The Art of Cultural Leadership - How the Arts Can Make a Difference
Marianne Lepa – Okanagan Art
May 8, 2008
In the early part of the 20th century, the American pragmatist philosopher, John Dewey wrote, "The function of art, the highest form of communication, is to fix those standards of enjoyment and appreciation with which other things are compared."
In his writings, Dewey sees a back-and-forth relationship between the arts and society where the standard of living and the artistic contribution is continually enhanced. In his treatise of aesthetic philosophy, Art as Experience, he argues that our interaction with art forms the very basis on which societies are built, because "art is the realm of communication in which completed acts are expressed." He believed that without art or an understanding of the significance of art, social relationships and society itself could not function.
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BASF UK Headquarters Shut Down by Anti-GM Protest
May 8, 2008
When Genetically Modified Crop trials started in the UK in 1998, no one could have predicted the public opposition to them. Within just 5 years, all GM companies including Monsanto, Syngenta and Bayer had retreated from Britain, numerous field trials had been destroyed and a moratorium against GM crop growing had been imposed.
Ten years later, Britain is still free from any commercial growing of GM crops. This opposition has also sparked massive resistance elsewhere in Europe. Occasionally test trials, as carried out by BASF, are given permission but are always destroyed by anti-GM activists.
This week 30 protesters from Earth First! have shut down the BASF UK headquarters at Cheadle Hulme near Manchester, to highlight the company’s role in pushing GM onto our plates. BASF is planning to run the UK’s only trial of GM crops this year, a trial of blight resistant potatoes.
The protesters arrived early in the morning at the flagship offices and have since been blockading the gate by sitting in front of it and locking on using d-locks and other equipment. They are successfully preventing any staff from entering and are demanding the company pull out of GM immediately.
Mary Sunderland from Earth First! Said: “GM has no part to play in our future: it’s a dangerous, unwanted and unproven technology geared towards maximizing profits for multinational corporations such as BASF. It is not the answer to food shortages, hunger or climate change. The real solution is to change now to a sustainable farming system and to distribute resources fairly around the world.”
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Nine 'tipping elements' for warming listed
Arctic sea ice and Greenland are top 'candidates for surprising society'
April 8, 2008 - MSNBC staff and news service reports
Concerned that humans might push Earth into major climate shifts, a team of experts has published a study that lists nine "tipping elements," or areas of concern for policymakers.
Arctic sea-ice and the Greenland Ice Sheet, both of which have shown significant melt, were regarded as the most sensitive tipping elements with the smallest uncertainty.
"Society may be lulled into a false sense of security by smooth projections of global change," the scientists at British, German and U.S. institutes wrote in a report saying there were many little-understood thresholds in nature.
"The greatest and clearest threat is to the Arctic with summer sea ice loss likely to occur long before, and potentially contribute to, Greenland Ice Sheet melt," they wrote in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The experts coined the term "tipping element" to describe those components of the climate system that are at risk of passing a "tipping point," which was defined as a critical threshold at which a small change in human activity can have large, long-term consequences for the Earth’s climate system.
"These tipping elements are candidates for surprising society by exhibiting a nearby tipping point," the authors added.
"Many of these tipping points could be closer than we thought," said lead author Timothy Lenton, of the University of East Anglia in England.
"Our findings suggest that a variety of tipping elements could reach their critical point within this century under human-induced climate change," he added. "The greatest threats are tipping of the Arctic sea-ice and the Greenland ice sheet, and at least five other elements could surprise us by exhibiting a nearby tipping point."
Other sudden changes linked to climate change, stoked by human use of fossil fuels, included a dieback of northern pine forests, or a stronger warming of the Pacific under El Nino weather events that can disrupt weather worldwide, they wrote.
A possible greening of parts of the Sahel and the Sahara, if monsoon rains in West Africa were disrupted, was one of the few positive abrupt shifts identified by the scientists.
Even a moderate warming could set off a thaw of Greenland's ice sheet that could then vanish in 300 years — raising sea levels by 20 feet and threatening coasts, Pacific islands and cities from Bangkok to Buenos Aires.
The report also identified risks such as damage to northern pine forests — widely exploited by the pulp industry — because of factors such as more frequent fires and vulnerability to pests in warmer, drier conditions.
But it played down some other fears, such as of a runaway melt of Siberian permafrost, releasing stores of methane which is a powerful greenhouse gas.
