CampusIntel

I love to make lists. With check boxes, so I can check thing’s off as I go. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, checking a box. A list I have been meaning to make since school ended is a Summer To Do List (of fun things!). So, I decided to feed two kids with one apple (my rendition of  kill two birds with one stone, who would want to kill a bird?) and publish my list here, to share with everyone!

Jill’s Summer To Do List

Go to a concert – Whether it be the Cavendish Beach Music Festival, Country Rocks the Commons, the Black Eyed Peas or Backstreet Boys. I want to see a concert this summer! Concerts are so light hearted and fun. It’s a good way to get out of the office!

Go to the beach (more than once) – Every summer I say, “I’m going to go to the beach more.” And every summer I end up going once, MAYBE two times if I’m lucky. So this summer I am going to try my very best to get to the beach as often as possible!

Take dance lessons – Dance lessons would be so much fun! Especially if you’re not a good dancer (like myself), but if you feel like you don’t want to commit to dance lessons, do something like Zumba at the gym! At MSVU it’s only $6 a class, and anyone can drop it! The instructor is great, and its a lot of fun. Definitely worth trying out.

Brush up on cooking skills – I am not a very good cook, so for those of us who don’t cook well we can try and make some time this summer to try some [new] recipes (aka try a recipe). And for those really good cooks, go on allrecipes.com and try one of their Top 10 recipes!

Try a new ice cream flavour every time you get a cone – Summertime is the best time for ice cream. I usually stick with some core ice cream flavours, but I know there are some great ones out there that I never get! So the next time you stop in Avery’s or your local ice cream place, try something new!

Volunteer – The most common excuse I hear for people saying they can’t volunteer is that they’re too busy to volunteer. But since its summer and school is out, you really should have more time to volunteer. If you’re in the Halifax area and looking for volunteer opportunities there are many, including for the Friends of McNabs Island Society. This summer is their 20th Anniversary! They’re having a picnic on McNabs (July 17th). For more information about the event or volunteering check out: www.mcnabsisland.ca.

Grow your own veggies – I have the packets lying next to me right now for peas, carrots and spinach! I’m not much of a gardener, so I figure this year I’ll learn with 3 different plants and next year I’ll try for an entire garden. This is much more sustainable and better for our environment than buying from a chain grocery store. If you aren’t able to grow your own, buy local!

Those are just a few different ideas of what I am going to try and do this summer! If you have any ideas for me leave a comment!

Global warming.

Sounds pretty familiar, doesn’t it? Just ten years ago, people were still learning the meaning of the term: “How does the whole planet get warmer?”; “When is it going to take place?”; “Why is it happening now?” But today, global warming is an everyday topic of discussion: I dare you to find someone who hasn’t heard of it. But do we all understand it? Apparently not.

Tuning into the radio the other day, the host was on the topic of global warming. He spoke of how the phenomenon is actually nothing at all; that it has all been created as a scare tactic for the world. My original reaction was, “Bullshit,” but I nevertheless continued to listen. He went on to explain how all of the facts and figures that demonstrate the Earth’s drastic changes have either been exaggerated or entirely fabricated by scientists. Despite my entire skepticism of his argument, I found myself paying particular attention to the systems we have put in place to combat global warming.

Things started out well. Walking around campus, I took note of the many “streamlined” receptacles placed around every turn. Separate slots for paper, bottles, compost, garbage and more is a huge step up from the ‘odd garbage can and mission impossible recycle bin hunt’ you used to experience in many cities. And an even prettier sight: pressed-for-time students taking the time to divide their waste into the varying containers.

I had to look up a few things online, and remembered my favourite new search engine from Google called ‘Blackle.’ If you haven’t used Blackle yet, check it out. It’s an energy-efficient search engine meant to save power by utilizing a black screen rather than the typical Google white background. So far, well over a million watt hours have been saved just from this alone.

Next I hit the town. I was pleased to see the mass amounts of hybrid buses, bicycle lanes and people walking and biking to their destinations. Growing up in a rural area where personal vehicles were almost a necessity, this picture of people utilizing their resources was a breath of fresh air.

As the day progressed though, I started to gain a new outlook. When I returned back to residence, I couldn’t help notice the heat had been cranked up, yet everyone walked around in tees and shorts. I thought quietly to myself, Wouldn’t a sweater be more appropriate? Growing up with a mother and sister that followed their same logic, though, this, for the most part, stopped bothering me years ago. What still leaves a sour taste in my mouth though was what I witnessed upon looking out my window.

It was a very dark night, with nary a star in the sky, so I thought. Yet I instinctively squinted when I looked in the direction of the library: seven floors of artificial, incredibly yellow light. Now I understand how light levels can stimulate you and keep you alert, which is ideal when trying to pack in some studying before finals. But is it necessary to have them up so bright as to make me squint from 500 m away? And how about turning them off when the library closes: the lights aren’t illuminating much good at four in the morning.

So after this day of thinking about the comments of that radio host and exploring our “environmentally-friendliness,” I came to a conclusion. What does it matter if global warming is fact or fiction? Should we really alter our behaviour either way? If the top global scientists all announced tomorrow that global warming is indeed, no more than a false human invention, would you abandon all the steps you currently take to preserve our Earth? Would you stop recycling, leave the water running all night and not bother to turn off the lights when you go out? Of course not!

