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[The Alberta Environmental Policy Series highlights the many environmental challenges and related government policies in Alberta. SAGE welcomes feedback on these topics.] In 2020, the 1976 Coal Policy was rescinded without public consultation. Significant areas of the Eastern Slopes land were opened to coal leases, initiating a widespread response from concerned landowners, environmentalists, and Indigenous…
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Vaclav Smil (2022). How the World Really Works: A Scientist’s Guide to Our Past, Present and Future. Penguin Books: New York. Vaclav Smil’s How the World Really Works: A Scientist’s Guide to Our Past, Present and Future (2022) provides a solid compilation of available data related to the energetics of our economy, particularly on the essential aspects of modern…
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Karen Armstrong (2022). Sacred Nature: Restoring our ancient bond with the natural world. Alfred A. Knopf: Toronto Karen Armstrong is a renowned scholar of the history of religions. She has an uncanny ability to describe and compare sacred / religious experiences from the earliest oral traditions and written sources. In this recent effort, Sacred Nature: Restoring our ancient…
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Maude Barlow (2022). Still Hopeful: Lessons from a life of activism. ECW Press: Toronto. Recently, SAGE had the honour of co-hosting Maude Barlow’s participation at the Lethbridge Library’s Word On the Street festival. She shared readings and insights from her new book, Still Hopeful: Lessons from a life of activism. This is an enriching book for those who…
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James Hoggan (2016). I’m Right and You’re an Idiot: The toxic state of public disocurse and how to clean it up. New Society Publishers: Canada My name is Braum and I am an engineer. Though one doesn’t want to give credence to stereotypes, I do like math. I like scientific measurement. I like probability and statistical…
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The EIA Terms of Reference focuses assessment of environmental impact to the direct effects of construction of Snake Lake Reservoir, referred to as the “Project”. Not mentioned is expansion of ~5,000 irrigation acres that is proposed in conjunction with expansion of Snake Lake Reservoir. This proposed increase in irrigated acres on the assessment role of…
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The future of Albertans will be based on a healthy and resilient environment: Water flowing in our rivers must meet instream flows and water quality levels necessary for long-term health of aquatic ecosystems and humans dependent upon them; biodiversity must be preserved to maintain the complex, interdependent ecosystem of which humans are a part; soil…
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All We Can Save: Truth, courage, and solutions for the climate crisis, 2020. (Johnson, A.E. & Wilkinson, K.K., eds.). One World: New York. All We Can Save is a diverse collection of contributions about the climate crisis, written by women for everyone. All of these contributors embody a sense of courage to meaningfully address the challenges…
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Review comments on Proposed Terms of Reference, Environmental Impact Assessment Report Southern Alberta Group for the Environment (SAGE) is a non-profit organization based in Lethbridge whose mission is to serve as a leading voice for a healthy and environmentally sustainable community. For over 35 years SAGE has worked to protect and restore rivers and watersheds…
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Open Letter: Environmental Impact Assessment of the “historic expansion of Alberta irrigation” including Chin Reservoir, Deadhorse Coulee Reservoir and Snake Lake Reservoir. 10 November 2022 I am writing on behalf of parties interested in environmental impact assessment of the activities associated with the “historic expansion for Alberta irrigation”. Interested parties include Alberta Chapter of the…
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In naturally dry regions such as southern Alberta, rivers provide a critical supply of water. Ever increasing human demands on this precious resource have natural consequences and limits. It is urgent that we understand what flows are needed to keep rivers healthy and functioning. Instream Flow Needs (IFN) are streamflows required to be left flowing…