Funding sought for electric vehicle charging station

The Town of Erin is applying for funding to get a high speed charging station for electric vehicles at Centre 2000.

Wellington County already has plans to install a charging station at the new Hillsburgh Library, which is expected to open this spring.

Erin town council is hoping for 50 per cent funding from the federal government, and that the Upper Grand District School Board will cover half of the remaining cost, since the station would be a benefit to Erin District High School.

The fast charging (Level 3) stations cost about $85,000 each. If the federal and school board funding comes through, the town would pay the balance up to $25,000 out of the 2017 Nestlé voluntary levy. The water bottling company makes payments to the town based on the volume of water pumped at its Hillsburgh well.

Natural Resources Canada has a funding program designed to create a Canadian network of Level 3 stations. These can charge two electric vehicles (EVs) to 80 per cent of battery capacity in about 30 minutes, with a travel range of about 250 km per hour of charging.

These are expected to be common in public places and along major highways. Users would pay about 28 cents per Kw or $12 per hour pro-rated by the minute, with a $2.50 flat fee per session.

The non-profit group Plug’n Drive says less expensive Level 2 stations are expected to be installed by many employers and commercial building owners, taking four to six hours for an 80 per cent charge, with a range of about 30 km per hour of charging.

EVs can also be charged at Level 1 through a regular wall socket, providing only about 8 km of travel range per hour of charging.

Erin backs Blue Dot campaign for environmental rights

As published in The Erin Advocate

It was an easy decision for Town Councillors to declare Erin as a Blue Dot community, in support of David Suzuki’s bid to guarantee environmental rights in Canada’s constitution. It will not oblige them to spend money or doing anything different.

The real debate will be within the federal and provincial governments, which would have to endorse any change to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“I love this town – every part of it is bordered by rolling hills, woodlands, farms and waterways,” said resident Gerry Walsh, requesting council’s support at the April 21 meeting. “Together, everyone in our Town can declare this basic human right – to breathe fresh air, drink clean water and eat healthy food.”

Erin is the fourth municipality in Ontario to commit to these principles. So far, most of the support has been in British Columbia. Mayor Al Alls has promised to express his support for the Blue Dot Movement in a letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Supporters of the Blue Dot Movement celebrate after Erin Town Council
 passed a declaration in favour of a constitutional right to a healthy environment.
Left to right: Joanne Kay, Myrtle Reid, Gerry Walsh and Don Chambers.    

Details of the campaign are available at bluedot.ca. Suzuki supporters hope to build grassroots pressure from local communities to support a Charter amendment. That would require the official support Parliament plus seven provinces, representing more than 50% of Canada’s population.

It is a very ambitious and idealistic plan, since senior level politicians will no doubt consider the many court cases that it will take to define citizens’ rights on air, water and food. Imagine the impact if anyone in a big city could claim a legal right to breath air unpolluted by cars and factories. Who would pay the cost of bringing clean drinking water to all First Nations communities or making good food available to everyone now living in poverty?

I did not get the impression that Town Council was signing up for a revolution. But faced with climate change, dwindling oil, over-population, erosion of our natural heritage and unsustainable consumption, that’s what we’re talking about.

At its core, the environmental movement is promoting a new culture with different expectations. Green policies may save money in some areas, but will require radical changes to our economy in the areas of transportation, energy generation, food supply, housing, health care, taxation and environmental protection.

“It reminds me of the industrial revolution,” said Walsh. “This is the next phase we’re moving into. Some people are going to suffer and some people are going to benefit, but we have to move forward.”

Efforts to enshrine environmental rights in the constitution were unsuccessful when the Charter was negotiated 35 years ago, but they are definitely worth advocating again. More than a hundred countries have them in their constitutions, resulting in progress rather than chaos.

Enforcement of legal rights will always be problematic, but in general, if a country enshrines its goals, they are more likely to be at least partly achieved.

It is important to remember that Charter rights are not absolute, but are subject to “such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.” This puts issues in the hands of politicians, the law-makers, which is quite proper. Some would argue that environmental rights could be expanded by the courts under the Section 7 right to “life, liberty and security of the person”, or by direct reference of a question from a government to the Supreme Court.

