I came across this interesting Solar EV Charging station in the parking lot at Garry Point Park in Steveston, BC, today.
The panel appears to track the sun. . .
We don’t have an EV, yet, but I’ll have to check this out in more detail!
Category Archives: Business
SEHAB Reports to Department of Fisheries Regional HQ
Several SEHAB (Salmonid Enhancement & Habitat Advisory Board) members had a productive meeting today with 2 Department of Fisheries Directors, 2 Regional Managers, and the Stewardship Planning Coordinator.
We met via Teams to report out on the last SEHAB meeting, bringing forward concerns from BC’s streamkeeper and stewardship volunteer community on issues such as groundwater access for volunteer hatcheries, the salmonid fry salvage policy and adult salvage (fish stranding when drought affects watersheds), enhanced networking opportunities, DFO research into the 6PPD-Q chemical in vehicle tires that is known to be lethal to Coho salmon, and some planning looking forward to the province-wide streamkeeper/stewardship conference in 2025, etc. Whew!
One of the key issues was the likelihood of drought affecting watersheds across BC again this year. The outlook is not good for fish, for agriculture, for forestry, for fires. . .
Can Russia’s Leaders Become Even More Crazy? Yes.
Russian leaders are becoming increasingly unhinged.
Medvedev has threatened “nuclear retaliation” on Europe and the West if Russia returns to its 1991 borders.
In other words, he is saying that if the Russian dictatorship is forced to live within its borders, and stop invading other countries, it’s going to unleash the nukes.
It’s fascinating, but scary, at how afraid Russia’s oligarchy is of freedom and democracy.
At how Russia’s oligarchy can think of nothing but empire.
At how Russia’s oligarchy is still flogging the “Nazis in Ukraine” line, when it was the oligarchy’s fave leader Stalin who signed a pact with Hitler and Nazi Germany.
Do not fall for Russian propaganda. They are experts at it. Have been for centuries.
The oligarchs want to keep their mansions and billions. It’s not politics, it’s lust.
As I’ve said before, look at where people are moving to. I see lots of Russian immigrants, and other former Soviet bloc immigrants in Canada. How many Canadians are clamouring to move to Russia?
Canada Must Wake Up When it Comes to War
I cannot believe the Federal Liberals in Canada are still waffling over ever reaching our NATO committment to 2% of our national budget going to Defence.
Since WWII we’ve steadily deteriorated from leaders to laggards.
In WWI and WWII Canada was respected. Canadian troops were feared by the Axis. Canada punched way above its weight.
We had farmers, trappers, hunters, and First Nations who grew up with rifles, with hunting, with living off the land, and who were deadly in war.
We are now for the most part urban softies who have no clue about the likely impact of wars “far away” that will impact us sooner or later.
Our “leaders” appear to have their collective heads in the sand.
You never win with bullies with appeasement.
We are witnessing bullies on a massive scale with Putin and Xi Jinping.
Good luck. . . or, wake up, eh?
Can There Be a Happy New Year When Russia Wants to Kill?
Happy New Year to all Ukrainian fighters everywhere, in whatever role you may be in.
Putin is a demented aggressor whose actions have resulted in the deaths of over 300,000 of his soldiers in addition to the horrors his forces have inflicted upon Ukraine.
I have been studying history for 50 years, and there is no reason for Russia to invade Ukraine, aside from Putin’s longing for lost empire.
If Putin is really chasing Nazis, as he claims, he should look in the mirror. It was Uncle Joe Stalin, a consumate Russian dictator, who signed a pact with Hitler.
And as for Russian citizens, it’s very difficult for me to wish you a Happy New Year.
At best many of you have behaved like sheep, and at worst you have participated in trash talk dehumanzing Ukrainians.
As for NATO? There is no intent from anyone to invade Russia, and never has been.
It’s all a scam, and always has been, perpetrated by the psychopaths in Russia’s maskirovka agencies. . .
BC Ferry to Nanaimo on Glorious Sunny Day
I never tire of riding a ferry in BC. This gorgeous day we were off to Nanaimo then onward to Comox for work.
