Visioning Nanaimo

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Viewpoints

A frequently held – and often mistaken – assumption is that local issues exist only locally and are exclusive to ourselves. More accurately, similar experiences and challenges are also occurring or have occurred elsewhere and have resulted in other perspectives being published and available online. Accessing this material might provide helpful information and contribute to a broader than purely local view.

Similarly, reading one perspective on how a cited article might inform our views on local issues could trigger our own analysis. For this reason, each post begins with my thoughts on why the item found elsewhere could have local relevance. The wish is to provide a context. Because the found article is the viewpoint on which each item rests, each post in “Viewpoints” ends with the link and source information for the cited article, itself.

Items are grouped into five topics that can be accessed through the drop-down menu in this page’s header. Articles frequently appear in more than one sub-category as their topics often overlap. (WordPress also shows all posts in all sub-categories on this page sorted only by date.)

Nanaimo archives holding first Heritage House Renovation Awards

Nanaimo News Bulletin. Looking for an example of a local initiative that can only make you feel impressed with the community you live in? Doesn’t even have to happen during the pandemic, although this one did. Kudos to The Nanaimo… Continue Reading →

A ‘me first’ approach to vaccination won’t defeat Covid

The Guardian. This opinion column by the Director General of the WHO applies to much, much more than just COVID and vaccines. It’s an apt and timely lesson that the problems and solutions of dealing with pandemics are the problems… Continue Reading →

Misinformation, polarization impeding environmental protection efforts

Science Daily. While this study conducted by researchers from six universities and three continents is specific to the problem of conserving biodiversity, it actually has far broader application. “Misinformation related to vaccines, climate change, and links between smoking and cancer… Continue Reading →

B.C. moves to crack down on campaign financing after criticism over gaps

The Globe and Mail. The legislative changes to legislation introduced by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Josie Osborne, purport to close the funding loophole allowing municipal candidates to fund-raise and spend with impunity provided it is more than 30 days… Continue Reading →

The City Where Cars Are Not Welcome

NY Times. Would Heidelberg be a role model for Canadian cities and municipalities? It appears to set a bar for elected officials doing something other than doggedly insisting that the worn out policies and economic models of the past are… Continue Reading →

Unbuilding the future: how a young industry is turning yesterday’s materials into tomorrow’s buildings

Capital Daily. Neither the demolition nor recycling industry is new. Nor exotic. Witness that the main recipient-seller of the materials reclaimed in this story is Demexx in Coombs. What is novel – and very applicable to Nanaimo – is that… Continue Reading →

Covid and the climate crisis show why we need a new social contract between old and young

The Guardian. This article takes a highly relevant look at the critical relationships each of us have on every level of membership we occupy: family, community, provincial, federal, and global. Despite its title, it’s not simply about COVID-19 and climate…. Continue Reading →

Quebec’s Magpie River becomes first in Canada to be granted legal personhood

National Observer. This is an interesting next step in what may prove to be an emerging pattern. With some agencies working to have ecocide declared a crime and others to bring its perpetrators before the ICC, a Canadian municipality and… Continue Reading →

Deadly Donald Trump and 40 Years of Health Failures

It’s always reassuring to continually discover how much good information on – and analysis of – our current life-space is out there. The trick, as always, is to do a bit of generalizing. This time, part of that is done… Continue Reading →

BC Blasted for Joining Ontario’s Fight to Limit Rights of Municipal Voters

The Tyee. Wanting to understand the frequent frustration of local governments and boards in BC? The paragraph to note: “The only provincial government to intervene is British Columbia, which in early February filed a 20-page factum laying out its positions…. Continue Reading →

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