UrbanWorkbench

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Health

I straightened up from the soothing task of weeding the rows of baby carrots, rubbing my back as I watched my daughter perched high in the peach tree across the yard. She was meticulous in easing the plump ripe fruit off the branches, gently shooing away the yellowjackets when necessary, obviously drawn to the sweet [...]

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Peak Health

by Mike Thomas on August 24, 2009

in Community, Health, Science, Sustainability, Transitions

Health Care services are entirely dependent on petroleum products – just about every book on the subject of our energy situation has pointed this out, and acknowledged that the level of health care we enjoy today is not sustainable without plentiful oil.

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Climate Change and Health in BC

by Mike Thomas on July 20, 2009

in Sustainability

Many people I speak to around BC about Climate Change don’t realize how much research has been undertaken from a BC perspective on the impacts of Climate Change. For those of you who aren’t into reading lengthy government reports, check out the presentation series linked below.

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Resilience

by Mike Thomas on July 2, 2009

in Community, Rural, Sustainability, Transitions

I write often about community resilience here at UrbanWorkbench. Resilience is the ability of a system to absorb change and still function. In the sense of community, this is the survive and thrive through change mentality. Most people would agree that resilience is a great thing for a community, but I’m finding that people have different expectations with regard to what areas or themes are involved in measuring resilience.

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Peak Oil and the Ministry of Transportation

by Mike Thomas on March 9, 2009

in Sustainability

This week I received a response to my Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Transportation in British Columbia. My request read:
Under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, I am requesting information including Ministry staff and/or consultant reports, Ministerial briefings, memorandums, emails, or other records on the topic of peak oil [...]

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Chickens in Vancouver

by Mike Thomas on March 6, 2009

in Canada, Sustainability, Urban Farming

A good day for Urban Chicken supporters in British Columbia:
The City of Vancouver has moved one step closer to allowing urban chicken coops in residential backyards.
Councillors voted unanimously on Thursday night to direct staff to study the issue and draft a bylaw amendment.
City staff will take a few months to look at issues such as [...]

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Yard Fresh Eggs

by Mike Thomas on January 28, 2009

in Health, Urban Farming

We had a discussion at work about fresh local eggs. One comment made was that some people prefer not knowing “where the eggs come from”. My attitude is that eggs are so much better from free range, (sure they eat bugs and stuff), and they are so much better for you too…

Image by Dystopos via [...]

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Leftovers for Mr Obama

by Mike Thomas on November 12, 2008

in Energy, Health, Sustainability

Few people realize the magnitude of change that is being heralded with the new presidency – but most of the change has nothing to do with Barack Obama’s ability to lead, it’s outside of even his sphere of control. The world as we know it is changing – will the leadership of our nations choose [...]

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