And it said a shutdown of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean that brings warm water north to Europe "appears to be a less immediate threat."
The experts based the list on a 2005 workshop of 36 leading climate scientists, a survey of 52 other experts, and a review of scientific literature.
In a statement released with the study, the authors summarized the nine tipping elements by assigning them to categories tied to sensitivity and uncertainty, and estimating the time it would take each to undergo a major transition:
Highly sensitive, smallest uncertainty
Greenland Ice Sheet (more than 300 years): "Warming over the ice sheet accelerates ice loss from outlet glaciers and lowers ice altitude at the periphery, which further increases surface temperature ... The exact tipping point for disintegration of the ice sheet is unknown, since current models cannot capture the observed dynamic deglaciation processes accurately. But in a worst case scenario local warming of more than three degrees Celsius could cause the ice sheet to disappear within 300 years. This would result in a rise of sea level of up to seven meters."
Arctic sea-ice (approximately 10 years): "As sea-ice melts, it exposes a much darker ocean surface, which absorbs more radiation than white sea-ice so that the warming is amplified. This causes more rapid melting in summer and decreases ice formation in winter. Over the last 16 years ice cover during summer declined markedly. The critical threshold global mean warming may be between 0.5 to 2 degrees Celsius, but could already have been passed. One model shows a nonlinear transition to a potential new stable state with no arctic sea-ice during summer within a few decades."
Intermediately sensitive, large uncertainty
West Antarctic Ice Sheet (more than 300 years): "Recent gravity measurements suggest that the ice sheet is losing mass. Since most of the ice sheet is grounded below sea level the intrusion of ocean water could destabilize it. The tipping point could be reached with a local warming of five to eight degrees Celsius in summer. A worst case scenario shows the ice sheet could collapse within 300 years, possibly raising sea level by as much as five meters."
Boreal forest (approximately 50 years): "The northern forests exhibit a complex interplay between tree physiology, permafrost and fire. A global mean warming of three to five degrees Celsius could lead to large-scale dieback of the boreal forests within 50 years. Under climate change the trees would be exposed to increasing water stress and peak summer heat and would be more vulnerable to diseases. Temperate tree species will remain excluded due to frost damage in still very cold winters."
Amazon rainforest (approximately 50 years): "Global warming and deforestation will probably reduce rainfall in the region by up to 30 percent. Lengthening of the dry season, and increases in summer temperatures would make it difficult for the forest to re-establish. Models project dieback of the Amazon rainforest to occur under three to four degrees Celsius global warming within fifty years. Even land-use change alone could potentially bring forest cover to a critical threshold."
El Niño Southern Oscillation (approximately 100 years): "The variability of this ocean-atmosphere mode is controlled by the layering of water of different temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and the temperature gradient across the equator. During the globally three degrees Celsius warmer early Pliocene ENSO may have been suppressed in favor of persistent El Niño or La Niña conditions. In response to a warmer stabilized climate, the most realistic models simulate increased El Niño amplitude with no clear change in frequency."
Africa rainfall (approximately 10 years): "The amount of rainfall is closely related to vegetation climate feedback and sea surface temperatures of the Atlantic Ocean. Greenhouse gas forcing is expected to increase Sahel rainfall. But a global mean warming of three to five degrees Celsius could cause a collapse of the West African monsoon. This could lead either to drying of the Sahel or to wetting due to increased inflow from the West. A third scenario shows a possible doubling of anomalously dry years by the end of the century."
Indian summer monsoon (approximately 1 year): "The monsoon circulation is driven by a land-to-ocean pressure gradient. Greenhouse warming tends to strengthen the monsoon since warmer air can carry more water. Air pollution and land-use that increases the reflection of sunlight tend to weaken it. The Indian summer monsoon could become erratic and in the worst case start to chaotically change between an active and a weak phase within a few years."
Lowly sensitive, intermediate uncertainty
Atlantic thermohaline circulation (approximately 100 years): "The circulation of sea currents in the Atlantic Ocean is driven by seawater that flows to the North Atlantic, cools and sinks at high latitudes. If the inflow of freshwater increases, e.g. from rivers or melting glaciers, or the seawater is warmed, its density would decrease. A global mean warming of three to five degrees Celsius could push the element past the tipping point so that deep water formation stops. Under these conditions the North Atlantic current would be disrupted, sea level in the North Atlantic region would rise and the tropical rain belt would be shifted."
