As the green revolution continues to inspire us to re-evaluate our lifestyles the green lecture circuit in Vancouver is getting busy. This summer there were three major conferences, in Vancouver and Victoria, to discuss ideas and strategies to make our cities more sustainable by reducing carbon use and using sustainable energy.
David Suzuki gave an environmental consciousness raising talk to local architects, engineers and development managers. Suzuki encouraged the members of his audience to take his green pledge, which is a program of ten points that helps people to make their own personal sustainability difference. You may also have noticed that Suzuki has been providing "Small Steps" in the Vancouver Sun to assist people in painlessly reducing their environmental impacts.
South Carolina land developer John Knott was the keynote speaker at the Smart Growth BC conference. Knott talked to the audience about his company's conversion of neglected lands on a surplus military base into a green mixed-use community. Motivational speaker Paul Hawkins lectured in Victoria about the new global convergence of environmental, social justice, progressive agriculture and other groups into a worldwide movement. Next spring, there are 2 major green living expos coming to Vancouver as well-EPIC (for the second year and last year was excellent www.epicexpo.com) and I just heard yesterday that there is a new show coming to town for spring-it was in Toronto last year...more later. (All cited figures and quotes are from The Globe and Mail, June 8)