This morning on the show we had a special guest, SPF alumni Ashleigh Grange who came in to talk about some of the sustainable practices she uses in her business, Plush Text Communications. We also heard from Yafa Jarrar about . . . → Read More: March 10, 2011: Israeli Apartheid Week]]> The poster for the Israeli Apartheid week, happening from March 7-11 in Ottawa. Credit.

This morning on the show we had a special guest, SPF alumni Ashleigh Grange who came in to talk about some of the sustainable practices she uses in her business, Plush Text Communications. We also heard from Yafa Jarrar about the events planned for the Israeli Apartheid Week.

Yafa Jarrar: Israeli Apartheid Week
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
Yafa Jarrar is on the organizing committee for Ottawa’s Israeli Apartheid Week, one of 77 cities around the world to be hosting events between March 7-11 this year. As part of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement that began in 2005, the week-long events are designed to raise awareness, and create dialogue on the Israeli-Palestine conflict. The movement seeks to define apartheid as a criminal system, and make steps toward dismantling the separation. You can find out more about the events here.

Ashleigh Grange: Plush Text Communications
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
Ashleigh Grange was one of the original SPF’ers involved with the show, and came in to co-host the show while she was in Ottawa this week. She talked about her experiences with the show, and some of the sustainable practices she incorporates into her small business. Plush Text Communications is an environmentally conscious company, specializing in translations, copywrighting, and editing for companies and corporations. You can find out more about Plush Text at their website.

The Environmental News
By: Chris Mineau, Regular SPF Contributor
In this week’s environmental news, China is putting green technologies and policies at the heart of their new development plan, Australia makes a third attempt at putting a price on carbon emissions, our national animal is being heralded as an eco-saviour by conservationists, republicans in the senate intensify efforts to strip the EPA of their right to regulate greenhouse gases, and here in Canada Stephen Harper’s government is following suit.

The Carleton Geography Undergrad Thesis: Introduction By: Henry Hawkins & Robyn Penney, Regular SpF Contributors

This morning on the show we heard about the fourth year Geography Honours Undergrad Thesis. . . . → Read More: October 14, 2010: Writing & The Geography Undergrad Thesis]]> Aerial view of the toxic ‘sludge’ spilled in Hungary, from a toxic waste reservoir. Hear more about it in this week’s Environmental News.

The Carleton Geography Undergrad Thesis: Introduction
By: Henry Hawkins & Robyn Penney, Regular SpF Contributors

This morning on the show we heard about the fourth year Geography Honours Undergrad Thesis. Robyn and Henry recently began working on their theses, planning and researching their topics, dealing with ethics committees, and finding a supervisor. This will be the first in a series, as we will be checking back throughout the year to hear their progress as they go. Henry will be doing his thesis on renewable energy, government policy and public perceptions, and Robyn’s topic is biosphere reserves in Montreal.

The Write Club
By: Matt Street, Occasional SpF Contributor

This time last year, Matt Street did a feature looking into the loneliness of the long distance writer. He did an interview with a group from Toronto who turned the solitary process of writing into a group effort when they formed the Write Club. This group challenges themselves to write fiction for the club, get it published and share it with as many people possible.

The Environmental News
By: Veronica Tang & Kathy Lopez, Regular SpF Contributors

In this week’s environmental news, China overtakes the US as the largest consumer of energy, Hungary struggles to retain the toxic sludge spewing from two reservoirs, Britain focuses on developing energy from sewage, Ontario formally scraps the eco-fee, and the US lifts its ban on offshore drilling following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, 45 days ahead of schedule.

What are the biggest opportunities for agreement in Copenhagen, and what obstacles are standing in the way? Why has Canada committed so little when other countries have committed so much? . . . → Read More: December 10, 2009: Copenhagen Kick-Off]]> Our coverage of climate issues and the Copenhagen summit continued this week with a pair of features examining key issues on the negotiating table.

What are the biggest opportunities for agreement in Copenhagen, and what obstacles are standing in the way? Why has Canada committed so little when other countries have committed so much? Carol asked these questions to Mike Brklacich, who is a Carleton geography professor and member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Many nations are pointing to a struggling economy as a hindrance to forming a binding agreement in Copenhagen, while issues of equality between wealthy and developing nations are becoming prevalent themes. Henry Hawkins spoke with Paul Steenhof, who works at the CSA Climate Change Division, and teaches Geography at Carleton University, about the potential economic effects of the Conference.

Finally, we broadcast the latest updates from Copenhagen – straight from the mouths of the Canadian Youth Delegation. This group of young Canadians is preparing a short daily podcast that summarizes the main events and issues as they unfold at the climate summit.

In the second half of the show, John interviewed Alexandre Boursier from . . . → Read More: December 3, 2009: Countdown To Copenhagen]]> The Copenhagen climate negotiations are approaching, and we started our own countdown with this climate-themed show. First we rebroadcast a panel discussion where Carleton professors Patricia Ballamingie and Mike Pisaric analyzed the science and politics of Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth.

In the second half of the show, John interviewed Alexandre Boursier from the Rainforest Alliance. Alexandre explained how the certification of forest products (for example, through the Forest Stewardship Council) can combat deforestation and produce to more environmentally and socially responsible products.

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Youth can feel like they are outside looking . . . → Read More: October 15, 2009: I Know That There is a Problem, So Now What?]]> When people start to see things that are going on around them that then might not agree with they might want to do something about it. This week’s show is all about two events that are being held in Ottawa to help guide people into action.

Youth can feel like they are outside looking in on political decision making. Our first guest, Tracey Guptill with the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition was in our studio to talk about the Power Shift Conference happening from October 23-26, 2009. At this conference youth from all over Canada are gathering in Ottawa to learn how to make their voices heard, learn about climate changes, meet and learn from like minded people and have a good time. Tracey outlined why it is important for youth to be an important stakeholder in climate change talks.

It is easy to think of things we would like to change in order to make our city and our world into a better place, and it feels good to talk about these ideas. But it is a bigger challenge to turn those ideas into realities.  That challenge is the reason behind the 2^nd annual Organizing for Justice Conference held from October 15 to October 18, 2009 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Greg MacDougall, one of the coordinators of Organizing for Justice joined us in studio to talk about what we can expect at this week’s events.