. Hiring an expert to
study the water situation is only a waste of money.
3. Federal funds for Covid expenses in
education or health must be spent immediately. It is not meant to be
used to build a school in West Kent or for bricks and mortar.
4. Public funds must be used to provide
public housing. The private sector is making enough money right now and
affordable housing is a subjective term. Also it is not long term.
5. The idea that the King government will
listen to ideas from Standing committees or any other committee of volunteers
is laughable and sad. I am wasting my time again.
Lynne Thiele
former NDPPEI candidate in 2 elections
Darcie!
P.E.I. woman
planning rental registry to help tenants - The Guardian article by Ryan Ross
Published in print
on Monday, March 22nd, 2021
https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/pei-woman-planning-rental-registry-to-help-tenants-566324/
CHARLOTTETOWN,
P.E.I. —
With no registry in place keeping track of Island rents, a
P.E.I. woman is taking matters into her own hands to start one.
Darcie
Lanthier said a searchable database is in the works to help tenants in P.E.I.
figure out what they should be paying for rent.
“It shouldn’t
be secret,” she said.

Darcie Lanthier, a few
years ago at a public meeting; Citizens' Alliance board member Cindy Richards
is in lower left of photo. --- by CO
---------------------
In P.E.I., the
Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC) puts a limit on how much landlords
are able to increase rent, which they can only do once a year. Rent is
attached to the unit and not the tenant, but landlords can apply to increase it
beyond the allowable limit.
Lanthier said
the planned rental database, which she hopes will be up and running within the
next few weeks, will be based on addresses, which is public information.
People who
submit information will be asked if they consent to giving their contact
information. Former tenants can also submit signed leases for
rental units. Once the database is up, Lanthier said she hoped a
non-governmental organization will take it over.
Lanthier said
housing has been allowed to become a commodity in P.E.I. instead of a basic
human right. “Landlords are just operating with impunity because it’s
very difficult to find out what the previous tenant paid,” she said.
More than a
year ago, the legislature passed a motion calling for the creation of an online
searchable registry, but so far, the government hasn’t created one.
Social
Development and Housing Minister Brad Trivers recently said he has been
discussing the creation of a registry with IRAC staff.
He also said
funds have been committed for a study on the creation of a registry but didn’t
provide a timeline for its completion.
Aside from the
registry, Lanthier has already been working to help tenants determine if their
landlord has been following the allowable rent increases.
In February,
she started printing cards people can fill out with the amount they were paying
in rent at their former apartment and send to the unit’s current
tenants. The goal is to let tenants know if what they’re paying
falls within IRAC’s allowable increase.
Lanthier said
when she posted a picture of one of the cards on the My Old Apartment Twitter
account, it gained more than 10,000 followers in the first week.
“It’s just mind-blowing,” she said.
Lanthier said
the first card that went out showed a tenant they were being charged $300 a
month more than the allowable rent and had paid $5,400 more than they should
have.
“That’s a
life-changing amount for a parent with a young family,” she said.
For more
information on the tenant cards and the rental registry Lanthier is starting
visit myoldapartment.org.
-30-
Note: To my ears,
Darcie's last name is pronounced "LAWN-chay"
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
More on this week's operas, here.
Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, today until 6:30PM
Starring Danielle de Niese, Heidi Grant Murphy, and Stephanie Blythe.
Production by Mark Morris. From January 24, 2009. Under 2 hours
Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust, tonight 7:30PM until Wednesday at
6:30PM
Starring Susan Graham, Marcello Giordani, and John Relyea. Production by Robert
Lepage. From November 22, 2008. Two and a half hours.
-----
The Met gives a candid notice of the passing of James Levine,
former (dismissed) Music Director, who died last week at 77.
March 22, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
One
individual cannot possibly make a difference, alone. It is individual efforts,
collectively, that makes a noticeable difference—all the difference in the
world!
— Dr. Jane Goodall
Happy World Water
Day 2021! Remember the theme is "Valuing Water," and we really
do.
Letter: World Water Day is March 22nd - The Guardian Letter to the Editor
Published in the print Guardian on Saturday, March
20th, 2021 (not online yet)
Monday, March 22nd is
World Water Day, a time in any year, but especially this year, to step back and
think about the importance of water in our daily lives, in ecosystems, and in
the world community. The theme this year is "Valuing Water",
and to quote the United Nations:
"The value of
water is about much more than its price – water has enormous and complex value
for our households, food, culture, health, education, economics and the
integrity of our natural environment.... If we overlook any of these values, we
risk mismanaging this finite, irreplaceable resource."
People worked for years
on commenting on the value of water for the Water
Act for Prince Edward Island, and think daily about conservation
and preservation in their actions, by supporting their local Watershed groups,
and by becoming more informed about where water comes from and the threats to
it.
Islanders understand
the value of water, local and global, and the need to safeguard it. Take
time to connect with Water this week. For more on World Water Day,
see https://www.worldwaterday.org/
Chris
Ortenburger, On
behalf of the Citizens' Alliance of P.E.I.
------------------------
Events:
World Water Day UN Online Event, 9AM our
time, online.
"The World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the global
water crisis, and a core focus of the observance is to support the achievement
of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by
2030."
Registration Link here
------------------
Webinar:
"Valuing Water", free online Forum from the University of
Saskatchewan on World Water Day, 2PM our time.
"Join us for
Let's Talk About Water Global Forum — a free online conversation moderated by
Jay Famiglietti (of the Global Institute for Water Security) in celebration of
#WorldWaterDay."
Event registration link
Starting today:
Seed Kits available
from the Public Libraries.
Details (from, and with
thanks to, the Cooper Institute)
To access seeds from the Seed Library of PEI, we've been working with the
incredible staff of the library, and there will be seed kits
available for pick up across the island! There should be some for
gardeners who are able to start their tomatoes etc inside, as well as
some that contain only varieties that can be direct seeded in the spring.
Either way, they
should be available
for pick up at your local library as of March 22nd! If not, you
can likely ask your local librarian to bring one in for you, through the
library network, while
supplies last.
-----------------------
Tuesday, March 23rd:
Webinar
workshop: Virtual workshop on "Planning Your Garden for Seed
Saving." 1PM, with Morgan Palmer.
To register, email plshq@gov.pe.ca by 4pm **Monday, March 22nd**
GUEST OPINION: Water is a public trust and
a common good - The Guardian Guest Opinionby Ann Wheatley and Don Mazer
Published in
print on Friday, March 12th, 2021
https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/local-perspectives/guest-opinion-water-is-a-public-trust-and-a-common-good-562338
Members of the
Coalition for Protection of P.E.I. Water were certainly glad to learn that the
Water Act will be proclaimed in June. This is long overdue. It will have been
seven years since the process began and three-and-a-half years since the act
was passed in the legislature. Six ministers of the Environment have presided
over the slow progress of this act.
And while there
are many good features of the Water Act, and there have been times when a truly
consultative, collaborative and respectful relationship between government and
people deeply concerned about water seemed possible, the content of Minister
Myers’ announcement on Feb. 19 makes two things perfectly clear:
Government cannot be trusted to protect P.E.I. water.
The voice of industry is far more important to
government than the voice of the people.
The membership
of the Coalition to Protect P.E.I. Water includes Island organizations
concerned with environmental and social justice, watershed groups, farmers and
individual Islanders. We have spent thousands of hours over many years
advocating for the Water Act and participating in its development. We have met
with each minister of the environment. We contributed many of the 52 excellent
presentations to the Water Act consultations. The coalition has been thanked in
the legislature for its meaningful contribution to the act. We did not profit
from our work; we have had no private stake or interest. Joining together with
a collective purpose, we worked to protect a public trust, and a common good,
the health of water and ecosystems on behalf of all Islanders.
The announcement
about the proclamation of the act clearly reflects how much government has
responded to the powerful voices of industry, and how little they have heard or
cared about the voices of many concerned Islanders.
While the Water
Act will keep the moratorium on high capacity (HC) wells, it will allow for the
construction of five new wells that are approved for "scientific
study". You have continued to leave the door wide open for the development
of holding ponds for agricultural irrigation. The wells for these ponds require
no permit for water extraction. Premier King told us he thought holding ponds
were worse than HC wells: previous Minister Brad Trivers recognized holding
ponds as an attempt to get around the moratorium on HC wells: a proposal for a
moratorium on holding ponds was passed by the legislature and then Minister
Natalie Jameson and current Minister Steven Myers voted to support that
moratorium. But then the moratorium was not implemented, stalled for
"legal reasons".
The long delay
in creating regulations and proclaiming the Water Act was a golden opportunity
for some to dig holding ponds, and this happened and continues to happen across
the province. There will be no need for those wells to be compliant with the
Water Act regulations within five years (the current standing committee on
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability recommended compliance
within two years), because those regulations have changed.
The
grandfathering of holding ponds is an outrageous violation of the spirit of the
Water Act, an act that so many Islanders have worked so hard to create. It
challenges the very ideas that water is a common good and a public trust. It is
a clear indication that government is more responsive to the power of industry
than to the voices of its citizens.
Ann Wheatley and
Don Mazer, on behalf of the Coalition for Protection of P.E.I. Water.
-30-
Atlantic Skies for March 22nd -- March
28th, 2021 "A Swarm of Celestial
Bees" -
by Glenn K. Roberts
Leo - the Lion, and
Gemini - the Twins, are two prominent constellations found in the south -
southwest sky between 9 - 10 p.m. on spring evenings. You'll find Leo about
halfway up the southern sky, with the distinctive reversed "?" shape
of the lion's head facing towards the southwest (right). Halfway between
Leo and Gemini (to the right of Leo) is Cancer - the Crab. It is here, in this
not-so-prominent constellation of faint stars, that we find one of the most
beautiful open star clusters in the night sky - Praesepe, the "Beehive
Cluster" (or M44 in the Messier Catalogue listing). Visible to the naked
eye (on a clear night and away from city lights) as a faint, nebulous patch of
light, Praesepe (mag. +3.7) is a beautiful sight in binoculars. It is composed
of 1,000 or more blue-white stars with a sprinkling of reddish-orange stars
among them. It is located approximately 577 light years from Earth, and is
estimated to be about 600 million years old (our Sun is approximately 4.5
billion years old).
Exactly how
Praesepe came to be associated with bees is unclear. The ancient Greeks
referred to it as "Phatne" (from pateomai, meaning "to
eat"). The Greek poet, Aratus (c. 315 - 240 BC) wrote of it as
"Achlus" ("little mist"), while the Greek astronomer,
Hipparchus (c. 190-120 BC), referred to it as "Nephelion"
("little cloud"). The ancient Romans called it "Praesepe",
Latin for "crib" or "manger" (as in a stable). The great
Roman astronomer and mathematician, Ptolemy (c. 100 - 170 AD), referred to it
as "the nebulous mass in the breast of Cancer". Both the Greeks and
Romans associated the cluster's two most prominent stars - Gamma and Delta
Cancri - with two donkeys said to have carried two of the Olympian gods -
Dionysus and Silenus - into battle against the Titans. It seems that the
braying of the donkeys so frightened the Titans, that they fled the
battlefield, giving victory to the Olympians. The gods rewarded the two donkeys
by placing them in the night sky in Praesepe, where they could eat hay eternally
from the "manger".
Some scholars
assert that the Latin "praesepe", in addition to meaning "crib'
or "manger', can also mean "hive", thus providing a possible
link between the star cluster and bees. Others point to "Samson's
riddle" found in the Old Testament Book of Judges. Samson, an ancient
Israeli judge and renowned strongman, made a wager with a number of Philistines
guests at his wedding feast, wherein they had to answer the following riddle -
"Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came
something sweet." (Judges 14:14). The answer to the riddle was based
- unbeknownst to the Philistines - on a personal experience that Samson had. It
seems that, one day, while out walking, Samson killed a lion, and, upon returning
a day or so later to the scene of the battle, found that bees had constructed a
hive inside the lion's carcass, from which he extracted some honey. Thus, the
answer to Samson's riddle was - "What is sweeter than honey? What is
stronger than a lion?" (Judges 14:18). Over the course of time, it is
possible that Samson's lion came to be associated with the constellation of Leo
- the Lion, which represented the Nemean lion killed by the great Greek hero,
Hercules, as part of his Twelve Labors, and that, perhaps, this association led
to the "Beehive Cluster" being placed close by the constellation of
Leo. There doesn't appear to be any association of Praesepe with Cancer - the
Crab. Grab your binoculars and head outdoors some clear night (between 9-10
p.m.) in the coming weeks, and look for the Beehive Cluster; you won't be
disappointed, it really does look like "a swarm of celestial
bees".
Mercury is not
visible this coming week, as, being very close to the Sun right now, it won't
clear the southeast horizon until shortly before sunrise, and, as such, is lost
in the dawn's glow. Venus is likewise unobservable, as it is heading towards
superior solar conjunction (it will pass behind the Sun as seen from Earth) on
Mar. 26., whereupon it will transition from the morning sky to the evening sky,
becoming visible again in April. Mars (mag. +1.2, in Taurus - the Bull)
continues as an early evening object this week. It becomes visible 52 degrees
above the southwest horizon by about 8:10 p.m., before dropping towards the
horizon and setting around 1:35 a.m. Saturn (mag. +0.7, in Capricornus - the
Sea Goat) and Jupiter (mag. -2.0, in Capricornus) are both briefly visible low
above the southeast horizon in the pre-dawn sky, before being washed out by the
brightening dawn.
The Full Moon on
the 28th is often referred to as the "Worm Moon", as March is often
when earthworms can be seen crawling on the ground's surface in most areas
throughout North America.
Until next week,
clear skies.
Events;
Mar. 26 -
Venus at superior solar conjunction
28 - Full "Worm" Moon
-30-
PEI Symphony
Orchestra held a small public concert on Sunday, with special guest Tracy
Cantin, soprano, and the concert was live-streamed on their Facebook page,
where you can still view it. A donation to the PEISO would be appreciated
anytime, as would buying citrus fruit from their annual sale (currently at the
Charlottetown Farmers' Market for the next couple of Saturdays).
https://www.facebook.com/PEISymphony
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Handel’s Agrippina, today until 6:30PM
Starring Brenda Rae, Joyce DiDonato, Kate Lindsey, Iestyn Davies, Duncan Rock,
and Matthew Rose, conducted by Harry Bicket. Production by Sir David McVicar. From February 29, 2020.
Nightly Opera Streams, March 22–28:
Myths and Legends
"From ancient
Greece to steamy Seville to a ghoulish ship on the high seas, this week of free
Nightly Opera Streams draws from the annals of myth and legend. Explore the
articles and resources below to expand your knowledge and enhance your experience
as you enjoy the screenings..."
Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, tonight 7:30PM until 6:30PM
Tuesday
Starring Danielle de Niese, Heidi Grant Murphy, and Stephanie Blythe.
Production by Mark Morris.
From January 24, 2009
March 21, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
"An
optimist is the human personification of spring."
--quote
attributed to Susan J. Bissonette
Events:
Monday, March 22nd:
Webinar: "Valuing Water", free
online Forum on World Water Day, 2PM our time.
"Join us for
Let's Talk About Water Global Forum — a free online conversation moderated by
Jay Famiglietti in celebration of #WorldWaterDay."
Background:
Dr. Jay Famiglietti is a hydrologist, a professor and the Executive Director of
the Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan and
host of the Let's Talk About Water podcast....
Let's Talk About Water (LTAW) is an
environmental initiative started by film researcher Linda Lilienfeld that uses
the power of film to draw attention to water issues around the globe. With the
support of the University of Saskatchewan (USask), the Global Institute for
Water Security (GIWS), and the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement
of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI), LTAW has evolved to include a podcast,
film competition, youth engagement program, and numerous events, film festivals
and workshops around the world.
Event Registration link
"Let's Talk about Water"
website link
(with a website title like that, I had to poke around and make sure it wasn't a
website for a corporate interest, which it does not appear to be ;-) )
There is a lot to explore on that website!
----------------------
The P.E.I.
Legislature will have a constituency day Monday and start
planning for a week of resumed Sitting Days Tuesday through Friday. No
evening sittings, rather Tuesday-Thursday 1PM-5PM, and Friday 10AM-2PM.
Records and Videos can be accessed here:
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
A excerpt from social
justice activist Mary Boyd's recent Letter to the Editor:
Solidarity Sunday is today
"For the second
year in a row, Development and Peace-Caritas Canada is facing its annual
Solidarity Sunday celebration and collection taken up in churches of the
diocese while dealing with constraints under COVID-19. This annual
collection...supports the organization’s many social justice and relief
projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.... people can
donate on line at www.devp.org or by calling
1-888-234-8533. .... It is more important than ever that communities fight
against climate change and are able to grow their own food, find adequate
shelter, and organize their communities for the common good of all. The work of
Development and Peace-Caritas supports the people in their daily struggle for
dignity in the building of their future.
So many excellent letters to the editor in the last week or two to be shared in
the next week or two
STEPHEN HOWARD:
Modernizing electricity and energy poverty in P.E.I. - The Guardian Guest Opinion by Stephen
Howard, MLA for District 22: Summerside-South Drive
Published in print
edition Thursday, March 18th, 2021
https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/local-perspectives/stephen-howard-modernizing-electricity-and-energy-poverty-in-pei-564659
--------------------
Prince Edward Island
has some of the highest rates of energy poverty in all of Canada.
Energy poverty
refers to the reality that some people are unable to fully access or afford
basic modern energy services such as heating, cooling, and keeping the lights
on. This means they often find themselves living in cold, drafty homes, or
sacrificing essentials such as medicines and food to keep their lights on and
the heat going. This in turn leads to other issues like more sickness, poorer
mental health due to higher stress levels, and an inability to fully
participate in community life.
We can help
Islanders by improving existing laws around how energy is generated, bought,
and sold on Prince Edward Island. We can reduce the cost of renewable energy on
P.E.I.
The cost of
wind power has dropped significantly in recent years. However, the utility
still has to pay a minimum price for this power, and this minimum price is now
well above the cost of wind power. This drop in cost means that the P.E.I.
Energy Corporation (PEIEC), the main seller of renewable electricity in the
province, is making many millions in profit.
By eliminating
the minimum purchase price, government would force the PEIEC to pass along
these millions of dollars to Islanders through rate reductions. By keeping the
minimum purchase price, government is choosing to make millions on the backs of
Islanders by intentionally keeping electricity rates high.
I have
legislation on the floor of the House right now that will remove this minimum
purchase price, giving Islanders access to the true low cost of wind power here
on P.E.I.
Also within my
legislation are minor changes that could lay the groundwork for the adoption of
home storage, including vehicle-to-grid technology, in the province.
Home and EV
storage would permit people to store power they generate from renewables or the
electrical grid for later use – for example, during a power outage – thereby
minimizing disruptions to them.
Vehicle-to-grid
technology uses the batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) while they are plugged
in to help stabilize the electricity grid. This can create a new revenue stream
for EV and home storage owners while at the same time improving the electricity
grid. This can happen at no cost to the other ratepayers and can even lower
costs for everyone.
In short,
Islanders can be paid by the utility for helping supply electricity to the grid
and we can give Islanders access to lower cost renewable energy.
I ask you to
contact your MLA and let them know that you want fairer rates. Let them know
you want access to the real low-cost power that PEIEC and other wind farms
produce.
I also invite
you to contact me directly with your thoughts. You can call me at 902-620-3977
or email sphowardmla@assembly.pe.ca.
Stephen Howard
is the MLA Summerside-South Drive and Official Opposition critic for
transportation, infrastructure and energy.
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, today until 6:30PM
Starring Renée Fleming, Ramón Vargas, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, conducted by
Valery Gergiev. Production by Robert Carsen. From February 24, 2007. Beautiful,
dreamy version of Pushkin's prose story, with amazing leads.
Handel’s Agrippina, tonight 7:30PM until Monday about
6:30PM
Starring Brenda Rae, Joyce DiDonato, Kate Lindsey, Iestyn Davies, Duncan Rock,
and Matthew Rose, conducted by Harry Bicket. Production by Sir David McVicar.
From February 29, 2020. Modern dress super-cool version of the scheming
Roman empress.
March 20, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
March 19, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events today:
Fridays4Future, 3:30PM, Province House.
March 19th is a
global day of climate action. Join our rally, 3:30-4:30 pm on Grafton Street
(in front of Province House).
https://fridaysforfuture.org/march19/
Webinar: "Act on Your Promises",
voices from the Youth-led Climate Strike, 6-9PM, free.
#NoMoreEmptyPromises
Facebook event details and
registration for the webinar link
----------------
No Legislature sitting today (but hope they are paying attention to the
#NoMoreEmptyPromises message from Climate Strikers and others), but it will
ramp up again next Tuesday. Here are the links to the records and social
media documentation:
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
-------------------------------------------------------
Seed Saving
edited from a notice
from the Seeds of Community people at the Cooper's Institute:
Hello Seeds of Community Folks!
It's been a long year!
I'm sure there are many new gardeners,and possibly new seed savers!
