Author archive

We are so screwed

International Energy Agency Chief Fatih Birol has stated that the IEA now believes that global crude oil production peaked in 2006.  It’s all downhill from now.  We can expect the kinds of supply discontinuities and price rises that led up to the 2008 economic downturn with regularity from now on.

So what is the US response?  Shoot the messenger.  They have cut funding to their own national energy agency and specifically ordered that agency not to prepare data on oil and gas reserves.  Keep us in the dark, that’s the ticket.  I expect the Harper government to follow suit shortly.     Read more »

Underdog

Chris Kitching followed me along canvassing, and then wrote this article for CP24.com.  It uses my experience as a jumping off point to delve into the various motivations for underdog candidates.

Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu in TTC station

Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu, the Green Party's candidate in Toronto-Danforth, speaks to a man while campaigning for votes at Pape Station recently. Mugnatto-Hamu is in a David vs. Goliath-like battle against the riding's incumbent MP, NDP leader Jack Layton. (CP24/Chris Kitching)

Going toe-to-toe with an incumbent is always a challenge. The task is even more daunting when the reigning MP has a star profile that rivals that of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

So, why are these so-called minnows bothering to invest so much time, energy and money in a short-lived campaign when a landslide defeat is likely?

For Mugnatto-Hamu, a Green Party candidate, she relishes the opportunity to push the agenda of an emerging political party and engage voters on the topic that is most important to her — climate change.

“At one stage I realized that the threats to my children were far more serious, so I was compelled to run,” Mugnatto-Hamu told CP24.com recently as she campaigned for votes at a bustling Pape Station. “I want to change policy and this is one way to change policy.”

Read the whole article on CP24.com.

2011 Apr 22: Polls are open for Earth Day

Advance voting opens today, Earth Day.  What better way of celebrating than by voting for the Earth?

Advance polls are open Easter weekend
Friday, 2011 April 22, noon – 8 pm
Saturday, 2011 April 23, noon – 8 pm
Monday, 2011 April 25, noon – 8 pm

To find your advance poll station, visit elections.ca,
type your postal code and press Go to find your riding,
and then click on Where do I vote?

Please.  Your Green vote will be noticed and will make a difference.  We need your help to change the direction of politics in Canada.

Everyone is welcome vote in the advance polls.

Election day remains Monday, May 2.

Renewable power isn’t just safer than nuclear, it’s cheaper

Nuclear is such a slow and costly climate solution, it actually reduces and retards climate protection.
Amory Lovins

Hear or read the interview with Amory Lovins.

Because I think the biggest threat to our survival comes from climate change, I would reluctantly embrace nuclear power if I thought it could help.  But it’s clear that building more nuclear capacity would be a dangerous diversion of time and money from far more effective approaches.  This is my talk at Climate Change Conference 2010, making that point:

Unwanted paper flyers

Harry Potter letters from Hogwarts sceneI recently received the following question from John S, and similar questions from a few others.  The discussion continues in the comments.

Hi Adriana,

Would be interested to know why the “green”  party keeps delivering paper flyers to my home, ignoring the “no junk, no drop-offs” sign right beside my mail slot (AND the lawn sign for another candidate!)?  Your material comes with a several other pieces of junk mail I don’t want.     Read more »