Tag Archives: soil

Now Available In Ontario- IF You Can Find It- ‘Environment Friendly’ Boxed Water

January 18, 2016 The Silo 2 Comments

Water. It covers the vast majority of the earth’s surface. Likewise, water also comprises the bulk of the human body. The Earth and humans are each as dependent on the existence of water as the other. The earth’s environment graciously provides human beings with water, our most vital means of survival. It is our responsibility to reciprocate such generosity with the compassion we would show for our dearest friend.

Every year, about 50 billion plastic bottles of water are consumed throughout the globe. A whopping 30 billion of which are downed in the United States alone (amounting to about 60 % of the earth’s bottled water consumption) And 80 % of those plastic bottles end up in a landfill wherein the plastic breaks down into smaller fragments that absorb toxins and corrupt waterways, pollute soil and poison animals.

Even the manufacturing of bottled water is an environmental hazard. A single plastic bottle of water requires three times the volume of the water it takes to merely fill that bottle. And most of that water is rendered useless as a result of the chemicals utilized in the production of the plastic bottle. Without question, a more eco-friendly source of water delivery is an absolute necessity to the conservation of our planets resources. And now that solution has arrived in Canada. Boxed Water is an environmentally friendly and conscious brand and the answer to the drastic environmental cost extracted by the excessive consumption of plastic bottled water.

Boxed Water is new to the Canadian market and is distributed throughout the nation by RM Fresh Brands, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Legacy Ventures International Inc.(OTCQB:LGYV) Boxed Water is already making waves amongst consumers who love the product for being so eco-friendly and delicious. It is a fresh approach to remedying the environmental nightmares associated with the ubiquitous plastic water bottle.

Instead of plastic bottles, Boxed Water is packaged in a biodegradable box that’s reminiscent of a milk carton. The box is also key to the product’s brand identity. Carrying a simple message of ‘Boxed Water is Better’, this inconspicuous packaging effortlessly explains the concept of Boxed Water while attracting the attention of ecologically-aware consumers.

Benefits of Boxed Water:

(a) BPA/BPS FREE: All Boxed Water cartons are BPA/BPS free, which has been suggested as one of the leading causes of certain cancers.

(b) PACKAGING: 76 per cent of the Boxed Water packing is made from of trees, a renewable resource which renders the product a significantly more sustainable delivery source than the ecologically eradicating plastic bottle.

(c) FILTRATION: The water we drink should be healthy and refreshing. Boxed Waters 5 step filtration system process delivers pure hydration to help get the most out of life. Boxed Water is purified with UV, Carbon and reverse osmosis filtration. It is also free from chromium, arsenic, MBTE, chlorine, fluoride and trace pharmaceuticals.

(d) CONSERVATION: The trees used in Boxed Water come from Well Managed Forests.

(e) SHIPPING-WASTE LESS: Additionally, Boxed Water is shipped flat to the filler, lowering our carbon footprint which is much more efficient than shipping empty and glass bottles to be filled. Studies indicate that shipping accounts for 2.1 percent of annual global C02 and that number could increase up to 250 % by 2050. For one truck’s worth of bottled water,

Boxed Water can deliver 26 trucks’ worth of cartoned water. Boxed Water sends its cartons to its filling plants empty. A single pallet can hold some 35,000 empty, flat-packed Boxed Water cartons. Only after they’re shipped to the filling station are the cartons filled. At the plant, one truck’s worth of empty cartons can be filled to supply the 26 trucks. The space-savings ratio may be even more favorable when comparing the rectangular, easily stacked cartons with their rounded, pre-formed plastic water bottle counterparts.

(f) RESPONSIBILITY: Boxed Water donates at least 1 % of revenue annually to restoration and world water relief through partnerships with The National Forest Foundation and Water.org.

(g) RECYCLING Boxed Waters boxes are 100% recyclable at participating facilities (recyclecartons.com)

GIVING BACK: Boxed Water lessens the environmental impact and also gives back in a big way. During 2015, Boxed Water partnered with National Forest Foundation (NFF) to plant one million trees by 2020. This represents the largest single tree-planting commitment to date for the NFF and marked the start of a five year effort to plant trees in areas of our National Forests with highest ecological significance.

In recent months, Legacy Ventures International Inc. has showcased Boxed Water at major events such as the Toronto Film Festival and Holt Renfrew’s Holiday Kick Off. These partnerships, in combination with Boxed Water’s straightforward packaging, are expected to play a key role in getting the word out about the product by getting it into the hands of celebrities and other influencers.

Boxed Water represents an opportunity for Legacy to disrupt the Canadian bottled water industry with an eco-friendly, easy-to-ship, deceptively simple solution. As the company continues to identify and target additional disruptive brands in both domestic and international markets, Boxed Water represents the first step in a long term strategic plan to maximize shareholder value for the foreseeable future.