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Meat processing conflict divides
meat producers from meat consumers
February 18, 2008
A study examining the impacts of the new provincial meat processing rules in British Columbia was presented to the North Okanagan Regional Disitrict, and accepted by directors.
Late last year, new provincial rules were implemented that force all meat to be slaughtered in a provincially licensed facility and it also has to be inspected prior to being sold.
The North Okanagan Food Action Coalition conducted the study; it surveyed livestock processors and producers about the impact of the new provincial inspection rules.
“At the moment, there is no custom poultry processing left,” said coalition spokesperson Brigitt Johnson.
The number of facilities handling beef has also dwindled, and while there are government-sanctioned plants, she says they don’t take custom orders, they are too far away from farmers or they are too busy in peak months.
According to the study, farmers have reported that the lack of processors is already being felt.
“Fifty-eight per cent said they had reduced the number of animals they produce,” said Johnson.
The report calls on the provincial government to take action by forming a task force on the issue and providing substantive funding for processing facilities.
Director Herman Halvorson commented, “These are ludicrous regulations - they work into the hands of the big producers.”
NORD accepted in principle the study with directors being concerned that the rules will put small processors out of business, as well as farmers who can’t get their beef, poultry or pork processed.
There is also concern for local food security.
“Consumers want control over the food they buy,” said director Juliette Cunningham suggesting that the new rules negatively impact consumers’ ability to access locally produced food.
The North Okanagan Food Action Coalition has asked NORD to continue representing the interests of farmers, to consider agriculture in all aspects of land planning and to fund agricultural support staff.
The request is being considered by NORD, however questions have surfaced regarding the integrity of NORD lobbying the provincial government over the issue and the possibility of some directors being in a conflict of interest because they sell meat.
NORD Administration had suggested the potential of conflict which then resulted in Area D director Rick Fairbairn to leave the board room at Wednesday’s NORD meeting, he was followed by BX-Swan Lake director Cliff Kanester and then Enderby director Earl Shipmaker.
“At some point, everything I do could be a conflict of interest,” said Fairbairn, who was informed by staff that he should withdraw from debate after receiving advice from the regional district’s lawyer.
Fairbairn sells beef from his farm, but he denies that makes him biased when discussing the regulations.
“This is a community issue and it goes beyond farm sales. It’s about the agricultural community,” he said.
Fairbairn may seek independent legal counsel to determine if he is in a conflict of interest.
Kanester wasn’t mentioned by staff, however he opted to leave the meeting.
“My son sells meat and I still own the farm”.
Kanester believes staff is stretching conflict of interest guidelines.
Earl Shipmaker another director to leave felt he had no choice but to excuse himself from debate.
“If everyone who grows the stuff is in a conflict, then everyone who eats the stuff is in a conflict as well,” adding that he has purchased beef and chicken.
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Report: Caribou, songbirds in danger from development
Hanneke Brooymans, Canwest News Service
February 1, 2008
Woodland caribou and sensitive songbirds could disappear from large tracts of Alberta and the southern Northwest Territories unless strong conservation measures are introduced, new research shows.
A report by the Canadian Boreal Initiative focused on the Mackenzie watershed, an area that covers 170 million hectares, including over half of Alberta and the Northwest Territories, as well as parts of B.C., Saskatchewan, Yukon and Nunavut.
Two-thirds of the boreal forest in that area remains intact. That forest stores carbon, filters and stores water, and provides habitat for birds. But if industrial development continues as usual, the watershed and wildlife are at risk, says the report by CBI, an organization that works with industry, governments and others to conserve the country's boreal forests.
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Tsawwassen golf-course development 'thin edge of the wedge'
January 18, 2008
Harold Steves believes developer Ron Toigo’s plan to redevelop the Tsawwassen Golf and Country Club is the “thin edge of the wedge” as far as the continued erosion of regional farmland goes.
A long-time Richmond farmer and city councillor, Steves helped draft the Agricultural Land Reserve government policy in 1972. Now Toigo’s development will remove an 11.5-hectare parcel north of the existing course from the ALR.
Steves referred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands’ 2007 B.C.’s Food Self-Reliance report, which claims that farmers in 2025 will need 281,000 acres of irrigated food-producing land to ensure British Columbians have access to healthy diets. The report adds that the amount of land must increase by 92,000 hectares over 2005 levels. Steves said that “any loss of agricultural land is going to be on the negative side rather than the positive in terms of trying to find more land.”
