The Sandpiper - Winter 2011

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In This Issue...

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After taking a brief hiatus over the fall, the Sand-piper is back! I am so excited to be joining the team as your new Editor-in-Chief.

When I moved from Toronto to Halifax a year ago, I immediately fell in love with the water. Now, whether it is a bike ride through Point Pleasant, breakfast on the roof of the farmer’s market or a road trip to Cape Breton, the water feeds my soul. I think many people feel this way, which is why this issue’s theme is Water: From Local to Global. Spreading awareness about water concerns can help to ensure that this powerful resource is around to provide for us, physically and emotionally, long into the future.

In this issue, the articles you will read are infor-mative, thought provoking and, for the most part, very personal. I was inspired by the first-hand ac-counts from people who turn their passion into ac-tion to change the world. We have also made the Sandpiper more interactive, with links to follow if you want to find out more about a topic. Of course, we’ve included some fun stuff too (flip ahead to the local holiday drink recipes to sip while you read).

Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped create this issue of the Sandpiper, and to all of the members who support the work of the Sierra Club Atlantic. If you’ve yet to get a holiday gift for someone special in your life, why not consider making a donation in their honour? It’s easy, guilt-free, and doesn’t require a trip to the mall.

Thanks again for reading! Stay warm, and have a safe, green, holiday season.

Madison Van WestEditor-in-Chief

Letter from the Editor

Sierra Successes

Impacts of CETA on the Environment

TO FLUSH OR NOT TO FLUSH...

Reporting from the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization

Frack No!

TWO HARBOURS: Comparative Timelines

Looking for Answers in Other Worlds

Visit and Support the Occupy Movement Nearest You

The Locovore Spirit

Letter from the Chair

Letter from the Director

FEATURE CREATURE

2

Sierra Club members and sup-porters gathered on Prince Ed-ward Island for a rejuvenating annual gathering that focused on water and energy issues, oil and gas in the gulf of St. Lawrence, and youth engage-ment. Thanks to all who came along to celebrate the Earth and to Macphail Woods & Homestead for such a wonderful setting!

• AsobserversontheNorthwestAtlanticFisheriesOrganization(NAFO),wepushedforgreaterprotectionofimperiledcodstocksandproposedanewprotectedareafordeep-seacoralhabitat.WewillbeaskingforfurtherconsiderationofthisprotectedareathroughthescientificadvisorybodyofNAFO.

• TheJointReviewPanelassessingtheLowerChurchillmega-hydroprojectreleaseditsreportanditreflectedmanyoftheconcernsweraisedduringtheassessmentprocess.Thisincludeschangesinthefishcommunityfoundintheriver,impactsonculturalandspiritualvalues,andincreasedmercuryinsealsandfishusedforfood.ThePanelreportalsostatedNalcorhadmadeaneconomiccasefortheprojectorthattheprojectwasneededtoreduceprovincialemissions.

• WiththehelpofMountainEquipmentCo-op’sUrbanSustainabilitygrant,weareengagingmunicipalleadersintheAvalonPeninsula,NLtocommissionafeasibilitystudyforaregionalpublictransitsys-tem.

• WildChildNatureImmersionhaskickedoffit’ssecondyearbyalreadyvisitingover600childrenat10schools.ThesechildrenhavelearnedaboutsomeofNovaScotia’sfascinatingnativespeciesandhowourlittercanimpactthesecrittersinourenvironment.

- Jennifer O'Neill

Sierra

Successes

“The PEI Sierra Buddies has educated 12 high

school students this fall about climate change

and what we can do to mitigate it. With the

help of those 12 students we will be reach-

ing out to roughly 75 grade 6 students at

Sherwood School. It surprised me how much

these high school students plugged into this

program and expanded their thoughts and

ideas. Their enthusiasm to learn and teach

is astounding, and I’m very proud of my first

bunch of students! Even now as the program is

starting to wrap up, I am getting requests from

other high school students to join in.”

