Spencer Herbert will seek the NDP nomination
for the new riding of Vancouver–West End in the
next provincial election. Spencer, a Parks Board
commissioner (and a SharedVISION Visionary
in February), has gained quite the reputation for
speaking out on issues including the erosion of green
space, protection of the environment, and the importance
of community centres. Among his top priorities: housing
and homelessness, and climate change and the environment.
vancouver.ca/parks/board/commissioners.htm
New amendments made last month to Bill C-51 state that natural health products (NHPs) will not be lumped in with pharmaceutical drugs, thanks to a vigorous campaign launched by the NHP industry. Before the new amendments, Bill C-51, introduced in April, would have allowed the federal government to designate any herbal or homeopathic remedy as a prescription drug. As we go to press, the bill is still being debated in Second Reading in the House of Commons. Stay tuned.
If you haven’t already spent your $100 carbon tax rebate on a tank of gas, consider using it to reduce your dependence on fossil fuels. Greenyourcampbellcash.ca, a new website launched by The Tyee (thetyee.ca), showcases climate action projects across the province that will happily divest you of those 100 smackers. You can also vote for your favourite project, or submit your own by July 15.
A group of buddies in Victoria is pooling its carbon tax rebates. Money raised will go to “random acts of rebate” in the community, including installing clotheslines, distributing energy-efficient light bulbs, and funding car-share co-op memberships and organic food hampers for families in need. Join the Great Rebate Ecochallenge at thegreatrebateecochallenge.blogspot.com.
A grocery store in the tiny village of Sointula, on Malcolm Island, has kiboshed plastic bags. The Sointula Co-operative Store Association stopped providing the landfill-cloggers to customers June 1. Sointula, home to fewer than 1,000 people, has a long history of independent thought, an emphasis on self-reliance, and a strong sense of community. The Sointula Co-op is the oldest operating co-operative in Canada; it turns 100 next year. island.net/~sointula
In its annual Profit 100 ranking, Profit magazine has named Sequel Naturals as the country’s eighth most successful growth company for this year. Sequel, which started out in a North Vancouver basement in 2001, has grown by 3,729 per cent (yep, the comma is where it should be) over the past five years. sequelnaturals.com; profit100.com
A new online community is spreading the word on what really works in natural medicine. Mamaherb.com allows you to post your experiences with natural treatments, further your knowledge about them, and give advice to other members seeking help. Hot tip: Got parasites in your gut? Take powdered papaya seeds!
Brown is the new green—at least when it comes to your lawn. The City’s lawn-sprinkling regulations kicked in June 1, which means you can only water your grass from 4 am to 9 am, and from 7 pm to 10 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays (even-numbered addresses) and Thursdays and Sundays (odd-numbered addresses). Find water-saving tips at metrovancouver.org or call 604-432-6200.
Itching to start a community garden? Then grab a copy of the Growing Gardens manual and get planting. Created by UBC Urban Geography students in co-operation with Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC) and the City, the manual contains everything you need to know about starting a neighbourhood patch of green. The City hopes to see more than 2,000 community gardens created by 2010 (oh, wait—hasn’t that number been copyrighted? We could be in trouble…). Get a copy at SPEC (2150 Maple St.), the library, or download from spec.bc.ca.
West Vancouver’s Park Royal Shopping Centre has made a pledge to go green. The centre, which houses Whole Foods Market, is promoting initiatives including consumer education on sustainability through a speaker series, the replacement of conventional light bulbs with LEDs, and water and waste reduction plans. sustainableparkroyal.com
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