We can still save the BX Creek Wetland!

Petition update

North Okanagan Naturalists' Club

Aug 1, 2017 — Thank you to those who have recently added your names to our petition.

Letters to the new provincial government are also a good idea. We suggest that you write to the following:

Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure, Hon. Claire Trevena, Minister.Transportation@gov.bc.ca

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Hon. George Heyman, ENV.Minister@gov.bc.ca

Harold Sellers
President
North Okanagan Naturalists' Club

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Vernon Gets Charged Up

Posted on 9/23/2016 1:09 PM by Pete McIntyre

Vernon is the site of a significant milestone in BC's electric vehicle charging network.

A BC Hydro pilot project to install 30 direct current fast charging stations throughout the province saw the final station, located on 31st Avenue near the Greyhound bus station in downtown Vernon, opened today.

Energy Minister Bill Bennett told a news conference, BC has the largest charging infrastructure network in Canada.

"Transportation is responsible for about 30 to 35 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions that we put into the atmosphere. Transportation is an area where we can really make a difference, and getting more electric vehicles on the road is obviously a positive thing," says Bennett, the Liberal MLA from Cranbrook, who is leaving provincial politics after 16 years next May.

Fast charging stations can charge an electric vehicle battery to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.

BC Hydro has been installing the stations since 2012 with support from all the levels of government.

"This type of infrastructure doesn't happen without everybody being on side," Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster told the gathering. "That includes the folks from the electric car associations who have lobbied throughout Canada, but certainly here in BC. We lead the country, not only in electric cars, but in all the climate action files, and we're very proud of that."

“BC Hydro is focused on removing barriers for our customers who want to own an electric vehicle,” says Keith Anderson, BC Hydro's vice president, Customer Service.  “Electric vehicles can help British Columbians save money. Our electricity rates are among the lowest in North America, which means by switching to an electric vehicle you could save 75 per cent on fuel costs.”

The 30 fast charging stations, which currently can be used free of charge,  connect drivers from the Lower Mainland to Merritt and Kamloops, up to Whistler, Vancouver Island and the Southern Interior.

"This is another clean, green initiative for our community, and communities all around BC. Environment is important," said Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund, who took a ride in an electric vehicle and couldn't believe how quiet it was.

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While this report is not new there is some additional information is worth reporting.

The charging station is excellent according to a user. It does charge up to 80% of full in half an hour. The only complaint was the lack of signage to the station. Perhaps it would be worth spending a few extra dollars to ensure that the station is well advertised so potential users can located it easier.

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Fines Issued for Mud Slide - KISS FM

Posted on 8/5/2016 11:03 AM by Ron Manz

A final report from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources into a mud slide near Sugar Lake four years ago has been finalized.

Logging practices taking place in the area have been blamed for causing the slide as local residents suspected.

It's something Cherryville Regional Director Hank Cameron has claimed all along.

"There are a number of infractions relating to drainage. It's a sensitive area and the area below it is terrain class 4, very steep and unstable and that was the area where it actually let go."

Weyerhaeuser has been fined $14,500, while Tolko was given a $12,000 fine.

The investigator's report says Tolko's harvesting on steep ground failed to maintain surface drainage which resulted in a landslide that caused damage to crown timber, soils, water, biodiversity and endangered the public."

Local regional district director Hank Cameron says he hopes logging practices in the area change now.

"I hope that we look at a longer term stewardship. You know the way that this was done it didn't take into account the unique nature of that site.  It didn't taken into account the steep slope."

Cameron says better practices need to be taken now at Cherry Ridge next door where clear-cut logging is being proposed.

"Now where they are going into is a sweet bench up there. Some beautiful wood up there, but it's the pace of what they want to do.  It's very industrial.  I think when you are adjacent to the neighbourhood you should have more respect for the community in how they go about things."

Both Tolko and Weyerhaeuser are appealing the decision.

A hearing date has yet to be set.

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Letter to the Editor - Readers write.

I watched the incredible Canada Day fireworks celebration at Kal Beach whistling and hollering along with the crowd! What a great display, culminating in a crescendo of explosive power that had us all thrilled. It is therefore with some trepidation that I dare raise this issue – a lot of garbage is going into the our drinking water supply for a few minutes of wonder. This is a photo of the fireworks debris we collected in a few minutes along a small portion of lakefront the morning after. It felt like a hangover, not worth the fun of the night before.  And this is just the pieces that we could reach, much more was visible on the shallow lake bottom.  How much more covers the north end of the lake?

About 2/3 of the debris was paper and will bio-degrade with time, but the rest is plastic that will never disappear.  Between the annual Halloween fireworks and now Canada Day on the beach (rather than on land as in the past), we are polluting our drinking water source at an increasing rate.

So at the risk of being labelled a grumpy old man, I would at least like to get a discussion going among all of us who love Kalamalka Lake.

Paul Christie

Concerned Resident

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Let's protect the bees!

