From time to time on SPF we like to highlight the work of volunteer organizations that work to promote environmental protection and restoration. Today we put the spotlight on Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, an organization that promotes public education and . . . → Read More: September 2, 2010: Petitcodiac River]]> A map of the Petitcodiac River, with its 4 main tributaries highlighted in light blue.

From time to time on SPF we like to highlight the work of volunteer organizations that work to promote environmental protection and restoration. Today we put the spotlight on Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, an organization that promotes public education and research on the health of Lake Ontario and its watershed. We played an episode of their podcast, “Living at the Barricades,” which discussed the reopening of the causeway gates on the Petitcodiac River in New Brunswick. Click here to access the podcast via the Waterkeeper website!

Have you seen the new solar array on the Canal Building? . . . → Read More: August 26, 2010: Sustainable Campus Initiatives and Climate in the North]]> More than most places in the world, communities in the far north are wrestling with issues related to climate change. SPFer John Wall spoke to Gary Davidson and Beate Bowron, planners who are working on issues related to climate change in the north.

Have you seen the new solar array on the Canal Building? What about the River Building’s green roof? Ok, these projects are still under construction but they are close to completion. They are just two of the many green initiatives that are going on at Carleton. Carol Hunsberger caught up with Murdo Murchison, Carleton’s Sustainability Officer, to learn more about the university’s green achievements and priorities for further action.

In the political arena, Matt Street spoke with first-time ward candidate Clinton Cowan about what motivated him to run for this . . . → Read More: August 19, 2010: Just do one more thing]]> This week our theme was taking action. We started off with an improvised Green Routine about ways to prepare for the inevitable: back to school! At least, it’s inevitable for some of us.

In the political arena, Matt Street spoke with first-time ward candidate Clinton Cowan about what motivated him to run for this position and what he would change if he were elected.

Finally, we were joined in the studio by Jen and Grant from the Clean Bin Project. For a year they tried to reduce their production of household waste to practically zero and made a documentary film about the process. They’re currently on a cross-Canada bicycle tour to screen and discuss the film. Their motto: just do one more thing! That is, just take one action that’s unsustainable and make it sustainable, then another, then another…

Our own John Wall has been teaching a summer course here at Carleton, Geography 1020 People, Places and Environments. Last night, they went on a trip to the Glebe and walked around Lansdowne Park, the Rideau canal, as well as . . . → Read More: August 12, 2010: The Glebe – A Cultural Landscape Tour]]> Students of Geography 1020 at Carleton University, on the walking tour of the Glebe

Our own John Wall has been teaching a summer course here at Carleton, Geography 1020 People, Places and Environments. Last night, they went on a trip to the Glebe and walked around Lansdowne Park, the Rideau canal, as well as some of the residential areas.

On the tour, John talked about the history of Lansdowne Park and its many uses and construction, how the styles of houses have changed over the years, the history of Bank Street and how it is designed to be a functioning retail hotspot within the Glebe.  He also focused on the ways that Ottawa is designed and constructed as a symbolic capital city, and how planning has shaped the Glebe into the friendly neighbourhood it is today.

Today on the show we took a trip to the archives to hear an always timely look at idling. In the feature, Carol Hunsberger spoke with Lisa Worthington from Natural Resources Canada about ways in which . . . → Read More: July 29, 2010: Idling Initiatives]]> The Milky Way Galaxy; hear about the discover of potentially habitable Earth-like planets in this week’s Environmental News.

Today on the show we took a trip to the archives to hear an always timely look at idling. In the feature, Carol Hunsberger spoke with Lisa Worthington from Natural Resources Canada about ways in which NRCan, municipalities, school kids and volunteers across Canada have been trying to get people to stop idling their vehicles. Lisa talked about the fuel savings and air quality improvements connected with idling reduction, as well as the idea that this ‘easy’ behavioural change can motivate people to take more significant actions in the future.

