Why do billions of birds, insects and animals head south for winter? Well, let’s see – the days are gorgeous, the nights longer and colder, the winds come from the north more and more – what could be going on? Ah – it’s autumn again, and with it comes the exodus of billions (yes, you…
There are 28 species of snakes in Canada. Can you name them all? For most people, one simply has to mention a snake and they cringe. If asked why, few would ever say they had a negative encounter with one or even know why they’re fearful. In Canada, one might find 28 species of snakes,…
Did you know Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the U.S.’s National Bird? My wife and I have had the unique opportunity (at least to us) to share our yard with three families of wild turkeys this year. Birds of one brood often join with other broods after the young have hatched, and then…
Sustainable travel tips that will reduce your environmental impact during the fall season With all the talk about our environmental footprints, and the issues with carbon and fossil fuels, I thought I might help you plan a low-waste, low-impact outing as we head into the early fall season. Okay, so first of all, you need…
Blindly following the opinions of so-called experts and politicians will inevitably lead you astray I recently read an article in the Toronto Sun by guest columnist John Stossel. The article’s title – Feel free to try stuff – intrigued me as it was on one of the paper’s political editorial pages. What were they talking…
The world below the surface of the water is a noisy place I try to follow the news every day, even though it is often quite distressing. However, on some days, something interesting really catches my eye: for example, articles such as: “Many promises but little action at COP15” or “Earth’s core may be slowing…
Taiwan's journey to eco-tourism excellence a timeline of achievements In my last column, I wrote about how Taiwan is becoming a leader in eco-tourism and the small part I had to play in that transition. Today, I’d like to finish the story. Maybe the simplest way to start is to present a chronological timetable that…
Taiwan a beacon of eco-tourism and biodiversity preservation Taiwan has been in the news due to ongoing conflicts with China, so I thought I’d share a different side of the story – a happier one. I once had the privilege of travelling to the beautiful island of Taiwan – set offshore from Mainland China and…
Interpreting and presenting the data correctly is the only way to unravel the Buttergate scandal A recent email I received encouraged me to step back for a moment and consider if the last column I wrote about butter had errors in it. I decided it didn’t: it just expressed an opposing point of view. This…
Palm oil supplements are added to cow feed to increase the fat content in the milk used to produce butter I am not a baker and don’t want to be one, but have you noticed that the butter you leave on your counter isn’t as soft as it used to be? I always presumed it…
Why do billions of birds, insects and animals head south for winter? Well, let’s see – the days are gorgeous, the nights longer and colder, the winds come from the north more and more – what could be going on? Ah – it’s autumn again, and with it comes the exodus of billions (yes, you…
There are 28 species of snakes in Canada. Can you name them all? For most people, one simply has to mention a snake and they cringe. If asked why, few would ever say they had a negative encounter with one or even know why they’re fearful. In Canada, one might find 28 species of snakes,…
Did you know Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the U.S.’s National Bird? My wife and I have had the unique opportunity (at least to us) to share our yard with three families of wild turkeys this year. Birds of one brood often join with other broods after the young have hatched, and then…
Sustainable travel tips that will reduce your environmental impact during the fall season With all the talk about our environmental footprints, and the issues with carbon and fossil fuels, I thought I might help you plan a low-waste, low-impact outing as we head into the early fall season. Okay, so first of all, you need…
Blindly following the opinions of so-called experts and politicians will inevitably lead you astray I recently read an article in the Toronto Sun by guest columnist John Stossel. The article’s title – Feel free to try stuff – intrigued me as it was on one of the paper’s political editorial pages. What were they talking…
The world below the surface of the water is a noisy place I try to follow the news every day, even though it is often quite distressing. However, on some days, something interesting really catches my eye: for example, articles such as: “Many promises but little action at COP15” or “Earth’s core may be slowing…
Taiwan's journey to eco-tourism excellence a timeline of achievements In my last column, I wrote about how Taiwan is becoming a leader in eco-tourism and the small part I had to play in that transition. Today, I’d like to finish the story. Maybe the simplest way to start is to present a chronological timetable that…
Taiwan a beacon of eco-tourism and biodiversity preservation Taiwan has been in the news due to ongoing conflicts with China, so I thought I’d share a different side of the story – a happier one. I once had the privilege of travelling to the beautiful island of Taiwan – set offshore from Mainland China and…
Interpreting and presenting the data correctly is the only way to unravel the Buttergate scandal A recent email I received encouraged me to step back for a moment and consider if the last column I wrote about butter had errors in it. I decided it didn’t: it just expressed an opposing point of view. This…
Palm oil supplements are added to cow feed to increase the fat content in the milk used to produce butter I am not a baker and don’t want to be one, but have you noticed that the butter you leave on your counter isn’t as soft as it used to be? I always presumed it…