“In the next 15 to 20 years, we are going to be looking at converting golf courses back to farms, and horse farms and stables back to food-producing lands,” Steves said. “That’s if we are going to be feeding ourselves. If we are not going to be feeding ourselves, well, I guess we will probably have to grow our food in our own back yards.”
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The Druids: No one knows who they were,
or what they were doing... or do we?
By Chris Baskind
Republished from snarfd.com
So it’ s not even the European Bronze Age yet. You and your Druid friends are kickin’ over a big pottery crock of mead, and someone trots out the plans for an absolutely magnificent henge over in Salisbury. Very special.
One thing leads to another, songs are sung, promises are made — and pretty soon, you’ve got a cushy construction job. Problem is, those darn stones are pretty heavy. How are you going to move and position monoliths without metal or modern equipment? You’d ask the Egyptians for advice, but they all speak in cartoons.
Wally Wallington has a strange hobby: he moves heavy stuff. By himself. Stuff like barns.
Wallington has discovered what he believes is the incredibly simple secret of how the ancients managed to build Stonehenge. He demonstrates in this video. Got a couple pebbles…
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Residents say power surge destroyed appliances,
but BC Hydro says “no”
November 27, 2007
Based on an article by Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun
The issue of weak electrical infrastructure continues to surface in rural BC (See TOB Life on the Grid series) as residents of the remote community of Goldbridge 100 kilometres west of Lillooet rallied at a meeting last Thursday night to share stories about the day their home appliances were destroyed.
According to a Vancouver Sun report much of the anger is being directed at BC Hydro for failing to take responsibility for the damage.
"You know those compact fluorescent lights that Hydro told us we should have?" said Judy Hartmann, bartender at the Gold Bridge Hotel. "They blew out all the way down the hallway. We had pieces of glass lodged in the walls and the floors. Someone could have been injured."
On November 15th, a power surge to Gold Bridge and a nearby recreational destination, Gun Lake, blew out all manner of electrical devices and appliances.
Hartmann claimed the surge also destroyed the hotel's electric cash register, debit machine, central vacuum system, satellite TV and washing machine.
“Name the electrical appliance, and it's pretty much guaranteed to have been destroyed,” she said.
However for the population of about 40, not much satisfaction is coming from BC Hydro, which blames the destructive event on weather and not corporate negligence.
Hartmann told the Sun that there has been talk of a class action lawsuit against Hydro unless the corporation changes its tune and helps local residents with the cost of repairing damage and buying new electrical appliances.
Hydro spokeswoman Gillian Robinson said in an interview with the newspaper that high winds caused wires to touch four times on the main 60-kV transmission line to the communities between 8:47 a.m. and 2:42 p.m. on November 15th.
"The cause appears to be inclement weather," she said. "And that is beyond Hydro's control. We don't accept the liability in those cases."
Robinson said Hydro is not responsible for losses or injuries as a result of problems, failures or defects in the delivery of electricity, adding the corporation would also not be responsible for loss of meat in a freezer caused by power loss.
At Thursday night's public meeting, which drew about 40 people to the Gold Bridge Community Club, residents were quick to dismiss Hydro's explanation of the problem, arguing it was not even blowing hard in town in the period cited by the corporation.
Lynda Illidge, a 26-year resident of Gold Bridge, said a wind and snow storm two days earlier is a likelier explanation, perhaps having toppled trees that eventually caused the surge.
Whatever the cause, she said the event is only the latest and most dramatic example of how poorly the area is served by Hydro despite its location next to La Joie Dam on Downton Lake.
Russ Oakley, a local resident and chair of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, dismissed Hydro's explanation and urged the residents to gather for a second meeting soon if Hydro officially rejects their compensation claims.
He estimated more than 200 homeowners in Gold Bridge and Gun Lake may have sustained losses from the surge, which was so powerful that it fried and even melted surge protectors designed to protect against electrical damage.
"I had a big black mark on the carpet," he said.
Homeowner insurance may pay for damage, but residents say they must weigh the benefits of a claim against the cost of the deductible and the potential for higher premiums the following year.
Another concern is that only one-tenth of Gun Lake homeowners are permanent residents and some could be unaware of the power surge. They might return next summer to find damage resulting from frozen pipes or lack of interior heat.
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