Introducing a new column for The Nelson Daily: Greening Up – What can I do? Michael Jessen has been following energy issues since the 1973 oil crisis. He has authored more than 700 newspaper and online articles about sustainable lifestyles, waste reduction, and climate change. Currently, Jessen is an efficiency and renewable energy advisor and operates […]

David A Gabel, Environmental News Network The plight of polar bears continues as the climate gradually becomes warmer in the Arctic. Warmer temperatures cause the melting of sea ice, which is essential for polar bears to reach their prey, primarily seals. However, according to a recent study published in the journal, Nature, polar bears have […]

To: Honourable Margaret MacDiarmid – Minister of Education   Since September 2008, S.D.20 (Kootenay-Columbia) engaged its staff and communities in a Planning for the Future process to determine how best to use its facilities in order to ensure that maximum funds flow to classrooms and educational programs. Educational priorities have always been our main concerns and this is evident in the completed […]

Christy Clark’s suggestion that the next BC Liberal leader will need to get a “mandate” from BC voters through an early election shows she doesn’t understand our parliamentary system. And former attorney general and author of the fixed election date legislation Geoff Plant’s statement that the legislation did not anticipate the current situation is absurd. […]

In a report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), two prominent economists propose changes to U.S. and Canadian mortgage finance polices to prevent a future financial crisis.   The report is authored by Doug Peters, former Secretary of State (Finance) and former TD Bank Chief Economist, and economic consultant Arthur Donner. […]

 Founder of the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks Julian Assange will remain in jail for at least 48 hours as Sweden contests the decision to grant him bail. Assange was granted bail in a hearing at London’s Westminster Magistrate’s Court; however, Sweden filed an appeal hours later. Assange was granted bail with the help of former British army officer Vaughan Smith, who told […]

Food Banks Canada released its HungerCount 2010 survey in November. The report paints a grim picture of poverty in Canada and the continued growth in the need for services like food banks and other charitable food providers in our communities.  This snapshot from thousands of hungry Canadians and from hundreds of food banks across the […]

The man accused of feeding up to 26 bears near Christina Lake to guard his marijuana grow op made his first appearance at Provincial Court in Grand Forks today. Allen Piche has been charged with one count of feeding dangerous wildlife under the Wildlife Act [Sec. 33.1(1)].  Piche said that he has also just received […]

By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily A move by Canada Post to “modernize” mailing addresses in rural communities in the regional district could be divisive, costly and time consuming, warns the RDCK’s chief administrative officer. Jim Gustafson’s report to the Regional District of Central Kootenay at their inaugural board of directors meeting Thursday in Nelson […]

Last May, the OECD put out figures comparing infant mortality rates in countries around the world. Perhaps the biggest story of all the figures were those attributed to Canada. This country has always boasted of its social stats — life expectancy, infant mortality, university graduates, and other measures of our success as a nation.   But not […]