Chruch and Climate Change, part II

Religion and behavior: closely related

Look at the differences with people driving in Québec, France or Italy compared to the rest of Canada. Catholicism is the main religion in Québec and many latin country. Catholic religion told us that the priest is responsible for communication with God and if you do anything bad, you must ask forgiveness to the priest on Sunday. Somewhat, we are then not in power of our own destiny, but the priest is. Protestantism, more present in the rest of Canada, taught a more direct communication with God, which help empowering people to be more responsible in their life and on the road... France, Quebec are much more structure in their law system than the rest of Canada. Quebec a civil code, while the rest of Canada relies on past court decision, or the common law, or "common sense"...

I often think that one of the reason why we are not respecting our planet is that we think we are superior to it. We are the intelligent species on Earth that can control all others. By saying, "you can stop progress", we became so good in controlling nature that we are now killing it and we will be the next species at risk if we continue the current curse. All of this false superiority, I believed is linked to our foundations of our society, which is rooted into the Genesis and Christianity.

The other point that I would make, is that we designed our factories, our economy, our education, with the straight line model that look likes our conception of life. We extract ressources (give birth), manufacture (being raise), use (strive for success and being parent as well) and dispose or them (die). It seems to be the normal thing to do and that was how my engineering courses at universities were designed.

There is no linear process in nature and there is no way we wan solve climate change (achieve 95% emissions reduction by 2050) if we don't start doing like nature and recycle absolutely everything. This concept in engineering is called industrial ecology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_ecology

I don't know much about Eastern culture much and their conception of life (I also have no clue about Islam), but I believe there is much more "recycling loop" in the Eastern culture. Hindism, buddism believe in reincarnation and it seems that their society was not in race of extraction natural resources, until they saw what we were doing and find it cool. Some tibetans culture cut their deaths and feed back fishes and birds ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_burial ) They are part of nature. When you live in a society where people have multiple lifes, maybe there is no need to rush...

First nation cultures in America have a drastic different relationship with Earth. They are part of the ecosystem. Hunters used to visit Shaman to ask permission to kill an animal and feed their families. Western culture made hunting a sport game.

Finally, for centuries, Catholic Church have been the most powerful and wealthy institution in the world. If our society was dominated then by building covered with gold, maybe we wanted to achieve the same.

If we want to move away from catastrophic climate changes consequences and declines in ecosystems, we need to redefine our deep notion of what are we living for, what we are striving for. I think that philosophy and spirituality and maybe a fresh way of looking at religion can help us achieving this.

Church and Climate Change

Part 1:
The world model today, like it or not, is the Unites States. Many felt with the Obama election that Americans were electing not only their president, but the president for the entire world. China, India and many Middle-East countries are now racing to look like the US and the rest of the western world. Why is it so important to look like us?

I am not too sure why developing countries are racing to be like the western world, but I have a good idea why we are the dominant culture today. Jared Diamond, in "Guns, Germs and Steel" explained this conquest in a bright manner. (Free video on the internet: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4008293090480628280# ) Wikipedia has a great summary of the book http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel

Assuming that we agreed on the western culture is dominating today and our life style, linked to our ecological footprint, is totally unsustainable, what is the the link with churches?

My catholic educations taught me few things outside universal values:
- as human, we are creature of God and superior to any living thing; (Genesis 1)
- our life is a linear process: birth, raised, become parents ourself, the sky become the limit until we die and actually go there. The next stage is heaven, purgatory or hell. We have only one chance, we won't come back.

Even though many of us, including me, are not going to Church anymore, those religious teaching are deeply rooted in our behavior. Sceptical?

The pine beetles "produced" CO2 almost at the same level of the entire province in 2007!

This is very interesting and scary!
In 2007, BC governement reported a total of 52.1 megatonnes of CO2e from our forest emitted in BC. Almost 80% of the amount officially reported by the government, at 67.3 megatonnes.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/climate/ghg-inventory/pdf/pir-2007-full-report.pdf

Can we call this a dangerous feedback loop?

The Tyee article:
Gov't Buries Fact that Logging Blows Our Emissions Target
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2009/09/23/LoggingCO2/?utm_source=mondayheadlines&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=280909

I don't understand why the author says that logging is responsible for this issue. By looking at figure 22 (page 57) of the 2007 government report, it is quite clear that logging emissions are quite stable. The real culprit is the pine beetles who makes our forests decay and release GHG instead of sequestration the carbon.

There are some questions raised about the methodology of the calculations as well. The report added the following note:
"All carbon stored in harvested wood products is assumed under current international accounting protocols to be converted to CO2 and emitted immediately to the atmosphere. This is an overestimation of emissions since carbon embedded in wood products is sequestered for an extended period of time prior to the eventual decay of wood products and release of emissions. These protocols may be subject to change in future international negotiations."

Other interesting facts from the chapter 9 and deforestation:
Oil & gas industry creates more deforestation than the forestry industry...

The reports shows many trends from all sectors. A good reading.

Could I sue my student Union for wasting our natural resources?

