Peter Gorrie wrote an article in Sunday’s Toronto Star criticizing the Harper government for rolling back “key” environmental protections by sneaking them into the budget bill. I need to be about as circumspect as possible when writing about this issue, because for over five years I worked in an office dedicated largely to completing environmentalContinue reading “What is a 'navigable waterway'?”
Author Archives: Andrea McDowell
Black Squirrels
I haven’t been posting much lately, and I have no excuse except for my daughter’s pneumonia and a really wicked cold for me. Whew. I think they’re finally both over or on the way out, so let’s see if I can write something fascinating before the next bout sets in: Of all the wild crittersContinue reading “Black Squirrels”
The Green Energy Act, Part 1
It’s no secret that Germany is the envy of climate change activists worldwide for its progressive energy policies; what may be a secret to you is what, exactly, those progressive energy policies are. It’s simple: their Renewable Energy Sources Act makes it easy for individuals, communities and corporations to get approvals to build green energyContinue reading “The Green Energy Act, Part 1”
New article
Not that I have enough readers who don’t know me on other media to justify including the same link in yet another venue, but: A mighty controversy: do windfarm opponents have their facts straight? An article on wind energy by yours truly. I was, frankly, surprised at how poor the case of windfarm opponents wasContinue reading “New article”
Anthropomorphism
Doesn’t this look just like someone sitting down and crossing her legs? I love this tree.
The finer points of Environmental Assessment in Ontario
Recently, I read on a blog about Toronto Hydro’s proposed anemometer project the following statement: “Here is another fun piece of trivia: How many full environmental assessments have actually been done before wind turbine projects have been built in Ontario? HINT: There have been 17 wind projects. Answer? Are you sure you want it? HereContinue reading “The finer points of Environmental Assessment in Ontario”
The Geography of Hope
The Geography of Hope had an odd genesis: writer Chris Turner, contemplating his daughter’s future in Canada’s oil capital of Calgary, was driven to find some reason to believe that her life would not be defined by climatic cataclysm. I think I could teach her to face war, poverty, famine–human problems with practicible solutions, howeverContinue reading “The Geography of Hope”
you're late
Recently I took myself to the bookstore to scan the magazine racks for potential markets for a pitch that came back to me the week before. (It came back nicely, with regrets and an invitation for more ideas, but I still need to find it a new home.) Three of the most promising magazines IContinue reading “you're late”
Chickadee-dee-dee
As it turns out, the friendly suggestion of emailing so-and-so for directions was less of a friendly suggestion and more of a base requirement, which makes me wonder why the directions weren’t just included with the volunteer package. In any case, we got to the right address at what I thought was the right timeContinue reading “Chickadee-dee-dee”
bird-brained
Tomorrow, early enough to drag me out of bed at an ungodly hour for a weekend, I will be standing quietly in temperatures well below zero, in a large urban park, counting birds for a couple of hours. Don’t ask me for details. I haven’t a clue what it entails, other than–presumably–silence and watchfulness. AndContinue reading “bird-brained”
Zoopolis 