Burnaby City Council Hits the Brakes on Removing Parkland
Happy that community came together.
Happy that new voices took leading roles, not just “environmental activists.”
Happy that Burnaby Council responded to the public outcry.
Happy that the City will take a new look, and consider other alternatives to removing parkland for an organic waste processing facility.
Yes, the initial aim to process more of our local organic waste locally was, and is, a good idea.
Just not on rare and sensitive habitat that has been almost completely wiped out on the lower Fraser River.
And not by un-dedicating parkland that was specifically dedicated for its unique values.
We share this Earth. It’s not only for people, and parks are not only for human recreation. Parks, the more natural the better, have value beyond playing fields.
I hope that we have all learned through this process.
(If you’re new to this blog, scroll down, down, to see several of my posts on the proposal to build an organic waste processing facility in unique habitat. . .)
2004 Burnaby Report Details Sensitive Parklands Now Under Threat
I wonder if the history of the designation of the parkland that the City of Burnaby wants to build a waste-processing facility on has been lost. A 2004 Report to Council refers to the area as environmentally sensitive.
The March 31, 2004 report is entitled “Acquisition of Environmentally Sensitive Lands Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park.”
The report clearly states that “these environmentally significant lands have been transferred into City ownership for park and conservation purposes.”
The report speaks to three years of working with DFO to reestablish salmon rearing habitat and other work to “enhance the natural landscape to maximize wildlife values. . . ”
The report also states that “the meadow area is classified as a Tidal Freshwater Marsh as it is subject to daily tidal inundation. This wet grassland type is a relatively rare habitat type in Burnaby and the surrounding region. Since European settlement, 75% of the wetlands in the Lower Mainland have been lost. . . ”
As for the issue of habitat compensation, which is often problematic and difficult to fully achieve, the reports states “. . . it is important to note that larger natural areas have greater value than smaller segmented parcels as they are more resilient to environmental impacts.”
I hope this key report will be fully considered before the City of Burnaby continues to push the recent proposed project.
The report can be found on the Heritage Burnaby webiste here:
Go to the Heritage Burnaby website:
And search for “Foreshore Park” with “2004” in both the “From Year” and “To Year” boxes.
Citizens Speak to TV News, Opposing Foreshore Park Development in Burnaby
Amazing citizen presence at Fraser Foreshore Park in #Burnaby, BC, today, speaking out against the City’s plan to turn a significant chunk of park and off-river fish habitat into a waste facility.
It was so cool because none of us knew the others were coming!
There were at least three separate groups who had all been in touch with media. Some coordinating with CityNews, some with CBC TV.
And. . .
We were blessed with circling Bald Eagles, and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks, throughout most of the interviews.
How cool is that?!
UPDATE: Here’s the CBC TV story
Burnaby Park Area Proposed for Waste Facility is Designated Ecologically Sensitive
Following up on my previous post about my dismay about hearing that a City of Burnaby staff report recommends removing some 20 acres of parkland to build a composting facility, today I walked the area (as I do several times a month to take wildlife photos.)
UPDATE: it appears to have no special designation. I’m still trying to track down more info on the process in which is was created in the first place. But the signs that have been there for decades certainly point to it being a special place worthy of protection.
Here are some of the signs in the area:
The first two signs are easy to read. They do not appear to allow bulldozers, backhoes, cranes, and cement trucks.
The last sign is harder to read in a small photo so I’ll share a bit here:
“The eastern portion of Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park is a 16 hectare ecological reserve containing a diversity of habitat types which are becoming scarce on the Fraser River. . . The restored estuary and tidal lagoon are part of a salmonid enhancement project to provide ciritical nutrients and habitat for juvenile salmonids, as well as other fish and wildlife species. . .
“The open meadow adjacent to the lagoon is being managed as an ‘old field’ with the mix of grasses providing food and habitat for small mammals. . . These in turn provide prey for raptors such as hawks and owls. . .
“Please remember that excessive disturbance will prevent the establishment of wildlife communities. . . With the cooperation of all visitors, this ecological reserve will continue to offer unique and fascinating experiences. . . “