Canada's Environmental Voice
When my Austrian grandma passed away, I found her 20-year-old Dirndl in her wardrobe. Although it was much too big for me, I was emotionally unable to throw it away. Eventually, I decided this Dirndl deserved to be worn again. So, I opened all the seams, divided it into its […]
What happens when you give a third grader a power drill? With some wood and a little supervision, she’ll make her own keepsake box. Or, put her in that same space with a soldering iron, copper tape, LEDs and a circuit board, and she’ll learn first-hand how to direct the […]
The melody of the Beatles song “All You Need Is Love” fills the BC legislature as the audience rises, faces turned to the entryway where a jubilant NDP caucus walks in to loud applause. It’s a lovely tribute to the late Jack Layton and his last words, “Love is better […]
The voice on the other end of the phone is frustrated. “I just can’t figure it out – whose side are you on?” I get that a lot lately as I descend into the depths of complex climate policy in Alberta – a region which is currently economically dependent on […]
I was first introduced to the concept of ecological economics 25 years ago in an undergraduate course that looked at the work of Herman Daly and the concept of “steady state economics.” We also looked at Hazel Henderson and her ground-breaking work on valuing what is called “externalities” in our economic […]
How can we begin to reconcile our conflicting experience with bugs? No amount of money can compensate for millions of dead insect species. Money can’t buy me love, pollination, honey, food – or complex, dynamic relationships among insects, plants, soil and greenhouse gases. When insect species disappear, the magical […]
Right now, you – yes, you reading this magazine – have access to thousands of absolutely free, open, online courses covering hundreds of topics taught by the world’s leading experts and teachers. Welcome to the information revolution! Advancements in technology and knowledge sharing have transformed all areas of learning and […]
UPDATE: OTTAWA, Jan. 16, 2018 – Katimavik Volunteers will be returning to communities across Canada in 2018, ready to make their contributions towards shaping a better Canada. Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced the government’s new Canada Service Corps, which includes funding to restore Katimavik’s national community-based youth development experience. […]
UPDATE: EXTENDED DEADLINE: August 11, 2017 Interested in joining our board of directors? The board of directors of Alternatives Inc., the charity that operates Alternatives Journal (A\J), has empowered me to make this call for candidates interested in joining our board of directors. A\J is Canada’s oldest and most respected environmental […]
IN 1982, Joe and Stephanie Mancini settled in Kitchener, Ontario, after a volunteer stint in Tanzania. The small city was faced with crippling unemployment as plant closings across North America wiped out many of the jobs that had supported thriving local economies. The young couple responded strongly to the disrupted […]