• Wehaveraisedtheprofileoftheimpactsofhydraulicfracturing(fracking)inPEI,NS,andNBthroughpublicevents,presentations,andmedia.ExecutiveCommitteememberHazelRichardsonwaspartofateleviseddebateontheimpactsoffracking.OurpetitiontobanfrackinginNSnowhashundredsofsigna-tures.

• Weorganizedatownhallonclimatechangeimpacts,featuringsomeofthetopexpertsintheregion:Dr.OmerChouinard,DirectoroftheMaster’sPrograminEnvironmentalStudies,UniversitédeMoncton;SébastienDoiron.MEE,AssistantDirectoroftheBeaubassinPlanningCommission;andMarcH.Savoie,veteranfilmproducerwhoseworkincludesa2010film“Plusgrandquelamer”whichwillbeshownduringMoncton’s2011‘‘25ièmeFestivalinternationalducinémafrancophoneenAcadie(FICFA)’’(www.productionsphareest.com).

Letter from the Chair

There have been many changes regarding the financial position of not-for-profits and charities in Canada. The overall trend is that people and gov-ernment are giving less - we have seen many orga-nizations shut their doors and reduce the number of programs and services they provide to society. I find it interesting, however, that no one is talking about the economic value that not-for-profits and charities offer. Many provide key services and programs for the most vulnerable - this includes animals and the environment.

Recognizing limits to our day, one way to contrib-ute to causes that you are passionate about is to financially support organizations that work on those causes. The Globe and Mail is beginning a discussion on strategic philanthropy, which I believe is a good step to begin to look at ourselves and discover how we can support those organizations that mean so much to our vulnerable, our society and our envi-ronment.

The Sierra Club Atlantic Canada Chapter has been working hard over the last two years to diversify our funding as funding from the federal and pro-vincial governments has been steadily declining. We successfully fundraised $27 000 last year, and we are launching another fundraising campaign in November to defend against fracking in all Atlantic provinces.

Moving forward, to help tackle this task and oth-ers, we have several new members of the Execu-tive Committee: Najat Abdou-McFarland (NB), Emma Hebb (NS), Hazel Richardson (NB), Eileen Richmond (NS), Beth Toombs (PEI), and Dr. Brad Walters (NB). I would like to thank all of them for their volunteer commitment and I am really excited to continue to work to give Earth a Voice.

Please keep in touch and thank you for supporting the Sierra Club Atlantic Canada Chapter,

Christina MacLeodChair of the Executive Committee

Sierra Club Atlantic Canada Chapter

This issue of The Sandpiper was created byCommunications Committee - Newsletter Subcommittee

Gretchen Fitzgerald, Madison Van West, Tristan Sbrizzi, Brynn Horley

ContributorsChristina MacLeod, Janet M. Eaton, Ashley Highfield, Fred Winsor, Robert Christian, Tristan Sbrizzi, Madison Van West, Gretchen Fitzgerald, Heidi Verheul

Editorial and Advertising Support; Photo Credit (Occupy Article)Najat Abdou-McFarland, Richard Sparkman; Zeynep Husrevoglu

If you would like to contribute to our next issue, or have any comments or responses to content in this newsletter, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us at:

www.sierraclub.ca/atlantic(902) 444-3113

[email protected]

Erratum: From the Summer 2011 edition of The Sandpiper regarding the Canada-Newfoundland offshore Petroleum Board’s (C-NLOPB) request for federal engage-ment in assessing oil and gas exploration and development in the Gulf of St. Lawrence: Unfortunately, the Board did not request federal engagement in an assess-ment to include the entire gulf ecosystem, but that the federal Environment Minister initiate a mediator or panel review for the area of the proposed drilling program.

Our apologies for wishful editorializing!

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Clickhere foraprimerontheCETAnegotiations.

The negotiations for the Canada-European Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) are based on the intention to place corpo-rate rights before social and economic justice, democratic governance, and ecological sustainability. Negotiations are progressing quickly with little public awareness of the finer details.

