The CBC Session

On July 17, I was a guest on CBC Radio One’s “Sounds Like Canada,” a national program. It was a great interview; host Rick Cluff and I had lots of fun. Give it a listen.

Sounds Like Canada, Streaming MP3 file, [14.7 MB, 16 minutes].

More E-Waste for WALL-E

Wow, with the brilliant and delightfully subversive WALL-E , Steve Jobs almost redeems himself for Cars, his studio’s 2006 salute to stock-car racing and the planet-frying glory of internal combustion.

I took Duncan, my four-year-old to see this flick this afternoon (his review: "GREAT!"). I was impressed with the film’s subtle subversiveness; Buy N Large, the big-box megacorporation that ushers in the future abandonment of our completely trashed planet, is an obvious play on Wal-Mart. The humans have devolved into slurpee-sucking blobs who ride around in hoverchairs, obeying endless Buy N Large come-ons that feel a little creepily close to home: "We have everything that will make you happy!"

The turning point of WALL-E echoes an idea I’ve been playing with for months: We will only each begin to reclaim our future if we can find a way to take ourselves off "autopilot." Indeed, this is exactly what the obese Captain B. McCrea does in the nail-biting climax of the movie.

WALL-E ’s green message is wrapped in a kind of goofy satire–palatable enough for the kids in Omaha, but cutting pretty damn close to the bone, given that many Disney Cruise Lines customers are, in fact, recliner-cradled hunks of lard who slurp sugar drinks through a straw and bark orders for shade umbrellas all day long.

Ironic downer footnote: After buying our tickets, the box-office clerk gave us a crappy vinyl WALL-E LCD wristwatch and a collection of plastic cards pimping another upcoming Disney flick (see above). The watch is a useless piece of crap. Disney’s marketing czars–one can only hope they didn’t see the film– doubtless ordered up zillions of the things, and just about every one of ‘em will be in the landfills within six months.

Either that, or some version of WALL-E will one day be sweeping them up and crushing them into tidy stackable cubes as we head for the waiting rocketships…

Have an Eco-Shed Weekend

It’s the gag kicker of the YouTube trailer, but it’s also true: You really can rent The Eco-Shed, the Bowen Island, B.C. building at the center of my forthcoming book ALMOST GREEN. We’re making the space available to overnight guests, and have already taken a few reservations.

Below, a peek at what awaits. Trip on over to The Eco-Shed’s dedicated site to get the full scoop.

Almost Green Storms YouTube

Here’s the first of what I hope will be several trailers for ALMOST GREEN. It’s called “Creative Financing,” and my pal Cam Hayduk produced it. Enjoy!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Happy Canada Day. I’m celebrating more than just my nation’s birthday today: The Eco-Shed is finished. There are towels on the shelves. There’s a pound of fresh-ground island-roasted coffee in a jar on the counter. It’s been almost two years, but my studio and guest house is pretty much ready for guests (and by the way, if you’d like to come spend a green weekend on spectacular Bowen Island, the relevant details are at Eco-Shed.ca).

Here in Canada, the book is printed and working its way to warehouses and the like in advance of its official August 22 launch. I have a copy in my hands, and the matte Naomi MacDougall cover is fantastic; it has a great tone, feels fun and intriguing. I’ll be reading in front of my first live audience at the opening night of the Write on Bowen festival here on the island, July 11.

Patience, my American friends; the U.S. edition is following close behind.

I have coverage of the book and the project cued up with Oprah at Home magazine—which shot the place last month—plus Outside, This Old House, and a slew of others. To keep the momentum rolling, later this week, my buddy Cam and I will begin shooting a series of YouTube trailers. We’re going to have some jolly good fun.

Finally, today’s the day British Columbians start paying a new Carbon Tax. Personal income taxes will be reduced across the board while gasoline, diesel, propane, and all other fossil fuels will cost a few cents more. It’s a bold step in the right direction.