Why Polar Bears Suck

Put away your polar bear costumes and your "I Heart Glaciers" t-shirts. If your goal is to persuasively communicate the risks of climate change to the public, then you're barking up the wrong affective (emotionally resonant) imagery.

Research by Leiserowitz has shown that associations to melting glaciers and ice are the most salient images of global warming among the American public (and it’s not much of a stretch to believe the Canadian experience is similar). The result of this association, and similarly distant image associations, is that Americans “...perceive climate change as a moderate risk, but think the impacts will mostly affect people and places that are geographically distant (emphasis mine)...most Americans lack vivid, concrete, and personally relevant affective images of climate change.” (Leiserowitz, 2007, p. 50)

Shooting Ourselves in the Foot

Based on these findings, it would seem that scientists, environmentalists and climate change advocates are effectively shooting themselves in the foot every time they use images of melting ice and polar regions to persuade audiences about the risks of climate change. It’s a bad habit that many are unaware of: “If I was doing a Canadian presentation there'd be a whole lot more on permafrost melting and polar bears than maybe somewhere else, because that's something that Canadians identify with” (Recent personal interview with a Canadian presenter of An Inconvenient Truth). Yes, Canadian audiences might vaguely identify with melting ice and polar bears, but are they personally relevant? Four fifths of the Canadian population lives within 150 kilometers of the US border - thousands of kilometers away from the Arctic.

An Arctic Conspiracy

Perversely, efforts that build notions of Canadian identity around the Arctic may have the effect of focusing Canadian attention on climate impacts in an area that is part of our national identity, but that is geographically too faraway to be personally relevant. This might explain a seeming contradiction between the Canadian Conservative government’s focus on building-up the Arctic through visits and photo-ops as part of the Canadian identity, while simultaneously undermining efforts to combat climate change both in terms of international agreements on greenhouse gas reductions, as well as supporting expansion of carbon-intensive projects at home, like the oil sands - things that will have long-term negative impacts on the people and animals that actually live in the Arctic.

While they're awfully cute, when it comes to communicating climate change persuasively, polar bears (and their melting Arctic backdrop) suck.

Media Summary: The Dene Nation Joins Opposition Against the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline

"With over 100 pipeline spills and accidents recorded in Canada over the past two years there is only one thing to say about pipelines: They will spill."

- Dene National Chief, Bill Erasmus.

Dene chiefs oppose Northern Gateway pipeline The Canadian Press, Globe and Mail, CTV.ca, Winnipeg Free Press, Brandon Sun, Oilweek Magazine, mysask.com July 21, 2011 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/bc-politics/dene-chiefs-oppose-northern-gateway-pipeline/article2105198/

Dene Nation Joins Pipeline Opponents: Chiefs say Enbridge pipeline too dangerous CFTK-TV Terrace and CJFW Radio July 21, 2011 http://www.cftktv.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=1461003 "Let's launch a broad public debate on the future of the oilsands before it is too late to turn back." Paul Hanley The StarPhoenix July 26, 2011 http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Oilsands+development+moves+forward/5158300/story.html

Oil Sands: The Dene Nation Announces Support of BC First Nations Opposition to Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline

Opposition gains powerful new ally in Dene Nation; resolution supports right of decision-making power over development on First Nations land.

YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES--(Marketwire - July 21, 2011) - A Correction is issued with respect to the release issued earlier today at 9:00 AM ET. In the first paragraph, "Yinka Deneerent" has been changed to "Yinka Dene", and the corrected release follows.

First Nations opposition to the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline has gained a powerful new ally in the Dene Nation. The thirty-five Chiefs of Denendeh, stretching from northern Alberta through the entire Northwest Territories, passed a resolution supporting British Columbia's Yinka Dene (a completely different Carrier nation) in their opposition to Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline at the 41^st Annual Dene National Assembly last week in Fort Providence, NWT.

"This resolution is an expression of our solidarity with the Yinka Dene Alliance, and an expression of our support for their right to have decision- making power over developments on their land," said Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus. "More than 50 per cent of the proposed Enbridge pipeline and tanker route passes through the territories of First Nations that have banned this development according to their traditional laws. These Nations now have the support of Dene from northern Alberta to the Arctic coast."

The proposed pipeline is also a direct concern for members of the Dene Nation and communities in Denendeh, the Northwest Territories, who are feeling the effects of tar sands expansion.