Judges, however, should not be creating major changes to the Charter of Rights. The most legitimate process is the more difficult one. If a political consensus for environmental rights can be built throughout the country, with sustainability as a widely accepted priority, a formal constitutional amendment will become a logical final step. That consensus does not yet exist, but it is interesting to see the construction work going on in our own town.

In the meantime, environmentalists need to continue doing what they do best – convincing the public and elected representatives to support policies that will help us weather the coming storm.

It's not too late for climate change solutions

As published in Country Routes

Measures to counter the damaging effects of climate change can be achieved without catastrophic costs and devastation of the world economy, according to new studies in the debate over global warming.

That’s music to the ears of environmental activists like Erin’s Liz Armstrong, who have pushed for practical climate action at the local level.

She has started a chapter of the Citizen’s Climate Lobby (CCL), designed to influence political decision makers at various levels of government.

Liz Armstrong

Two recent reports from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) say that while the risk of increasing droughts, floods, crop failures and severe storms due to the carbon from fossil fuels is reaching an alarming level, the ability to do something about it remains well within the reach of national governments.

“It will get worse before it gets better, but it’s not too late, and it is not going to cost the earth,” said Armstrong. “We have to buckle down and steel ourselves to do this. It is the developed countries that are causing the problem. There is no excuse not to act.”

The IPCC report says climate change is “unequivocally” caused by people burning fossil fuels and that it poses a serious threat to peace and stability. Scientists warn that we need to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent or more by mid-century to avoid calamity.

“The good news is that it will not cost much compared to the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and compared to the cost if we do nothing,” said Armstrong.

Her group is meeting on the first Saturday of each month at Erin United Church, training on how to engage politicians and the public, planning local action and getting updates from CCL leaders. She can be contacted by email: liz@lizarmstrong.ca, and more information is available at www.citizensclimatelobby.ca.

The federal Conservative government has put a lot of energy into oil sands expansion, pipeline plans and energy exports. They have promised tougher environmental legislation, and say Canada is on track to trim greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent by 2020 from their 2005 level. But The Toronto Star reports that Environment Canada is less optimistic, saying last fall that at the current rate, we will achieve a mere 0.4-per-cent cut.

The Citizen’s Climate Lobby favours a “Carbon Fee and Dividend”, essentially a carbon tax placed on fossil fuels at their source. This would result in higher fuel prices, but all of the extra money would be rebated equally to Canadians. It would be a market-driven system, benefiting those who use less fuel.

The Lobby also objects to the current distortions in the marketplace, in which taxpayers’ money is used to mask the true cost of energy. A report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) calculated that Canada provided $26 billion to subsidize the energy industry in 2011, which is $787 per person.

IMF First Deputy Managing Director David Lipton said removing these subsidies worldwide could lead to a 13 percent decline in carbon dioxide emissions. This would reduce global energy demand and strengthen incentives for research and development in energy-saving and alternative technologies.

Canada already has a thriving “green” sector, innovating and making money in areas such as energy, infrastructure, transportation, biorefinery, industrial processes and wastewater treatment.

“Canada’s clean tech sector is now a $11.3 billion industry, it employs more Canadians than aerospace, and has the potential to grow to $50 billion by 2022, representing 2% of the global market share,” said Armstrong, suggesting that subsidies for clean technologies instead of oil would be a better investment for Canada.

A study by Analytica Advisors estimates employment in the clean tech sector could grow from the current 41,100, to more than 75,000 in the next eight years.

“Canadian innovation is helping to clean up contaminated land and water, store energy for use during peak demand, improve efficiencies in solar systems and transform greenhouse gases into stronger concrete to build greener buildings,” says the Citizen’s Climate Lobby, commenting on the study.

“Other countries have taken notice, buying environmentally-friendly Canadian technologies that help reduce and recycle solid waste, improve efficiencies and reduce our reliance on fossil fuel and petro-products. Approximately 74 percent of Canadian clean technology companies are exporters, with 42 percent of export sales going to non-US countries.

