On Solutions, Bikes, and Tax Rebates

Carrying my bike up the stairs to my apartment I ran into a neighrbour on his way down, also carrying a bike. I backed off, letting him through, and he said, “What are the chances!?”, “Pretty slim”, I said, adding “…but getting better with gas prices and all”… It’s the modern pill – take to the solution when the problem has finally come far enough.

So while some move to bikes, in suburban America houses are losing value as gas prices go up. What used to be a good trade off and selling point – cheaper house for added commute – is no longer adding up.

Rack up a new inverse correlation: gas prices to real estate value…what exciting times we live in!

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In other news, I got my $100 Climate Action Dividend rebate from my friendly Provincial government last week. It is supposed to be an incentive to “help British Columbians live a lower carbon lifestyle”. That said, they’d like us to spend it on something to help us become (or continue to be) environmentally friendly. I like the idea, and I may spend it either on bike parts which I needed anyway, or one of those apartment (balcony) worm farm composting trays…yet to be decided.

Some potential problems with the friendly rebate:

• People will spend it on gas, directly or indirectly
• It will get lost in their chequing account, and spent on food. Or on gas getting to food.
• They were all sent out on paper cheques, in envelopes. Accompanying those cheques was a pamphlet with ideas on how to spend your carbon friendly rebate.
• Free-ish money sends mixed messages.

The population of British Colombia is approx 4.3 million, that’s:

• 4.3 million pamphlets wasted (or hopefully recycled)
• $430 million back to taxpayers, at least $200 million back to oil companies (sigh)

Positives:

• Conscious people will spend it on the right things, i.e. change light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs, water saving technology, etc. – and I like to think British Columbia is packed with conscious people.
• $430 million injection into the local economy, layered throughout the summer.
• We can look forward to more rebates/savings, this time available through the actual gas/carbon tax now (as of July 1st, Canada Day) officially implemented in British Columbia.

So, will we start to see more personal and government action? Will it be, again “the more things change, the more they stay the same…” ? From what I’ve seen and heard, Canadians are ahead of their government when it comes to environmental consciousness. That’s normal, as bureaucracy takes time, especially implemented through dinosaurs.

But here we have the chance, with ‘free’ money, to make a personal change thanks to the government.

If you’re in BC, what will you spend it on? If not, what would you spend it on? Do express.

Reviewing Hemp: Sustainability Has Never Looked So Good

Last weekend I began a healthy obsession with Hemp. I finally gave in to buying a stylish, well-crafted (moderately expensive) jacket made primarily of Hemp, then proceeded to research its cultivation and history to learn more about its renowned sustainability and viability as a crop.

Brief History: In the 1930’s the United States outlawed the cultivation of Hemp for all purposes to satisfy a new obsession with the Narcotics Act at the time. Previously, Hemp had been a primary resource for textiles throughout the country, and may in fact have been more popular than cotton. Canada followed suit in 1935 and outlawed its cultivation. Before then, Canada was the main supplier of Hemp to Britain – a major consumer at all levels – as well as a major supplier to the U.S.

That Canadian ban was lifted in 1998. Consequently, there are strict standards to keep the active content THC – tetrahydrocannabinol – below 0.3 percent (to get high one needs up to 5 percent THC). Today there is renewed interest in the cultivation of Hemp in Canada, and the province of Manitoba stands as Canada’s largest supplier of industrial Hemp.

Uses: Hemp is cultivated for (among many other things) oils, grains and fibres, paper, construction and building material, and livestock feed.

Land Benefits and Sustainability: The benefits of Hemp go far beyond how stylish their strong, sustainable, and versatile textiles are. There are huge benefits to the land it is cultivated on…

• Hemp can produce four times as much fibre per acre than trees can, so is a viable replacement to tree farms. The best way to apply this is to grow hemp on already cut (or unsustainable) tree farms.
• Hemp requires much less water, no herb or pesticides because of its natural defense agents, and can out-compete its competitors (other weeds). Cotton on the other hand, is famous for the amount of chemicals and huge amount of water it requires. Overall, Hemp production over Cotton can provide savings of up to 75 percent.
• It is an ideal rotation crop. It has a quick turnover (as little as 3 months), and replenishes the soil admirably for the cycle that may follow.