"We know this pipeline will enable further development of Alberta's destructive tar sands projects, which are contaminating the waters of Denendeh, and which are a growing source of greenhouse gas pollution responsible for the climate changes that are impacting our communities, cultures, and ways of life," Erasmus said. "We are also concerned about the potential for a spill from this pipeline, which would run through the headwaters of the Mackenzie River watershed. We are currently experiencing the impacts of an oil spill from Enbridge's Norman Wells pipeline in the Deh Cho region. The company failed to detect this estimated 63,000 gallon spill, which was ultimately discovered by Dene hunters."

"With over 100 pipeline spills and accidents recorded in Canada over the past two years there is only one thing to say about pipelines; they will spill," Erasmus said.

The Dene Nation is the national organization representing all Dene, from northern Alberta to the Gwich'in regions in northern Northwest Territories. The Dene Nation is mandated to retain sovereignty by strengthening the Dene spiritual beliefs and cultural values in Denendeh.

Contact Information:

Dene Nation Barret Lenoir Dene National Office (867) 873-4081

Dene Nation Daniel T'seleie Director, Lands & Environment (867) 444-0509 www.denenation.com

It's "Open Season" for Boulevard Gardening in Vancouver

This is our boulevard garden. We didn't ask for permission when we planted it because the city doesn't require it.

Most people don't know this, but anyone can plant a boulevard garden in Vancouver, as long as you follow the city's guidelines.

As an apartment-dweller, I went out of my way to find a piece of boulevard not adjacent to someone else's house, and found this empty strip right behind my apartment building and adjacent to a parking lot.

Common Sense

The city's guidelines include language about not encouraging vegetable gardening because of possible contaminants from the road, but you just need to use common sense. We've got a raised bed, well back from the road, with fresh soil we bought at a hardware store - always bring in your own soil to avoid contaminants like lead paint from older buildings. We should be more concerned about vegetables grown with pesticides in Mexico or China (where they also have serious air pollution problems), than lettuce and radishes grown on a quiet street in Vancouver.

Unconventional Harvest

Since we've planted out garden, we've generated tonnes of community interest (more on that in a future post) and there are now plans to turn the surrounding area into a more friendly public space (benches, flower beds, public art), and possibly a community garden.

Gardening also brings you a little closer to nature and the seasons, builds community and is a great way to relax after work.

It's Never Too Late

If you think it's too late in the season to start a boulevard garden, think again! We're just about to plant a second round of radishes and lettuce and we're already hatching plans for our winter garden (stuff grows year round in Vancouver, especially hardier winter vegetables like kale and chard).

It's open season for boulevard gardening in Vancouver - spread the word!

Plastic, Mount Rushmore and the Korean DMZ

I was reading an interesting chapter from "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman last night. The book is based on a thought experiment examining how man-made infrastructure (e.g. cities, dams, petrochemical refineries) and ecological impacts and interventions (e.g. modern agriculture, plastic pollution and nature preserves) would hold-up if humans were taken out of the equation (aliens abduct us or the rapture comes down and we've all been really good).

One of the key takeaways from the book is that most things don't get beyond 10 or 20 years before degrading significantly, often collapsing and subsequently being colonized by various forms of life (bacteria do the dirtiest work, eventually evolving to eat things like petrochemicals). Some of our seemingly most invincible industrial sites are some of the most fragile.

The things that will be around the longest? Plastic and Mount Rushmore. The chapter on plastic has inspired our household to forgo as much plastic as possible in our daily lives (more on that effort in another post). Plastic does not biodegrade - literally every scrap that has ever been produced in history lives-on somewhere in some form, either as buried plastic bags in landfills or as tiny particles of plastic bobbing in the ocean, working their way up the food chain. It's a legacy that suddenly makes a plastic wrapped sandwich or plastic take-out fork look a lot less appealing. As for Mount Rushmore, the ancient granite carved with the faces of presidents erodes one inch every 10,000 years, which means remnants of the sculpture should be around for seven million years or so.

The subject of the chapter I was reading was the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. The zone is 250km long and 4km wide. In addition to being closely guarded on both sides by hundreds of thousands of soldiers armed to the teeth, the area is strewn with landmines, ironically making it one the safest and most "natural" places in Asia for endangered species like the red-crowned crane (pictured above). One third of the remaining 2500 cranes depend on the DMZ and nearby Civilian Controlled Zone (CCZ) as their only sanctuary on the Korean peninsula. Because the zone has been free of human intervention since the early 1950's, it's in a relatively pristine state, with some hoping that a few of the world's all-but-extinct Siberian tigers might still call it home. Like other nature preserves, Weisman sees the DMZ as an ark of sorts, a place where if conditions were right, biological diversity would spring forth and begin colonizing the rest of the peninsula if human influence was removed or reduced.

Despite the landmines and more than a half-century of hatred and military incidents on both sides, many think that Korea will one day be reunited and that the DMZ could be up for grabs, easing housing pressure in cities like Seoul and making real-estate developers' dreams come true. Others think the DMZ should be left as is (with some of the landmines removed) and transformed into a peace and nature park - a legacy salvaged from the bitter Cold War battle of a nation divided against itself.

The DMZ provides an interesting example of inadvertent human preservation of natural ecosystems that are rapidly disappearing in otherwise "peaceful" parts of the world (it should be noted however that the DMZ is still too small to support genetically healthy wildlife populations over the long-term).

Alberta's latest oil sands conservation plan violates First Nations' treaty rights - Gets failing grade from ecology experts.

Almost no First Nations input or ecological analysis has been included in the latest draft of the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan (LARP). "This attempt (the draft plan) is not even worthy of a passing grade in a university course," said Dr. David Schindler, a world-renowned ecology professor at the University of Alberta.

"Aboriginal groups say a government plan that will dictate the future of Alberta's oilsands region heavily favours industrial development over environmental preservation, and they are prepared to sue if that doesn't change."

First Nations pan Athabasca land-use plan CBC News Edmonton June 7, 2011 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2011/06/07/edmonton-lower-athabasca-plan.html Crisis looming over lack of plan for conservation, aboriginal groups say Karen Kleiss Edmonton Journal June 7, 2011 http://www.edmontonjournal.com/technology/Crisis+looming+over+lack+plan+conservation+aboriginal+groups/4904066/story.html

Chiefs threaten legal action over Athabasca plan - Consultation process flawed: First Nations Darcy Henton Calgary Herald June 7, 2011 http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Chiefs+threaten+legal+action+over+Athabasca+plan/4903915/story.html

First Nations ready to fight LARP in court Carol Christian Fort McMurray Today June 7, 2011 http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3159027 Aboriginal groups threaten legal action Edmonton iNews880.com June 7, 2011 http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/LocalNews/story.aspx?ID=1436893 Legal threats undermine hoped-for peace on oilsands land use as comment closes Bob Weber The Canadian Press June 6, 2011 http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/123255843.html

Chiefs tell Alberta Government: "Fix Lower Athabasca Regional Plan"

EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - June 6, 2011) -Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and Mikisew Cree First Nation -

Violations of Rights Creates Risk for Oil Sands Development

Chief Roxanne Marcel of the Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN) and Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations (ACFN) met with Alberta Government Ministers today, and told them they need to fix the draft Lower Athabasca Regional Plan.

The Alberta Government has been under criticism over oil sands development in the Lower Athabasca region. Since 2005, both ACFN and MCFN have made numerous submissions on how to improve land use planning where it affects their traditional territory. They have consistently put forward recommendations for policies and protected areas while offering to work with Government to undertake traditional resource use planning that would help set meaningful safeguards and thresholds for ecological disturbance such as for land, air and water - and help ensure Treaty and Aboriginal rights are protected for current and future generations. Unfortunately, the input of the First Nations has been ignored time and time again.

A legal analysis that addresses LARP will be published in June by the Canadian Institute of Resources Law (CIRL) at the University of Calgary. Monique Passelac-Ross, co-author, said "Protection of aboriginal land uses or treaty rights is not included in any of the outcomes, objectives, strategies or management framework of the draft LARP. It reflects almost none of the input provided by the affected First Nations."

"There is no legal impediment to the Government of Alberta to involving First Nations more meaningfully in land use planning," said Bob Freedman, legal counsel to the First Nations. "They just don't seem to be willing to do so."

"LARP is a smoke screen to make it seem like the Alberta government has a plan to protect the region. The reality is that LARP will allow for massive expansion of oil sands development that already violates our rights, and is causing environmental and health problems," said Chief Marcel. "Alberta cannot afford to have this Government push through a land use plan that prioritizes the interests of one industry and essentially ignores the health and sustainability of local ecosystems and cultures."

