[Uvic-sustainability] News and Events for week of Oct 14th
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 14 October 2014 13:00
- Written by editor
NEWS
Students from the group Divest UVic staged an action in the Administrative Services Building last week to call attention to the university’s pension and endowment investments in fossil fuel companies. President Jamie Cassels met briefly with the group and indicated the university is taking the issue seriously. See Facebook page for photos and video.
The finalists in the Sustainability Photo Contest are now posted on the Martlet website. Students and employees are encouraged to vote for one favorite in each of the three categories: Wonders, Challenges and Solutions, by Thursday, Oct 16th. The winners will be announced next week in this newsletter.
Celebrations as part of Bike to Campus Day last week were covered by local media including a photo of our own “Captain Courtesy” with UVic President (and regular cycling commuter) Jamie Cassels. See Saanich News.
UVic Geography researchers... are getting attention for a project they are hosting designed to get cyclists to map hotspots of both safe and hazardous cycling locations around the region. See website bikemaps.org and the Times Colonist for more details.
UVic’s Environmental Law Centre has launched a complaint to BC’s Privacy Commissioner that the province is illegally withholding reports about the Imperial Metals Mt. Polley mine spill disaster in August. See Globe and Mail. Also, there are now reports that the province did not even inspect the mine (or most other mining sites in BC!) in 2010 and 2011. See Globe and Mail.
Most people are aware of the federal government’s continuous financial audits (some would call harassment) of charitable organizations focused on environmental and social justice issues, see CBC.ca for good summary and detailed timeline. Now the province of BC is taking aim at non-profit organizations registered as societies. It is drafting a new Society’s Act that would include a clause to allow any person or corporation to take a registered society to court that they believe is acting contrary to the public interest. It seems designed to tie up groups that oppose big energy projects (e.g. tar sands pipelines and LNG) in court. See Globe and Mail, West Coast Environmental Law and Huffington Post for more details. The province will be accepting comments on the White Paper until end of day Wed Oct 15th. Email your input to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
EVENTS
PLANT PARTY
Oct 14th, 2:30 to 4:30 PM, Meet outside the Library
Join the UVic Ecological Restoration Club for a plant walk and introduction to restoration in Cunningham Woods, followed by a plant propagation workshop at the native plant nursery in the Campus Community Garden. Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
BLUE CARBON IN THE COMOX VALLEY: CARBON CREDITS FOR EELGRASS AND SALT MARSH RESTORATION
Oct 15th, 3:30 to 4:30 PM, University House One, Room 002
PICS host a seminar to learn how researchers are working on a project to learn more about how eelgrass meadows and salt marshes contribute to the uptake and storage of carbon from the atmosphere, called Blue Carbon. This activity is being pursued with funding from Commission for Environmental Cooperation. Also available via webcast. See PICS
website for details.
RIDE ON! CYCLING SKILLS COURSE - PART I
Oct 15th, 5:30 – 9 PM, UVic, Harry Hickman Building, Room 120
Bike to Work Victoria and the CRD host an in-class seminar on how to make your ride safe and comfortable in the coming fall and winter months. Ideal for new and experienced cyclists. $20 Part I and $20 for on-road section Part II (Oct 19th). A special 50% discount is available for all UVic students, and all UVic staff and students attending will be entered into a draw for a new bike! Info and registration on the
website.
URBAN CYCLING MADE EASY: TRANSFORM SPEAKER SERIES #4
Oct 16th, 7 to 9 PM, Harbour Towers, 345 Quebec Street
How do cities go from being good to great places to ride a bike? What can Victoria learn from Calgary and Vancouver? The CRD and Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition (GVCC) present Kimberley Nelson, President of Bike Calgary, and Mike Anderson of the City of Vancouver's Active Transportation Department. $5 suggested donation to the GVCC. More info on
GVCC website.
RAIN GARDENS
Oct 16th, 7 to 8:30 PM, UVic Campus
Continuing Studies Restoration Program hosts a public talk about local Haliburton Farm and Madrona Farm that have incorporated natural features into their farm designs to promote biodiversity. See
website for more info and to register.
Rita Fromholt
Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Campus Planning & Sustainability
University of Victoria
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it."> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., O: 250.853.3758, C: 250.884.5751