The benefits and reasons for growing and using hemp are practically endless. My favorites are of course the benefits to the land, its low impact cultivation process, and the fact that it is so very efficient.

As for clothing and style, the culture of Hemp and what it is associated with makes it an attractive consumer product. Although it can be slightly pricey, when your next Hemp purchase lasts so long that you’ll pass it on as a gift to your grandchild – you’ll thank me (and it).

**To finish it off, here are a few extra bits from Yahoo Answers:

“Did you know that in order for Spain, Britain and Holland to establish competitive sea trade routes, (in light of the riches flowing in the 15th century from the Orient to Venice via the silk road), that they relied upon hemp to make them strong canvas sails? It was one of the only materials considered durable enough to weather the rough seas. The word canvas actually comes from the Latin word cannabis.”

“The Constitution was printed on hemp paper as well as the first 3 drafts of the Declaration of Independence.”

Now get out there and purchase – you are the best builders of a market!

Letter to Arbutus

Dear Arbutus,

A wise man once told me, ” If you are in coastal BC, the arbutus is truly the finest tree available. This is not a subjective opinion, but an objective truth. The arbutus is truly one of the world’s great trees.”. In fact, I have two friends from down south who have told me that you are the finest. You are Canada’s only native, broad-leafed evergreen. You lucky, lucky thing.

But wait, I hear that it’s possible we soon all won’t have you? I am truly sorry that some kind of defoliating fungus is stressing you out, especially in urban areas. You can do it…push on my friend!

Arbutus, I find it truly inspiring that you can:

1) Grow in every which direction in order to survive. Apparently, the Coast Salish First Nation honours you as the Tree of Knowledge because you can always find the sun.

2) Shed your bark in the summers to reveal a slick, fresh coat of red flesh.

3) Grow so near the sea, and love that salty air…

When I have the chance I will propagate you, you are a native to my island and I vow to plant you when and where appropriate. British Columbia is definitely a better place with you, so please don’t make like a tree and leave.

Sincerely yours,

Variable Interest

Healthcare and Gas Prices: Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love High Taxes

The way I see it (or how I stay calm when I see the federal collection of 20 percent of my income) is that a tax is the price you pay to a Nation for its services. There are two taxes I will discuss in this post; healthcare and a carbon tax. One makes my life easier and helps me to feel safer, and one seems to punish (I almost typed punch) drivers for their habits. Both of which I am okay with.

There are many factors which scare people away from the thought of a Federal healthcare system, but in a recent poll on CNN Money it was shown that only 56 percent of those who answered the poll were in favour of Universal Healthcare (44 percent against). The fact that the poll was on CNN Money may point to the fact that people had costs in mind (increased taxes) when they voted, but look, were they not thinking of the costs of medicine and treatment as they stand?

Look at this insert about Giuliani’s arguments against universal healthcare (likely written to annoy Republicans), and you can see that some of Giuliani’s reasons are that he doesn’t want to upset his Doctor, Lawyer and other cocktail party buddies. (I’m guilty of splicing):

“I don’t like mandating health care. I don’t like it because it erodes what makes health care work in this country — the free market, the profit motive. A mandate takes choice away from people…The minute you start mandating, you always end up with more expensive government programs.”

Canada can serve as both a good and bad example for Universal Healthcare. It has gone through its good and bad periods, but the fact is that it exists, and works. It can be a political hot-button, and not about the existence of it; but the funding of it. Some would say it still costs too much for the citizen, while offering mediocre to poor service. Often, that depends on your location. I myself have never experienced any problems, but I have deceived injury or illness so far.

Here are Canada’s basics from my perspective, with just a little bit of online research thrown in; I wanted it to sound as natural as possible.

1. It is super cheap, and ‘included’, not free: In some provinces it is built into the tax system, like Ontario, so you don’t actually receive any bills at all. No bills. In British Columbia though, where I live, we pay about $50 a month for total coverage, billed how ever you request it (quarterly for example).

