Community Mapping

Community mapping introduces new concepts to individuals about their respective communities. These maps can identify new sustainable projects or developments occurring allowing them to be aware of important changes within their society. The creation and use of the maps increases social capital of the community allowing individuals of different ages and backgrounds to participate together. Within the Common Ground Community Mapping Project website they explain that the map can be used to link natural and human environments, as well as connecting eco and cultural resources. The maps also are used in putting a new 'perspective ' on the community in which they live.

I found the Green Map of Victoria interesting especially since they had the initiative to include original First Nation names of the different areas. This is information that many people, including me, do not know and would not necessarily come across in our daily lives. It is important to link the different cultures of a community in order for all individuals to work towards a common goal. I think that is the key to any change that is needed.

Cob buildings rock!

So I have recently (in light of the past Sustainability Day events) been reading about how to build a cob house. At the trade-show for Sustainability Day there was a booth with a couple from Victoria who are building their own cob house. I had heard about straw bale houses and was interested those, but I knew little of cob houses. So after talking with them I bought a book and now I am determined to build one for myself! I really like how they fit into the concepts of sustainability. They are built using only locally found geologic materials so that less carbon is spent trying to transport material from elsewhere. They are also made with materials that are not altered to any great degree and do not have any harsh chemical in them or required to make them.

Cob is generally made up of a mixture of sand, gravel, clay and straw which is then used to make the walls and compacted earth to make the floor. Now it still strikes me as weird that these walls made of cob can actually hold a roof up let alone a second floor, but they can and last much longer than a standard wood framed house. A wood framed house generally lasts ~50 years while a cob house if built properly can last over 100's of years! In the book they emphasize the importance of picking the right site (since you can't build cob in every environment) as well as looking at the environment surrounding it. They suggest making the plans of your house to incorporate the sunrise and angle of light that will hit the house during the different seasons. So you would have your morning sun room facing the east where the sun rises and have your kitchen facing the west where it sets. They also suggest limiting the windows on the north wall to make sure the cob walls have a chance to obtain the heat from the sun and release it slowly over the day into you home. Living roofs can be incorporated into the design, as well as rain catchment barrels and solar panels for electricity generation.

I still have more to read which I don't really have time for, but I hope one day I can build my own house...

Judy Brownoff from the Saanich Municipality came to talk to our class about integrating sustainability into municipal and community plans. This municipality has created a plan called the Sustainable Saanich Official Community Plan from the Saanich Municipality website.

This community has made a plan to include sustainaible initiatives within the community, as well as committing to the Climate Action Charter. The Climate Action Charter which has been in response to the BC Legislation called Bill 44-2007. Saanich hopes to reduce their greenhouse gases by 10% in the year 2010 in all municipally owned buildings etc.

I found Judy's talk enlightening because she spoke of her passion in sustainable initiatives but also talked about the fact that it is hard to change peoples minds about its importance. She talked about how it is important to explain to people that it may not currently be a normal way of life to change ways of building and getting around in a sustainable fashion, but that eventually people come to understand and act.... most of the time ;-) She also talked about how it is so slow when trying to convert representatives on council to become aware of the importance in spending time and money to these initiatives. I think if I were in her place I would get frustrated very quickly, but she seems to have a great attitude about the time and her ability in changing peoples minds.

Saanich Municipality Website: http://www.gov.saanich.bc.ca/business/development/plan/pdfs/apr2308ocpenvsect4.pdf

Albert Einstein's Wisdom Amoung Others

The E-dialogue for the International Centre for Sustainable Cities Dialogue Series about Sustainability Indicators on the RRU website (http://crcresearch.org/edialogues/eforum/index.php?sid=51e7a0fe1c495a271680b5e030a634a5) is very interesting. The fact that so many people come together and talk about these topics for the public to see is great! One lady by the name of Gwen Colman was talking about how the Maori people of New Zealand have the tradition of kopapa. She stated that they have historically had important connections to their environment incorporating the significance of knowing place, which I think is very similar to the values and traditions of the North American First Nations.

