Bringing in the New Year

The New Year is a time for reflection, a time to review new items on your personal inventory and to look at how we will make changes in our lives, relationships and the world around us. As each of takes our inventory this year, take the time to think about how each of these decisions will effect the environment we live in. Not just the physical changes that the world is undergoing but personal and social changes that we can impact by putting more effort into the things we do. As the year goes by we will succeed at some and our efforts will slowly fade, fatigue will set in...but with a concerted effort some things will be changed.

Remember these changes and use them to motivate yourself and others to change and improve more things. The world is your playground...play safe, play fair, have fun.

Plastic Shopping Bags

For years now, I've been bringing my own bags when I go shopping, which by the way, I do try to keep to a minimum. The impact to the environment is phenomenal - a plastic bag takes over 1000 years to biodegrade, more if it has no oxygen, such as a landfill. Some quick stats from reusable bags give you an idea of the devastation they may cause. This is one aspect of your life that is easy to change. It is not inconvenient to bring your own bags. I keep a few cloth bags in the car, and have a liquor store bag with compartments for bottles. When I shop my backpack comes along with me. There are some personal advantages too:

• I don't have a stockpile of plastic bags overflowing in my house
• The bags are more durable and carry my groceries better
• Easier on the hands to carry & grab
  
• Reduces the cost for the vendor
• They make great laundry bags
• They take up very little space
  

Changing this aspect of your life will not be as hard as you think. Try keeping a bag or two in your car and one on the front door of your house. Have a few extra in your backpack. Carry the a single or small item without a bag. Give it back to the vendor when they automatically pack it for you and mention something like "I'd rather save the environment - you should ask if I want a bag to do the same" or indicate the money they could save without bags. In 2002, Ireland introduced a bag tax at 15% and reduced the number of bags by 90%, quite a feat. Perhaps, Canada should follow suit, we are the perfect country to set an environmental example with all the resources we should be protecting.

Do your part - be smart.

Fall Colours - take a minute

The weather turned quickly on us this week but take a minute to enjoy the colours and smells of fall. This time of year is a great opportunity to enjoy nature in its splendour. This time of year there is always lots going on - fall fairs, trail hikes, book fairs and events throughout the cities and country side.

Think about bundling up and going for a country walk. There are endless conservation areas and parks to visit. For those a little less bold, take a drive with your family and friends to small town Ontario. Go to Niagara on the lake and peruse the many wineries. The schools, community groups and churches have bazzars and bake sales. Get involved or just visit. Check out the final garage sales for the year. This time of year bed and breakfast is a good deal - have some quiet relax time before the chaos of Christmas.

It is harvest time - go pick apples. Grab your cans from the hadware store and make chutney, sauces or can your veggies - ever had pickled pumpkin...yum!! This is the time the fudge seems plenty, warm soups and chowders fill the menus, roasted chestnuts hit the vendors. For something different try some of the ethnic areas...in little Korea near Christie Pits they do walnut cakes OR maybe you want something more hearty try corn on the cob in little India on Gerrard Street east. Chinatown has inexpensive soups that hit the spot and keep you warm. There are so many things to keep your body and mind warm from the approaching cold - try one out it will curb your distress from the onslaught of approaching freeze.

Car Idling

I was out of town for a few days in Kingston and noticed something that was much more obvious than in Toronto. A large percentage of people would get out of there car to pick something up and would leave the car running. I was a little bit shocked. It is not winter and it doesn't take much to stop and start a car. The idling for 5 minutes or more not only creates pollution to the air but is also noisy and takes from the serenity of the surroundings. There must be a way to reduce or change this habit. What a positive impact this would have on the environment we live in.

What is it that motivates people to save their money and the environment at the same time. Perhaps we need to start looking at these motives and then we can make the changes we need. Do people just not care? Are people really that caught up in convenience and their own lives? Are people that lazy? What will it take to ask the people in our globe to change their habits. Anyone?