“While Canadian clean technology enjoys strong market diversification overseas, it struggles to compete domestically. One challenge is the price of carbon-based energy, which is relatively cheap in Canada compared to many countries.

“At a time when the world is thinking twice about investing in a high carbon future, Canada can ill-afford to put its economic eggs in the oil sands basket. According to the IPCC, the world must keep two thirds of all fossil fuel reserves in the ground to avoid dangerous global warming.

“Canada is at a crossroads. Does it invest in dirty oil and pipelines, and lock the country into a high-carbon economy, or does it focus on transforming its economy, using clean technology to drive innovation and economic growth?”

“Building a green economy will create more long-term jobs,” said Armstrong, who remains hopeful that some of those companies could be attracted to Erin. “Smart municipalities are making plans and looking to the future. Election candidates need to say what type of development they would like to see here in the next 50 years.”

Climate change could mean a low flow of water in the West Credit River at certain times. As a precaution against excessive contamination from treated sewage effluent, a 10% cutback has been made in the maximum number of new residents to be allowed in Erin village and Hillsburgh.

Food is another key aspect, with crop yields and fish harvests declining as the world population increases, making it difficult to sustain a quality, affordable supply.

“This is no longer a picture about poor farmers in some regions being hit by climate change,” said Tim Gore, head of policy for food and climate change at Oxfam. “This is a picture about global agriculture being hit – US, Russia, and Australia – with global implications for food prices.”

A TD Bank report says natural catastrophes will cost Canadians an estimated $21-$43 billion per year by 2050.

“The frequency of weather events has increased,” said lead author and TD economist Craig Alexander. “Storms that used to occur every forty years are now occurring every six years. And because of the composition of Canadian economy and society, we’re ending up with more damaging events.”

He said city dwellers are at the highest risk, and with Canadians becoming wealthier, they have more valuable assets to lose in the event of a catastrophic storm. Repairs after a catastrophe tend to inflate the GDP, masking the costs that are shared broadly via the insurance industry and government relief funding.

The TD report highlights estimates that for every dollar invested in adaptation to climate change prevention, such as severe weather resistant buildings, from $9-$38 worth of costs will be avoided in the future.

“Here in the Town of Erin, we should be cognizant of these predicted increases of weather and climate extremes when planning and building new (or replacing old) infrastructure, housing, roads and bridges, etc., significantly boosting their capacity to withstand more punishing climate stresses than in the past,” said Armstrong.

“All of these suggestions were brought forward in 2011 by Amaranth Mayor Don MacIver, an Environment Canada climatologist who was a member of the IPCC. Our Council (present and future) needs to be aware, and prepared to act on his suggestions and forewarnings.”

Erin FoodShed project promotes local sources

As published in Country Routes

Cathy Hansen is on a mission to change people's eating habits, promoting the benefits of choosing local, seasonal foods through the Erin FoodShed project.

Unlike a river watershed, a foodshed is not so much a defined geographic territory as it is a way to think about the sources of food. The whole world has become a foodshed for a prosperous nation like Canada, but critics say the long-distance food system is too expensive and harmful to the environment.

Hansen is an organic farmer and chef based in Ospringe, known for her efforts to educate people about the links between food and the effects of climate change, especially at Erin's Fast Forward film nights.

"One of the actions we can take to try to alleviate some of these catastrophes that seem to be coming down the pipe towards us, is to learn to feed ourselves well," she said recently.

Cathy Hansen teaching kids at St. John Brebeuf school about organic veggies.

LolaJean Gentles

"Climatic variation will inevitably alter the production and availability of food worldwide. The way we fertilize our fields and transport food around the globe has already had a big impact on the rising concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

"We'd like you to start thinking about food as something that comes from something similar to what you would think of as your watershed. It's food from nearby, and if it's going to help us with some of these dilemmas, it should be organically grown."

Organic farming uses practices that preserve water, and is done without the use of pesticides or fossil fuel based fertilizers.