Boxed Water is available to consumers across Canada at the following select locations: Sobey’s, Whole Foods, Longos, Metro, Foodland, Pusatari’s, along with many smaller retail chains and independents. The brand has also caught the attention of non-traditional retailers including Ripley’s Aquarium and the Canadian Museum of Nature, who choose to exclusively carry Boxed Water as the only water available to the thousands of visitors who pass through their doors every year. More locations both national and local are signing up by the week to carry the brand and choosing this eco-friendly and healthier solution over traditional bottled water brands.

ABOUT LEGACY VENTURES INTERNATIONAL INC

Boxed Water is distributed in Canada through RM Fresh Brands, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Legacy Ventures International Inc.(OTCQB:LGYV) a Nevada based multinational conglomerate focused on acquisitions of proven and high-potential businesses across a variety of business sectors.

Through the strategic provision of capital and oversight to companies that have innovative products, category game changers and established fast growth brands, LEGACY VENTURES will hit the market with tremendous impact and traction.

Earth

When Are We Going to Get Serious About Invasive Species- Phragmites?

July 26, 2015 The Silo 7 Comments

The Phragmites invasion was identified as the number one concern facing the Long Point area at this summer’s Long Point Biosphere symposium on ecosystem stresses.

Phragmites growing along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline. image: chesapeakebay.net

In the pond adjacent to my house, a few Phragmites plants appeared about 20 years ago. Those few stalks then turned into a patch covering 15 per cent of the pond. It took 20 years but I’ve now eliminated it – although it has cropped up elsewhere on our farm. I realize what I’ve seen for an increase is small in comparison to what has occurred in some areas, for example, Phragmites dominates the ditches along Highway 402.

More than 10 years ago, Dr. Scott Petrie and Long Point Waterfowl were one of the first to research the expansion of Phragmites in the Long Point area. At that time, the potential threat was just beginning to be realized. Its threat wasn’t widely known outside Long Point except amongst waterfowlers and naturalists.

The last session of the legislature debated Phragmites as a part of the Invasive Species Act. This bill has currently had its second reading.

My concern as a landowner is to have the tools to deal with Phragmites. The Invasive Species Act doesn’t provide this kind of help. Ideally, the Act should contain an education plan, funding and ways to prevent spread. The Act puts an emphasis on landowners to control invasive species, but doesn’t provide the wherewithal to make it happen.

This is not to say the Invasive Species Act is all bad legislation, it’s just big on stick and small on carrot.

Now in talking about tools, we realize the challenges of controlling Phragmites. It spreads through both seeds and rhizomes and is just about impossible to control without herbicide.

I recently attended a St. Williams meeting on Phragmites, hosted by the Ontario Phragmites Working Group and Long Point Ratepayers’ Association, that focused on methods of control. Control alternatives varied from manual extraction, to discing it under, to experimentation with herbicides, to prescribed burns. Herbicides are the best alternative for large areas, but the issue is approval needs to be granted for application over water.

When Phragmites colonizes an area, it spreads quickly and prevents the new growth of other plants. It’s also poor habitat for wildlife. It impacts humans as well through loss of recreational opportunities, negative tourism impacts, decline in property values and blocked sightlines.

When Purple Loosestrife was the hot invasive plant, I was Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources. In conjunction with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, hit squads went into areas where Loosestrife was rampant and manually removed it. It’s not that simple with Phragmites, and we have yet to see this kind of commitment from government.

During the St. Williams symposium, we learned the City of Thomas has tackled Phragmites with minimal expenditure. The goal is to have the city Phragmites-free by 2020. Lambton Shores has also been aggressive and the plant is now 99 per cent under control in the municipality.

When Purple Loosestrife was first identified as an issue, it was thought to be the worst invasive plant in the province’s history – Phragmites now has that dubious honour. It will take a concerted effort by government, communities and individuals to take it on. It’s time to get serious! For the Silo, MPP Toby Barrett

Earth

Shephardess Innovates With Dynamic Agriculture System

September 29, 2014 The Silo Leave a comment

photo's: Carrie Wooley — photo’s: Carrie Wooley

Trying to find agricultural systems that are environmentally friendly and economically viable is a challenge facing the agriculture industry. So when a friend from New Zealand told us about how they graze sheep in fruit orchards we instantly liked the idea. All of a sudden the apple and cherry orchards on the farm didn’t look just like orchards, they also looked like sheep pasture. So we went for it and purchased our first group of ewes in January of 2013. Our goal was to build a sheep production system that worked with the current farm set up and where we can produce quality lamb raised in an environmentally sustainable and welfare-friendly system.

Our sheep graze permanent pastures in spring and early summer where they give birth to lambs, and are moved to orchards the rest of the year.