Transportation Options

In the busy lives we lead today it seems the choice option for transportation is the car. Wait, did I say the car, funny that, we all seem so concerned about the environment. There are a variety of options we could do to change how we impact the use of our car. While getting rid of your car all together is the most direct solution, it is not practical and nor will it be viable for the general public to accept. Instead of worrying about changing habits in an abrupt manner, it is time to realize that most people will take convenience over the cost of gas. What does this mean? It means that to change the habits, instead of regulating and forcing issues on people we should try to find solutions that ease people into alternatives - people resist change, especially when it is forced upon them.

Let's look at some of the controls that have been implemented globally, along with viable solutions that reduce traffic, gas consumption and pollutants.

• car bans on work days
• flexible work options
• auto share
• walking/bike routes,
• strong public transport
• local work
• flexible work arrangements
• better urban planning
• ride sharing
• Increase car performance
• Better quality gas
  

In Mexico city they only allow drivers to use cars on certain days. Car pooling was introduced in the seventies unsuccessfully due to the logistics of our working times. Flexible working arrangements is a proven method but needs to be fully supported by industry and society. Car share and auto share to reduce the second (or three or four) car family is a viable and convenient solution. Strong bike and walking routes introduced throughout cities help ease traffic. Affordable and frequent public transportation can also eliminate the need for driving. Recently the 100 mile diet has been introduced and is a bestseller - if we live and work locally, the need for a car is greatly diminished. When travelling long distance try ride sharing. Better transportation routes with well planned streets and signs allowing traffic to move and lessen idle time and overall driving time, thus cleaning the air by less driving hours. Increasing the quality of the car engines and driving performance. Increasing the gas octane levels has an impact on the driving quality and amount of gas consumed, along with a cleaner burn.

While some of these ideas are still a band aid, the overall impact on a large scale is dramatic and allows us to slowly changes our ideas and ideals on the way we live and think.

Season Shifting Pattern

In recent years it seems that the seasons (in Ontario anyway) are shifting dramatically! We have had warm weather in the teens on Christmas, no real snow until January, hot weather on the Thanksgiving weekend and very late spring with snow as late as May 30th. This seems odd to me. I remember snow in October, March thaw, and crisp Christmas weather. Even the birds are changing migratory habits by leaving later or staying behind for the winter. The great lakes have been surprisingly low for several years now. But I'm not convinced that the changes are totally to do with global warming and other catastrophe's that we are led to believe are changing the earth. There is potential for man and the earth to heal itself so why is the change happening?

I have some reason to believe that part of the explanation lies within the natural patterns that occur over time, though recorded facts of weather patterns are limited, so only geological surveys can discover some of the truth, along with recorded documentation in archives. Historical information is hard to find? Please comment to add some light to the matter.

Back to Basics - Maslow's Hierarchy

Maslow's theory states that physiological needs are the bare necessities of life - these being food, water, warmth, body functions and oxygen. Once these needs are taking care of then people will generally take care of safety, followed by love & affection (sense of belonging). Only when these basic needs are met can a person grow and develop their need for esteem & finally actualization.

Recently, my life has been put to the test, though this is nothing new for me. The basic needs are just barely being met and are at times in jeopardy. This means my safety both mentally and physically are at risk...fortunately a strong will and good survival skills are helping to fend this off. Safety is often out of our control, but a more protected environment, a buffer of money, affordable options for food and shelter help make this aspect of life more prominent. Without the basic physiological and safety needs it has been pretty hard to maintain friends, family and relationships and in some ways they have contributed to some of the situations that have come about.

On a good day esteem is high, on certain facets of life it does range from poor to excellent though. In order to even worry about growth, the basics have to be taken care of. Almost 4 decades of prolonged exposure to the first two levels of hierarchy have made it difficult to maintain any form of esteem and though I am aware of the changes required and most certainly know the changes I want to make in the world, my personal philosophies and principles are in jeopardy if I succumb to the basic societal demands that have been created (and ones I feel limit our ability to create and develop a better society). I have many ideas, visions and philosophies that can change and solve many problems for many people. They will offer a more sustainable and enjoyable life with less stress. The BOTTOM LINE IS, I know what I want to be doing, I know how I want to be doing it and I will not let desperation or society dictate what I believe can help people with no harm to their well being and in fact create large scale changes to improve society and the environmental impacts we make.