I also liked the comment from Linda Harvey who stated that there is a significant connection between the health of the community and how the municipal governments determine the planning and infrastructure of a city. These infrastructure, she states, are greatly responsible for the increase emissions from transportation and subsequently the high rates of health effects such as, asthma and obesity.

It was brought up in the dialogue that an important indicator is the use of an Ecological Footprint. I have talked alot about footprints in my 4 1/2 years of schooling. It has always been a favourite topic for my teachers to talk about. But I do think it brings up a good point in the fact that it puts a value on how many resources a person is using and what impact on the planet they are creating for themselves and their surrounding community.

Finally to end my post, I like the quote Ann Dale posted from Albert Einstein in reference to sustainability community development measurements:

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."

- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

And I just have to add in this second quote because sometimes it is so true!

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

(http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~robins/quotes.html)

New ways of communication

Virtual or e-dialogues are a new concept for me. I have not had the experience in being involved with any of them; however, I plan to take a look at the one on Tuesday May 13^th, on “Sustainability Indicators” since I will not be able to participate. E-dialogues can be important because they provide the ability for different people from different backgrounds and geographical areas to come together and participate in a conversation that they may not otherwise have been able to. They can also give an increased level of diversity, a means of archiving the information immediately as it is happening. E-dialogues can also have limits including an age barrier limitation where the younger people are savvy in the knowledge of computers while older people may not be, it is a public conversation which could limit what someone would normally say in a conventional conversation, and it may not engage all of the public community.

Sustainable development is (hopefully) here to stay

There are many things that make sustainable development a success. I think the most important thing is public consultation or community engagement. Community engagement is important because it is a way to find out the real issues and wants within a community. To involve the community before planning the development will ensure a more integrated approach that will be accepted by more of the public than just developing for the sake of developing. This process can also be preceded by community profiling to first research that will be or is living in the area to become developed. Active listening by the facilitator can ensure that all is understood and addressed by the public. Like anyone, if they feel like they are being heard and their opinions or concerns will be addressed then it will make them confident in the development. Not only is the public important to consult but also the collaboration of different stakeholders that are involved in the development. These can be inclusive to all, as well as the ownership of the land.

The new development of in the Dockside Green area in downtown Victoria is to include sustainable building methods. I think it is great that Victoria is trying to include sustainable building methods into Victoria, especially in the downtown area and in the Vic West region, which is in some need for improvement. With more development downtown there will be increased use of the downtown core and hopefully more initiatives to address some of the problems with downtown, such as homelessness. One thing that is unfortunate about the Dockside Green development is that it only caters to high income earners. Even though they are supposed to include low income housing, I am not convinced about what their definition of low income housing is. But all the same with these types of developments going in there will be more incentive to follow suit in the surrounding area.

Picture Reference: http://www.greenplaybook.org/database/images/display/sb4720d928d50d3.jpg

Reflection on last weeks topics

The Future Search conference process we practiced in class was a discussion on biofuels. Are biofuels the answer to our future energy needs? Our class went through various processes identifying issues, visions and solutions to the concept of biofuels. I found it really interesting hearing all of the different components from various people in the class. There is so much more benefit in hearing other ideas and opinions that normally you would not think about. You also have the opportunity to argue your views of ideas you have or ideas from others.

In our second class this past week, some case studies were discussed about social capital. I found the example about the binner, Ken Lyotier, fascinating. It’s a great example because it shows how a person who may not be in the best of circumstances in life has an ingenious idea that can fill a niche no one has thought of previously. He seemed to have a down to earth, matter of fact way of describing the realities of his business and the social capital involved. He also addressed the importance of how his employees have a very different way of dealing with things, such as the lifestyle of a street person, which makes it a unique situation.

One of the things I have started forming an increasing interest in is sustainable development. I really believe that one of the main ways people are going to change their unsustainable ways is through sustainable development. People will only change when either other people force them to change or provide them with that change. If you ask them (I would think) they would rather live in a multi-use development with lots of green spaces and using sustainable methods, rather than an old apartment surrounded by a field of asphalt.