The Pitfalls of “Public Consultation” — State Dept. Says Keystone XL is Not So Bad

Every environmentalist and socially concerned academic knows all too well how subjective and politically charged “official” reports like Environmental Assessment Reports can be.  For example, the huge controversy and public resistance to building the privately owned and operated Glacier Walkway attraction inside Jasper National Park postponed its construction just long enough for the Parks Department (in […]

Corrupting the Future: Senators, Tar Sands, and the Keystone XL

As Obama’s decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline draws nearer, the pressure is mounting for the public to put forth a serious and decisive resistance.  The tar sands, along with fracking, represent some of the most ignorantly destructive energy practices to date (see more info here: Tar Sands).  On top of being environmentally disastrous, exploiting […]

Half of All Global Food is Wasted

Up to half –yes, half—of all food in the world is wasted.   Between 30-50% of all food produced around the world never ends up in a human stomach.  Wasting food occurs at exaggerated levels in developed countries, due mainly to modern consumer culture.  Supermarkets often reject entire crops of perfectly edible food because they don’t […]

Urban Agriculture: Rooftop Gardens in Beijing

Urban agriculture is a growing, important trend in the development of more ‘sustainable cities’.  Currently, despite appearing as centres of progress and development, cities are some of the most vulnerable, insecure and unsustainable places in the world.  Cities rely immensely on flows of food, water, resources, and energy from outside, often far away places.  If […]