This $ amount covers all ‘walk-in’ clinics, medical checkups, dermatology, urology etc, and even basic surgery depending on the case (broken bones, stitches, appendicitis). There are walk-in clinics, depending on where you live, every few city blocks.

I teased Michael Moore in a recent post here about never travelling far enough to cover ‘Canada’ in any of his films, See # 9. Taxes and healthcare differ slightly country-wide.

2. Dental, eye-care, Chiropractors, and certain unconventional medicines are not covered under this plan. These are covered under employer benefits if you are a lucky one.

3. This just in: B.C. will be the first in Canada to cover acupuncture for low-income residents (a combined household income of $28,000 or below). Sounds good to me. If most pain medication is covered under the plan, then this traditional alternative should be too.

So, in the US, a country that holds 40 million uninsured citizens, is it too late to ‘punish’ people with a significant tax increase? Would you see it as a good step forward? Would you go as far as voting for it?

Now, a carbon tax, which has just been implemented here in British Columbia (second in Canada after Quebec), will affect fuel consumers first. Granted, this is a political move – one that will only just begin to touch on the changes needed to sway Greenhouse Gas emissions – but it is one of many policies that should start to change personal and corporate habit. To dampen the sting they plan to loosen tax elsewhere, and send all residents an automatic $100 rebate (supposedly collected through the tax). I think to drive their point home they should send an extra $100 to people who can prove they do not own a car. Just a thought…

There is no better way, I can practically guarantee, to change peoples habits in gas consumption and use, than to make it have an impact on them. There’s no visual impact (but smog) to show for consulmption habits up till now, so they kick you in the bank account. Hurt yet?

Overall, taxes are payment for a service. 1. Health 2. The thought of cleaner air. I feel that I am getting what I’m paying for as far as healthcare is concerned, and am glad that I am offered this service practically free of hassle. This initial carbon tax is an investment for the future: it will push people towards mileage-oriented cars, and more sustainable habits.

The buck starts here. Would you happily pay higher tax for any of the above mentioned benefits?

Three Lies We Tell Ourselves About Our Environment

You wake up in the morning, roll around for a few minutes, turn off your alarm, and start thinking about breakfast. The first 25 minutes of your morning are a product of habit, a product you’re not about to give up on because it’s too easy to be complacent. Groggy-eyed and empty, you don’t think twice about starting up your car and sitting idle while meddling with your tunes for the ride.

I believe that if we make an honest attempt to fix the little things, break habits, and act responsibly – general populations may adopt a friendlier mindset. Small acts by individuals may seem relatively unharmful, but when North America – at roughly 340 million people – acts in near unison every day, we are no longer individuals.

Lie No. 1: I need my car each and every day. We are Creatures of Habit, and breaking any habit takes a new train of thought. The same way small changes over time may save the forests; one can’t choke a person until she admits that she doesn’t need a car to survive. Being the sole driver of a car each and every morning is completely unnecessary, and often selfish. I don’t even have to know about her problems, the size of the commute, or the horror of public transit. Only that sitting in your car is habitual and relatively destructive.

Without being particularly anti-car, I can say that yes, you consume fuel out of habit which you call necessity. Statistics have shown that while gas prices are getting ridiculous, they have yet to really reflect the cost that includes the cost to the environment – which eventually they will. A carbon tax will start to do that. What will it take for your car habits to finally seem ridiculous? Canadians now spend a good 30 percent of all consumer spending on things vehicle related – the more it costs, the more they spend. Old habits die hard.

Lie No. 2: Paperless is bullshit, and I can’t make a difference. We call our own shots, and believe what we think. While receiving some good advice about my blog from Penelope, she proceeded to announce that paperless is bullshit. I completely agree that paper-free is impossible, but it is by no means bullshit. She was probably alluding to what is called ‘Greenwashing‘; that it is a corporate trick to call something green to reap some other (image or monetary) benefits.

So, an internet (social media) entrepreneur gets to call paperless bullshit? Well, we tend to believe our opinion and then do what we can to back it up. As bloggers we do this. Global Warming naysayers: a prime example. There are two sides funding research about climate change, and each wishes to use it to their own end. Here’s my point: do what is healthy for future generations while the big money battles it out. Global Warming or not, make a point to conserve instead of calling conservation attempts bullshit. A move to paperless over time is absolutely foreseeable.