I wanted to share that
despite the COVID19 restrictions we have been working with the Public
Library Service to make seed library activities happen, and to make seeds
accessible to you!
Starting Monday, March 22nd:
Seed Kits available
from the Public Libraries.
Details:
To access seeds from the Seed Library of PEI, we've been working with the
incredible staff of the library, and there will be seed kits
available for pick up across the island! There should be some for
gardeners who are able to start their tomatoes etc inside, as well as
some that contain only varieties that can be direct seeded in the spring.
Either way, they
should be available
for pick up at your local library as of March 22nd! If not, you
can likely ask your local librarian to bring one in for you, through the
library network, while
supplies last.
Tuesday, March 23rd:
Webinar
workshop: Virtual
workshop on "Planning
Your Garden for Seed Saving." 1PM, with Morgan
Palmer.
To register, email plshq@gov.pe.ca
by 4pm Monday, March
22nd
Thursday, March 25th:
Online
Workshop: "Seed Activism: Global Perspectives", 4-5:30PM, hosted by the
National Farmers Union.
"If you want to take things to the next level..."
Registration link:
https://www.nfu.ca/nfuniversity/seed-activism-global-perspectives/?
A week ago, the Provincial Operating Budget was released by the governing PC
party's Finance Minister Darlene Compton. Here is part of the press
release on it:
Today, Premier
Dennis King and Finance Minister Darlene Compton delivered government’s 2020-21
operating budget that outlines $2.5 billion in spending for programs to
assist Islanders, businesses, and industry recover from COVID-19, while
optimistically turning an eye to the future.
This budget shows
government’s plan to provide support to people most in need while also
investing in the recovery of the province’s economy, job market and some of the
hard-hit sectors and industries. With revenues forecasted at $2.4 billion
and planned spending of $2.5 billion, the province is expecting a deficit of
approximately $112 million.
Prince Edward
Island is in a good position to rebound from the impacts of COVID-19 at a much
faster pace than many other provinces, as the Island continues to experience
growth in certain sectors of the economy, supported by an increase in our
population that once again led the country in 2020.
Highlights of the
budget include:
Investments in a
healthier Island
$4.4 million to revitalize primary care;
$3 million for the development of the PEI Centre for
Mental Well-Being; and
$1.5 million for a free shingles vaccine for Islanders
aged 65 and older, which will be the most comprehensive program in the
country.
Commitment to
children and families
$2.9 million to implement a universal half-day
Pre-Kindergarten Program;
$625,000 to reduce childcare rates to $25 per day
starting in January 2022; and
$4 million for 80 new front-line positions in our
schools, including teachers, autism consultants, educational assistants,
and bus drivers.
Investing in
clean technology and our environment
$5.6 million to support and expand the heat pump rebate
program through efficiencyPEI;
$500,000 to establish an electric vehicle rebate
program; and
$250,000 for a rural transit system pilot program
beginning fall 2021.
Creating a robust
and inclusive economy
$4.6 million to fund additional tax reductions,
including increasing the basic personal amount to $11,250 and the
low-income reduction threshold to $20,000;
reduce the small business tax rate to 1 per cent and
position Prince Edward Island at the lowest rate in Atlantic Canada;
establish a $1 million micro-loan program to assist
Indigenous women, youth, BIPOC, and 2SLBGTQIA+ entrepreneurs to start new
businesses
the complete media release (and link
to full document) is here:
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/budget-2021-22-shows-provinces-path-recovery
Phil Ferraro, of the Institute for Bioregional Studies and who manages the Farm
Centre, posted the Budget highlights on social media, and a person commented
asking if he was running for office. He responded (and I use with his
permission, and slightly edited it for formatting):
Okay. First of all, I believe the province is planning to
receive substantial funding from the federal government for infrastructure
spending. This is aimed to regenerate the economy and bring it back to
"normal."
However, "normal," was pretty bad before the
pandemic. The pandemic took a heavy toll on some businesses and some sectors of
the business community have done quite well.
So, I would like to see more targeted business tax breaks
go to struggling businesses that restructure jnto worker-owned cooperatives,
locally owned, “green” businesses and businesses that pay a living wage (
$20/hr. + ) to employees.
I would also invest a significant amount of money to
create publicly owned corporations for the Internet, Insurance and Renewable
Energy so that profits from these 21st century necessities go to the public
good rather than private shareholders. Instead of a Carbon Tax, which in my
view, lacks proper guidance and therefore will wind up abandoning the climate
crisis to the will of the marketplace; with the hope that people will
intuitively know how to do the right thing, I would invest in programs that
have measurably beneficial outcomes for our economic security and environmental
sustainability.
For example, we could use the profits from our newly
formed publically-owned enterprises to implement job-creating programs
retrofitting homes and commercial buildings for energy efficiency, subsidizing
low-income tenant’s rent until public housing is constructed, developing and
maintaining an eco-friendly, mass transit system, expanding health care
coverage to include, nutritional counseling, midwifery, dental care, and
certified natural health practitioners.
I would also establish a system of rewards for farmers who
regenerate our agricultural lands to sequester carbon while also diversifying
and improving production yields.
However, since I already said, I have no intention of
running for a political office, I will just plant a garden and grow some trees
and hope the economic and ecological crisis’ do not turn out as bad as I am
anticipating.
----Phil Ferraro, March 17th, 2021
It helps to put these thoughts down and share with others, to tell those making
these decisions about better choices they can make.
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Philip Glass’s Akhnaten, today until 6:30PM
Starring Dísella Lárusdóttir, J’Nai Bridges, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Aaron
Blake, Will Liverman, Richard Bernstein, and Zachary James, conducted by Karen
Kamensek. Production by Phelim McDermott. From November 23,
2019.
Rossini’s Il
Barbiere di Siviglia, tonight 7:30PM until 6:30PM Saturday
Starring Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Flórez, Peter Mattei, John Del Carlo, and
John Relyea, conducted by Maurizio Benini. Production by Bartlett Sher. From
March 24, 2007. A total romp, lots of fun.
March 18, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
March 17, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
March 16, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events:
Orders due by noon for Charlottetown Farmers'
Market to Go, details here:
https://cfm2go.localfoodmarketplace.com/Index
Chief Public Health
Officer Dr. Morrison will likely give her weekly P.E.I. Covid-19 update at 11:30AM,
more
info at:
the P.E.I. Government page,
Facebook page or
CBC Facebook page.
CFCY Radio 93.1FM (main announcements part)
------------
Interesting coincidence
with the announcement of a merger of Rogers with Shaw, with promises to improve
Western Canadian internet, etc.,
Today is an Virtual Action Day for
Affordable Internet, Webinar at 2-4PM,
online.
"Canadians pay some of the highest prices in the world
for internet and mobile service. It’s only getting worse. The federal
government and the CRTC can take steps to lower your bills. Instead, they are
protecting Big Telecom’s massive profits. It's time to speak out!"
Webinar at 2PM
our time, more details on who is speaking, who the organizations supporting
this, etc., here:
https://affordable-internet.ca/
I found out about this
webinar from my current internet provider, which is a "third party
provider" and one of the hosts of the organizing groups, but I don't know
very much more about the event today.
Congrats to the
volunteers behind the years-long work to revitalize Glenaladale House Trust,
for receiving some pretty good funding.
CBC Story
The second in the
investigative series on Plastics in Canada, from Canada's National Observer:
(though it won't
"save us", that doesn't mean it's not worth the recycling efforts we
make)
Canada is drowning in plastic waste —
and recycling won't save us - National Observer article by
Marc Fawcett-Atkinson
Canadians
throw away about 3.3 million tonnes of plastic each year. Only nine percent is
recycled.
Part of a Canada's
National Observer investigation
Published online on Tuesday, March 9th 2021
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/03/09/canada-drowning-plastic-waste-recycling-wont-save-us
For the first 50
years after plastic was invented, the idea of only using the long-lasting
material once was blasphemous, an affront to values of frugality honed over
years of war and economic strife.
Then, in the
late 1950s, the plastics industry launched a massive marketing campaign — and
single-use plastic was born.
“The happy day
has arrived when nobody any longer considers plastic packages too good to throw
away,” Lloyd Stouffer said at the 1963 U.S. National Plastic Conference. Stouffer was
a U.S. plastics marketing guru and the man who, in 1956, first pitched the idea
that a virtually indestructible material — plastic — should be sold as
disposable.
Since then,
about 8.3 billion tonnes have been
produced; most has been thrown out. Landfills are stuffed. Oceans and the
animals in them are choked. Plastic particles are even showing up in human placentas, with unknown health impacts.
Plastic is
everywhere: Manhattan, the Marianas Trench, even Mars.
Faced with
this ecological crisis, dozens of Canadian municipalities and provinces have
joined a growing global movement against plastic pollution. They have
introduced bans and crafted new waste management legislation to try to control
the problem.
Recently, the
federal government jumped in, announcing plans for a national waste strategy
that would list plastics as toxic under Schedule 1 of the Canadian
Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) and a ban on some single-use plastics. Most
importantly, the plan calls for a new “circular economy” that would rely on
massively scaling up existing recycling facilities and still-nascent recycling
technologies to keep disposable plastic ubiquitous in our daily lives.
But can
recycling really save us?
“Any material
in the world can be recycled — if you separate it, prepare it and pay enough
money to put it through the (recycling) process. The question is, is there a
market for it? That’s what drives recycling,” says Samantha MacBride, an expert
in solid waste management and a professor of urban environmental studies at the
Marxe School of Public Affairs at Baruch College of CUNY in New York City.
“It’s a great
industry — it provides jobs, it makes use of what’s around — but it doesn’t
have anything directly to do with improving the environment.”
Canadians
dispose of about 3.3 million tonnes of plastic each year, according to a 2019 study commissioned by Environment and
Climate Change Canada (ECCC), almost half of which is packaging. Well over
three-quarters currently goes to landfills, a small proportion is incinerated
and about one per cent ends up directly in the environment.
Only nine per
cent — or 305,000 tonnes — is recycled, the 2019 study found.
That’s no
surprise. Low oil prices make it difficult for plastic recyclers, who must
invest in expensive sorting and processing facilities, to compete against already
established petrochemical manufacturers, whose facilities are well integrated
with the oil and gas industry. It’s cheaper to make plastic from so-called
“virgin oil” and put the waste in landfills than it is to recycle old plastics
into new products.
Oil and
natural gas producers are betting heavily on continued growth in virgin plastic
production, with the industry expected to soon account for between 45 and 95
per cent of global growth in demand for oil and natural gas, according to a
September report by the Carbon Tracker
Initiative.
How tech barriers stand in the way of
recycling
Beyond
economics, recycled plastic production is hindered by available technology.
Mechanical recycling, a method where plastics are sorted and shredded before
being melted down into pellets to make new products, is by far the most common
form of recycling in Canada. For the process to be effective, however, the
stream of plastics entering the recycling facility needs to be clean and well
sorted — a requirement that is difficult to meet.
The variety of
plastics on the market adds to the challenge: There are over a dozen types,
each with different melting points and manufacturing requirements. Many are
also incorporated into different parts of the same consumer product, which
makes sorting difficult or impossible.
Dyes and other
(sometimes poisonous) additives, like plasticizers and fire retardants, further
complicate the process and diminish the recycled product’s final quality. With
the exception of easy-to-sort, single-use bottles like those used for water or
pop, few mechanically recycled plastics can be reused to hold food, according
to a December 2020 report by Greenpeace Canada.
There is some
promise in a suite of new recycling technologies, collectively called
“advanced" or "chemical" recycling, which break plastics down
into their molecular components so they can be remade into like-new products.
Proponents are optimistic the new methods will be cleaner and more efficient,
but observers have doubts. They also face substantial market challenges in
Canada, pushing some to advance business ventures in Europe, where regulations
forcing plastic manufacturers to use recycled plastic in their products make
investments in the technology financially viable. Similar regulations are
included in the federal government's planned plastic regulations, first
announced in October.
These
technical and market limitations mean Canada’s existing recycling industry
focuses almost exclusively on four easy-to-recycle plastics:
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), common in carpets,
cups and water bottles
high-density polyethylene (HDPE), common in milk
jugs, outdoor furniture and pipes
low-density polyethylene (LDPE), common in bread and
trash bags
polypropylene (PP), common in straws, auto parts and
juice bottles
Other plastic
products — from Spandex to vinyl siding — are mostly landfilled.
And when it
comes to market share, producers of recycled plastics remain small players.
Sales of recycled plastics in Canada were worth about $350 million in 2016 — 30
times less than sales of plastic made from virgin oil, the 2019 ECCC study
noted.
Shifting
responsibility
Regardless,
the claim that recycling is the panacea for plastic pollution has been promoted
for decades by the plastics industry and its allies, says Max Liboiron,
professor of geography at Memorial University and director of the CLEAR
laboratory on plastic pollution.
"Recycling
was formalized and launched in 1970 on Earth Day … by the Container Corporation of America, which had
sponsored a design competition for the now-universal recycling symbol,"
explains Liboiron. Industry’s hope was that recycling would assuage growing
concerns among Americans (and Canadians) about the environmental and aesthetic
impact of pollution, including from disposable plastic.
Global plastic
production skyrocketed after 1950, increasing more than tenfold to reach about
35 million tonnes by 1970. Very little of it was recycled, and plastic soon
infiltrated every facet of society, from grocery stores to hospitals.
For instance,
blue surgical masks — hallmarks of the COVID-19 pandemic — were aggressively
sold to hospitals in the 1960s to replace reusable cotton masks. The shift to
this "total disposable system" was sold as a way to reduce hospital
labour and infrastructure costs, despite evidence well-made cotton masks might
work better, a 2020 article in The Lancet notes.
Stouffer, the
marketing guru, was delighted: “You are filling trash cans, the rubbish dumps,
the incinerators with literally billions of plastic bottles, plastic jugs,
plastic tubs, skin and blister packs, plastic bags and films and sheet packages
— and now, even plastic cans,” he boasted to industry leaders in 1963.
But
disposability soon fell under attack. Farmers, environmentalists and others
infuriated by roadside litter began to point fingers at the plastic industry.
Recycling was the manufacturers’ retort — a front that allowed them to shift
responsibility for plastic waste onto consumers instead of cutting back on
production and profits, explains Liboiron.
“That’s what
American environmentalism out of the 1970s was — the individualization of
environmental problems to let industry off the hook,” they say. “Recycling is
an industry project. Green consumerism is an industry project. It’s not a
coincidence that the inculturation of environmentalism happened that way. It’s
very American.”
Canadians
quickly followed the trend. That storyline remains evident even now. The
majority of plastic waste in Canada comes from businesses, institutions and
industry, yet most provincial or regional waste management regimes focus on
collecting plastic waste from homes.
And activism
against all pollution, including plastic, evolved quite differently in other
parts of the world, Liboiron points out. For example, Maori land guardians in
New Zealand have linked plastic pollution to land and food sovereignty issues
and are working to move people towards relying on local, unpackaged food
sources, they say.
Hanging onto the recycling myth
Still, in
Ottawa today, the idea that recycling is salvation remains prominent, both in
the federal government’s plastics plan and on the lips of industry lobbyists.
“Industry
agrees that we have a plastic waste matter that needs to be addressed,” says
Elena Mantagaris, vice-president for the plastics division of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC), the
country’s leading plastics industry lobbying group. “But we believe that it’s
not the use of plastics that’s the issue — it’s the end-of-life management.”
The
organization has pushed the Trudeau government to refrain from listing plastics
as "toxic" under CEPA, a key part of the federal plan to reduce
plastic waste announced last October. Instead, the CIAC wants the
federal government to co-ordinate a national plastic waste management regime.
Other industry groups and companies have also been advocating for a similar
approach.
Waste
management currently falls under provincial jurisdiction and recycling programs
are managed by municipalities, creating a patchwork of rules around what can —
and can't — be recycled in the country.
That's
confusing for Canadians putting their trash in the sorting bin and makes it
tricky for industry to develop easy-to-recycle products, including packaging.
Some municipal sorting facilities can accept most plastic types; others can't.
The lack of a co-ordinated waste stream reduces the amount of well-sorted,
high-quality raw plastic available to recycling companies. As a result,
lower-quality and badly sorted plastics usually end up in landfills or might be
sent overseas via the U.S.
“Instead of
having (thousands) of different recycling programs, get one,” says Mantagaris.
She points to the concept of extended producer responsibility (EPR) as the
solution. EPR programs force plastic producers to fund and operate recycling systems
for their products.
Theoretically,
transferring fiscal responsibility for recycling to producers incentivizes them
to become more efficient, create products that are easier to recycle and invest
in innovative recycling technology.
“One system,
and industry will pay for it, industry will manage it,” Mantagaris says.
Ontario,
Quebec and New Brunswick are planning to implement EPR programs. However,
environmentalists point out that B.C., which has the country’s most advanced
EPR, still has a poor recycling record. In 2019, only about 46 per cent of
plastic packaging was recovered, the program’s most recent annual report stated.
The December report by Greenpeace pointed out half
of B.C.’s waste ends up in landfills, incinerators or the environment. And researchers at Memorial
University found the B.C. program has had almost no impact on the volume of
waste found on the province’s shoreline.
That is
particularly concerning because ocean plastic pollution is among the factors
driving the government's decision to regulate plastic. In 2018, the Trudeau
government committed to the international Oceans Plastic Charter, an informal
agreement to drastically reduce plastic pollution while increasing the amount
of recycled plastic on the market. And while the proposed plan aims to meet
these international targets, actually achieving them without cutting back on
how much plastic Canadians use will be a struggle, environmentalists say.
To meet the
charter’s goals, mechanical recycling facilities, which currently handle about
seven per cent of the country’s plastic waste, would need to roughly triple
capacity by 2030. Canada’s chemical recycling rate would need to skyrocket from
one per cent to 36 per cent. And even then, recycling could only take care of
62 per cent of the country’s plastic waste. The remainder would end up in
incinerators, landfills or the environment, the 2019 ECCC-commissioned report
projects.
Reduction over recycling
Focusing on
building better recycling systems misses the point, says MacBride, the
professor at CUNY.
“The direction
we should be heading is drastically reducing the amount of plastic coursing
through our economies,” she says.
That doesn’t
mean getting rid of plastic entirely — it is necessary for some products like
medical devices, she says. Rather, MacBride would like to see a systemic change
to our throwaway culture.
That's
particularly important because ridding the world of the plastic we've already
created is almost impossible, Liboiron points out.
"Plastic
can’t be contained," they say. “It’s one of the most durable things in the
world. It’ll last epochs” — which means reducing how much we produce is key to
keeping it out of the environment.
When consulted
as an expert during the federal policy’s initial drafting phase, they
recommended ending subsidies for the oil and petrochemical industry to slow
plastic production. According to the December Greenpeace report, those
subsidies have topped $334 million to virgin oil plastic producers alone since
2017. Canada's oil and gas industries, for their part, receive about $4.8
billion annually in public subsidies noted a December 2020 analysis by the International Institute
for Sustainable Development.
Still, cutting
back production is only half the solution, they say. Canadian policy-makers
need to take a holistic look at how Canadians eat, move and otherwise inhabit
the world — then develop locally tailored systems that make it possible to live
well without disposable plastic.
"There
are people alive (who) have memories of before there was disposable packaging,”
they note. “They ate things. They were OK.”
-30-
It's All in the
Eyebrows...
Even though yesterday
was "The Ides of March", it's not too late to enjoy this Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster
spoof of Shakespeare's Julius
Caesar, a silly, "Dragnet"/ Private Eye TV
show-inspired skit, "Rinse the Blood off my Toga". both the
longer 25 minute version and eight minute one.
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann, today until 6:30PM
Starring Anna Netrebko, Kathleen Kim, Ekaterina Gubanova, Kate Lindsey, Joseph
Calleja, and Alan Held, conducted by James Levine. Production by Bartlett Sher.
From December
19, 2009.
Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West, tonight 7:30PM until Wednesday
about 6:30PM
Starring Eva-Maria Westbroek, Jonas Kaufmann, and Željko Lučić,
conducted by Marco Armiliato. Production by Giancarlo Del Monaco. From October 27, 2018.
Beautiful, genuine storytelling by this talented cast.
March 15, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events:
Local Food Ordering:
Organic Veggie Delivery week, order by Monday
PM today for delivery Friday, March
19th. The next order will be in two weeks.
https://www.organicveggiedelivery.com/
Charlottetown Farmers' Market 2Go, order by
TUESDAY NOON, for Thursday pick-up/delivery,
https://cfm2go.localfoodmarketplace.com/
Atlantic Skies for March 15th - March 21st,
2021- by Glenn K. Roberts
Spring and the
Vernal Equinox
Another year has
passed, and spring is once again upon us. The past year has been particularly
hard for many...far too many...people, with great hardships and deep sorrows.
The wonderful thing about the arrival of spring is that it brings with it a
time of new beginnings, new hopes, and new possibilities. Let's hope that this
spring is such a time for us all.
