 |
| Laska and a four-legged friend! |
There is no escaping the conclusion that
fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) are non-renewable and are mostly
depended on for our energy needs. But they are limited in supply and will one
day be depleted. In order to tackle the energy crisis, we need to seek out new
sources of clean energy. That calls for a little innovation and rethinking the
way we manage waste.
Your dog might seem like an unlikely source of
renewable energy, but the facts are (1) dogs produce a lot of poo (2) it’s an
unlimited, natural resource.
Turning poop to power is a way of the future
and one I hope to bring to Greater Victoria through “The Power of Poo”
campaign.
What’s this? you ask.
Over
the past few months, I have partnered with Shaw TV to develop short videos on
varied environmental protection topics. While researching content for my recent
video feature, Paws & Poop, I Iearned how big the poo issue
is in Greater Victoria and the lack of sustainable options available to pet
owners. I started to learn about what other cities are doing to reduce the
amount of poo sent to landfills. Some of the more innovative solutions include
using dog poo to power streetlamps, and human sewage to power buses. Naturally,
I thought: Why can’t we do this in
Victoria?
Our
city is known for its progressive lifestyle, thriving technology sector,
abundant parkland, and some of the nation’s best educational intuitions. My
goal for “The Power of Poo” campaign is to maximize the potential of waste
diversion by producing something useful and build connections between the small
changes we can make at the local level, and the impact of these changes on our
local environment. Imagine if the streetlamps in parks across Greater Victoria
were powered by bio-gas from dog poo? How satisfying would it be to recognize
our furry friends as a source for clean energy?
Dog
owner or not, everyone has a role to play in helping us shape a sustainable
city. This month, I’m inviting you to consider the potential of dog droppings
by signing “The Power of Poo” petition. The goal is to rally
support to encourage municipalities across Greater Victoria to pilot
waste-to-energy projects that turn dog poo into energy and divert this waste
from the landfill.
Let’s
work together and use this petition as an opportunity to make affordable
change! While signing a petition might seem like a very small micro-action,
collectively it will have an impact. If you’re keen to do more, spread the word
by sharing the petition with your networks and join the discussion online.
Together we will create cleaner parks and green spaces for all to enjoy, and
hopefully reduce the likelihood of you stepping in dog poo.
Laska
