Reflections on a Snow Pea

Reflections on a Snow Pea

Green, flat, with a little elf hat
Crispy, sweet, great to eat

I wanted a snow pea, I planted a seed
It grew past the radishes, carrots and weeds

It reached to the sky, up my stakes and trellis
My neighbors looked on, boy were they jealous

It gave a white flower, then a small pea
Which reached out from its blanket for something to see.

The pea grew quite quickly, we’ve had lots of sun
It’s time for the harvest, where we’ll reap a ton

One as a tester and one to confirm
One for my strength and one to affirm

I love snow peas, so crispy and sweet
There really is nothing better than fresh snow peas to eat

But how many have I harvested? Four, five or six
I’ve been so busy eating, my basket depicts

My love for this vegetable, fresh and in season
I eat them with passion beyond any reason

My thanks to the Source that created this all
A system that works from winter to fall

To feed a small planet, 7 billion humans alone
Imagine how many seeds must be sown.

We continue the harvest, the basket and me
Till all that was left on the plant I could see

Was small little pea pods not ready to pick
I’ll be back tomorrow, these things sure grow quick!

As quickly as they come, the last pea will be eaten
And I will be harvesting what’s new and in season

So here’s to the snow pea, today’s ample crop
And to the fine Earth which operates nonstop

To keep us well fed, healthy and happy
As long as we don’t treat her so crappy

With toxins, destruction and climate emissions stacking
Ongoing expansion of drilling and fracking

I could go on, but you’ve all heard that story
It’s an ongoing challenge and it’s really quite gory


So it’s a wonder that with all this destruction
My back yard is a place of ample production

Of beautiful green, crispy, elf hatted fruit
And I can eat dinner without having to pollute!

The Renewal of Jewish Life in Germany

This past week I had the pleasure of being an invited presenter at Limmud Germany, which took place about 1 hour East of Berlin at a former East Germany workers retreat.  Being one of 500 German Jews in attendance, (the rest actually live in Germany; I just carry the passport) was an amazing and eye opening experience, and since the end of the conference, I have not been able to get the song ‘Am Israel Chai’(The Jewish people live) out of my head, and I have always hated this song.

For most Jews in Israel or North America, Germany represents death and the end of possibility.  But after being here for just over a week, what I see is life and potential.  The Berlin Jewish communty, for example, which recently had less than 3,000 Jewish residents, now has more than 12,000 and they have come from all over the world:  Russia, Israel, France, Netherlands, U.K., U.S.A., and more.  These “chalutzim” (pioneers) are reshaping what was once the center of Askenazi Jewish thought.  In the style of great German Jewish thinkers like Buber, Fromm, Rashi, Hirsch and Marx, they are debating what it means to be Jewish, to be ethical human beings and to be German.

For those of us in the Jewish environmental community, this is of particular interests as the Germans are the ‘greenest’ and most environmental conscious people in the world. A new initiative of the German Jewish community entitled ‘Jews Go Green’ is currenly in development, and I look forward to Germany once again becoming the frontline in modern Jewish thought.

My trip has been an interesting combination of experiencing Jewish life in Germany and viewing Jewish death, but the latter has been hard to focus on with the former such a pleasant surprise.  I am writing currently from Wittlich, near Trier/Luxembourg, the town from which my grandfather was forced to flee in 1937.  While no Jews remain in this small city, the community has gone above and beyond, restoring the synagogue and cemetary, building a Jewish museum, reaching out to each and every survivor and their families.

I came to my grandfathers birth place expecting to spend my time in mourning, instead I have been overjoyed by the response of the local community, their dedication to the memory of those lost and their desire to share the motto ‘Never again!’  Our local hosts were delighted by my interests in attending Shavuot services, so together we had the pleasure of joining the commmunity of Trier, just 30 minutes away. While most of the community was old, there was a core group of excited young adults and even an overly excited child, the German Jewish story is clearly not over.

Back in Berlin, before coming to Wittlich, I was faced with a dilemma I never thought I would have to face in Germany. For Tikkun Leil Shavuot (Tuesday night/Shavuot eve), I had to choose between the local synagogue service & learning, and the group of secular Israelis and Germans staying up all night reading the Book of Ruth in a private home.  An active synagogue and a living room Havurah (community) in the heart of Berlin, represents an amazing return and renewal. I chose the Havurah, and while we may not have uttered a single prayer or lit a candle, we sat up all night discussing what it means to be Jews.  It was a truly Jewish experience! 