The Vernal Equinox
- the official start to spring - occurs on Saturday, March 20 at 6:37 a.m. It
is the start of the spring season in the northern hemisphere, and,
consequently, the autumn season in the southern hemisphere. It occurs when the
Sun crosses the celestial equator (an imaginary line in the sky above Earth's
equator), heading north in the sky. It is one of only two times each year (the
other being the Autumnal Equinox in September) when the Sun rises due east and
sets due west. The term "equinox" comes from the Latin
"aequus" (equal) and "nox" (night), referencing the fact
that day and night are almost equal in length upon the dates of the equinoxes.
Despite most claims that there are 12 hours of daytime and 12 hours of
nighttime on the equinoxes, the length of day and night on the equinoxes
actually varies, based on our definitions of sunrise and sunset, and an
atmospheric phenomenon.
Sunrise is
astronomically defined as the exact moment, under ideal meteorological
conditions, and taking refraction (the bending of the Sun's light due to
atmospheric pressure and temperature) into consideration, the upper edge of the
rising Sun’s disk touches the eastern horizon. Likewise, sunset is defined
(subject to the same factors) as the exact moment the setting Sun's upper
edge makes contact with the western horizon. As a consequence, the time
it takes the Sun to fully drop below the western horizon (again under ideal
meteorological conditions and factoring in refraction), which can be several
minutes, makes the day slightly longer than the night on the equinoxes.
Refraction causes the rising Sun’s upper edge to be visible several minutes
before it actually reaches the eastern horizon, and enables us to continue to
see the setting Sun for several minutes after it has, in reality, dropped below
the western horizon. This phenomenon results in every day, including the days
of the equinoxes, being at least 6 minutes longer (it varies by latitude) than
it would have been without refraction. Sunrise and sunset time calculations
assume the standard atmospheric pressure of 101.325 kPa and a temperature of
15°C.

submitted illustration
On the date of the
equinoxes, the Earth's axis (around which the planet rotates daily) is
perpendicular to the Sun, with the tilt of both hemispheres being zero relative
to the Sun (see illustration). After the Vernal Equinox, and as the Earth
continues its journey around the Sun, the northern hemisphere achieves its
maximum orientation towards the Sun on the Summer Solstice in June, bringing us
our summer season. Eventually, Earth's orbit brings it around to the position
where, on the Autumnal Equinox in Septemberonce, both hemispheres are once
again aligned perpendicular (zero tilt) relative to the Sun. It should be noted
that Earth's axis is always tilted 23.5 degrees.from perpendicular relative to
the Earth's orbital plane (see illustration).
Mercury is too low
in the southeast pre-dawn sky to be readily observed, and Venus is too close to
the Sun to be seen. However, with an unobstructed view of the southeast
horizon, and a clear, pre-dawn sky, you may catch a glimpse of both Saturn and
Jupiter just above (less than a hand's width at arm's length) the horizon
between 6:30 - 6:45 a.m., before the brightening dawn washes them out. Saturn
(mag. +0.7, in Capricornus - the Sea Goat) will be the higher of the two, with
bright Jupiter (mag. -2.0, also in Capricornus) to the lower left. Mars (mag.
+1.1, in Taurus - the Bull) appears about 55 degrees above the southwest
horizon shortly after 8 p.m., before dropping towards the horizon and setting
around 1:50 a.m.
Note: Astronomers have just discovered that much of the Zodiacal
Light, the interplanetary dust in the inner solar system, long thought to have
originated from ancient comets and asteroids, appears to have actually come
from the planet Mars. For more information go to: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/serendipitous-juno-spacecraft-detections-shatter-ideas-about-origin-of-zodiacal-light
Until next
week, clear skies.
Events:
Mar. 18 - Moon at
apogee (farthest from Earth)
21 - First Quarter Moon
-30-
Wow, wow, about the Zodiacal Light and Mars !
The National Observer
has done a special four-part report on Plastics in Canada: https://www.nationalobserver.com/special-reports/canadas-plastics-problem
Canada's Plastics Problem
A Canada's National Observer
investigation into the battle between government, industry and
environmentalists to bring our country's rising plastic pollution under
control.
First article:The backroom battle between industry,
Ottawa and environmentalists over plastics regulation
The backroom battle
between industry, Ottawa and environmentalists over plastics regulation - The
National Observer article by Marc
Fawcett-Atkinson
Published on Monday,
March 8th, 2021
“The ban started with (the) students,” Helps says. “But then we spent a good
couple years working with our business community … it was everyone working
together.”
Almost as soon as the ban took effect in 2018, the city was hit with a
jurisdictional lawsuit by the Canadian Plastic Bag Association, a lobby group
that later merged into the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada's plastics
division. The lawsuit fizzled when the provincial government changed B.C. law
to allow municipalities to control waste and local environmental issues. But
the case was indicative of a decades-long effort by the plastics industry on
both sides of the U.S.-Canada border to stop regulations that might cut into
their bottom lines.
Most recently, the plastic war has played out behind the scenes in Ottawa.
Industry lobbyists are trying to dissuade the federal government from listing
plastic as “toxic” under Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection
Act (CEPA).
Left: A Coke bottle on a beach in Skye, Scotland. Right: Crew from the Beluga
II survey a beach called Shell Inlet on the Isle of Lewis in the outer Hebrides.
Photos by Will Rose / Greenpeace
To a layperson, the word toxic is associated with something poisonous and
harmful to human health. However, under CEPA, it has a broader definition: A
substance can be designated legally “toxic” if it harms either the environment
and biodiversity, health or both.
A newsletter for people who care about the climate
From a regulatory perspective, the designation is an agile tool allowing Ottawa
to ban some plastics or plastic products and control others. Without it, the federal
government would struggle to enforce its proposed plastics management plan,
first announced in October 2020.
Under the proposed rules, six hard-to-recycle, single-use plastic items will be
banned, and the federal government and the provinces will be required to
develop a national waste management plan. All plastic sold in Canada will also
need to be made from at least 50 per cent recycled material by 2030.
The proposal has triggered intense lobbying from Canada’s $28-billion plastics
industry, which objects to any efforts to curtail production. Industry
representatives have met dozens of times with federal officials in the past six
months, according to official lobbying records.
Even the U.S. plastics lobby — the countries are each other’s largest plastic
trading partners — has jumped into the fray. In September, a coalition of
giants in the American petrochemical, cosmetic, food and transportation sectors
sent a letter to Mary Ng, minister of small business, export promotion and
international trade. The letter, signed by 63 trade associations, decried the
Canadian government’s plan and warned it could threaten about $15.4 billion in
U.S. exports to Canada.
This kind of pressure happens all the time, says Stuart Trew, senior researcher
for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, but nonetheless could have a
bearing on the regulations' future.
The backlash intensifies
The strong backlash from the plastics industry on both sides of the border is
"a good sign," explained Max Liboiron, professor of geography at
Memorial University and an expert in plastic pollution.
It indicates Canada's planned regulations could pose a significant threat to
the industry.
The plethora of tactics deployed by Canada’s plastics industry in recent years
— lawsuits, PR campaigns, lobbying — are nothing new, said Liboiron.
Petrochemical, tobacco, alcohol and dozens of other powerful industries have
for decades pulled from this playbook to fight federal, regional and municipal
regulations. Now, the pressure has reached a fever pitch.
There’s a lot at stake: Globally, oil and natural gas producers are banking on
plastics to keep them afloat as the planet moves away from fossil fuels. The
plastics industry is expected to account for between 45 per cent and 95 per
cent of global growth in demand for oil and natural gas, a September analysis
by the Carbon Tracker Initiative found.

Fishing equipment-related garbage found on a beach at Sarstangen on the west
coast of Svalbard, Norway, and placed in front of the glacier Borebreen. Staged
image by Christian Åslund / Greenpeace
That growth will prove devastating as plastics cost society about $445 billion
annually due to greenhouse gas emissions, health impacts, collection costs and
ocean pollution, the report noted.
Since the late 1950s, when plastic use became widespread, the industry has
enjoyed uninhibited growth. Except for two minor production slowdowns during
the 1973 OPEC crisis and the 2008 financial crash, the global production of new
plastic has increased exponentially. That trend continues today.
Meanwhile, plastic waste clogs oceans and kills millions of marine animals —
well-documented impacts that alone justify the new rules, the government says.
Scientists are also increasingly concerned that microplastics — tiny plastic particles
found everywhere on Earth generated through quotidian plastic use — harm animal
and possibly human health and the environment. Plastic production, which relies
on fossil fuels, also exacerbates the growing climate crisis.
Left: For World Cleanup Day, Greenpeace, community allies and volunteers
co-ordinate a cleanup activity and plastic polluter brand audit. Photo by
Anthony Poulin / Greenpeace | Right: Plastic waste on a beach. Photo by The 5
Gyres Institute
The indisputable harm to animals is the foundation of the Trudeau government's
decision to put plastic on CEPA’s list of toxic substances, says Joe Castrilli,
a lawyer with the Canadian Environmental Law Association.
"From a scientific and legal perspective, I think the feds are moving in
the right direction.”
Age-old recycling mantra resurfaces
For the plastics industry, however, the new regulations pose a major threat:
They open the door to further restrictions on plastic production by the federal
government.
That kind of oversight has been largely non-existent since the industry took
off almost 70 years ago. Earlier bids in Canada and the U.S. to impose greater
regulations to reduce litter and other plastic pollution met with vigorous
opposition. By the 1970s, the industry solidified its rebuttal against attempts
to curtail plastic production, arguing any problems associated with plastic
waste can be solved by recycling.
That mantra still thrives.

Plastic pollution collects along and in the Anacostia River in Maryland. Photo
by Tim Aubry / Greenpeace
“We believe that it’s not the use of plastics that’s the issue, it’s the
end-of-life management,” says Elena Mantagaris, vice-president for the plastics
division of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC). The
organization represents over 100 plastic manufacturers and is the main industry
representative in Ottawa.
Federal lobbying records show that paid representatives from the organization
met with federal officials, including several senior officials at Environment
and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), at least 50 times in the past six months.
(Unpaid lobbying is not recorded in the federal registry, making it difficult
to know its extent.) The records only offer an overview of the dozens of issues
the CIAC has lobbied the government on, making it difficult to know if all
these meetings were about the planned plastics regulations.
Several plastic and petrochemical companies, some of them CIAC members, are
also listed as having separately lobbied federal officials on this issue
several times in the same period. They include Imperial Oil, Dow Chemical
Canada Inc. and NOVA Chemicals. None replied to requests for comment.
As the go-to spokesperson, Mantagaris says, first and foremost, the plastics
industry is determined to keep plastics off CEPA’s toxic schedule. Labelling
plastics as toxic is misguided and will cause unfair "reputational
damage" to the sector, she says.
Conservative environment critic Dan Albas went even further, saying in a
statement the "ideological" regulations are "irresponsible and
will hurt Canadians."
And while Mantagaris acknowledges too much plastic ends up in landfills and the
environment, she argues the plastics industry is not to blame. The problems
arise from poorly designed and underfunded municipal waste management systems,
she adds.
Left: Plastic bottles and other rubbish floating in Leith Docks, Scotland.
Photo by Will Rose / Greenpeace | Right: Greenpeace activists stage a protest
alongside a barge carrying tons of plastic waste through Manila Bay,
Philippines. Photo by Arnaud Vittet / Greenpeace
The plastics industry believes the federal government should take a “leadership
role” in helping provinces develop extended producer responsibility (EPR)
policies. This would make producers pay for and manage plastic recycling
programs and set recycled content standards for plastics sold in Canada. Both
requests are already part of the government’s proposed plan.
Environmental groups argue those measures alone are unlikely to successfully
manage the plastic crisis.
For instance, since 2014, B.C. has had Canada’s most advanced EPR system and
plastic recycling facilities. Yet in 2019, less than half of the plastic
packaging used in the province was recycled. Researchers at Memorial University
have also noted the program's implementation did little to reduce the amount of
plastic waste washing up on the province's beaches.
Where plastics and food security meet
The plastics industry is not alone in its lobbying efforts. Canada’s food and
restaurant industries are also concerned about applying the CEPA toxic label to
plastics, which are key to their industry’s food safety and delivery systems.
In a December submission to ECCC, Restaurants Canada, an organization
representing over 30,000 Canadian restaurants and food service companies,
argued that CEPA “is not the right policy tool” to deal with plastic’s
environmental impacts.
The organization fears the toxic label will scare customers away from plastic
containers and could be used by "the anti-plastics movement" to
mobilize against plastic containers. That could be devastating, the document
notes, as the pandemic has exposed a "critical need for single-use
items."
Packaging, including food packaging, accounts for about 33 per cent of Canada’s
plastic waste, according to a 2019 study commissioned by ECCC. Restaurants
Canada says it would prefer a "whole-of-society approach" to help
food service providers reduce plastic use without compromising food safety,
quality and price, said Mark von Schellwitz, the organization's vice-president
for Western Canada.

Plastic packaging on store shelves at a retailer in Virginia. Photo by Tim
Aubry / Greenpeace
Similar concerns are being raised by the Baking Association of Canada, an
organization representing Canada’s more than $8-billion baking industry. It has
asked that regulations related to food packaging undergo separate
consultations, according to CEO Paul Hetherington.
And in January 2021, a coalition of conservationists, government, and some of
the world's largest food and beverage producers like Nestlé and Unilever
announced they were creating a Canada Plastics Pact. The unenforceable
agreement marks a pledge by the companies to improve their packaging's
recyclability.
Environmental groups have undertaken intense lobbying efforts of their own.
Greenpeace Canada, the David Suzuki Foundation and Ecojustice lobbyists have
met dozens of times with senior federal officials about plastics and other
issues.
They are focused on reducing overall plastic use and production and support
initiatives that would reduce Canadians’ need for plastic. These efforts range
from helping remote communities source more food locally, reducing their need
for heavily packaged food, to improving public transit so Canadians need fewer
cars, which contain plastic components. It’s a diametrically opposite approach
from the industry push to improve recycling systems without reducing overall
plastic use.
Plastics and petrochemicals
At least one province has also weighed in on the debate over the federal
government’s plan.
In March 2020, Alberta Environment Minister Jason Nixon wrote to his federal
counterpart, Jonathan Wilkinson, warning that the Liberals’ plan would send a
“chilling message” to international investors in the province’s petrochemical
industry.
Alberta is banking on plastics manufacturing and recycling to revive its
economy after the pandemic ends. It aims to attract roughly $30 billion worth
of investments in the sector by 2030, says Mark Plamondon, executive director
of Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association, an Edmonton-area economic
development organization.
“The largest concern from an investment attraction standpoint is putting
plastics on Schedule 1 (because) this implies that Canada views plastic as
toxic,” he said.
“With large-scale foreign investors, when they see that … it makes them very
concerned, or at minimum uncertain, about what the future holds with respect to
the regulatory environment.”
Wilkinson, the federal environment minister, declined a request for an
interview while regulations are being drafted. Canada’s proposed plastic
regulations are currently in development following an initial round of public
consultations that ended in December. And while a date hasn’t been announced
for the publication of a draft regulation, the government has promised to ban
some single-use plastics as early as this year.
Left: Plastic litter is sorted during a beach cleanup and brand audit on
Juniper Beach in Long Beach, Calif. Photo by David McNew / Greenpeace | Right:
Plastic bottles found on the beach in Eigg, Scotland. Photo by Will Rose /
Greenpeace
Concern for the petrochemical industry shouldn't drive the government's
regulations, says Laurel Collins, federal NDP environment critic.
"When it comes to big industries, especially the companies that are producing
plastic, we need to take a strong stand and make sure there is accountability
(for their pollution)," she said.
Adequate support is needed, however, to help countless small businesses that
depend on single-use plastics to weather the pandemic and help Canadians reduce
their overall plastic consumption, Collins added.
We are open to a conversation. But the fundamental issue around pollution
remains, and we need to address it.
Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson
So far, the Trudeau government seems to be sticking with its plans but has
indicated it might be open to a change in wording. In October 2020, Wilkinson
said if the industries’ main complaint was about the public relations impact of
the word “toxic” — and not the plan to regulate plastics — it could possibly be
changed.
“What I have said … very clearly is that we are open to a conversation,” he
said in an interview at the time. “But the fundamental issue around pollution
remains, and we need to address it.”
When asked to clarify, Moira Kelly, Wilkinson's press secretary, said only that
the government "will continue to work collaboratively with municipalities,
provinces and territories, and other stakeholders to keep plastic in our
economy and out of the environment."
Lost in litigation
From a legal standpoint, listing plastic under Schedule 1 of CEPA without
calling it toxic would set a dangerous precedent that could undermine Canada’s
environmental legislation, said Castrilli, the environmental lawyer. Because
toxic has been a key word in the criminal case law supporting this regulatory
power, using a different "nomenclature" could confuse the courts and
generate unnecessary litigation, he added.
Lawsuits can delay new regulations for years — Toronto, for instance,
considered a ban in 2012, but stopped short after being threatened with legal
action by the Canadian Plastic Bag Association and Ontario Convenience Stores
Association. Large industries sometimes take to the courts to slow or stop
regulations that might impact their bottom lines, Castrilli says. The tactic is
used extensively by the U.S. plastics industry, says Jennie Romer, legal
associate with the Surfrider Foundation and a leading U.S. anti-plastics
lawyer.
Ashley Wallis, a veteran plastics campaigner currently with Oceana Canada, says
she anticipates the ban on the six single-use items will go through. But she
worries the government might back away from elements of the plan that will
actually change how much plastic we use and how plastic waste is managed.
"If Canada wants to be seen as an environmental leader, it does need to
follow through on what it said it’s going to do. But as always, the devil is in
the detail,” Wallis says. “If the only thing they regulate is the ban on six
single-use items, that is not nearly what’s needed to address the plastic
pollution crisis.”
Paisley Woodward
contributed to research for this story.
-30-
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Puccini’s Tosca, today until 6:30PM
Starring Sonya Yoncheva, Vittorio Grigolo, Željko Lučić, and Patrick Carfizzi,
conducted by Emmanuel Villaume. Production by Sir David McVicar. From January
27, 2018. Two hours twenty minutes just roars by in one famous
melody and dramatic scene after another.
Tonight starts
"Viewers' Choice Week", with additional information here:
https://www.metopera.org/user-information/nightly-met-opera-streams/week-53/weekly-guide/
And this also
marks that Met Opera has been streaming a recorded opera *every day* for over
52 weeks. A wonderful gift of the arts and a reminder to support any arts
you possibly can.
Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann, tonight 7:30PM until Tuesday about
6:30PM
Starring Anna Netrebko, Kathleen Kim, Ekaterina Gubanova, Kate Lindsey, Joseph
Calleja, and Alan Held. Production by Bartlett Sher. From December 19,
2009. A superb cast, with the opera showcasing four fantastic
sopranos, each with an amazing colour and range, and Calleja is grand, too.
March 14, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
“The environment is so
fundamental to our continued existence that it must transcend politics and
become a central value of all members of society.”
--- David Suzuki
Today:
It's pretty impressive to change clocks to Daylight Savings Time and have
"Pi Day" today.
Pi Day celebrates that the first digits of that famous irrational number
correspond to the date (3.14)
and Canadian Family has some fun suggestions for the little people or at least
light-hearted ones in your life:
https://canadianfamily.ca/activities/crafts/pi-day-activities/
Time change, depending on your feelings about it, or any other governmental
matter, for that matter, can be addressed to MLAs this week as they take a
break from sitting.
Members' lists and written and video records from this and previous sessions:
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
and snippets on the P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
Keep up with The
Future of Charlottetown Facebook group as they continue to
point out what's going on in the City (and what's not), and have thoughtful
vision. The Haviland giant apartment building project, the Simmons Sport
Centre plans, and the traffic plans for the Sherwood area, etc. (more on that
in future CA News):
https://www.facebook.com/FutureOfCharlottetown/
More David Suzuki
notes:
You are invited to
read more about, and sign a letter to the Prime Minister and Party Leaders,
here:
https://davidsuzuki.org/action/green-and-just-recovery-budget-2021/
Budget
2021 must help create a sustainable, resilient, equitable future
We have a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to reimagine our communities, economy and our own lives to create a
sustainable, resilient, equitable future.
As they ready for
Budget 2021, decision-makers in Ottawa are figuring out how to allocate
billions of our tax dollars — up to $100 billion over three years!
To shape the Canada we
want and need, the federal government must make critical investment decisions
that:
End fossil fuel subsidies and shift spending to a green and
just recovery
Deliver strong climate legislation, ambitious climate targets
and policies that enable climate justice
Protect 25 per cent of land and ocean by 2025 and support
Indigenous-led conservation
Expand and leverage nature-based climate solutions
Send a message to your
elected officials today to demand a green and just recovery from COVID-19.
The David Suzuki
Foundation has joined environmental groups throughout Canada in One Earth One
Voice, a campaign to urge the federal government to solve two crises at once by
prioritizing a green and just recovery.