Please take the time to share your stories and bring your ideas for change to light.

Prolonged Stress

Prolonged stress is a serious problem today. With the cost of living becoming steadily higher, family problems on the increase, work demands rising, rental prices becoming difficult to manage, travel times adding hours to a day, new health concerns (and old ones), limited family time, wage increases not keeping up to the costs it is a wonder we haven't collapsed. Yet people somehow manage to survive.

Life should not be about just surviving, however, there is so much more. Work should be fulfilling and add to the value of society. We have family to look after and friends to make life meaningful. Hobbies and pastimes are needed to round out our time and make everything worth living for. If we don't have the time and money to take care of these things and basics like good food and exercise to keep our bodies and minds in tune than we have a sure formula for stress. Over time the effects of prolonged stress is indeed a concern we should all look at. New studies and obvious signs are popping up every day but shouldn't we each take and active part in changes our stress. Money is an obvious one, those that earn high incomes have lots of toys and high mortgages or debt to manage. Those that earn low incomes also have the same issue. We don't differ and many of us do not live within our means, myself included. Sometimes, the ability to earn is limited and after prolonged periods of this the body and mind suffers.

If we took a look at how we work together and as individuals with different needs the answers to a less stressful and healthier, happier life may be found. What are your ideas/solutions?

Smoking in the Boysroom

Well, not actually in the boys room but how about in the car or a public place. People are always complaining about the aspect of smoking that adds carbon monoxide to the air and carcinogens to their body, putting them at risk. They are quick to point out all the bad aspects of health and the costs involved to our healthcare system and quality of life.

Let's look at 3 quick aspects of smoking to put this in perspective. A lot of people that complain about smoke, perhaps with a little "fake" cough, don't seem to cough when thousands of cars drive by them with exhaust streaming out of the tailpipe to the tune of thousands of tons. They also seem to happily drive and idle their car - how hypocritical. There are "free" programs for detox, drugs, and a variety of health issues. Surely we could have programs to help people quit smoking...serious detox programs with serious support. Perhaps we could by smokes in singles to reduce our intake and fill a single craving instead of a single pack. Solutions lie within society and we are responsible to make these changes.

There are however a couple other things about cigarettes that bother me and I'm a smoker...why do we have to throw our butts on the ground. It is not hard to put it out and throw it in a garbage can. Even though offices and stores have reduced the number of ashtrays outside (which means more litter), there are still plenty of them available. The final aspect of flicking your butt out a car window is the danger involved...they have been known to start fires and to burn peoples wipers or cars (also land inside someone else's car) and the mess they make is unbelievable. Recently, there was a case where someone got charged with this because they had started a huge forest fire. We have ashtrays in our cars and garbage cans everywhere. If you can't quit, then at least be courteous about your smoking.

Coffee Cups

Recently Tim Horton's was going to charge more for a coffee if you used a cup. Was this because they were trying to be environmentally friendly or did they just want to save a buck or several million. The customer base didn't like it....soooo Timmies decided against it. Now these may not be all the facts but the general point is that the environment is not something that is a top concern for both consumers and the corporations that drive the markets.

I recently went into a Second Cup with my coffee mug that goes everywhere with me. It saves me a quarter each coffee on average (savings of over $200 a year), keeps my coffee warmer and is better for the environment. I go with a stainless steel mug to reduce the plastic and I feel they last longer, way longer. It's easy to carry my mug with me. It's not heavy and a good one costs no more than $30 although $5 is a more reasonable price. You can find them everywhere including the coffee shops. Many shops now have a mish mash of mugs for people that are staying at the shop and they even provide spoons, environmental cups from companies like greenshift. saving the environment even more. Back to my story now, the girl couldn't fit my mug under the dispenser so she poured it into a cup, which defeats the purpose of me having it and clearly demonstrates that the chain organizations do not explain the importance of each aspect of a customers needs and desires. Not a very positive experience for a potential customer (although I'd consider going more often if it was organic fair trade coffee). If all of us were to think about something as simple with this the landfill reduction alone would be enourmous.

