I have started this blog to help keep track of things I am involved in over the next year. I have so many interests that I have to really manage my time and energy wisely.
My current rant is to do with banning disposable, single use, plastic, shopping bags from our CRD. Such a big statement from such a short person you may think. Yes, it may be asking too much, but, you have to start somewhere. Check in and I will tell you about my tour of the Hartland Landfill. I had a CRD employee tell me to educate myself before I pursue this idea. He suggested I tour the landfill. GREAT IDEA! So I am off to tour on Monday.
On Monday morning I will be delivering some examples of biodegradable bags to the Saanich Municipal Hall. These will accompany a letter to Mayor and Council. The letter is as follows:
October 20, 2007
Saanich Municipality
770 Old West Saanich Rd
Victoria, B.C.
V9E 2G8
Dear Mayor and Council of the Municipality Of Saanich,
I am writing to request that the Municipality of Saanich adopt the use of biodegradable bags instead of plastic garbage bags within all municipal buildings and parks.
The switch to biodegradable bags will fit into your new Carbon Neutral Plan. The use of biodegradable bags will reduce the number of regular plastic garbage bags used daily. This action reduces a dependency on a product derived from fossil fuels thus fitting into your new plan.
Biodegradable bags are versatile and are proven to be effective by a local waste management company. I can give more details if requested. I have included a package of bags for your inspection. I hope that each of you will take one home and try it.
By adopting this request you would be setting a great example to the rest of our community and to our neighboring municipalities. Saanich is a leader in so many ways. This would simply be another example of excellent leadership.
Thank-you,
Lana Popham
This "biobags in Saanich" idea is one that my friend Mike and I came up with the other night. Tune in for an update!
Tuesday I will be on CFAX 1070 am to discuss the banning bags topic with Joe Easingwood at 8:15am. It will be an open phone talk show so feel free to call in. 386-1161
Wednesday I will be going before the CRD Environmental Committee to have my 15 minutes in the spotlight. I will suggest that these bags are banned. I will also suggest that if that is too much to ask then maybe we could invest some money in educating the public on why these bags are a waste.
So that is what I am up to this week!
Have a sustainable day!
Lana
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for the Provincial Constituency of Saanich South, Victoria, B.C.
- Lana Popham
- Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Elected as a Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for the Constituency of Saanich South on May 12, 2009. New Democratic Opposition Critic for the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. Raised on Quadra Island and has an undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia. Extensive track record as a community leader, advocate and environmental activist.
Community History
- Member of the Legislative Assembly of B.C., 2009-
- Planning Transportation & Economic Development Committee - Saanich
- Peninsula Agricultural Commission - Commissioner
- Island Organic Producers Association - Chair of the Certification Committee
- Agri-Food Initiative Advisory Committee
- Central Saanich Little League - Treasurer
- Brentwood Elementary School - Compost Committee
Visit me on Facebook!
There is more to me than plastic bags.....
Nomination
SAANICH – Lana Popham, local business owner and community activist, was nominated on March 8th in Saanich South as the New Democrat candidate for the May 12 provincial election.
“I’ve spent my whole life speaking up, speaking out and speaking for things I believe in,” Popham told over 100 supporters today.
Popham said she is looking forward to holding Gordon Campbell and the B.C. Liberals to account by running in the May election with Carole James and the New Democrats.
“Gordon Campbell is not in the business of representing communities, he’s not in the business of representing you or me – he’s in the business of mis-representing our interests,” said Popham. “I am proud to be from Saanich and have the experience and drive to take our community’s concerns to the Legislature.”
Popham owns and operates The Barking Dog Vineyard - a successful Saanich small business and the first Certified Organic Vineyard on Vancouver Island – and is currently chair of the Certification Committee for Island Organic Producers Association and past President of the Vancouver Island Grape Growers Association. She’s a member of Saanich’s Planning Transportation & Economic Development Committee and is an active parent at her son’s school.
Popham’s “Think Outside the Bag” campaign has been a very successful on the ground environmental initiative that encourages people to switch to reusable bags.
With the support of her husband Jon, a firefighter for Oak Bay, and their 10 year old son, Popham is already campaigning to win a seat in the Legislature on May 12.
Books I love.....
- The Death and Life of Great American Cities - Jane Jacobs
- In Defense of Food - Michael Pollan
- The Geography of Nowhere - James Howard Kunstler
- Heat :How to stop the planet from burning - George Monbiot
- The Long Emergency - James Howard Kunstler
- Urban Meltdown - Clive Doucet
- Home From Nowhere - James Howard Kunstler
- Urban Nation - Alan Broadbent
- The Economies of Cities - Jane Jacobs
- Dark Age Ahead - Jane Jacobs
- Farmageddon - Brewster kneen
Michael Pollan
Climate Change
Some interesting letters I have received:
Hi,
I listened to the discussion on the radio about plastic bags this morning. Seven years ago, when I immigrated to Canada from Germany I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw how plastic bags are used here. Back in Germany we’ve charge for them for years and it is normal to use baskets and cotton bags. Also, most stores have a corner where they pile up the boxes they receive the goods in and people are free to use them. Plastic bags are completely out and you almost feel bad if you have to buy one.
We are so behind here and it is truly just a question of habit, not convenience. I am glad there are signs that things will become more environmentally friendly over here.
Carola Daffner
Dear Lana
I wholeheartedly support your campaign to ban disposable plastic bags and wonder, since they have caused such harm to so much of our environment and promise to do so way into the future, why they were presented for general use and why were we allowed ... encouraged? ... to use them in the first place. Someone must have known!
I live in View Royal where concern has prompted the town's use of bio-degradable dog litter bags and now also, more recently, some action toward using bio-degradable plastic garbage bags. Are they really bio-degradable and part of a solution?
More questions:( rhetorical, since I don't expect replies..you are busy enough)
Is recycling of soft plastic available in the CRD? Presumably, not. Do you know why? What really has been happening to the grocery bags that we have been returning in good faith to the grocery stores?
Thank you for your caring and dedication
Andria
I listened to the discussion on the radio about plastic bags this morning. Seven years ago, when I immigrated to Canada from Germany I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw how plastic bags are used here. Back in Germany we’ve charge for them for years and it is normal to use baskets and cotton bags. Also, most stores have a corner where they pile up the boxes they receive the goods in and people are free to use them. Plastic bags are completely out and you almost feel bad if you have to buy one.
We are so behind here and it is truly just a question of habit, not convenience. I am glad there are signs that things will become more environmentally friendly over here.
Carola Daffner
Dear Lana
I wholeheartedly support your campaign to ban disposable plastic bags and wonder, since they have caused such harm to so much of our environment and promise to do so way into the future, why they were presented for general use and why were we allowed ... encouraged? ... to use them in the first place. Someone must have known!
I live in View Royal where concern has prompted the town's use of bio-degradable dog litter bags and now also, more recently, some action toward using bio-degradable plastic garbage bags. Are they really bio-degradable and part of a solution?
More questions:( rhetorical, since I don't expect replies..you are busy enough)
Is recycling of soft plastic available in the CRD? Presumably, not. Do you know why? What really has been happening to the grocery bags that we have been returning in good faith to the grocery stores?
Thank you for your caring and dedication
Andria