magazine / so06
 |
September/October 2006 issue |
|
|
|
REVERBERATIONS
Kiwi comments
A number of locals in the small Fiordland town of Te Anau have seen moose
in the wild. I've done so on five or six occasions in Alaska, British Columbia
and Wyoming. And there is a set of antlers, albeit pathetic, in the local
bar, The Moose, where you say there are none ("The
case of the missing moose," Editor's notebook, CG July/Aug
2006). The possibility of moose in Fiordland is an interesting topic in
this part of the world, but like most others, I'm extremely doubtful of their
continued existence. One thing is for sure — Ken Tustin believes they're
here.
Dean Bell
Te Anau, New Zealand
I helped produce the film A Wild Moose Chase, which chronicled Ken
Tustin's search for moose in the Fiordland wilds of New Zealand ("Elusive
moose," CG July/Aug
2006). At first, I was skeptical but intrigued. By the end of the shoot,
I was a firm believer — not the least due to the "blurry video
image of a 'probable' moose" captured on one of our remote time-lapse
cameras in the winter of 1995. I would be very interested in what your readers
think of this image (below). If it is, indeed, a moose, then it is the first
photo of a New Zealand moose taken since the early 1950s.
Max Quinn
Dunedin, New Zealand
A time-lapse camera captured this "probable" moose
(ABOVE) in a remote area of New Zealand's Fiordland National Park 11 years
ago (Photo copyright NHNZ Ltd).
Click here to see
a larger version.
Eternity club
Your story on centenarians ("Living
to 100," CG July/Aug
2006) featured my great-grandmother Gladys Bower. I have always known
how special my great-grandmother was. She was so proud to have been picked
to be photographed for the story. My Gram passed away on June 20 in the
most perfect way. She was quilting and just fell asleep. She never saw the
issue with her photos in it, but I know she has it with her in heaven, showing
it off. I also know that sales on the South Shore must have gone up, for
we bought every copy we could get our hands on.
This lady was our pride and joy. She was the most caring, loving person you
could ever meet. She showed us a different world with her stories. She was
proud of her family and friends, and she had strong morals and values that
impressed us all. Her stories and our memories of her will be stamped in our
hearts for what we hope will be a hundred years more.
Shelley Boutilier
Hay River, N.W.T.
top
The article featuring centenarian Fidelis Cameron was amazing, as is Cameron
herself. Her daughter Shirley was my best friend for many years. Sadly, Shirley
died of leukemia in November 1988. Before her death, she dreamed of establishing
a house for hospital patients and their family members. With the help of the
Lions Club of Kentville and Western Nova Scotia, this dream became a reality
in 1992.
Shirley wanted the house to be named Fidelis House, after her mother, who
supported her through almost nine years of chemotherapy. For the past 14 years,
we have been operating this house on the grounds of the Valley Regional Hospital
in Kentville. Our guests come from all areas of Nova Scotia and from out of
province. We are staffed entirely by volunteers around the clock, every day
of the year. There are times when our house, consisting of 12 guest rooms,
a kitchen and a living room, is filled to capacity.
Fidelis Cameron may not live for another hundred years, but her name will
not be forgotten.
Gertrude Morse
Fidelis House volunteer
Centreville, N.S.
The buzz
"The living art of the beekeepers" (CG July/Aug
2006) brought back childhood memories for me. I was raised on a small
homestead in the Alberta foothills. We had a couple of hives, and I made
the boxes we called "supers" and pushed the sheets of beeswax
onto the frames. I called myself Superman. I also noted a wonderful provision
of nature for bees in the fireweed plant. Whereas dandelions blossom for
only a couple of days, the fireweed, a little like the gladiola, keeps blossoming
up the stem for nearly a month.
Ivan S. Gamble
Kelowna, B.C.
Ire rising
The letters in your last issue (CG July/Aug
2006) from David Stocks and Frank Donahue, both of British Columbia,
have raised my ire. Stocks and Donahue essentially say that the spotted
owl should be allowed to go extinct. These birds have developed over millennia
to become what they are today. They have a place in life just as we all
do. If these creatures are to become next on the list of lost creatures,
the cost could be more than Stocks or Donahue know.
Ronald W. Heimpel
London, Ont.
REVERBERATIONS ONLINE
Are we dumping on Canada?
What about bagless vacuum cleaners? They're pretty good, right? But yes,
you have a point in "Waste Generation" (CG May/June
2006). Canada puts too much stress on packaging.
