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Giving The Coast A Community Voice For 26 Years

Canadian Publications Mail Product Volume 27 Number 22 November 12—November 25, 2015 $57.75 Addressed Subscription Sales Agreement Nº 40020421

Photo: Tom Hobley Community apple pressing at the Agricultural Hall, Mayne Island. The annual event to get everybody’s apples juiced is sponsored by Mayne Island Conservancy. GHG estimates for Paris conference won’t Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council asks gov’t to meet Year 2100’s 2ºC target - Patrick Brown help strengthen SAR capabilities he total of greenhouse gas ‘aspirational’ national targets into legal emission targets, submitted by requirements through a ‘robust’ he Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council has capacity of Nuu-chah-nulth coastal communities 147 countries in advance of the multinational agreement. (The draft of extended its sympathy and condolences to through the supply of specialized training and equipment. forthcoming UN Paris conference on this agreement, which was developed in a the victims and the families of the October T lengthy meeting in Bonn, Germany, 25 sinking of MV Leviathan II off Vargas Island. Foxcroft said the Coast Guard and CMSAR climate change (COP21), falls short of T October 19-23, will be described in the ‘We offer our prayers and healing energy to those have the capacity to deliver specialized Search and what is required to hold global warming next issue of Island Tides.) who were injured, and give thanks to all of those Rescue training to civilian boat operators. What is to 2ºC by the end of the century. Not Good Enough people who helped in the rescue,’ said NTC needed is a coordinated effort to increase the That’s the conclusion of a briefing number of SAR-trained boaters and shore-based The Intergovermental Panel on Climate President Deb Foxcroft. paper that aggregates the Intended VHF radio operators so that Nuu-chah-nulth Change officials, who are responsible for ‘As greater and greater numbers of tourists Nationally Determined Contributions members can respond in an effective, coordinated aggregating the estimated 2025-2030 flock to experience our ‘Wild West Coast,’ this (INDC) submissions, which were received manner. GHG emissions, warn that the trend set to tragic accident highlights once again how suddenly Foxcroft said the accident also points out the by the conference secretariat at the 2030, if extended, would lead to a higher a day on the water, even aboard a well-equipped need for specialized equipment. Not only should beginning of October. than 2ºC global temperature rise by 2100. vessel with a well-trained crew, can turn deadly. communities be equipped with emergency The INDC submissions estimated, for More precisely, they warn that ‘the ‘As in previous marine accidents in BC coastal warming blankets, night-vision goggles and each country, the trend in GHG emissions estimated aggregate global emission levels waters, while the Coast Guard and Canadian defibrillators, but larger vessels would benefit from to 2025 and/or 2030. The papers were resulting from the implementation of the Marine Search and Rescue (CMSAR) scrambled more sophisticated equipment such as forward- also required to describe programs, INDC do not fall within least-cost 2ºC to deploy their resources, local First Nations, in looking infrared (FLIR) devices that allow policies, and administrative actions being scenarios by 2025 and 2030’. this case from Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First searchers to locate survivors even in extreme undertaken by governments to reduce What is ‘least cost’? In terms of global Nations, responded to the distress flare and conditions. Ideally, each community would have GHG emissions. GDP, this is the aggregate of lowest-cost arrived in time to pull survivors out of the water. the appropriate rescue and first aid equipment Plans for adaptation to anticipated pathways to emissions mitigation ‘Our Nuu-chah-nulth people have operated ready for immediate deployment, she said. effects of climate change were also invited (deliberate reduction), choosing the Foxcroft said she is calling on Prime Minister and were described by approximately 100 cheapest combination of emission their vessels in BC coastal waters since time Justin Trudeau to reverse a decade of decline in countries. The estimates were from all mitigation methods. ‘Least cost’ immemorial, and have accumulated a priceless marine search and rescue and invest in life-saving developed nations, and three quarters of trajectories to the 2ºC year 2100 target body of knowledge. When a marine emergency equipment in coastal First Nations communities. developing countries—totalling 86% of have been determined, but trends arises, our people take to their boats without ‘We are so proud of the way our Nuu-chah- global GHG emissions. indicated by the INDC are well above hesitation, often in extremely hazardous nulth Nations and the coastal communities of The November 30-December 13 Paris them. The target will not be achieved at conditions,’ she commented. Tofino and Ucluelet pulled together in this crisis,’ meeting is the 21st Conference of the ‘least cost’; the cost will be higher; Specialized Equipment and said Foxcroft. ‘We are all one in our caring and Parties, The first was held in Berlin in employing more costly means of 1995. The one creating the Kyoto Protocol Training concern for all those who live in or travel through mitigation. 0 (1997) was the 3rd. Foxcroft is calling upon the federal and provincial our territories.’ This one is expected to turn TARGETS, please turn to page 7 governments to improve the Search and Rescue JT
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1PJOU www.islandtides.com Page 2, Island Tides, November 12, 2015 The Need for a Revolution in Thinking - Greg Spendjian ifty-three years ago Thomas Kuhn wrote The Structure extinction due to habitat loss; breakdown in communities and of vested interests. of Scientific Revolutions, which in itself created families; individual alienation; drug abuse; political As the problems we face become increasingly severe and something of a revolution. Kuhn changed views of how disenfranchisement as power concentrates in fewer hands; and intractable there are more and more calls heard for ‘systemic’ Fscientific thought evolves, differentiating between what he violent conflicts in many parts of the world. change. These systems will not and cannot change without called its ‘normal’ and ‘revolutionary’ phases. In ‘normal’ And, of greatest concern, hovering like a sword of Damocles changes to the underlying socio-economic paradigm on which science, researchers who share a common set of beliefs of how over all of nature and human civilization as we know it, is the they are based. We are entering the difficult and conflict-laden the world works use those beliefs as a framework or ‘paradigm’ probability of rapid and catastrophic climate change. ‘revolutionary phase’ that Kuhn talked about. to solve their problems and explain observations. They address Paradigm Description Inventing The New Paradigm divergences between what they observe and what their It is difficult to be both brief and comprehensive in We know that socio-economic paradigms are human paradigm predicts by making incremental changes to the characterizing the paradigm which forms the basis for the constructs. We have the power to develop alternatives. paradigm. development of current production, consumption and Inventing the new paradigm(s) that will lead to sustainable, yet However, when discrepancies between observation and the distribution systems, and their associated political, legal, and humane, sane, and just societies is the greatest challenge of our theoretical framework become really serious and irreconcilable, other institutional structures. One can nevertheless cite the time. the ‘paradigm’ itself begins to be questioned and science enters following: Obviously it is not an easy task because we have so much a ‘revolutionary’ phase. Eventually this phase culminates in a • economic growth’, using GDP as an indicator, is considered invested in our current belief system. We feel threatened when radical ‘paradigm shift’ to a new set of underlying beliefs, the key measure of progress; the sense of who we are and how we do things are questioned. following which ‘normal’ science resumes within the new • little or no consideration of limits to material growth, nor of We fear losing the significant benefits that the current socio- framework. the ability of local or global ecologies to sustain it; economic system has brought us—albeit temporarily and at a A good example of a paradigm shift would be when scientists • a belief that egotism, selfishness, and greed lead to social cost. Those who benefit most from the current system put up realized that the earth revolves around the sun and not vice- harmony and welfare—acquisitive materialism is huge obstacles to any serious consideration of fundamental versa. therefore a primary value and individual welfare is placed change. Kuhn’s ideas originally focused on the physical sciences. In ahead of collective welfare; Nevertheless, we can overcome these obstacles and rise to the social sciences, unlike the physical sciences—where human • a belief that the aim of life is to satisfy all desires one can the challenge. We may be spurred to action by the knowledge thinking does not influence the reality of the natural world (for have and that it is an individual’s absolute right to satisfy that the future we can create will be significantly better than the example, causing the sun to revolve around the earth)—human these desires; future which would result from our current paradigm. 