If you think bees are important for our fruit growing community please take steps to join efforts to protect the bee population!

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The Climate is Changing - Public Presentation

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Is there a climate change?

Some of you may have seen these photos but if you have not be prepared for a shock. California is not dreamin'! Click here for the shocking photos.

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Glyphosate (roundup) is proven carcigen.

It is now admitted by the International Cancer Agency that glyphosate residues in engineered food cause cancer.

 

The glyphosate used in Roundup ready GM crops is now proven to be a human carcinogen and it is also proven it makes its way into underground and surface water. Shouldn't this be enough to cause great concerns among people responsible for the safety of our water?

One way councils can make sure they put safety first would be to declare their intention to see GM crops replaced by organic agriculture, without pesticides and herbicides. Read more.

 

Huguette Allen

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SPrKLE General Meeting - October 19

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GMO - the doctors speak! Watch the show today!

 

The popular Dr. Oz TV Show airing today Monday Sept. 22, features the dangers of GMO crops and their toxic pesticides - see a preview and please share this widely. Seems something has to hit popular culture for people to believe it. Maybe this will do it.   Huguette

 

The show will air at 5 PM on Cable 5, CTV. Click on the image for a sneak preview!

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Watch this 14 Year Old GMO Activist Smackdown This Bullying 'Shark Tank' Entrepreneur

 No GMO

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Kalamalka Lake Park Boundary Adjustment - Anonymous comment and a response.

Anonymous said...

    Hans 6:46

    I agree with you completely. But it is often the innocent that get hurt by the "stupid" as you put it. My Grandfather always used to say "watch out for the other guy". Right now there is not even a complete lane of your own for a driver to stay in. The current corners do not even meet the sight lines for the speed of 30 km an hour. This is the only road in BC that two branches of the government claim administration of. Parks does not build the road to their Guidelines and when you ask them a question about the road they refer to MOTI. When you want MOTI to build it to their minimum standard they say they can not as Parks will not allow it. This political loop has to end and it needs to be build properly. This idiot could have run someone else off the road. And yes there will probably be more to come but there are reasons roads have minimum requirements. I believe that is to give the rest of us a fighting chance. There should be one complete lane going in each direction to give drivers a chance.

    Bushes

    September 10, 2014 at 9:08 AM

Response by Coldstreamer

Dear Bushes.

My heart really bleeds for you!

However, when I first arrived in these parts in 1976 I had a lady employee whose family owned a piece of property at Cosens Bay. They had a key for the gate from the Ranch and had to go through a locked gate to access their property. There was really no road but a rugged trail which probably did not allow 30 km speed but they were apparently satisfied as these properties were used as wilderness summer retreats (hence the R6 zoning).

Now you have a significantly improved road to the detriment of the park’s environment and you want to have more and more and more! Where will you buy your next wilderness summer retreat?

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Kalamalka Lake Park Boundary Adjustment request

Click on document for the full story!

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Submission to MoTI re: Kalamalka Lake Park road project

My submission to MoTI regarding the "boundary adjustment" of Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park.

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End of the line: GMO production in China halted

In a surprise U-turn, China’s Ministry of Agriculture has decided not to continue with a program which developed genetically-modified rice and corn. Some environmentalists say public concerns about GM crops played a key role in the decision.

On August 17, when these permits were up for renewal, the Ministry of Agriculture decided not to extend them. In 2009, the ministry's Biosafety Committee issued approval certificates to develop the two crops, rice and corn.

Developed by the Huazhong Agricultural University, near Wuhan, it was hoped that the GMO strains would help to reduce pesticide use by 80 percent, while raising yields by as much as 8 percent, said Huang Jikun, the chief scientist with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told Reuters in 2009. It is illegal to sell genetically-modified rice on the open market in China.

However in July, GM rice was found on sale in a large supermarket in Wuhan, which is just across the Yangtze River from the Huazhong Agricultural University, where the product was developed, which caused a public outcry. more

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The Cosens Bay Road Part1 - take a virtual tour!

 

Click on photo!

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Reminder - Cosens Bay Road Public Meeting!

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Readers write - Kal Park and Burnaby Mountain

Many people across the province and beyond, would be outraged to learn that there are plans to violate the aesthetics and other values of THEIR Provincial Park.

For those not on social media, you can still voice your opinion re Kal Park on new items re the environment--British Columbians are taking notice of the various ways we are losing public/natural places to private/corporate entities.

Case in point: Burnaby's struggles with Kinder Morgan have escalated, KM has won the right to explore pipeline options within a nature reserve next to SFU, and SFU itself. The greater good is at the mercy of the powerful and well-connected.

p.s. I hope the Tyee does a story re this. They have been doing an excellent job covering environmental issues of late.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kinder-morgan-pipeline-study-allowed-on-burnaby-mountain-rules-neb-1.2741331

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Have your say on controversial proposed changes to Kalamalka Lake Park

Click on image!

Meeting date and information!

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Public Notice of Open House Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park

 

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