I am delighted to report that the spirits of Buber, Rashi, Marx and my Gandfather Paul live!  The intellectual curiosity that created the Jewish enlightenment, the reform and orthodox movements, Marxism, etc. survives and even thrives!  For the first time in my life I am proud to be a German citizen.  I look forward to watching this diverse community grow and can’t wait till once again we can start to follow the German Jewish lead, hopefully down an ecologically sustainable path.

Am Israel Chai! The Jewish people live!!

The Future of Nuclear Energy and the Threats of Coal & Natural Gas

Like most of the world, I have been giving a lot of thought recently to the question of nuclear energy.  Just 4 weeks ago, before the Fukushima disaster, I was asked a question about Nuclear energy while presenting at Tribefest in Las Vegas.  I gave my standard answer, an answer that has been haunting me for weeks. “Unfortunately, while nuclear energy may have long term environmental consequences, the imminent threat of climate change and the economic realities of the energy markets make nuclear a necessity in the short term.”

What is clear in my answers was a miscalculation of the short term threat of nuclear energy, especially in older reactors. After Chernobyl the world was promised that this type of disaster would not happen again, that safeguards were in place.  It is clear now that this was not true. But are all nuclear reactors unsafe? Was it design, location, age or something else that causes this crisis? Which should we close down and which to keep open? Can we keep building modern nuclear facilities, are they safe enough?

We find ourselves faced with a terrible choice.  Ideally the world would move towards wind, solar, geothermal and other alternative energies, but this is not the political and economic reality our leaders are choosing.  Our societies are instead faced with the short term dilemma, as the grassroots works to change the political and economic landscape, of making the choice between nuclear and carbon based fuels such as coal and natural gas. 

“I don’t think we are going to pursue civil nuclear energy in coming years,” said Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu when asked by Piers Morgan on CNN whether the situation in Japan will affect plans to construct nuclear plants in Israel. “The cloud of radioactivity, the uncertainty of what will happen with it, is the cloud that hangs over the people of Japan, and I think right now hangs over the world... I think we’ll go for the gas and skip the nuclear.” (Of course Israel is the leading provider of solar and wind technology in the world and has huge renewal energy potential, but that’s a discussion for another time.)

Coal extraction leads to thousands of deaths and immense environmental destruction annually (Approx 3500 miners dies each year in China, 50 in the United States). A far larger toll in six months, than have resulted in the 25 years since the Chernobyl disaster.

In both Israel and the United States a move towards natural gas exploration through hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has the potential for similarly disastrous environmental and human health results. Concerns associated with fracking include ground water contamination and air pollution through the use of hydraulic fracturing chemicals and the mishandling of solid, liquid and gas waste. Already a well established practice in the United States, a study published in 2010 by the EPA reported contaminants in drinking water including: arsenic, copper, and more. Many of these contaminants are known to cause a variety of illnesses such as cancer, kidney failure, anaemia, and fertility problems.

In 2008, Israel’s Ministry of Infrastructure granted Israel Energy Initiatives (IEI) the right to produce gas and liquid fuel from oil shale in the Elah Valley, where David fought Goliath, without requiring an environmental impact assessment or master plan. In August 2010, Adam Teva V’Din, the Union for Environmental Defence, challenged the legality of those rights, and requested a revocation of IEI’s mining license from the Israeli High Court.  in November 2010 Rupert Murdoch and Lord Jacob Rothschild purchased shares worth $11 million in Genie Oil and Gas Inc., the company that owns 89% of IEI, Putting a lot of support behind the project and the move to bring fracking to Israel. No ruling has yet been made.

The ongoing nuclear disaster in Fukushima has brought the world’s attention back to the dangers of nuclear energy.  This is an important awakening to a huge potential environmental threat and hopefully another motivator to implement alternative energy technologies.  But while we close old and dangerous nuclear power plants, let us not rush to eliminate the technology entirely if the alternative is an increased dependency on coal and natural gas, even if just in the short term.

As is often the case, a more careful examination of the evidence is needed or our desires to do the right thing in response to the Fukushima disaster may cause us to do more damage than good.

