Mountain Road Forest Success!!! |
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Thank YOU to all the supporters of the Mountain Road Forest campaign for stepping up to save this precious jewel of undeveloped forest land and rich biodiverse ecosystem. Located in the Interurban/Quayle Road area of Saanich, Mountain Road Forest features 49-acres of magnificent mature second growth Douglas Fir forests, Garry Oak meadows, rare Arbutus groves and a fresh water stream that forms part of the headwaters of the salmon-bearing Colquitz Creek. Thanks to the property owners' stewardship, dedication and perseverance for more than 10 years in seeking and enabling a conservation-based outcome, the CRD's pledge of $2 million and more than $1.1 million donated by individuals, businesses and organizations. The owners of the Mountain Road Forest property have agreed to work with CRD and others to bring the final resources to bear to save this special place for generations to come. A big shout out to the Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT) for spearheading this campaign. Creatively United produced this video in partnership with Ballet Victoria, Canada's multi award-winning musical legend, Ann Mortifee, famed guitarist Ed Henderson, and cellist Finn Manniche to help raise awareness of the importance of urban forests like Mountain Road. |
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Citizen Groups Create Real Change |
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Public Pressure Leads to Landmark CRD Decision |
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Thanks to public advocacy by numerous individuals and groups, including Creatively United, the Mount Work Coalition, South Island Climate Action Network, members of the Esquimalt Climate Organizers, the Westcoast Climate Action Network and progressive CRD board members, the CRD recently passed a number of resolutions to advance testing and seek safe treatment of biosolids. Testing
Biosolids are the solid residuals from treating wastewater. Currently, the solid residual waste is pumped to the Hartland landfill where plans have been to dry the waste into biosolids at a new Residuals Treatment Facility. This facility has experienced start up problems and until recently was not able to create dried biosolids. The residuals are currently in the form of a cake and are being landfilled at Hartland under an emergency order approved by the BC Ministry of Environment. These biosolids contain potentially highly toxic chemicals called PFAS— per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances which never break down and are considered ‘ forever chemicals’. Their testing is further complicated because there are potentially more than 80,000 such chemicals in human sewage. A number of public interest groups have banded together to form a Biosolids Coalition and are requesting testing of these PFAS chemicals and eventually a complete ban on land application of biosolids at Hartland. As a result of this public pressure, the CRD Board agreed to ask the Province to review its testing protocols for PFAS and ban the land application. Treatment
Treatment of biosolids provides the solution needed to prevent their disposal at Hartland. To this end, the CRD Board also approved to test the treatment of biosolids at a proposed waste to energy facility in Esquimalt that the above groups have been championing. The Township will complete its business case and technical analysis of thermally treating municipal solid waste, kitchen scraps, plus garden and yard waste together with biosolids over the next six months. If proved feasible, the waste to energy system will remove all waste streams from Esquimalt to Hartland thus protecting 73 acres of natural forest from landfill expansion and Mt. Work, a high quality recreation area adjacent to the Hartland landfill, in addition to providing a permanent solution for treating biosolids. |
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RAVEN’s Float-Up Concert Series Thursday, July 22 and 29, 6 - 8 pm PST |
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RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs) is hosting two shows in support of Indigenous justice on the last two Thursdays in July on the dock at Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club in support of West Moberly First Nation’s legal challenges to the Site C Dam. Join together for music, stories, and solidarity. Accessible by boat or from the shore at Esquimalt's Gorge Park or from the public beach next to Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club, 355 Gorge Rd W in Victoria. Click on a date below to get your tickets: Thursday, July 22, 6 - 8pm: with ANSWER Drum Group, Wes Carrol Confabulation and ŦEȺLIE, Brianna Dick Thursday, July 29, 6 - 8pm: with Cara Bateman and ŦEȺLIE, Brianna Dick |
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Today, when the world is facing so many critical problems, it is timely and vital to consider the primary role of consciousness in providing practical and profound solutions to the most important issues in our fields, and to bring these solutions to the world’s leaders.
Maharishi International University (MIU) will hold the first International Symposium on the Role of Consciousness in Solving the World’s Problems: Making Life Work for Everyone from July 25 to 30th.
The symposium will be guided by Tony Nader, MD, PhD, MARR, leader of the international Transcendental Meditation organizations, this generation’s foremost expert in the science of consciousness, and author of the new book, One Unbounded Ocean of Consciousness: Simple Answers to Life’s Big Questions.
The sessions will feature presentations by experts in a range of fields and discussions with Dr. Nader, exploring how consciousness and its development can address the challenges facing humanity and create a world that brings fulfillment to everyone. Dr. John Hagelin, President of Maharishi International University (MIU), will moderate the sessions.
The symposium will be hosted at MIU and broadcast via Zoom. Registration is $15 USD.
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Call for Creative Collaboration |
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With the climate crisis so apparent, the Dogwood Initiative is looking to connect with creative people who'd like to help with a Beyond Gas campaign in a variety of fun ways. If you would like to be involved or know someone who might enjoy this community building opportunity, please contact Cheryl Cameron, Dogwood's Director of Organizing at 604-833-4430 or email cheryl@dogwoodbc.ca.