Utilizing the grass in the orchards allows us to reduce feed costs and grass cutting costs. While the sheep convert grass and weeds into meat they also fertilize the orchards with their manure. Having the sheep on pasture eliminates costs associated with keeping animals in barns such as bedding material and manure removal. Lambs are born outside on pasture in May and June. Raising lambs on pasture can bring challenges such as coyotes and internal parasites.

To help protect our sheep from coyotes we utilize electric fences and livestock guardian dogs. Livestock guardian dogs have been used for hundreds of years by shepherds to protect their sheep from people and predators. We use the Kuvasz and Maremma breeds of livestock guardian dogs, other guardian breeds include the Great Pyrenees, Akbash, and Anatolian Shepherds. These amazing working dogs see the sheep as their family and guard them day and night. Raised with sheep from the time they are puppies, guardian dogs sleep with the flock at night and can even be found helping clean off newborn lambs.

The idea of a more dynamic and sustainable agricultural system is something we want to pursue. We, as farmers and stewards of the land, recognize that we need to be inventive to keep soils and ultimately the environment healthy. In agriculture there is always lots to learn and it provides me with an exciting and interesting line of work.

Earth

Grand River Conservation effort targets phragmites- invasive reeds via Roundup

September 24, 2014 The Silo 3 Comments

Portions of the Snyder’s Flats Conservation Area will be closed to the public during the week of Sept. 29 while a herbicide is used to control an outbreak of phragmites, an invasive plant species.

Signs will be posted in the parking lot at the entrance to the property on Snyder’s Flats Road near Bloomingdale. The affected sections of the trail network within the conservation area will be marked as closed.

Staff of the Grand River Conservation Authority will be applying the herbicide glyphosate, which is better known by the trade name Roundup. The herbicide has been widely adopted by conservation organizations as a safe and effective way to remove invasive species.

The work is scheduled to be done on Monday, Sept. 29 and Tuesday, Sept. 30. The affected areas will be posted for a day after the herbicide is applied. There is a potential that the work could be delayed if there is heavy rain or high winds.

In most areas, the herbicide will be applied by hand to individual plants. Some larger outbreaks will be tackled with backpack-style sprayers.

Phragmites australis, also known as European common reed, is a species that came to North America from Eurasia. According to Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program, the plant spreads quickly and out-competes native species for water and nutrients. It releases toxins from its roots into the soil to hinder the growth and kill surrounding plants.

In taking over from native plants, it also reduces the habitat available to wetland wildlife species including birds, turtles and other amphibians and reptiles.

GRCA staff hope that by reacting quickly to its presence they can keep it from spreading throughout Snyder’s Flats and to other properties.

The work at Snyder’s Flats is part of the GRCA’s long-term program to return the former gravel pit area to a natural state that is home to a wide variety of plant, bird and animal species.

Culture

Watershed Forests Returning On Former Farmer Fields

May 27, 2014 The Silo 1 Comment

The Grand River watershed was 85 per cent forest 200 years ago. However, tree cover dropped to just five per cent by 1900 as land was cleared for farming and urban areas. Today, the tree cover has rebounded to about 19 per cent. Environment Canada suggests a healthy watershed needs a tree cover of about 30 per cent.

New forests are rising on old farm fields in Mapleton Township in an effort to improve water quality in streams feeding Conestogo Lake reservoir. About 70,000 trees are being planted this year and next on two parcels of land totalling 40 hectares (100 acres) on the north side of the reservoir.

The GRCA is planting a variety of species that are native to the area, including spruce, tamarack, white pine, bur oak, silver maple and cottonwood. In addition to the new forests, the GRCA will also do some reshaping of the landscape to create some seasonal wetlands that will also help improve water quality and provide additional habitat.

As the trees grow in coming years, the areas will quickly become home to a variety of animals, such as deer and wild turkeys. Later, as the forests mature, it’s expected that several bird species including scarlet tanagers, ovenbirds and great horned owls will take up residence. A 12 hectare parcel near Wellington Road 10 and Concession Road Five has been planted this year. The second parcel of 28 hectares is near Concession Road 5 and Sideroad 15. About 18 hectares has been planted this year and the rest will be planted in 2015. The land was acquired by the GRCA when it built the reservoir in the 1950s. It has been leased to farmers since then.

These two parcels of land were prone to erosion which sent a lot of sediment down the streams into the reservoir, explained Ron Wu-Winter, watershed forester with the GRCA. In addition, the sediment also carried nutrients – phosphorous and nitrates – which are found in manure and commercial fertilizers. The nutrients would spur algae and plant growth in the reservoir, resulting in lower water quality.

The northwestern part of the Grand River watershed contains some of the best farmland in Ontario. As a result, the forest cover is some of the lowest in the watershed. Forest cover is estimated at 15 per cent or less. A healthy watershed should have forest cover of about 30 per cent. Trees help raise water quality in several ways. They soak up nutrients in the soil, so reduce the volume that runs off the surface into a watercourse. Trees along a stream shade it, keeping it cooler in summer which is good for some coldwater fish species.