"It takes 32,000 cubic feet of natural gas to make one ton of granular nitrogen fertilizer. In organic growing, the nutrients come from biological fertility. I know we've been talking about things that seem insurmountable, but organic food is a route that we can all take to try to avoid some of these seemingly catastrophic circumstances in the future."

Consumer demand for non-local, non-seasonal food results not only in a waste of energy, but in direct damage to the environment. Many of the foods we eat travel more than 3,000 kilometers to get from the producer to the dinner table. One third of all greenhouse gases produced in Canada are created by using fossil fuels to grow, process and deliver food.

The FoodShed project has been developed by Hansen with her daughter Emily, Heidi Matthews and LolaJean Gentles. They added to the hospitality of the film nights this year by providing simple, nutritious snacks, along with recipes for people to take home.

"One of our principles is 'Simple' – we wanted to make sure that the recipes are easy for people to adopt and enjoy with their families," said Emily.

Local food has the advantage of using minimal fuel to transport it to market, and requires less petroleum-based plastic packaging. Choosing seasonal food means adapting your diet to what is currently available fresh, or what can be practically preserved and stored for the winter.

The advocates of local food do not suggest that people should abandon foods that cannot be grown in Ontario. Products such as lemons, chocolate, curry or pepper add valuable variety to any diet.

"The final principle is 'Storied Food' – food that comes from our community that has a face," said Cathy. Many people appreciate knowing details about their food – the farms, people and growing methods in the FoodShed.

There is a plan to carry on the Erin FoodShed effort through Transition Erin, an umbrella group for a wide range of activities including the film festival, climate change issues, sustainable development, wastewater solutions and skills for a conserving lifestyle. They have created a FoodShed working group, and their website, www.transitionerin.ca, has an introduction and all the current recipes.

Hansen is active with the Canadian Organic Growers (www.cog.ca) and recently presented an Organic Backyard workshop for Transition Guelph. She is also a Canadian Red Seal Chef, a program that sets inter-provincial standards and administers exams in various fields.

She and her husband Kaj operate Bernway Farm near Ospringe, specializing in organically grown vegetables and eggs from their flock of free-range hens. They also have a CSA (Community Shared Agriculture) plan, where people buy shares in the produce and get a regular batch of seasonal vegetables.

Bernway Farm is a founding member of Erin’s Homegrown Harvest, a local network that includes All Sorts Acres, Deerfields, Everdale Farm & Environmental Learning Centre, Golden Innisfree Farms, Heartwood Farm, Mockingbird Farm, Whole Circle Farm, Whole Village Farm, Willow Creek, and 5 Acre Farm.

You can find out more at www.homegrownharvest.ca. It includes information on the 200 Kilometre Lunch project, where Hansen went into schools to teach kids about the value of local food.

That effort also motivated the creation of a curriculum package for Ontario schools called "Take a Healthy Bite out of Climate Change" by Hansen, with Liz Armstrong, Heidi Matthews  and Amy Oucheterlony of the Climate Change Action Group of Erin. It is a free package that teachers can choose, to help students learn about climate change and develop healthier eating habits.

"Food is one part of life where kids can actually make some direct (+ delicious) decisions which have an impact on their carbon footprint," said Armstrong.

Piloted at area schools, the program is a tool to help meet Grade 5-6 curriculum objectives in areas like Language, Science & Technology, Geography, Social Studies, Math and Health.

Of course, there are many different efforts to promote the benefits of buying local food. At the Erin Fair Grounds on Main Street, the Erin Agricultural Society will once again host its Friday Farmers' Market, 3-7pm every Friday from June 14 until September 27. Vendors are being recruited, with the priority on local (Ontario) food. For more details, go to www.erinfair.ca.

The Rural Romp, a self guided tour to farms, nurseries and food businesses in North Wellington, will be held on Saturday, May 25, 11am - 4pm. The 8th Annual "taste•real" Guelph Wellington Local Food Fest will take place on Sunday, June 23.

More details will be published soon at their website, www.guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca, where you can learn about other agricultural and culinary events and download a copy of the Local Food Map with information on a variety of farm and market outlets. Get a copy of the map mailed to you by calling 1-800-334-4519.

