Author: Rex

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Government of the people, by the corporations, for the corporations – Science Matters

In 2008, economics student Tim DeChristopher went to an auction set up by the Bush administration for the oil and gas industry. He bid $1.8 million for the right to drill on 14 parcels of Utah wilderness, much of it near national parks, and drove up prices for other pieces of land that he bid on but didn’t win. Although DeChristopher later tried to raise money online and offered to pay for the land leases, the government claimed he had no intention of paying and convicted him in March on two felony counts. Continue reading Government of the people, by the corporations, for the corporations – Science Matters

Books and Resources, Law, Policy, and Standards

Global Governance and the UN

Considering our vast cultural and political differences, is it really possible to collectively solve the world’s social, economic and environmental problems? And more importantly, if so, how do we formalize our commitments to change without an overarching global government? The highly recommended Global Governance and the UN: An Unfinished Journey is a bold attempt to answer these questions by emphasizing the value of international co-ordination in tackling the most pressing and challenging issues of the 21st century. Click through for our full review… Continue reading Global Governance and the UN

Around the Web, Career Opportunities, Events

Beat the heat with the Ottawa Biosphere Eco-City Initiative

The Ottawa Biosphere Eco-city (BEC) Initiative, a broad-based, non-governmental collaborative community project, explores a large untapped area of decentralized projects and independent decision-making in the area of sustainability. Coordinated by volunteers, it applies the Biosphere Eco-City model, designed to encourage citizen and stakeholder involvement in sustainability; local and international sharing of knowledge and experience. Continue reading Beat the heat with the Ottawa Biosphere Eco-City Initiative

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Cherry-picking offers lessons in life – Science Matters

By David Suzuki – When my daughter Severn was born in 1979, my wife Tara and I wanted to raise her with an understanding that a lot of food is seasonal, particularly vegetables and fruits, especially in a country like Canada. The only reason we can always get fresh strawberries, tomatoes, avocadoes, and lettuce is because we use the entire planet as a source of products. Continue reading Cherry-picking offers lessons in life – Science Matters

Books and Resources

Book: Fifty Plants That Changed the Course of History

Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History is a beautifully presented guide to the plants that have had the greatest impact on human civilization. Entries feature a description of the plant, its botanical name, its native range and its primary functions — edible, medicinal, commercial or practical. Concise text is highlighted by elegant botanical drawings, paintings and photographs as well as insightful quotes. Continue reading Book: Fifty Plants That Changed the Course of History

Around the Web

Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted

In his book Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted, author Justin Martin sets out to give Olmsted due recognition as a pioneering environmentalist. In lush detail, Martin walks the reader through the chapters of Olmsted’s life: sailor, farmer, journalist, abolitionist, park superintendent, Civil War medical commissionaire and gold mine manager.
Click through to read the review. Continue reading Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted