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Recent Posts
- On the proposed Canadian plastics bans – Part 1: How the Government created useful “facts” for its scary headlines
- Debunking common anti-nuclear talking points Part 1 – Nuclear takes too long to build
- Why an environmental scientist is so often critical of environmental activists
- A pragmatic environmentalist’s view on climate change, BC LNG and the Trans Mountain Pipeline project – not either or but all of the above
- Why the cancellation of Keystone XL is bad for the climate, the environment and Canada
Top Posts & Pages
- Why public health officials advise against masks to protect from the Coronavirus - my thoughts using lessons learned from asbestos exposure
- Why a Pragmatic Environmentalist supports the Trans Mountain Pipeline
- On the proposed Canadian plastics bans - Part 1: How the Government created useful "facts" for its scary headlines
- Alberta's Renewable Energy Conundrum in Charts and Numbers - Why Capacity Factors Matter
- On Southern Resident Killer Whales and the Trans Mountain Expansion Project
- Understanding the difference between a "hazard" and a "risk" or why scare stories about glyphosate and pesticides in your food shouldn't frighten you
- Why the cancellation of Keystone XL is bad for the climate, the environment and Canada
- On Renewables and compromises, Intermission: Energy Density and Power Density
- Sorry folks, but the plural of anecdote is data
- On Carbon Dioxide Toxicity
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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Thoughts on living a public life with a stutter and on the value of early and intensive speech therapy
I have always envied people who can simply talk without it being a mental workout. As an advocate for evidence-based, environmental decision-making I often get asked to appear on television or the radio to speak on scientific topics of interest. … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
10 Comments
Revisiting activist myths about the Trans Mountain Pipeline – or Why Climate leaders may sometimes need to build pipelines
Activists are trying to get the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project (TMX) back in the news. On my social media feed I first saw Dr. Tim Takaro hanging in a tree then watched him as he was replaced by YouTuber … Continue reading
More chemically-uninformed fear-mongering about the Trans Mountain Pipeline – this time about the dangers of diluted bitumen
In my last post, I presented details of how activists were misrepresenting the health risks of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion (TMX) project due to their lack of chemical expertise. In that post, I noted that it represented another of … Continue reading
Posted in Oil Sands, Pipelines, Trans Mountain, Uncategorized
3 Comments
A Chemist looks at a major activist study about the Trans Mountain Pipeline Project and finds a hot mess
It is construction time again on the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion (TMX) and the activists are out in force. Interestingly, I saw that Dr. Tim Takaro was back in the news. This time he is up in a tree to try … Continue reading
Fact-checking the Wilderness Committee narrative about the recent oil spill at the Trans Mountain Sumas Pump Station
Last weekend the Trans Mountain Pipeline had a spill at its Sumas Pump Station in Abbotsford. According to Trans Mountain the Initial estimates are that 150-190 cubic metres (940-1195 barrels) of light crude was released and was fully contained on … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
11 Comments
Understanding Health Canada’s advice about wearing masks in public – let’s try this again
Yesterday Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam provided further guidance on wearing masks to protect against the Coronavirus. Her new advice was Canadians should wear a mask as an “added layer of protection” whenever physical distancing is not … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
4 Comments
My review of “Planet of the Humans” – A Michael Moore documentary that does some things well and others really badly but is true to the Michael Moore legacy
Like every interested interested environmental observer, I carved out some time to finally watch “Planet of the Humans” by Jeff Gibbs (executive producer Michael Moore) and having watched it I came out with mixed feelings. The best description I can … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
10 Comments
No Rising Carbon Dioxide Concentrations will not make us Stupider – Confusing Acute versus Chronic effects of Elevated Carbon Dioxide Concentrations on Human Cognition
I am a professional Chemist whose practice includes occupational health and safety and risk assessment. I did my first indoor air assessment involving “sick building syndrome” in 2001 and have done countless indoor air assessments in the last two decades. … Continue reading
Posted in Canadian Politics, Uncategorized
2 Comments
How new puritans, petty bureaucrats and irresponsible activists risk eroding the public will necessary to fight Coronavirus
Watching and reading the news this weekend three stories caused me a lot of worry. Consider the following three headlines: Physical distancing ‘loopholes’ need to stop, Ottawa health official says; Oakville, Ont., family hit with $880 ticket after going rollerblading; … Continue reading
Posted in Canadian Politics, Uncategorized
9 Comments
More on Coronavirus PPE – This time let’s talk about gloves
I am an Environmental Chemist. My work involves exposure to toxic and/or corrosive chemicals. Prior to my current professional position, I worked at the University of Victoria teaching first year students in their first university laboratory course. As a Professional … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
1 Comment