Here are some of the Foodshed recipes:

Bumpkin Cake

2 cups organic butternut squash or pumpkin (pureed)
1 cup fair trade organic sugar  OR  ½ cup honey
½ cup organic applesauce
¼ cup organic light cooking oil (Ontario sunflower)
4 organic eggs
½ tsp salt
Beat until well blended.
In a separate bowl combine:
1 cup organic all purpose flour
1 cup organic whole-wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp organic ground cinnamon *
½ tsp organic ground ginger *
* organic spices are readily available from natural food stores.
Add the wet to the dry ingredients.  Stir until well blended.
Pour into a greased and floured 9x13 cake pan.  Bake in a preheated 350 F oven for 40-45 min or until well browned and firm to the touch.
Freezes really well.
Tip for cooking pumpkins and hollow squashes:
Remove stem and poke holes with a fork.  Bake in a covered roast pan with ½" of water until very tender.  Butternut squash should be cut in half lengthwise, baked cut side down.  When cool, remove seeds, scrape out the flesh, and puree.  Pack in 2-cup portions.  Keeps 1 year in the freezer.

Maple Oatmeal Cookies - makes 3-4 dozen

½ cup butter, softened
¾ cup maple syrup (darker the better)
1 egg
¼ cup plain yoghurt
¼ tsp salt
1 cup all purpose flour
¾ cup whole wheat or whole spelt flour
¼ tsp each cinnamon and ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1¼ cup oatmeal
Beat butter and maple syrup until well blended.  Add the egg, yoghurt and salt and continue beating until well combined.
Mix the dry ingredients (not the oatmeal) and add to the butter mixture.
Finally stir in the oats until just blended.
Drop by small spoonfuls on a lined baking sheet.  Bake at 375 F 10-12 minutes or until dark golden brown.

Potato Cookies

1 lb. organic potatoes - cooked
½ cup nuts *
½ cup local honey
2 organic eggs
chopped nuts
* one local Black and Persian walnuts source is Grimo Nut Nursery in Niagara - they ship!
Grind nuts and add honey, one egg, and one egg yolk (save the egg white).
Mash in potatoes until mixed well.  Roll into 1-inch balls and then roll them in chopped nuts.
Brush with egg whites.  Bake at 350 F for 15 min.

Red Cabbage

1 head of organic red cabbage
2 TBSP organic apple cider vinegar
¼ cup Fair Trade organic sugar
1 tsp salt
½ cup red currant jelly  OR  ½ cup organic apple cider
1 organic apple (sliced thin)
Cut cabbage into 4 parts, cut into thin strips. Add cabbage to large pot along with all remaining ingredients.
Cook for 15 minutes, stirring often.
Simmer uncovered for about an hour stirring occasionally.  Prepare in advance and refrigerate.  Reheat in oven or on stove top.

Beet Hummus - makes about 3 cups

4 cups cooked, peeled and cubed local, organic beets
2 TBSP organic tahini
½ - ¾ tsp ground cumin
1½ tsp organic lemon juice
½ tsp salt
1½ tsp local, organic garlic, finely minced
Boil the beets until very tender then peel and chop into 1" chunks.
Put the beets, garlic, and tahini in a food processor and blend until quite smooth.  Add lemon, cumin, and salt.  Continue blending until thoroughly mixed.
Adjust seasoning.
Tastes better after 1 day!

Great Green Dip

1 cup of Greek or strained yogurt
2 TBSP mayonnaise
2 cloves garlic (roasted or fresh)
Combine yogurt, mayonnaise and garlic in food processor until blended.
1 cup finely chopped kale (fresh of frozen)
½ cup finely chopped spinach or other seasonal greens (fresh or frozen)
2 chopped green onions
¼ cup chopped radish
¼ cup chopped carrot
Combine chopped veggies in a bowl and stir in yogurt mixture.
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp ground pepper
¼ paprika
Season dip to taste.
Serve with fresh veggies, corn chips, or toasted pita.