0 thinking does indeed affect the resultant social and economic • all aspects of life are commoditized for exchange in ‘the systems. Nevertheless, Kuhn’s ideas were adapted and applied market’; to the social sciences. • a belief that human design can shape nature without The concept of a social or socio-economic paradigm (world limits—applied science and technology, coupled with the MLA Report - view, intellectual framework, way of thinking, or whatever one use of stored energy, leads to the increasing utilization of may choose to call it), the set of key beliefs, values, axioms, and natural and human resources for production purposes; Claire Trevena assumptions on which a society is based, constitutes a useful • a great trust in technology being able to solve problems; Recently, Canadian journalist Mohammed Fahmy, who had tool in understanding how a society develops. It is particularly • humans are considered to be separate from, and masters been in prison in Egypt for more than 400 days, wrongly pertinent in analysing the causes of the complex and of, nature; accused of terrorism, visited the Legislature. It was extremely interconnected economic, social, and ecological problems facing • nature is deemed not to have intrinsic value—it is viewed as interesting to hear how he survived, how important it was for the world today. a storehouse of ‘resources’ to be developed and a dumping him to know people were fighting for him and his views on The current socio-economic paradigm has underpinned the ground for the by-products of production and diplomatic involvement when a Canadian citizen has been development of a system of industrial growth which has led to consumption systems; arrested and imprisoned. huge material benefits for many, and aggregated global wealth. • great differences in material wealth and power and their The Question Period exchange he observed was focused on Massive quantities of goods and services have been produced consequent hierarchies of dominance and exploitation are the recent abuse of freedom of information legislation and the and spectacular advances in science and technology achieved. considered acceptable; cover-up of issues. It is, however, a salutary reminder that we Problems Not Solved • planning horizons very short—think the quarterly bottom have the opportunity to challenge the BC Liberals in the Legislature without fear of reprisals. And this can and should However, it is also true that our society is characterized by the line, or the next election; and be reported by our free media. following problems: persistent economic uncertainty, with • more recently, ideologies have prevailed which favour I also asked the Minister of Transportation for some clarity poverty, unemployment, and underemployment in many parts increasingly unregulated free markets and global trade, on the new cable ferry for Denman and Hornby Islands. I raised of the world; growing gaps between rich and poor; intractable with the role of government being limited to facilitating concerns about the lack of equity in funding for our marine national budgetary deficits and debt burdens; crises in financial private enterprise. highway. As we all know, in contrast to the paved highways institutions; continued exploitation of the powerless—especially System Fail across the province or the inland ferries, coastal citizens pay a women and children—pollution and degradation of land, air It is becoming increasingly evident that efforts to address the huge amount to use our marine highway. Unlike those who rely and water; depletion of essential resources; deforestation, interconnected economic, social, and ecological problems listed on BC Transit, these fares contribute to capital costs. desertification, and ocean acidification; massive species earlier by incremental changes to existing production, I also reminded the Legislature about the reason that BC’s consumption, and distribution systems are failing miserably. ferry system was created by WAC Bennett in the late ’50s and Try to solve economic problems and you exacerbate ecological ’60s—to open up the coast and connect communities for the problems. Try to address debt and deficits and you increase benefit of our economy. We still need these connections for the unemployment. Try to deal with ecological problems and you benefit of the communities created and the provincial economy. cause economic slowdown and social problems. Try to generate BC Ferry Services Inc has a promotion at the moment the necessary political will and you are confronted by the power reducing certain fares by up to 50%. The reason behind this is to see whether it could introduce different fares at different times of day. I argued that it makes economic sense for such a BRING YOUR RECYCLABLES TO US… reduction to be made permanent on all routes at all times. We’ll take anything with a Recent debate has again focused on changes to the electoral boundaries. I spoke about my pride and honour in representing deposit for a full refund. the North Island. The boundaries of North Island remain intact under the new map which is likely going to be in place for the Open daily 9am to 6pm 2017 election. However, there are significant changes to the Comox Valley constituency which faces a major reorganization: 250.539.2936 Comox, Courtenay, Black Creek and Merville will become one SATURNA GENERAL STORE constituency while Cumberland and the rest of the Comox 101 NARVAEZ BAY ROAD, SATURNA ISLAND MLA REPORT, please turn to next page Your Dream. Your Style. Your Budget. IS YOUR

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Phone 250-216-2267. Thank you! www.islandtides.com Why it matters to appoint a cabinet with Island Tides, November 12, 2015, Page 3 gender balance - Elizabeth May, MP NEWS SHORTS Metamorphosis in the particle fundamental right. The province joins 93 don’t know about you, but I have been Minister of the Environment, and numerous world municipalities across Canada in declaring astonished at the many media pundits who Ministers of Defense who never once held the right. question Justin Trudeau’s decision to military positions.) The Nobel Prize in Physics 2015 recognizes The Premier of Manitoba, Greg Selinger, appoint a Cabinet with gender parity. The CBC I write this on the eve of the unveiling of the Takaaki Kajita in Japan and Arthur B I McDonald in Canada, for their key made the announcement alongside a panel on November 1 with Walrus editor new Cabinet, so cannot offer any opinion on the committment to invest $400,000 in a new Jonathan Kay was a real low point. Suddenly a individual choices of ministers, but I believe this contributions to the experiments which ‘Climate Change Centre’. hue and cry is raised that having 50% women move to be one of the most significant actions for demonstrated that neutrinos change ‘By investing in this centre, it is clear that will entail incompetent appointments. Kay even equality of women since we got the vote. identities. This metamorphosis requires that our government views the environment and kidded that it was unfair to his ‘people’. The Norway Effect neutrinos have mass. The discovery has changed our understanding of the innermost the effects of climate change as some of our It reminded me of the ‘Parks and Recreation’ My enthusiasm largely stems from knowing how workings of matter and can prove crucial to highest priorities,’ said Selinger in a press episode where men rallied for their rights crying much a gender-balanced cabinet changed—for our view of the universe. release. ‘By becoming the first province to out ‘we have not been treated fairly—really decades—the political role of women in Norway. Around the turn of the millennium, Kajita sign the Blue Dot Declaration, we are recently’. I do not recall anyone questioning the The first woman prime minister of Norway, Gro presented the discovery that neutrinos from committing to introduce legislation to merits of male ministers being appointed in the Harlem Bruntdland, may be best known to the atmosphere switch between two provide all Manitobans with a healthy vast majority of cabinets—forever. Island Tides readers for her chairing of the identities on their way to the Super- environment, we are ensuring sustainable Were all those stellar choices under Stephen World Commission on Environment and Kamiokande detector in Japan. prosperity for future generations.’ Harper (Julian Fantino, Vic Toews, and Pierre Development. The landmark report ‘Our Meanwhile, the research group in Canada The Blue Dot Movement is organized by Poilievre to name a few) just so unquestionably Common Future’ is often simply known as the led by McDonald could demonstrate that the the David Suzuki Foundation and has picked well-prepared for the job that the matter never Brundtland Report. It was in that period that I neutrinos from the sun were not up momentum in the last year. came up or is it beyond obvious that questions had the great honour of working with her. Sixth Orca Calf this Year disappearing on their way to Earth. Instead of merit never surfaced when the expected men She also made dramatic changes to they were captured with a different identity A new baby orca was spotted swimming with were put in their usual spots—known as Norwegian society when she appointed 40% when arriving at the Sudbury Neutrino J-pod in Haro Strait on October 24. It was positions of power? women to her government in 1986. It was not an Observatory. with J-17, Princess Angeline, a 38-year-old Now, with Prime Minister Designate Justin easy move to make. One of my friends who Tsleil-Waututh Seek to Halt grandmother herself. If J-17 is in fact the new Trudeau preparing to announce a cabinet that is worked most closely with Gro Brundtland said baby’s mother, this is her fourth calf. 50% women, researchers have discovered a she had to consciously sacrifice a generation of NEB’s Trans Mountain Hearings This is the sixth orca calf this year, and sharp increase in the number of men who strong male leaders to take a meaningful step for On October 27, the Tsleil-Waututh First brings the total of Southern Resident Killer suddenly have strong opinions about how women’s rights. Nation announced an action against the Whales up to 82. The baby boom of 2015 cabinet appointments should be a ‘meritocracy’. Today in Norway, the government still National Energy Board in Federal Court. The The Beaverton follows two years in which no new orcas were The satirical publication, , reflects gender parity. And the move to equal lawsuit seeks to put a stop to the Board’s born. The Southern Resident pods, J, K, and skewered the response in a brilliant little rights did not stop there. Norwegian women are hearings concerning Kinder Morgan’s Trans L, are listed as endangered, so the birth of six column: ‘50% female cabinet appointments lead by law 40% of corporate board rooms both in Mountain Expansion project. The project new whales is good news. to 5,000% increase in guys who suddenly care government-run enterprises and in the private proposes to twin the existing pipeline, which about merit in cabinet’. Reduced Vehicle Fares on BC sector. runs from Alberta to Burnaby, and triple its Ferries Across the nation statisticians are at a loss to Women in positions of power change a capacity. explain a recent and drastic jump in the number society. Gender roles and expectations shift in The Tseil-Waututh claim that the Harper BC Ferries is planning a ‘flexible fare’ scheme of men who have spontaneously developed hard profound ways. One of my favourite anecdotes government failed to adequately consult with starting in 2017. In the meantime, from opinions about the qualifications of Federal demonstrating this reality also relates to Prime the First Nation when it began the NEB November 16 to December 19, on selected Cabinet Ministers. ‘This is affirmative action, and Minister Brundtland. When she stepped down review of the pipeline. The much-delayed sailings on all south coast routes, BC Ferries even though it has been statistically shown to after many years in office, a Norwegian friend’s hearings are currently scheduled to resume offers half-price for vehicles (see improve working conditions over time, I don’t little girl was watching the news about the on January 18 in Burnaby. advertisement below). like it,’ said longtime man Thomas Fielding. leadership contest to replace Brundtland. Manitoba Becomes First It’s an experiment to see whether cheaper Several noted political scientists agree that Several men and women were running for the Province to Agree to the Right fares will prove an incentive to travel on the Trudeau’s female quota is a controversial move. post. Her daughter was startled and asked her to a Healthy Environment ‘off-peak' sailings. It applies to cars, ‘I suddenly and inexplicably find myself very mother, ‘You mean, a man could actually be a motorcycles, trucks, SUVs, vans, and concerned about this issue,’ added Dr William prime minister?’ Manitoba made Canadian history recently recreational vehicles (the first 20 feet only). Harkin of the University of Calgary, also a Oh, for the day a little Canadian girl can ask when the province became the first to sign It doesn’t apply to commercial vehicles, on to the Blue Dot Movement and agree to lifelong male. (Prime Minister Harper chose that question. 0 buses, or bicycles. 0 men like climate change denier Peter Kent as his make the right to a healthy environment a

MLA REPORT from page 2 BULLETIN Valley will join the constituency of from an independent review of the BC Utilities Alberni–Pacific Rim. Commission; and aiming to streamline the BOARD The Legislature started discussion of a enforcement of court orders. miscellaneous bill which touches on the I have heard concerns from a number of Ministries of Advanced Education, Children people in Gold River and Tahsis who are very FREE REMOVAL! and Families, Energy and Mines and Justice. worried about the potential loss of the BesleyDesign & Build Scrap Car, Truck, Bus The proposed changes to legislation are: how pharmacy service in Gold River. With a 3D Computer Design • WATER WELLS & Equipment dues are paid to student societies; how youth number of colleagues who also represent areas Permit Plans • DRILLING FOR GEOSOURCE No Wheels? No Problem! Foundations & Framing GEOTECH & ENVIRONMENTAL Metal Clean-up Bins Also agreements are established for young people which could lose pharmacies, I have Siding & Roofing in care of the Ministry; implementing a spearheaded a campaign to prevent this loss. • HYDROFRACTURING Available Finishing TO IMPROVE WELL YIELDS Gulf Islands • Victoria • Sooke number of recommendations which came 0 Decks & Fences Sidney • Duncan Renovations & Additions  

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     Page 4, Island Tides, November 12, 2015 Readers’ Letters EV Show Cleans The Air Dear Editor: Every Second Thursday With Transition Salt Spring and with the support of many local Strait of Georgia’s only businesses and the SSI Chamber of Commerce, I had the good Free & Mail-Delivered Newspaper fortune to coordinate an electric vehicle (EV) show on July 24 and 25. 23,000 copies this edition It was held to celebrate our new public Level II EV chargers 15,015 print copies delivered to that are located at Country Grocer, Island Savings and Mobys. Educational automotive events were held at those locations as households on 14 Gulf Islands well as The Fritz movie theater. The park across from the Co-op Salt Spring • Mayne • Galiano • Pender • Saturna Gas Station featured electric bikes, trailers and drones and at Gabriola • Denman • Hornby • Quadra • Cortes the high school, information was provided on the Solar Read • Texada • Lasqueti • Thetis Scholarship Array. Other events were held at Mistaken Identity Winery and the library. To support the distributed events, I was fortunate to assemble a crew of 24 wonderful and energetic volunteers. Photo: Davy Rippner A primary mission of the show was to provide education and In October, Pender Islanders celebrated 20 years of raise the awareness of the variety and availability of electric automobiles and electric bikes on the market, available Medicine Beach Nature Sanctuary. Also 2,985 print copies on Ferry Routes and in: subsidies, and to raise awareness of the new driving experience Victoria • Saanich • Sidney • Cobble Hill that these new-technology vehicles deliver. So quiet, so quick, proportionality of party choices, the other is able to represent, Mill Bay • Crofton • Duncan • Chemainus so fun. proportionally, a much greater diversity between, within, Ladysmith • Nanaimo • Bowser • Courtenay across, and without parties. Port Alberni • Campbell River • Powell River Success can be measured by many ways—crowds, smiles, It’s going to be interesting to see how Fair Vote Canada 6,500 online readers each edition