Lie No. 3: My City is Proactive. You may have seen my post on urban biodiversity, and how I rank urban ecosystems as one of the most important services a city has to offer. This is also true for cities or towns that promote sustainability and a conservation culture.

More recently it is being expressed that moving to a city of choice before a job of choice is good decision making. If you’re living in a city in which you haven’t been pushed to act positively due to public programs, you’re living behind the times. One example I see here in Victoria is Bike to Work Week – the traffic patterns are noticeably different, and the general attitude about it is positive (which is to be expected in a city of 250,000).

I predict that (and we’re seeing it already) the most attractive cities of tomorrow are the ones that are investing in change today. You should feel inclined to walk or bike, in fact you should be compensated. It starts with tax incentives for taking the bus, and continues with feeling the need to experience a natural looking city with nature and green space to offer.

As we manage our lives, we should be managing the environment around us, it’s called Stewardship and it shouldn’t be too difficult. We grew up disconnected from the land culturally; or if we didn’t, then why do we care so much for nice views yet struggle to keep our environment healthy?

Canada: America’s Hat

The United States is more than lucky to have such a feeble northern neighbor. Though we may seem like the little brother at times, we are in fact the stable, mature cousin. But I feel that the world often sees us as just less powerful Americans. Which we are, as a country.

But we are divided. We are divided by history, and we’re quite different as people. We are divided by a border (US mainland) that spans 8,891 km. Of that 8891 km, 3830 lands on water, leaving 5061kms of mostly unnatural border. Political lines that are unmilitarized, but damn annoying to cross nonetheless. Importantly, we are divided by ideals.

Here, my first post on my new and improved site, I will be (somewhat) breaking away from my stated theme, but hey, such is life. Today, I will explore 10 things that people, or, “thick headed Americans like myself” – (Todd Schultz), may not know about Canada and/or Canadians. This list is based on casual observation and a social conscience.

1) We are more environmentally conscious (as a full society) than Americans, but only because generally speaking, the larger portion of the American population ruins it for the rest of the country. We are overall almost as wasteful, polluting, and destructive to the natural environment. We’re just lucky because it gets to be diffused over a larger area, and basically we’re benefiting from a smaller population density. We also experienced a much less intense industrial revolution.

2) We love to be Canadian. Sadly, one of the biggest factors we identify with being Canadian is the fact that although we share a continent, we are not American. We find a certain pride in this.

3) Like Americans, we live in a massive country. Things differ massively from coast to coast, but we manage to identify (somehow) as a common population. We’re not always proud of our opposing coast, and our hockey rivalries are ridiculously important to us.

4) Most Canadians have found a way to appreciate Curling. I know I have, and I didn’t even grow up here.

5) We are very politically aware, yet somehow passive (perhaps trusting?). Canada’s Next Great Prime Minister is proving to be an oddly popular show.

6) There are lots of hicks up here, somewhere. Everywhere.

7) Along with Russia and Brazil, we hold the world’s largest base of untouched (and often centuries old) forest. It takes up roughly 45% of our land-base, mostly northern.

8 ) Our healthcare is not free, it’s more “included” than anything. Either it is built into our tax system as in Ontario, or we straight up pay for it monthly, as here in British Columbia. Okay, it’s massively cheaper, but it’s definitely not free.

9) I think Michael Moore is lazy. He’s generally right, and amusing, but when he visits Canada to prove a point, he visits the closest towns to Detroit in southern Ontario. Take a plane Mike, Ontario is not all of Canada.

10) Our fresh water – glacial history – will prove to be our upcoming political and natural resource point of power. Canada’s rivers discharge up to 7% of the world’s freshwater supply. Almost 9% of our total area is freshwater, and we have 25% of the worlds wetlands. Piss us off, and we will leave you thirsty.

Put briefly, I believe our Euro friends and southern neighbors need to look at Canada with a keener eye. Believe it or not, we’re fully developed! This post was meant to amuse and inform, and probably perfect for those who don’t care. As a result, either you are suddenly a little more curious (in which case I have done my job!), or I’m just another silly Canuck.