Welcome to EcoWest News, a weekly round-up of news and resources that you can put to use in addressing environmental issues and protecting the wild in your community.
What if we undertook new ways of living on this planet that are “founded on a principle and a philosophy that respects all life” with people as “humble participants in this great dance” rather than “masters or overlords”? [Do The Math]
Across the West
The Regina International Film Festival, Aug. 1-5, will be showing various films with an environmental theme, including The Magnitude of All Things, Songs versus City, and The Entangled Forest. [RIFFA]
A graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan is helping to develop an effective water treatment process for removing oil from water sources such as the South Saskatchewan River. [USask]
Indigenous wildlife guardians are playing a role in building respect and not fear for bears in Waterton National Park. [The Narwhal]
Regeneration Canada is hosting a series of farm visits, webinars, videos & podcasts to showcase farmers who are practising regenerative agriculture to mitigate climate change and restore biodiversity. Register for farm visits in SK (July 29), MB, AB & BC. [Regeneration Canada]
Fibreglass boats are a major contributor to marine pollution. We can address the problem by registration and removal of end-of-life boats and using alternative organic boat-building materials. [Hakai Magazine]
Around the World
A member-owned utilities co-op in New Hampshire is using the storage capacity of EVs to balance out the highs and lows of local electricity demand. [The Energy Mix]
DIY
What can we do to create a world where trees matter, where cutting down an old tree is a gut-wrenching decision and an absolute last resort? We can start by emphasizing the daily delights – spring blossoms, bird nests and squirrels, shade on a hot day. [The Nature of Cities]
Help the bees and butterflies in your garden quench their thirst. It will take less than an hour to create a bee hydration station or a butterfly puddler. [Nature Manitoba]
Pollinator Cafés, large planters filled with drought-tolerant flowers, are brightening up downtown Lethbridge and showcasing local pollinators. [Lethbridge News Now]
Kimberley Wildsight’s share, pick, and press fruit tree harvesting program reduces wildlife attractants and is an important step in living more harmoniously with our deer and bear neighbours. [Wildsight]
Cities can promote water conservation by fixing leaking pipes, landscaping with drought-tolerant plants, encouraging water-smart gardening, and metering. [UBC]
On the Bookshelf
Many Things Under a Rock: The Mysteries of Octopuses by David Scheel contains “detailed descriptions of octopus behavior and stimulating research on their perceptive faculties” providing “a complex portrait of a surprising animal.” [Publishers Weekly]
The Production of Everyday Life in Eco-Conscious Households by Kirstin Munro focuses on families with small children and how they go about running a sustainably minded household. [Earthbound Report]
Nature’s Wonders
Orca whales are intelligent, social animals. When two pods meet, they hold a greeting ceremony, and each pod has its own unique accent. [Smithsonian Magazine]
Anti-bird stakes on buildings and trees are meant to deter birds. Crows and magpies are using them to build nests instead. [The Guardian]
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/30541328667
EcoFriendly West informs and encourages initiatives that support Western Canada’s natural environment through its online publication and the Nature Companion website/app. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Mastodon, or subscribe by email.