Even some oil companies recognize the need for the Alberta Government to do to more to uphold and honour its constitutional obligations. Leo Piciacchia, Vice President of Total E&P Canada – a major oil sands firm – said, "Total supports the First Nations' request for more thorough consultation on the draft LARP that considers the rights of the First Nations."

Of particular concern to MCFN and ACFN is the fact that under LARP, the development of key frameworks, like the biodiversity plan and the land disturbance plan, are not required to be developed until 2013, after far more oil sands and other development is approved. As Chief Marcel noted, "This is putting the cart before the horse and it is clear that Alberta is planning for a huge increase in oil sands development without taking our constitutional rights into consideration."

Violating First Nation rights can open oil sands development to litigation risk, corporate reputation risk, market risk and other investor risks. "We have come to say enough is enough," Chief Adam said. "We have constitutionally protected rights under Treaty 8. If the Alberta government doesn't do what is needed to protect our land, air and water and our rights, then we will oppose further industrial development in the region, and oppose the draft LARP using every legal avenue available to us."

Contact:

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam 780-713-1220

Mikisew Cree First Nation Chief Roxanne Marcel 780-881-7099

Canadian Institute of Resource Law Monique Passelac-Ross 403-220-3973

Legal Counsel to ACFN and MCFN Bob Freedman 250-818-3719

Media Advisory: First Nation Chiefs Confront Alberta Government on Lower Athabasca Regional Plan

Chiefs to hold press conference with Dr. David Schindler, water scientist.

EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - June 3, 2011) - Chief Roxanne Marcel of the Mikisew Cree First Nation and Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation will meet with Alberta Government Ministers, and then host a press conference in Edmonton.

With concerns over tar sands development and environmental and health problems in the area, the Government of Alberta is under an international spotlight to address the problems. Violations of Constitutionally-protected Treaty rights pose a serious concern that can result in litigation, intervention from the Federal government, and investor insecurity.

Pointing out Treaty and Constitutional rights, the Chiefs have repeatedly communicated concerns with earlier versions of the draft Lower Athabasca Regional Plan (LARP), while putting forward constructive solutions on how to move forward. June 6, 2011 is the closing day for public consultation on the draft LARP.

Local community members and Elders will be joined by Dr. David Schindler, water scientist.

Who:	Chief Allan Adam – Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
	Chief Roxanne Marcel – Mikisew Cree First Nation
	Dr. David Schindler - water scientist
What:	Press Conference regarding the Lower Athabasca Land Use Plan, and the Chiefs' meeting with Government. Coffee and tea will be served.
When:	Monday June 6, 2011 at 3:00pm
Where: Contact:	Prism Room - Matrix Hotel (10640 100 Avenue NW Edmonton) David Thompson 780-910-4161

The Oil Sands' Strange Bedfellows: Chinese Capitalists and Albertan Communists

Has anyone noticed the irony in the latest line of pro-pipeline rhetoric from oil sands boosters in Alberta? Apparently China is willing to invest between $10 and $20 billion dollars in the oil sands, but only if Canada fast-tracks construction of the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and tanker project (regulatory due process be damned, and forget the fact that 80% of British Columbians are against oil tanker traffic off the north coast of B.C.).

Forcing resource projects against the will of citizens is business as usual in China, but it's ironic to hear Alberta's oil sands boosters arguing for the same practices here in Canada (as reported earlier this week by Chris Varcoe at the Calgary Herald):

Ian Wild, executive vice-president of ATB Corporate Financial Services, said he heard from Beijing oil executives this week that they are growing frustrated by delays in Canadian pipeline development and future investment is clearly at risk.

“I know they’re saying to me that their patience has run out,” he said. “They told me specifically that there’s at least $10 to $20 billion in jeopardy here for the province.”

God forbid the Chinese run out of patience with our more democratic (though still leaving much to be desired) process for review of proposed pipelines, or the legal precedents that require governments to consult with individual First Nations along the proposed pipeline route. Things would be so much easier if the oil sands were in Tibet.

One of the more disconcerting elements of the reports coming out of Alberta's recent trade mission to China is the way boosters seem to marvel at Beijing's insatiable appetite for oil sands crude (at a time when the world's greenhouse gas emissions have never been higher, pushing us closer towards runaway climate change):

As for promises that larger investments are coming, Schulz [Professor in the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary] said no one should be shocked given the scale of recent moves.

“The amount of money is not a surprise,” said the director of petroleum land management with the university. “This is just an incremental bite and they’re ready for the next one. And each bite will be bigger.”

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