The reality is that without a healthy and sustainable environment we are left with nothing eventually. No clean water, polluted air and land are just the tip of this iceberg. What about the cost of production, the ongoing consumption and the time and money save with garbage disposal as a few initial thoughts of reduction in consumption. It's time for us as consumers to speak out and start making smart choices that impact us in a more positive way. Convenience does not even com into play here...life is not hard when you make conscious choices and leading by example is a good way to make changes. So next time you buy your coffee think about it's container.

5 ways to simplify (and save money)

A quick post to show a few ways to simplify and save the environment, while saving money at the same time.

1. When brushing your teeth try to reduce the water you use - you could just put enough water in a cup or stop running the water while you are brushing. Over the course of a year that's a lot of water.
2. Try walking the couple blocks to the store....it is good for your health, and you will feel good about it. You will not save time driving (by the time you get the car ready, start it, drive it, stop, park it etc.) and you will save the emissions and your gas money each time you do it...a lot of gas and toxins each month.
3. Buy your own coffee mug and take it with you everywhere. Not only do you get a discount from many of the coffee stores, but your coffee is generally warmer (and you often get more) but you also save the cup, cup protector, lid etc.
4. Don't rake your leaves...let them decompose and fertilize your garden (plus they offer a really good mulch/protection for certain plants in the winter)
5. If you forgot to pack your healthy lunch, try to go to a grocery store or a market if you have one nearby for a few simple items, it is almost certainly cheaper, healthier and you can get some of your grocery shopping done instead of eating away at your valuable private time.

These are just a few simple things. If you think long and hard about it there are thousands of ways you can change your habits with a positive impact on the earth and a more simple approach to your lifestyle, while saving a ton.

Eco Footprint

In the last few years the term eco-footprint has been coined to describe the impact each person has on the earth. Here's how it works - for every person in the world we should leave one footprint on the earth. If we lessen our impact then we reduce the waste and leave more for everyone, thus increasing the life expectancy of the planet. Most people in the world do not have enough resources to make a footprint in the world, or even a toeprint, so the vast majority of the western world is using everyone elses footprint and then some, which leaves it up to us to make the changes and reduce the impact in the world. It is therefore, our responsibility to change our viewpoint and the way we do things...hence the idea.

Here are some examples of vast wast that we could all change:

1. Idling your car
2. Plane Travel (reduce your travel by plane)
   
3. Disposable items (think of items that you could reuse....razor, or don't shave)
   
4. Packaging and plastic bags (bring your own shopping bag or by a hemp one which is a renewable resource)
   
5. Don't leave your TV on all the time...from when you get home to bed

These are just a few ways that could save dollars in your pocket but impact the earth in a dramatic style. Try changing one of these habits and you will find it to be painless and fulfilling. You can make a difference, one day at a time.

Acts of Kindness

I recently had car troubles (yes I drive a car but it is green...in colour - and good on gas) with my electrical system. To save money and keep things simple, I have tried to learn and do most of the changes myself, so I'm pretty aware of what is wrong. I've tried to look after my car and it's an excellent car for it's age - a 95 Toyota Tercel.

When the car first "acted up" it wouldn't start, though I got it going. The first time I needed a boost, I received resistance but he came over and let me jump the car. The process only takes 3 minutes to hook up the cables, which I provided. It was quick and painless. The next time, I wasn't so fortunate, after an hour in a busy side street location, I opened the hood and put the cables in view to show that I needed a jump. I asked people, they gave all sorts of excuses like they have an old car, which doesn't effect the ability to boost. Hundreds, quite literally, drove by. Finally a good samaritan got me started. The third time, I wasn't so lucky, during rush hour and I actually had a few people make comments and gestures, such as "nice car buddy" to rub salt in the wound. Fortunately, I had a friend who was on his way to visit me and he is very good with cars, so he got me started and we discussed the options to eliminate the problem.

