BC Gov withholds Flathead details

BC Government conceals Flathead documents as World Heritage mission begins.

The BC government is concealing documents related to its approval of Max Resource Corp.’s (TSX.V: MXR) gold mining exploration this fall in the ecologically-sensitive Flathead River Valley, environmental groups said today.

On Friday September 18, Ecojustice and other groups were informed by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources that relevant documents could only be accessed through a Freedom of Information request. The Ministry’s position runs counter to government policy indicating that that such documents should be made immediately available as “routinely releasable”.

“If the BC governme nt can assure us there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to mining exploration in the Flathead River Valley, then why can’t we see the documents associated with the project?” said Randy Christensen, a lawyer with Ecojustice. [Read more]

Little red fish flock to our creeks

If you go down to some of our local creeks, streams and rivers, you may experience an exciting event, the Salmon Run. The unique Kokanee Salmon return to their birthplace every year from September to December to complete their life cycle. The Kokanee Salmon run attracts visitors from all over, including bears and eagles. [Read more]

BC ignores sustainability for Flathead mining

BC government allows new Flathead mining exploration as World Heritage mission will visit next week to investigate threats to adjacent Peace Park.

The BC government, despite repeated assurances that there is no mining in the Flathead River Valley, has given the green light for new gold exploration to begin this fall, three BC conservation groups revealed today. [Read more]

BC pays to pull weeds

Project fights invasive plants, creates jobs.

Workers in more than 20 communities throughout British Columbia will benefit from $1.5 million for a provincewide invasive plant species project, announced Bill Bennett, Minister of Community and Rural Development. The project will create short-term jobs for 50 to 100 unemployed resource workers through the Job Opportunities Program.

“The Job Opportunities Program is about creating immediate employment opportunities for displaced resource workers,” said Bennett. “It’s one of the ways the Province is taking action to support resource-dependent communities at a time when every job counts.” [Read more]

G.E. Free Kootenays campaign

Percy Schmeiser returns to the Kootenays.

Internationally-renowned Saskatchewan farmer, Percy Schmeiser (see video), continues to support the establishing of a Kootenay region that is free of genetically engineered plants and trees.

On September 15/16, Saskatachewan farmer and farmers’ rights advocate Percy Schmeiser will speak to the communities of Creston and Grand Forks on the known and unknown risks of genetically engineered (G.E.) foods.

It is estimated that over three quarters of foods on grocery store shelves now contain G.E. ingredients yet most Canadians remain completely unaware of their presence. With the technology having not received any long-term human safety studies, Canadians have become the product of one of the largest human feeding experiments in history. The foods/ingredients that are most often genetically engineered are corn, soy, canola and cotton. These crops represent the foundation for most foods consumed today including soft drinks, breakfast cereals, oil-based foods, dairy, meat and eggs among others. [Read more]

How does lake foam form?

Area residents may sometimes notice foaming around the shoreline of Lake Windermere, which can cause concern. However, most foam observed in lakes and streams is a product of nature and not necessarily an indicator of pollution. [Read more]

Heartbreak in the Heartland

The true cost of genetically engineered crops.

Percy Schmeiser is a Canadian canola farmer who has been sued by agricultural chemical and biotech giant Monsanto after some of Monsanto’s genetically engineered Roundup Ready canola genes drifted onto his property from neighboring farms and contaminated his crop.

Mr. Schmeiser, who is now 70 years old, has traveled the world speaking to a wide variety of audiences about his experience.

Mr. Schmeiser received the Mahatma Gandhi award in October, 2000.

Invasive weeds in and around the lake

August 10, Radium –

Wildsight is organizing a Community Weed Pull on August 10th, from 3pm – 5pm, at the Horsetheif Creek Forest Service railway crossing in Radium Hot Springs. By participating in the weed pull you will learn to identify the invasive plants in our region and help restore the native plant ecology in the Columbia Valley.

Weeds in the yard are pests to everyone, and getting rid of them is often grueling work. The lake views invasive plants no differently. In fact, the lake sees invasive weeds as a much more severe problem than we do. Without limbs the lake cannot discard pesky plants like we can, so we have to help the lake to stay free of invasive plants. With just a little effort, there are many things we can do to reduce the growth and spread of noxious weeds in and around the lake. [Read more]

Learning to think naturally

July 7-10, Invermere –

Introduction to eco-psychology: learning to think naturally.

Coming this Tuesday is a workshop that will encourage you to begin to think in a more natural way. Just because you are out in nature doesn’t mean you know how to communicate and build a healthy relationship with nature.

Eco-Psychology is the study of the human connection to nature. More specifically how NOT thinking in line with nature is the root of most of our society’s runaway disorders, unhappiness and feelings of lack of fulfillment. [Read more]

Have you seen the yellow fish?

On May 26, the J.A. Laird Elementary School Grade Seven Leadership Group painted yellow fish on the streets of Invermere under the guidance of Wildsight’s Lake Windermere Project. This was not an act of vandalism. Instead it was an act of water stewardship! Take a closer look and you’ll notice that the yellow fish are not just painted anywhere. They are painted next to storm drains and manholes. These openings lead to Invermere’s storm sewer system.

See also: Where storm water goes