Alternatives Journal 37.5

Energy & Education 37.5

Education, like the Earth, is power. So in this issue of Alternatives, we combine our annual Education issue with a critical, alternative look at energy. University of Toronto professor and Toronto Star columnist Stephen Bede Scharper explores how our spiritual connection with energy can save us. Stephen Bocking provides a way out of our wicked addiction to the tar sands. In our annual look at environmental education, Kate Davies uncovers 10 tried-and-true lessons in her activists’ Power List, and we provide details of 500+ environmental studies courses available at Canadian universities.

Education, like the Earth, is power. So in this issue of Alternatives, we combine our annual Education issue with a critical, alternative look at energy. University of Toronto professor and Toronto Star columnist Stephen Bede Scharper explores how our spiritual connection with energy can save us. Stephen Bocking provides a way out of our wicked addiction to the tar sands. In our annual look at environmental education, Kate Davies uncovers 10 tried-and-true lessons in her activists’ Power List, and we provide details of 500+ environmental studies courses available at Canadian universities. We recognize Earth Day Canada’s roundup of Hometown Heroes; introduce you to an exciting climate change initiative in our own hometown of Waterloo, Ontario; and top it off with our regular incisive, and occasionally irreverent, columnists.

 Read selected articles and web extras from this issue

Here’s what else you get when you buy the issue:

Letters to the Editor
Foodwiser, When to Listen to Suncor and more

In Brief: Eco Home Design Wins, First Nation Fish-Buying Club Angles for Food Security

Footprint in Mouth – Gareth Lind
Pro-nukes, anti-nukes–Monbiot and Merkle switch sides and battle it out.

Kulturträger – Mark Meisner
Ready-to-Care: Green fashionistas Emma Watson and Summer Rayne Oakes are helping the culture of couture find its conscience, without sacrificing style.

Our Wicked Addiction – Stephen Bocking
Any intelligent discussion about the tar sands must explore the murky implications of ending their growth.

The Canadian Environmental Education Directory No Better Place to Start From: a rich, easy-to-swim pool of over 500 Environmental programs in 54 universities, find the program that best suits you..

Planning for Resilience – Canadian Association of Planning Students
The 2011 CAPS conference culminated with the Waterloo Manifesto – a pledge to integrate resilience into every facet of a community’s social and physical fabric.

Better Business – Tenille Bonoguore
With Sustainable Waterloo’s encouragement, local companies are reducing their carbon footprints.

Tough Mind, Tender Heart – Mark Brooks
Sage advice from Earth Day Canada’s Outstanding Commitment Award winner, Laure Waridel. Earth Day Canada Heroes.

Sustainability Suspicions – Mark Jaccard
PM’s Unintentions Exposed: Carbon pricing report reveals the fiction behind Harper’s climate promises.

What’s the Big Idea? – Robert Gibson
Ethics: How we value species at risk is even more important on a stressed planet.


We acknowledge the financial support of Canada’s International­ Development Research Centre (www.idrc.ca); EJLB Foundation; Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation; The McLean Foundation; Ontario Arts Council; Ontario Media Development Corporation; Ontario Work Study Plan and the Sustainability Network. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund for our publishing activities. The support of the Faculty of Envrionment at the University of Waterloo and the Waterloo Environmental Students Endowment Foundation is appreciated.

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