The total cost of the project is about $150,000. About $50,000 was contributed by the Grand River Conservation Foundation. It is also supported by the Trees Ontario Foundation which is contributing $65,000. For the Silo, Dave Schultz.

Tree Facts
* Across the entire watershed, the GRCA will plant about 400,000 trees this year, including 95,000 on its own land and 300,000 in partnership with private land owners.
* The GRCA operates a nursery near Burford, in Brant County, where it grows more than 150,000 trees a years from 60 different species.
* Since it was created in 1934, the GRCA has planted more than 27 million trees on both private land and its own land.
* The Grand River watershed was 85 per cent forest 200 years ago. However, tree cover dropped to just five per cent by 1900 as land was cleared for farming and urban areas. Today, the tree cover has rebounded to about 19 per cent. Environment Canada suggests a healthy watershed needs a tree cover of about 30 per cent.
* To learn more about the GRCA’s tree planting program, go to the Tree Planting section of the GRCA website. The GRCA helps private landowners develop planting plans, plant the trees and find grants to offset costs.

Supplemental- Turning farm land back into forest- http://www.udel.edu/PR/Messenger/04/03/PTturning.html

Culture

10 Year Old Eco Blogger Hannah Alper

August 30, 2013 The Silo Leave a comment

Eco-blogger and 'kid activist' Hannah Alper. — Eco-blogger and ‘kid activist’ Hannah Alper.

Dear Silo, you’ve probably heard me talk about my daughter Hannah in the past. She has been called many things: “The future of social media”, “Eco-Warrior”, “Changemaker” and “Activist”. At 10 years old, she is all of these things. And now, she can add Free The Children’s “We Day” speaker to the list. There will be nine We Days across Canada this school year, plus two in the United States. And the first U.K. We Day will happen in London next spring. [More on what “We Day” is all about below CP]

She created her blog, www.CallMeHannah.ca , at 9 years old, with the goal of sharing her growing knowledge and concern for the environment. Having always loved animals, Hannah made the connection between animals and the effects of environmental destruction on their habitats and lives. Hannah has become an engaged global citizen seeking to further her own understanding of her connection to and responsibility to the world. Believing that even the little things that we do add up to make a difference, her journey and discovery meet her call to action through her blog.

Issues that Hannah has written about in the past year include eco-friendly living, fair trade, bullying, clean water and child labour. She seeks inspiration and motivation from those who have come before her and regularly features the stories of her role models on her blog.

Not limiting herself to her laptop, Hannah has put her words into actions. She organized a shoreline cleanup in her community, was a WWF Earth Hour Team Captain 2013 and spoke at the WWFs Earth Hour event in Toronto, was the official “on the ground eco-blogger” for the JUNO Awards and launched We Create Change. Her impassioned speech at two local schools motivated her peers to collect 97,500 pennies for Free The Children’s clean water projects. An effective communicator, Hannah is comfortable and confident on both sides of the camera or in front of a crowd. She has honed her skills as an interviewer through conducting interviews with Craig Kielburger, Spencer West and Severn Suzuki. Hannah has appeared on CanadaAM, The Marilyn Dennis Show, APP Central, CBC’s Fresh Air and The George Stroumboulopoulos Show. She has been featured in a spotlight from Chickadee Magazine and named as a Champion of the Earth in Owl Magazine and was the youngest team captain for The WWF’s Earth Hour in 2013. As you can see, I am very proud of my daughter and her efforts to improve the world we live in. Her current focus is on We Day.

“We Day is a room that can transform people, where messages about bullying and social issues can resonate and a place where students can find people just like them,” said Free The Children ambassador Demi Lovato. “Growing up I was forced to deal with many personal struggles and I craved a space where I not only belonged but felt powerful enough to make a difference. To me, that‘s what We Day does – it brings people together in a day of celebration for world change, showing them they aren‘t alone in their journey and that it is cool to care. And I am so grateful to be a part of that.”

“As kids, we face different pressures all the time,” said Austin Mahone, Award-Winning American pop singer. “You‘ve got to surround yourself with positive people in your life, and that‘s what We Day does. It brings people together to celebrate the difference we can make for each other. I‘m so excited to be a part of it for the first time this year!”

We Day is a stadium-sized educational event and a movement of young people leading local and global change. We Day is tied to the year-long program, We Act, which supports students and educators with free educational resources, student-led campaigns and support materials to help turn the event‘s inspiration into sustained activation. Since 2007, youth involved in the We Act program have raised $37 million dollars for over 1000 local and global causes and logged more than 9.6 million volunteer hours.