My observations of the people in the city of Toronto is that they are in self focused. If the situation was reversed, they would want empathy and some help. When I swerved to miss a moose this summer and ended up sideways in the ditch, every car in northern Ontario stopped to see if I was okay and if I needed help....kudos. As for you city folks...and I am from Toronto, I think we can do better. Remember to take the time helping someone, even with a random act of kindness, it will make their day and brighten yours. Take time to change the social footprint that we are all a part of.

Cost of Living - Be Simple

The cost of living is an issue that has always been with us. The bottom line...be simple. The more we spend, the more money we need to earn and the harder we need to work. In order to find the time to enjoy life we need to work less....SO, is it not obvious that we need to minimize our lifestyle. This has two positive impacts on the world. Firstly, we reduce our consumption and lessen the environmental destruction of consumption & pollution. The second impact is that we clearly take back our lives and have the time (not money) to do the things we enjoy. If you need to spend less, then you need to spend less time earning.

One of the major costs of living, especially in big cities like Toronto, is the cost of maintaining a home. Good jobs are hard to come by and even a job three (3) times the minimum wage will only earn a salary in the mid forties (40K), which after taxes leaves about $2500 a month. With rent at the low end covering a third of that, the remaining money doesn't go far for food and the other necessities. This means we are putting ourselves further and further into debt, a trap that many will never get out of. If you are able to keep your job, since layoffs are a predominant part of our workforce now, then you may be able to hold fast, that is based on the premise that you have the stamina to deal with the politics and troubles in the office and on the voyage to work. Many people can't!!! The red tape of offices and governments may also provide too many obstacles for some.

As a writer, with many diverse skills, I've witnessed this phenomenon and have researched affordable and sustainable options for housing and living for over a decade. In the city this is harder to achieve, but can be done. I am working on a large scale solution for affordable urban housing that will have a built in economy, self & community sponsored funding, sustainable power and food, locally focused, socially diverse and is community oriented.

Simply Stephen, has therefore gone more simple and is simplifying the cost of living by living in my car, camping, traveling and visiting. I've reduced my belongings...even more. As a minimalist I could usually make myself pretty mobile, but have almost got it down to a science. Here is the simple list of things remaining:

• guitar (I've sold all my other instruments)
• laptop
• cellphone
  
• tool box
• backpack with clothes
• Knapsack with basics such as battery charger, clock
  
• cooler & "kitchen in a bag"
• CAR - small gas conscious Toyota Tercel
  

In order to start this journey, I need to raise awareness and start reducing my cost. Here's what I'm doing. I'm teaching people the value of life and showing them the cost of living. I've started reducing my impact on the world by stopping the rental trap. I'm networking with people when I ride share places and visit cafes to pick up email for free. If you would like to learn more about this experiment please visit www.besimple.info to discover the step by step process, tips and tricks and refinement of the minimizing process. I am hoping to share each aspect of this journey and show everyone, not just minimalists, how they can take back some aspect of their life.

Your support, both financial and moral would be appreciated. It is time to change the planet and offer solutions for not just a few people that meet the criteria on an application, but for all those that are interested in a prosperous and fulfilling life. Please take the time to review my network of sites and all the friends and sponsors to help them in their dreams and goals.

Give a hoot...

...Don't pollute. For those of you around in Ontario in the seventies, you will remember the campaign. It seems many of us have forgotten this slogan or a whole new generation has arrived, many from immigration and many are just under 30 years old and don't remember.

The campaign worked, for the time. My generation and older remembered it and tend not to litter. We take pride in a clean Canada. We like the lakes to be clean, we want our children to breath clean air and drink clean water. Many people are respectful, but with a growing and diverse population base it is important to refresh our ideas and share hope for a cleaner future. It seems that it is time to review this policy and campaign though and help a newly arrived population understand the value of a clean society that respects the land we live on. After all, we really are just buying our time here, the land will be here long after we are gone.