activities, volunteer support, feedback, off-island participation. All those happened in spades, but also 10 ‘verified’ electric handles this distinction. A fair bit of educating will be needed Owner, Publisher & Editor: automobile sales occurred that were a direct result of the show, for most of us to understand the difference and develop the Christa Grace-Warrick totaling an estimated $215,000. I should say, so far, since sales wisdom to choose well for future generations. Editorial & Publishing Assistant: Natalie Dunsmuir are still being generated as a direct result of the show. Cheers for running the FVC piece on the front page, and best Contributors: Patrick Brown, Elizabeth May, Greg Spendijan, Perhaps more importantly, the event was held over 2 days regards to you. Murray Dobbin, Toby Snelgrove, Claire Trevena, and generated over $8,000 in business activity into our local Brenda Guiled, Salt Spring Island Frants Attorp, Brian Crumblehulme, Davy Rippner, island economy. We made a special effort to ensure as many Parliamentary Carbon Budget Officer Tom Hobley, Martin Blakesley local vendors were featured as possible. Dear Editor: Island Tides Publishing Ltd There are many event metrics that are available to analyze, One way we can help ensure that Canada meets the emissions Box 55, Pender Island, BC V0N 2M0 but my favorite is that because of this single event, our local fully Tel: 250.216.2267• News: [email protected] reduction goals described by Elizabeth May in your last issue Advertising: [email protected] electric automotive fleet expanded by over 20% (to a total of 59). is by pressing our new government to create the office of This has raised the estimated reduction of our annual green Parliamentary Carbon Budget Officer (PCBO). Advertising Deadline: Wednesday Between Publications house gas emissions from 125 to 148 tonnes, providing us with This would operate on the same lines as the existing Canadian Addressed Subscription: $57.75pa cleaner air for ourselves and our global neighbours. This has also Parliamentary Budget Officer, to be tasked with establishing US Addressed Subscription: $80.00pa reduced our dependency on oil, a core mission of Transition Salt Canada’s carbon budget from 2015 to 2050 within the IPCC For unaddressed delivery & online readers: Spring. I am so proud of those particular results. framework (subject to amendments suggested by further Suggested Voluntary Subscription is $30pa Another educational event of this nature is being considered research and reflecting issues of global justice & equity). www.islandtides.com for 2016. The vision for this event includes more education on a The ‘budget’ would have clear emissions reductions targets, wider variety of energy efficiency topics appealing to all starting immediately, aimed at (to paraphrase Kevin Anderson, members of the family, and with the involvement of our sister Deputy director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Gulf Islands. Research) rapidly ratcheting up to around 10% per annum by Jim Standen, Salt Spring Island The Simple 2025 and continuing at such a rate to the virtual elimination of High-Perfoormance Proportional Representation CO2 from the energy system by 2050. Dear Editor: The PCBO would work in tandem with the Canadian Septic Systeme Proportional representation of preferred candidates can result Climate Action Secretariat being proposed by the Canadian Eljljen GSF…YYouro A orddable ble from a system designed for proportionality to emerge from the Centre for Policy Alternatives. This secretariat would be ‘a Solution foro Today’s vote and the count. Proportionality for parties after a winner- cross-government coordinating body, operating within the Wasta ewater Challenges! take-all vote is another choice. Privy Council Office (similar in model to BC’s Climate Action Fair Vote Canada has gone agnostic on these two very Secretariat between 2007-2010, when it operated out of the different electoral systems, after too many divisive arguments Premier’s office). It should guide and coordinate the efforts of multiple ministries—Environment, Finance, Natural Ideal for New or about them. It now throws the two together without distinction. Replacement Systems We need to get clear on terms and what they mean. Resources, Public Works, Employment, Industry, Trade, Confucius is recorded as saying that, ‘If names be not correct, Foreign Affairs, etc. The secretariat should report to a cabinet language is not in accordance with the truth of things.’ A loose committee, ideally co-chaired by the Minister of Finance and

Innovative Products and Solutions Since 1970 English translation is: The beginning of wisdom is to call things the Minister of Environment.’ by their proper name. Murray Reiss, Salt Spring Island Fair Vote Canada writes that, ‘51.8% of Canadian voters cast Venus Syndrome eljen.com ‹ votes for losing candidates.’ Correct. Then FVC says that, ‘Under Dear Editor: a proportional system the seat count would have been: Lib-135, When environmentalists use the phrase ‘Venus Syndrome’, it Con-109, NDP-68, Bloc-15, GPC-11.’ Wait a minute. This would is not meant as a scientific prediction (any more than ‘China only be true in a party-PR system that adjusts the seat count Syndrome’ reflects a belief that a nuclear meltdown will literally after the election based on—here’s the ringer—a winner-take- burn through the earth and out the other side.) It’s a metaphor, all vote. and a very apt one. It captures the horrifying possibility of Earth So what do we want? The same old system with a forced becoming disastrously hot due to climate feedbacks, much as party-proportional seat count, the basis of which still wastes the Venus is thought to have done. majority of votes (for winning candidates who get more than Scientists are good at forecasting how Earth’s temperature they need, as well as losing candidates)? Or a system with built- will rise in response to more greenhouse gases (GHG). But it’s in proportional results for preferred individual candidates—i.e. harder to predict what feedback effects may arise due to higher no party-appointed seats—that cuts wasted votes to a much temperatures, such as how much additional CO2 may be smaller fraction? released from burning forests and peat bogs, or methane from These two systems should be called Party Proportional thawing permafrost. Representation and Systemic Proportional Representation, or Every year thousands of semi-trailer trucks lose control on PPR and SPR. They are vastly different from each other, in all steep hills. The problem is generally not that the brakes were of their cogs and wheels and in outcomes; one is restricted to defective—it’s just that the driver waited too long before applying them. Once a truck accelerates above a certain speed on a steep grade the brakes cannot stop it because heat will Honouring build up in the brake drums faster than it can dissipate into the air. Fortunately, most mountain highways have runaway Award Winning Designs at lanes—last ditch escape routes to save the driver’s life. Prices You CAN Afford! our Veterans LETTERS, please turn to page 6

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5:07 PM Island Tides, November 12, 2015, Page 5 ROUND THE ISLANDS What’sOn? rambunctious, the scared and the lost. VANCOUVER ISLAND & ALL THE GULF ISLANDS Lou made Port Browning home. She is the real deal and she Single-venue (50 words): $39.90 includes image always cares. Lou and Browning kept the locals employed, Multi-venue (70 words): $52.50 includes image putting money in the pockets of families and was always willing Payment with order by Visa or MasterCard, please to give a leg up to those in need. Over the last 40 years much of [email protected] or 250.216.2267 the community worked at Browning at one time or other. Saturday & Sunday November 14 & 15 ‘When someone was sick, Lou and Browning were there to Viva Chorale! Concert ‘Home and the help. When someone or the community was in need, Lou and Heart’—beautiful music to celebrate our Browning gave. When someone was lonely, Lou and Browning island homes, musical director Caroni were friends. When we didn’t know the story, Lou told it. When Young F ArtSpring Theatre F Sat 14 @ someone needed a laugh, Lou and Browning made us laugh! 7.30pm, Sun 15 @ 2pm F Tickets: adult We could always count on Lou and Browning for great $18, senior $15, youth $10 F SALT SPRING entertainment value. Drama? Yes. Love? Yes. Fri, Sat & Sun, November 20, 21 & 22 Lou, thank you for your service to this community…and 9th Annual Giant Book Sale—plus ‘Jewels for Literacy Sale’ of pre-loved jewellery; Salt Spring Literacy Society fundraiser (SS thank you for passing the Port Browning baton to new owners Literacy Society members’ preview on Thursday, Nov 19, 6:30- who love Browning…your family to their family.’ 