Freetradeagreementshavebeenshowntofosterun-limitedgrowthandoverrideenvironmentallegislation.Inthepast,theseagreementshavecontributedtotheexploitationanddepletionofnaturalresources,eco-systemcollapse,lossofecosystemservices,aglobalfoodcrisis,waterscarcityanddisturbingclimatechange.CETAwouldcontributetotheseeffectsbyre-movingtheobligationtofollowtheCanadianenviron-mentalstandardsthatalreadyexist,andeliminatethepressuretostrengthenthosestandardsinthefuture.Further,Canadawouldnotbeabletodiscriminate

betweenlocallysourcedandinternationallysourcedgoodsforfearoflawsuitsbyotherCETAmembercountries.Notonlydoesthisthreatenlocaljobs,theenvironmentalimpactsofinternationaltransportationaremonumental.

ThebeneficiariesofCETAasproposedarelargetrans-nationalcorporations,bigbanks,miningandenergycompanies,HMOsandthepoliticalelite.Infact,thepushfortheCanada-EUeconomicagreementhascomefrommorethan100ofthelargestcorporationsinbothEuropeandCanada.Canadaisalreadycriti-cizedattheinternationallevelforourfailuretotakeclimatechangeseriously,andifwesignontoCETA,wewillbeleftwithlittlepolicyspacetocraftdemocraticlegis-lationandregulationstoprotecttheenvironment.

FormoreinformationonCETA,seehttp://tradejustice.caandhttp://www.sierraclub.ca/en/trade-environment

Impacts of the Canada-European Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement on the Environment

(CETA)by Janet M. Eaton, Sierra Club of Canada

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To flush or not to… okay, I’ll stop there. You get the point. In today’s age of multiple waste recep-tacles and deciding which bin your empty bot-tles go into, most people aren’t aware that we should be more conscious about what goes down the toilet too.

WiththeimplementationofHalifax’snewwastewatertreat-mentfacility,youmaybethinking,“can’ttheplanttakecareofthatforme?”Unfortunately,theansweris“no.”

Themostcommonitemsthatarebeingflushedimproperlyare:tam-pons,tamponapplicators,condoms,babywipes,pharmaceuticals,andhouse-holdcleaningchemicals.Mosttamponsaremadeofnon-biodegradablematerials.Whenflushed,theyarelikelytoclogupyourtoiletoryourmunicipalwastewatertreatmentfacility.Some,despitetheirtriptothetreatmentplant,stillmakeitouttoseaonlytobewasheduponshorelinesandbeaches.Thisincludestheplasticapplicators–affectionatelyknownas“thebeachwhistle.”

Agreatenvironmentallyfriendlyalternativetotamponsisalittledevicecalledthe“Diva Cup.”Thisisareusablesiliconcupthatissafefortheenvironmentandcanbepurchasedatlocalshopsoronline.

Whatshouldyoudowithyourleftoverprescriptionsandmedications?Thesafestwaytodisposeoftheseistoreturnanyunuseditemstoyourlocalpharmacywheretheywillbedisposedofproperly.

Wastewatertreatmentfacilitiesarenotabletotreatforpharmaceuticals,andthesecanendupdamaginglakes,riversandoceansandthewildlifethatinhabitsthem.

Babywipescontainchlorineandotherharshchemicals.Whynotmakeyourownwithpapertowel,aloe,vitaminEoilandwitchhazel?Theseitemsarebetterfortheenvironmentandbetterforyourbaby.

So,nexttimeyou’reabouttoflush,askyourselfifthere’sabetterwaytodisposeofthatproductoranalternativetotheproductyouareusing.

The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) is comprised of the coastal states of Canada, the United States, France (St. Pierre) and Denmark (Greenland), as well as other states, or “contract-ing” parties, including Russia, the Ukraine, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea. NAFO was created in 1979 with the disbandment of its predeces-sor, the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF), and with the declaration of 200-mile Economic Zones in the Northwest Atlantic. As an Environmental Non-Governmental Organi-zation observer to NAFO, Sierra Club was pro-vided with five minutes to speak publicly to the attendees at the opening of the meeting, and was encouraged to submit a proposal for consideration by NAFO. We proposed that the corals protection area, which was established in 2007, be expanded to include the high coral concentrations and groundfish spawning grounds situated just north of the existing area (see map on the next page). Ef-forts had been made in 2007 to include this area

but officials from DFO fought to keep the area open to commercial fisheries activities.