-30-
-------
David Suzuki's birthday is coming up on March 24th, and the David Suzuki
Foundation is encouraging people to donate if you feel so inclined, to
particular projects, here (along with much about the organization bearing his
name):
https://davidsuzuki.org/
------------------------------
Another good read from the David Suzuki Foundation, published on Monday, March
9th, 2021, about when "simple" solutions to wildlife management have
complex results:
Link to article (with lovely photographs):
https://davidsuzuki.org/story/easy-way-out-for-wildlife-conservation-isnt-what-it-appears/
Easy way out for wildlife conservation
isn’t what it appears - davidsuzuki.org post by
David Suzuki with contributions from Boreal Project Manager Rachel Plotkin
H.L.
Mencken once wrote that
“there is always a well-known solution to every human problem — neat,
plausible, and wrong.”
This is often
the case with society’s responses to human-caused wildlife decline.
Take salmon
populations along B.C.’s coast. According to assessments by the Committee on
the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, only two of 29 wild Chinook salmon
populations aren’t at risk of extinction. (Data is lacking to determine the
status of three. All the rest are at risk.)
A number of
factors cause salmon populations to decline, including overfishing, climate
change and stream, river and estuary degradation. Because it’s a challenge to
reduce catch quotas, restore streams and change development and
resource-extraction practices, authorities often take an easier way to recover
dwindling salmon numbers: hatcheries. Now, 23 federally controlled hatcheries
release hundreds of millions of juvenile salmon into the wild every year in
attempts to maintain fisheries and offset their decline.
Yet salmon
hatcheries only appear to be a simple solution. Salmon released from hatchery
stocks add strands of complexity to the threats facing wild salmon, and are
believed to contribute to wild salmon declines.
“The latest
science shows that large hatcheries cause wild salmon more harm than good,” David
Suzuki Foundation senior research and policy analyst Jeffery Young said.
“Hatchery salmon weaken wild salmon genetics, compete with wild populations for
limited resources and drive fisheries that continue to harm wild fish.”
Human activity
is also putting caribou at risk throughout Canada. Their decline is driven by
habitat loss and degradation, especially from linear corridors such as seismic
lines, logging roads and recreational trails. Predators use these corridors to
increase their caribou-hunting success rates.
In September
2020, Jasper National Park declared that one of
three caribou populations living within its boundaries had winked out, while
the other two were “dangerously small.” Declines in Jasper have been driven by
poor wildlife management, like elk introduction, and compounded by habitat loss
and degradation in adjacent ranges.
Although the
park has stabilized the elk populations, evidence from Jasper’s recently extirpated Maligne caribou herd, as well as other available scientific research, indicates
more should be done, including limiting human access. Backcountry ski and
snowmobile supply routes into Jasper’s Tonquin Valley pack trails and bring
noise and people into high-quality caribou habitat. Recreational activity can
stress caribou, displace them from the best habitat and make it easier for
wolves to gain access and kill them.
In November
2020, Parks Canada announced it was contemplating its first captive caribou
breeding program in Jasper. “We expect a captive herd for breeding purposes
could start producing animals for release as early as 2024,” Jasper’s conservation manager said.
In February
2021, Jasper lifted access restrictions mid-season in
the highly imperilled Tonquin herd’s range, despite the conservation community’s calls to keep them
in place to give the caribou a greater chance of survival. It appears the
park’s staff — unwilling to invest in current conservation measures to decrease
risks and apply a precautionary approach to the remaining herds — is banking on
captive breeding as the panacea to its declining caribou problem.
But as with
hatcheries, captive breeding programs are not as simple as they appear. Captive
breeding is a risky undertaking that involves semi-domesticating wildlife. The
risk is compounded if it entails population augmentation — taking caribou from
places where they’re surviving and putting them into an environment where
survival has failed in the past.
Further, as
the icing on the oversimplified-solution cake, captive breeding is often
accompanied by predator control — killing
animals that prey on caribou. This practice throws a wrench into the elegant
symbiotic dance between predator and prey that has existed for thousands of
years.
Steve Jobs
once said, “If you define the problem correctly, you almost have the solution.”
Here the
primary problem is our failure to set limits to the impacts of human activities
in spaces wildlife depend on to survive. Our current solutions indicate that we
haven’t had the courage to address our problems head-on, nor the sense of
responsibility required to roll up our sleeves and clean up our messes.
As long as we
capitulate and default to easy solutions to complex problems, we’ll likely
continue to drive wildlife decline and disappearance.
-30-
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Giordano’s Andrea Chénier, today until 6:30PM
Starring Maria Guleghina, Wendy White, Stephanie Blythe, Luciano Pavarotti, and
Juan Pons. Production by Nicolas Joël. From October 15, 1996.
Puccini’s Tosca, tonight 7:30PM until Monday about
6:30PM
Starring Sonya Yoncheva, Vittorio Grigolo, Željko Lučić, and Patrick Carfizzi,
conducted by Emmanuel Villaume. Production by Sir David McVicar. From January
27, 2018.
Though, um, neither of these ends happily, they
have amazing singers and are quite entertaining.
March 13, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
“For me,
science is like eating and drinking. I’d feel pretty empty on a day when I
didn’t do any.”
--
Canadian biologist David Schindler (1940-2021)
and his science improved the understanding, protection and love
of our water ecosystems and more (tribute article, below)
Events:
Some places to get local food:
Farmers' Markets in Charlottetown (9AM-2PM)
and Summerside (9AM-1PM)
Riverview County Market,
Riverside Drive, local food, local meats next door at KJL (and other location in North River)
Heart Beet Organics Farmacy and Fermentary,
(9AM-1PM), and other items (open until 6PM).
152 Great George Street, Charlottetown.
The provincial operating budget was announced yesterday, and after the next
week's break from sittings, will be discussed department by department in the
Legislature in the coming days.
Government media release is here:
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/budget-2021-22-shows-provinces-path-recovery
And CBC's roundup of reaction is here:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-budget-reaction-2021-22-groups-1.5947881
and additional materials and video are here:
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
BrieFLY...
Why...
so important? For many reasons, like actual funding and direction, but
the Operating Budget is also a confidence vote, so the Government will need a
majority to pass it to stay in power, which it technically has (counting the
Speaker's vote) if only PC MLAs vote for it. But that won't
be for several days while it's scruntinized.
Sigh...
...in the automatic oppositional labeling of "smoke and mirrors",
which sets an apparently-politically-desired adversarial tone. There are
thoughtful and useful items promised, even if overall vision is wanting.
High...
...this goes back to Thursday, when Premier Denny said he was as excited and
happy "as a shingle fly" that Spring was on its way and the
pandemic's end is on the horizon. Watching the exuberant, bumbling Pollenia at my
windows, I had to but smile.
from The Beacon, by Grist
Lego is aiming to go oil free - The Beacon by Grist article by
Adam Mahoney
Published
(electronic newsletter) on Friday, March 12, 2021
Lego is ramping up its plans to
go green. The maker of toy building blocks that have entertained children for
generations, relies on fossil fuels to sustain its production of some 100,000
tons of plastic bricks every year, but it’s taking a step in the right
direction by planning to stop using plastic bags in its boxes before its
self-imposed 2025 deadline.
Lego’s
CEO Niels B. Christiansen told Bloomberg that the
shift away from plastic bags was “going well,” and that Lego is well on its way
to hitting its larger sustainability goals. Those goals include achieving
carbon-neutral manufacturing by next year and reducing all carbon emissions by
37 percent by 2032. The family-owned company has set aside $400 million and
created a 100-person team to reach those goals and have an
environmentally-friendly, oil-free product on store shelves by 2030.
The
pandemic rejuvenated the company with record-high sales,
despite a global shift towards online entertainment. To keep these sales up,
the company has to keep its customers happy, and what they want is greener
Legos.
“The
feedback we get from our customers is very clear,” Christiansen told Bloomberg.
“The younger kids are, the more direct they are with their views on the green
transition and sustainability.”
-30-
Loss of a Canadian
colossus
This was sent by Brad Walters at Mount Alison, who writes:
"...The below article is a wonderful tribute and fascinating bit of
history about environmental science in Canada."
David Schindler, the
Scientific Giant Who Defended Fresh Water - The
Tyee article
by Andrew Nikiforuk
Among the world’s
greatest ecologists, his boreal research has touched all of our lives.
Published on
Tuesday, March 9th, 2021
Link only https://thetyee.ca/News/2021/03/09/David-Schindler-Scientific-Giant-Fresh-Water-Defender

David Schindler was
among ‘the most important and effective ecologists and environmental scientists
in history, not just in Canada. I’d like to think Canadians will
understand and recognize that,’ says his colleague Bill Donahue.
Photo by Ellen Brodylo/Mike Morrow, from
the article above
Metropolitan Opera
Saturday Afternoon at the Met, 2OM , CBC Radio 104.7FM
Mozart’s Le
Nozze di Figaro
Ailyn Pérez (Countess), Nadine Sierra (Susanna), Isabel Leonard (Cherubino), Katarina
Leoson (Marcellina), Mariusz Kwiecien (Count), Ildar Abdrazakov (Figaro),
Maurizio Muraro (Dr. Bartolo), conducted by Harry Bicket;. Performance from January 10, 2018
Metropolitan Opera
daily video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Giordano’s Fedora, today until at
6:30PM
Starring Mirella Freni, Ainhoa Arteta, Plácido Domingo, Dwayne Croft, and
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, conducted by Roberto Abbado. Production by Beppe De
Tomasi. From April 26, 1997.
Giordano’s Andrea
Chénier, tonight 7:30PM until Sunday about 6:30PM
From October 15, 1996. "Luciano Pavarotti is at his most ardent as
the romantic poet Andrea Chénier who is overwhelmed by his impossible love for
the beautiful Maddalena (Maria Guleghina). She is a pampered aristocrat and he is but a poor
member of the French Revolution. But even though their entire
world is being torn apart in by unprecedented violence, their love will not be
denied—even if it costs both of them their lives." Oh, wow.
Two hours.
March 12, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events:
The P.E.I. Legislature sits from 10AM-2PM
today.
Government business
is on the agenda, and apparently the provincial operating budget will be
tabled.
Watch here:
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
As part of the new
schedule, the Legislature will not sit next week, but resume Tuesday,March
23rd.
----------
Friday4Future, 2PM, outside the
Legilature (Coles Building), all welcome.
Facebook event details
UPEI Climate Webinar
Series 2021
Dr. Adam Fenech
discusses the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation at UPEI's
campus in St. Peter's Bay, PEI, 3-4PM, online.
Event signup here
--------
Entertainment
tonight:
Julie Pellissier-Lush,
Provincial Poet Laureate, UPEI Mawi'Omi Centre director, and more, will be the
"Spin Time DJ" on Mainstreet, after the 5:30PM news, 96.1FM
Todd
MacLean's Rainforest Lounge has special guest musician Joce Reyome, 7PM, Instagram Live https://www.instagram.com/toddpei/
Bob Bancroft, biologist, spells it out for Nova Scotia, but it matters
everywhere:
https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/environment/whats-environmentally-wrong-with-clearcutting/
What’s environmentally wrong with
clearcutting?
by
Bob Bancroft
published online on
Wednesday, March 10th, 2021
Classified as
“Acadian,” most naturally-growing forests of Atlantic Canada contain a broad
mix of trees with leaves (hardwoods) and with needles (softwoods). Each tree
species has preferences regarding soil, moisture, and available light. Young
sugar maple, yellow birch, hemlock, red spruce, and others can grow on the
forest floor in the moisture and shade found under taller trees. Eventually an
old tree falls, and a young tree takes a growth spurt in its place. Trees that
grow in forest shade may live as long as 450 years and eventually become the
dominant species. The wood of these species has more economic value for humans.
Fire was
historically rare as a large-scale environmental disturbance in most forests of
New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. “Fire histories” can
often be traced to early logging practices and land-clearing by settlers.
Trees obtain
nutrients from soils that have been accumulating organic material since the
last ice age about 11,000 years ago. With repeated wood harvests and acid rain,
these soils are becoming severely depleted.
Needles and
leaves on living trees act like solar collectors, producing energy for the
tree. Favourable site conditions and room for roots in the ground give each
tree a chance to thrive. On hot, sunny days a healthy forest offers shade and
keeps water cool in the forest floor. One tree can have the cooling effect of
10 home air conditioners operating 20 hours per day.
Forestry in
eastern Canada became a force in the 1700s. Land clearing for settlements and
farms, shipbuilding, and lumber exporting began making significant changes.
Enormous white pines were marked and reserved as masts for English sailing
ships. In the 1800s, sawmills used vast amounts of original Acadian forest
hardwoods and softwoods. Some 300 years and repeated harvests later, those same
sites are being swept clean for pulp, lumber and/or biomass. For centuries wood
“biomass” was burned in homes for heating and cooking. Lately the term biomass
has been expanded to include wood processing by-products, such a sawmill
wastes, and the cutting and burning of forests to produce electricity.
The
industry-preferred, cheap harvest method is clearcutting. A clearcut can be
defined as a site where most of trees have been removed in one operation,
leaving a large, open area that no longer has the forests’ protection from high
temperatures and drying winds. The Department of Lands and Forestry defines it as “a harvest, after which less
than 60% of the area is sufficiently occupied with trees taller than 1.3
metres.”
The spread of
clearcutting over eastern landscapes holds many dire environmental consequences
for soils, wildlife populations, waterways, climate, and humans. Leaving thin
ribbons of trees along waterways and occasional, see-through clumps of trees on
the landscape does not maintain an ecologically healthy environment. These
“left-overs” do not shade the ground sufficiently and often blow down.
Clearcuts
compromise nature’s healthy forests in the following ways:
1) Clearcuts
encourage short-lived and “open ground” suited seedlings of species like
poplar, wire birch, fir, and white spruce to take over. Sure, something grows
back — but not the same forest. Nature attempts to heal with grow-fast,
die-fast species.
2) The
resulting forest is even-aged, has fewer tree species and more vulnerability to
insect and disease damage.
3) According
to the forest industry, forests that grow in on clearcuts often require
herbicides to kill hardwoods that impede softwood survival. This idiocy has
been taxpayer-subsidized for decades. The pulp industry wants softwood forests,
but their needles make soils acidic. On the other hand, hardwood leaves improve
soil fertility and provide wildlife food.
4) Climate
change brings dry, windy droughts that kill shallow-rooted softwoods.
5) Clearcuts
make soil nutrients vulnerable to erosion from wind and rain. Nutrients
important for tree growth (like phosphates and calcium) are taken away with the
harvested wood, washed out of the soil or blown away on the wind. Nutrients
available for new tree growth are squandered away from the site.
6) During
droughts, forest soils can regulate stream flows by gradually releasing water
into brooks and rivers. Clearcut brooks flush like toilets after heavy
rainfalls, drying up in summer with widened, eroded channels. That difference
can mean life or death for salmon and trout, frogs, and other aquatic life.
Humans also need cool, clean water.
7) Erosion from
clearcuts washes silt into brooks and rivers, filling spaces between rocks
where aquatic life takes refuge. It smothers trout and salmon eggs that are
laid in autumn and overwinter in gravel bottoms. The legislated 20-
30-metre-wide buffer zones to protect waterways and adjacent lands are grossly
inadequate. Silt keeps flowing into brooks, filling in ponds and onward to the
sea.
8) The hot,
dry conditions on clearcuts kill small soil inhabitants that can break down and
recycle forest nutrients from dead wood. Those conditions and 40-year cutting
rotations that create moonscapes prevent long-lived Acadian tree species from
returning. Once those seed sources have disappeared, these trees cannot return.
9) Trees
growing in over soil-depleted clearcuts produce meagre amounts of food that
white-tailed deer or moose will use. Sprouts on red maple stumps do not hold
the nutrition value of a twig that grows from seed.
10) Many
habitats essential for the survival of a wide variety of wild animals, plants,
and lichens that are found in Acadian forests are missing in “forests” that
grow in on clearcuts. Barred owls, for example, nest in big trees with a large
hole. They rarely find such a large tree now. Residents displaced by
clearcutting also hardly ever find a nearby “vacant” forest. They become
homeless refugees.
11) “Biomass”
once referred to leftovers from forest operations. Now it’s a sought- after
commodity. Clearcuts are being “cleaned up” for it, leaving even less dead
woody material in soils to grow more trees. Pulp companies normally cut
softwood forests and mixed wood (hardwood and softwood) forests to make their
products. Now hardwood forests are being flattened for biomass burning, often
with taxpayer subsidies. Producing electricity by burning wood is less than 30%
efficient.
12) Management
of our Crown (public) lands once had some oversight by government foresters.
Now the government is turning public land forest management over to the forest
industry. The foxes are guarding the henhouse?
There are
alternate ways to harvest that allow nature to grow healthy new Acadian
forests. Trees are removed using “partial harvest” methods that mimic natural
gaps in the forest canopy, creating a more suitable environment for long-lived
species of hardwoods and softwoods. Such harvests can maintain most forest
communities of wild plants and animals. To be healthy, nature needs
ecologically sound forest management on at least 60% of the forested land base.
These should be designed to offer wildlife corridors, forested connections
between protected lands.
Many insist
that clearcutting the forest every few decades is no problem; that it will
magically re-appear. In New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, plans are underway to
increase harvests over larger land bases and channel more of nature’s energy
into fewer tree species, ignoring the degrading, ecological consequences this
will have for wildlife and nature as a whole.
Acadian
forests represent a diverse portfolio of stable ecological investments. They
have, to use a banking term, “accrued interest and capital.” The current
practice of clearcutting mixed Acadian forests does not sustain them. It
degrades them. We’ve allowed too many withdrawals from the soil account.
Human greed
for forests is exceeding nature’s abilities. Our forests need to be rehabilitated
before the land deteriorates to scrub or heath. Once a forested country,
Scotland now has only 16% of its land base in trees, with much of that
percentage in plantation.
For the health
of the land, forestry planning needs to become more in tune with nature’s ways,
instead of overpowering it. It’s time for woodland owners, First Nations,
scientists, naturalists, river associations, fish and game groups, boaters,
watershed associations, and people who just love the woods to stand together
for more ecologically-healthy, working forests.
Research in
Germany over several centuries has proven forest plantations to be a long-term
fallacy. Yet the NS government and the forest industries in NS and NB persist
in using public land and the public purse in this “fight nature” endeavor.
Crown land
fibre “mining” suppresses wood prices for private land owners.
Public land
management should be subject to public interests, rather than producing quick
profits for private industries.
We elect the
politicians. They could stop this plundering.
Bob Bancroft
is a wildlife biologist and the current president of Nature Nova Scotia.
-30-
From The Guardian (U.K.), about Cumbria, in
Northwest England, near the Lake District National Park.
Top story: ‘Better late than never’
A controversial coalmine planned for
Cumbria appears to have been put on hold with the local
government secretary, Robert Jenrick, taking responsibility for the scheme away
from the local authority and putting it to a public inquiry. Ministers have
previously been criticised for not blocking the coalmine, particularly given
that the UK is hosting Cop26, the UN climate summit, in November. A few weeks
ago one of the country’s most eminent environmental scientists, Sir Robert
Watson, said it was “absolutely ridiculous” the government was refusing to
act. Story at the link:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/11/robert-jenrick-orders-public-inquiry-into-cumbria-coalmine
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Zandonai’s Francesca
da Rimini, today until 6:30PM
Starring Eva-Maria Westbroek, Marcello Giordani, Robert Brubaker, and Mark
Delavan, conducted by Marco Armiliato. Production by Piero Faggioni. From March 16, 2013.
Giordano’s Fedora, tonight 7:30PM until Saturday
about 6:30PM
Starring Mirella Freni, Ainhoa Arteta, Plácido Domingo, Dwayne Croft, and
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, conducted by Roberto Abbado. Production by Beppe De
Tomasi. From April
26, 1997. Short at 1 hour 50 minutes, and rarely
performed, but Domingo and Freni are amazing singers.
March 11, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events:
The P.E.I. Legislature sits from 1-5PM today, with the time after
Question Period and such but before 4PM the Government's priorities, and from
4-5PM, Private Members' business.
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
------
If you want to take a
break from Legislature-watching (or can multi-task and have good internet) you
can join this group and "attend":
Go!Live at Home
iMotion Series Fitness Class with Stephanie Knickle, 4PM today, free.
More info about
joining the Facebook group, class schedule and class at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/goLiveathome
There are about four online different fitness classes each week.
-----------------------
Also, a webinar that may
be of interest:
Webinar: "Ag-gag"
Laws and the Public's Right to Know, 4PM, online, free
Part of the Centre for Free Expression (CFE) Virtual Forum Series
from the event link:
Alberta and Ontario “Ag-Gag“ laws seek to prevent
whistleblowers, undercover journalists, and animal advocates from reporting on
animal treatment, public health threats, unsafe working conditions, and
environmental offences at farms and slaughterhouses. Join a panel of experts
who discuss what this may mean for press freedom and democratic rights in
Canada.
