Taming the Wild West of urban sprawl
August 2010
By Emma Gilchrist
Calgary has earned a dubious reputation for decades of unrestricted growth, but there’s reason to hope that’s all about to change.
Two recently released studies confirm what any driver who has ever been trapped on Deerfoot Trail during rush hour already knows: Calgary is the Wild West of urban sprawl.
A report released by the Neptis Foundation compared urban design in Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary and, not surprisingly, found Calgary ranked at the bottom of the pack in terms of density. Throughout the 1990s, nearly 80 per cent of Calgary’s
growth happened on new land.
A Better Way to Ride
July 2010
By Angus Macdonell
There are approximately 1.1 million residents in the City of Calgary. There are also approximately 834,000 registered vehicles in the city. That’s a ratio of almost one car per person. As anyone who travels Calgary by car is well aware, there are days when it seems like every single one of those vehicles are on the road.
A United Nations report released last month ranked Calgary the fifth highest producer of carbon emissions among fifty major cities worldwide, ahead of both New York City and Mexico City. Toronto and Vancouver had carbon outputs less than a third of our beloved Cowtown, a sobering reminder of Calgary’s reliance
on coal-fired electrical generation, but also the preference of most
Calgarians for using their cars virtually every time they need to go
somewhere.
The newest movement in sustainable living
June 2010
Film Review: In Transition 1.0
By Jennifer Dooley
In Transition 1.0 – From Oil Dependence to Local Resilience, is the first film ever released about the newest movement in sustainable living: the Transition movement. It’s a film worth watching – it’s hopeful and powerful, showing us a practical vision for creating a post-consumer society where ordinary people make a difference.
The Transition movement, inherently powerful by its very own name, is about transitioning into a more sustainable way of life. It’s about taking small steps towards environmentally friendly choices: switching to energy efficient light bulbs, recycling, turning down the thermostat, composting, using re-usable grocery
bags, or taking the bus more often. The movement has a place for
everyone and now entire communities are joining the effort.
Why Small Business is the Key to a Thriving Economy
April 2010
By Kelly Doody
Smack in the middle of another cold and dreary January in Calgary – a month where finding fresh produce and locally-grown greens takes sharp elbows and deep pockets, and following a year where staying afloat as a privately-owned boutique or independent business proved near impossible, community-conscious locals gathered downtown to hear the wise words of renowned American small business activist Michael Shuman.
It was thanks to a joint effort of REAP and Thrive – Calgary’s Community Economic Development Network that Shuman made the trek north to Cowtown – the city some would argue to
be the northern hemisphere’s hub of big box retail, industrial-sized
grocery stores and globalized business goals.
If You…
September 2009
- commute to work by motor vehicle you are among 81% of
Canadians. From 1990 – 2005, energy use by light
passenger trucks (including pickup trucks, vans and SUVs) increased by 98%, while energy use by large cars decreased by 13%. Although gains have been made in the fuel efficiency of passenger vehicles, they have been offset by the greater number of less fuel-efficient vehicles on Canadian roads. In 2005, Canada was second only to the US in its use of energy for road transportation among the G7countries. - drive a gas powered vehicle, as most of us do, you contribute to the 26% of Canada’s estimated GHG emissions that are derived from road transportation.
Shifting the Energy Paradigm: The Next Generation of Biofuels
July 2009
By Jennifer Allford
You read about the oil sands every day, but Canada has an equally impressive source of energy that you don’t hear as much about; biomass. According to Canadian Bioenergy Association, the energy equivalent of the oil sands – 16 million tonnes of old bark – is just sitting around in piles in Canadian forests. The biofuels industry association says furthermore, there are 11 million tonnes of leftover harvest waste either left to rot or burned to get rid of it every year.
But burning that biomass more constructively is getting some serious attention as we look for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “There’s a movement into the second generation of
biofuels,” says David Layzell, the head of the Institute for
Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy (ISEEE) at the
University of Calgary.
Green is not just fashionable, it’s sexy
December 2008
Web Review: www.EcoStiletto.com
By Stephanie Jackman
I recently discovered www.EcoStiletto.com – a website dedicated to providing alternatives for people who want to make a difference without giving up glamour or style. Lighthearted, fun and informative, EcoStiletto has proved that green isn’t just fashionable, it’s sexy too.
The homepage features hot new content in the areas of eco celebrities, beauty, the good life, fashion and kids. Click on eco celebrity and you’ll get the full story on teen icon Sara Paxton and her concerns about environmental conservation. You can also read about Chloe Sevigny, Kelly Rutherford, and a host of other celebrities who are active in promoting environmental awareness.
Farm Animals: From Farmhouse to Abattoir
October 2008
By Margaret Chandler
In recent years, it’s become much easier to buy organically raised animal products such as beef, chicken, and pork either at the busy local farmers’ market, the neighbourhood health food store and even at the supermarket. This means that for many of us, we can finally feel good again knowing that when we buy meat the animal has lived a good life.
Although the organic certification process allows us some peace of mind, what about the animal’s life when it leaves the farm and makes its last, inevitable journey to the abattoir? In other words, it’s heartening to know that the chicken has lived its life on the farm enjoying sunshine, dirt, and sprouted grains. But what happens to that chicken when it leaves the farm? How do we know that it has been both transported and slaughtered humanely?