Canada Line Connector #3 - Art & Artists Along Canada Line

Looking for an outing that includes great art?  Canada Line not only delivers you directly to the Vancouver Art Gallery at Vancouver City Centre Station and the Richmond Art Gallery at Brighouse Station, but also include numerous modern art instillations along the line offered free to the public.  Stop and take in the art on your next trip or make a special Canada Line art excursion.  It’s fun, beautiful, economical and environmentally friendly.

Canada Line Features Local Artists of All Stripes

Journey through the Canada Line system with your eyes open and you will find a wide range of art and artists from diverse cultural and artistic backgrounds.  Often sarcastic, poignant and entertaining, these pieces represent the diversity of Canadians and comprise an important element in IntransitBC’s success in making Canada Line a fun and reliable transportation alternative. 

 

Read below for more information on some of the featured art and artists, or print the Canada Line Art Scavenger Hunt (below) to take with you on a fun adventure on Canada Line as you attempt to find each piece of art. The first person to complete the Scavenger Hunt and submit the completed form to info@intransitbc.ca wins a free copy of Canada Line Adventures, a guide to the many offerings of Canada Line.

Featured Art, Artists & Station – What not to miss!

Art:  Under Construction by Tammy Leigh (Waterfront Station)

With a combined creative photojournalistic approach and passion for people and culture, Tamara’s enthusiasm enables her to seize unique and captivating images of Canada Line’s construction.  The seven photographs in the corridor connecting the Canada Line platform to Waterfront Station feature various tunnels and stations at different phases of Canada Line’s construction. It’s a great insight into this major city improvement.  Catch this work now as it is a temporary exhibit and will be removed in the winter. If you really like what you see and want them to last, the pieces are for sale!

"Throughout my travels my passion was capturing the various cultures, experiences and scenery through the lens of my camera. Realizing that I could tell a story of a thousand words through one photograph inspired me to expand my photography skills." Tamara Leigh, 2010

Artist: Ruth Jones - Garden of Wind Blown Seeds, Vancouver City Centre Station

Ruth Jones is an artist who has worked in the mediums of paint and of fine hand woven tapestry for more than 25 years. Vancouver based, Ruth’s work is on display locally in places such the Museum of Anthropology and nationally at the Governor-General's residence in Ottawa.  A weaver steeped in the Aubusson tradition of France, Ruth feels a bond with weavers of all nations. "They look at me as someone who is practicing a craft that is part of their tradition as well."

The exemplary ‘Garden of Wind Blown Seeds’ depicts a tapestry that was woven ‘blind’ (from the back), while the weaver referred to the reverse working drawing on the left.  When the work was finished, the drawing was peeled back to reveal the tapestry for the first time. The composition here depicts this moment of discovery. This unique piece allows you an insight into the artist process.  By viewing the original sketch and notes alongside the final product we are more fully able to understand the vision, process and final product.

 

Station: Vancouver City Centre

Three distinct art installations mark Vancouver City Centre Station as Vancouver art hub, just moments from the Vancouver Art Gallery and numerous other galleries throughout the downtown core.

Above ground, visit ‘Artificial Rock #143’ by Zhan Wang and ‘5’ by Paul Wong. Both these pieces leave you asking more questions than you started with and are well worth a visit.  ‘Artificial Rock #143’, located on Granville St near the corner of Georgia St,  is a reflective stainless steel rock literally and metaphorically represents the past and future, tradition and transition of a nation and people into modernity. While those motifs may not be obvious to all observers, the reflections of people and buildings on the rock make the piece worth viewing. It was commissioned as part the Vancouver’s Biennale.

In ‘5’, found in the plaza to the West of the station, Wong created five unique productions taking place over five consecutive weekends to take the public on extraordinary journeys in real, invented and imagined places. ‘5’ was commissioned by the City of Vancouver through its Mapping and Marking Artist-Initiated Projects for Vancouver 2010. " [Art] is not just based strictly on visual art history and history of painting and Eurocentricity.  It’s not just about commercial culture and television.  It’s not just about pop…" Paul Wong, 2007

As you enter or exit the station, above the stairwell don’t miss ‘Garden of Wind Blown Seeds’ by Ruth Jones (see above).