“I had the opportunity this past summer to participate with Free The Children‘s communities in Kenya, and see first-hand the lasting impact that youth in North America are making through their charitable work,” said Joe Jonas from the Grammy® nominated, multi-platinum band the Jonas Brothers. “I understand what it means to these communities to have access to clean water and an education and I was thrilled to get involved by committing to help build two schools overseas with Free The Children. It may seem like a simple assignment to make one local and one global commitment, but these efforts fundamentally impact the lives of people around the world.” Eric Halper.

Stay connected:

– Like We Day on Facebook: facebook.com/WeDay

– Twitter: @Freethechildren; @CraigKielburger

– Official Hashtag: #WeDay

– Visit www.weday.com

About Free The Children

Free The Children is an international charity and educational partner. Founded in 1995 by international activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children believes in a world where young people are free to achieve their fullest potential, and empowers youth to remove barriers that prevent them from being active local and global citizens. The organization‘s domestic programs—which includes We Day, Free The Children‘s signature youth empowerment event—educate, engage and empower 1.7 million young people across North America, the UK and around the world to become engaged global citizens. Its international projects have brought more than 650 schools and school rooms to youth and provided clean water and sanitation, health care and food security to one million people around the world, freeing children and their families from the cycle of poverty.

The organization has received the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child, the Human Rights Award from the World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations, and has formed successful partnerships with leading school boards and Oprah’s Angel Network. For more information, visit www.freethechildren.com.

Culture

Why are Ontario farmland values skyrocketing? Greens: due to development

August 21, 2013 The Silo 1 Comment

Ottawa, ON – Green Party leader and Guelph candidate Mike Schreiner called for the complete protection of prime farmland in Ontario.
“We can’t eat subdivisions, quarries or pipelines,” said Schreiner while attending the Association Municipalities of Ontario Conference
in Ottawa.

“The Ontario government must stop destroying prime farmland before it’s too late.” Only five percent of Ontario’s land mass is suitable for growing food. Less than 0.5% is prime farmland. Yet Ontario is losing approximately 126,000 acres of farmland each year to development.

“People are tired of the Liberal’s bait and switch government that says one thing and does another. The government’s local food act is meaningless if the Liberals fail to protect prime farmland,” added Schreiner. “There will be no local food if the province continues to lose farmland at a rate equal to the size of Toronto each year.”

The Green Party is pushing the government to protect prime farmland from development in the new Provincial Policy Statement, which is currently under review. Schreiner is the only political leader to sign the Food and Water First pledge to protect farmland and source water regions. He has challenged other political leaders to sign the pledge.

“Good soil is priceless and must be protected. It is a shame no Liberal, NDP or PC MPP has taken a simple pledge to put food and water first in Ontario,” said GPO deputy leader Kevin O’Donnell. “The Greens will always put food and water first before developers, quarries and pipelines.” CP

Big rise in per acre value in only 12months. We're not sure why but Norfolk County and Haldimand County farmland values are missing from this chart and we were unable to find those stats anywhere on the RE/MAX farm realty site. — Big rise in per acre value in only 12months. We’re not sure why but Norfolk County and Haldimand County farmland values are missing from this chart and we were unable to find those stats anywhere on the RE/MAX farm realty site.

Supplemental- Ontario farmland values are skyrocketing http://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/aboutus/media/flv_spring2013_on_e.asp

RE/MAX Agricultural Real Estate is bonafide- Farm Market Trends- http://www.slideshare.net/SandraDales/remax-market-trends-report-farm-edition-2011

Earth

Green Party Emphatic No To Proposed ‘Tar Sands Oil’ Pipelines In Ontario

July 24, 2013 The Silo 3 Comments

Oil pipelines already cross Canada and the United States- Ontario's Green Party stands opposed to a proposed Oil pipeline (using a modified natural gas pipeline) set to cross into and through Ontario. CP image: leadenergy.org — Oil pipelines already cross Canada and the United States- Ontario’s Green Party stands opposed to a proposed Oil pipeline (using a modified natural gas pipeline) set to cross into and through Ontario. CP image: leadenergy.org

Ottawa – Green Party leader Mike Schreiner is pledging to fight two oil pipeline projects through Ontario. Joining Ottawa South candidate Taylor Howarth on a campaign tour, Schreiner and Howarth raised concerns about the health, environmental and economic effects of TransCanada Corp.’s proposed east coast pipeline, which travels through Ottawa, and Enbridge’s proposed Line 9 pipeline. Both projects
will pump tar sands oil east.

“Greens will fight for the health and safety of our communities,” says Schreiner. “If BC can say no to dirty oil pipelines, Ontario should too.” TransCanada’s proposed Energy East pipeline could transport as much as 850,000 barrels of tar sands oil per day. The project would require retrofitting a 55 year old natural gas pipeline to handle the heavy, more abrasive and corrosive tar sands oil.