Mind you, Canada is so good about garbage. Some countries in the world can't
even afford to have such programs such as recycling, composting, etc. Everything
gets dumped. We should be thankful we have the money to do something about
it.
Mercedes Verrier
Caledon East, Ont.
Wasting away
I read with great interest "Waste
Generation." As a Canadian living in Norway, I enjoy a relatively
good recycling system. Our family does what we can by composting, recycling
paper, glass, metal and plastic, and returning worn-out electrical goods
for disposal. But as the author mentioned, what do you do with all the rest
of the "stuff" that gets accumulated in our disposable society?
It is overwhelming to think about where all the items in your household
come from, what they are made of, and where they end up when you are finished
using them. I would love to be environmentally-friendly, but I can only
honestly say that I am more environmentally-conscious.
Anita Quon Eikrem
Norway
An excellent and informative article, as I have learned to expect from Canadian
Geographic. Because so much of our waste does come in the form
of packaging, it would perhaps be useful to emulate what I understand is
the policy in certain European jurisdictions, where every retailer, wholesaler,
and producer must freely accept back and properly dispose of all packaging
of the articles they sell. This creates a large financial incentive
to reduce packaging of all kinds and a critical mass for efficient reuse
and/or recycling of whatever is still thought necessary.
Richard Hoffmann
King City, Ont.
Waste not
I am from the pre-waste generation when nothing was discarded until it
was worn to shreds, especially during the Second World War. I am very uncomfortable
with to day's enthusiasm over 'disposable' consumer products ― indeed very
little of our consumer products are truly disposable.
My concern is with 'disposal' of appliances that need to be replaced because
they no longer serve their purpose ie. cordless phone, computer, microwave
oven. I have failed to discover a local/regional recycle depot and this increases
my unease.
BL Huddleston
Letter from the editor
Please check out our online resource "How
to safely dispose of household waste."
top
Nature vs. nurture
In reference to "Century
club" (CG July/Aug
2006), I agree that attitudes play a major role in how long people live. But
I am also sure it's not the only one.
It is a mixture of genes, attitudes, lifestyle and luck, as the article
mentioned. My great grandfather lived up to 110 years. As an immigrant
from Spain to Israel, I can't imagine he had a great lifestyle. He was a heavy
smoker, yet ate a lot of fresh garlic.
As a contradiction to that, his son was an alcoholic, and died at the age
of 45.
Decisions we make everyday could help us better our life.
Mercedes Verrier
Caledon East, Ont.
Uncanny coincidence
I enjoyed reading John Demonts' article on "Living
to 100." I especially took notice when I read the quote from
Beatrice Spidel of Mahone Bay who is 102. My aunt turns 105 on Friday,
July 21, 2006. She is originally from Truro, Nova Scotia, and married
Rev. Curry Spidell from New Germany. Her name is Beatrice Spidell
as well.
Deryck Cowling
Nanaimo, B.C.
Passed on
I am from Shelburne, N.S. and work with Susan Hemeon (granddaughter of Gladys
Bower). Mrs. Hemeon has asked me to pass along word that her grandmother passed
away peacefully on Tuesday June 20, 2006, at home just the way she wanted
to. She was working on a quilt at the time. I thought that you would want
to know.
Dorothy DesChamp
Nanaimo, B.C.
Bee-haven for ants?
Your beekeeping story ("Honey
ranchers," CG July/Aug
2006) mentions that hives infested with varroa mites are treated with
formic acid. An hour after I had finished reading the article, I saw a pair
of northern flickers on my lawn and read up about them. These birds preen
themselves with squashed ants, because "ants contain formic acid, which
kills small parasites on the flickers' skin and feathers." I wonder
if anyone has ever connected the two and if it is possible for bee-hives
and ant colonies to exist together in a symbiotic relationship.
Neal Bonnor
Greensville, Ont.
Lost city defended
I read curator Robert
McGhee's review of Paul Chiasson's book ("The China syndrome," CG July/Aug
2006) with discomfort. Surely Chiasson has raised a host of questions
about his discovered site that need closer examination. This find deserves
close professional examination before it is damaged by curiosity seekers.
Bill Wilson
Bolton, Ont.