Canada Line Art Scavenger Hunt

Supplies Needed: Digital Camera, Pen or Pencil, Worksheet

Complete each of the following:

1)        Roundhouse Station:

       a) ‘Joe Sola is Making Art’ by Joe Sola

            According to the piece, who is not making art? __________________________

       b) ‘Equestrian Monument’ by  David Robinson

            i) What is the rider wearing? _________________________________________

            ii) In your own words please describe the expression on the face of the:

            Horse:___________________________________________________________

            Rider:___________________________________________________________

2)        Waterfront Station:

a)      ‘Under Construction’ by Tamara Leigh

       Examining the tunnels in the photos how many pictures feature tunnels that are:

            Square ________________ (These are cut and cover tunnels)

            Tubular _______________ (These are bored tunnels)

3)        Vancouver City Centre Station

a)      ‘5’ by Pail Wong

       How many hands appear in this piece of art? ___________________

b)      Artificial Rock #143

       In 3 words, describe your reflection in the rock. __________________________________________

c)      Garden on Wind Blown Seeds

What words are written on the mountains on the left side of the piece? _________________________

4)        Take a photo of yourself in the following locations:

a)    Olympic Village Station: Sitting on ‘Le Blanc’ by Marie Khouri, the white artistic bench in front of the station

b)   King Edward Station: Looking up at the piece “Garlands’ by Paul Wong, hanging as you descend into the station.

c)    Marine Drive Station: With the sculpture you believe represents Ascension, in the piece ‘Anticipation Perfection Ascension’ by Philippe Sokazo

Noam's Curricula for Grades 1 - 11

Noam has published curriculum for all ages. Read on for more information.

Torah Aura Instant Lesson (Grades 1 - 8)

A series of seven full colour worksheets with teacher's guide for students in grades 1 - 7.  No background in Jewish or environmental education is to facilitate these easy to use worksheets.

Topics include:
1 - In Our Image
2 - Guarding the Planet
3 - Caring for the Animals
4 - Birkot Ha'Nehanim
5 - Bal Tash'hit
6 - Modern Jewish Food Ethics
7 - A Jewish Response to Climate Change

Elijah's Covenant Climate Change Curriculum (Grades 8 - 11)

A 4 week curricular progression on Jewish values and climate change published by the Shalom Center.

"An engaging, creative and spiritually rich curriculum linking Judaism and environmental activism. A welcome addition to the educator's toolbox." Rabbi David Saperstein - Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

Click here for the store at NoamDolgin.com to buy these or other items.

Canada Line Connector #2 - YVR Airport a Perfect Day Trip Destination

A gold medal transit system! A look back at our Olympics performance and growing ridership

Gold was the colour of the month this February as Canadian athletes took home a record 14 Gold medals at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.  During these exciting weeks, Canada Line shone as the gold standard in public transportation as spectators, volunteers and athletes rode the to those historic events.  Between 200,000 and 300,000 people daily were transported to and from the airport, downtown Vancouver and venues such as the Richmond Speed Skating Oval and Curling’s Olympic Centre.  Our greater than 98% reliability rating meant riders got to their destinations quickly and on time.

Our success around the Olympics has shown tourists and residents alike that Canada Line is a great tool for daily commuting or to get you to the many exciting happenings around town.  Ridership is up 20% from pre-Olympic levels and continues to grow daily. Thank you to the wonderful residents of Vancouver and Richmond who have proved that Canada Line is an important addition to Metro Vancouver.

YVR Airport a Perfect Destination, Not Just a Point of Transit

Looking for some of Vancouver’s best free public art? Enjoy people watching? Interested in aerospace technology or enjoy watching planes take off?  Looking for a massage, facial, doctor’s check-up, liquor store specializing in BC wines or a good family destination?  Believe it or not, all of this and more is available at the airport.

For most of us, the airport is a point of transit and transition. A place we pass through when we are going somewhere or coming home. As passengers we marvel quickly at the impressive art instillations, but never have the time to really take them in. Canada Line now makes that possible. Ride the train out to YVR airport and check out some of the many great offerings mentioned below.
Airport features not to miss:

