Good to Know

TWO THUMBS UP TO JOHN BANKA, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO -HYDROGN FUEL CELLS  Below are John Banka's suggstions re: renewable energy  I t’s time to focus on a new industrial strategy on fuel cells Toronto StarJune 10, 2020 John Banka, MASc, University of Toronto " Here is a strategy that the Ontario government can pursue: The days of vehicles powered by the internal combustion engine (ICE) are numbered; perhaps two decades remain. Batteries will not replace ICEs, at least not in a cold climate, because of cold weather range impairment.  Nor will hydrogen in either gaseous or liquid form (work), because of handling and distribution issues.  Remember the historic Hindenburg disaster? Hydrogen fuel cells using liquid anhydrous ammonia as the fuel are a better fit for Canada and the world.  Liquid ammonia has a considerably higher hydrogen density than compressed hydrogen at the same pressure and is much safer to handle; the hydrogen can be liberated throug...

THUMBS WAY UP TO SECRETARY- GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES  Toronto Star April 29, 2020 FRANK JORDANS BERLIN— UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that the coronavirus pandemic has exposed how fragile societies are, but that if governments work together on common challenges, including global warming, it can be an opportunity to “rebuild our world for the better.” Speaking at a two-day international meeting on climate change, the United Nations chief said the only effective response to the worldwide health emergency is “brave, visionary and collaborative leadership.” “The same leadership is needed to address the looming existential threat of climate disruption,” Guterres said, noting that the past decade was the hottest in history since measurements began. He urged the European Union to show “global leadership” by presenting updated emissions reduction plans by the end of the year that would put Europe on course to become the first climate-neutral con...

QUOTABLE QUOTES DAKOTA CHILDREN Dakota children understand   that we are the soil and the soil of us. That we love the birds and beasts that grew with us on this soil. A bond exists between all things because they all drink the same water and breathe the same air. Luther Standing  Bear, My People the Siuox   Every  cubic centimetre of soil and sediment teems with billions of microorganisms; the soil produces life because it is alive. David Suzuki, Geneticist,  Environmentalist Q Soil continues to be the main source of humankind’s nutrition.   Most people in the world live primarily on grain. David Suzuki, Geneticist, Environmentalist

WE ARE ALL CONNECTED  Since we are all part of a delicate and balanced ecosystem containing plants, animals, and non- living organisms, what happens at the bottom of the food chain, ripples to the apex.  We humans sit at this apex.  We are all connected and we all depend on one another for all our needs-our very survival.  A perfect example of how we humans are all connected with wildlife, harks back  to Chairman Mao of China.  When he ruled supreme in China, he had observed sparrows landing in farmers’ fields and devouring the crops.  So being woefully uneducated about the balanced food chain in the web of life, he issued an edict that every citizen would be paid, for every sparrow killed.  With a population of close to 2 billion, in no time at all, the defenseless, little birds had been decimated!  Since we learned in grade school about the food chain, we can all predict what happened next.  After the sparrows were ...

GREENING YOUR WALLET-    An eco-friendly all purpose cleaner 1.  Fill an old  spray bottle half way with white vinegar 2. Fill it the rest of the way with water, but be sure to leave room for the final ingredients and for shaking 3. Drop in 3 drops of eco-friendly, phosphate-free liquid dish soap * Shake before use. Store out of direct sunlight * Can be used on counter tops, sinks, ovens, fridges, floors, windows, mirrors, toilets, bathtubs, doorknobs, walls, and upholstery. You can put some in a travel spray bottle and bring it with you to use as a hand sanitizer. You can spray it on the inside of shirts that carry body odour smell.   This stuff can be used just about anywhere!  Not only is it better for your health and your environment, but it's CHEAP!  Each bottle works out to about 30-50 cents.   It is also very safe to use around small babies and pets.

    INCREASING BIODIVERSITY OF  OUR  GREEN SPACES  In 2019 when I went on a 2000 km road  trip exploring and enjoying the great variety of vistas in Ontario and Quebec, I noticed the majority of  homeowners and  municipalities  continue to focus on creating static monocultures of clean- cut Kentucky lawns. In many places in the country, I observed acres and acres of mown lawns with no spaces left to growing   according to the whims of Mother Nature,   thus providing food sources for our precious pollinators.  Maybe, just maybe, Mother Nature knows best!   Why we need to make bold changes to our landscaping practices   v   our precious pollinators, for their continued survival,  need  a variety native and non-native flora growing in meadows-like areas- the greater the variety the healthier and more robust the pollinators v   there is a dire need to  increase nect...