Zoom link to event ryerson.zoom.us/j/91941276567
This is a free event and no registration is required.
Facebook event
details and link (if above does not work): https://www.facebook.com/events/171139627818565/
Deadline today (survey may still be open tomorrow):
Elected School Board
Model Consultations
info and survey
link:
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/education-and-lifelong-learning/elected-school-board-model-consultation
Tomorrow:
Friday, March 12th:
Friday4Future
Charlottetown, 2PM, Coles Building,
reminding
the Legislators as they leave the building....
-----------------------
Also:
UPEI
Climate Webinar Series 2021
Dr. Adam Fenech
discusses the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation at UPEI's
campus in St. Peter's Bay, PEI, 3-4PM, online.
adapted from the event notice:
....The Climate Centre will be a new 45,000 square-foot
research facility being built in the community of St. Peters Bay....(it) will
house state-of-the-art research centres, including the internationally
recognized UPEI Climate Research Lab, the UPEI School of Climate Change and
Adaptation, as well as a professional development program (ClimateSense). The
facility and the lands surrounding it will serve as a living laboratory that
allows for unlimited access to nearby wetlands, forests, and coastal habitats.
The UPEI Climate Centre will be a world leader in understanding and adapting to
the climate change impacts on economies and ecologies. The focus will be on
applying leading technologies such as drones, big data analytics, and virtual
reality to the climate change challenge.
----------------------
Limited Space, so
registering early is recommended:
Sunday, March 28th:
Winter Pruning
Workshop, 2PM,
Farm Centre, 420
University Avenue.,
RSVP to Dr. Derek
Plotkowski
(902) 393-1080 or derek@peitfga.ca
hosted by the PEI Tree
Fruit Growers Association
Some Legislative notes
from this week so far:
A bit in the
Legislature quoted, an opinion by Paul MacNeill, and an article written by
Daniel Brown at The
Guardian
Tuesday afternoon,
March 9th, 2021, in Question Period, District 25
O'Leary-Inverness MLA Robbie Henderson (Liberal) asked and re-asked if Premier
King had plans to give away Islanders' vaccine, as was hypothetically conjectured
in a national interview Premier Denny did over the weekend. Finally,
Premier Denny had enough, and slowly rising like a volcano, he blew....
Premier King:
And I would say to this member across, this: that COVID has changed a lot of things in PEI. It has been hard on all of us; it has disrupted all of
us. But heaven forbid it ever
changes who we are as
Islanders, how much we care about others,
and what a leading role we play in this
federation of Canada, and I’ll never do it
and that’s my (Indistinct) –
Government
members joined the roar, then the Speaker called on the next person on his list
with a question, Hal Perry, the MLA for D27-Tignish-Palmer Road (Liberal), who
said, without missing a beat:
Mr. Perry:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank
the Member from O’Leary-Inverness
for kicking the beehive before taking
me in....Question to the
minister of health: Recently,....
Against the Tide opinion column https://www.peicanada.com/eastern_graphic/greens-and-liberals-both-wrong-on-public-service/article_226b1d80-80da-11eb-ad0c-c73bd950e572.html
(Motion 14 link added, and bold is mine)
Greens and Liberals Both Wrong on Public Service - The Eastern Graphic Against the Tide opinion column
by Paul MacNeill, publisher
Published online and
in print on Wednesday, March 10th, 2021, in The Graphic publications
Even by
Island standards, it was a week of eyebrow raising oddity. The legislature
heard analogies pertaining to The Simpsons and two frogs churning their way to
safety in a vat of milk. The Third Party was rightfully hammered for waffling
on temporarily shutting the house during a three day public health Red Alert,
with Steven Myers putting the sharpest skewer in Liberal self-importance. He
correctly pointed out 27 people, from 27 different areas of the province,
arriving to the legislature with COVID variants on the prowl is not
leadership.
Yup.
And then there was
the dust-up between Greens and Liberals seemingly over the heart and soul of
the public service. It started with a vague motion from the Official Opposition that
alludes to a ‘toxic’ culture across departments resulting in vulnerable
Islanders failing to receive needed programming and support. Greens positioned
the motion as an uncomfortable, but necessary, conversation.
Here’s the problem
with vague motions - they are really easy to criticize. And boy, did Liberal
Hal Perry unload, painting the public service as a shining light full of
dedicated and diligent employees whose reputations are unfairly besmirched by
the opposition.
Reality lies
somewhere between Opposition vagueness and Third Party moral indignation.
Our public service,
across much of government, deserves praise for its response to the pandemic. It
was nimble in delivering programs and services that were effective and timely.
Mistakes were made, but when it happened it was acknowledged and government
moved on to the next plan. It was possible because politicians and senior
bureaucrats were terrified, overpowering the institutional fear of failure and
being called out for it.
It is a short-lived
example of how government should operate. Unfortunately it didn’t last, silos
that stall needed change are back. Silos that promote pet projects are back.
Silos, think the education system, that protect an employee who should be
finding employment outside the public service, are back.
This does not mean
all of the public service is bad, lazy or an impediment to moving forward. Not
even close, the system is full of individuals driven by a desire to serve and
deliver quality service to the public. This is where the Green motion really
falls down because government does need to change, but by omitting hard facts,
the Opposition is throwing all into the same pool. That’s wrong.
So the result is not
a difficult conversation, as Greens hope. It’s a conversation driven by
reaction to the Opposition’s generalizations. Hal Perry’s over-the-top defense
has as much to do with building a wedge for potential Green voters as with
responding directly to the motion.
Perry and the
Liberals know exactly how inflexible the bureaucracy can be. Health and
education are notorious for opposing change while empowering silos and pet
project decision making, regardless of merit. Senior members of the former
Liberal government acknowledge bureaucratic inertia impeded its agenda.
The reality is it
doesn’t take many to slow the wheels of government, nothing more than
strategically placed mid and high-level managers who control what files are
prioritized.
Hal Perry cannot look
at housing, poverty, addiction and mental health services and say our public
service is doing all it can. It is not. There are cracks in programs and
services as big as a house. Responsibility is often off-loaded to
non-government organizations, reducing oversight and accountability.
Ultimately
responsibility for programs and so-called ‘toxic’ environments rest with deputy
ministers, cabinet and the premier. Governments of all stripes are hesitant to
get rid of bad employees. It’s like education shuffling a bad administrator
from school to school hoping their reputation won’t follow. It always does and
the system never improves because of lethargic oversight.
What the pandemic
offered is what is now missing - urgency to deliver for Islanders. The perfect
example: Health Minister Ernie Hudson’s promise of a safe injection site, but
he won’t say when it will be launched. We’ve needed one for years. The
minister’s words are nothing but bureaucratic drivel to dodge accountability
while Islanders in need fall through the cracks. And that is what happens when
sweeping generalizations meet feigned indignation. Greens and Liberals both
tried to score points on the back of the public service. Both failed.
Paul MacNeill is
Publisher of Island Press Limited. He can be contacted at paul@peicanada.com
Guardian article https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/pei-premier-wants-to-dial-down-the-political-rhetoric-of-mental-health-561975/
P.E.I. premier wants to dial down the
political rhetoric of mental health - The Guardian article by Daniel Brown
Published online
late Wednesday (and probably in print on Thursday, March 11th, 2021)
CHARLOTTETOWN,
P.E.I. —
P.E.I. Premier Dennis King regrets the times he has used
mental health announcements as a part of his politics. He was questioned
on the topic by Liberal MLA Gordon McNeilly in the provincial legislature on
March 10. One example referenced was King's 2019 election pledge to have a
mental health campus constructed in Charlottetown to replace Hillsborough
Hospital – a project which still hasn't started.
"I probably,
on the stage, got a little ahead of myself in terms of what I was
suggesting," King said during question period.
King noted he has
learned much more about mental health and addiction issues than he knew when
his leadership started, and his government deserves to be critiqued on how it
has been handling the topic provincially. He went on to reflect that he
finds the topic is becoming over-politicized on P.E.I. – something he feels
guilty of contributing to and would like to see handled more co-operatively.
"I think one
of the best things that we can do to improve the mental health and addictions
services and the individuals involved," he said, "would be to dial
down the political rhetoric on this, to not try to score political
points."
"Let's take
this one off the board in terms of politics. Let's work together and try and
fix it."
Following
through
McNeilly agreed
with King's remarks but wanted to see progress on some of the undelivered
promises because he finds it clear – especially throughout the COVID-19
pandemic – that mental health is a concern for many Islanders, he said.
"(It's) even
clearer that government's response has been inadequate."
McNeilly also
referenced the delays in rolling out mobile mental health crisis teams, which
were announced as far back as 2018 under the previous government and were
reported to commence in early 2021.
As well, King had
mentioned in his state of the province address last month that P.E.I. will
introduce a 24/7 phone line for Islanders in need of mental health and
addictions services, and a centre for mental well-being is intended to be
operational later this year.
McNeilly noted it
was unclear whether the phone line announcement was simply recycled news from a
previous announcement, which he finds is too often the case, and whether the
centre would include a new, physical space or if it was "just a working
group”.
"We need it clear from the beginning, so we can figure
out a plan," McNeilly said. "I don't want vague anymore."
King clarified
the idea behind the centre is to create a single outlet from which partner
individuals and groups could share resources and provide for Islanders in need.
If physical space is required to deliver the service, then that would be
arranged, he said. "It's not so much the bricks and mortar of
this but the overall delivery."
He also hopes the
centre would act as a more tangible means for Islanders with concerns on the
topic to express them to government.
"I don't
think we need to have individuals have rallies to get the attention of
government," he said. "I think we need to do a better job of
government to make sure they know they can come to address these issues."
-30-
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur, today until 6:30PM
Starring Anna Netrebko, Anita Rachvelishvili, Piotr Beczała, and Ambrogio
Maestri, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. Production by Sir David McVicar. From January 12, 2019.
Zandonai’s Francesca da Rimini, tonight 7:30PM until Friday about
6:30PM
Starring Eva-Maria Westbroek, Marcello Giordani, Robert Brubaker, and Mark Delavan,
conducted by Marco Armiliato. Production by Piero Faggioni. From March 16, 2013.
Both of these Met
Opera productions clock in at exactly 2 hours and 22 minutes, both have tragic
deaths (what else??) and both are really too complicated to describe faithfully.
But the singing!
And totally unrelated to anything, but such zippy writing, and perhaps a
diagnostic option here one day soon, from the U.K. Guardian daily newsletter (article and
50second video at the link):
Snapshot in passing –
People in England
will be able to check at home if they have bowel cancer by swallowing a tiny capsule containing miniature
cameras, avoiding the need
for a hospital procedure that will not be described here. Pictures transmitted
from inside the body to a belt recorder are checked by doctors for signs of
disease. The capsule is about the size of a cod liver oil tablet – after the
job is done it leaves the body in predictable fashion. It is part of an NHS
effort to have more diagnosis and treatment of illness done at home.
March 10, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events:
The P.E.I. Legislature sits from 1-5PM today. After
the usual "Order of the Day", there will be Private Member's Business
until 4PM, and then Government Business for the last hour. (This flips
for Tuesday and Thursday, resulting in a bit more time today for Opposition
Parties to set choose the Motions and Bills they will to discuss.
To
watch live or check out documents:
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative
Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
-------------------
Deadline tomorrow:
Elected School Board
Model Consultations
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/education-and-lifelong-learning/elected-school-board-model-consultations
The online survey will be available today and Thursday night, March 11, 2021,
and likely most of Friday, too. (this was checked)
The survey itself:
https://www.research.net/r/esbc
----------------------------
Movie in April:
Fridays for Future-- Charlottetown notes:
"Thanks to Doug
Carmody, our group will be presenting the documentary film, "I Am Greta" at City Cinema on April 20 - 22,"
about the Swedish teen fighting for climate action. This
coincides with Earth Week. Seating limits are in place so if you wish to
go, it's suggested you book tickets sooner than later.
https://citycinema.ca/
A few small
Legislature notes from Tuesday, March 9th:
Why...
...Speech from the
Throne progress: Responses to the The Speech from the
Throne were completed yesterday, the Motion basically approving it was voted on
(with a few MLAs voting against it from the Opposition Parties), and now the
Legislature can turn its attention to the Bills and Motions (including the
Operating Budget) it wants to address this Spring.
Sigh...
...to
the MLA, who like a kind of like the deja vu of Groundhog's Day, rose and said
the same message in pretty much the same way every year, that he wanted to note
that yesterday was "... International 'Woman's' Day, and thanks to
all you Ladies out there...." It is of course said with the best of intentions.
High...
...was Premier
Denny King speaking nearly last (the actual last speaker being the mover of the
motion, which was Charlottetown-Winsloe's Zack Bell), and nearly briefly, on
the Speech from the Throne, tapping into the spirit of cooperation and
acknowledging the Speech does not have all the answers, but reaching out in
open-armed way he does so very well.
-----
Open Note to MLAs: if the Member in front of you is making a statement or
asking or answering a question, remember you are probably on camera, too.
Land and Water
notes:
News story: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-organic-farmland-1.5942092
Wanted: Land to let P.E.I.'s organic
farm sector get 7 times bigger - CBC Online post by Kevin Yarr
‘It’s about building relationships between farmland owners and farmers’
Published Online on
Tuesday, March 9th, 2021
The
P.E.I. Certified Organic Producers Cooperative is looking for land to meet an
aggressive target to increase organic food production in the province.
The co-op aims
to increase the current 4,800 hectares in production to 32,000 by 2030. To
accomplish that near-sevenfold gain, it's not only going to need more
farmers; it's going to need more arable land that growers can lease.
"If we
are going to expand our sector on P.E.I. — and we do have some lofty
growth goals — then we are going to have to find more land for our
producers, [both] existing producers and new entrants," said research
co-ordinator Karen Murchison.
The challenges
for the group's growth goals were discussed at a summit in December. Farmers
talked about putting together an inventory of existing land, as well as
determining how much interest there is from new farmers, and what plans
existing farmers have to expand.
A crucial step
will be finding the land for all of that to happen.
Long-term
commitment
Creating an
organic farm has particular challenges.
You can't go
in on Year 1 and call your operation organic. It takes time to certify
that the land has been managed under organic growing principles. Because of
that, organic farmers require long-term leases from landowners.
"It's
about building relationships between farmland owners and farmers," said
Murchison.
Step one of
the co-op's plan is asking interested landowners to fill out a short survey. It
asks just seven questions, including the size of the parcel of land and its
location, as well as the owners' goals for the land.
If the
landowner decides to lease out the land for organic farming, the co-op would
mediate communication between the landowner and a farmer, keeping the owner up
to date with how the land is being farmed and what the results are.
"If we
can explain to them what's happening and why these things are taking place, it
can certainly build trust between the landowner and the farmer," said
Murchison.
The P.E.I.
Certified Organic Producers Cooperative has made the survey available on its
website. It will take about three minutes for an interested landowner to
complete.
-30-
-------------------------------------------------
Opinion
Piece: https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/local-perspectives/guest-opinion-water-coalition-disappointed-by-ministers-remarks-560926/
Disappointed
by minister’s remarks - The Guardian Guest Opinion by
Catherine O'Brien and Leo Broderick
Holding ponds built
before June 16 will be exempt from regulations
Published in print
on Monday, March 9th, 2021
The Coalition for Protection of P.E.I. Water has
long advocated for a Water Act for Prince Edward Island, and welcomed the
announcement by the minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action last
month that the act will finally come into effect in June.
The same cannot be said of the minister’s announcements concerning
holding ponds and high-capacity wells. In response, the coalition sent an open
letter to the minister, Steven Myers, on March 2, signed by 16 organizations,
including five watershed groups, who belong to the coalition.
In the letter, we expressed our grave concern and huge
disappointment regarding Myers' recent announcement that all irrigation holding
ponds and any others that may be built before June 16 of this year will be
grandfathered, exempt from regulations associated with P.E.I.’s Water Act.
We are also concerned that the P.E.I. government will now pay
for and allow for high-capacity well research, which requires the construction
of five new high-capacity wells for agricultural irrigation, despite the
moratorium contained in the Water Act.
We believe these decisions are not in the public’s interest
nor for the common good, and certainly do not protect our groundwater from
exploitation and contamination. They represent a violation of the spirit of the
Water Act that many Islanders have worked so hard to develop. Here is why:
• Cavendish Farms, the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture and
the P.E.I. Potato board have been actively lobbying over the past few years to
have the moratorium on high-capacity wells lifted.
• Islanders have said “no” to high-capacity (HC) wells for
agricultural irrigation. They have said “no” because of the need to protect our
groundwater, our only source of drinking water and because P.E.I. groundwater
is under serious threat from industrial potato production and its contaminants
– nitrates and pesticides.
• The development of irrigation holding ponds during the past
four years reflects an attempt to circumvent the moratorium on high-capacity
wells that has been allowed by government.
• There has never been an environmental assessment of
irrigation holding ponds or of their social impact on communities.
• The high-capacity well research proposed by UPEI is a
revision of a proposal for study initiated and funded by Cavendish Farms dating
back four years with an explicit goal to increase potato productivity. And
while the Cavendish Farm name is no longer on the proposal, and the P.E.I.
government is funding the work, we are concerned about the undue influence of
industry on the research – that is the Federation of Agriculture, P.E.I. Potato
Board and Cavendish Farms. We are concerned that the results will be
contaminated by industry involvement, and not help to protect P.E.I. water.
Therefore, we ask the minister responsible to:
1. Respect the intent and spirit of the Water Act.
2. Ban the construction of irrigation holding ponds
immediately.
3. Do not allow the grandfathering of irrigation holding
ponds. Require all holding ponds to be compliant with the original draft
regulations within two years as the standing committee on natural resources and
environmental sustainability recommends.
4. Do not allow the exemption to the moratorium on HC wells
that would permit the construction of the five new HC wells required by the
UPEI research.
5. Introduce a plan that will begin the transition from an
industrial model of farming with its high reliance on chemical fertilizers and
pesticides to a more sustainable one, and one that recognizes the climate
crisis facing Islanders and the planet.
Catherine O’Brien,
chair, and Leo Broderick represent the Coalition for the Protection of P.E.I.
Water.
-30-
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, today until 6:30PM.
Starring Eva-Maria Westbroek, Marcelo Álvarez, and George Gagnidze; Patricia
Racette, Marcelo Álvarez, George Gagnidze, and Lucas Meachem, conducted by
Fabio Luisi. Production by Sir David McVicar. From April 25, 2015.
Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur, tonight 7:30PM until Wednesday
about 6:30PM
Starring Anna Netrebko, Anita Rachvelishvili, Piotr Beczała, and Ambrogio
Maestri, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. Production by Sir David McVicar. From
January 12, 2019. Super singing!
“The challenge is clear: we
have to conserve and improve the soil we have, and we need to turn dirt into
soil wherever people need to grow food. That's true in America's breadbasket,
it's true in the tropics, and it's true in the dry, hardscrabble, weathered
soils that cover much of sub- Saharan Africa.”
― Howard G. Buffett (b. 1954), American businessman and philanthropist
March 9, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Local Food Ordering deadline:
Charlottetown Farmers' Market 2Go, order by
TUESDAY NOON, for Thursday pick-up/delivery,
https://cfm2go.localfoodmarketplace.com/
The P.E.I. Legislature sits from 1-5PM today (and the same time on Wednesday
and Thursday, and Friday 10AM-2PM).
There is still business of Responses to the Speech from the Throne, and bills
and motions.
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
from last month, and not in the news
too much, but an interesting issue nonetheless.
GUEST OPINION: Seemingly different
programs for different farms - The Guardian Guest Opinion by Rita Jackson
Published in print
on Thursday, February 25th, 2021
https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/local-perspectives/guest-opinion-seemingly-different-programs-for-different-farms-555733/
On
Feb. 9, the P.E.I. Minister of Agriculture and Land Bloyce Thompson announced
the government had created a million-dollar fund to assist Island farmers in
“sectors that incurred extraordinary costs due to post-tropical storm
Dorian."
Minister
Thompson said, “The program will assist producers not covered by our business
risk management programming.” (crop insurance). The minister’s news release
states, “The Post-Tropical Storm Dorian Response Program will be available for
farmers who can demonstrate extraordinary Dorian-linked expenses in three
impacted sectors – corn, crambe and tree fruit.” The release says, “Agriculture
and Land will immediately begin work with the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture
to develop a program and deliver this compensation.”
A CBC article by
Kerry Campbell expanded on the story informing us, that an application by the
Federation of Agriculture under the federal AgriRecovery program for $12
million had been turned down. The AgriRecovery program, established to
compensate farmers for extraordinary costs incurred from natural disaster, is
set up on the basis of a 60/40 split between the two levels of government. Had
the program application for 12 million been successful, the Island’s share
would have been $4.8 million, but under the announced program $1 million is
being offered.
What is even
more noteworthy, is that Dorian happened in the fall of 2019. It is now the
winter of 2021, and the impacted farmers will have to demonstrate extraordinary
Dorian-linked expenses, even though some have said it will take years to
recover.
