Edmonton’s annual Bikeology festival is a way for Edmontonians to make a connection and a change with the city’s cycling community. We also dive deep into Ecuador to explore the  hurdles of nature being a legal entity, and also the term “Just Sustainability” and what it means for us as individuals concerned about social justice and sustainability.

Karly Coleman is the one on the left, in front of Mike’s Bikes.

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Bikeology Festival

Winter in Edmonton is tough.

All that ice and snow for half the year –

No wonder people love getting outside when June rolls around. June is, not surprisingly, also when the city celebrates Bike Month.

And all month long, you can join in Edmonton’s Bikeology Festival, a love-in for bike culture.

Karly Coleman is a regular on our home station CJSR, and she used to be the bicycle traffic reporter for Terra Informa. She’s one of the organizers of the Bikeology Festival, and she told Terra Informer Chris Chang-Yen Phillips why she thinks it’s so important to have opportunities to make cycling fun in the city.

For more on this story:

• Bikeology Festival , Edmonton Bike Commuters 

Good Living

When we think of a constitution we think of basic “human” rights. We, as humans, have the right to vote, the right to practice religion, the right to own property. But what about nature? Ecuador was the first country in the world to establish the rights of nature at a national level, including it in the 2008 constitution. Terra Informa’s Nicole Wiart talks to Doctor Kelly Swing of the Tiputini biodiversity station in Ecuador about how this constitutional change is great in theory, but in practice, there are a lot of hurdles to still overcome. Nicole Wiart talks to Doctor Kelly Swing.

For more on this story:

• http://www.pachamama.org/sumak-kawsay
• http://turbulence.org.uk/turbulence-5/decolonial/

Just Sustainabilities

We’ve seen that environmental issues can affect the way people get around, and what they eat. But they don’t affect everyone equally. Julian Agyeman is chair of the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. His research focuses on the intersections between social justice and sustainability, an idea which he terms just sustainability.

For more on this story: 

• Julian’s Blog

What’s Happening

Weeding for Wildlife 

An event in Edmonton’s Glory Hills property June 8th and 25th from 8:30am to 3pm; you can volunteer to improve the local habitat for wildlife nesting and feeding, and reduce the spread of invasive plants that displace the native vegetation Bring your gloves and hedge clippers

 To volunteer:

• Rebeccca at Rebecca@ealt.ca or 780-850-3270

Emissions: A Climate Comedy

Part of Ottawa’s Fringe Festival from June 22 – 29, this comedy is an intelligent satire about the human dynamics behind climate change, and will explore what it is that makes us pee in our own swimming pool.

For more information:

•  Emissions: A Climate Comedy
•  www.climateplay.ca

NEERLS (National Environmental, Energy and Resources Law Summit):

A call out to listeners living up north, it’s the annual national environmental, energy, and resources law summit: natural resource and energy legal developments: north and south of 60. A bit of a mouthful, but if you happen to be in Yellowknife on the 20th and 21st of June and are interested in law and the environment, then this summit is made for you. With Canada’s economy increasingly revolving around extraction of natural resources, the need for legal advice is also increasing. The summit will focus on dealing with environmental matters, developing renewable energy generation projects, and learning how to consult with Aboriginal groups.

To register and find out more, head to the NEERLS website: 

• NEERLS 

Run for Biodiversity:

And in Vancouver, people are running “wild” for farmers and food. Everyone is invited to participate in Vancouver’s Run (or walk, if you are anything like me) for biodiversity on Sunday June 23. The fun and healthy fundraising project is in support of seed-saving farmers in Nepal. The Run for Biodiversity is hoping to raise $5000 to send to environmental initiatives in Nepal, and you can help them get there.

• If you are interested in taking part or donating.

