Recent Posts

Seascapes on the Scotian Basin (Photo by Simon Ryder-Burbidge.)
Offshore: Mud and Marine Spills in Canada's North Atlantic
Simon Ryder-Burbidge | Jul 24, 2018 | in Summer Reading Series
On June 22, 2018, BP spilled 136,000 litres of offshore drilling lubricant off the coast of Nova Scotia, one of the largest such spills in Atlantic Canada's history. But it was far from unique.
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Professor Molly Shoichet in the lab. (Roberta Baker/University of Toronto)
Who needs science advice anyway? Governments, for one
Jim Woodgett | Jul 20, 2018 | in Current Events
Humans demand progress that can only be achieved through complex, technological means. Shouldn't our elected officials be guided by science?
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How the Unique Culture of Waterloo Region Got Me a First-Job that I Actually Like
Niara van Gaalen | Jul 20, 2018 | in Backstage at A\J
The importance of providing young Canadians with the opportunities they need to succeed.
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Call for Contributors: Seeking Green Business Writers
A\J Staff | Jul 19, 2018 | in A\J Editorial Board
A\J is looking for green business writers to help bring our next issue on impact investing to life!
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Rail cars on the move in Dickinson, North Dakota. (NNDOT. 2011.)
Nature can heal itself after an oil spill, it just needs a little help
Steven D. Siciliano | Jul 19, 2018 | in EcoLogic
Oil and gas spills are costly for the environment and taxpayers alike. But what if the soil, given time, can heal itself?
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Cape Town from Table Mountain. (Photo by Bas Leenders. 2012) CC BY-SA
What can other cities learn about water shortages from ‘Day Zero’?
Kieran M. Findlater
Lucy Rodina
| Jul 18, 2018 | in Think Global
Cape Town avoided catastrophe in April, but water shortages and subsequent cuts in usage will not be a thing of the past. Nor are other cities immune.
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LEDs on display at Rabba. (Photo provided by Rabba Fine Foods.)
Rabba makes switch to LEDs as part of broad shift to energy efficiency
Darcy Higgins | Jul 18, 2018 | in Food and Culture
Rick Rabba of Rabba Fine Foods finds solace (and savings) in energy retrofits.
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Flint water tower. (Photo by George Thomas. 2016.) CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Can Elon Musk fix Flint’s water?
Fiona E. McNeill | Jul 17, 2018 | in Shades of Green
The Tesla founder has vowed to make good on his Twitter pledge to restore Flint residents’ faith in the city’s water quality.
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Tourists at Hawaii Kai Beach. (Photo by Marufish. 2004) CC BY-SA
Sunscreen chemical ban seeks to save coral reefs from bleaching
Hai Lin Wang | Jul 17, 2018 | in EcoLogic
With chemical ingredients in sunscreen bleaching coral, we take a deep dive into how sunscreen is breaking reef ecosystems.
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Smokestacks near Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Bill Burris. 2013.) CC A-SA
Taxpayers will back a carbon tax if they get a cheque in the mail
Sumeet Gulati
Werner Antweiler
| Jul 16, 2018 | in Current Events
Ontario may have signalled an end to its cap-and-trade program, but the idea can still win popular support nationally...if Ottawa cuts every Canadian a cheque.
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A brittle star occupying a year-old subsea installation. (Photo by D. Jones)
Offshore infrastructure finds new life as reef habitat
Emily Yeung | Jul 16, 2018 | in Think Global
In the North Sea, thousands of oil rigs and wind turbines are being decommissioned and removed from ocean habitats. But could leaving them in be better for the environment?
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Pickering nuclear plant from Frenchman's Bay. (JasonParis. 2011) CC BY 2.0
OPINION: Playing politics with Pickering nuclear in no one’s best interest
Shawn-Patrick Stensil | Jul 13, 2018 | in Renewable Energy
The Pickering nuclear plant will close sooner rather than later. Are we ready to transition the plant’s workers to a post-nuclear reality?
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Volunteers with Hillside's state-of-the-art Trash Turnaround wagon. (M. Ruby)
A Hillside Family Weekend
Jessica Burman | Jul 12, 2018 | in Green Living
A near-zero waste community of supportive people bonding over music is Jessica Burman’s kind of place.
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Lane Burman with his kids at Hillside. (Photo by J. Burman)
Go to Hillside!
Lane Burman | Jul 12, 2018 | in Green Living
After 10 years, Lane Burman’s love of Hillside remains strong.
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MNRF water bomber on a sortie over northern Ontario. (Ryan McGilchrist) CC BY-SA
Forest fires rage southwest of Temagami
Andrew Reeves | Jul 12, 2018 | in The Wild Side
Lightning strikes have caused dozens of forest fires across the province in recent weeks, tens of thousands of hectares in size.
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William the Prince
Leah Gerber | Jul 11, 2018 | in Backstage at A\J
Award-winning singer songwriter from the Peguis First Nation talks to A\J about music, family, reconciliation and what’s next.
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Study co-author Rina Mandimbiniaina entering data. (S. Rakotonarivo)
Who pays the price for tropical forest conservation?
Emily Yeung | Jul 11, 2018 | in EcoLogic
Forest conservation programs that compensate local populations can become effective carbon sinks. But are developed nations paying their fair share?
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UN Sustainable Development Goals. Adopted September 2015.
Canada 20th globally in meeting UN Sustainable Development Goals
Andrew Reeves | Jul 10, 2018 | in Sustainable A\J
Canada ranked 20th globally in meeting its sustainable development goals. Challenges persist, but so do opportunities.
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Hwy 401 running through Greenbelt land. (Haljackey. 2013) CC BY-SA 3.0
Call for Proposals: Indigenous in the Greenbelt
A\J Staff | Jul 10, 2018 | in Sustainable A\J
Alternatives is looking for Indigenous writers, photographers and videographers to share their stories of Indigenous life in and around the Greenbelt for our latest project!
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Petare Slums in Caracas. (2013) CC 1.0
7.5 billion and counting: How many humans can the Earth support?
Andrew D. Hwang | Jul 9, 2018 | in Think Global
World populations are expected to level off around 2100. But that gradual slowing in growth "signals a harsh biological reality."
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