This year’s meeting was somewhat of a departure from previous NAFO annual general meetings, as this one attempted to conduct much of its busi-ness in open forums with all contracting parties, delegations, and observers present. Previously, the deliberations were conducted behind closed doors, which prevented open discussion of key issues. The most important parts of the NAFO meetings, however, are the informal discussions with indi-viduals from different countries.

Countries such as Iceland, Norway, Russia, Den-mark and the United States have experienced recoveries in their commercial fisheries and in the overall health of the oceans within their jurisdic-tions. The common thread running through these recoveries has been the establishment of large no-fishing zones and specific areas where fishing is permitted. In some cases this has yielded dra-matic results, while others have experienced slow but steady recovery. Canada has shown slow but steady recovery in a section of ocean known as the haddock box – an area of approximately 4000 sq. nautical miles located south of Halifax.

by Fred Winsor, Ph.D. (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries History)Conservation Chair

Sierra Club Canada AtlanticSt. John’s, Newfoundland

Reporting from the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization

33rd Annual General Meeting, Sept. 19-23, 2011

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It was also interesting to hear examples of other types of sustainable fisheries management. Iceland, for example, does not permit fishing on identified spawning grounds. In the Faroe Islands (Denmark), fishing for cod and other groundfish is governed by the number of days you can go fishing, similar

to lobster fishing in the Maritimes. They also have gear restrictions, fishing seasons, and closed areas.

NAFO has adopted some of these measures includ-ing closed areas to pro-tect corals and sponges. However, they still hold to the notion that com-mercial fish stocks can recover through the use of single species manage-ment – something which does not appear to have worked anywhere in the Northwest Atlantic. One of the challenges for Sier-ra Club along with other environmental groups will be to continue asking the tough questions and move NAFO’s agenda towards the proven ocean

recovery strategies of no-take zones and specified fishing zones. This has practical applications for Canada, which to date has been very slow to estab-lish large marine protected areas in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and within Canada’s 200-mile limit on the continental shelf.

55ºW

45ºN

54ºW 53ºW 52ºW 51ºW

55ºW 54ºW 53ºW 52ºW 51ºW56ºW

43ºN

46ºN

47ºN

46ºN

45ºN

44ºN

43ºN

47ºN

44ºN

0 25 50 75 100

Kilometers

Percentage of sets containing coral - NAFO 3O protection zone

(All fisheries, All gear types, 2004 & 2005)

200 Mile Limit

Percentage of sets with coralper 20x20 km cell(depth > 125m & number ofsets/cell >3)

NAFO 3O coralprotection zone

0

0 - 25

25 - 50

50 - 75

75 - 100

NAFO Zones

Small gorgonians:

Large gorgonians:

Acanella arbuscula, Anthothelagrandiflora & Radicipes gracilis

Acanthogorgia armata,Keratoisis ornata, Paragorgiaarborea, Paramuricea spp.,Primnoa resedaeformisAntipatharian

Cup corals:

Desmophyllum dianthus, Desmosmilialymani, Flabellum alabastrum &Vaughnella margaritata

Pennatulacean

Soft corals:

Sea pen:

Anthomastus grandiflorus, Capnellaflorida & Gersemia rubiformis

Gear types(depth > 125m)

Longline

Gillnet

Crab pot

All trawl types(otter, shrimp,twin & triple)

Haddock

Channel

Halib

utC

hannel

LegendFished,0% coral bycatch

0.1-25 % of setscontain corals

25.1-50 % of setscontain corals

50.1-75 % of setscontain corals

75.1-100 % of setscontain corals

NAFO closureNov. 2007

Proposed closure

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Public response to the practice of hydraulic fracturing and to the New Brunswick government’s handling of the issue has made headlines in national media. The debate shows no sign of ebbing.