“I don’t want to see a tragedy in my community, and I will fight to prevent it,” says Howarth. “This pipeline was not built to handle tar sands oil, and as MPP, I will push the Ontario government to oppose the project. Every vote for the Green Party sends this message to Queen’s Park.”

According to the Montreal Gazette- Municipalities and Counties strung along the Line 9b pathway received cash donations from Enbridge. CP

Studies in the U.S. reveal that pipelines carrying tar sands oil spilled almost three times as much crude oil per mile of pipeline between 2007 and 2010 compared to the U.S. national average. And heavy tar sands oil is more difficult and expensive to clean up than light crude or natural gas. “Both of these pipeline projects are a bad deal for Ontario,” says Schreiner.

“These pipelines are all risk and no reward.” Instead of projects that will increase pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, the Green
Party is calling for policies to support clean tech innovation. “Ontario must invest in where the puck is going, not where it is, to create jobs and clean prosperity,” says Schreiner. “Ontario should commit to building electric cars that don’t pollute and support made in Ontario renewable energy, not pipelines that threaten our communities.” For the Silo, Becky Smit.

Supplemental- Ontario Energy Workers union backs proposed Line 9 Oil pipeline http://business.financialpost.com/2013/07/09/energy-workers-union-backs-line-9-project-calls-for-stricter-oil-by-rail-regulation/?__lsa=6225-fce3

Enbridge Website Line9 Reversal Phase 1 Project Overview http://www.enbridge.com/ECRAI/Line9ReversalProject

Earth

Harvesting Wild Leeks

May 8, 2013 The Silo 1 Comment

It’s coq-a-leeky time. For the past several years my friend House and I go out to our secret spot in a nearby woods and harvest wild leeks.

They grow three quarters of the way down a steep hill so the element of danger grows stronger every year with aging limbs. Let me tell you, it’s damn hard using a shovel on a steep hill when you can’t balance on one leg. Jeanine’s advice as I was leaving “try not to fall down the hill” Exactly. I had my cell phone with me but realized that if either of us went down there would be no immediate rescue.

We made a pact to leave the fallen man behind and press on should disaster strike. The soil was wet this year, so it was an easier job digging them out. It only took us about an hour to fill our recyclable shopping bags. When we had successfully dragged ourselves back up the incline we paused to sit on a fallen tree and observe the moment. We discussed as we always do how it would be great to build a camping platform at this spot and retreat here when our “other” worlds became too much. The annual pipe dream.

As the sun filtered through the trees we watched the dogs for awhile as they ran around with noses to the ground. Then, as every year we validated the ritual as something important to us that we will repeat faithfully for as long as we are able. Pause. Time to make our way back through the difficult new growth.

It takes Jeanine a long time to clean the leeks, and take off the little hairy bits on the ends, but she doesn’t seem to mind. We both know what’s coming. That night we make our version of Coq-a-leeky soup, a perennial spring favourite of many cultures including the Scottish. We get a pot of chicken broth simmering and drop in about 8 full cloves of garlic, and a couple of cut up potatoes. We let that simmer until the potatoes are quite soft ( about 15 min). Next we throw in the chopped up wild leeks (use everything) and give it about another 10 minutes. A little pepper, or soya if want to give it an Asian flavour. But not so much as to cover the subtle flavor of the leeks. No oil or fat is involved and we love the flavor. Most importantly, it is an amazing spring tonic. I notice I have better energy the next morning.

Jeanine talks about how in France it is common for people to do a “cure” from time to time. Short of an absolute fast which can be debilitating and potentially dangerous, they simply restrict themselves for a few days to eating small amounts of only one simple, nutritious thing . Some use fruit, others fish or vegetable stock, etc. Currently it is not the only thing we are eating so it can’t be considered a full cure, but we have been predominantly eating just the leek soup since, and will continue until it’s gone.

By the way, we wrap the cleaned leeks in paper towels and store them in the crisper. There are a lot of other creative and delicious ways to cook these little treasures. I recommend trying to get your hands on some while they’re in season. It’s worth the effort. For the Silo, Phil Ross.

Culture

Letters To Silo- Concern Over Canada-China Treaty Agreement

November 23, 2012 The Silo 1 Comment

Hello Silo, I think this is a very, very important non-partisan political issue.
I believe it is imperative to get the word out to all Canadians.
I hope The Silo will give it some publicity.
It is about the Canada-China Treaty Agreement.
This is a letter I got from Elizabeth May after I sent an eletter to Mr Harper.