According to the Government of Ontario 2006 census about 12 million people live in Ontario and 3 million were not born in Canada, and 2.5 million are under 30. Although some of the 2.5 million were also not born in Canada it is clear that close to half of the population may not be aware of pollution or may not care....but they could. Most of these 12 million people live in Toronto or cosmopolitan areas, so if we can change the views in the cities, perhaps more widely targeting youth and multi-cultural stations we could make a difference. So don't you think it's time to give a hoot...don't pollute.

For a busy tomorrow....put it off today

It seems that life has become a flurry of activity, but what is the cost of that activity? We have all experienced the busy attitude in some form. A parent too busy to spend time with a child or vice versa. A friend seemingly unable to return a phone call or email. A promise "we should get together sometime" only never to happen. The list is endless. We focus our lives on tasks that result in material or professional gains. With each phone call missed, time spent with someone important should be the most valuable of assets, but alas we seem to be caught in the rift.

The more we put off our responsibility in school work, office work, house work, family demands, community building and time with friends the busier our world will actually become. If you delay the work, it often becomes stressful and harder to complete. People in the office become unhappy or impatient, waiting for you to complete something - but the deadline is past. This deadline is often past with personal issues and they are often irrevocable situations. The reason for this - sometimes it is too late. Not to be a doom sayer, but what if someone died. Did you spend the time with them. Did you get to say goodbye, tell them you love them?

If you want a busy tomorrow, put it off today. Because you may be spending a lot of time healing. You may be hurting people with your busy life. You may think success has come to you but really your achievements really create a huge loss. So if you want to improve your life and the people around you matter take the time today and avoid a busy tomorrow.

Ever notice...suits aren't happy

I know it's not fair to pass judgment, but make a quiet observation about the smiles on the faces of people during a work week. Usually, the people wearing suits, male and female alike, seem to be so uptight and stressed. They are least likely to be wearing a smile. This is not always the case, but more often or not it is true. There are exceptions and many people have fulfilling jobs in all walks of life. There is no comment on the value of people's work, however, many of us are working to survive and maintain the massive debt and hoards of things that we consume to keep us in a false happiness.

Why is this? I used to wear one of those suits, and since I've gone to a no tie policy (even for social events), I am much less uptight and enjoy life more. There are exceptions, and many people have work that keeps them happy, but I would venture to guess that if you want to get happy, and stay happy it is time to review the job you are in. Ask yourself the questions - what do I want to do? Can I do without some "things" and reduce my costs? Will I be more productive and therefore have a better end result in my life if I change jobs or work for myself? More often than not you will find a solution if you want it badly enough.

So, the next time you see a suit, and notice the person is unhappy, or notice you are unhappy in your suit, take the time to reflect. Notice those in a more casual wear, have a happier outlook on life in general, and be thankful for what you have. Maybe it is time to review how and why you live your life in the way you do and know that it's in your power to make the changes.

Simplify your bookshelf

I used to have over 2000 books, some only reference and hardly used, but mostly a functional library of books with a large collection of escape stories. I also lived in a FOUR bedroom farmhouse with TWO living rooms and only one other room mate. In this house I had furniture and a large collection of things. Over a decade ago I started moving quite a bit and this was one of the catalysts that helped me to simplify my life....but today, I just want to start with your bookshelf.

Books, music, files, gadgets and sentimental things seem to be the hardest to let go. But let's look at the reality of it. If you move a lot and have a large book collection there are a number of downsides.

1. They are heavy (quick moving tip use a wine box, it is about the right size and weight)
2. They take up a lot of space
3. The cost to move and ship them is expensive
4. They often stay in the box for months or go into storage (hint - this means you don't need or use them)
5. They will get damaged over time with many moves

Here's a few ways to reduce your book collection.

