Concerned citizens will gather outside MP Alistair MacGregor’s Duncan constituency office this Saturday, March 12 at 1 p.m. as part of a 350.org Canada-wide action.
The Duncan event, asking federal, provincial and local governments for urgent climate action and support for energy sector and other workers to transition to good jobs in a greener economy, is being organized by the Cowichan Climate Hub, a collaboration of faith groups, social benefit and environmental non-profits, farmers, small businesses, schools, labor groups and others concerned about the climate emergency.
“Our local and federal governments have declared we’re in a climate emergency,” said Adrienne Brown, a member of Chemainus Climate Solutions. “We’re ready to engage in constructive conversations with government reps at all levels to achieve solutions-focused climate action now, and in ways that no one is left behind.”
“Prime Minister Trudeau promised Just Transition legislation back in 2019,” said local organizer Jane Kilthei, “It’s long past time for Canada to enact this legislation and invest in effective nation-wide climate action, including ending fossil fuel subsidies and investing in a just transition for workers. Our provincial and local governments also need to do much more.”
The Cowichan Climate Hub is asking all five local governments to get serious about getting fossil fuel emissions, both natural gas and oil, out of the built environment in the Cowichan Valley, starting with limits on new construction. The city of Vancouver has passed a bylaw banning fossil fuel heating and water heating in new homes and low-rise residential construction. Other B.C. municipalities, like North Vancouver, have added a low carbon compliance pathway to their Construction Regulation Bylaw for new buildings as part of their Energy Step Code, with incentives for developers to phase out gas.
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The Cowichan Valley Naturalists Society is inviting people to learn about bird songs on Tusday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m.
The presentation of “Bird songs, hearing loss, happiness and habitat conservation” by Alicia Bridge will be online.
To a naturalist, the sound of a local bird call may signal a specific season, or the presence of a unique habitat. To one working in nature therapy, a bird song may be a tool for positively coping with life stresses and cognition fatigue. To an audiologist, bird songs may be a means of measuring an individual’s hearing loss. While each of these fields of study gain different insights from the presence of bird songs, they are all positively motivated to conserve the ability to hear them.
Bridge will explore some of the empirical research from the fields of nature therapy and audiology as it relates to bird songs, wellbeing and hearing loss. Bridge’s background is in environmental education and communication. For the past 10 years she has worked in and around nature based therapy, land and watershed conservation, environmental education and mindfulness based stress reduction.
For the Zoom link to the presentation, email cvns@naturecowichan.net
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Two local 4-H clubs are selling tickets for 4-H B.C.’s 2022 Gator lottery fundraiser.
For $10 folks can have a chance to win a John Deere Gator, $2,500 worth of Save on Foods gift cards, a flight withWestJet, a hotel stay at any Prestige hotel and resort amongst many other prizes.
The Cowichan 4-H Holstein Club is currently in first place in all of B.C. for ticket sales, and the Cowichan Small Engines 4-H Club is also selling tickets this year. (The top club in B.C. for ticket sales will win $1,000, so support Cowichan’s clubs.)
Fundraising efforts go towards purchasing supplies, awards, help with travel expenses, and volunteer appreciation.
If anyone would like to buy a ticket select Cowichan Holstein 4-H Club or Cowichan Small Engines 4-H Club during checkout to ensure the two local youth organizations receive a portion from each ticket sold (https://4hbc.rafflenexus.com/a/cowichan-holstein-4-h-club).
Only 10,000 tickets total will be sold.