Police in Istanbul fire at protesters rallying around Taksim Square (Photo: Alan Hilditch)

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A Park Threatened, A Movement Born

A recent UN report suggests adding more insects to our plates. (Photo: Brandon Shigeta)

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Eating Insects

When we in North America think ‘delicious” our minds aren’t generally drawn to a fat and juicy caterpillar or a crispy chili-fried tarantula. However, after a recent UN report called for the world’s population to start consuming more insects as a more sustainable source of protein, fats, and minerals, while being easy and quick to produce, we may soon find insects of varying shapes and colours squirming their way onto our plates. Morgana Folkmann talks to entomophagist and advocate Dave Gracer about eating the things. Ryan Abram also shared his eating adventures in South East Asia.

More on this story:

• UN report on Eating Insects
• David Gracer’s Website

Climate and other changes in the Maldives

Maldives is a tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean which has been described as “ground zero” for climate change. Former President Mohammed Nasheed, of the Maldivian Democratic Party, is known for his climate change leadership. He came to power in 2008 as the nation’s first democratically elected president, following 30 years of authoritarian rule. In 2009, President Nasheed garnered international attention by holding an underwater cabinet meeting to highlight the threat of climate change to low-lying nations. Dressed in scuba-gear, the president and his cabinet signed a document calling for global cuts to carbon emissions. On February 7, 2012, President Nasheed was ousted from power by the police and military, and replaced by Vice President Mohamed Waheed. Peaceful protestors in the cities of Male and Addu have been confronted by violence from Maldives security forces. In March 2012, Terra Informa correspondent Kathryn Lennon spoke with Zaheena Rasheed, a young Maldivian democracy and climate justice activist.

More on the story:

• Message from Zaheena Rasheed posted on 350.org
• Amnesty International

Solar Powered First Nation in BC

Intro: All across Canada, communities are working to improve their sustainability. Some are expanding their public transit systems, others are retrofitting public buildings to increase energy efficiency. But one town has really set the bar high. The T’Sou-ke Nation (http://www.tsoukenation.com/) on the southern tip of Vancouver Island has built such extensive photovoltaic and solar heating systems that they’re now largely self-sufficient. For much of the year, they actually sell power back to the grid.  Their success has been drawing attention, and other communities are hoping to follow suit. For more on the story, Steve Andersen talked to Chief Gordon Planes and project manager Andrew Moore. This story originally aired back in October of 2011.

What’s Happening

Canadian Environment Week
This week is Canadian Environment Week, with World Environment Day falling on June 5th. World Environment Day is part of the UN Environment Programme, and the theme for this year is “Think.Eat.Save… an anti-food waste and food loss campaigns that encourages you to reduce your foodprint.”

• More information from UN Environmental Programme

Windfall Ecology Festival – Newmarket
The Windfall ecology festival is happening in Newmarket ON from June 4-6. The event is free, family friendly will celebrate sustainable living and renewable energy with eco-exhibits, seminars, music, food, and environmentally conscious products and services.

• Windfall Festival

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Globally, bees have been facing a massive dieoff. Scientists haven’t yet been able to pin down the exact cause.

WWOOFing in Canada

The good news is people are starting to pay attention to the declining bee populations. The bad news is that the severe decline of these essential pollinators is a dynamic issues that researchers are still trying to untangle.  The buzz is that pesticides might play a large role in the bee death seen around the world in the past few years.  Terra Informa’s Jessica Kozlowski speaks with Dr. Jessamyn Manson, a professor of Ecology at the University of Alberta educated in bumblebees, pollinator-plant interactions, and nectar chemistry.  Dr. Manson gives her professional opinion on just what factors could be behind the declining bee populations.  Also, she gives helpful insight into the issue of pesticide bans.  No situation is without hope though, as Dr. Manson gives many helpful tips for Canadians on how they can assist their local bee populations to be healthy and happy.

Iran’s Lake Urmia

Lake Urmia is one of the largest salt lakes in the world. Located in Iran, between the provinces of East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan, it is a breeding ground for flamingos and one of the largest habitats of a salt-water shrimp. Lake Urmia is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve, and a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. It plays a crucial role in the economic, ecological and social health of the region. Currently, the lake is in danger of drying up. More than just an environmental problem, the deterioration of the lake could impact the 13 million inhabitants of the region. Terra Informa correspondent Kathryn Lennon talks to some members of Azerbaijanji communities in Edmonton and Vancouver to hear their concerns.