“Thank you for your interest in the Canada-China Investment Treaty. Although Stephen Harper prefers to keep Canadians in the dark about this Agreement’s grave implications for our sovereignty, security, and democracy, I am hopeful that we can force the issue into daylight. Your letter proves that you recognize the seriousness and urgency of what is about to take place behind our backs.
While the Canada-China Investment Treaty will likely be our most significant treaty since NAFTA, Stephen Harper plans to sign it into law as early as November 2nd, 2012, without any public consultation, any consultation with First Nations, any Parliamentary debate, or even a single vote in the House of Commons. I do not accept such blatant disrespect for either the will of Canadians or for our democratic institutions.
Sadly, in addition to the anti-democratic process to approve this Agreement, it is the actual content of this investment deal with which I am most concerned. For the first time in Canadian history, the Canada-China Investment Treaty will allow investors (including Chinese state-owned enterprises such as CNOOC or Sinopec), to claim damages against the Canadian government in secret, for decisions taken at the municipal, provincial, territorial or federal level that result in a reduction of their expectation of profits. Even decisions of Canadian courts can give rise to damages.

Realizing what the Conservatives were attempting to do, in secret and without debate, and realizing that we will be bound by this destructive Agreement for up to 31 years once it is ratified, on October 1st, 2012, I made a request in the House of Commons for an Emergency Debate to allow Canada’s democratically elected Members of Parliament to study the implications of the Canada-China Investment Treaty.
Although my request for an Emergency Debate was regrettably denied, we have not given up and are continuing to pursue all available options to stop the treaty’s approval. Given what is at stake, we hope that you will join us.

In addition to the tools found on our Canada-China Investment Treaty campaign site at http://www.greenparty.ca/stop-the-sellout, I urge you to push back against this sell-out of our sovereignty, security, and democracy, and help to educate Canadians by talking to your friends and neighbours, writing letters to the editor in local and national newspapers, calling in to talk radio shows, and filling up the comment boards of news website.

Crucially, this is not a partisan issue, and it is only by coming together to stand up for Canada that we will succeed in stopping this agreement.

Stand up against the sellout to China | Green Party of Canada
www.greenparty.ca
On September 9th, Prime Minister Stephen Harper signed an agreement with China, theCanada-ChinaInvestment Treaty. The agreement was kept from the Canadian public and Parliament until September 26th, 2012, when it was quietly made public, tabled in the House of Commons. No press release. No technical…. Jackie Davies

Follow-up Letter from Mrs. Davies

The Canada-China Investment Treaty is a threat to our national integrity, environmental values, and our autonomy.
And, it is now legal for it to happen without any debate in our nation’s Parliament.

It is the biggest trade deal since NAFTA (1994).

What it will allow is this: Chinese companies (including state-owned enterprises) will be able to sue Canada over decisions that can limit or reduce their expectation of profits. China could claim damages against Canada for decisions at the municipal, provincial, territorial or federal level. Even decisions of our courts can give rise to damages.

It contains the same damaging clauses as NAFTA which are right at this very moment eroding away our Canadian resources and autonomy.

In an email she sent out, Elizabeth May says:
“On November 15th, US-incorporated firm Lone Pine Resources announced its intentions of suing the Government of Canada under the North American Free-Trade Agreement’s infamous Chapter 11. Over what? Quebec’s decision to impose a moratorium on all oil and gas exploration activities in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.
By announcing the moratorium, Quebec not only made the right decision (the GPC is the only federal party calling for a moratorium on any oil and gas exploration and/or development in the Gulf of St. Lawrence), but it set the standard for every other province. The decision was made by elected officials and with overwhelming support in the population. Every Quebecer still had the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion in mind. Lone Pine argues the decision was “arbitrary”. I say it was not.”

And so do I and thousands upon thousands of other Canadians.

This is not theoretical. This is happening right now with private US corporations. I shudder to think what would happen if Chinese Communist Party-controlled enterprises had this kind of power over our democratic processes.

For more information on what you can do about the Canada-China Investment Treaty
go to this link http://www.greenparty.ca/stop-the-sellout/action

By the way, Green Leader Elizabeth May won top honours at tonight’s 2012 Parliamentarian of the Year Awards, an annual event organised by Macleans’ and L’Actualité. The MPs themselves voted in eight categories to select the winners.

“I am so honoured to receive such an enormous award from my colleagues in the House.” She is the first woman and first Green Party member to win the award.

Jackie Davies

*The Silo is a non-partisan online and print publication. The opinions expressed in Letters to the Silo are not necessarily those of the Silo/Mith Media. We welcome all input and encourage informed debate

Culture

First Nations reader sends letter outlining FIPA Canada-China trade concerns

November 3, 2012 The Silo Leave a comment

November 1, 2012 His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D. Governor General

Your Excellency:

I am going to start with this quote i read today “I am a Canadian, free to
speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I
think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, and free to choose those
who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold
for myself and all mankind.” – John Diefenbaker.

