The PenOpticon

The birds came back. In spite of my many fears (some rational, some not so much) over global warming, run-away development and loss of habitat, da birds came back. Denise and I burned serious amounts of carbon in order to see this miracle once again, but the birds did not disappoint. Over the past few weeks we've been to Point Pelee, Rondeau, Thickson Woods, the Carden Alvar and also managed 3 or 4 treks through the wilder parts of York Region. We found 125+ species in Point Pelee over three days and 50 during a short day at the Cardin Alvar.

Of course, my subjective view about the number and variety of birds returning this spring means nothing. As mentioned, human activity has altered or destroyed many natural habitats — and global warming isn't helping either. Experts such as York University's Professor Bridget Stutchbury (see Silence of the Songbirds), have observed a significant decline in the numbers of North American songbirds. 

With fewer birds and fewer natural wetland and forest habitats, it's no wonder that a birder has to drive a long way just to see 'em.  But for those lucky enough to escape the gray and steel of a North American urban landscape, the trek is worth it.  Now more than ever, we need observers — people in the field — who watch, identify and record the evidence of the natural world.  Great observers like Jamuudsen help us to remember the beauty that may be slipping through our fingers. Here are a few highlights from our own observations:

Rumours are circulating that Paul Wolfowitz may have finally negotiated an exit strategy with World Bank directors. The deal is supposed to "clear" him of conflict of interest breaches in exchange for his hasty departure.  Given Wolfy's penchant for preemptive strikes which he justified by saying "you can't wait until you have evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that somebody did something in the past…", it's amazing he has held on to the job as long as he has.  By all accounts he should have been preempted some time ago. Fast-tracking Ali Shaha Rizza into a $190,000 income illustrated Wolfowitz's bad judgment and an attitude of greed and privilege. More worrying, however, are recent allegations that Wolfowitz sought to dismantle the Word Bank's Family Planning policies. In a world of dwindling resources — where every new pair of legs expands our collective carbon footprint — any policy that takes away a person's freedom to control the size of their family, is downright evil. It would be evil in any kind of world. So, no matter how you slice it, Wolfowitz is just another symbol of the ethical bankruptcy that permeates the Bush administration. Let him go now before he does any more damage.

It looks like Surrey school trustee, Heather Stilwell is once again revving up her right wing engines.  She isn't banning books this time, but she is trying to keep Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth out of schools in Surrey, British Columbia — unless alternate views on climate change can also be taught.  In a Canadian Press wire story she explains:  "I've read enough that there is more than one thought in the issue of climate change, global warming and that Al Gore is not the be all and end all of opinion about that".

No 'mam, he is not. That's cuz Gore was not stating opinions about climate change. He was simply explaining the facts.  The facts 'mam, nothing but the facts.  As facts go, students should be taught the basics of how greenhouse gasses function. They should learn something about the now infamous Keeling curve and Milankovitch cycles .  Some select readings from Tim Flannery's The Weather Makers might be enough to supplement the material covered by Gore.  Perhaps students should also monitor climate change reports issued by the IPCC and note the political squabbling of the U.S. and China as they try to shirk their responsibilities.  The sum of these things would help balance Gore's movie with additional evidence

Speaking of being fair and balanced, why was Stilwell quoted as if she had some real expertise in the area of climate change? As if!  Why was it not pointed out that this is the same woman who cost Surrey taxpayers 1.2 million in legal fees when she tried to ban children's books that dealt with same-sex parents?  Or how about her brief stint as leader of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada? Shouldn't it also have been noted that  Stilwell recently sought the nomination in Surrey for the federal Conservative Party of Canada.

Given Harper's dubious record on climate change, it's instructive to see the kind of mind that is attracted to the Conservative side of the House.  With luck, federal politics will never be anything more than a distant dream for the likes of Heather Stilwell.