justintilson's Blog

Kick our Oil Addiction

justintilson — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:10:56 -0700

Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth was a significant kick in the rump to get my act together and commit to being part of the solution. My wife and I sold the car, switched to shopping at farmers markets, bought and started using a sun oven (in the summer), expanded the garden, composted everything we could get away with, committed to working toward zero waste in our home and started trying to dialogue with those who haven't heard the news.

Some time last year, I stumbled into the peak oil community via the website http://lifeaftertheoilcrash.net. My enthusism for promoting action on climate change became eclipsed by what I perceived to be a much more imminent crisis. For those unfamiliar with peak oil, it's worth the hour or so it takes to read the site above. If the site hooks your interest, there are a number of books and movies on the subject. Peak oil and climate change are deeply interelated and potentially antagonistic unless we understand both and respond with solutions that are able adapt to a world where depleating reserves of increasingly expensive oil are the norm.

So now I'm working with others in Vancouver who feel a sense of urgency on this issue to spread the peak oil gospel as Al Gore and many others have about climate change. For those interested in knowing more about the subject and meeting with other community minded folks who want to collectively kick our oil addiction, the Vancouver Peak Oil Executive has organized a movie night showing the documentary End of Suburbia at the Ukrainian Orthodox Hall followed by a moderated panel discussion on Friday April 11th at 7:30 (154 10th Avenue East - 10th @ Main st.) All the details are posted on our blog. Feel free spread the word, sign up, leave a post or comment.

Hope to see you there.

Justin

http://shibumi.net

http://thetilsons.com

Change our Mayor, Elect Gregor Robertson in 2008

justintilson — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 15:54:21 -0700

It's time to change our mayor. I don't have any major gripe with Sam other than what significant positive contributions has he made? With the converging crises of peak oil and climate change rapidly approaching we need a leader who understands these issues and is prepared to lead Vancouver in a new direction. Without electing a government that fully comprehends how these two issues interact, the citizens of Vancouver are setting themselves up for a future where inequity and injustice are the norm. This is not the future I hope to live in.

Gregor Robertson has proven himself to be an honest, transparent and committed politician dedicated to responsible and responsive government. I believe he has the capacity to engage the business community so that we can collectively build a sustainable economy. With his focus shifting to Vancouver, we have a very realistic in creating a safe, vibrant city that gives everyone an opportunity to rise to their full potential.

You can find our more about Gregor on his websites: MLA Vancouver-Fairview, Gregor for Mayor 08 or join his Facebook Group.

peace
Justin

It's Time to Support a Carbon Tax in British Columbia

justintilson — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 06:44:50 -0800

I'm a member of Voters Taking Action on Climate Change (VTACC), a local citizens group lobbying the BC government to take action on climate change. The organization has successfully lobbied to stop the coal plants and is now campaigning for a carbon tax. In a recent budget consultation process, the government received an unexpected call for action to create a carbon tax. Here are the details:

The province's Finance Minister, Carol Taylor, has asked her staff to report to her on the topic of a carbon tax by the end of this month, and she will likely decide before Christmas whether or not to proceed with a tax in the 2008 provincial budget. She has already indicated in front of the media that the option of a carbon tax is on the table. It is clear that Ms. Taylor has floated the idea to gauge public response, and she needs to know that there is broad public support if she is to move forward. There is no doubt that those opposed are urging her to avoid introducing a tax, or to bring forward a measure with no real substance as a nod to public concern. Please take the time today to send a message to Minister Taylor telling her that you want our province to take a leadership role on this issue. If you are on Facebook, you can join our BC Needs a Carbon Tax! group.

In both links above you'll find all you need to know to quickly send off your message -- contact information, key points to make in your letter, a sample letter for inspiration, and background information if you want to learn more.

Together, our actions are moving the carbon tax initiative forward -- during its recent public consultations the finance committee received an unprecedented 500 submissions in support of a carbon tax, many of them from you. You can read the committee's response to this input here. In a short time, citizen input in this province has shifted a tax on carbon emissions from a political non-starter to a clear possibility, and everyone who took the time to write to the committee should be congratulated. However, we're not done yet.

Our time is short, and we are at a pivotal point in this process -- please take a moment now to help deliver an important Christmas present for BC, the planet and our children's future.

Andrea, David, Kevin, and Tom for the VTACC collective.

P.S. -- We hope to see many of you at the Wired Monk next Friday night. While enjoying the music, company and holiday cheer we aim to gather 100 letters in support of the carbon tax to send in to Minister Taylor.