Mere days into
the first shutdown from the COVID-19 pandemic, Robert Irving of Cavendish Farms
put out a short statement saying that perhaps his contract farmers should seek
out new markets. In a blink of the eye, the government in a release said 4.7
million of taxpayers’ dollars was being made available to Cavendish Farms to
process the potatoes and put them in cold storage. Yet, those potatoes were in
a safe climate controlled storage, not lying out in rain soaked fields. Winter
was not barking at farmers' heels; it is doubtful anyone at that point really
knew the market impact from COVID-19. There was instant action on the part of
our government. Did those process farmers have to prove extraordinary expenses
due to the pandemic? No, because it was to be a direct payment to Cavendish
Farms.
Were markets
really lost? Island taxpayers have a right to know since we are picking up the
tab. It appears our provincial government has little interest in transparency
or answering to Island taxpayers. It also appears there are very different
rules for different sectors of Island agriculture. Now, why is that, Minister
Thompson?
Rita Jackson, North Milton
Good for the people
behind the "Save Simmons" push.
Supporters of having a
neighbourhood rink in Sherwood at the location of Cody Banks on Maple Avenue
should take notice of what the "Save Simmons" group had to do keep a
rink in the same area. Bold in article is mine
City of
Charlottetown moving ahead on new rink project - The Guardian online article by Dave Stewart
Published online
late on Monday, March 8th, 2021
https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/city-of-charlottetown-moving-ahead-on-new-rink-project-561121/
CHARLOTTETOWN,
P.E.I. —
Charlottetown council is moving ahead with plans to replace
one of its oldest rinks. At the regular monthly meeting of council on
Monday night, Coun. Terry Bernard said the city is proceeding with plan B to
replace Simmons Sport Centre next to Queen Charlotte Intermediate School.
The chairman of
council’s standing committee on parks and recreation said staff is currently
working on a request for proposals to issue by the end of the week.
Plan B means this
was not council’s first choice. The city wanted to replace Simmons with a third
ice pad at the Bell Aliant Centre but that idea was shot down last month by the
centre’s board of directors when the project was deemed too expensive.
Replacing Simmons
is expected to be included in the city’s 2021-22 capital budget. That list of
projects was supposed to have been formally voted on and passed by council on
Monday night. However, the budget has now been deferred until Wednesday over
what appear to be a clerical issue.
At the meeting on
Monday, Bernard praised the efforts by a community group that has been fighting
for a new surface. The group even has drawings on its website of what a new
facility would look like. To be clear, those drawings are in no way connected
to the city, Bernard said.
While replacing
Simmons will cost the city a few million in this coming year’s capital budget,
the corporation won’t have to foot the entire bill. The project is supposed to
qualify under the federal government’s climate change funding formula, which
should help pay for a third of the cost.
Right now, the
city plans on replacing the one ice surface at Simmons with a new ice
surface. However, Coun. Greg Rivard asked Bernard if that federal funding
could help the city build a twin-pad. The parks and recreation chairman
responded that the federal funding will only help replace the existing ice
surface. If the city wants to twin in, it would incur the entire cost of the
second surface.
Bernard added
that a public meeting will be held once a general concept of the new facility
is drawn up. At that point, it will proceed to the final design phase.
The pool currently located next to Simmons will also be replaced as part of the
project.
The new arena
will be constructed first before the existing facility is demolished. The
city hopes to include a walking track and community space inside the new arena.
Coun. Bob Doiron
said he would like to see the same plan used to eventually replace Cody Banks
Arena in the neighboourhood of Sherwood. That arena is supposed to have another
five to seven years of life left in it.
The idea right
now is that a major events centre would eventually be built somewhere in the
city that would include two ice surfaces, one of which would act as a
replacement for Cody Banks. Such a plan would see Eastlink
Centre revert into a community rink and give the city an additional ice
surface.
-30-
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, today until 6:30PM
Starring Renata Scotto, Plácido Domingo, Pablo Elvira, and Renato Capecchi.
Production by Gian Carlo Menotti. From
March 29, 1980. Classic with Domingo, and Scotto in the title
role! Just over 2 hours.
Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, tonight 7:30PM until Wednesday
about 6:30PM
Starring Eva-Maria Westbroek, Marcelo Álvarez, and George Gagnidze; Patricia
Racette, Marcelo Álvarez, George Gagnidze, and Lucas Meachem, conducted by
Fabio Luisi. Production by Sir David McVicar. From April 25, 2015. These two short stories
are set a generation apart in the same Silician village, both tragedies, and
with amazing arias and performances. Just under 3 hours.
March 8, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events:
Today is International Women's Day (IWD). One P.E.I.
event:
"Choosing to Challenge", PEI
Business Women's Association's International Women's Day Online Celebration
Event, 11AM-12noon, free.
Register and more
information:
https://peibwa.org/event-4181467?
Local Food Ordering
this week:
Charlottetown Farmers' Market 2Go, order by
TUESDAY NOON, for Thursday pick-up/delivery,
https://cfm2go.localfoodmarketplace.com/
-----------------------
The P.E.I.
Legislature does not sit today, but highlights and documents
can be found at the following locations:
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
Premier King's
statement on the Passing of Gwen MacLean, widow of J. Angus
MacLean, a warm, sharing, social changer, among many things:
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/statement-premier-king-passing-gwen-maclean
“I was saddened to learn
of Gwen MacLean’s passing this morning. Born in Saskatchewan, Gwen was a
Canadian veteran, dedicated advocate for leading a healthy and active
lifestyle, and beloved wife of the late Hon. J. Angus MacLean, former Premier
of Prince Edward Island and federal cabinet minister under Prime Minister John
Diefenbaker.
After attending the
University of Saskatchewan to train as a dietitian, she then joined the Air
Force and was posted around Canada and to England where she took pride in her
role of keeping Canadian troops healthy and fed until they got back home.
After serving her
country, Gwen had an accomplished career as the Dean of Women at the Olds
Alberta Agricultural College and as the head dietitian at Bell Telephone in
Montreal.
After their marriage in
1952, Gwen and Angus raised four children on their family farm in Lewes.
While their life in politics often took them away from home, the couple
remained deeply rooted in their love for rural PEI and were fierce protectors
of the land and natural beauty of our province.
My thoughts and
sympathies are with Jeannie, Mary Esther, Allan, Rob and their families during
this difficult time.”
-- Premier Dennis King, Sunday, March 8th, 2021
Atlantic Skies for
March 8th - March 15th, 2021 - by Glenn K. Roberts
Does the Moon Really Influence Human
Behaviour?
The Moon,
especially the Full Moon, is a fascinating celestial object for many people,
perhaps because it is the object that we can see the easiest and the most
often, in some form or another, in the sky. Except for a few moments at sunrise
and again at sunset, we can't really gaze directly at the Sun, as its blinding
light is just too intense, to say nothing of the damage it would do to our
eyesight from its harmful UV radiation. With the Moon, however, we don't have
that problem, as the moonlight we see is only sunlight reflected off the Moon's
surface, and radiating towards Earth. So why is it that people attribute a
lunar influence to human behaviours and emotions?
I'm sure most of
you have heard the phrase that the Full Moon "brings out all the crazies";
a belief that the Moon somehow affects people's brains to the point that they
are no longer in control of themselves, and are, thereby, subject to all sorts
of harmful, illogical, crazy, or even dangerous behaviours and/or emotions. As
a result, we get the word "lunatic" from the Latin, referencing
"Luna" - the Roman goddess of the Moon. Unless you are prone to
turning into a werewolf (known as 'lycanthropy') when the Full Moon rolls
around each month (as seen in the movies, and as has been said of my Great
Uncle George), one could readily dismiss such beliefs as superstition or
folklore. But where did this belief actually come from? It is thought to
have originated in ancient Roman times, when such famous scholars and
theologians as Plato and Pliny the Elder postulated that the human brain was
the "moistest" organ in the human body, and, as such, subject to the
same gravitational influences as were the Earth's tides. This led other
scientists to formulate the theory that, since the human body is approximately
45-75% water (it varies depending on your age), it was possible that the Moon
influences the human state of mind, emotions, and behaviours.
We now know,
despite a number of bogus studies attempting to link the Moon's phases with
human mental states, behaviours, and feelings, that there really is no
solid proof of any lunar gravitational influence on the human mind or heart
(though, I'm sure, some poets will disagree with me!). Modern astrophysicists
have proven that the gravitational pull of the Moon on humans is non-existent.
There have, however, been a small number of legitimate studies that indicate
that some people's sleep patterns are noticeably disrupted by the Moon,
particularly around the time of the Full Moon (which is up all night).
Exactly, how and why this is has not yet been firmly established, although
sleep scientists surmise that the extra illumination afforded by the Full Moon
encourages some people to stay up later, and, thus, get less sleep. A recent
on-line article about the February 27 "Snow Moon" attributed the
increased illumination of the Full Moon on the snow as being the culprit in
disrupting certain people's internal circadian rhythm (the regulation of
sleep-wakefulness periods). Suffice it to say, that while the Moon's light may
cause some people to have trouble falling asleep from time to time, there is no
definitive proof that the phases of the Moon influence our emotions or
behaviours...unless, of course, you're Great Uncle George.
With a clear sky
and an unobstructed view of the southeast horizon you just might (use your
binoculars) spot Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn in a line, low to the horizon
about an hour before sunrise on the mornings of Mar. 8 - 10. Saturn (mag. +0.7,
in Capricornus - the Seagoat) will rise first, followed by bright Jupiter (mag.
-2.0, also in Capricornus), and lastly by dim Mercury (mag. +0.03, in
Capricornus as well). The three planets will extend in a row upward along the
ecliptic ( to the right from the horizon). Use the waning, crescent Moon,
if you can see it, as a guide to spotting the planets; it will be to the right
of the planets on the 8th, dropping down below them by the 10th. You'll have to
be quick if you want to spot these planets, as the rising Sun will soon wash
away any view of them. Mars (mag. +1.0, in Taurus - the Bull) is visible as the
dusk sky darkens, approximately 58 degrees above the southwest horizon around
6:50 p.m., dropping below the horizon shortly before 1 a.m. The planet
Venus is still too close to the Sun to be observable.
If you haven't yet
seen it, look for the Zodiacal Light (see last week's article) above the
western horizon just after sunset on the evenings leading up to and just after
the New Moon on the 13th. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour, as we
"Spring Ahead" into Atlantic Daylight Savings Time (ADST) on Sunday
Mar. 14, at 12 a.m..
Until next week,
clear skies.
Events:
Mar. 8 -10 -
Waning, crescent Moon near Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn; SE, 1 hr before sunrise
13
- New Moon; Mercury at perihelion (closest to the Sun)
14 - Atlantic Daylight Savings Time begins
-30-
Atlantic Daylight
Savings Time....
must be converted to in one week, Glenn K. Roberts reminds us. Remember
there was discussion in the Fall about stopping the time disruptions? You
could consider writing your MLA today, since they are doing constituency office
work today, and this is the last full week before not sitting next week.
Consider dropping them a line if you have thoughts on this.
MLA List
MPs and Senators, too:
https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/search?province=PE
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Verdi’s La Forza del Destino, today until 6:30PM
Starring Leontyne Price, Giuseppe Giacomini, Leo Nucci, and Bonaldo
Giaiotti. Production by John Dexter. From March 24, 1984.
from The Met's notes:
This
week's theme: Verismo Passions
Hot-blooded passions and fiery face-offs abound in this week’s
lineup of Italian operatic dramas.
Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, tonight 7:30PM until Tuesday about 6:30PM
Starring Renata Scotto, Plácido Domingo, Pablo Elvira, and Renato Capecchi,
conducted by James Levine. Production by Gian Carlo Menotti. From March 29, 1980.
“Education, if it means anything, should not take people away from
the land, but instill in them even more respect for it, because educated people
are in a position to understand what is being lost. The future of the planet
concerns all of us, and all of us should do what we can to protect it. As I
told the foresters, and the women, you don't need a diploma to plant a tree.”
— Wangari Maathai, Nobel
Peace Prize Laureate and author of Unbowed
March 7, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Event tomorrow:
"Choosing to Challenge", PEI
Business Women's Association's International Women's Day Online Celebration
Event, 11AM-12noon, free.
Join us Monday, March 8th from 11:00 am -
12:00 Noon for a unique online event in celebration of International Women’s Day 2021.
Choosing to
Challenge will feature guests Senator Diane
Griffin and Sweta Daboo,
two prominent PEI figures who have pursued careers in groundbreaking public
service, each one in a different stage of her professional journey.
These women, representing two different generations of change-makers, will
discuss the similarities and disparities of their professional paths and share
insights on how they believe women have succeeded or continue to struggle to
obtain equality in public service.
Register and more
information:
https://peibwa.org/event-4181467?
note that you enter information and click the "next" button lower
right to continue until you get to "Confirm" -- it's not all on just
one page.
-----------------------------
Some music going on
today, obviously taking social distancing precautions in place:
Sunday’s five group, Roy Johnstone and others, traditional
music, 2-5PM, Old Triangle, Great George and Fitzroy,
Charlottetown. "Drop in for a tune and a brew."
----------------------------
Phil Ferraro of the
Institute for Bioregional Studies and other organizations posts intriguing
ideas, thoughts and opportunities. Here is one:
"Local Water Solutions for Global
Challenges", webinar, " This free online programme will give you a
comprehensive overview of global water challenges and the means to identify
local solution". Starts
Monday, March 22, and 3-8 hours of study each of the five weeks
is suggested.
More information:
https://www.gaiaeducation.org/elearning-programmes/local-water-solutions-for-global-challenges/
------------------------------
If you want to catch up with Legislative happenings from last week:
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
Keeping in mind local concerns and
general concerns regarding turbines, and this renewable energy company has been
on the Island from its start years ago.....
From The Guardian
print edition Friday, March 5th, 2021, but was on the digital site earlier in
February:
Replacing
diesel fuel with wind energy
P.E.I.'s Frontier
Power Systems helps northern communities get off diesel fuel - The Guardian article
by Terrence
McEachern, Business Reporter
Note: the digital version has a short video
clip, more photos, and additional information:
https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/business/local-business/pei-wind-energy-company-helping-northern-communities-get-off-diesel-fuel-557351/
GEORGETOWN – The profit margins are as tight today as they
were nearly two decades ago, when Carl Brothers launched Frontier Power
Systems.
But the goals of the Georgetown, P.E.I.-based wind turbine
manufacturing, installation and project management company go beyond the bottom
line and involve creating well-paying local jobs and advancing wind energy
technology to provide isolated communities in North America with a sustainable
form of energy and further displace their reliance on diesel fuel.
This also gives remote communities the ability to produce,
manage and own their own sustainable energy system, explained Brothers,
the company’s founder and president.
“I’ll tell you, for a guy that should be retired, this is a
pretty exciting way to spend your days,” he said. “It’s almost a religion for
me.”
WIND FARMS
Brothers grew up in Cardigan and studied mechanical
engineering at the University of New Brunswick. He worked at the Wind Energy
Institute of Canada in North Cape, P.E.I., and then started Frontier Power
Systems in 2002.
The company has built wind farms on P.E.I. in North Cape
(10.6-megawatt capacity), Summerside (12 megawatts), East Point (30 megawatts)
and then Hermanville (30 megawatts) in 2014. These wind farms are owned by the
P.E.I. Energy Corp., except for Summerside, which is owned by the municipality.
“Wind energy has really been my life. And trying to get
economic activity and economic development in P.E.I. has also been a big
objective of mine. It’s starting to come together,” said Brothers.
In total, there are eight wind farms on P.E.I. that have a
production capacity of 204 megawatts, or 25 per cent of the Island’s
electricity supply. Frontier has also installed wind turbines in New Glasgow
and Truro, N.S.
A 30-megawatt expansion at East Point (the Eastern Kings Wind
Farm expansion) was approved by the P.E.I. government with several conditions,
but in November, the Rural Municipality of Eastern Kings council voted against
the project.
That decision is currently under appeal with the Island
Regulatory and Appeals Commission.
After the Hermanville project, the company was looking for
something to do. So, Brothers decided to invest in better wind technology for
remote communities that rely on diesel fuel for power.
NEXT-GEN TECHNOLOGY
In 2016, Frontier received a $1.8 million (conditionally
repayable) contribution from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
and a $100,000 grant from the P.E.I. government to develop its Next-Gen Arctic
Power System. Frontier also contributed about 25 per cent of its own money
towards the Next-Gen system.
Since then, the company has been part of nine winddiesel
energy projects in Alaska that are either completed or underway, involving
improved turbine, battery energy and thermal storage systems, load regulators,
remote diagnostics systems (from P.E.I. if necessary), and a micro grid control
system that allows a community to manage its wind and diesel energy usage.
The company is still working in Alaska, but it also has its
sights set on bringing the Next-Gen technology to Canada this year and
upgrading its earlier Ramea project.
Ramea is a small island community off the coast of
Newfoundland. In 2004, Frontier set up a wind-diesel project involving six 65
kilowatt turbines that generate around 500,000 kilowatts of electricity per
year, or 15 per cent of the community’s power needs. Now, the company is
proposing Ramea 2, that aims to displace 50 per cent of diesel energy per year,
or around 500,000 litres of fuel, with the Next-Gen technology.
TILT-UP TOWERS
Brothers said a key to the Ramea 2 project and further displacing
remote communities’ reliance on diesel fuel is a 100-kilowatt redesigned
medium-sized wind turbine system with an advanced drive train that sits on a
50-metre high, tilt-up tower with a 25-metre (in diameter) rotor. This is an
improvement over the company’s 25-metre high, free-standing towers with 17metre
rotors.
The advanced turbine with the larger rotor is expected to
generate 16 per cent more wind energy than the earlier model, while the tilt-up
tower is more practical for remote communities, since it can be more easily
erected with smaller equipment, such as a backhoe and a gin pole.
Putting up free-standing towers requires larger equipment,
such as cranes, which can be difficult to transport and maintain in remote
northern communities.
The new tower and turbine are still in the prototype stage,
but once they’re ready and the cost-effective upgrades are in place, Ramea will
be able to turn off its diesel source for extended periods of time, which saves
the community money and reduces its environmental impact.
The Ramea 2 project is expected to cost around $7 million
with government funding as well as some upfront money from Frontier.
GROWING BUSINESS
Frontier has a staff of six engineers and seven technicians
at its 10,000 square-foot facility in Georgetown, where the company
manufactures and assembles the various components of the wind energy system,
including making the large Fiberglas propeller blades.
Brothers adds that the logistics side of shipping the wind
turbines and other components to Alaska once off-Island can be interesting,
since it involves a lot of planning, a long train ride to Seattle, and then a
barge trip up north.
“If you miss the barge by an hour, you miss it by a year,” he
said with a laugh.
With the new technology comes new opportunities. Besides
Ramea 2, Brothers said Frontier has another wind energy project planned for
Alaska and one in Nunavut in the next couple of years. And as the business
grows, so does the need to hire more staff. But growth will also require
someone to focus more on the business side of the operations.
“I’m the guy that hangs off a turbine. I know this technology
right to the core. But in terms of managing a company that’s growing rapidly,
where you have to get the financing and marketing, I’ll probably bring someone
else in,” he said.
“There’s not too many people in this business, and nobody’s
been doing it longer than me . ... What we’ve done in Alaska has been pretty
impressive, and I hope we can that to do that in Canada as well.”
-30-
Again, more info and visuals at the online version:
https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/business/local-business/pei-wind-energy-company-helping-northern-communities-get-off-diesel-fuel-557351/
Note#2: one of my kids (not pictured in the article) works for Frontier.
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Dvořák’s Rusalka, until 6:30PM this
evening
Starring Renée Fleming, Emily Magee, Dolora Zajick, Piotr Beczała, and John
Relyea, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Production by Otto Schenk. From
February 8, 2014. And here is an interview with Canadian conductor Nezet-Seguin
talking about why he loves this dark story.
Verdi’s La Forza del Destino, about 7:30PM until 6:30PM on
Monday
Starring Leontyne Price, Giuseppe Giacomini, Leo Nucci, and Bonaldo Giaiotti. From March 24, 1984.
A tour de "forza"!
Two social media comments stick out:
"A year ago this was
our last normal week and nobody knew it." -- Santiago Mayer
"(Covid social
restrictions)...provide their own mental health challenges. But can we
stop pretending our former world of long working hours, stressful commutes,
hectic crowds, shopping centres, infinite choice, mass consumerism, air pollution
and 24/7 everything was a mental health utopia?"
-- Matt Haig
March 6, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events:
Some places to get local food:
Farmers' Markets in Summerside (9AM-1PM) and
Charlottetown (9AM-2PM)
Heart Beet Organics Farmacy and Fermentary,
store with local fresh vegetables (9AM-1PM),
and other items (open until 6PM). 152 Great George Street, Charlottetown.
Riverview County
Market, Riverside Drive, local food, local meats next door at KJL (and other
location in North River).