The mystery continues…
I read with great interest your "Moose
Mystery" article (CG July/Aug
2006), then went back to Editor's Notebook and read "The case of
the missing moose." I was travelling in New Zealand in August
of 2002, and had my evening meal and some refreshments at the bar called
The Moose in Te Anau. I saw, hanging above the inside of the entrance, a
full moose head with antlers, and of course questioned the bartender and
the new owner (who was seated at the bar) how they got hold of it. They
tried to tell me that moose were indigenous to New Zealand and that someone
had shot it and given them the trophy! I knew better, of course, and told
them that some moose were transplanted there from Canada somewhat earlier,
so they should quit "pulling my leg" as the saying goes. In the
end, they were not sure from where the moose head and antlers had come.
Rodger Cropp (B.Ed.)
Moose Jaw, Sask.
We loved your article on the "Elusive
Moose." On our last visit to Canada we visited Algonquin Park in
the hope of spotting one ― to no avail! We intend to try again
on this visit.
The photographs were stunning and we were hoping that copies/prints of these
would be available to buy. Obviously this will be required if we dont
manage to get our own photo!
Gary and Angela Miller
Glasgow, Scotland
Never the extra mile
I lived there and it was called either "The Main" or "Cartier
St. Louis." Never Mile End ("Eclectic
avenue," CG July/Aug
2006). The name "Main" came from main street and "St Lawrence
Boulevard" that used to divide Montr é al unofficially into the
English speaking west end from French speakers to the east of this street. "Cartier
St. Louis," I guess, from the small park called Parc St. Louis a few
blocks east of St. Urbain Street. Mile end from what?
Martin Bailey
Weyburn, Sask.
Warming up to turtles
I found the article "Ring
around the turtle" (The inside story, CG May/June
2006) to be interesting and informative to a certain point. It didn't
delve into how the temperature of the soil disrupts the incubation of the
female's eggs, which directly determines the sex of unborn turtles. If the
climate gets warmer, the rate of incubation may increase and the eggs may
be all one sex. Also, the water will freeze at a different time and the
turtle could miscalculate when to start this ritual, perhaps resulting in
death.
I felt this article was too brief to do justice to the subject of global
warming, although I did find it quite interesting and it left me looking for
more.
Amanda Hamelin
Montréal, Que.
top
Vancouver: not the future
Is Vancouver going to be a sustainable city? I don't think so as long as
it builds towers for millionaires. The plan forgets middle-income families
with children, sending them to the suburbs. Too bad if they have to built
over agricultural land and travel for hours each day…by car and not
by train, bus or other ways.
Lucien Huppé,
St-Bruno, Que.
I appreciate your article regarding sustainable cities with Vancouver provided
as the most visible example. Increasing the people density for any urban center
can provide excellent economic and environmental benefits not generally attainable
in alternate designs, and Vancouver should be commended for its limited success.
Other sustainable alternatives exist, however, and these should have been
discussed in your issue to better contrast the benefits and costs offered
by various city growth strategies to residents and guests. For example, experience
suggests that maintaining green space throughout a community while providing
distinct road and cycle routes to centralized resources, such as schools and
common shopping needs, appears to likewise encourage active lifestyles and
economies. Increasingly, local communities in our part of the world enforce
green space requirements of up to 20% within contiguous five mile sections,
and several municipalities now require the inclusion of safe cycle paths with
real world destinations prior to the start of house construction. Our local
situation retains the downside of generally horizontal versus vertical growth,
but the communities are well organized to encourage a variety of centralized
economic and health benefits. State and metro parks, as well as land use strategies,
mitigate the effect of a growing population.
Ultimately, it seems that Vancouver has only bought time by pushing the
well-paid people higher and the ultimate legacy of towers (such as their maintenance
costs) for successive generations remains questionable. After all, new towers
must still be built if the root issue of population growth is not addressed.
Vancouver also needs to better organize its resource centres and transportation
strategies for those people who are forced into or prefer the greater Fraser
Valley. The city should follow its advice to others and look elsewhere for
ideas regarding these issues.
Perhaps a future article should navigate the tricky question of where we,
as Canadians, want people to be located in Canada. Put another way, should
a city have to resort to Vancouver's measures to ensure that its economy is
successful and its people choose to walk? Or are new cities more desirable,
such as in our territories along unfolding transportation and economic routes?
I look forward to additional articles on very pertinent Canadian issues
such as these.
Todd Brett
Lewis Center, Ohio
I read your article with mixed feelings. Something was missing ― Diversification.
This is a settlement for the rich or nearly rich. Creating a group of one
and two room condo's in a tall tower smacks of Adolph Huxley's Brave New World.
