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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 07, 2013 Science Matters By David Suzuki The Arctic may seem like a distant place, just as the most extreme consequences of our wasteful use of fossil fuels may appear to be in some distant future. Both are closer than most of us realize. The Arctic is a focal point for some of the most profound impacts of climate change. One of the world's top ice experts, Peter Wadhams of Cambridge University, calls the situation a "global disaster," suggesting ice is disappearing faster than predicted and could be gone within as few as four years. "The main cause is simply global warming: as the climate has warmed there has been less ice growth during the winter and more ice melt during the summer," he told the U.K.'s Guardian. Over the past 30 years, permanent Arctic sea ice has shrunk to half its previous area and thickness. As it diminishes, global warming accelerates. This is due to a number of factors, including release of the potent greenhouse gas methane trapped under nearby permafrost, and because ice reflects the sun's energy whereas oceans absorb it. With all we know about climate change and what's happening in the Arctic, you'd think our leaders would be marshalling resources to at least slow it down. Instead, industry and governments are eyeing new opportunities to mine Arctic fossil fuels. Factoring in threats to the numerous species of Arctic creatures ­ including fish, seabirds, marine mammals such as whales and seals, and polar bears ­ makes such an approach even more incomprehensible. Royal Dutch Shell has been preparing to drill in the Arctic, spending $4.5 billion on operations and lease purchases. But its record shows how risky this is. First, a spill containment dome failed a routine safety test and was crushed by underwater pressure. More recently, a drilling rig, which was being towed to Seattle so Shell could avoid paying some Alaskan taxes, broke free during a storm and ran aground on an island in the Gulf of Alaska. The disastrous BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 showed how dangerous ocean drilling can be even in relatively calm waters and how bogus the claims of the industry are that it can contain or even clean up a spill. Responding to climate change and vanishing Arctic ice by gearing up to drill for the stuff at the root of the problem is insane. Unfortunately, many fossil fuel companies and governments are engaged in a mad rush to get as much oil and gas out of the ground ­ no matter how difficult ­ while there's still a market. The ever-increasing devastation of climate change means we will eventually have to leave much of it where it is ­ or at the very least, substantially slow the pace of extraction and use the resource more wisely ­ if we want to survive and be healthy as a species. In Ecuador, knowing that exploiting the country's massive oil reserves will fuel climate change and cause massive environmental destruction THE NEW TANNER 15 The baffling response to Arctic climate change Free cooking classes How to eat healthy, affordable meals through home cooking Root vegetables, knife skills and affordable food were on the menu Monday at the first Come Cook a n d D i n e Wi t h U s workshop/dinner at St. Alban the Martyr Anglican Church. Wi t h $ 2 2 , 7 4 7 i n provincial Healthy Community grants, Halton's Fresh Food Box is offering the community kitchen program in four Halton locations, including Acton, where St. Alban's member Paulette Switzer was selected as program ambassador. "We're hoping to attract young mothers, people cooking on a budget, diabetics, and maybe single men," Switzer said prior to Monday's kickoff session, delayed a week because of bad weather. Participants learn how to cook healthy and affordable meals. "We cook it all together. We eat together and they also take home some meals and groceries," she said, adding participants also get a voucher for a Fresh Food Box of groceries. Halton outreach worker Mimi Lau said they need to "ramp up" the Come Cook and Dine With Us initiative because they were only expecting four or five people on Monday night, and have room for 15. "The province gave us seed money to establish four community kitchen sites ­ one per municipality ­ and Acton was selected," Lau said, adding a lot of the program's success will depend on local volunteers. Community kitchens are aimed at those who need to develop food skills most, including newcomers, seniors, those with mental health challenges and those on low incomes, Lau said. "Right now we have a generation that has not necessarily developed the food skills that previous generations did," Lau said. "Our aim is to teach them healthy cooking ­ or how to eat h e a l t h y, a ff o r d a b l e meals through home cooking." M o n d a y 's c l a s s covered roasted vegetables, rice pilaf, knife skills, kitchen sanitation and safety. Childcare and transportation is available. For details call Paulette at 519-853-1047. in one of the world's most biologically diverse rainforests, leaders are taking a different approach. The government plans to leave oil fields in Yasuni National Park untouched if other countries help compensate for some of the lost revenue. So far only about $300 million has been raised toward the $3.6 billion over 13 years that the government believes would make up for half the oil's value, but the idea is gaining momentum. The Guardian notes the money won't go to government but will be "held in trust funds and administered by the UN Development Programme working with a board made up of indigenous peoples, local communities, academics and others." Ivonne Baki, head of the negotiating committee of the Yasuní-Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini, told the Guardian Ecuador does not want to become overly dependent on oil. "Oil countries are cursed," she said. "Developing countries depend on it so much that they do not develop anything else. It breeds corruption and the poor pay the price." With Arctic ice melting, Australia on fire and increasing droughts, floods and extreme weather throughout the world, it's past time to get serious about global warming. It remains to be seen if a plan like Ecuador's will work, but surely a developed country like Canada can at least learn that wastefully exploiting precious resources as quickly as possible isn't the only option. MacCaskill appointed Halton CAO Halton Council unanimously endorsed the recommendation made by the CAO Selection committee to appoint Jane MacCaskill as the new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) yesterday (Wednesday). She assumed her new responsibilities with Council's ratification. "Jane has an impressive background and expertise in Halton Region," said Halton Chair Gary Carr. "Her sound financial and fiscal accountability and strong leadership prove that Jane is the ideal candidate to continue to keep Halton a strong and prosperous Region. I am looking forward to working with Jane in her new capacity and know she will do an excellent job to ensure Halton remains a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire." MacCaskill said she was "pleased and honoured to be given this opportunity. In 25 years with Halton, MacCaskill served as Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Treasurer, and General Manager and Chief Financial Officer for the Halton Housing Corporation. This Lovely Lady is turning 20 (for the fourth time!) For Your RRSP Contributions and Investments Call: Please help us celebrate by "dropping-in" to the Harold Postma Certified Financial Planner · Registered Retirement Savings Plans · Tax-Free Savings Accounts · Registered Educational Savings Plans · Mutual Funds · Guaranteed Investment Certificates 212 Speedvale Avenue, Guelph ON N1H 1C4 Office: 519-824-1408 · Res: 519-821-4690 email: h.j.postma@sympatico.ca Erin Legion 12 Dundas St. E Madeline Manes Saturday February 16 Between 2 - 5pm Your presence is her present