Today:
Saturday, March 6th:
On-line Maritime Green
Summit, 9AM-11:30AM, hosted by the Green Parties in the Maritimes and Canada,
free.
More details:
https://www.greenparty.pe.ca/maritimegreensummit0306
Yesterday in the
Provincial Legislature:
Why...
...was the Brendel
report, about IRAC and agricultural and land, subpoenaed by the Health and
Social Development Standing Committee? Because it is in its list of
"matters", and having it screened by the Privacy Commissioner moved
it into this Committee's domain.
"The
Standing Committee on Health and Social Development is charged with matters
concerning health, social programs, sport, seniors, justice and public
safety,
emergency measures, Indigenous affairs, Francophone and Acadian affairs, Status
of Women, persons with disabilities, housing, charities, the Prince Edward
Island Human Rights Commission, and other such matters relating to health and
social development."
from:
https://www.assembly.pe.ca/index.php/committees/current-committees/health-and-social-development
Stu Neatby tweeted that
the "Box o' Brendel" wasn't as hefty as he thought it would be. https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/brendel-report-out-of-bloyce-thompsons-hands-560404/
Brendel report out of Bloyce Thompson's
hands - The
Guardian article by Stu Neatby
Published on Saturday, March 6th, 2021,
online, in The
Guardian

photo attributed as
"Contributed"
Charlottetown -- Justice and Public Safety Minister
Bloyce Thompson drops off a weighty report on Friday, completed by the Island
Regulatory and Appeals Commission into the Brendel sale, a 2019 land
transaction involving 2,200 acres of land. The documents have been subpoenaed
from the minister by the standing committee on health and social development.
The motion also
calls for the documents to be produced at an in-camera meeting, in physical
form only. This means the standing committee will not release the report
publicly. The motion stated that this would balance the need to respect privacy
concerns of the parties involved with the duty of the committee to hold
government to account.
While committee
members cannot release details contained in the Brendel report, they can make
recommendations based on these details.
-30-
But will those
Committee's recommendations be listened to?
Sigh...
...at Environment,
Energy and Climate Action Minister Steven Myers' Al Haug-like stand on being
in command (which is not the same as leadership), regarding water
access/protection and existing holding ponds, from Question Period yesterday.
CBC online article
by Kerry Campbell summarizes: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-green-party-holding-pond-water-act-questions-1.5939320
Green,
PC MLAs question new minister on changes to P.E.I.'s Water Act - CBC News online post by Kerry Campbell
Grandfathering of
existing holding ponds will put some watersheds at risk, says Opposition
environment critic
Published on Friday, March 5th, 2021
The P.E.I. Green
Party is raising concerns about a move by government to allow existing holding
ponds — and the agricultural wells that feed into them — to continue operating
indefinitely after the province's new Water Act is proclaimed in June.
"In a lot of the
province that's not going to be a big deal, but in areas like the Dunk and
Wilmot River, we're already hearing concern from farmers about waterways going
dry," Opposition environment critic Lynne Lund told reporters Friday,
after raising the issue in the legislature during question period.
Holding ponds have
been a controversial work-around for the agricultural
industry in light of a long-standing moratorium on new high-capacity irrigation
wells. By setting up multiple smaller wells to pump water into a holding
pond, farmers have been able to store large amounts of water for irrigation
without requiring wells that pump 345 cubic metres or more of water per day —
the official definition of a high-capacity well under the Water Act.
But under the new
law, passed in 2017 but still not in effect, multiple wells are considered to
be the same as a high-capacity well if they draw an equivalent amount of water.
Originally,
regulations on water extraction gave farmers five years to bring the holding
ponds into compliance by limiting the pumps that feed them to below the level
of a single high-capacity well.
But when government
announced two weeks ago the Water Act would finally be proclaimed June 16, it
said those holding ponds would be "grandfathered in," a change in the
regulations that allows new licences to be issued to keep those wells — and any
more that are built before the law comes into effect — operating at their
current capacities indefinitely.
'No
one broke the law'
During debate, Lund
said the province's previous environment minister Natalie Jameson, shuffled to
education in February, "said that she supported a moratorium on
constructing these ponds, while at the same time, was working to grandfather
them in."
"I think
grandfathering them in is really important," responded the new
Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action Steven Myers. "No
one broke the law and no one recommended anybody broke the law because the
holding ponds were legal.... The holding ponds have always been legal."
Myers said the previous
Liberal government encouraged the construction of holding ponds, posting
information on government's website on how to construct them.
"The people who built them have a considerable amount of
money put into them."
Myers told the house
that, while the wells have been grandfathered in, they will still require new
permits in five years.
"A permit means
there has to be an adequate amount of water, that we monitor it, we monitor how
much water is being used," Myers said, adding that the province now has
and will continue to have the power to shut wells down in times of water
scarcity.
But Lund said with
the change in the proposed regulations, "we will see hindsight if we have
a problem, but we will not see proactive oversight to prevent those problems
from occurring in the first place."
Myers says 'willing
to work with' committee
The revised
regulations are required to be presented to the province's standing committee
on natural resources 90 days before they can be adopted by government.
But Lund, a committee
member, and PC MLA Cory Deagle, the chair of the committee, both questioned
government's willingness to consider the committee's recommendations.
Lund noted the
outgoing minister blamed the committee for delays in implementing the Water
Act, saying government had been waiting for the committee's recommendations
based on the previous regulations.
Those recommendations
were delivered in November, but government is moving ahead without implementing
them, except for a recommendation to actually implement the Water Act.
"I'm more than
willing to work with you to get advice, but I don't want to make any mistake
where the decisions are going to be made," Myers said in response to
those concerns.
-30-
--------------------High.....
....was Third Party MLA District 14:Charlottetown-West Royalty Gord McNeilly's comments on his
Response to the Speech from the Throne. He's not
finished even, but it was intriguing -- his experiences and hopes and concerns
melded into what he saw as a unfocused direction Government was taking, and he
was speaking from the heart, clearly emphasizing issues of whole health, with
excellent ideas for focusing on vision and really being all about people.
The text will be published in Hansard in the next few days; here is the way to
get to the video, where he is in the last hour or so in yesterday's
(March 5th) archived video.
https://www.assembly.pe.ca/video-archive
More:
P.E.I. Legislative
Assembly website
https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative
Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
This may not be popular
with anyone, except some people who are truly, utterly, solely worried about
climate action, and willing to "vote strategically", since our voting
system lacks reform:
LINK ONLY: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/03/05/opinion/why-targeting-ndp-bad-greens-climate
Why targeting the NDP is bad for the
Greens and the climate - The National Observer Opinion piece by Amara Possian
| Opinion | March 5th 2021
-------------------------------
And from 350.org,
about the opinion piece and a survey you can fill out regarding this issue:
https://act.350.org/survey/green-ndp/
Saturday Lots o'
Opera
Met Opera (recorded)
"Live from the Met" Radio Opera Broadcast, 2PM, 104.7FM
Bizet’s Carmen
Performance from
November 1, 2014
Pablo Heras-Casado; Anita Hartig (Micaëla), Anita Rachvelishvili (Carmen),
Aleksandrs Antonenko (Don José), Ildar Abdrazakov (Escamillo). To me,
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Britten’s Peter Grimes, today until 6:30PM
Starring Patricia Racette, Anthony Dean Griffey, and Anthony Michaels-Moore,
conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles. Production by John Doyle.
From March 15, 2008.
Dvořák’s Rusalka, tonight 7:30PM until Sunday about
6:30PM
From February 8,
2014. "Otto Schenk’s storybook production perfectly
captures the fairy-tale world of Dvořák’s supremely romantic opera. Star
soprano Renée Fleming, in one of her most acclaimed portrayals, takes on the
title role of the water nymph who longs to be human, opposite Piotr Beczała as
the Prince, the object of her affection. John Relyea is the Water Gnome, Dolora
Zajick sings the witch Ježibaba, and Emily Magee is the Foreign Princess.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts."
It, um, doesn't end happily, but it's probably all the more beautiful for
that. It's famous for its "Song to the Moon" in Act I,
Fleming's signature piece.
March 5, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
"Life is
a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you."
--John
Maxwell, American author
---------------------------------
Events:
The P.E.I. Legislature sits from 10AM-2PM
today.
Fridays4Future, 2PM,
outside the Coles Building, Richmond Street, Charlottetown.
Hosted by PEI/Epekwitk Fridays 4
Future Climate Action Group
We meet weekly, (usually in front of Province House on Grafton
St. but while the PEI Legislature is sitting we're at the Coles Building), to
call for our political leaders to take drastic meaningful ACTION to address the
climate emergency, and do their part to transform our economy from dependence
on fossil fuels to using only clean renewable energy. For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChtownClimateAction/
And you can find your MLA and
their contact information here:
https://www.assembly.pe.ca/members
You can watch the proceedings and find more information at these links:
P.E.I. Legislative
Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative
Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
---------------------------
Saturday, March 6th:
On-line
Maritime Green Summit, 9AM-11:30AM, hosted by the Green
Parties in the Maritimes and Canada, free.
This summit will bring together Green Party leaders from the
three Maritime provinces (Peter Bevan-Baker, David Coon and Thomas Trappenberg)
to discuss the provincial and federal issues ...moderated by former GPC interim
leader Jo-Ann Roberts. (There will be)...break-out discussions on
specific areas of interest. Finally, Green Party of Canada leader Annamie Paul
and Fredericton MP Jenica Atwin will join the conversation to discuss how
regional issues of importance in the Maritimes can be reflected in the National
party platform.
This event is initiated and hosted by the Green Party of Nova
Scotia in collaboration with the Green parties of New Brunswick, PEI and
Canada. It is inspired by the recognition that the Maritime provinces share
many common issues and priorities that require a collaborative approach and
interprovincial dialogue.
Registration
information: https://www.greenparty.pe.ca/maritimegreensummit0306
a small note from
yesterday's sitting of the P.E.I. Legislature, as Response to the Speech from
the Throne continued during Government Business time:
"The Dean of the Legislature", District 25: O'Leary-Inverness MLA
Robbie Henderson, so dubbed by Liberal Party Interim Leader Sonny Gallant, who
noted the18 minutes from 'I will conclude my remarks...' until when
Henderson finished. Both men were elected in 2007.
And when Mr. Henderson
said, after Responding to the Speech over a couple of days, that he would not
be supporting the Speech as it stands right now, Premier Denny shouted "A
long story with a bad ending!"
The new pattern of
generally what is discussed when in the Legislature, from: https://www.assembly.pe.ca/index.php/legislative-business/rules-and-daily-routine
Order of Business
Following the
Ordinary Daily Routine:
On Tuesday:
On Wednesday:
On Thursday:
On Friday:
From Tony Reddin,
climate action guru on P.E.I., with thanks:
this from Greta Thunberg:
"We support
every effort by world leaders to #FaceTheClimateEmergency
To help them along
we’ve created a list of first step actions that would give us a fighting chance
to avoid a climate disaster.
You
can help by signing and sharing the open letter here: https://climateemergencyeu.org/
"Science and democracy are strongly interlinked - as they are
both built on freedom of speech, independence, facts and transparency.
If you don’t respect democracy then you
probably won’t respect science. And if you don’t respect science then you
probably won’t respect democracy." --
G.T.
from The Guardian (U.K.):
Lunchtime read: A
forest for the city
One
of the most famous stone courtyards in Europe will be dramatically transformed
this summer when Somerset House in London is taken over by a forest of 400 trees. The
stage designer Es Devlin will channel ideas of enchanted woodland for the 2021
edition of London Design Biennale. The installation, Forest for Change, will be
the biennale’s centrepiece and part of a programme highlighting the role of
design in addressing global challenges and crises.

An artist’s impression of the Forest for Change
installation at Somerset House. Photograph:
Kevin Meredith/Somerset House
The forest will have trees from 23 types typically found across the UK and
northern Europe. There will also be a clearing where visitors can learn about
the United Nations global goals for sustainable development,
a plan to eradicate poverty, fight inequality and tackle the climate crisis.
Story link: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/mar/05/artist-takes-axe-to-enlightenment-tree-taboo-with-somerset-house-forest
-30-
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, today utnil 6:30PM
Starring Golda Schultz, Kathryn Lewek, Charles Castronovo, Markus Werba, and
René Pape. Production by Julie Taymor. From October 14, 2017. Wonderful
production with spectacular giant puppets adding to the imagery and beautiful
lighting and costumes.
Britten’s Peter
Grimes,
tonight
7:30PM until Saturday, 6:30PM
Starring Patricia Racette, Anthony Dean Griffey, and Anthony Michaels-Moore,
conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles. Production by John Doyle.
From March 15, 2008. Until three hours.
March 4, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events:
Tonight, Thursday, March 4th:
Webinar: Carbon
Bombs, Canada and the Climate, with National Observer's Linda Solomon Wood and author (and
350.org founder) Bill McKibben, 8PM,
online, free.
More details and registration at this
link
--------------------
Good reading and
lots of news and events:
Institute of Island
Studies @UPEI Newsletter, Island Studies News
March 2021 (link
only)
---------------------
The P.E.I.
Legislature sits from 1-5PM today.
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
From yesterday's time in
the Legislature yesterday, a few haphazard observations....
Why...
...did the Bill 100, Election Age Act (about lowering the
Voter Age to 16) go directly to committee, as directed by The Speaker Colin
LaVie yesterday? The Speaker clarified the rule that if a bill deals with
business of the Legislative Assembly, it goes to the Standing Committee on (I
think) Rules, Regulations, Private Bills and Privileges (or maybe the Standing
Committee on Legislative Assembly Management --will check), since the Bill
would alter how MLAs are elected.
Sigh...
...about how the discussion regarding the language in Motion 14: Calling on
Government to ensure that all Islanders Accessing Services are Treated with
Dignity and Respect, zeroed in on particular words like
"toxic culture", and the nature of debate in the Legislature brings
up concerns but doesn't allow for easy discourse and resolution, rather with
amendments to amendments and such. It was good to have the issue brought
up, but it wasn't going to be resolved that day, and debate was adjourned.
Highs...
...saying you were wrong and moving forward....two ways, with Minister of
Social Development and Housing Brad Trivers quick to the mark apologizing at
the beginning of the session for "inappropriate remarks" Wednesday
(unspecified but presumably about "precarious work" and other
comments about youth on Tuesday). It did not head off the "dressing down" in Question Period
(which I did not have to witness, being called away to deal with drifting
snow). Trivers also pledged to get a rental registry going, showing
he is listening and moving on good ideas.
Guardian article link
...and Speaker Colin LaVie always knows how to point out his own missteps with
humour and folksy charm, as he apologized to the House and to Education Minister
Natalie Jameson in particular for not recognizing a Minister she called to
second something was New Transportation Minister James Aylward and not the
Former Transportation Minister, who was not in the House that day.
This is a few
years old, but worth a read and a tip of the journal pencil....https://www.audubon.org/news/seven-women-who-made-world-better-birds-and-people
Seven Women Who Made the World Better
for Birds and People - Audubon.org post by Emily Silber
We’re giving a major hat tip to these die-hard
conservationists, because every month should be Women's History Month.
Published on-line on
Thursday, March 31th, 2016, at Audubon's website
When we hear the
word “naturalist,” we often think of Charles Darwin and his theories, John
Muir, the “Father of National Parks,” and of course, John James Audubon. But
let’s not forget the women who rallied to preserve the natural realm. From
creating the first avian field guide, to ending the feather trade, to dying in
pursuit of birds, these seven femmes prove that the history of incredible women
transcends any single month.
Genevieve Estelle
Jones
1847-1879
Ohio native Genevieve Estelle Jones was a
self-taught scientific illustrator christened the “other Audubon.” After
seeing some of Audubon’s paintings at an
exhibition, Jones decided to draw the nests and eggs of the 130 bird species
nesting in Ohio at the time. But before she could finish, she died from typhoid
fever at age 32. Her family spent the next seven years completing the
hand-colored plates, of which 90 copies were made. Only 26 still exist.
Harriet Lawrence
Hemenway and Minna Hall
1858-1960 and
1864-1944
This two-woman dream team was
responsible for taking down the 19th-century plume trade and establishing the
National Audubon Society. Appalled by the number of birds being killed in the
name of fashion, Hemenway, an impassioned amateur naturalist, and her cousin
Hall, persuaded their socialite friends to boycott the trade and protect the
wildlife behind it. Ultimately, they recruited 900 women to join the fight, and
gave rise to an establishment that, a century later, has grown to 1 million
members and supporters strong.
Florence Merriam
Bailey
1863-1948
American
nature writer and ornithologist Florence Merriam Bailey was a
jane of all trades. Not only did she work with the National Audubon Society
during its early years, she is also credited for writing the first known
bird guide, Birds Through an Opera Glass, published in
1889. A true pioneer in the field, Merriam protested the mistreatment, killing,
and trade of feathered animals. Her legacy still remains in the form of a
subspecies of the California Mountain Chickadee, Parus gambeli baileyae, that
was named in her honor.
Rachel Carson
1907-1964
Rachel Carson
is most famous for her book Silent
Spring, in which she bared the sins of the pesticide industry. In her later writings, the author
and activist continued to examine the relationship between people and nature,
questioning whether human beings are truly the dominant authority. Needless to
say, she was an outspoken advocate for the environment and one of the
greatest social revolutionaries of her time.
Frances Hamerstrom
1907-1998
This female
ornithologist dedicated the majority of her life to just one kind of bird: The
Greater Prairie-chicken. Frances Hamerstrom headed a research team that
ultimately saved the eccentric species from extinction in Wisconsin. She helped
identify the ideal habitat for prairie-chickens, and was also one of the first
to put colored leg bands on wild birds—a technique that has helped reveal
important information on bird behavior through the decades.
Phoebe Snetsinger
1931-1999
When faced
with the grim diagnosis of melanoma, 50-year-old Phoebe Snetsinger turned her
life upside down: She went from being a housewife to racing around the globe as
a competitive birder. Despite being beaten and raped in Papua New Guinea,
Snetsinger never gave up on her passion. In 1995, she broke a world record by
being the first person to spot more than 8,000 species of birds. A
short time later she died in a bus crash while birding in Madagascar. But she
will always be celebrated for living life with absolute fearlessness.
These women
are just a few of the heros who forged the path for the modern-day
bird-conservation movement. Today’s ornithologists, birders, and activists
certainly match their passion and dedication. In fact, in 2011, of the 47
million birdwatchers in the United States, more than half were women. Between
women spearheading sustainable projects around the
world, Audubon’s standout conservationists, and badass
chicks who love to bird . . . our
avians are in very good hands.
-30-
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Wagner’s Die Walküre, until 6:30PM tonight
Starring Hildegard Behrens, Jessye Norman, Christa Ludwig, Gary Lakes, James
Morris, and Kurt Moll. Production by Otto Schenk. From April 8, 1989.
Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, 7:30PM tonight until 6:30PM Friday
Starring Golda Schultz, Kathryn Lewek, Charles Castronovo, Markus Werba, and
René Pape, conducted by James Levine. Production by Julie Taymor. From October 14, 2017.
Really visually beautiful production. 3 hours.
March 3, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
A quote probably familiar to Island naturalist Daryl Guignion:
"The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn."
--- Ralph
Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
---------------
Events:
The P.E.I.
Legislature sits from 1-5PM today.
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
-------------------
Local Food:
Orders for Eat Local
PEI due today.
More details at:
https://www.localline.ca/eatlocalpei
---------------------------
Tomorrow, Thursday,
March 4th:
Webinar:
Carbon Bombs, Canada and the Climate, with National Observer's Linda Solomon Wood and
author (and 350.org founder) Bill McKibben, 8PM, online, free. Details to register at this link
One of you (thank you) has recommended these recordings, from former Governor
of the Bank of Canada Mark Carney, via podcasts from CBC Radio show Ideas.
He writes to listen to the ..."three part BBC Reith Lectures where Dr.
Mark Carney articulately delivers his perspective on the distinction between
economic value, human values and climate change. They can be found on CBC’s
Ideas' website:
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-23-ideas/clip/15826098-bbc-reith-lectures-mark-carney-part-one
Furthermore, quoting my friend, since "it’s quite possible Dr. Carney may
offer for political office, I think it’s all the more important to understand
his informed and persuasive positions on the critical issues now facing us. His
forthcoming book, Values:
Building a Better World for All will be released March 16,
2021."
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-23-ideas
for the three lectures and their other recordings.
The Guardian (P.E.I.) has a
self-explanatory and sometimes completely irrelevant Monday editorial feature,
"Cheers and
Jeers", and some parts of yesterday afternoon's sitting of the P.E.I.
Legislature made me think of a "Whys, Sighs and Highs" of (my
personal, peripheral and probably equally immaterial) notes from the P.E.I.
Legislature....
Why...
....was the Legislature meeting in person at all, bringing over 20 MLAs and
staff into a building for most of a day when the Province was in a modified
"red zone". (CBC article link) The justifications
regarding "essential work" could be argued, perhaps with less
political grandstanding, and some business was
done; the last half hour was spent discuss a Government Motion (No. 19: Clem Campbell's 'Smile Reminder")
recognizing kindness and thoughtfulness of a very darling little child and his pin initiative.