(ClickheretoreadtheGlobe&MailarticlefromOctober21,2011)

TheSandpipercontactedHazelRichardson,executivecommitteememberforSierra Club Canadatocommentontheissueandtheeventsofthislastsummer.

Sandpiper(SP):TellusalittleaboutyourselfandyourinvolvementintheSierraClub.

SP:Whatwasitaboutthisissuethatpromptedyoutogetinvolved?

SP:Whereintheprovinceisthistakingplace?

SP:Overthepastfewmonths,whathavebeenthekeyeventssurroundingthisissue?

SP:Howcanapersongetinvolvedinthefrackingissue?

SP:Whatwouldyoupersonallyliketoseehappen,giventheeventsofthispastsummer?

Frack No! by Robert Christian

Itwasthewaythatthegovernmentwentaheadwithoutwaitingforpublicconsultationtoconclude,allowingtheexplorationcompaniesthemselvestosetmostofthesafetyregulationsfortheirownwork.

I’minvolvedwithurbansustainability.IjoinedtheExecutiveandtheWaterCommitteeattheAGAearlierthisyear.

Thisexplorationagreementcoversnearly1/3oftheprovince,mostlyinsouthernNewBrunswickontheFundyShoreareabetweenSt.JohnandMoncton.FrackingiscurrentlytakingplaceintheElginarea.

TheprotestinFrederictononAugust1stattractedabout1500people,andtherearecontinuingprotestsheldoutsidetheprovinciallegislatureeveryThursday.

ContactoneofthegroupsonFacebooktofindoutwhatishappeninginyourareasuchasBan Fracking NBorNB is Concerned about Fracking.

TheEPAintheUnitedStateswillbereleasingresultsoftheirstudyoffrackingtowardstheendof2012.Ithinkwaitinguntilthenwouldbeagoodidea,whenbothsidescouldre-entertheconversationbasedonthescientificresultsofthestudy.

CalvinTillman,fromthedocumentaryGaslandconductedaspeakingtouroftheprov-incewhichwaswellattended.

TherewasanincidentnearthetownofStanleywherepeoplesurroundedsomeseismicsurveyvehiclesfortwodays.(ClickhereformoreontheStanleyblockade.)

RecentlytheSussexmunicipalcouncilwasgoingtoholdavoteonwhethertoallowexplorationwithinitsjurisdictionbutthecompany(Seismotion)wentaheadwithoutwaitingforadecisiontobemade.(ClickhereformoreontheincidentandMayorRalphCarr’sresponse.)

9By 1997, the steps

taken toward restoring Boston Harbour had led to the

return of native fish and porpoises to the surrounding waters. Unlike the ‘No swimming’ signs that line the Halifax waterfront, Boston Harbour is open to swimmers most summer days.

(continued on page 10...)

Contrasting Paths

Soon after their founding, both Hali-fax and Boston recognized the need to check the flow of pollution into their harbours. Boston prohibited the dumping of garbage into the harbour 20 years after the city was established in 1614, and Halifax prohibited the dumping of ‘slops’ into the streets within 50 years of its official designation in 1749. These protective legislations, while well-meaning, provided only meager protection for the harbours. By 1878, 100 million gallons of waste were dumped into Boston harbour daily. Similarly in Halifax, by 1924, 13 sewers were discharging raw sewage directly into the harbour. It was not until the 1940s-60s that both cities saw the need for sewage treatment, which lead to a series of proposals and recommenda-tions for treatment plants that would continue into the 1990s.

In Halifax, the quality of the harbour directly affects our tourism industry, the prosperity of the Halifax Regional Mu-nicipality, and our reputation as “Canada’s Ocean Playground”. The har-bour serves as a source of inspiration, a place for recreation and as the ship-ping and fishing gateway to the Atlantic. The image on the following page docu-ments the evolution of the harbours of two industrialized North American cities: Boston and Halifax. The image depicts the paths each city has taken towards restoring the health of these harbours, both of which have a longstanding im-portance to their respective commu-nities.