More on this story: Campaign to Save Lake Urmia, Lake Urmia appeal by the Association for Defence of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners in Iran (ADAPP)

What’s Happening

The Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton is organising their Environment Week Celebration. They’re hosting an event on Saturday, June 1st between noon and 4pm, to help people learn how to lessen their impact on the environment. This would be a great learning experience as fun activity for kids and adults alike! You can purchase tickets online at muttarttickets.edmonton.ca or at the door.

More information on where they are located and other events taking place at the Muttart, visit www.edmonton.ca/Muttart.

Cities that develop food and urban agriculture policies also establish food councils. Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, Kamloops and Calgary are good Canadian examples. This year, Edmonton will make that list too! The Edmonton Food Council’s role as a committee of the Administration is to, “advise on matters of food and urban agriculture and to take an active role in supporting the implementation of the Strategy.” Providing advice, undertaking research and evaluation, coordination, engagement and education will be the core jobs on the Edmonton Food Council. Once established, meetings are expected to be held monthly and will be open to the public. All are welcome to attend.

To nominate someone or yourself as a potential member of the Edmonton Food Council, please review the terms of reference, complete the nomination form and submit it to hani.quan@edmonton.ca by June 10, 2013 and for more information, visit www.edmonton.ca

The Canada Green Building Council’s National Conference and Expo is taking place in Vancouver from June 4-6. As Canada’s largest green building event each year, the CaGBC National Conference boasts expert content and speakers, along with a 100+ booth expo floor and networking events and attracting delegates from across the building industry and the country.

This year’s theme is Building Lasting Change, focusing on how buildings and communities should be approached and planned with sustainable longevity. This theme will be addressed through a strong line-up of over 90 expert speakers, with sessions organized into five comprehensive streams, as well as a Master Speaker Series. In addition to main conference sessions, participants can also attend one of five pre-Conference mobile workshops  on June 4, which will highlight some of Vancouver’s most inspiring sustainable sites.

To learn more about the expo, visit www.cagbc.org

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The Los Brazos Cliffs of New Mexico, a State rich in habitat for all life, including the bark beetle which spends a large part of it’s life eating off the bark of native New Mexico pines.

The Acoustics of Bark Beetles

David Dunn, sound artist and composer produced an album in 2006 called The Sound of Light in Trees: The Acoustic Ecology of Pinyon Pines, in collaboration with the Acoustic Ecology Institute. With tiny microphones, he records the sounds of bark beetles in New Mexico’s pinyon pines. Beyond a fascinating listening experience, this is an innovative approach to the ecology of insects, and to monitoring bark beetle populations.

More on this story: The Sound of Light in Trees: The Acoustic Ecology of Pinyon Pines

Catching shark finners on the high seas

Have you ever wondered how shark finners get caught? The US strengthened its laws against shark finning in 2011, banning the practice for almost every shark species in American waters. Paul Raymond is a special agent with NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. He’s helped enforce the US laws protecting sharks. Chris Chang-Yen Phillips reached him in Florida to ask how they do it.

More on this story: Wired, Oceana

The Little Squirrel That Could

The Red Squirrel of the Yukon Territory weighs less than half a pound. They can be seen spending their days collecting pine cones, and scampering up trees. They are an animal that wouldn’t be out of place in your favorite children’s cartoon.  Not a very formidable presence when you consider their imposing surroundings in the great wilderness that is the Yukon.  But as we’ll soon find out, the red squirrel has a little trick up its sleeve.

Matt Hirji spoke with University of Alberta biologist Stan Boutin to find out more.

What’s Happening

Garlic Mustard is a native species to Europe and Asia that were originally introduced to North America as a medicinal and culinary herb.  The species is very invasive to our environment and can be destructive to native biodiversity and habitat.  It causes long term negative effects in soil and reduces available plants for wildlife such as deer, birds and insects.  It’s been listed as a prohibited noxious weed in the Alberta Weed Control Act.  Mill Creek ravine is one of few known locations in Edmonton where this non-native species occurs.

