environment

Movie Monthly: VIFF 2011 Preview

Submitted by RA on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 11:05

After a decade of covering documentary at the Vancouver International Film Festival (29 September – 14 October), I've come to rely on certain staples. Each year, filmmakers tackle the issue of oil dependency with a sharp focus on the ecological and humanitarian travesty of the tar sands; wrestle with the vexed question of clean, green energy for all; fret about the downward spiral of biodiversity; and seek spiritual solace from the chaotic materialism of mainstream western lifestyles. All these are covered in one shape or other in the five films (one a drama) I've seen so far.

Movie Monthly: Planet Hollywood

Submitted by RA on Wed, 07/13/2011 - 08:08

Earth and its inhabitants are in trouble. Oceans are acidifying and sea levels rising at the fastest rate in 2000 years. Biodiversity is in freefall, ecosystems stressed to breaking point, and like a deer caught in the headlights, humankind is watching this tragedy of its own making unfold, paralysed by indecision and greed.

Mountain Equipment Co-op Elections: Who I Voted For and Why

Submitted by RA on Mon, 03/21/2011 - 13:50

Voting ends for the annual Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) elections to its board at the end of March. If you haven't heard of MEC - well, then you probably are not from Canada.

"No Leadership" on Tar Sands Says Government Advisors

Submitted by RA on Wed, 12/22/2010 - 16:35

The tar sands could well be poisoning the Athabasca River and the communities that live downstream from these toxic operations, as anecdotal evidence suggests. However, according to the findings of the government's own advisory panel on water quality monitoring around the tar sands, there is a complete lack of reliable data to inform decisions.

VIFF: Wind Energy, Eastern European Gloom, and Hockey Musical

Submitted by RA on Wed, 10/06/2010 - 00:23

One of the less cut-and-dry eco docs at VIFF this year is Windfall (10th 12.40pm GR5; 13th 7pm GR1) a relentless attack on wind energy seen through the prism of a small town in upstate New York where industrial wind energy became a divisive local issue.

Movie Monthly: Eco Docs at VIFF

Submitted by RA on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 23:22

It seems more like a decade than a year since VIFF (30 September-15 October) last came round. Make that two decades. With Copenhagen's failure fast becoming a dot in the rear view mirror, one filmmaker has returned to footage from the first “Earth Summit” in Rio for inspiration.

A Planet of Hockey Sticks

Submitted by RA on Thu, 12/10/2009 - 01:52

There's a good opinion piece in The Tyee by Michael McGonigle, in which he argues that Copenhagen must fail "if we are to win the fight against global warming".

Looks like he might get his wish, although there's still a chance that his worst fear might be realised: a weak climate change agreement that acts like a major obstacle to change. I haven't heard that many advocates making the connection between climate change and the general ill health of the environment, although it's pretty plain to see.

Museum of Vancouver Gives Taxidermy A New Lease of Life

Submitted by RA on Sun, 11/15/2009 - 00:34

I can't say I'm a fan of taxidermy. The whole idea of killing an animal that was happy bounding about in the hills or stalking prey in the wild, gutting it, stuffing it, and displaying it as a trophy or for some other form of personal vanity seems macabre and just lacking in taste.

Where did all the salmon go?

Submitted by RA on Sat, 11/07/2009 - 02:31

They expected 8.7 million sockeye salmon to return to the Fraser River this summer. Only 600,000 turned up. Only 7% of what was expected. It's the third year of low returns.

What's happened to all the salmon?

Earth Enters Ecological Debt

Submitted by RA on Sun, 09/27/2009 - 09:46

The recession may have slowed global consumption down a bit, but we're still consuming our planet's finite resources faster than it can replenish them, according to the Global Footprint Network.

Friday was an ignominious milestone: Earth entered ecological debt.

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