TWO HARBOURS: Comparative Timelines

In 1972, strengthened US federal pollution regulations were enacted in the form of the Clean Water Act, which required secondary treatment of sewage outfalls. Boston’s failure to meet these new regulations led to an important turning point for Bos-ton Harbour. In 1985, a Quincy City lawyer, jogging along the waterfront, stepped in raw-sewage. The city of Quincy took the Metropolitan District Com-mission to court for failing to meet the regulations of the Clean Water Act, and the city won. The following year, the same lawyer founded ‘Save the Harbour, Save the Bay’, an advocacy group that united con-cerned citizens, scientists, and prominent community members in the interest of restoring Boston Harbour.

During the same period of time in Halifax, studies of the Har-

bour reported a ‘signifi-cant’ daily discharge

of sewage and high fecal coliform

levels.

by Tristan Sbrizzi, Sierra Club of Canada, Atlantic Chapter

(...continued from page 9) Bostonians began to heal their harbour through the efforts of coordinated activism, com-munity engagement, and the support of the Clean Water Act. Activist groups such as ‘Save the Harbour, Save the Bay’ and The Boston Harbour Association have made the harbour a priority for citizens by educating the public, working with local government, and encouraging recreation along the harbour waterfront.

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Halifax Harbour: The Path from Here

Halifax Harbour is a mixed use waterway that must recognize all relevant stakeholders in its management. Harbour Solutions, a group created by the HRM and working from 1997-2010, has begun to lay the foundation for a restored waterfront by setting an agenda for issues affecting water quality. Their final summary report can be viewed here, but it is clear that we have a long way to go before the Halifax Harbour is a true reflection of the beauty and history of the Maritimes.

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Margaret Atwood’s new assemblage of essays, titled In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination, is in turns an autobiography, a literary history and a short story collection. While In Other Worlds requires knowledge of Atwood’s previous works to tru-ly shine (especially The Handmaid’s Tale, Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood), there are some messages worth considering as we face envi-ronmental challenges in our every day

lives.

Theinitials“SF”inthetitlereferto“speculative

fiction”;similarto“sciencefiction”exceptfortherequisitefactthatspecula-

tivefictiontakesplaceinaworldthatcouldonedayexist.TherearetwoimportantideastobetakenfromAtwood’sexplorationofthisgenreandwhatitmeansforourunderstandingoftheworld.

First,shearguesthatweneednewmyths.Themove-mentoftheplanets,theGodsoftheGreeksandtheshamanisticbeliefsofearliersocietiesnolongerinflu-encehowwestrivetoliveagoodlife.Sciencehasunseatedtheseearlierparadigms.However,scienceisunpopularasabeliefsysteminitselfbecauseweashumanswanttoseeourselvesasthecentreofitall,andanyonewithevenacursoryknowledgeofeco-systemswilltellyouthatwearenot.Enterspecula-tivefiction-asagenre,itoftenrevealsaspectsofourcurrentsocietyworthyofcriticismorpraise.Throughitwecanlearnaboutthedevastatingconsequencesofgeneticmanipulationandthede-structionofecosystemsontheonehand,andthepowerofcommunityandreconnectingwiththeearthontheother.Thesecondmessagehastodowiththeideasofutopia/dystopia,andtheconnectionbetweenthetwo.Atwoodexplainsthateveryidyllicsocietyhasadarkside.Forus,thedarksideofthepur-suitofhappinessinoursocietyisthedevasta-tionwreakeduponourenvironment.Itisimportanttorememberthataperfectworldisnotattainablewithoutsacrifice,butwecannotaffordtoletthatsacrificebethehealthoftheEarth.ThiscollectionisafascinatingreadforfansofAt-wood’sworkandloversofsci-fi/speculativefictioningeneral.Further,Atwoodhasprintedalimitednum-berofcopiesofthisbookon“secondharvest”paper,whichusesthestrawwastefromgrainproduction.Thisalternativetotraditionalpaperproduceshalftheenvironmentalimpactoftraditionalprinting.Tofind

outmore,visitwww.canopyplanet.org.