8:30pm) F Farmers’ Institute F 10am–4pm F Memberships $10 at Meanwhile on Hornby Island Jan Kennedy is now looking the door F SALT SPRING for a new person to take on the café she started 27 years ago. Saturday, November 21 Reina Le Baron tells the tale, ‘Jan had moved to Hornby Island Yuletide Gift Faire—wonderful gifts, crafts and food; kitchen and in 1980 and the land and community quickly claimed her! She concession open F Pender Community Hall F 10am-4pm F worked at various island eateries, before purchasing a small café Admission by donation, proceeds go to the Hall F PENDER in the Ringside Market near the Co-op in 1989. Saturday, November 21 ‘Jan’s Cafe began in a building of uninsulated stud walls, a Dance to Soul/Pop/Reggae—Buckman Coe Band; presented floor made of plywood scraps, rudimentary cupboards, and an by Ptarmigan Music and Stoney Pocket Productions F Community Hall F 7pm F Tickets: Advance $15, Door $18, Teens $10, Under12 outdoor deck with a large maple tree in one corner holding the free @Southridge General Store or Talisman Books F PENDER Photo: Toby Snelgrove menu board. Wed & Fri, Nov 25 & 27 and Tues & Thurs, Dec 1 & 3 Yellow sand verbena, Sidney Spit. ‘It had always been Jan’s dream to provide a year-round café Gary Holman, MLA Community Meetings— and in 1996 the time was right. Jan purchased the materials and Mayne Island: WED,NOV 25, Agricultural Hall, Two Longtime Island Businesses To Have together with the volunteer time of more than fifty Hornby 3:30-5pm F Saturna Island: FRI, NOV 27, Saturna Islanders, the outdoor deck was enclosed with walls and a roof. Community Hall, 7-8:30pm F Galiano Island: TUES, New Owners ‘Creating a welcoming ambiance has always been an act of DEC 1, Galiano Community Library, 3:30-5pm F Pender Island: THURS, DEC 3, St. Peter’s Anglican Jan’s Café on Hornby and Port Browning Marina will have new love for Jan and over the years many improvements and Church, 4:30-6pm F Additional information: 1.855.955.5711, owners. In fact, Sh’qu’ala Inn at Browning Harbour on Pender changes have been made; reorganizing and upgrading the [email protected] F MAYNE, SATURNA, GALIANO, (affectionately known as ‘Browning’) has already kitchen and dining room, new paint colours, PENDER been bought by Duane Shaw and family of the roadside gardens, outdoor seating area, Friday to Sunday, December 4, 5 & 6 Mill Bay Marina and Bridgeman’s Bistro. cobblestone patio, and adding a funky Tuscan Beaver Point Hall 3 1st Annual Christmas Craft Lots of the familiar faces will still be greeting yellow straw-bale wall. Fair—Come share our local artisans’ wares where you at the tables and the excellent daily specials ‘The summer seasons came and went. The they were created and meant to be experienced; it front counter was loaded every day with freshly is worth the trip F Beaver Point Hall, 1361 Beaver are still on the menu. It’s likely that you will also Point Road F Friday: 5-9pm; Sat: 10am-5pm; Sun: still see longtime owner Lou Henshaw at a baked cinnamon buns, cookies, cakes, scones, 10am-4pm F Info: www.beaverpointhall.org F SALT SPRING table—Lou is not going anywhere. pies, salad, soup and daily casseroles. Three Fri, Sat & Sun, December 4, 5 & 6 Candice Zell notes that, ‘since 1975 Port generations of islanders, seasonal residents and Happy Together, A Celebration Of Browning and Lou were always there for the visitors have enjoyed Jan’s friendly welcome Community—presented by Pender Island Choral community, come rain or shine, cold winters, and delicious food.’ Society, directed by Ben McConchie F Community power outages, early mornings, and late nights. Who will be greeting customers next? Will it Hall F Fri, Sat @ 7pm, Sun @ 2pm F Tickets: Adults Lou welcomed families, locals, the alone, be you? If so see Jan’s ad on the Bulletin Board, $15, Children 5-15, $5 and Under-5 free, at LOU Talisman Books and Southridge Store F PENDER newcomers, tourists, boaters, seekers, the page 3. 0 Connect to what matters:
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SHUPRQWKDSSOLHVIRUWKHILUVWPRQWKVRQWKH;SORUHSODQZLWKGRZQORDGVSHHGXSWR0ESVDQG*%RIGDWD5HJXODUO\DSSOLFDEOHSULFLQJRIVWDUWVLQPRQWK 7D[HVDSSO\6HH'HDOHUIRUGHWDLOV;SORUQHWqLVDWUDGHPDUNRI;SORUQHW&RPPXQLFDWLRQV,QFl;SORUQHW&RPPXQLFDWLRQV,QF www.islandtides.com Page 6, Island Tides, November 12, 2015 What Can We Hope For Our Political System In A New Era? Murray Dobbin tephen Harper may have done democracy a favour by that the NDP has drunk the we-can-win Kool-Aid, they join change in its support base and miscalculates its response to the mandating the longest election in Canadian history. One- their ranks adopting a strategy that replaces principle with politics of opportunism. If the NDP is confused about whether month elections only exposed the idiocy of our so-called opportunism. it’s a party of change or just another competitor on the field, it’s democraticS system for a relatively short period. They don’t last There is still a chance, however slim, that the NDP can no wonder its potential supporters are confused. long enough for us to really sicken of the spectacle. But this time recover from its new and catastrophic strategy. That new Civil society groups are not doing much better on this score. we have experienced what amounts to full-immersion baptism direction entailed accepting the rules made by the big business They focus on two political themes but pay scant attention to in our truly absurd ‘representative democracy’. parties—rules that suited their style, their access to money, their the question that ultimately matters most. The first focus is to Of course part of that absurdity is rooted in the anachronistic privileged position in the media, their control of the bureaucracy list the political crimes and misdemeanors of the Harper first-past-the-post system which regularly produces executive and their deep connections to elite influence and power. The government. Close to a dozen books have now raised the alarm. dictatorships with less than 40% of the vote (and just 24% of more the NDP adopts the machine politics invented by the The trouble is the same alarm has been ringing for 10 years and the eligible voters). It finally seems that we might now get a Liberals and Conservatives the more it becomes like them in it has almost no impact. change to some form of proportional representation for the next terms of policies, ethics and political strategy. The second theme is describing what is possible. Imagine (as election. But at the risk of being cynical about such a change If the current election-machine NDP wants to win an the Leap Manifesto has done) what we could have in this before it even happens let’s not be too enthsiastic about the election it will have to do so as a liberal party that has reached country if we hadn’t lost between $40 and 60 billion a year to overall impact of a change in the voting system. Even the best an accommodation with globalization and finance capital. Little tax cuts for the wealthy corporations. election rules are not going to solve our democratic deficit unless by little the adoption of Liberal and Conservative political But listing all the good things we ‘could’ have ‘if only’ things we dramatically increase the level of civic literacy and citizen strategy has corrupted what remained of a social democratic weren’t as they are isn’t organizing and it doesn’t address the engagement. party. By the time they win an election on this basis they will be reality that prevents people from acting: they see nothing on the The desperate need for proportional representation has to completely indistinguishable from the Liberals. horizon to suggest any of these things that they want will ever some extent distracted us from just how inadequate and But if they want to win as a renewed and principled social come to pass. unresponsive the rest of the system is. It has taken the likes of democratic party then they can only do so through a The critically important theme that the left devotes virtually Harper to actually push the other parties to suddenly call for commitment to a long term redefinition of the rules of the no time to intellectually, or strategically is the question of agency change when they have for decades supported first-past-the- political game, rules designed to benefit a genuinely democratic —the process by which change is actually made. Who and what post because executive dictatorship is an attractive form of party that continuously engages voters in a program of civic will be the agent of change? Post-election this is the critical task governance to those who run political parties literacy. When they did that in the 1960s the rewards were of all progressives—take what we know is possible and use it to Given this history it is hard not to conclude that political considerable and included Medicare, still the principle legacy of rebuild community, reclaim the commons and build a broad parties themselves are the biggest barrier to genuine, the progressive Canadian state. based social movement with the power to challenge the status participatory democracy. Parties have with rare and short-lived Such a party cannot achieve change unless it becomes an quo. 0 exceptions have always acted in their own narrow interests. integral part of the community whose values it claims to share. That has always been true of the two Bay Street parties and now This is why the party consistently underestimates the desire for LETTERS from page 4 B.C.’s leading professionals on the Disability Tax Credit,  with a 99.5% success rate There are many brake mechanisms available that could of the over harvesting that Mr Holman correctly notes.        