It is time to have a mandatory waste minimization policy at UBC?

I just came back from volunteering at the orientation BBQ organized by the graduate student society. This event is free and immensely popular amoung new comers. Around one thousand of graduate students line up for veggie, chicken and beef burgers. Many booth explaining student services are also present, many of them touching some aspect of sustainability.

What an irony and a missed opportunity! One of the first thing new students have seen coming to UBC is a huge pile of avoidable garbage! Student were offered non recyclable styrofoam plates to put their burgers in, and non recyclable plastic cup for their "full of sugar only" pop drink.

We have composting facilities at UBC since 2004 and obviously something is not working. 100% recycled paper plates and towels, compostable cutlery, recyclable glasses and proper information signs and bins would have made this event nearly waste free. How come the GSS is not doing anything to minimize its waste during this important event, and this year after year! Obviously they don't take the issue seriously enough and maybe it is time to have a mandatory waste minimization policy at UBC. This policy could fine association and organization at UBC that don't do the basic minimum to respect our environment.

UBC often brands itself as a leader in sustainability for various and legitimate good reasons, but today thousand of new students today would not believe so.

Pedal for the Planet

Comment, by Alexandre Vigneault

I did the first two legs of Pedal for the Planet last weekend. The first day was my longest ride in a day, with 120km. A little bit painful with my fat tire cross-country mountain bike, but I didn't complain since two girls in the group, with no previous long distance cycling experience, where going up to Ontario.

Many people are asking why are we doing this. The next Kyoto protocol will be negotiated in Copenhagen next December. Our conservative federal government have been sabotaging all previous discussion, winning countless fossil awards. We want this to change and we need more support from Canadians.

In my opinion, it will be beneficial for the world if the Harper delegation was just not showing up at the next climate change negotiation round, or just go and stay silent.
At the Pedal for the Planet Launch in Vancouver on Saturday, David Suzuki expressed well his frustrations: http://kyotoplus.ca/pedal/ (first video on the page)

Well, there is still hope to change course, as we are experiencing in the US rigth now. Obama administration is making a sea of changes and Canada unfortunately seems to be missing completely the wagon... If the US bans tar sand products from Alberta, maybe our federal government will wake up... http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090213/full/news.2009.103.html

Join us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pedal-for-the-Planet-Pedalez-pour-la-planete/80806727223#/group.php?gid=91605064668
Read the blog of the riders: http://www.rideforourbrightfuture.blogspot.com/

The Hallowed Tree

 One of the more interesting news stories that I've come across this week

was the fate of the hollow tree in Vancouver's Stanley Park. The jist of

the story is this: about a year ago the decision was made to cut down the

famous tourist attraction as it was leaning dangerously. In the past year

a group of citizens raised $200,000 to pay for the reinforcing of the tree

and prevent it from being cut down.

I find it slightly absurd that people would put their time, effort and

money towards saving this long since dead tree, when living versions of

these trees are still being cut down. The logging of old growth forests

continues in BC with support of the provincial government

(http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/01/31/bc-old-growth-logging.html).

The hollow tree should be fenced off and left alone. The money raised to

preserve this dead tree should instead be used to protect a piece of

living old growth forest.

The beginning of the end, for the hydrogen economy?

The beginning of the end, for the hydrogen economy?
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/780457.html

Obama administration is planning to cut funding for hydrogen car research next year. I spent 5 years of my life developing hydrogen production technology. Should I be disappointed? 5 years down the drain?

Well not really... The premise of hydrogen was great. Imagine a city all powered up with hydrogen fuel. Bikers will not have to breath toxic truck exhausts on their way to work/ school. Pollution could be controlled by large hydrogen producing plants, improving air quality in the region and lowering GHG's emissions globally.

It seems that there are problems everywhere. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are expensive, reliability has to be improved, storage is expensive, fuel distribution is expensive.
If you compare the technology with another zero tail pipe emission one, electric cars, the choice could become obvious. Batteries needs to be improved and currently add a lot of weight to the vehicle, making them less energy efficient on highways. However, the new infrastructures required are quite small. You only need a electric outlet and a cable to "refuel" your car. Some companies are suggesting to have battery switching stations, where electric car users switch their batteries, instead of recharging and waiting hours.http://www.betterplace.com/

Spending billions on a hydrogen infrastructure would require making choices. I would rather like that our government spend their money cleaning up our electrical power generation and redesigning our cities to be less car dependent.

Hydrogen is still interesting for some applications. For instance, If BC ferries or rail companies like CP and CN were running on hydrogen, that could be an interesting market. These companies can have in-house capacities to operate the technologies and are large consumers enough that could justify building of a medium scale production and distribution infrastructure for them only.

May 12th election

My vote on May 12th

It is election time in BC, and it is so refreshing to see that climate change policies and the environment are the hot topic.

The environmental movement is split. On one side, you have some folks saying that our present Liberal government is the worst in decades and others says that we now have world leading environmental policies. Who should you believe?

I am going to give you my point of view...