Looking for Answers in Other Worldsby Madison Van West

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It is now apparent that a dysfunctional global market, free trade, and the corporate-dominated system caused the financial collapse of 2008. While the majority of the population contin-ues to bear the financial burden of the collapse, the “1%” have escaped un-scathed, garnering unfettered power and massive wealth. It is also obvious that the “1%” have no aspirations to reform the system, and instead wish to continue with Business As Usual policies.

Instarkcontrast,theOccupiersaroundtheworldarenotonlycallingoutthesourceoftheiroppressiononthemanycardboardsignstheyholdhighfortheworldtosee,theyarealsomodellinganewformofdecision-making.Throughsmallscale,participatoryconsen-sus-styledemocracythatstressesnon-violenceandleaderlessgroups,theymeetinGeneralAssembliestodiscussideasandmakeproposals.

Ijoinedinwiththe[NS] OccupiersseveraltimesoverthelastmonthbeforetheywereforcefullyremovedonNovember11.Ichattedwithfacilitators,attendedacoupleofGeneralAssembliesandofferedworkshopsontheevolutionofworldviews.Idiscussedthede-velopmentofdominantparadigmsthroughouthis-tory,withreferencetoanemergingworldviewthatisbeginningtoshapepoliticalandeconomicchoicesinthepresentandforthefuture.TheOccupiersrepresentthisnewparadigm.

TakethetimetoeducateyourselfabouttheissuesoftheOccupyMovement.Whilemanyofthecampshavebeendisassembled,theissuespersist.Listen,participate,engageindialogue,spreadtheword,andbecomeanagentofglobalchange.Aschampionoftheanti-globalizationmovementArundhati Roysays,

Visit and Support the Occupy Movement Nearest You

“Temperature Check” in NYC

by Janet M. Eaton, Sierra Club of Canada

Rallys and Camps in Toronto

Eviction - Halifax, 11/11/11

“For Rent” in Montreal

“Silenceisindefensible!”

The Locovore SpiritThis winter, spike your eggnog and your local economy.

by Margaret Hoegg

Winter is a beautiful season in Atlantic Canada, a season of both solitude and festivity - a time to hibernate in the comforts of home, held captive by snowy squalls; embrace brilliant, sunny days in the crystallized wilderness; celebrate, feast and spend long winter nights with family and friends.

Whether you prefer to curl up by the woodstove with a good book or watch a hockey game with friends, a festive drink can lend warmth and cheer to the cold season. Why not spread that cheer locally and support local small businesses and producers?

Atlantic Canada is becoming better known for its wines and micro-brewed beer, but a few producers are getting creative with spirits and other alcoholic beverages. You can now readily find clear spirits, whisky, fruit brandies and more produced close to home and made with local ingredients.

Most of your favourite winter drinks can be modified with a locovore twist!

The recipes on the next page should keep you warm through to the spring thaw.

Nova Scotia• Ironworks Distillery, Lunenburg - clear spirits, rum,

apple brandy, fruit liqueurs• Jost Winery, Malagash - clear spirits• Glenora Distillery, Glenora, Cape Breton - whisky,

rum

New Brunswick• Winegarden, Baie Verte - schnapps, grappa, brandy

and eau-de-vie

Prince Edward Island• Honeydew Apiaries - mead• Myriad View Distillery, Rollo Bay - clear spirits,

rum• Prince Edward Distillery, Souris - fruit infused

vodka

Local SpiritProducers

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Lokahlua½ cup Just Us fair-trade instant coffee granules 2 ½ cups Just Us fair-trade cane sugar4 cups Water2 tsp vanilla extract1 pint Smuggler’s Cove Rum (Glenora Distillery)

Add first four ingredients to a saucepan; bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 1 1/2 hours. Cool and add rum. Store in refrigerator. Delicious on ice, or mixed with milk, vodka, or

ginger beer!

