Month: May 2009

‘Greenest city’ plan touts economic growth

Key environmentalists are criticizing Mayor Gregor Robertson’s goal to unite economic growth with green technologies, and make Vancouver the “greenest city in the world”. U.B.C. professor Bill Rees, developer of the “ecological footprint” concept, argues that economic growth and environmentalism cannot happen in tandem, an idea that opposes the basic tenets of western capitalism. Read the full article in The Vancouver Courier.

East Beats West: Nonprofit Childcare Superior to Commercial Sector

The Frontier Centre has recently raved about the values of Alberta’s primarily commercial-based childcare system, while contrasting it against Manitoba’s and Saskatchewan’s not-for-profit systems. Some have criticized this judgement, arguing that commercial systems are discriminatory and government funding should be preferentially provided to not-for-profit systems. Read the full article at the CCPA.

Transition Town Guelph

The Guelph Transition City Initiative is a group of concerned and active Guelph residents who have come together with the shared vision of turning our city into one of Canada’s first official “Transition Towns”. They envision buidling community resilience and sustainability in response to the challenges of peak oil, accelerating climate change and economic instability. Find out more information at the Transition Guelph website.

Is Your Community COOL?

COOL 2012 is a nation-wide initiative aimed at educating North Americans on the importance of getting compostable products out of landfills. It is an education campaign comprised of tools, materials and public policy suggestions designed to achieve this goal in communities across North America. Find out more information at the COOL 2012 website.

In German Suburb, Life Goes on Without Cars

Residents of the upscale German suburb Vauban are living car-free, as part of the “smart planning” movement that is gaining popularity in Europe and the U.S. Breaking the association between suburbanites and cars will drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help combat global warming. Planners in California are currently looking to develop a car-reduced community on the outskirts of Oakland. Read the full article in The New York Times.

Kids, the Issue that Never Played

Both the N.D.P. and B.C. Liberal parties have failed to address key issues in early childhood education and childcare, and their potential link to childhood poverty. B.C. ranks last in Canada in a measure of children’s economic health, and is inherently tied to inadequate and expensive childcare. Read the full article at The Tyee.

Global Action Plan: Community Lifestyles Campaign

The Community Lifestyles Campagin targets the household and community level, and aims at establishing “EcoTeams” to work through the “EcoTeam Workbook”. EcoTeams are give the opportunity to become informed on topics such as waste reduction, energy efficiency and empowerment, and gain the tools necessary to act as sustainable community leaders. Read more about the campaign at Tools of Change.

CCPA’s “Our Schools / Ourselves” Spring Issue

This issue of Our Schools/Our Selves examines childcare and early childhood development as the multifaceted and diverse topic that it is. It includes contributions from top Canadian researchers, writers and activits and provides insight on how communities can best care for children and families. Find more information at CCPA.