VancouverIAM: Sea Lice Threaten Salmon Extinction, Vancouver Woman Seeks Investigation into United Way

This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from VancouverIAM where you will find the best blogs from Vancouver, BC as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring

Provincial Government Ignores Important Sea Lice Problem

Blogging on Paying Attention, a blog about B.C. politics and life, Paul Willcocks writes about a the problem of sea lice on salmon farms, and that despite reports and recommendations, the provincial government has failed to act on this issue. Sea lice “attach themselves to salmon… and suck their blood.” A few lice aren’t a problem.

Researchers have found, however, that “the concentration of fish in a small area [means] dense sea lice populations as well.” In addition, if migrating wild salmon pass through the area, it will encounter a denser population of sea lice. “And too many sea lice - particularly on a three-inch young salmon - can kill.”

Willcocks says in his post that “the industry and government have denied the problem exists.” The industry has even attacked the researchers. The government has had “an all-party legislative committee report on aquaculture for eight months” and has not responded at all, and evidence of the problem keeps piling up. Frederick Whoriskey, fisheries expert, “concluded salmon farms were creating a sea lice problem that was killing pink salmon… [and] a single farm produces more than 50 million sea lice eggs a year, he found.” This month, a recent study found that sea lice from area salmon farms threaten wild pink salmon with extinction. “Local pinks could be gone within four years, the researchers reported.”

Vancouver Woman Requests Investigation into United Way

The Downtown Eastside Enquirer released news that a Vancouver woman has requested new Vancouver Police Chief, Jim Chu, “ensure that a criminal investigation she requested into United Way in 2003 is carried out.” At that time, she had requested United Way be investigated for fraud and public mischief, “after then United Way director, Ron Dumouchelle, lodged a police complaint against the woman in an attempt to prevent the dissemination of a Report on United Way to donors.”

The woman alleges that in the police report, evidence was “consistently fabricated or misrepresented and that it culminated in an effort to subject her to ‘political psychiatry’ under fraudulent pretenses.” United Way and Constables J.P. St. Amant and Lee Patterson all played a major role in libelling her in the report, she claims. “The Vancouver Police collect donations for United Way,” she says, “the last thing they want to do is investigate them.” The post notes that the accuser has support from “Canadians Opposing Political Psychiatry” and that the woman makes a compelling case with her evidence.

Portico Representative of What Makes Vancouver Great

Hero Hill, a Canadian music blog, gives high praise to Vancouver’s Portico in a recent post. “For those of you not from Vancouver, knowing that Portico practices in a tiny space on the downtown East side of Vancouver is probably irrelevant.” Our blogger writes that the East Side “holds true to everything great about Vancouver… old buildings and history make the East Side rich in culture, and every time I listen to Portico I'm reminded of that.”



Lead singer Lyn Heinemann’s voice is the “jump off point” for their “honest, pain filled lyrics,” which are “the backbone of the songs and the beauty that peeks through the cracks.” She’s got a mix of the “power and sensitivity of 90's rock like Kim Deal or Liz Phair,” but the success of their latest record, is the tight rhythm section. “Greg Murray and Mimi Mahovlich use crisp drum lines and infectious bass lines to frame the songs,”

over which Heinemann unleashes her guitar and voice. “The record can be enjoyed by almost anyone... the songs flow nicely and the energy is kept up for the whole record.” The post notes that Portico will play on Jan 24th at the Media Club.

VALTAC Admits 200th Needs Transit

Jordon Bateman posts a quick note on Langley Politics Dotcom that the Valley Transit Advisory Committee (VALTAC) has finally “come around” to the idea of creating a 200th Street transit line. “Whether it connects to the old Interurban line to get through Surrey… or down the Fraser Highway… at least they are seeing the value of serving 200th Street.” A bonus would be to take the line over the Golden Ears Bridge.



Our blogger notes in his post that “200th Street is the major traffic artery in Langley… carrying tens of thousands of cars back and forth.” The traffic will increase once the Golden Ears Bridge opens in 2009, and will “continue to grow as higher density is put in along 200th itself.” The transit needs to happen now, whatever technology (rail/streetcars/etc) works best.

About VanouverIAM

VancouverIAM is part of a groundbreaking network of city-focused blog aggregation, user generated media and social networking websites currently rolling out across North America. Each IAM website filters and organizes blog content as well as offering video upload capabilities, social networking, blog authoring, favourites lists and rumours. The IAM Network is a division of SoMedia Networks Inc which also operates Inveslogic.com, Greenedia.com, Healthedia.com and Blabaloo.com. For more information or to register an account, visit VancouverIAM.com.