1. Look at the books that are getting worn - get rid of them.
2. Ask yourself the question could someone else enjoy this?
3. Reference books that are dated are no longer needed
4. Can you use the Internet as a source for info instead
5. Do you really need to keep your University text books that you last looked at in 1987
6. Is there a rummage sale that would benefit a good cause?
7. When you read a book, start a pile of "trade-ins" and get replacements only when you get rid of the pile (this saves money as you don't need the space on a bookshelf, therefore you may even get rid of a bookshelf and have a "bigger room" and you are getting money back for your book)
8. Go to the library - they have books there, you can return them
9. Do you really need the book or can it wait (how many books do you have unread in your house)
10. Remember - you can always buy the book again later (and they are really cheap on Amazon, Ebay, Used Bookstores and at Garage Sales)

This is just a start. Each time I move or go for an adventure somewhere, this summer it was the Yukon, I go through my books and reduce them. It is down to about 75 now and I will reduce that by another 10-20 by year end. Some of these are yearbooks & some are green, writing or web reference books that I do use but otherwise I only keep a few favourites and even some of them I have removed because I know that I can buy them again for a couple dollars.

It's time to rethink your bookshelf. You can apply this rule to so many other items and if you do it slowly over time you will eventually get yourself to a more simple, peaceful and decluttered world. Try it - you just might like it.

Whitehorse Dog Population

A summer in the Yukon helps you slow down and really smell the roses, wild ones at that. One can take time, rush hour is brutal and during those 12 minute jaunts from one side of town to the other there is lots of time to reflect. So many important questions can be asked and answered. Some of those questions are just interesting pieces of trivial information...but interesting none the less. We should all take some time in our busy lives and ask some questions. Find out the answers and peak our curiousity. After all this curious nature creates new outlooks and inventions and it has throughout time.

Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada has a population of about 26,000 people and is spread out over a vast geographic area. In fact it is the largest city in Canada....not Toronto. The population is larger in the summer and activities are oriented around friendship, nature and wilderness adventurers. A lot of these people that stay for the winter have dogs and they spend time in the winter dog racing and walking these dogs. I would venture to guess that there are as many dogs as there are people during the off season since many would not have a licence. In any given neighbourhood most of your neighbours have at least one dog and more likely two or three. The dogs seem happy, they get walks, the owners have time for them and they enjoy the freedom of great nature trails and wonderful open space.

We could learn a thing or two from the way of life in the Yukon. Take time each day to smell the roses and spend some time enjoying nature and your family or friends. There is nothing more enjoyable and the benefit will have a great ripple effect on the people in your life.

Signs - the writing is everywhere

I recently moved to the Yukon from Toronto for the summer. I packed up my guitar, laptop and a few clothes and headed north for the long drive. The highway took me there - the signs were good. Along the way I saw many types of signs - city signs, check odometer signs, town name signs, exit signs, watch for animal signs...but there were some signs that most of us don't see. These signs disturbed me! Mother Nature was offering warning signs and I noticed some of them on the way. In northern Ontario, I spotted no less than 20 dead crows and even saw a few that seemed weak and dying. This is not usual, birds usually get out of the way of moving vehicles. This was a sign that West Nile Virus is still alive and well...yet for several years no one has mentioned a word about it.

There are other signs we should be aware of. Almost a century ago the founder of Waldorf predicted that the bees were a sign and that numbers were beginning to dwindle. Other animals have dwindled, some to extinction, while some have shot back up to acceptable numbers. But we are overlooking an aspect of nature that effects us more directly - bees pollinate over 70 percent of the fruits and flowers on the planet. Some are consumed by animals but a great deal of plant life is used for human consumption. If the bees disappear, so does many of our main food sources. This is not something to be overlooked. Can you imagine a flurry of humans running around with cue tips pollinating trees and plants? A funny image - maybe but there is nothing funny about it.

There are some solutions to be considered, but clearly more concern for our planet is the over all course of action we must take. The owner of Earth Vision, Josef Graf, recently high-lighted some sources and has been monitoring the situation for quite some time. Spend a moment reviewing his articles and sources or discussing the dilemma with Josef through his blog or via email. You may also want to talk with people in your eco-community to see what you can do to make changes sooner rather than later.

