Vancouver - The Wilderness Committee is calling on BC Environment Minister Barry Penner to say no to Metro Vancouver's waste to energy proposal, in light of concerns raised by Ministry of Environment staff regarding the key consultation report on waste management options commissioned by Metro Vancouver. A letter from the Ministry of the Environment to Metro Vancouver, dated June 2, 2009, said the Metro Vancouver report appeared to show a bias towards the controversial waste incineration technology. "The letter from the Ministry of the Environment raises a number of very serious issues regarding climate change and air quality, issues that have been repeatedly swept under the rug by Metro Vancouver staff," said Ben West, Healthy Communities Campaigner with the Wilderness Committee. ... continue reading.

a competition where less is more The Clean Bin Project is about a regular couple and their quest to answer the question "is it possible to live completely waste free?" Jen and Grant go head to head in a competition to see who can swear off consumerism and produce the least amount of garbage in an entire year. Their light-hearted rivalry is set against a darker examination of the sobering problem of waste in North America. Even as they garner interest in their project and find themselves becoming unintentional zero-waste spokespeople, Jen and Grant struggle to find meaning in their seemingly minuscule impact on our “throw-away” society. Featuring interviews with renowned artist, Chris Jordan and marine pollution expert, Captain Charles ... continue reading.

Vancouver - A new public opinion poll has revealed strong opposition in the Fraser Valley to Metro Vancouver's plans to burn garbage as a fuel to produce electricity. The poll was conducted by Angus Reid on behalf of the Abbotsford Community Foundation to assess people's concerns around waste incineration.  Awareness of Metro Vancouver's proposed plan to build incinerators in the Lower Mainland is very high in the region. Of those surveyed, 81% say they have heard, seen or read about this issue in the past several months.  Among those who are aware of the proposed plan to build incinerators only 28% support it (6% strongly and 22% moderately), while 59% oppose it (39% strongly and 20% moderately). The remaining people ... continue reading.

Zero Waste BC - The proposed hazardous waste incinerator in Kamloops was defeated last week by locals who voiced their concerns. Citizen action really can make a difference! Here in our region Metro Vancouver’s proposal to build so-called "waste to energy incinerators" to burn our garbage is entering a critical phase. April 9th is the date when the Metro Vancouver Board will vote on whether to send a waste plan based on incineration out to the public for consultation. We can still stop this plan now, we don't need consultation to know this is a bad idea. Here are 3 ways you can take action: • Send a message to Metro Board members who took a position against incinerators during ... continue reading.

Vancouver - The proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline would result in a 30% increase in average daily oil sands output, with major environmental consequences, according to a new report by the Pembina Institute. However, the environmental assessment of the project will ignore the environmental impacts and increased greenhouse gas emissions associated with this increased oil sands production, according to the final Terms of Reference for the Joint Review Panel released in December."The Panel has deliberately turned a blind eye toward the bigger picture environmental impacts of new oil sands production that would be required to fill this pipeline," said Simon Dyer, Oil Sands Program Director at the Pembina Institute. "In the face of growing public concern about oil sands development, ... continue reading.

Vancouver - An unprecedented coalition of 18 health and environment organizations is urging the BC government to "go for gold" and pass leading-edge legislation to ban the use and sale of cosmetic pesticides. The coalition released a five-point statement calling for new legislation to prohibit the use and sale of these toxic lawn and garden chemicals.The coalition statement points to the health and environmental concerns associated with needless pesticide use and highlights the success of cosmetic pesticide bans in Quebec and Ontario. The coalition includes health and environmental authorities such as:Public Health Association of BCWest Coast Environmental LawCanadian Cancer SocietyCanadian Association of Physicians for the EnvironmentToxic Free CanadaDavid Suzuki Foundation"We want legislation that meets or beats the strongest protections in ... continue reading.

Kamloops, BC - Today a network of citizens groups and public interest organizations will hold the inaugural meeting of the new Zero Waste BC Network in order to coordinate efforts to fight waste incinerators that have been proposed throughout BC. Last week a proposed incineration facility was opposed by a vote of 9 - 0 by Kamloops City Council, but the project could go ahead over their objections if the provincial government approves. The Council has written a letter to the provincial government requesting that the project be rejected.  "It is vital for communities from across BC to join together to fight incineration. This is now a province wide issue and we need a province wide response", said Lorna Williams from the ... continue reading.

By Sandra GarciaPhotos courtesy of Falcon ConcentratorsThe gold mining sector counts for about 30% of the world's gold production, and currently employs more than 20 million people worldwide. Many artisanal miners earn only a few dollars a day, and use primitive processing methods that have the tendency to lose fine gold particles. This income is barely enough to meet people's essential needs, let alone enough to work towards increasing an economic position and quality of life. Mercury is an important part of gold extraction for many artisanal gold miners worldwide. Unfortunately, the use of chemicals like mercury and cyanide in artisanal mining often leads to their release into the surrounding environment and collection in the very plants and animals which people rely on for ... continue reading.

Learn more about career opportunities in B.C.'s growing "green" sectors.The Burnaby Employment Resource Centre, in conjunction with the B.C. Labour Market Report, has brought together representatives from leading environmental companies, organizations, associations, and training programs to discuss:green jobs in fields such as architecture, utilities, engineering, construction, manufacturing, waste management, management consulting, and public awarenesscertification and training requirementshow to get started on a green career pathwho's hiring and what skills are in demand  Date:  Thursday, October 1, 2009Time:  1:00 to 3:00 p.m.Location:  Michael J. Fox Theatre, 7373 McPherson Ave., Burnaby, B.C.Map:  View hereCommute:  500 metres from Royal Oak skytrain stationParking:  free limited parking at Michael J. Fox TheatreAdmission:  FreeRegister with Training Innovations at:  http://www.training-innovations.com/register-for-gc  For more information, contact: Training Innovations, Inc. ... continue reading.

Nature's Health Drink ... Always On Tap Metro Vancouver invites the region's residents to make a "tap water pledge" to drink tap water in refillable bottles instead of buying single-use plastic water bottles. Our goal: Increase the use of tap water for drinking purposes by reducing sales of bottled water by 20 per cent by 2010. The campaign was actually launched last Fall. But, it's still important as we move away from plastic to reduce our environmental impact. Why Metro Vancouver has a Tap Water Campaign: Metro Vancouver is committed to reducing bottled water use by 20% by 2010 to reduce the environmental impact of bottled water. Millions of single-use plastic water bottles (one litre or smaller) ended up ... continue reading.