• Public Art – Bill Reid’s Jade canoe tops an impressive art collection on display throughout YVR airport. While some of the art is past security and inaccessible to visitors, YVR public spaces are replete with totem poles, sculptures and more. On a nice day, make sure to visit the outdoor totem poles located between international arrivals and the entrance to the parking lot and Canada Line. More information on art at YVR airport can be found at http://www.yvraf.com/art.html.
• Public Observation Area - While at the airport, check out the new Public Observation Area. You’ll find it on Level 4 of the Domestic terminal (accessed through the level 3 food court). Explore the interactive maps, flight simulator and monoculars for viewing the runway. A great family destination.
• Spas – YVR airport is home to Absolute Spa and Hair Salon with two locations available to non travelling passengers. They offer a range of services including massage, manicures and pedicures, hair services for men and women, anti-fatigue and jet lag treatments, and chair massage.
• Restaurants and Bars – YVR offers a range of great restaurants and bars for everyone’s taste, from the main food court to specialty full service restaurants. Grab some quick fast food, settle in for some quality West Coast cuisine or snack on homemade chocolate.
• Shops and Personal services – Take advantage of your trip to the airport with some quick shopping or a medical or dental appointment. YVR features a range of services aimed at the travelling community and airport employees, and accessible to the public. Find out more at http://yvr.ca.

Canada Line Connector #1 - Introducing Intransit BC

Introducing Intransit BC

While riding the Canada Line trains you may have noticed the name InTransit BC on the cars and wondered “Who is InTransit BC, and how do they relate to the new train line?” Well, you are not alone; many riders ask the same question every day. InTransit BC is a company jointly owned by SNC-Lavalin, the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (bcIMC) and Caisse de Depot et Placements de Quebec.

We are the private company who, in partnership with TransLink, designed, built and now administers the Canada Line. If we do our job right, all you should notice is a quality riding experience. In addition to ensuring a clean, safe, efficient ride, we are committed to growing our list of transit-related services such as our website (www.intransitbc.ca ), which includes this e-newsletter, station information, our Public Art Program, project history, community-related information and soon-to-be-added Events Calendar and Business Directory. We are also very excited to continue our philanthropic work with projects such as the Pixel Train (featured below).
 

Breaking News: SNC-Lavalin wins Lieutenant Governor’s Award and Award of Excellence from Consulting Engineers of BC.

Sustainability was the focus of the night, as SNC-Lavalin took top prize for the development of Canada Line at the annual Engineering Award Ceremony, April 24^th, 2010.  “Delivered 110 days ahead of schedule, The Canada Line Rapid Transit Project has surpassed expectations with a system reliability of 98.9% and estimated greenhouse gas emission reductions of 20 to 27 Kilotonnes per year.” Noted the award committee.

We at IntransitBC would like to say: Thanks for noticing! And thanks to the thousands of riders who join us daily in making Vancouver a more sustainable city!

Feature Story: Decorating the Pixel Train to Help Metro Vancouver’s Children.

In the fall of 2009, as part of the celebration of the launch of Canada Line, IntransitBC hosted a party on the Canada Line and raised $150,000 to support a number of important local non-profit organizations benefitting children.  These included Arts Umbrella, BC Children’s Hospital, and the YMCA.  Now IntransitBC, in partnership with you, our riders, are taking this spirit of giving to the next level, through The Pixel Train. 

Put your Face on The Pixel Train! 

Beginning May 10, 2010, you can support these charities and include your picture, or any other appropriate image, as part of a mosaic on an actual Canada Line Train.  Donations of $10 dollars or more made through www.thepixeltrain.com or www.intransitbc.ca, qualifies you for inclusion in the mosaic image that will wrap one of our trains.  Make a donation, upload a photo, and see yourself pulling into the station as your board the train. Show the city you are one of the thousands of Vancouverites who support youth arts, recreation and health. 

The World’s Largest Piece of Moving Public Art!

When complete, the Pixel Train will become the world’s largest piece of moving public art, riding 21 hours a day along the world’s longest automated transit system. This marvellous piece of public creativity is just one exhibit in an amazing array of artistic offerings that dot Canada Line Stations and surrounding areas. Keep an eye out at stations like Waterfront for other great artistic displays, or sign up today for the Canada Line Commuter e-newsletter to receive monthly updates and features on the latest artistic offering by Canada Line, IntransitBC and a range of local artists.

Youth in Transit

Children are our future and our hope for a more sustainable tomorrow.  They are also some of Canada Line’s biggest fans.  Next time you are on the train, take a moment to look at the faces of the children riding the train. Notice their pure joy and pleasure from the riding experience. 

Giving back to children gives us that same joy.  Our philanthropic partners, Arts Umbrella, BC Children’s Hospital and the YMCA, provide thousands of children access to artistic expression, recreation, guidance, and cutting edge health services.  We thank our partners for all their hard work and dedication in making these projects a reality, and look forward to helping them to further their important work.