My community consists of families and groups of different people even seniors.
Vancouverism sounds like it has more problems coming. People living "cheek
by jowl" is not for everyone or even a place I would wish to settle for
the long time.
Terry Roberts
Calgary
In the sidebar "Suburbia's health hazards" it states that "people
living in the suburbs of big cities are more likely to suffer from arthritis,
breathing disorders, digestive problems, headaches and urinary-tract problems
than people living in more compact cities." What is the root of this
increase in susceptibility to these problems? Is it linked to the lower amount
on average of exercise that those living in the suburbs get? Is it air pollution?
And in regards to air pollution, with the increasing density of large cities
like Vancouver, would urban dwellers not have more exposure to air pollution?
Mark Townsend
Winnipeg
How could Charles Montgomery write an article about Vancouver's high-density
housing and "Vancouverism" without ever mentioning the word "earthquake"?
Are these buildings designed to withstand an earthquake? If there is an earthquake
in Vancouver (or should that be "when there is an earthquake in Vancouver?"),
how will all those people crammed into high-density housing leave the city?
Vancouver is not a city which could be evacuated quickly.
Libby Toop
Toledo, Ont.
Forgotten spirituality
Charles Montgomery's narrative of "Sustainable
Cities" in May/June
2006 describes Vancouver and the Lower Mainland megalopolis exquisitely. However,
he misses out on one essential part in the sidebar "Neighbourhood of
the future."
A significant component of the False Creek redevelopment that will be used
as the Athlete's Village for the 2010 Olympics will also include The InterSpiritual
Centre. The Centre will be a shared house of worship and a congregational
home for a cross-section of religious and spiritual traditions.
In March 2005, the Vancouver City Council adopted the idea of an InterSpiritual
Centre into the Official Development Plan for the False Creek area. Then,
the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games
welcomed the ISC for inclusion into the Olympic Village site.
In September 2005, the 14th Dalai Lama, while visiting Vancouver, endorsed
the ISC as an essential part of life in the 21st Century and accepted an invitational
to attend a ground-breaking ceremony in September.
The InterSpiritual Centre will serve the immediate spiritual and religious
needs of the athletes during the 2010 Games. Following the Games the
Centre will be a legacy as "the shared sacred space" for every religious
tradition and spiritual teaching that shines light upon the world and each
one of her citizens for promotion of peace and justice, harmony and the common
good.
David Spence
Port Moody, B.C.
Contrary to contrarian
I was disappointed with the article
on David Keith, environmental scientist of the year (CG May/June
2006). Does Keith knows what he's doing, jumping from one project to
another without coming to any useful conclusions? For instance, he doesn't
like Kyoto because he believes we won't be able to reach the proposed CO2
emissions. He's right. But Keith should suggest something to replace it.
Carbon capture is alright. It might have a future. But at the present time,
we should stop polluting now.
I would ask all these people how they will be able to look in the eyes of
their children and grandchildren and say: I did what was needed to save
this world for you.
Lucien Huppé,
St-Bruno, Que.
So, Keith believes that "economically it's not even clear that global
warming is all negative. There are energy executives already thinking about
how they could drill for oil in an ice-free Arctic summer."
What a morally bankrupt statement. Climate change is certainly economically
all negative for 10 million poor people living within one metre of sea level
in Bangladesh, and for another half million living in the Maldives, Tivalu
and other atoll countries. And it's all negative for millions of farmers throughout
the world, including many in Canada, whose livelihood will be destroyed by
drought, or floods.
Climate change is the greatest threat the world faces today ― even the
Pentagon acknowledges that. Irresponsible comments from contrarian scientists
serve only to confuse the public and give politicians the justification they
look for to delay the strong public policies needed to combat it.
Robin and Marian White
Calgary
top
People, not planet the problem
Thank you for the thought-provoking article profiling David
Keith's work. One of Keith's quotes in particular I feel needs comment: "Managing
things — that's what we do... We don't yet know how to manage
the planet, and we don't have the institutions and governing structure for
doing so." This highlights a flaw in our values regarding environmental
problems. It is not the planet that needs to be managed, rather people
need to be managed. We should not be trying to adapt the planet to
our needs, but we should be adapting our own systems to the health needs
of the planet. In this way we will guarantee our own health.