Raise Your Eyebrows, Knock your Socks Off, Apple Cider-Chili-Bean Dip

Prep. time: 10 min   Makes approximately 2 cups
2 cups organic beans cooked & drained (Kidney & Pinto beans work well together)
     OR BEGIN WITH
1 cup organic dry beans.  Cook and drain.

¼ cup organic olive oil or local organic sunflower oil
1 TBSP organic apple cider vinegar
1 tsp organic lemon juice (or to taste)
2 tsp organic chili powder
½ tsp organic ground cumin *
1 TBSP organic tomato paste
Pinch of salt
* organic spices are readily available from natural food stores.
In food processor (fitted with a blending blade) combine all of the ingredients.  Blend until smooth.  Taste and adjust flavours until it knocks your socks off!
This is great as a snack with crackers, pita, or carrot sticks.

Parsnip Chips

Did you know...  Parsnips are sweeter after a frost!  They can be left in the garden after the frost date and harvested through the winter and spring.
Preheat oven to 425 F.
Slice parsnips into approx. 1/8 inch pieces.
Toss in a bowl with organic olive oil or local organic sunflower oil.
Spread out on cookie sheet in a single layer.  Sprinkle with salt if desired.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until parsnips are soft and golden brown.
Serve warm!

Climate activists hoping film sparks a revolution

As published in The Erin Advocate

Don't be too alarmed, but you should be aware that some people in Erin are talking about Revolution. It is of the polite and peaceful nature, of course, but it is definitely radical – prodding people towards new ways of thinking about the survival of our species, and towards action.

Climate change might seem like old news by now, or too political, or too complicated to fit into a busy lifestyle, but it is not going away. About 120 people did come out to the Legion last week to see Revolution, at Erin’s 2013 Fast Forward Environmental Film Festival.

Presented by the Climate Change Action Group of Erin (CCAGE) and Transition Erin, and sponsored by Treehaven Natural Foods, the film starts out with the fight to stop the slaughter of sharks for shark fin soup.

Director Rob Stewart of Toronto goes on to document the death of coral reefs and the acidification of oceans due to carbon dioxide emissions, which could wipe out the fishing industry within 35 years.

He heaps special scorn on Alberta's tar sands, as a blatant example of corporate greed and environmental degradation, and covers the efforts of environmental activists to influence global climate change negotiations.

Erin District High School student Sarah Graetz helped introduce the film, saying it is important, especially for young people, to rise to the challenge presented by climate change and be aware of what others are doing.

"I'm definitely not going to sit around and do nothing about it," she said. "As part of today's young generation, our biggest crime so far is ignoring what's going on, and turning away from it.

"I'm looking forward to making a difference, but it's a little hard knowing the facts. I'm just a speck, this one little person in a big world full of people who know more than me, talk louder than me, and have more money than me. But, even being a speck, I can make an impact – a small ripple, if you will – and hopefully it will spread."

The movement has become apocalyptic in its tone, forecasting the extinction of the human race if we don't change our ways. We may be more ambitious than the sharks, but perhaps less resourceful, since they have been around for 420 million years and survived five mass extinctions of other species. Our Homo erectus ancestors evolved only 1.8 million years ago, and Homo sapiens only 200,000 years ago.

Liz Armstrong of CCAGE urged people to promote the Revolution, which opened at major cinemas in Guelph and Brampton last weekend.

"We think this film can be a huge force for positive action on climate change, led by youth," she said. "We can make it truly revolutionary, help it make an indelible mark and a turning point."

Erin's film nights are made special by organic snacks, and last week's featured a spicy Marinated Goat Cheese, from What's Cookin', and Parsnip Chips by LolaJean Gentles. There was promotion of Erin's "FoodShed", which like a watershed, refers to our local resources.

"We try to put people in touch with a really easy, accessible way to be part of the beginning decline in carbon dioxide emissions, by eating differently," said Cathy Hansen of Bernway Farm. "We talk of organic food, of local food, of seasonal food, of simple food, and of storied food – food that has a story that we can relate to that comes from our community."