To prevent further distribution and reduce the negative impact on other areas in Mill Creek, the Edmonton Naturalization Group and the City of Edmonton organize Garlic Mustard pulls in Mill Creek.  They are looking for volunteers to come and help remove this weed on Saturday, May 25, 2013, 9:30–11:30am

For more information visit our website at terrainforma.ca

or visit Edmonton Pest Control

Does Solar electricity, solar hot water, geothermal heating, water collection, retrofit or new construction interest you?  After many years of arranging tours of homes in Edmonton, the Eco-Solar Tour is branching out to commercial buildings.  This year, they will be conducting the second Eco-Solar Tour of Energy Efficient Buildings.  The Tour will feature businesses that are doing their part to reduce their energy use and to improve the working environment for their employees.  The Eco-Solar Tour of Energy Efficient Buildings will feature one energy efficient building, per day, for nearly two weeks, starting on May 28th and finishing on June 6th.

Each weekday, from Monday to Friday, one building will be open for touring from noon until 4 pm.

Check out more details of the tours at http://www.ecosolar.ca/

Students from Brown University’s Brown Divest Coal Campaign rally on the Main Green.

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Brown University students Do the Math
One of the most powerful ways university students in North America can use their school to send a message is by influencing where it invests. That’s university students across the US are rallying to pull their university’s endowment fund out of fossil fuel companies. They’re part of the national Do the Math movement across the US – inspired by environmental activist Bill McKibben – to divest from companies controlling oil and gas reserves. Student groups are hoping to blunt the businesses’ ability to accelerate climate change. Tammy Jiang is a student of public health at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. She’s a member of the Brown Divest Coal Campaign, and Terra Informa’s Chris Chang-Yen Phillips asked her how they’re hoping to accomplish that.

More information:

• Bill McKibben – Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math (Rolling Stone)
• Do the Math campaign
• University unlikely to divest from coal in May (Brown Daily Herald)

Food and the City
Farming? In the city? Urban agriculture seems like a far fetched idea, especially living in Canada, where our growing season only lasts a couple of months. Terra Informa’s Nicole Wiart interviewed Edmonton food journalist Jennifer Cockrall-King on her new book “Food and the City.” Urban agriculture projects are popping up in Canada and all over the world, and its a trend Jennifer thinks might be the answer to many of the problems in our over industrialized food system.

More information:

• Food and the City blog and book info

The Farm and the Country
Many young people in the English-speaking world choose to travel abroad and teach English in a foreign country. The enriching experience of extended cultural travel does not have to be restricted to the realm of teaching English. Terra Informa’s Miro Radovic recently sat down with young Edmontonian Nicholas Mickelsen to discuss a program that enabled him to spend almost a year on an organic farm in Europe as a WWOOFer with the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms network.

More information:

• World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms network in Canada
• WWOOFing opportunities beyond Canada
  

What’s Happening

Edmonton: Scales, Tails, Hoots & Howls: A Closer Look at River Valley Biodiversity
Edmontonians, with spring upon us, wouldn’t it be lovely to learn about the biodiversity of animals that Edmonton has to share? Come to the John Janzen Nature Center on Sunday May 26 from 11 AM to 3 PM to see and hear the scales, tails, hoots, and howls of Edmonton’s creatures. These include salamanders and garter snakes to name a few. Also, a number of outdoor nature games will be going throughout the day to celebrate the awakening of springtime and life in Edmonton. The John Janzen nature center is located at Whitemud Drive and Fox Drive,

• John Janzen Nature Centre

Victoria: Synergia
Residents of Victoria, BC; be sure to come out and support the Mustard Seed Food bank on May 31, 2013 at Synergia (SINNER-GIA). This special event showcases local musicians and the $15 dollar admission goes directly to the Mustard Seed Food bank to support families and individuals struggling to afford food with the rising cost of living. The event will take place at the Victoria event Centre on Broad Street in Victoria.

