Here We Go Again...

Earlier this week a large group of ducks landed in a Syncrude tailings pond in Northern Alberta. Does this story sound familiar? Well it should... the exact same thing happened in 2008. What's even worse is that this year's duck-landing happened just days after Syncrude was fined over 3 million dollars for the previous duck-landing. Syncrude has recently stated that 350 birds have now died after landing on the Mildred Lake tailings pond on Monday night.

What is even more astounding is that this event has happened less than a month after Prime Minister Stephen Harper criticized NDP MP Linda Duncan, saying that she was trying to shut down Alberta's economy by suggesting that we slow down development in the oil sands. Well maybe that seems like a better idea now, doesn't it Harper?
So if this keeps going on like it has been of late, how long will it take for people to realize that perhaps this is not the best idea? What more needs to happen to convince people that maybe searching for more environmentally friendly sources of energy are better for us in the long run? I guess for now though we'll just have to wait around until the next batch of ducks are killed in our quest for oil in the tar sands.
For more info check out http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/299493. Or you can just listen to the radio or watch the TV because hopefully we will soon be hearing about how Syncrude will be punished for their second round of duck killing.

First Snow!

It was the first day of snow here in Edmonton today. I was hoping that the weather might hold out until November and after Halloween, but I guess that just wasn't meant to be. It sure was fun to bike to school this morning though! I think I'll try and bike through the winter... but I guess we'll see how that goes. Biking home from school was pretty nice though, it wasn't too cold but everything was coated with a nice layer of white. Some of the leaves were even still on the trees!

According to Todd Babiak, the snow is good for you, really! http://tinyurl.com/289l3yd I guess it might feel good after you've spent a year in snowless north-western France!

Well I guess that's what you get for living in Edmonton... Welcome back winter!

Ecuador!!!

It's official! I will be going to Ecuador next summer to volunteer with Free the Children with my friend Zoë. During our 18 day trip we will be helping to build a school in the Chimborazo province. Before that though we will spend a few day exploring old Quito and taking a quick visit up to the Equator. At the end of our trip we will be spending a few days at a retreat in the Amazon rain forest.

Free the Children is an organization that was started by Craig Kielburger in 1995, when Craig was only 12 years old. The aim of FTC is not only to provide education for children in developing countries but to also involve children in their efforts to do so. There are also trips for youth to Kenya, Arizona/Mexico, India and China.

Our trip leaves on August 10, 2011 from Montreal, and I can't wait! I'm not sure how I am going to get through this year knowing that during the summer I will finally be going on this trip that I have been wanting to go on for so many years?!
The trip is pretty pricy though, about $3500, so I have a lot of fundraising to do. Zoë and I will be hosting a few dinners throughout the year to raise money for the trip and I also have a couple of part time jobs that will pay for a fair amount of the trip. All the work will definitely be worth it though, it's gonna be the trip of a lifetime!