Armstrong asked people to contact local MP Michael Chong (866-878-5556 or michael.chong@parl.gc.ca) to support stronger climate change policies. And she asked them to take personal action to reduce their carbon footprint, suggesting the website: www.12simplethings.org. For a wide range of local initiatives (and FoodShed recipes), go to: www.transitionerin.ca.

This Saturday, April 20, there's a hands-on gardening workshop called Way to Grow, Erin, 12:30 - 4:30 pm, at Field of Dreams Farm, 9347 Sideroad 9. It will cover seeding, composting, backyard chickens, fruit trees and raised-bed gardens.

On May 4, Erin Trails, CVC, the Rotary Club and other groups are teaming up for a community tree planting at the Deer Pit next to the Elora-Cataract Trail behind the tennis courts starting at 9 am.

That same day, Transition Erin is having its official launch, or "unleashing", noon to 2 pm in the Shamrock Room at Centre 2000. There will be a free hearty soup lunch and author Mike Nickerson will speak about the philosophy of the Transition Movement.

Also on May 4, Erin residents can pick up free trees to plant at home, at the Works Yard on Trafalgar Road. Wellington's Green Legacy Program is providing 5,000 trees, and there is a limit of 50 per family. Donations to the Food Bank will be welcome.

Erin student promotes benefits of plug-in cars

As published in The Erin Advocate

Kyle Pinto is part of a green wave of university graduates, trained to help businesses and consumers who want to make energy conservation a way of life.

He is on the University of Waterloo team for "EcoCAR 2: Plugging In to the Future" a three-year student competition focusing on electric vehicle technology. Teams from 15 universities across North America will strive to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles by lowering emissions and consumption of fuel (especially petroleum) – without compromising performance, safety and consumer acceptability.

Electric vehicles are on the market, but improvements are needed for large-scale penetration – from reducing battery weight and charging time, to designing practical back-up power and persuading people to charge up their cars like they charge up their cell phones.

"The public should give it a chance – it's about changing your habits," said Pinto. The three-year competition is in its first year, with modeling and simulation work, but Pinto is contributing as he is about to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies.

His work with the EcoCAR team is in the Outreach Program, raising awareness about the benefits of advanced vehicle technologies and how they reduce the impact of transportation on our environment and economy.


(Celebrity scientist David Suzuki dropped by to learn about the EcoCAR 2 project, at the EcoBuzz Conference at David Suzuki High School in Brampton last November. Hosting the display are Mark Goody, Director of Outreach with the Alternative Fuels Team at the University of Waterloo, and student Kyle Pinto at right.)

Of course, just driving an electric car will not save the environment. It is part of a huge puzzle that will include new technologies, a pervasive conservation attitude and a shift in consumer expectations.

"If you talk to most people, they are concerned about the environment," said Pinto. "But that doesn't always translate into purchasing habits. We're working to make it acceptable to consumers. We're judged on the utility of it."

While attending Erin District High School, Pinto participated in environment-related club activities. He chose Waterloo because it allowed him to combine interests in Environment and Business, which he has been doing for five years now, including co-op placements.

"Being young and idealistic, you think you can change things, but then you see what happens in the real world," he said. A career in environmental consulting is his goal, helping businesses reduce emissions and the carbon footprint of their buildings and operations.

Waterloo and the University of Victoria are the only two Canadian schools in the EcoCAR 2 competition. It is sponsored by the US Department of Energy (which has sponsored vehicle technology competitions for 23 years), GM (which provides a Chevy Malibu for each team to use), Natural Resources Canada and corporations such as Snap-on, Magna, Bosch and Siemens.

For the time being, hybrids come with a relatively high price tag, offset somewhat by government financial incentives. Surveys show that people who buy them were likely to have chosen a relatively expensive vehicle anyway, said Pinto.

Plug-in hybrids require a second fuel to kick in when battery power runs low, extending the usable range of the vehicles. This could be hydrogen, biodiesel, or the one chosen by the Waterloo team – ethanol.

"More infrastructure is needed to buy ethanol conveniently, but you just need a regular socket for battery charging," said Pinto.