reduce GHG emissions. But if we wait, we may reach a tipping Rockfishes, members of the genus Sebastes, represent the For People With Chronic Medical Conditions (several categories) point where future warming is out of human control. Secondary ultimate ‘poster children’ that illustrate why we need areas  DISABILITY  TAX  CREDIT SPECIALIST Teresa Young      GHG emissions, due to warming that is already locked in, may where no consumptive use should be the rule. These fish, at Northern/Southern Gulf Islands, cause continued warming even after a reduction or cessation of least 15 species of which are Salish Sea residents, are long-      Sidney and  Saanich   Regions         human-caused emissions. That is called runaway climate lived—up to 90 years or more. And most do not mature until 15 FREE eligibility assessments  available           change. True, it won’t get as hot as Venus—but maybe hot to 20 years. Female rockfish become more fecund and produce (by appointment). Disability Tax credits For more info please contact Teresa (refunds) are retroactive up  to 10 (250)  629-3461  or (250) 222-0095 enough to kill billions of people and cause a mass extinction of better quality young as they get older and larger. And because years/filed any time of year. [email protected] species. I would call that leaving it too late. We don’t have a they have a swim bladder, rockfish are not good catch and Age/whether working or not are not www.enabledfinancial.ca determining factors for the tax credit. runaway lane. release species and usually perish upon being brought to the Doug Hopwood, Lasqueti Island surface. Members of the BBB, B.C. Seniors Living Association and Royal Canadian Legion Marine Conservation One beautifully simple and elegant option that provides an Dear Editor: insurance policy for our Salish Sea marine life is No Take MPAs. I was very pleased to read ‘Let’s get to ‘Yes’ on a National Marine All species living within would benefit from traditional SHORELINE • Specializing in water Conservation Area’, by Gary Holman, MLA. It is a good population balances and food webs left completely intact. But these must be inforced for all consumption. A harvested 90- DESIGN access over steep summary and call to action. My primary issue is that, as currently proposed, this conservation initiative does not go far year-old ‘super mom’ yelloweye rockfish (red snapper) Sebastes & rugged enough. The good news is that it is a start and could be readily ruberrimus is lost to the gene pool. It matters not whether it was terrain adjusted to make it much better and a signature statement for consumed by a commercial fisherman, a recreational angler or a First Nations gatherer. • Fully insured marine life conservation in the Salish Sea—and indeed Canada. Including a ‘No Take’ Marine Protected Area component within I agree with Mr Holman, lets advocate for completion of the • Excellent the Salish Sea’s National Marine Protected Area should be a Salish Sea NMCA but with at least some portions set aside for references priority. complete coverage. As Mr Holman states, ‘our marine home is under threat’. But Andy Lamb, Thetis Island Peter Christenson • 250-858-9575 as currently structured, the National Marine Conservation Area www.shorelinedesign.ca The Kindness of Islanders (NMCA) is not the ‘best way’ to protection. He correctly states Dear Editor: that ‘harmful activities’ such as ocean dumping, oil and gas On August 20th, our kayaking group met unexpected winds exploration and extraction and mining would be prohibited. Your Total and decided to take the ferry back from Lyall Harbour rather However ‘carefully managed commercial and recreational than paddling towards Sydney. We had a great dinner at the Water Solution fishing’ would be allowed. Over many decades, it has become pub and then unloaded our kayaks and carried everything up apparent that careful management of marine fisheries along the dock to be ready for the last ferry of the day. Several folks Gulf Islands Water Treatmeent our coast has not happened. To be fair, this is a very difficult who were on the docks helped us. challenge as assessing and knowing what happens below the While we waited for the ferry, Mark and a number of his ~ Rainwater Harvesting surface is impossible. To add to this, the DFO, the primary friends who were there to celebrate his birthday offered to help organization seemingly charged with this responsibility, has a ~ Water treatment for wells, us load up our gear when the ferry arrived. We want to express surface supplies & seawater contradictory focus. Traditionally, its prime function has been our gratitude to all those kind people who helped load our gear to provide assistance/encouragement to harvesting activities by ~ Filtration & Disinfection on the ferry. Saturna Island showed its hospitality and commercial and recreational consumptive users—sustainable ~ Slow sand filtration friendliness that night. We came away with a strong sense of fisheries without really being able to know what sustainable is. the care that islanders show to each other and to strangers. ~ Small systems Health I introduce one of numerous groups of marine life that Authority approvals Thanks so much, require the no-take approach. It is a group that has been a victim Leigh Winter and Rob Simmonds, Parksville Bacteria, Arsenic, Turbidity, Tannins-TOC, Hardnesss, much more! Diane Sharp and Bertrand Girard, Qualicum Beach wwww..watertigerr..net Pat and Fraser Wilson, Nanaimo 0 ViServingctoria The GulfBu Islandsrnaby & BC sinceCoourte 1988nay ([email protected]) 412-1110 (604) 630-111 TF:4 1-855-777-1220(2500) 339-6914 What to give off-Island relatives? Give them a mail subscription to 2XUGHHSHVWWKDQNVWRRXUYHWHUDQV /HWXVQRWWDNHIRUJUDQWHGWKH ! 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WK6W6LGQH\%&9/< 25 editions: $55+gst sHOL]DEHWKPD\PSFD Call 1.250.216.2267 with Visa or MC www.islandtides.com Island Tides, November 12, 2015, Page 7 - Brian Crumblehulme Leftovers he default assumption seems to be that all animals are disgusting, so we ynonyms for ‘leftovers’ include, ‘remainders’, ‘surplus’, proportion of contemporary make an item-by-item list of what’s acceptable, we educate our children ‘excess’, ‘overage’, ‘leavings’, ‘refuse’, ‘waste’, ‘detritus’ and comfort foods are still based on by commonsense and collective neurosis, along with ‘don't eat that’ ‘uneaten’, where there is an uncomfortably close the premise of the off-cut or left- impulse, we have a ‘dare to eat it’ challenge because it’s good. relationship between a positive good and a disgusting bad. It’s over. Remaining neolithic S —Adam Gopnik, The Table Comes First, 2011. rather like the change in value from an ice-cream cone in your pottages of grains, meat and T hand to an ice-cream in your lap when in reality, the ice-cream roots were dried or baked into plastic wrapped in an atmosphere of nitrogen, we can recognize has simply changed locations. A surplus is a positive good, bread which could easily be carried and kept for a few days. them as foods only by reading the label. And with added irony, something to manage for the future. A left-over teeters on the Festive loaves are filled with dried fruit and spices originally as traditional preserved foods, such as pickles and sauerkraut are tension between good food and refuse. a means of storage. Pies were invented when cold, cooked now back in fashion: even foraging for dinner has become high In an arid climate, cereal grains are among the easiest foods meats, chopped and re-stewed with herbs and spices and cast status! to store. Since farming as we understand it began around 8,000 into concrete-hard pastries could be stored for a year. Ditto The modern ‘ick’ factor toward offal (a word with an years ago in Mesopotamia, grain storage must have been ‘mincemeat’ where the preservative was sugar with an air-tight unfortunate onomatopoetic sound) is also being turned on it’s developed to preserve the grain seed from one season to the next ‘lid’ of suet or lard. Pies preserve the ‘left-over’ animal or crop as head, with the marketing of ‘challenging foods’ such as insects for planting. And presumably the same store would be needed much as marmalade, corned beef and bacon. Cheese, butter, and animal parts you would rather not discuss at the table. to hold the surplus for consumption between harvest times. sour cream and yogurt are all techniques for preserving excess London based chef, Fergus Henderson, is a celebrity for serving Under these conditions, therefore, the surplus, or left-over, was left-over spring milk. As for sausages, the ingredients list will the whole beast: roast tongue, deep fried tripe, brains, sliced like banked savings for your retirement, or a freezer full of this generally say ‘variety meats’, but do you really want to know heads, heart with beetroot and pickled walnut, spleen wraps, summer’s produce. what that means? deviled kidneys, and so on. Henderson challenges the hypocrisy Recently, a friend sent me a copy of an article in the Atlantic According to Veit, employing left-overs was a moral and ‘absurdity of meat eating, which clings to a few square feet Monthly: ‘An Economic History of Leftovers’, by Helen Veit. imperative that was undermined by the cornucopia of the of animal muscle...’ Yet again, therein lies a twist. Although essentially a 20th century American domestic history, modern market economy. If we examine this theory by working Industrial agri-farms are justifiably criticized for their the author posited some interesting observations. For example, backwards in time we find that observation is only partially true. treatment of animals and profligate use of natural resources: in early colonial life ‘before reliable refrigeration, cooking and Mrs Beeton’s famous 1861 Book of Household Management, when water is free they will use it all. However, when they own food preservation were barely distinguishable tasks.’ In other published at a time of increased income, declining food costs the animal, they optimize every gram of the carcase except the words, the domestic relationship to cooking in 1892 ACE and greatly increased trade, is scrupulous in promoting a full lingering ‘moo’. After removing the main meat for steaks, the America was, in principle, essentially similar to the domestic and efficient use of foods. She begins her tome with an epithet: rest is processed, disguised into hamburger, sausage meat, pates relationship to cooking in 1892 BCE Egypt or China. Early ‘to live well in abundance is the praise of the estate, not the and other canned food. Further down the line, the scraps recipes and domestic homilies on every continent attest to this. person... those who can manage a little well are most likely to metamorphose into pet food, soup stock and gelatin, blood and In warm, dry climates, cereal grains and legumes can be stored succeed in their management of larger matters.’ Beeton bones go for fertilizer while the hide is employed to hold your for centuries in dry sealed jars and underground chambers, abhorred waste, even after a thirty-six course Victorian banquet. money and keep your pants up. The profit margin does not while meat and fish have had to be consumed immediately. In A 1737 recipe for a bushel-sized ‘Goose Pye’ claims, ‘this Pye witness an offal disgust. cold climates, the reverse is true, meat and fish can be dried and is delicious, either hot or cold, and will keep a great while,’ while In a free market economy, ownership of a resource imposes frozen for later use, while seasonal fruit and grains are a summer a 1393 French ‘Home Companion’ for a wealthy merchant’s wife a distorted value that places a rock singer higher than a school treat. includes a wonderful recipe for ‘A Dish for Unexpected Guests’, teacher and caviar higher than spleen. In a shared and respectful Veit’s other principle is economic stability, a corollary of all made from previously cooked food. It is interesting, therefore, economy, we might learn to value social workers above plenty. Recent technological advancement has allowed a to note that the 1910 ‘Left-Over Foods and How to Use Them’ accountants and fresh squeezed apple juice above L’Art de consistent surplus of low-cost food and an easy means of was not published by a chef or domestic cook, but as a Martell. preserving it. In another culture this might have given rise to a promotion by a refrigerator company. By 1960 refrigerators ‘Disgust is always rooted in the perception of asymmetry... controlled production and more leisure time. In the North were so ubiquitous in North America that Marion Rombauer haggis, for instance, is made of sheep’s stomach and sheep’s American scheme, this implies a constant cornucopia and a Becker even joked about the silliness of recycling food: lights, but people will eat it because it is comfortably round. competitive urge to consume more. While I agree with these housewives were encouraged to throw it away. Sausages are allowed in because of their shape. People are observations, I suggest that Veit has barely touched the surface Traditional practices of food preservation frequently altered somehow reassured.’—Fergus Henderson, chef. of the discussion: surplus and left-overs, I believe, are integral the flavour and texture of the fresh original; witness any number to all societies, including this post-modern one. of sauces, wine, canned meats, smoked bacon and hams. Even Recipes: Clearly, past cultures ‘honoured’ the whole beast and did not compound dishes such as soups and stews often taste better the Early 5th Century tribal leader Vinidarious the Goth’s dish of suffer from our western hypocrisy. A scan of early recipes from next day after the flavours have ‘swapped’. Then with pleasant sardines. around the world quickly verifies that the whole fish, pig, grain irony, commercially processed foods of today will last for Illustrious Vinithadarjis—a dish of cold sardines: and root was eaten and relished to such an extent that a large decades if the seal is not broken. Cooked, salted, spiced and Make a dressing with ground black pepper, lovage seed, oregano, dried onions, hard-boiled egg yolks, a little vinegar and TARGETS from page 1 olive oil. Mash or blend until smooth and pour over cold, boiled Emission Reductions Required process. The socio-economic sectors, greenhouse gases, sardines. Goes well with yesterday’s baguette and a goblet of statistical bases, methods of estimating, constraints and Retsina. In Year 2100, your grandchild born this year will be 85 years To make a Drunken Loaf, Elizabeth Raffald, 1782 old. Given current trends in life expectancy, he or she will assumptions will be unique. Some include emissions from land Take a stale French roll and rasp it very small. Pour a pint of red probably be alive and quite well. (This will not be true in other use changes (LULUCF); some include GHG reductions from wine on it and let it rest for an hour. parts of the globe.) forestry or agriculture. The process of adding them all up, Take a large scoop of cold, cooked macaroni, add a walnut- The Year 2100 temperature rise can be estimated on the avoiding double counting, and developing aggregate statistics sized pat of butter and as much cream as it will take to wet it basis of emissions trends set by year 2030: has clearly required considerable ingenuity. down. Scrape some Parmesan cheese into it and beat it all • first, the projected global temperature rise to 2100 is For some examples of INDC, see below. together in a saucepan until it be like a custard. Pour this gently dependent upon the cumulative GHG emissions to 2100; Some Intended Nationally over your loaf; scatter more cheese over the dish and bake in a • second, the current trend is estimated to result in a hot oven until it is brown. It is a pretty dish for supper. 