Canada an obstacle to climate progress

...So here I am, watching the astonishing spectacle of a beautiful, cultured nation turning itself into a corrupt petro-state. Canada is slipping down the development ladder, retreating from a complex, diverse economy towards dependence on a single primary resource, which happens to be the dirtiest commodity known to man. The price of this transition is the brutalisation of the country, and a government campaign against multilateralism as savage as any waged by George Bush...George Monbiot - Guardian

Kawartha Lakes, ON - Week of Free Transit Proposed

Dean Bolton, manager of fleet and transit, has written a report that proposes the public ride free for that week in an effort to promote the city's transit system. He writes that it is common practice in other municipalities to offer free service at various times during the year.

The city's transit advisory committee initiated the request, Bolton indicates. He said if ridership is increased, then the municipality will qualify for more gas tax funding from the province. The Lindsay Post

Stop Tar Sands

London: Set the fares at Zero!

...All London ratepayers (through local taxes and transfers from the federal and provincial levels of government) should pay the full cost of public transit, whether they use it or not. That would create the meaningful disincentive that’s needed to get people out of cars and into buses.

In addition to the elimination of the costs that are associated with the procurement and maintenance of fare boxes, the production/sales & distribution/operating costs of the various forms of fares, the reduction of cars on our roads would have a HUGE positive impact on costs like assessing, creating, maintaining, widening, and extending roads. And what HUGE value should be attributed to the reduction that would take place in the amount of toxic emissions that are currently polluting our atmosphere? Especially if the LTC and the City would take a serious look at LRT (light rail transit)?... Greg Fowler, London, Ontario

What are we thinking?

Do we really need scientific data to know that the tar sands projects are wrong?
photo from Enviralment

"Even No One Care of Us..."

350.org  via greenfyre

“‘Even No One Care of Us, We Can start to Care Each Other and Nature First.’” – from the children of Sidhi Astu Orphanage House, Tuka, Bali, Indonesia, Climate Day of Action

SK - Public transit should be free for all students

When the people of Saskatchewan take back the government of this province, by electing the NDP, it will be more important than ever to help students, and the environment. As such, the NDP should commit to subsidizing municipalities dollar-for-dollar for each student pass for public transportation. Students would then be able to get a transportation pass for zero dollars. This would have significant effects by decreasing traffic congestion, pollution, as well as student expenses. HumbleOpinion

Canada blocks climate progress

...One would think, hope, etc, that the United Nations is an efficient and effective playground for ideas and decisions that ultimately impact the world for the better. Today in plenary, the main hall in talks that include all countries, Canada dragged out the conversation for a little longer than I would deem allowable, even by democratic standards.... ZoëCaron,ForSerious?

Don't blame poor people for global warming

...Many of the emissions for which poorer countries are blamed should in fairness belong to the developed nations. Gas flaring by companies exporting oil from Nigeria, for instance, has produced more greenhouse gases than all other sources in sub-Saharan Africa put together. Even deforestation in poor countries is driven mostly by commercial operations delivering timber, meat and animal feed to rich consumers. The rural poor do far less harm.
... People breed less as they become richer, but they don't consume less - they consume more. As the habits of the super-rich show, there are no limits to human extravagance. Consumption can be expected to rise with economic growth until the biosphere hits the buffers. Anyone who understands this and still considers that population, not consumption, is the big issue is, in Lovelock's words, "hiding from the truth". It is the worst kind of paternalism, blaming the poor for the excesses of the rich.
George Monbiot - via CommonDreams

Climate Apocalypse Warning

Streets are for People !

Toronto unofficial Car-Free Day 2008

...we live in a de-mockery and no matter how much we could be Barcelona, we choose to be Destroit instead. Our politicians will cheat us into thinking they care about the health of the city, the planet and our bodies, while they subsidize the status quo of car culture. The people of our city are held hostage by their inaction. Help us! Streets are for People

Laval, PQ - Free Ride for Seniors?

In its newly-released electoral platform, the Parti au Service du Citoyen, ... is proposing that ... there be free public transit for seniors and parents travelling 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. TheLavalNews

Cars cause wildfires

...It comes down to this: if you are driving a personal motor vehicle, you are not green.... NewColonist

C02: Atteindre 60 % de réduction

En ce début de siècle il est impératif de s'attaquer aux gaz à effet de serre. L'objectif de cette lutte consiste à empêcher que la température globale n'augmente de plus de 2 degrés celcius. Pour véritablement contrer le dérèglement du climat il faudra réduire de 60% la quantité de CO2 produite annuellement.

Supprimons la tarification des transports en commun !

Public Values publishes free transit article

Hasselt, Belgium Free Buses

Public Values (PublicValues.ca) is a project of the Golden Lake Institute and the online publication StraightGoods.ca

Public Values on 18-Aug posted Dave Olsen's article about Free Public Transit in Hasselt, Belgium. The case of Hasselt shows convincingly that free transit pays back to the community many times over the cost of the initial investment. Dave does a great job of telling the story.