Here are two examples of artful activism:
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Elders for Ancient Trees Update |
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The NDP government continues to support the logging of Fairy Creek area and the intense RCMP enforcement of the injunction. The land defenders and forest protectors are putting up a valiant struggle and they need help. They are thin on the ground. If you or anyone you know would be willing to go up and camp that would be especially welcome right now. We're exploring the idea of another Elder expedition if we can find a way to engage with the protests in an active way. Meanwhile, anything we can do makes a difference. Keep phoning, keep writing, keep sending support to the front lines and turning up at events. DON’T MISS THIS ELDER ACTION! Beautiful BC: Disappearing Tree by Tree:
Wednesday, July 21, 4-5:30 pm at the Cenotaph (Government & Belleville)
Bring your signs and notify your friends. This will be fun, creative, and powerful. Friday, July 23, 12-2 pm: Murray Rankin's office: 219-3930 Shelbourne St.
(More information on Facebook about Wednesday afternoons and MLA Forest Fridays) Focus on Old-Growth Logging's Effect on Tourism
Let's keep up the phone calls to John Horgan 250-387-1715 and the various MLAs and include our minister of tourism to suggest we're clearcutting our tourism future:
Minister of Tourism, Melanie Mark melanie.mark.mla@leg.bc.ca 250-953-0905. Transportation to Fairy Creek
Looking for a shared ride to Fairy Creek? Please contact Rachel 250-889-2512 or email rchubbhiggins@gmail.com. Preservation Rights The Canadian Orca Rescue Society has set up a prosperity fund for affected communities using funds donated by individuals to purchase the preservation rights to Fairy Creek and beyond. Cash or estate pledges can be made to help preserve sensitive ecosystems and help with the transition from resource extraction to sustainable eco-friendly ventures. For details about all the solutions and options available, please contact the Orca Rescue Society info@buytherainforest.org.
Hear Elder Bill Jones July 16th talk to a gathering of more than 100 at Fairy Creek. This gathering was intended to unite and ground everyone in the midst of very intense RCMP assaults and affirm a commitment to peaceful action and non-violence.
Thanks to The Tyee for this thoughtful commentary from the UBC Dean of Forestry and a pointed reply from an Oregon forester: What should a Dean of Forestry Say about Old-Growth Logging? For more Fairy Creek Updates please visit Fairy Creek Blockade Facebook Page |
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The Path of Two First Nations to Reconciliation |
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The recent experience of two First Nations' paths to reconciliation show stark differences which will significantly impact resource management policies in British Columbia. The Blueberry First Nation, in north eastern British Columbia, signed a Treaty in 1899 which guaranteed them access to hunting, fishing and trapping rights in their Territory. However, over time, resource decisions in oil and gas, forestry, agriculture and hydro electric dams eroded these rights to the point where Blueberry First Nations challenged any further development in the BC Supreme Court. Last month, the BC Supreme Court issued its decision and confirmed that the Province of BC had abrogated its Treaty responsibilities, such that the cumulative impacts of multiple separate decisions had indeed eroded the Blueberry First Nation's legal Treaty rights. The Court gave the Province of BC six months to develop a science-based approach to managing for cumulative effects or lose the right to continuing issuing resource development approvals in the Treaty territory.
A more constructive approach to reconciliation was developed by the Province and the Tahltan First Nation in North Western British Columbia. Under the new Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples legislation passed by the Province, there has to be ‘ fair, prior and informed consent’ between the First Nation and the Province before resource development occurs. The two parties agreed to the Tahltan Strategic Initiative in May, 2021. This Initiative will prepare a land use plan by 2023 to develop shared decisions on minerals, hydraulic mining and land use. The region currently supports two major mines where the Tahltan gain jobs and revenues. The Agreement provides joint support for world class mining, but also the protection of wildlife resources though maintaining healthy ecosystems.
The future of BC relies on healthy communities supported by healthy ecosystems and reconciliation. The experience of the two bands indicates that this vision is possible but will require adopting more integrated approaches to land use and permitting than occurred in the Blueberry territory. |
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Creatively United Solutions Hub |
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Healthy, happy communities begin from the ground up. Help us inspire generations to protect and preserve the natural world and confront climate change, so families, communities and nature can prosper together. |
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About Creatively United & Our Community Partners |
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The Creatively United for the Planet Society is a registered non-profit society. Since 2012, we have brought together more than 10,000 people from throughout the region who care about happy, healthy, and resilient communities. We have done so through eight zero-waste sustainability showcases, numerous community events and educational talks, collaborative partnerships, a video series, and the CreativelyUnited.org free community information network, resource and solutions sharing hub. The Gail O'Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Fund, supported by The Victoria Foundation, is dedicated to changing human consciousness towards global environmental change by combining science with the creativity of the performing arts. |
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