Fancy sewer heating system notwithstanding, Vancouver Olympics organizers have been slammed by a watchdog group as they ready the city for the 2010 Olympics.
According to the subtly named Impact of the Olympics on the Community Coalition, Winter Games organizers receive a D- for their preparations so far. Much of the near-failing grade concerns broken promises on housing and civil liberties, but the environment also factors in. The report accuses organizers of preferring "less-sustainable methods of transportation, despite bid promises to ensure sustainability." A new four-lane highway has also been bitterly disputed. In addition, from the article:
The IOCC report card finds that other sustainability commitments -- such as the zero waste management strategy and green building design -- have received insufficient resources. Still other promises have yet to be addressed at all; these include a liquid waste strategy, hydrogen fuel infrastructure installation plans, and greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies.
An executive vice president at the Vancouver Organizing Committee responded, "If the findings are accurate or fair, we'll consider them."
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Werdna Posted 12:53 am
09 May 2007
The highway expansion plan mentioned in the post may be the worst. It's being seen as part of a larger development plan, the Gateway Project, that is supposed to open the region up to trade from Asia.
But, in reality, it will cause more pollution, more sprawl, more traffic, etc. The region would be better served by public transportation and more rail options. You can read all about it here (a website that I help maintain): http://livableregion.ca
The irony is that the Premier of British Columbia, Gordon Campbell, is being portrayed as some sort of green hero:
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/2/14/131847/917
When the reality is that few of his green initiatives will ever go through as long as he keeps on pushing expansion.
Andrew Eisenberg
The gateway project is wrong---http://www.liveableregion.ca/
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amc89 Posted 2:19 am
09 May 2007
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caniscandida Posted 5:54 am
09 May 2007
Chickens are our cousins!
So are other sensitive animals!
Enough is enough!
No more factory farms!
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