by Alix Spiegel The other day I came across a fake news story on the Internet. It was a send-up of the pharmaceutical industry, which featured a bunch of drug industry executives wringing their hands in despair; placebo pills, the fake news story reported, were getting stronger. What was a drug executive to do? This is a real news story about how placebos are...

INDEPENDENT MEDIA by Steve Anderson It’s not a question of whether or not we can have a digital media revolution; the question is what kind of revolution do we want to have? The signs of a media system in transition are everywhere, both in our use of media and in media policy. Canadians now spend more time online than in front of the TV; the government has...

NUTRISPEAK by Vesanto Melina Going raw is a big trend! Across North America, raw restaurants are serving up delicious versions of pizza, lasagna, wholesome burgers and desserts, along with their green smoothies. So before you rush out and buy a fancy, new kitchen range, consider that many folks are tossing out the microwave and covering their entire stovetop...

May 11, 2010

ON THE GARDEN PATH by Carolyn Herriot When you know how many vegetables thrive in containers, you’ll realize you don’t need a garden to grow food. Try lettuce, radishes, green onions, zucchini, tomatoes and bush or pole beans in planters. Food plants need a maximum of 12 inches (30cm) of soil to grow in; those that are shallow-rooted require only six...

May 11, 2010

UNIVERSE WITHIN by Gwen Randall-Young When you follow your bliss…doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors and where there wouldn’t be a door for anyone else. – Joseph Campbell Is there something you have always dreamed of doing, but either it has not happened or you do not really think it is possible?...

May 11, 2010

FILMS WORTH WATCHING by Robert Alstead One of the trickiest aspects of creating drama about a celebrated artist’s life is finding an actor who can convey both the emotional life and the talent of that artist. It takes both an accomplished actor to present a convincing face for the artist and an excellent artist to convey the talent. In this respect,...

May 11, 2010

EARTHFUTURE by Guy Dauncey We all hate the HST, right? It’s now a populist campaign, led by former Premier Bill Vander Zalm, who has, by the way, also predicted the HST will expand to take in the US and Mexico and eventually be controlled from Brussels, Belgium, as part of a conspiratorial New World Order. The HST has its pros and cons, but maybe...

May 11, 2010

SCIENCE MATTERS by David Suzuki with Faisal Moola Every day, we slather ourselves with liquids, lotions and potions – from shampoo and soap to deodorant and makeup. After all, most of us want to look and feel clean and to smell nice. It’s not uncommon for a person to use 10 or more personal-care products daily. We don’t usually think of our...

by Lucy Sharratt, coordinator,  Canadian Biotechnology Action Network Canadians and Canadian farmers won a major victory recently against the biotech industry. While this victory is just the first step in a major and prolonged fight, it is indicative of the unavoidable conclusion that genetically modified (GM) crops are causing harm to farmers and farming...

May 11, 2010

The latest science in accessible, everyday language Translating the evidence The studies cited here have been excerpted from the inaugural issue of Research and Your Health, a new quarterly publication of the CHFA, which contains selected abstracts that focus on the value of natural products and health foods for both the prevention and treatment of...

May 11, 2010

During Herb Week May 1-7, local herbalists may be seen at malls, health food stores, libraries and other public areas in your neighborhood. British Columbia is fast becoming Canada’s capital in complimentary and alternative medicine. The face of modern healthcare is changing and the Canadian Herbalist’s Association of BC (CHA of BC, www.chaofbc.ca)...

It will cost everyone more: students, workers, pensioners, young, old and YOU   Note everything that effects you and write beside it your weekly/monthly yearly cost for those items – then multiply by 7% MORE to see your total HST tax hit! Restaurant meals  Cable TV New Homes(some rebates applicable)  Non-prescription...

May 11, 2010

by Bill Woollam A newspaper columnist recently mentioned “the way the government brought the HST in, leaves more than a little to be desired.” Yes, that method has ‘hopelessly poisoned the well.’ He also mentioned there is an “apparent widely held prejudice against business and industry.” He stated that the majority of people...