• Tourism Victoria

Live Below the Line
As Canadians, we are fortunate to have vast lands full of clean water and nutritious food. The same cannot be said for many around the world. Live Below the Line is a campaign that’s challenging the way people in Canada think about poverty. It is a campaign to help us understand the difficulties of living on a miniscule food budget, the way many impoverished families around the world have to. If you want to take the challenge and find a greater compassion and understanding for those families, live below the line asks Canadians to try and live on just $1.75 of food and drink each day for 5 days.

• Learn more about Live Below the Line and donate

Download this week’s show here.

A chick poses for the camera. Photo Credit – Nikki Wiart

Mosaic Minds

Mosaic Minds just wrapped up it’s third unconference this past weekend. They’ve hosted unconferences on community building and renewable energy in the past. This time, the sessions were surrounding a very important and popular topic – FOOD. Natalee Rawat asked co-founder of Mosaic Minds, Anna McRobbie to explain what an “unconference” means and how it is separates itself from a traditional conference and later she interviews David Laing, of the Seeds, Feeds and Needs Cooperative. David facilitated a session at Mosaic Minds. He talks about the community and his Cooperative built on organic farming.

Mosaic Minds Website
To get involved, send David Laing an email. The email address is: thessalhydra@hotmail.com.

Sounds of Spring

What does spring sound like? Well on a farm, there’s chirping chicks, bawling lambs, and clucking chickens. In this next segment, Terra Informa’s Nicole Wiart joined a group of 5 year olds as they toured through her Aunt and Uncle’s farm to check out all of the new and noisy baby animals.

Below are some pictures of Nikki’s adventures on the farm!

What makes a naturalist’s books light up?

Do you ever wonder why some authors can make their words ring out and sizzle right off the page, but some can’t write a catchy sentence to save their life? Terra Informer Chris Chang-Yen Phillips has been curious for a while about the difference between two writers from the early days of the American conservation movement: Aldo Leopold and John Muir. Why is there so much poetry, so much fire in Leopold’s books? Chris was showshoeing in Kananaskis a little while ago with ecology grad students Paul Cigan  and Sonya Odsen. You can imagine his glee when he overheard them talking about just this question.

Learn more about Aldo Leopold’s “A Sand County Almanac” here!  

More on John Muir 

What’s Happening in Canada in the Near – Future:

Dr Gabor Mate will be presenting Living Well in Toxic Culture at 7pm, on Thurday May 9th, in Thunder Bay, Ontario at the Victoria Inn. He will be looking at how a society dedicated to material pursuits rather than genuine human needs and spiritual values, stresses its members; undermines healthy child development; and contributes to chronic illness. Using a holistic approach he provides a perspective that enlightens and empowers people to promote their own healing. Tickets are $25 at the door, or online at Eventbrite.ca. It is a fundraising event, and proceeds go to the Canadian Mental Health Organization.

Help make Surrey streets more vibrant by encouraging active and sustainable transportation. There is a community event in Surrey on Saturday May 11th from 1 to 3:30 pm at the Semiahmoo Library. Participants will learn about current challenges facing Surrey streets and will share their perspectives through an interactive street audit exercise. For more info email beth.hurford@best.bc.ca. Program registration is appreciated, but drop ins are welcome.

Up North in Whitehorse from Tuesday May 7th to Tuesday May 21st, 7 to 9pm, the MItcham Community House is offering classes on Vegetable Gardening for beginners. Enjoy the benefits of home-grown food. Bring $5 to the first class to pay to the tutor for your starter kit. You can contact the organizers at mitcham@connexus.net.au.

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View from the shores of Patricia Lake, Jasper National Park, Alberta. Abandoned row boats sit just off the water’s edge of this crystal clear lake showing how the human touch on the planet creeps into every corner of nature in ways we often forget. Photo Credit: Jessica Kozlowski

CONFORWest 2013

It seems like the farther you go in school, the more specialized you have to be.  You can start off wondering what dirt is made of, and end up spending five years studying how one species of soil mite affects carbon emissions to the atmosphere.  But some scientists want to see the bigger picture: Where does their work fit in? What does it mean?  That’s why a few dozen of them headed to the Rockies this April for a conference that got them outside, and got them talking to each other.