When I arrived in Vancouver 4 years ago, one of the first environmental rally that I participate was "Gateway sucks". A controversial program brought by the Liberals to add new roads and bridges in metro Vancouver. Generally speaking, simply adding more roads had proven to be wrong. The more road you add, the more cars will come to fill them up, worsening the initial problem.

I then heard about the salmon issues. The Liberals were helping the fast expansion of salmon fish farms. Salmon fish farms are located in open water, spreading disease and parasites to wild salmon passing by, threatening their own survival.

The list doesn't stop there and could probably continue for many more lines, with subsidies for oil and gas industries, lifting oil and gas exploration moratorium, etc....

But then came Al Gore and the Inconvenient truth, and Gordon Campbell changed is view on the environment.

The "new" Campbell surrounded himself of climate experts and designed arguably, the most progressive climate legislation in North America.

Some key points:
- The carbon tax, which is covering 3/4 of BC GHG's emissions. It is designed to be revenue neutral. The concept is to lower taxes on thing that we want: income, and increased taxes on things that we don't want: pollution. It will increase over time, so consumers have time to make choices to reduce their bills.
- Cap & Trade with for major polluters, which is called the Western Climate Initiative.

Other interesting point:
- 90% of new electrical power plant have to generate zero emissions.
- Introduction of a two-tier BC Hydro pricing system. This system protects low income people with a smaller energy bills until a fixed number if kWh is consumed.
- Smart metering: BC Hydro users will be able to see in real time their electricity consumption.

On campuses:
- Introduction of Bill 44, where every public institutions in BC has to become carbon neutral 2010.

Meanwhile, the NDP, which traditionally was considered environmentally friendly, vote against most of this measures and is actively campaigning against them. The most disturbing campaign was
the "axe the tax" designed to mislead the public about who is really paying the carbon tax and gaining political support. According to the NDP, all the burden is under the individuals, and the big company get free ride. As if big companies do not consume fossil fuel... The campaign was unfortunately a big success and stop the liberal climate agenda to go much further.

No one will argue that Liberals environmental policies are perfect. However they seems to understand the climate policies. It is all about pricing and covering the widest range of emissions. Climate change is the number 1 threat for the environment as well as for our human civilization. I don't see the point of fighting against small hydro electrical project to protect biodiversity, while climate change, with the pine beetle epidemic, already killed more than 10 millions of hectares of forest in BC.

Liberals have been wrong on many environmental issues and their energy and climate policies are far to be perfect. However, they took bold steps that make BC now a leader in North America. If NDP win on May 12, we are going 15 years backward. Worst, every politicians in North America will be afraid to put forward meaningful climate policies for decades ahead. Canada Liberals already put the blame of the defeat of last election on Stephane Dion's carbon tax.

For the sake of climate policies in North America, which will have huge influence on the rest of the world, for the sake of fighting global warming, I am voting against NDP on May 12th. NPD needs to stay in opposition and go back to their drawing board.

My first wedding, on a bicycle

My first wedding, on a bicycle

My roommate was getting married on Friday. Looking at my clothes on Thursday morning, I had the thought of investing in a new jacket. I didn't really have one. The last one I bought was 10 years ago, when I was doing job interviews within an undergrad Coop program. A friend of mine told me that every guy should have at least one suit. I thought this was reasonable.

The day of Thursday went by as well as Friday morning. Time was running out and the wedding ceremony was at 5:00 PM.

2:30PM, I finally take my bike and ride downtown in the quest of finding a cheap black jacket. I go straight to a store on Pender and Granville. The vendor quickly make me understand that the full suit was going to be cheaper than the jacket only... Well new pants won't hurt as well! Let's go for the full suit then. 3:25, I found jacket, suit, tie, but alterations are needed for the pants. They will make them right away, but I needed to come back at 4:30.

I ride back home, ironed my shirt, check on the Internet how to make a tie knot, it is 4:20.

How am I supposed to get back the to store at one corner of down town, and then go to the wedding, which is in west-end, near English bay? My date is supposed to arrive in a minute and we planned to take a cab there. I don't want to miss the wedding ceremony of my roommate, which became like a sister, over the years of living together... Traffic will be terrible at that time in downtown and it was also the last Friday of the month, with the critical mass folks invading the streets in a moment. 4:22, my date called, she is late, in fact she lost of driver license and will meet me there!

Good, I'm taking my bike. 4:40, I am on the road. 4:58, pick up my suit, fit it in my back pack, hoping it will stay nice. 5:10 I am at the hotel. I had to reach the 35th floor. Got there a litle bit sweaty, but no smell, at 5:15 and the ceremony didn't started yet! Time for the washroom, removed the jeans, put pants and jacket on! Here I am! Just on time! My roommate got married, everyone cried, including me!

After 6 hours of party, it is time to go home. I am tired and I have my bike with me. You can look cool coming to a wedding on your bike, but if you plan to not come home alone, biking is not that cool. Well, I am alone that night, so it is not an issue. Also, you need to pray that no drunk drivers will not be speeding on your path.

So biking is the solution for quick wedding commute in cities? or just go shopping the week before?