The Pembina Institute is an organization with over sixty of the top minds
in Canada working together toward changing the way we act. This holistic approach
is much more beneficial in creating the change we need than any one person's
own professions. Pembina's openness to consider Keith's ideas shows
the maturity of this organization in using all of the information available
to constantly inform their policies and values. Kudos to Keith for challenging
the status quo, but let's remember there are more informed and well-rounded
environmental leaders from whom we can learn.
Gary Parkstrom
Anahim Lake, B.C.
Growing concern
Thanks for Margaret Webb's "To catch a lobster" (In habitat, CG July/Aug
2006) I am currently working on a project that started as one focused
on the development of a local environmental action plan for the city of
Thunder Bay. I had been blissfully ignorant of the issue regarding community
food security in Thunder Bay, and when I jumped into the project, I landed
in a much deeper mire of local and global food issues.
The learning curve has been steep and rough to climb, but the passionate
people I meet and read about have been inspiring, and keep me going.
JoAnne Henderson
Come one, come all environmentalists
After reading the Exploration article on Montréal's "Circus
City" (CG May/June
2006), I have found new interest in that area. I always thought the
district was strictly industrial, thus being of no interest for a student
searching for careers in a field pertaining to something on a more environmental
overlook. This article introduced me to a multitude of possibilities.
Alan James Powell
Montréal, Que.
Shooting down "Shooting stars"
I would find it very depressing if I really believed that the photos depicted
in your piece on "Shooting
Stars" did represent (as you claim) the best of Canadian photography.
Fortunately, I know better. What I don't understand is why Canadian Geographic would
feature them.
Ed Boldt,
Winnipeg
Dying for a green space
I was delighted to read your article about green burials (Discovery, CG May/June
2006). That this is the kind of burial I want. The problem is we don't
have such a place in Canada, as far as I know. And time is running short:
I am a 76-year old double transplant, way past my "best before" date.
Only, I don't know if anyone would consider putting me into the soil. I
am so full of pharmaceuticals, I might be considered a toxic substance and
contaminate the groundwater table. And I do hate the thought of cremation:
it also might pollute the air. I hope there is a green space for me somewhere.
Manfred Mueller
Kingston, Ont.
Pondering polar bears
Polar bears are malnourished and increasingly dying of starvation because
global warming is reducing their access to seals. Your article (Discovery, CG July/Aug
2006) forgot to ask the most important question of all: What is Churchill
doing to offer alternative nourishment to these suffering animals?
Roma Yanchinski
Toronto, Ont.
A question of use
I just finished reading "Kanga Ruin?" (CG May/June
2006) and couldn't help laughing at the gaping holes in the arguments
from the naturalist groups that were quoted. Two groups utilize this area:
the military base and a gas producer. This area is one of (if not the most)
minimal disturbance gas development locations in the world. There are no
roads, pumpjacks, tanks, or above ground equipment on the reserve for producing
natural gas. The equipment is located two metres underground in two by four
metre boxes covered by a heavy duty gate. The proposed development of 1,275
wells are mostly directional 'pad' wells that are drilled from existing
locations ― that's two wells in one box. There is limited access for
oilfield personnel, which occurs at times of the year that minimize impact
on wildlife ― winter, for example. So why go the extra expense to
put this equipment underground? Quite simply it is so military vehicles
can drive over the wells during their war games. And we're not talking ATV's
and foot soldiers: the gates are sized for full size tanks and the odd off-target
artillery shell.
So tell me which user has the higher environmental impact? Four underground
boxes per acre or tanks cruising around in the mud blowing holes in the ground?
Naturalist groups are always quick to point the finger at the oil and gas
industry because it's an easy target ― they have deep pockets so the
public doesn't sympathize. Imagine if EnCana never helped create the wildlife
preserve and it was converted to farm land? Remember the four boxes? Try cultivating
the entire acre then pouring pesticides and herbicides all over it. But who
is going to criticize farmers?
PS: there is no oil or gas in Banff, it leaked to the surface millions of
years ago. And even if they did I bet it would have less impact than one season
of ATVers ripping around Lake Louise. See development in the Bragg Creek area
for a case study. If they are so interested in protecting those rats try working
on the actual root cause problem.
Libby Toop
Toledo, Ont.
Tall trees
In an old-growth forest, the three types of trees mentioned in "Last
call for the spotted owl" (CG May/June
2006) would be more like 60 to 90 metres above the forest floor. Just
so people don't start thinking second or third-growth is old growth.
C. Jones
Maple Ridge, B.C.
top
* Letters may be edited for length, accuracy and liability.
|
