Opinions

Careless desert reclamation in Egypt is unsustainable

What kind of community would you build with 700,000 square kilometers of open space? Most likely you would want to build something that would last; something that would be sustainable,…

Bring nurture back to nature

Getting outside in the great outdoors is generally seen as a good thing for children, however recent studies have shown that it is not just a breath of fresh air…

Eat local for personal benefit, not economics

Eating local exists for a few reasons—in part, as a reaction to social disconnection from food supply. Just look at magazines such as Concrete Garden, or the 100-Mile Diet (which…

Capitalism may save the planet

Throughout UVic and society at large, a powerful and persistent myth has taken hold: capitalist economics and business practices are fundamentally incompatible with the natural environment—environmental destruction is somehow an…

Mark Lynas on GMOs, science denialism, evidence-based policy, and saving the planet

January 2013, amid a chorus of controversy, Mark Lynas—high profile environmental writer, activist, and researcher—publicly renounced and apologized for his anti-GMO (genetically modified organism) position, at the Oxford Farming Conference.…

What do you think of the initiative to divest UVic funds from fossil fuel?

Lorelie Leon Master’s student Business I agree that it’s a good idea. Even if I’m already invested in it, I think it’s a good idea to move, because it’s a…

The Lens: Oilsands

Ukraine’s future must be decided by Ukrainians

Don’t blame the common Westerner for misunderstanding Ukraine; blame world leaders, and media outlets that churn out ignorant views about Ukraine and its people. Ukraine is not merely some card…

Geopolitical conflict in Ukraine escalating

After three months of mostly peaceful protesting and several days of violent repression, the one-time president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukoych, has abruptly abandoned his post in favour of safer havens.…