It was sweet but perhaps not "essential".
Sigh...
...about the questioning of the definition, and presence on the Island, of
"precarious employment" by the new Minister of Social Development and
Housing Brad Trivers (in discussions of an Opposition Motion 18: "In appreciation of Island Youth and
their Contributions to Keeping Our Community Safe" recognizing
the stresses and sacrifices of Island youth during the pandemic). He is a
smart and lickety-split go-getter; he needs to talk and listen to way more
people, and really hear about life from different perspectives, abilities,
backgrounds and advantages. (And he can use his organizing talents and ideas to
help his department run cohesively.)
High...
....at the flickering spirit of collaboration and
all-pulling-in-the-same-direction about the MLAs responsibilities and abilities
to lead through this pandemic and prepare our Island for the future.
Let's encourage them to nurture that flame.
Climate Change perspective: https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/local-perspectives/letter-throne-speech-soft-on-climate-558105/
LETTER: Throne
speech soft on climate -The Guardian Letter to the Editor
Published in print
and on-line on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021
Peter
Bevan-Baker’s response to the recent speech from the throne was spot on –
especially in relation to climate issues.
It’s great to see
specific plans and $60 million committed to promote research and development
and to support businesses in the clean technology sector. But the lack of
specifics on how we are going to more immediately tackle climate change was
disappointing.
At the end of the
throne speech under the heading of “A Cleaner Environment” is a list of
one-line items which members of the legislature will be asked to “consider
policy, program and budgetary proposals related to.” It’s not that all items on
the list aren’t important — it is the lack of specifics that is alarming.
For instance, the
first item is “Encouraging a greater use of electric vehicles”. Given that over
a year ago the Climate Change Secretariat sounded the alarm about the need for
bold action to reduce our emissions in the transportation sector and given that
the Sustainable Transportation Action Plan of November, 2019 identified several
actions to reduce transportation emissions, I expected more specific program
announcements in this throne speech.
An EV and home
charger incentive program was one of those actions. If we are serious about
encouraging electric vehicle use we will need such a program as well as
electric vehicle mandate legislation. “Implementing an Island wide transit
system” was another line item in the throne speech. While it’s great to see
this need acknowledged, improving urban and rural transit was part of the
Sustainable Transportation Action Plan and here we are over a year later with
no implementation plan identified. Given that half our province’s carbon
emissions come from transportation, we need to get more bums in buses and more
electric vehicles on our roads very soon in order to meet our climate targets.
The premier has
made some bold commitments on climate but the lack of urgency and specificity reflected
in the Throne Speech makes me wonder if we will get there.
As Greta Thunberg
has said, “Our house is on fire”. We need to act now.
Marilyn McKay,
Charlottetown
-30-
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming - -no matter how much time you have this week:
https://www.metopera.org/
Verdi’s Falstaff, today until 6:30PM
Starring Mirella Freni, Barbara Bonney, Marilyn Horne, Susan Graham, Paul
Plishka, Frank Lopardo, and Bruno Pola. Production by Franco Zeffirelli. From October 10, 1992. Just over 2 hours
Wagner’s Die Walküre, tonight 7:30PM until 6:30PM
Thursday
Starring Hildegard Behrens, Jessye Norman, Christa Ludwig, Gary Lakes, James
Morris, and Kurt Moll. Production by Otto Schenk. From April 8, 1989.
Just under 4 hours.
March 2, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
Events:
Dr. Heather
Morrison's weekly update, 11:30AM, radio at Q93, online at PEI Government YouTube channel
or Facebook page.
Food ordering
deadline, noon, Charlottetown Farmers' Market 2GO, for pickup Thursday between
3-6PM at the Charlottetown Farmers' Market. The Stratford
location is closed this week.
https://cfm2go.localfoodmarketplace.com/Overview
The P.E.I.
Legislature was supposed to sit in person from 1-5PM at the
Coles Building, and I am not sure what's planned for today.
The Legislative Assembly website or Twitter account will
probably have the news.
Here is a nice summary of what the MLAs were working on last week, from that
Twitter account:
"After
the Speech from the Throne is presented to the House, every member has a chance
to respond to the Speech from the Throne if they wish, rising when they are
recognized by the Speaker and presenting their views on Government’s plan for
the session.
....This response is called the “Address in Reply to
the Speech from the Throne” and it's the first piece of business every sitting
day. When members finish debating the Speech from the Throne the Address is
formally presented to the Lieutenant Governor as the response of the
House."
P.E.I. Legislature Twitter account:
https://twitter.com/peileg
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
------------------
If you have power and
enough internet to watch some video, GoPEI!
encourages you to get active with free exercise programming each day online
through Facebook:
Their notice:
Stay safe. Stay
active.
We are here for you
this week, #PEI. Find ways to feel good by moving your body — from the comfort
of your own home! We've got a great lineup of classes to help keep you active.
Join the #goLiveathome
group today:
www.facebook.com/groups/goLiveathome
Ideas from across the
pond, from today's U.K.
Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/02/uk-urged-to-create-green-apprenticeships-to-help-covid-recovery
UK urged to create green apprenticeships
to help Covid recovery - The (U.K.) Guardian article by Fiona Harvey
Danger of young people’s futures being blighted by climate
and Covid crises, say campaigners
Published on
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021
Green
apprenticeships would prepare young people for jobs in renewable energy and the
restoration of the UK’s natural landscape, and stop young people having their
careers blighted for life by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, a report
says.
The report found that 250,000 green
apprenticeships and a network of skills centres at further education colleges
could be created with about £10.6bn of government money. Local authorities
could create more than 44,000 apprenticeships in London with the right
investment, along with about 20,000 in the West Midlands and 14,000 in Greater
Manchester.
Other regions
also have high potential, as the report found scope for nearly 12,000
apprenticeships in West Yorkshire and 6,400 in the Sheffield area.
About 500,000
young people aged 16 to 24 are out of work, and that number could double when
the furlough scheme is withdrawn, according to the report, commissioned by Friends of the
Earth from Transition Economics. The authors say the consequences
of this past year’s setbacks for young people thrown into unemployment could
last for years. If wages remain lower for young people through their working
lives, from the “scarring” effect of early unemployment, the cumulative loss to
their earnings could reach £39bn over the next 20 years.
<SNIP>
-- rest of story here:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/02/uk-urged-to-create-green-apprenticeships-to-help-covid-recovery
Atlantic Skies for March 1st - March 7th,
2021 - by Glenn K. Roberts
The Search for "life" on Mars
NASA's Mars 2020
Perseverance rover successfully landed on the Red Planet on Thursday, Feb.18, a
technical and logistical feat of which NASA can rightfully be very proud. Edgar
Rice Burroughs' famous 'Barsoom' stories about a race of beings living on the
Red Planet aside, Perseverance, or "Percy" as it is now
affectionately nicknamed, will not be searching for any archeological traces of
alien civilizations. In addition to the other scientific and technology-testing
tasks it has, the rover's primary task is an extremely interesting one, one
that has the potential to profoundly alter our view of the universe, and our
place, as humans, in it - the active search for biosignatures of past or
present "life" on Mars.
Enough evidence now
exists to confirm that Mars, when it first formed 4.5 billion years ago, had an
atmosphere much like Earth's early atmosphere, and that it also had vast
amounts of water on its surface, in the form of lakes, oceans, and flowing
rivers, for at least about the first billion years. Early Mars had a
magnetosphere (a magnetic field surrounding the planet generated by the dynamo
effect of its spinning, hot, molten core) that maintained its atmosphere by
protecting it from the extreme radiation of the Sun's solar wind (as does Earth's
magnetosphere). However, as the planet's core cooled, its magnetosphere
diminished in strength to the point where it wasn't strong enough to prevent
the solar wind from stripping away the upper levels of the Martian atmosphere.
As the planet's upper atmosphere thinned, more and stronger solar radiation
struck the lower portions of the atmosphere, until it, too, eventually
dissipated into space. With no atmosphere to protect and maintain it, the
surface water on Mars evaporated into space, leaving behind the physical
evidence of its former presence carved into the Martian landscape in the form
of vast river deltas, alluvial fans, basins, and other geophysical formations.
It is on one of the river deltas in Jezero Crater that Perseverance landed.
On Earth,
biologists credit the presence of water on our planet with the creation and
establishment of the earliest and most basic microbial life forms - bacteria,
from which all life on Earth ultimately evolved. It is quite possible that
ancient Mars was able to hold onto its water for a sufficiently long enough
period for similar microbial life forms to have developed in its water bodies.
Using a vast array of instrumentation, in particular the Scanning Habitable
Environments with Ramen and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals, or
'SHERLOC' (l love the acronym), Percy will image and analyze the Martian
surface mineralogy, chemical composition, and organic compounds in a search for
biosignatures of any ancient microbial life that may have once been present, or
any microbial life forms which might be present today. It is hoped that Percy
might find some stromatolites - wavy, rocky mounds similar to those formed long
ago on Earth by microbial life along ancient shorelines and in other
environments where metabolic energy and water were present. Just as traces of
ancient microbial life forms have been found in ocean bed sediments on Earth,
it is hoped that traces of ancient microbial life forms, if they formed in the
Martian water bodies, might also be discovered. Should the initial tests
conducted by Percy indicate the presence of either past or existing microbial
life forms, samples will be collected by the rover, and cached in collection
tubes for retrieval by a future Mars mission which will return the samples to Earth
for more detailed and specialized testing. Such a discovery, even if only proof
of extinct life forms, will, without a doubt, revolutionize our knowledge and
perceptions on how, when and where life first appeared in our solar
system. Although, on its own, such a discovery does not prove the
existence of higher life forms on Mars or elsewhere in our solar system or the
Milky Way Galaxy, it does open, at the very least, the possibility; and
perhaps, for the time being, that is enough.
With a clear, unobstructed
view to the southeast on the morning of Mar. 4, just before sunrise, you might
catch a glimpse of Mercury (mag. +0.2, in Capricornus - the Sea Goat) about 1/2
degree (a close conjunction) to the left of Jupiter (mag. -1.9), as the two
planets hover just about the horizon. Saturn (mag. +0.7, in Capricornus) will
be to the right of and slightly above Jupiter and Mercury. Mars (mag. +0.9, in
Taurus - the Bull) is an early evening object, visible about 59 degrees above
the southwest horizon (2.5 degrees below the Pleiades star cluster) by about
6:40 p.m., remaining observable until just before it sets in the southwest
around 1 a.m. Both Venus and Jupiter are too close to the Sun to be observable
this coming week.
The first two weeks
of March (and April) are the best times to look for the Zodiacal Light. At this
time of the year, the ecliptic (the apparent line of movement of the Sun, Moon
and planets across the sky) is tilted almost vertically relative to the western
horizon. The Zodiacal Light is sunlight reflected off a myriad of minute dust
particles along the inner plane of our solar system, left there by countless
comets zipping in around the Sun. Look for a diffuse, whitish, pyramid-shaped
glow of light extending upward from the horizon about one and half-hours after
sunset, when the sky has fully darkened. Viewing from a dark site, away from
city lights, will increase your chances of finding the Zodiacal Light, and will
greatly enhance its overall appearance. If you have trouble spotting it, try
using your averted vision by looking just to the side (your eyes detect faint
light better off to the side, rather than directly on). Take your DSLR camera
along for a timed photo.
Until next week,
clear skies.
Events:
March
4 - Mercury and Jupiter in close conjunction; ESE, pre-dawn
5 - Last Quarter Moon
-30-
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Good old classics with marvelous (ageless, timeless) divas:
Donizetti’s Don
Pasquale, today until 6:30PM
Starring Beverly Sills, Alfredo Kraus, Håkan Hagegård, and Gabriel Bacquier,
conducted by Nicola Rescigno. Production by John Dexter. From January 11, 1979.
Verdi’s Falstaff, tonight 7:30PM until Wednesday
6:30PM
Starring Mirella Freni, Barbara Bonney, Marilyn Horne, Susan Graham, Paul
Plishka, Frank Lopardo, and Bruno Pola. Production by Franco Zeffirelli. From October 10, 1992
Shared by my dear
sister-in-law in the States, and very timely:
"Kindness is more than
deeds. It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch, It is
anything that lifts another person."
--- C. Neil Strait
March 1, 2021
Chris Ortenburger's CANews
FYI:
Latest Government Update on COVID 19 measures are here,
published online Sunday evening:
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/modified-red-restricted-measures-prince-edward-island-five-new-cases-announced
Local Food Ordering:
Organic Veggie Delivery week, order by Monday
PM today for delivery Friday, March 5th.
https://www.organicveggiedelivery.com/
Charlottetown Farmers' Market 2Go, order by
TUESDAY NOON, for Thursday pick-up/delivery,
https://cfm2go.localfoodmarketplace.com/
(due to probable increased demand, they might close orders
early, so keep that in mind)
EatLocalPEI --
Order by Wednesday
night
for pickup/delivery
Saturday/Sunday
https://www.localline.ca/eatlocalpei
-------------------------------
MLAs will not be sitting in the Legislature today, which gives everyone a
chance to prepare for the next two weeks, with sittings originally scheduled
for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1PM-5PM, and Fridays from
10AM-2PM. Doing the math, it's the same number of sitting hours per week
as the previous way (16).
However, of course, they may do something different tomorrow and Wednesday due
to COVID gathering restrictions.
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly website https://www.assembly.pe.ca/
P.E.I. Legislative Assembly Facebook page link
https://www.facebook.com/peileg
----------------------------------
Thursday, March 4th:
Webinar:
Carbon Bombs, Canada and the Climate, with National Observer's Linda Solomon Wood and
Author Bill McKibben, 8PM, online, free.
from the event notice:
Bill McKibben is a decades-long veteran of climate advocacy, whose grassroots
activism has enormously impacted environmental politics.
Almost 10 years ago, McKibben dubbed Canada’s tar sands projects “carbon bombs”
which devastate the environment. The federal Liberals and Alberta Conservatives
have both doubled down detonating those bombs, sinking fortunes into the
development of new oil pipelines even as President Joe Biden has signalled a
disinterest in building new fossil fuel infrastructure. As Texas freezes over
with lethal, extreme winter weather, McKibben's messages resonate stronger than
ever.
Is it too late for Canada to get on the right path?
Join McKibben as he works through these dilemmas with host Linda Solomon Wood
in a public Conversations event
Details and registration link
----------------------
Thursday, March 11th:
Deadline -- Public
Input on Make up of Elected School Board
this notice from Colonel Gray High School's weekly report in The Guardian:
The Department of Education and Lifelong Learning is seeking input into elected
board-related matters. Help direct the future of education and share thoughts
by doing a short online survey: https://www.research.net/r/esbc
Those interested can also email their thoughts using esbc@edu.pe.ca or send a written submission by
mail to:
Elected Public School Branch Board of Directors Public
Consultations, Department of Education and Lifelong Learning, PO Box 2000,
Charlottetown, P.E.I, C1A 7N8, attention: Legislative and Planning
Co-ordinator. The deadline for submissions is March 11.
from today's The (U.K.) Guardian:
Electric
cars truly greener – Fossil fuel cars waste
hundreds of times more resources than battery electric
cars, according to a study that adds to evidence the switch will
bring large environmental benefits. After recycling, only about 30kg of raw
material is lost over the life of a lithium ion battery, compared with 17,000
litres of oil used in a petrol or diesel vehicle, according to analysis by
Transport & Environment (T&E). Its calculation shows petrol and diesel
cars use at least 300 times more resources. T&E calculations suggest a
battery electric car will use 58% less energy than a petrol car over its
lifetime and emit 64% less carbon dioxide.
article link: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/01/fossil-fuel-cars-make-hundreds-of-times-more-waste-than-electric-cars?
from last month: Online link: https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/local-perspectives/guest-opinion-marking-50-years-of-wetland-conservation-and-loss-547472/
GUEST OPINION: Marking 50 years of wetland
conservation and loss - The Guardian Guest Opinion by Dan Kraus
Published in print
on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021
Fifty years ago, nations gathered to create the world’s
first global agreement to conserve a habitat. This had long been undervalued,
and as a result was rapidly disappearing. Fifty years ago, there was a global
call to action to save our wetlands.
On Feb. 2, 1971,
the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was adopted in Ramsar,
Iran. Often referred to as the Ramsar Convention, its purpose was to stop the
worldwide loss of wetlands. Today, 171 countries, including Canada, are parties
to the convention.
The Ramsar
Convention has helped many wetlands. Over 2,400 wetlands around the world have
been designated as Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance. Canada has 37
Ramsar sites, including some the Nature Conservancy of Canada have helped
protect in Atlantic Canada. They are Tabusintac Estuary and Shepody Bay (N.B.),
Musquodoboit Harbour (N.S.), Malpeque Bay (P.E.I.) and Grand Codroy Estuary
(N.L.). World Wetlands Day marks the signing of the Ramsar Convention and is a
day to highlight the importance of wetland conservation
Despite a global
agreement and a special day of recognition, we have not been kind to wetlands over
the last half century. Over the past 50-years, over one-third world’s remaining
wetlands have been lost. They continue to disappear at a rate faster than
forests, and the loss is accelerating.
In every
country, including our own, we are now facing an increasingly critical
decision: which wetlands will we choose to save, and which wetlands will we
choose to lose?

Canada has 37 sites
designated as Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance, including Malpeque
Bay in P.E.I.
Contributed - SaltWire
Network
reprinted from
online article -- better resolution and other graphics at the online article
Our
choices will matter for both nature and people.
Wetlands come in
many forms across Canada. Our vast northern peatlands are some of the most
extensive and intact wetlands left on Earth. But in southern Canada, we’ve done
our part to contribute to global wetland losses by draining forested swamps,
prairie sloughs and coastal salt marshes. In many parts of southern Canada,
only a fraction of our original wetlands remain.
What all our
different wetlands share is their ecological importance. Coastal fens along the
Great Lakes coast and saline wetlands of the prairies, along with over 90 other
wetland communities, are of global conservation concern. Wetlands provide
spawning habitat for many sportfish. They produced millions of waterfowl each
year and are essential for keeping Canada’s “duck factory” open. Many of
Canada’s terrestrial and freshwater species at risk regularly occur, or rely,
on wetlands, including eastern mountain avens, yellow rail and Blanding’s
turtle.
Canadians need
wetlands now, more than ever. Our northern peatlands are global giants when it
comes to storing carbon. Wetlands around our cities and farms are one of our
best natural defenses to buffer communities from extreme weather events and our
rapidly changing climate. They are the Swiss Army Knife of ecosystems. The
wetlands around us store carbon, hold flood water, recharge creeks during
drought, stop storm surges and provide fire breaks. We can’t afford to lose
them. The best use of wetlands is to have them remain as wetlands.
Celebrating
World Wetland Day every Feb. 2 may not seem ideal. Many are frozen and quiet.
Blanketed with snow that covers trees and turtles. But they are waiting for
spring when their most important work will begin. As ice cracks and snow melts,
they will fill with the spring runoff. Like giant sponges on the land, they
will turn unwanted floodwaters into much-needed summer flows to our rivers and
streams.
The next 10
years mark our decision decade for nature. We need forward thinking wetland
policies and plans that consider how this critical element of our
infrastructure can be strengthened. Donations to support wetland conservation
by Nature Conservancy of Canada can be matched through the Natural Heritage
Conservation Program and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.
We can choose to
be the new generation that values, conserves and creates wetlands, or continue
to pass on an ecological deficit to our children. Fifty years ago, there was a
commitment made to future generations to stop the loss of wetlands. We need to
fulfill that promise.
Dan Kraus is
senior conservation biologist with the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
-30-
Metropolitan Opera
video performance streaming:
https://www.metopera.org/
Verdi’s Il Trovatore, today until 6:30PM tonight
Starring Anna Netrebko, Dolora Zajick, Yonghoon Lee, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky,
conducted by Marco Armiliato. Production by Sir David McVicar.
From October 3, 2015.
Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, tonight 7:30PM until 6:30PM
Tuesday
From January 11, 1979. "This John Dexter production, designed by Desmond
Heeley, was a parting gift to the great American soprano Beverly Sills, who bid
farewell to the Met as Norina, the smart young widow at the center of
Donizetti’s comedy. The sensational Alfredo Kraus sings her beloved Ernesto.
Håkan Hagegård, in his Met debut role and season, is Dr. Malatesta, the man who
helps the young couple trick the crusty old bachelor of the title (Gabriel
Bacquier at his comical best) into a fake marriage. This being a Donizetti
comedy, it all turns out perfectly well at the end—and getting there is pure
operatic fun." Yes, it's all yellow chiffon and slender cigarette
holder elegance with Beverly Sills, a great way to start a week honouring
female opera stars.
"Stay
afraid, but do it anyway. What's important is the action. You don't have
to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will
follow."
---Carrie Fisher (1956-2016),
actor