Snow Ball2 oz brandy1 oz simple syrup1 eggPropeller ginger beer

Pour brandy, simple syrup, and egg into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigourously to mix. Strain into an ice filled glass. Top with Propeller ginger beer.

Cranberry Cocktail1 oz Ironworks Distillery Cranberry LiqueurPropeller Ginger BeerA few local cranberriesIce

Harvest Cocktail1.5 oz fruit infused gin or vodka.5 oz apple brandy (Ironworks distillery)1 oz local apple cider.5 oz lemon juice2 dashes chocolate BittersPropeller ginger beercinnamon stick for garnishlemon peel for garnish

Rum and Eggnog1.5 oz Smuggler’s Cove Rum (Glenora Distillery)homemade eggnog with local eggs & dairy productsJust Us fair-trade cinnamon

Margaret Hoegg is a writer and editor living in the Annap-olis Valley, Nova Scotia, where it is a pleasure to be a locovore! You can follow her on Twitter @the_moggest.15

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Dear Sierra Club members,

Much to the dismay of my friends, I love to see the weather turn cool and the snow coating our streets, parks and houses. Here in Halifax, snow never seems to stay long – you need to race to get your skis out if you want to take advantage of the snow. If you wait ‘til morning, chances are it’s turned to slush.

Where I grew up in northern Newfoundland, winter was a more permanent condi-tion: the mounds of snow were part of the landscape for months: you learned to navigate the drifts, you understood its flavours & textures – from fluffy to sticky to crunchy. Building snow forts, trudging uphill and sliding down superfast, jump-ing off the roof after a really big storm, even the constant smell of soggy mittens encrusted with chunks of melted snow… everyone should have such memories of winter.

The only time I really started to hate winter (and understand why so many people do) was when I got my first car. I confess that I was commuting to work every day. In winter, this became an unwanted adventure: partly because my car was a bit of a beater, but also because of the feeling every winter driver dreads: when your treads slip and you have lost control. When I cycled every day – across the dread-ed, windy MacDonald Bridge in Halifax, no less – I never had this sense of big power gone wrong.

As this edition of the newsletter is released, UN climate talks will have wrapped up in Durban, South Africa. The point of the talks is to prevent a similar loss of control: ensuring we prevent global climate chaos. Canada goes into these meetings as the only country to have reneged on its commitment to meet Kyoto targets. On the plus side, developing nations have huge potential to grow their economies with-out increasing their greenhouse gas emissions.

The BP spill of two summers ago and the impacts of fracking on human health and water have shown that there need to be limits to our addiction to fossil fuels – that the petroleum industry needs to get out of the drivers seat. People are begin-ning to impose those limits from the grassroots. It has been truly inspiring to see people of all political stripes take action on fracking in the last few months. The decision by US President Obama to re-think the Keystone XL pipeline (which Prime Minister Harper declared a “no-brainer”) is another case of shifting down from fossil fuels. Few people know that because of energy efficiency and the economic downturn, demand for oil in the US is actually in decline. And China is at a point in its history where it can decide to show leadership on climate change.

I am a nocturnal cousin of the shark.

My eggs are commonly referred to as mermaid’s purses, and it can take almost 2 years for my baby to hatch from an egg.

I am very slow growing, reaching maturity between 7 and 13 years of age, and I can live for up to 30 years.

Sometimes folks mistake me for a stingray.

I am an endangered species that is often caught as bycatch.

Based on past performance, Canada’s Environment Minister will play an obstructive role in climate negotiations. In spite of our federal position, I hope other coun-tries will pull us kicking and screaming into a new global agreement to combat cli-mate change and see us past Kyoto, which ends in 2012. Those powerful winter memories make me believe we can avert climate chaos. We can help developing coun-tries grow in a way that is clean and efficient. And we can stop the dreaded feeling that we have lost control. We can take the wheel - or better yet, the handlebars – back.

And while we are at it, maybe we can save winter too. Now where the heck did I put my skis….

Hoping for snow & more,Gretchen Fitzgerald

Director of the Atlantic Chapter, Sierra Club of Canada