Exiting the Concrete Jungle

A few days ago I had the opportunity to leave Toronto and enjoy the serenity of Georgian Bay. How could I pass this up. But I had to ask myself do we have such strong urges to get away? The city provides many of us with good employment, an active social life, education and yet we still have a need to escape it.

When I was up north the clock stopped, my ears cleared up from the constant drone of city sounds, my body relaxed and I slowly unwound from this excessive stimulation that is imposed on us. All of a sudden life seemed to become more simple and the worries drifted away. Everything was going to be okay. But the reality is that everything should be okay in the cities and in some ways it is. People care but don't always have the time to show it. People help but not always. People smile, but the smiles often fade. People rush thinking that time is going to escape them. If we took a moment each day to exit the concrete jungle we might find that the escape is less important than embracing the things that exist and creating a softer more gentler earth.

There are gems in Toronto - harbours, beaches, communities, markets, galleries, people, programs, events, parks and so much to explore. There are people and communities that need assistance and love. The things we have don't make a difference. The way we live does! Take some time today to help someone or do something that makes your life more enjoyable instead of worrying about your bottom line. The real bottom line is a more concrete solution to the concrete jungle we live in.

Good Consumption: Green Friendly Consumers

Is there such a thing as good consumption? Recently we have been inundated with the notion that consumption is killing the planet and our health. While we may look at this as fear mongering, there really is some truth to it. Have a look at some basic facts and make your own conclusions.

Here are some observations: the world has doubled in population in the last 3 decades to almost 7 billion people. This population needs at minimum; to satisfy Maslow’s Hierarchy of food, shelter and clothing. A strong requirement for health and other related products to increase the quality of life and therefore longevity follows. Mortality rates increase yearly so the planet is getting more crowded.

Now let’s throw a real wrench at the consumption game. Technological and medical advances are being created and developed in such vast numbers and the result is a need for materials to manufacture these goods. Marketing has fine tuned the process by defining the population into 65 homogeneous groups. Each group is then marketed to optimize consumption of each product. We are told what we need and persuaded to purchase products and services that we think make us better.

Our time is of course, a recent phenomenon that is being consumed by a variety of factors. Crowding has made the journey to work more stressful, so we purchase things to help with the stress. The suburb has added to travel time and reduced family time. The cost of living has increased dramatically in order to purchase these items and to supplement, we are using our time to work more. The cost – less family, personal and community time with an impact on each segment.

So what is the good news? Where is the good consumption? Well, all is not lost. We have choices to make. We have alternatives. We have renewable resources. We have technology to discover better, cleaner, safer products. As individuals we can make the choice to slow down, to consume less, to use sustainable practice in our purchase and consumption. We have the ability to change. So perhaps the only good consumption is learning, reading and knowledge because it creates the ability to change our habits and fix our problems.

What Does Green Mean?

Green is a very broad term that means so many things to different people. There is a common misconception that relates it to the political left-wing, such as the green party or all things to do with the environment. While there is certainly a portion of the population that leans this way, there are many other aspects of being green. Many people indirectly make conscious green choices. Most of us have a little or a lot of green in our blood. So what does green involve? The following 7 key areas contribute to making life green:

1. Conservation of the eco-system and all things that support life (NATURE)
2. Responsible economy, saving & reduced consumption (SUSTAINABLE)
3. Support for your local communities (COMMUNITY)
4. Respect of culture, freedom of choice, diversity & acceptance (RESPECT)
5. Peaceful, passive resolve for all conflict and humanitarian issues (HUMANITY)
6. Contribution to the betterment of something one cares about (CHARITY)
7. Healthy lifestyle and living environment (HEALTH)

There is overlap and most people in the world care about all aspects in some respect. There are varying degrees and beliefs when it comes to integration of the above principles but what is important is that the end result is a kinder, cleaner, safer, better world. Something we all want.