From the category archives:

Ecological Issues

Sustainable Seafood

by Hunter Moyes 04.16.2012

What is the realistic significance of the Oceanwise and Seachoice campaigns? This is a critique – make no mistake. But know, in advance, that I was volunteering for the David Suzuki Foundation [DSF] for these specific initiatives a week before I wrote this.
So, this is how it works. Please allow me to break it down.
Seachoice [...]

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How Much Do You Know About Seafood?

by Hunter Moyes 04.12.2012

I thought that I knew quite a bit, before doing a little talk at a UBC sustainability conference, run by students and involving people from the environmental community. At the time I was half-involved in Vancouver’s environmental community and full-time-involved in its restaurant scene (running Burgoo as a “Head Chef” up on West 10th) – [...]

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Getting Started – The Revolution Begins at Home!

by Ron Berezan 04.10.2012

As a child of the sixties, I can’t help but have this strange compulsion to want to “get back to the land” – that is, to run away from everything that annoys me about city life and embrace that elusive Shangri-la lying somewhere out beyond the suburbs. I know I am not alone in this [...]

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Green Table 2.0 Launches

by Rick Green 03.29.2012

In 2007, the Vancouver-based Green Table Network began Canada’s first program to assist businesses in every segment of the restaurant and foodservice industry with reducing their environmental footprint. Since then, more than 100 operations have joined the Green Table Network to develop and implement tailored sustainability plans. As a result of that experience, GTN has [...]

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Shark Finning Jeopardizes Ocean Ecosystems

by Rick Green 01.10.2012

^ NDP Fisheries and Oceans Critic, Fin Donnelly, launches shark fin import ban petition at C Restaurant. (L to r, Claudia Li, Dr. Chris Harvey-Clark, Fin Donnelly, Rob Stewart, Cécile Yuen, Robert Clark)
Sharks are sublime creatures. For 400 million years they have survived on Earth, evolving to become the oceans’ supreme hunters and shaping the [...]

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BC Farm Project Attempts to Value Natural Capital

by Rick Green 12.19.2011

^ Ecological Services Initiative launches at Granville Island.
A significant flaw in our economic system is how natural capital is not assigned any direct monetary value. This means, for example, that while a wetland produces clean water and controls flooding, the only economic value is seen in converting it to agricultural or industrial use. However, the [...]

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Book Review: “Meat: A Benign Extravagance”

by Todd Caldecott 11.28.2011

Recently I was given a review copy of Simon Fairlie’s new book entitled Meat: A Benign Extravagance, published by Chelsea Green (2010), right around the same time I wrote what some might consider a rather controversial blog on the subject of meat here on Urban Diner. The issue of eating meat is a touchy one, especially here in [...]

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Food Freedom Alert: Rally for Dairy Farmer Michael Schmidt

by paulkamon 11.01.2011

On Wednesday, November 2nd at 9 am there will be a rally for Food Freedom outside the New Westminster Supreme Court (651 Carnarvon Street) in support of dairy farmer Michael Schmidt who has been on a hunger strike for the past 33 days fighting contempt of court charges imposed upon him for distributing raw milk [...]

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Climate Change Challenging Specialty Coffee

by Mette-Marie Hansen 10.19.2011

(Images by: Mette-Marie Hansen)
Our climate is changing. This might not be shocking news to you over your morning coffee, but as a coffee buyer, I get to meet farmers and producers who are facing the difficulties of a changing climate year round.
It is the small business’ job to rant about [...]

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Coffee Certifications

by Mette-Marie Hansen 09.19.2011

“Is Your Coffee Fair Trade and Sustainable and Organic?”
I just got this question from a concerned consumer, and she was raising valid questions about well known certifications and buzz-words. The question is simple, and doesn’t require more than a yes-or-no, but as much as I love coffee, I love the opportunity to discuss and explore [...]

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Solutions from the Underground: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World

by Editor 05.21.2011

Fungi, particularly mushrooms, offer some powerful, practical solutions to many of the forces of environmental degradation facing the biosphere. The central premise is that habitats have immune systems, just like people, and our close evolutionary relationship to fungi can be the basis for novel pairings that lead to greater sustainability and better health. Paul Stamets [...]

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Sustainability Alert: Vancouver Tool Library

by paulkamon 04.02.2011

I caught this recent retweet from Vancouver City mayor, Gregor Robertson, of councillor Andrea Reimer’s post about a tool co-op starting up in East Van. Sounds like a great idea!
The Vancouver Tool Library (VTL) is a cooperative tool lending library currently being established in East Vancouver. The VTL will be equipped with a [...]

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