0 temperature increase of 2.7º to 3ºC by 2100. This is lower than Determined Contributions earlier projections of 4-5ºC of warming. The INDC, if MEXICO: Will reduce GHGs below BAU (Business as implemented, would result in emission reductions of 9% from usual) by 25% by 2030. Expect to peak emissions in 2026. previous 2030 estimates; Emissions intensity per unit of GDP will be reduced by 40% • third, the IPCC have estimated that, in order to ensure that from 2013 to 2030. This includes emissions from oil, natural the temperature rise remains at or less than 2ºC at Year 2100, gas, and energy production. Acievement of these targets the cumulative GHG emissions by Year 2100 must not exceed depends on an international carbon price, technological 1,000 gigatons of CO2 equivalent (1000 GtCO2); and transfer, etc. • fourth, following the trend of annual emission increases AUSTRALIA: GHG reduction, economy wide, of 26-28% indicated by the INDC, the total cumulative global emissions below 2005 levels by 2030, Cut 50-52% in emissions per would be 75% of that 1000 GtCO2 by 2030. This leaves only capita, 64-65% in emissions per unit of GDP, 2005-2030. Salt Spring Island Watershed Protection Authority 250 GtCO2 for the remaining seventy years to 2100. CHINA: Reduce CO2 per unit of GDP by 60-65% from seeks volunteer members for its Technical This also means that while present trends won’t achieve the 2005-2030. Peak carbon emissions 2030, possibly earlier. Working Group. Open to those who have expertise Year 2100 target to keep temperature rise under 2ºC, it’s not Increase forest stock by 4.5 billion cubic metres from 2005. in one or more of: UNITED STATES: Economy wide, reduce GHG impossible—yet. It just means that emission reductions after • limnology • aquatic biology • soil science • ecology 2030 will have to be significantly greater than what we seem to emissions by 26-28% below 2005 level by 2025, with best (conservation, restoration) • environmental science • be achieving before 2030. And vice versa: the greater the efforts towards 28%. hydrology • chemistry/toxicology • watershed reductions before 2030, the lower the reductions after 2030 LATVIA and EUROPEAN UNION (28 countries): protection • environmental or water resources need to be. Propose binding target of at least 40% reduction in GHG engineering • civil engineering • mathematics. emissions by 2030 compared to 1990. Does not include ‘Fair and Ambitious’ INDC Targets The Watershed Protection Authority (SSIWPA) LULUCF. That is why the COP21 Paris agreement places such emphasis coordinates development and implementation of TANZANIA: Developing African nation with negligible on ‘fair and ambitious’ INDC estimates. policies and initiatives for improved raw water quality, emissions of GHGs; claims to be a ‘net sink’. Projects 11% Fair because every nation has a unique situation when it and quantity in Salt Spring Island watersheds. emission reductions from BAU by 2030. comes to reducing its GHG emissions. Developed nations, with The Technical Working Group CANADA: Economy wide target of 30% reduction in huge energy requirements, may have distinctly different ways (http://ssiwatersheds.ca/technical-working-group) GHG emissions by 2030 compared to 2005. Emphasizes of generating that energy; different resources, different meets a minimum of four times per calendar year; it transportation, electricity generation. ‘Intends to develop geography, different populations, different degrees of provides science-based, technical advice about regulations to address methane emissions from the oil and urbanization. Developing nations may have growing energy and water and watershed science to SSIWPA. gas sector’ (but makes no mention of CO2 emissions from transportation needs, or may have little industrialization and the oil and gas sector). ‘Commitment to developing an Volunteers invited from Salt Spring Island, and from thus low emissions. international climate change agreement that is fair, effective, other Gulf Island communities, as well. Ambitious because the tendency, in making such estimates, and includes meaningful and transparent commitments is to avoid commitment to expensive or difficult emission Contact: Shannon Cowan [email protected], or from all major emitters.’ Emphasizes alignment with US. 250.537.4847 for more information. reduction schemes. Yet ambition is required if the world is going to avoid high temperature increases. SSIWPA Technical Working Group meets in public It appears that Canada’s submission, which totaled three It is a significant achievement for the secretariat to have Monday, November 16, 2015 at 1:00–3:00pm at 112 pages, was inadequate. It seems possible that the new managed to attract INDC from so many countries. Each INDC Rainbow Road, Salt Spring Island in the portable. government may wish to expand on its commitments. 0 paper is the product of unique background, and a unique www.islandtides.com Page 8, Island Tides, November 12, 2015

Dawn, high above a foggy Active Pass. Photo: Martin Blakesley

Champion of ProRep Not Optimistic - Frants Attorp With Liberal promises of convened to recommend a kill the initiative. One is a good idea the government would stop dead at the riding electoral reform the talk of the new voting system and that sending it to committee, should just go ahead and do it.’ boundaries. ‘This system gives town, there is renewed hope legislation to implement especially one representing Probably, the main the illusion that people can across the land for a fair and changes will be introduced five parties who ‘can’t agree on headwinds facing PR are the vote for their favourite BUY | RAISE | MOVE | LEVEL democratic voting system. within 18 months. the time of day’. The Greens powerful corporate interests candidate, but it is false hope,’ BUY RECYCLED HOMES But, if you are in favour, don't Pilon is very sceptical that and NDP want PR while the working behind the scenes. he says. ‘It does not stop RAISE Increase Square Footage don your party hats just yet. So the Liberals will scrap a Conservatives are strongly ‘The Liberals, like the phony majorities nor the MOVE Subdivide Your Lot! says Dennis Pilon, a York system that has just rewarded opposed. The Liberals, Conservatives, are a party of problem of wasted votes. The LEVEL Repair Foundation Issues University professor of them so generously. He points meanwhile, are intent on re- patronage,’ contends Pilon. devil, as always, is in the political science who has out that Stephen Harper was establishing their role as ‘We saw this last month when details.’ www.nickelbros.com 1-866-320-2268 championed proportional also in favour of PR before he Canada’s natural governing the Liberal campaign co-chair According to Pilon, the representation throughout his came to power. Similarly, party. ‘Each party wants a resigned after it was revealed only truly fair and democratic academic career and currently Christy Clark spent much time system that works in its he had advised an energy voting systems are those based Roasting Fancy Coffee sits on the Advisory Board of as a talk show host berating favour,’ he says, ‘and that’s company how to lobby on PR. ‘Democracy starts with for mail orders since 1982 Fair Vote Canada. FPTP, but then did nothing why the proposed committee government for pipeline representation. If the The Liberal platform states about it once she won a idea won’t fly.’ approval. The election wasn’t representation is not good, the the 2015 election will be the majority under that system. According to Pilon, Liberal even over and already the decisions of government will last under first past the post ‘Power is a very strong Prime Minister Mackenzie backroom wheeling and not reflect the will of the (FPTP). It indicates an all- intoxicant,’ he opines. King pulled a similar stunt in dealing had begun. PR would people.’ from Thetis Island to you party committee will be Pilon cites several ways to the 1930s. During an election weaken the Liberals’ ability to Although Pilon is www.potofgoldcoffee.com campaign, he promised PR, keep their corporate power pessimistic with regard to a but once in office, sent the base happy.’ major overhaul of the electoral Butler Gravel & whole matter to committee If change does happen, system, he urges Canadians to …Better which essentially ‘strangled Pilon believes it will come in continue to fight for PR: Moon Date Concrete the babe in the cradle’. the form of the ranked ballot ‘People who are tired of the Full: November 25 from the ground up! Another way to avoid which would work mainly to chaos and being held hostage New: December 11 Reliable Service, Quality Products doing anything is to call a the advantage of the larger to strategic voting should keep & Competitive Prices referendum.‘Referenda have parties, and particularly the the pressure on politicians. proven to be wide open to Liberals. Such a system would There is no excuse for not Serving All The Gulf Islands manipulation,’ he explains. ensure each MP is elected with representing the people as Phone 250-652-4484 ‘Politicians set the bar to suit a majority within his or her accurately as possible, and, Fax 250-652-4486 their own agenda. riding, but would not be although the political system ‘Furthermore, mainstream proportional because like- tends to work against us, 6700 Butler Crescent, Saanichton, B.C. media are very hostile to minded voters across the miracles have been known to electoral reform and make nation would not be able to happen.’ 0 absolutely no effort to present join forces to elect MPs. As balanced information. If PR is with FPTP, voter influence atures ter Fe Wa The Water System Experts s & Since 1972 nd Po dwater Systems • Groun Cus lls & We • ation ater & Irrig Prefe ainw • R Treatmen Re Water t • Specialis • Swimming Poo ls & S pas Costal dealers - Nicholby’s Building & Inspection spection Servic 461 Dupplin Rd, 260B Tsolum Rd, Two Locations Victoria B.C. Courtenay B.C. to Serve You... 1-888-444-8497 1-800-665-8311 āċĉĉĉċĂĊćċĉĀĆĊƫƫƫƫƫƫƫƫwintonhomes.cnhomes.ca www.vanislewater.com www.islandtides.com