Calculate your Carbon Footprint

Find out how many Earths would be needed to serve the world's population according to your lifestyle.

There are lots of similar calculators out there however this one from the Centre for Sustainable Economy and Redefining Progress, is exceptional:

My Ecological Footprint

It's very precise, so get out a pen and paper and start counting up your kilometres!

The result is usually a little alarming. Read the suggestions for reduction closely.

100 Mile Diet in Campbell River

Will Council facilitate locally grown diets?

Two requests have put pressure on Council to adopt a bylaw that will allow for hens to be kept on residentially zoned backyards. Progress on the issue has been halted in part due to a lack of staff time to finalize a decision.

Some see this idea as a means to reduce one's carbon footprint but others are not sure it fits with the City's established sustainability goals.

Read more:
Council chickens out on urban hen request
Learn more about the 100 Mile Diet.
Council broods over fowl bylaw

"I'm Freeeeee" (times 40,000)

The outfall from a fish farm escape continues. On October 21st, Marine Harvest's Port Elizabeth farm lost an estimated 40,000 Atlantic salmon to the wild. This was followed by government support and scientific uproar.

Now confusion grows on the recovery effort. Special licenses were recently issued to help reduce the impact of this escape, however, a DFO licensing policy may have hindered these efforts.

Read more from Canada.com:
Confusion over special licence and the 40,000 fish question

And the CR Mirror:
Portion of Atlantics Recovered

Learn about IPPs

Independent Power Projects, what do they mean to Campbell River's environment and BC Hydro's Clean Power Call?

Run-of-river projects at Mohun Creek and Adam River have made the initial cut within the BC Hydro Clean Power Call. The Bute Inlet Plutonic Power Coroporation project, even with intense scrutiny, has also been pushed forward. Are these viable solutions or a simple displacement of GHGs?

Final cuts will commence in December.


There are pros and cons to these projects. Check out the dabate:

Courier Islander

GreenMuze

Plutonic Power

There is also a CRSFAC meeting in 2 weeks that could provide you with yet more information:
Dec.10, starting at 7:30pm at the Marine Heritage Centre, Alasdir Beattie and Dale Desrochers will be making presentations about the DFO's involvement in large scale Run of River projects.

image by plutonic.ca

Beaver Lodge Forest Lands Update

The Beaver Lodge Forest Lands have undergone restoration efforts for the past six months and will continue to see more work in the coming year. After securing funding through the Community Development Trust (JOP) six months ago, Mallinson Scaling and Consulting Ltd. commenced clearing trails, falling dangerous trees and constructing bridges to facilitate a safe trail network. This will lessen user impacts and increase overall forest health.

Read the Canada.com article here.

FALL NEWSLETTER

Read the fall newsletter by downloading the pdf here.

Thanks to JessIe Stones

Tidal Power?

Campbell River has entered phase one of a power feasibility study at the Discovery Pier. Through a tidal turbine generator under the pier the city hopes to generate enough renewable energy to provide electricity to the pier's lights, concession and adjacent Maritime Heritage Centre.


Read the Mirror article.
Learn more about Tidal Energy.


Picture: Kervin Photography's flickr

BC Community Showcase: Campbell River

YVR Airport is showcasing Campbell River. After commissioning $10,000 to a Campbell River selected film maker, the YVR Airport Authority is now showing a beautiful short film that celebrates our community. This film along with 14 other community videos will be played on select video screens in the YVR Airport from now until the end of the Paralympic Olympic Games in March. Although this has little to do with greenways it does showcase the beauty of our community and why the environment is worth our time and consideration.

Watch the video.

Or check out the full details from YVR here.

Creek Clean-up

Volunteers needed for a creek clean-up next Saturday, November 14th.

The Willow Creek Watershed Society will be repairing riparian habitat damage done by paintballers adjacent to Willow Creek on Saturday, November 14th from 10am-12noon. Park on Jubilee Parkway, north-east of the bridge where Jubilee Parkway crosses Willow Creek (just south of Dogwood towards Highway 19A). Damage includes cutting down small alders, which have been stacked and nailed to trees to create barricades, and digging deep trenches that have exposed the roots of numerous trees. Work involves pulling down the barricades and filling holes with the trees and available fill soil. Some responsible paintballers will also be helping out too. For more information, please call Sandra at #204-2040.

Another reason to get involved -this is a portion of the proposed Greenways Loop project.

Photo from the adorable Our Big Earth Comox Valley site

Upcoming volunteer opportunity:

Help us to build and maintain bike trails in the Beaver Lodge Forest Lands. This is a call for volunteers. We need individuals who are willing to lend a hand once a week for 2-3 hours. This is a flexible month long project so please email us at stewardship@greenwaystrust.ca to express your willingness to participate. Include your availability and we will reply with specific times for you get involved.

Get Inspired to Reuse

Not sure what to do with something around the house? Considering throwing it away? Check out Superuse.org first! Their innovative design ideas make me wish I lived in a junkyard. Type what you have laying around the house in the search engine and see what comes up.