Howard Epstein ~ Special Interests

Howard speaking to new Canadians at an ESL class informing them about government and politics in Canada and Nova Scotia
Special Interests Sustainability The transformation of all sectors of the economy to a basis that respects the carrying capacity of the Earth is a basic, and an urgent priority. Threats to drinking water safety, air quality, and to climate are already a reality even in as wealthy a society as is Canada's. For 30 years I have been a supporter of environmental organizations. For information on a range of local issues I recommend the Ecology Action Centre See also: Greenpeace Sierra Club of Canada The David Suzuki Foundation Democratic Governance Globalization is now a basic economic fact. Unfortunately many international treaties tend to be designed primarily for the convenience of large multi-national corporations, and less for the protection of citizens and their communities. They give a secondary place to protection of human rights,advancement of workplace health and safety, or the environment. Fortunately there is a growing worldwide critique and an alternative agenda that is emerging. For details I recommend the Council of Canadians and the site started by Canadian activist Judy Rebick called Rabble.ca. The Economy Traditional economic questions about prices, employment and government budgeting tend to hide underlying serious problems of sustainability and inequality. All economic and natural systems are interconnected. A new generation of economists and ecologists have written about ways to change agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, energy production, the fishery, and the design of communities. Among these are Hazel Henderson, Herman Daly and John B. Cobb, Paul Hawken, Wayne Roberts, and William Rees, E. F. Schumacher, Michael Jacobs, David W. Pearce. To keep up to date, you can follow issues through the International Institute for Sustainable Development, which is located in Winnipeg and also the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives In Nova Scotia, the work of GPIAtlantic is especially relevant. Municipalities As a former municipal councillor, I follow local government issues closely, and am aware of the significant potential for real change in how we live our lives through the design of communities, and how services are delivered. I also teach Land Use Planning Law at Dalhousie University's Law School. Municipalities deal with water quality, transportation, sewage, solid waste, and zoning. All of these can be approached in ways that promote sustainability, though all too often this is not the approach of local municipal councils. For news about some interesting municipal issues, I recommend a site maintained by former Toronto mayor John Sewell localgovernment.ca. The Single Mitten Collection
	Howard has been collecting single lost mittens for many years. He now has more than 1,000 mittens in his collection. He was interviewed by Shelagh Rogers, host of CBC Radio’s Sounds Like Canada in 2005 and received many letters, cards and emails in response to the show.
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