The important thing is that we continue to progress toward a more sustainable planet. Whether our planet is in fact undergoing a revolutionary shift, or simply experiencing yet another environmental cycle, the initiative to take care of it should not change in the least. The mere idea of this “relief” is wrong in itself; it demonstrates how humans are willing to take on challenges that are pressing at the moment, but will not think twice about implementing systems to combat such issues proactively. We need to take a more aggressive standpoint to addressing global issues, which means identifying and taking care of them before they wreak their havoc. Global leaders are doing what they can; the responsibility falls on us now. As citizens, we need to make our presence known in the world and strive every day to make it a better place for those that will follow in our footsteps. Global warming may be just as much hogwash as Hogwarts, but we can still act responsibly to preserve our planet. I don’t think anyone can argue with that.

JB

Cuba, before most of the prosperous locations that produce oil ran short, forcing their government to think outside of the box on how to maintain their lifestyle, while being environmentally friendly in terms of Oil and energy usage.

The film “The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil” displays to viewers how Cuba has changed their way of living since the oil crisis in the 1990s.

Since the oil crisis the way that Cuba lives has had to change; everything from transportation to food processing was forced to change and fortunately has made their community healthier and more prosperous than they were previous to the peak oil crisis.

The first change is food. With little to no oil available for mechanics and agricultural development the transition began. Cuba has overcome the obstacle of food production by rebuilding the soil so that it has no traces of oil in it, making the soil prosperous for organic food growth. With the change in soil, and having to rebuild them, Cuba has been able to enlist Oxen to do the hard work of tiling the land, leading to Cuba’s land becoming 80% organic. With less need for mechanics to do the work, the soil has been able to transition, and has allowed for nature to work for the farmers. Meaning that the soil, having been given time to transition is now giving back to farmers with good food used for sale and for their own families. Farmers in Cuba are prosperous because they don’t have to buy food, they sell it and eat there own products. One Cuban farmer says that “if we don’t take care of the earth, the earth will take care of us…and get rid of us”.

The Government has taken note of how well farmers are doing for themselves and has even issued the use of land to live and grow food on. If the land is not used for food production than the land must be given back to the Government and from there they will give it to someone who will work the land. In return for working the land farmers and their families are able to live on the land tax free.

With government support, the culture of Cuba has changed. Considering transportation concerns, the people of Cuba now walk to work and school, or ride a bike. Because there is little oil for people to use their cars, riding a bike is the best option. Other options are cab/car systems where Camels, mules and horses are used to take people longer distances. With no cars on the road, pollution has decreased, and the people have been getting healthier, by incorporating more physical activity into their daily lives.

The video says that in times of crisis, such as Cuba’s, things that fall back as priorities are health care, however, once again Cuba has been able to overcome the crisis by training more doctors and nurses that it needs and even sending those educated in health care to developing countries, which they then trade for the little oil that they still need.

Cuba’s story is an inspiring one, not only have they overcome a majour obstacle that other countries will soon encounter, but they have become healthier and happier by increasing physical activity, and eating more of the organic food that they produce on their own.  Overall, Cuba has overcome a potentially critical crisis, by being proactive, and opting for less mechanics and healthier farming options.

See how Cuba survived peak oil for yourself, and watch the video at: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1721584909067928384&ei=Rd1ES_HQBJm-qQLDkb3eAQ&q=power+of+community&hl=en&client=safari#

Written by: John Coleman

To put the car North American car industry into perspective, China recorded a 45 per cent increase in auto sales in 2009, while the US recorded a 21 per cent decrease. However, both nations still sold numbers in the low tens of millions. The high increase in auto sales in China was unexpected, and only goes to prove China’s legitimacy in the race for top world superpower status. Chinese drivers are saying “Economic Crisis? What economic crisis?” which also says that their rise in international politics will also be hard to hinder. North Americans have displayed a different mentality, and the marketplace for new cars has reflected it.

The main thing North Americans thought about 2009 were the ongoing plant closures in Canada and the US. Ford, GM, and Chrysler all downsized tremendously within the past few years, and 2009 saw plenty of it: GM stopped production at its Oshawa truck plant in September, alongside 13 other plant closing in the US. In early 2010, the latest GM plant closure was announced in Windsor, where 1,400 jobs will be lost. The world economic crisis has, of course, contributed to North America’s leading automakers drive for cheaper production costs. Labour and parts produced in Canada and the US are more expensive than elsewhere.

But, it looks like some of these wounded auto manufacturers have decided that enough is enough, and the 2010 North America Auto Show is the perfect place to showcase their new, greener approach. The most revered event in the car industry, rolling into Detroit next week, everyone is expecting to see what the auto industry will do to bounce back. The show, which starts on January 16, is expected to unveil hybrids and electric cars from all automakers, in a revamping attempt to create a new market. SUVs and big trucks are to be scarce, and even some lighter trucks and small passenger cars will be hard to find. The 2010 Auto Show in Detroit will be comprised mainly of electric and hybrid cars.

Some big names expected to turn gear-heads are Toyota, Mazda, Magnum, and GM and Nissan, who will all be using the show to create buzz around their latest green concepts. Also, American based companies Tesla and Fisker’s new electric cars are drumming up attention among buyers looking to go green. But, Chinese based BYD Auto, being funded by US billionaire Warren Buffet, will be most watched when it reveals its latest line of hybrids that have been in semi-production since 2008.

It is no secret that with sub categories such as: Arts & Design, Business, Political Spectrum, Travel, Restaurants, and Green Living that the Culture Cafe category will be a huge hit amongst our reader base. We are really excited to start rolling out fresh content for you, so please stay tuned!