Naomi Devine

One on One with Lindsay Cole, Vancouver’s Greenest City Planner

Naomi — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:06:30 +0000

Vancouver is poised to adopt a plan designed to make it the Greenest City in the World by 2020, fulfilling an election promise made by Mayor Gregor Robertson and his Vision Vancouver team. Described by Deputy City Manager Sadhu Johnston as one of the most ambitious environmental stewardship plans in the world, I thought now [...]

Bike sharing arrives in Toronto…

Naomi — Fri, 27 May 2011 05:39:17 +0000

The Globe and Mail published an interesting interview today with singer Dan Hill covering his thoughts on urban cycling and bike sharing. BIXI Bikes are coming to Toronto (after having first arrived in Canaada in Montreal). For a $95/year subscription (according to their website) Torontonians will be able to pick up a bike at one [...]

Dear Globe and Mail: We’re taking back democracy with a vengeance

Naomi Devine — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:53:38 +0000

This is a guest post by my friend, Maia Green. She wrote this letter in response to the Globe and Mail’s endorsement of Stephen Harper in Election 41. Dear Globe and Mail, I was deeply saddened and frankly downright angry when I woke up this morning to see (and then read) the editorial endorsing Harper. [...]

Bill McKibben in Vancouver to join fight to Stop Coal in BC

Naomi Devine — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 04:34:29 +0000

It’s not every day that a leader in the global movement to prevent dangerous climate change comes to town. This Saturday, however, Vancouverites are in luck as 350.org founder and well known environmental author, Bill McKibben, will be in town and participating in an action to oppose coal exports organized by StopCoal BC. Coal? Not [...]

Sustainability isn’t easy…

Naomi — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 01:14:03 +0000

It is easy to find fault with noble attempts at change, like Whistler2020 and Vancouver’s Greenest City Action Plan, but the goal we need to achieve isn’t set by easy and being whiny. It is to find what works about these plans and make your contribution so that they are greater than the original participants [...]

OpEd: Environment at stake in BC Leadership Races

Naomi — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:16:15 +0000

This OpEd originally appeared in the Georgia Straight online on January 20, 2011 (my birthday!) By Naomi Devine, January 20, 2011 British Columbians have long stood out for their environmental values. The environment almost always ranks high in polls of our concerns, even when economic times are tough. We’ve fought for the highest proportion of land protected [...]

Innovation in Engagement: Is the Open House dead?

Naomi Devine — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 06:37:03 +0000

A short post, because I am musing over this idea. I would like to begin a dialogue with you. Ever been to an Open House? You know, that ubiquitous form of soliciting “public” feedback? Ever feel like by attending this event that you a) really understood the issue and everything at stake, b) that you [...]

Sustainability is not…

Naomi Devine — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 19:58:28 +0000

Undefinable Just environmentalism A single project Someone else’s department An end in itself A fad A religion Something for only others to concern themselves with Fixed Dividable Done in isolation Unachievable Something you can ignore.

The Beauty of Information + Sustainability (post one of two)

Naomi Devine — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:22:13 +0000

I made a huge mistake when choosing my degree path in university. This is something for me to say, because I have been to 3 universities, began in the sciences, moved over to the social sciences, and ended up in a program that is based on both (Environmental Studies + Political Science at the University [...]

Worth Reading: Granville Magazine

Naomi Devine — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:22:31 +0000

I don’t know how much you read each day, but I go through a veritable smorgasbord of information, seven days a week. Some really dislike the information overload; I, on the other hand, think information has a magnetic quality. Indeed, my Facebook page activity began innocently enough to try and pass on the best of [...]