There are issues with ethanol, since it uses crops as an energy source and takes considerable energy to produce. Still, it is considered a useful secondary fuel in some of the combinations being tried in new car designs.

The Volvo C30, for example, has a 272 kg battery pack, but to maximize that power source, especially in cold weather, the car heater is powered by ethanol. A 15-litre tank of ethanol could heat the vehicle during regular use for about three weeks.

Cuba is a harsh lesson in conservation

As published in The Erin Advocate

To those who hope for a society that does not rely excessively on fossil fuels, may I recommend a visit to Cuba – a land with plenty of roads and very few cars.

I have been doing some mid-winter research here, scribbling my notes diligently despite the pulsating salsa music and a parade of scantily-clad distractions. There are key decisions to be made every day: Beach or pool? Buffet or à la carte? Relaxing for days at a time can drive you crazy.

I am not sure whether to feel like an upper class citizen of the world, thanks to Canada's high-value currency, or a slab of meat being grilled on the huge conveyor belt of the tourism industry. I also get a chill, knowing that if a Cuban wrote a column like mine, with mild criticism of their government, they would soon be in prison.

Cuba is a great place to meet people from other cultures, especially French Canadians. Almost half of the 2 million tourists who visit Cuba every year are Canadians, with many from Québec. Then there are the Brits, Italians, Germans and a variety of Latin tourists. Just no obvious Americans, which seems to suit everybody just fine.

The Cold War, of course, is not over here. It simmers constantly with the US, which has enforced a punishing economic embargo since 1962 and continues to levy fines on companies that do business with Cuba.

While there, I read Prisoner of Tehran, a memoir by Marina Nemat, who escaped the political repression of Iran and made it to Canada. It is important for us to remember that there are many places in the world where ordinary people live in fear of their own police and government.

Iran and Cuba are among the nations criticized by Amnesty International for severe repression of civil and political rights, with prisoners detained solely for peaceful criticism of their government.

Many nations are glad to invest in Cuba – I saw a huge nickel mine operated by the Canadian firm Sherritt – but it was Russian subsidies and trade that the country relied on for many years to build up a modern infrastructure. The collapse of the Soviet Union was an economic disaster, plunging a poor nation into deeper poverty during the 1990s.

There were severe shortages of food and fuel, and cars became a luxury that very few could afford. People had to eat less and walk more, resulting in a significant decline in deaths due to diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke.

Even now, when the economy is in somewhat better shape, most of the motorized vehicles I see on the roads are taxis and buses carrying tourists. Most cars are still refurbished American models from before the embargo, or Russian Ladas used by police and others with elite status.

To buy a car is simply out of the question for most Cuban workers – it could take 10 to 100 times their annual salary, most of which is already used up for rent and other payments.

It is impossible to make direct comparisons between Cuba and Canada, but it is worth wondering just what we would do for transportation if we had a major economic meltdown, a new Depression. There would certainly be no money for fancy public transit.

Many of Cuba's roads still have washed out sections from Hurricane Ike in 2008 (reminding me of springtime gravel roads in Erin). They are busy with pedestrians, horseback riders, bicycles, tricycle taxis, horse and buggy rigs with old car axles, and public transit buses.

Groups of workers are often hauled about in old troop transports or on flatbed trucks. Instead of tractors, farm carts are drawn by small horses (they eat less) and oxen, like the ones that did the heavy work when areas like Erin were settled in the 1800s.


It is a reminder that people are generally driven to conserve by necessity, not idealism. When we run out of oil and gas, could Canada turn to tourism as its leading industry?

In Cuba, the push to open resorts to draw in foreign cash has created a situation where a good bartender with a steady flow of tips can enjoy a higher standard of living than a doctor or an engineer.

Cubans are very friendly and courteous, from the professionals to the beggars. They will complain about their low salaries if you ask them, but they are fiercely proud of their independence, their music and dance, and their universal free health care and education.

There is an underlying reserve, however. Maybe it is because until recently, just speaking with foreigners could get Cubans into hot water. Maybe when they look at me, they wonder what I ever did to deserve the privileges and opportunities of being a Canadian citizen.