I was 15 when I first started learning about climate change and the Kyoto Protocol. It was an exciting time, albeit slightly frightening. If my generation was the one to make our world a better place, we sure had our work cut out for us. At the same time, however, I couldn't help but feel inspired by the groundwork that was already laid. Young leaders like Severn Cullis-Suzuki were taking a stand in front of international audiences and important international policy was taking shape to guide the way. Or so I thought.

Some 12-odd years later it is 2011 and the Kyoto Protocol is about to see its end. Reading news headlines proclaiming the fall of Kyoto, it's difficult not to feel a pang of nostalgia for the hope that accompanied its initial development. With our current Environment Minister avoiding any future Kyoto-type agreements like the plague, what is a young eco-minded person to do? Where do the answers lie in addressing this very real issue? 

According North Cowichan at least, the answers are in our hands and in our own backyards. The Federal government may have decided that we no longer have to set an example, or even do our part as a country to address climate change, but local government  is taking a different approach. 

From Charlotte (Hometown: Quebec, Quebec)

The CWY Nampula-Cowichan program will end pretty soon, too soon. We are now done our GMO project and are created a documentary about public opinion concerning GM food. Opinions have been quite varied and we are very happy with the participation of all those who consented to help us in this project. 

The office is getting ready for Christmas, which makes us really happy and Richard experienced his first snowfall (may I remind you that in Mozambique, where Richard comes from, there is no snow…).  Even though for me, who is used to Quebec winters, this is nothing… But I have been told that the snow is very different than Quebec’s snow… 

It is not my first time living in the Cowichan Valley. I was here from January to March of 2009 with another youth program: Katimavik. One day, I’ll have to come back during the summer and then I will truly have experienced Duncan. There is no more gardening going on, as Winter is on its way, but it doesn’t make our days less busy or less interesting! Everything that happens makes us discover, learn or laugh! 

Once again, CGC has had the good fortune of hosting two amazing Canada World Participants as volunteers: Charlotte from Quebec and Richard from Mozambique. Not only do they

 bring with them great enthusiasm, but also warm smiles and wonderful stories about their travels. Read about their experiences working with CGC so far:

 "We have been here for a month and a half. We have done many things, including learning about GMO’s (genetically modifed organism) and the importance of labeling foods with GM ingredients. In Duncan a petition has been circulating in support of Bill C-257, which would help people to know if their food contains GMO’s, by requiring GM foods to be labeled. For example, in jam, if there is a fruit that is genetically modified, it has to be written on the label. 

A message from the Cowichan Green Community Board of Directors:

Judy Stafford, Executive Director of Cowichan Green Community Society, is running for municipal council in the City of Duncan. The CGC Board wishes its membership and the larger CGC community to know that, in our capacity as her employer, we support Judy Stafford's political aspirations, but in keeping with our commitment to remain non-partisan, we are not able to officially endorse her candidacy. CGC wishes all candidates luck and we will continue to work effectively with Duncan City Council and other local governments, no matter which candidates are elected.

In the midst of a last-minute packing flurry for a 5 day visit to Toronto, I stopped to consider what an incredibly different environment I was about to enter.

Here I was, on Vancouver Island, with a decades-old hazelnut tree gracing the centre view of my kitchen window and my house backed by a forest full of salal, mushrooms and berries. Not to mention the Cowichan River, whose heady flow would soon be full of salmon, lay just a short walk away. I made a joke to my roommate that instead of sweaters and shoes, I should be filling my suitcase with nettle and licorice fern. I wouldn’t even know where to begin to find such locally commonplace items in a natural resource lunarscape like Toronto.