Now as a proud First Nations citizen of Canada, I strongly urge you to use
your discretionary reserve powers as the Head of State of this country and
to suspend Stephen Harper as Prime Minister and to dissolve Parliament in
order to preserve and protect our democracy. The method in which Prime
Minister Harper negotiated in secret the Canada-China Foreign Investment
Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) and his refusal to have any
debate or discussion on it in the House of Commons is extremely
undemocratic. There are many who believe he no longer nor ever acted in
the true benefit of Canada as a whole, i speak for myself and for my
peoples, as i know many will be, or would have wanted to, sending letters.
The First Nations are only just getting word out with regards to the full
effect this will have on our peoples. We are begging for our
Constitutional Rights given to us through our treaties. I see Elders
crying, these people lead our communities not the false leaders imposed on
us. i cry as i write this…our Elders gave a unanimous decision to reject
any deals to use our lands. We have been closed out of any trade
agreements, some based on technicalities…now to quote from of the
government documents our growing youth population (which is getting
healthier) is excepted to be “400,000” these children are what we fight
for. Our beliefs are that we are here as maintainers or caretakers of this
land. Mother Earth will be here long after we leave, our children’s
children should not have to “maintain” our messes. I was raised outside
the First Nations community, taken away as a child isolated(almost
literally) from people for around 6 years of my life, i had school and i
had my sister but i was forced to spend a lot of time alone, plus
physical/psychological abuse, i am one of the lucky ones. But our
communities are only just starting the healing process, and on top of that
educating ourselves. We need to be able to Listen to our Elders, our
Elders are begging for our Treaty rights and I do know “hear” news of our
tribal leaders asking for the same.

All citizens of Canada have a democratic right to be informed and consulted
on any such far reaching agreements especially when they have the potential
for very dire repercussions as does FIPA. In ratifying this agreement,
which provides communist run corporations the power to sue Canadian
governments at all levels should our laws and policies impede their
expected profits, it is not only completely contrary to the best interest
of Canadians it in fact serves to undermine the very core of our democracy.
By ratifying this agreement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is providing
Chinese corporations the ability to challenge and overturn our laws and
strike down our democratic process and that is without question an attack
on our democracy and our ability to be sovereign country. The vast majority
of Canadians strongly oppose this agreement but their Conservative Members
of Parliament choose to follow party lines rather than to represent their
constituent’s wishes. The people of Canada have lost confidence in the
Harper Conservative Parliament and our elected representatives refuse to
act accordingly. One of the Governor’s General most important
responsibilities is to ensure that Canada always has a prime minister and a
government in place that has the confidence of the people who elected the
Parliament. For the sake of Canada and Canadians, please execute your
duties and suspend Stephen Harper as Prime Minister and dissolve Parliament.

The above is a quote from a fellow citizen, but I have done research.
Everything I have been looking up over the last month with regards to
environmental amendments and First Nation goals are extremely disturbing,
and to mention on top of those are budget indiscretions and the
environmental impact he has allowed to happen. I am not someone that can
sit on the sidelines and not do something or say something when you know
something being done is wrong. What the Conservative government is doing
to Canada is wrong, what he has planned for the First Nations communities
is wrong. This government can not be allowed to continue on with it’s
agenda.

Sincerely
Lenore Gold
From the Cree Nation and a Canadian Citizen

*The Silo is a non-partisan online and print publication and welcomes open-forum debate and comments. The opinions expressed in letters to the Silo are not necessarily those of the Silo.

Politics

Holland Marsh Peaker Plant

September 25, 2012 The Silo 1 Comment

HollandMarshGasPlantBound — The Holland Marsh- photo:friendsofthegreenbelt.ca

“The cost of moving gas power plants for political reasons is more than financial. It erodes confidence in our government and our democracy. It leads to cynicism and turns people off politics.It’s a sad day for democracy when jokes are flying around Queen’s Park that the going rate for a Liberal seat is $40 million. Perhaps the Liberal party should repay the $200 plus million that this fiasco will cost taxpayers or ratepayers.” MIKE SCHREINER, GPO LEADER

The government must be held accountable for such a blatant and obvious example of putting partisan political interests ahead of the public’s interests.

Forgotten in all the talk of gas plants in Mississauga and Oakville is that the Holland Marsh Peaker plant proceeded against local opposition in a PC held riding.

KinggasplantsequenceHollandMarsh — York Enery Centre King Township Peaker Generating Station Construction Progress: 2011-04-21 photos: Greg Locke

That plant is located in Ontario’s protected Greenbelt, adjacent to prime farm land and sensitive wetlands. These compelling reasons and local opposition weren’t enough to stop the plant in a PC riding, yet days before an election local opposition was enough to stop a plant in a Liberal held riding.

At a minimum the Premier should issue an unambiguous apology to the people of Ontario for the costs to our finances and democracy that have arisen from his government’s mishandling of siting of gas plants in Ontario.”

GreenBelt Plan 2005

Green Party of Ontario
PO Box 1132
Toronto, ON M4Y 2T8
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