Terra Informa’s Chris Chang-Yen Phillips has more.

More Information:

http://conforwest.com/

Greys Recycling

Rajan Ahluwalia was raised as an environmentally conscious child. He started recycling as a young schoolboy in Mumbai, India and decades later he is spearheading a recycling project, in Edmonton that will change the way the world thinks of recycling paper. Natalee Rawat spoke to Rajan about his recycling initiatives taking place within the next year in Edmonton.

More Information:

greys.ca

Ecobabble:  What does it mean to be a free range egg?

Scrambled, poached, sunny side up. Whether they came before the chicken, or the chicken before them, eggs are a breakfast staple. Terra Informa’s Nicole Wiart brings us an EcoBabble – where she enlists some local farmers to try to break down the term “free range.” It’s just one of the many terms that you can find on a carton of eggs – but as you’ll soon find out, defining free range is not as simple as it sounds.

More Information:

http://www.fourwhistlefarm.ca/
http://www.sunworksfarm.com/

What’s Happening in Canada!

There is a composting and vermaculture workshop May 1st in Toronto at the Toronto Tool Library. Composting is a great way to improve your soil and ensure that anything that you grow can be bountiful and organic. Learn to improve your gardens, lawns, and trees while minimizing your home’s waste. The cost is 20 dollars if you bring your own composting bin, and 30 if you wish for them to provide you with one that you may take home after.

Do you enjoy using the Mill Creek Ravine? Would you like to help out with the spring clean up and meet some of your ravine neighbors? The Keepers of Mill Creek and other surrounding communities will be at the creek in Edmonton on May 6th from 10am to 1pm. Come help keep Mill Creek Ravine beautiful!

There is a permaculture design program being held in Nelson BC from May 6th to the 31st. Learn the basic permaculture design principles and techniques, as well as develop the practical skills necessary to implement sustainable designs for your farm. The cost is $1700 for a 6-hour-per-day course.

See up to 40 different species of birds up close and personal at the McIntyre Marsh Bird Banding Station in Whitehorse from April 27th through to May 26th 7 a.m to noon on weekends and holidays.

As well, we take a look at another way the National Hockey League is assisting in resource renewal, this time with water, its own DNA.

Water is a huge part of both hockey and recreational skating. It is its DNA. Photo Credit: Themightyquill

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Gallons for Goals

Ice hockey without water is obviously impossible. The Bonneville Environmental Foundation, the organization behind the NHL’s implementation of Gallons for Goals, realizes this, and plans to restore 1,000 gallons of water for every goal scored in the NHL this season. Over three million gallons have been restored, which seems like a lot. However, Terra Informa’s Kyle Muzyka speaks to B-E-F’s Tiffany Meyer, and finds out that it’s a very small contribution to a much larger goal.

More Info: 

B-E-F Website

NHL Green Column on Gallons for Goals

Natalee’s Recipe for Cara-medallions

Hungry for something healthy? Here is a recipe from Terra Informa’s very own Natalee Rawat, on how to create a delicious, unbaked dessert. Make them yourself, or get them at Pangaea Market in Edmonton, Alberta. The members of Terra Informa double as food critics, and we gave them five stars!

Here’s the ingredients:

Process: Dates, walnuts, raw cacao, citrus essential oil, cardamom essential oil, vanilla and dehydrated cranberries

Roll the batter out after its mixed evenly and use a cookie cutter to shape it!

Pangaea Market 

People’s Potato

I’m sure many of us have expressed concern at the quality of food at public institutions like hospitals and schools. Recently, Terra Informa’s Miro Radovic had the chance to talk to K, a member of the People`s Potato — a student initiative started over a decade ago at Concordia University in Montreal to address several food related issues on campus.

More Information:

McGill

The People’s Potato

Dalhousie’s The Loaded Ladle