In the Environmental News, Henry talked about the recent flooding in China, a potential new law in the US to reform the regulation of harmful chemicals, toxic water supplies in China, an expedition to map the territory of the Beaufort Sea, and NASA’s Kepler mission results that suggest millions of potentially habitable planets in our galaxy.

Today on the show we heard a two-part feature with Tim Patterson. A professor of Geology at Carleton University, he has made a number of appearances in the media over the years arguing . . . → Read More: July 22, 2010: Tim Patterson On Climate Change]]> A record of sunspot activity for the last 400 years, argued to be directly responsible, or strongly related to climate change.

Today on the show we heard a two-part feature with Tim Patterson. A professor of Geology at Carleton University, he has made a number of appearances in the media over the years arguing against human caused climate change. Henry Hawkins spoke with him a few weeks ago, to hear his side of the argument, one that is largely ignored, and he talked about solar cycles, weather processes, and the cultural phenomenon of climate change.

On the Environmental News, Henry covered the spill in the gulf of Mexico that has finally been capped after 3 months, the rise of electric car battery manufacturing plants in the US, summer 2010 being the hottest ever on record, lakes being discovered on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, and the end (?) of the ecofee.

This week on the show we heard from Sean Carey, professor of Geography at Carleton University and head of the Cold Regions Hydrology lab. He recently won the Young Scientist . . . → Read More: July 15, 2010: Sean Carey]]> A polar bear and young cub; hear about the danger of extinction facing polar bears in the Hudson Bay region in the Environmental News

This week on the show we heard from Sean Carey, professor of Geography at Carleton University and head of the Cold Regions Hydrology lab. He recently won the Young Scientist Award from the Canadian Geophysical Union for his research in understanding hydrological processes in northern environments. His research also focuses on snow, ice, and frozen ground in the north and how they affect hydrological processes, as well as being involved with environmental reconstitution of the Alberta Oil Sands. Robyn Penney spoke with him about the award, as well as some of his research.

On the Environmental News, Henry talked about the new Ontario eco-fee, some updates from bp, the dwindling numbers of Hudson Bay polar bears due to climate change, water shortages around the world, and in Panama, the first islands being abandoned due to rising sea levels brought on by climate change.

Northern Canada is a harsh environment, with conditions that make transportation a major problem. The Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road stretches 568 kilometres from Yellowknife to Nunavut crossing frozen lakes, and several narrow portages. As a road that . . . → Read More: July 8, 2010: The Tibbitt To Contwoyto Winter Road]]> A winter road crossing snow, ice, and lakes, similar to the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road

Northern Canada is a harsh environment, with conditions that make transportation a major problem. The Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road stretches 568 kilometres from Yellowknife to Nunavut crossing frozen lakes, and several narrow portages. As a road that is only open for two months each year, small changes to the local climate can have great impacts on the industries who rely on the route. With that in mind, Tim Patterson, a professor of Geology at Carleton University is conducting a research project to determine the long term feasibility of the road. Henry Hawkins spoke with him this past week about what the process entails.

A couple of weeks ago, The Mayfair put on a special screening of Water on the Table, a film about the worldwide fight for recognizing water as an essential human right, and not a commodity to be bought . . . → Read More: July 1, 2010: Maude Barlow Q&A at the Mayfair]]> Liz Marshall and Maude Barlow at the screening of Water On The Table at the Mayfair.

A couple of weeks ago, The Mayfair put on a special screening of Water on the Table, a film about the worldwide fight for recognizing water as an essential human right, and not a commodity to be bought and sold to those who can afford it. Maude Barlow, chair of The Council of Canadians, former consultant to the UN, and water activist was at the screening, along with the director of the film, Liz Marshall. After the film they did a short question and answer session, discussing some of the issues surrounding the film. We come into the conversation while Maude is discussing Canada’s role in a recent UN meeting on the human right to water.

Later in the show, we went to the archives to hear a Green Routine from Brittany Boychuk, on how to have a ‘green’ vacation. We also had this week’s Environmental News, looking at the bp oil spill, news from Syncrude, and a recent report on scientists’ views on anthropogenic climate change.