Peninsula News Review, May 28, 2020

Victoria’s latest little free library comes with its own benches, lighting

A small red and white book box not far from its namesake in Victoria marks the 300th little free library in the region.
 

The ‘Moss Rock’s Little Library’ was installed at the corner of May and Joseph streets on May 23. Built by Jim Pungente, this particular library comes with its own reading benches and two solar-powered lights to help people browse the selections.

The Friendly Atheist, May 25, 2020

BC Humanists Call for Land Acknowledgment to “Decolonize Legislative Prayers”

In an effort to make the standing orders still more inclusive and reflective of the reality of Canadian society, the BCHA has released a new report analyzing representation of British Columbia’s Indigenous people in the Legislature’s traditional prayers.

Radio Victoria, May 7, 2020

Pourquoi tant de prières à l’Assemblée législative ? avec Dr Teale Phelps Bondaroff

Un rapport de l’Association BC Humanist nous offre un regard détaillé sur les prières qui ont été prononcées à l’Assemblée législative de la Colombie-Britannique depuis 2003 jusqu’en 2019.

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Dr Teale Phelps Bondaroff, coordinateur de recherche pour BC Humanist était au micro de Bonjour Victoria !, pour nous en parler.

Vogue Arabia, April 23, 2020

This is What is Happening to Our Disposed Masks and Gloves

“The responsibility falls on everyone to step up and be responsible with plastics and our oceans. At an individual level, this includes reducing plastic consumption as much as possible, especially when it comes to unnecessary single use items, and calling on governments and companies to take efforts to reduce plastic consumption. The World Health Organization recommends that masks be carefully removed and disposed of in a closed bin, but additional local procedures may be in place, and should be followed.”

Victoria News, April 22, 2020

Little libraries stock chalk across Greater Victoria to spread positive messages

Sidewalk chalk is in stock at little libraries across the region as the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network launches its ‘Chalk Your Block’ initiative.

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The Greater Victoria Placemaking Network encourages residents of all ages to use the chalk to add inspiring images, phrases, poems, games, community knowledge or whatever helps connect residents with their neighbours.

Radio Victoria, April 20, 2020

Pollution marine avec Dr Teale Phelps Bondaroff

Lors de cette entrevue, Dr Phelps Bondaroff, nous apprend que plus de 70 masques ont récemment été trouvés, sur moins de 100 mètres de distance, sur une plage de Hong Kong. À la question, « Est-ce que cela pourrait arriver sur nos plages ? » notre invité répond « J’espère que non mais on ne sait jamais, le plastique peut voyager des milliers de kilomètres. »

CFAX1070, April 16, 2020

Chalk your block encourages safe connection

I spoke about the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network's #ChalkYourBlockYYJ project, which encourages residents of all ages to use sidewalk chalk to add inspiring images, phrases, poems, games, community knowledge or whatever helps connect neighbour to neighbour, and is distributing free sidewalk chalk across the city through little free libraries.

Times Colonist, April 14, 2020

Ocean advocate raises alarm as masks wash up on beaches

The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in the widespread use of face masks in South East Asia, some of which have been improperly discarded, says Teale Phelps Bondaroff, director of research for OceansAsia, which investigates wildlife crimes with the aim of bringing those who destroy and pollute marine ecosystems to justice. “It really highlights the fact we are treating our oceans like garbage dumps.”

Saanich News, March 18, 2020

Single-use surgical masks pile up on Hong Kong beaches after COVID-19 outbreak

The increased number of discarded masks on the beaches “underscores the weaknesses in the waste management supply chain,” Phelps Bondaroff said.

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He’s hopeful that this kind of research helps to bring about improvements to waste management globally.

Reuters, March 12, 2020

Discarded coronavirus masks clutter Hong Kong's beaches, trails

"We only have had masks for the last six to eight weeks, in a massive volume ... we are now seeing the effect on the environment," said Gary Stokes, founder of the environmental group Oceans Asia.
 

Stokes cited the example of Hong Kong's isolated and uninhabited Soko islands, south of its international airport.

CTV News, February 13, 2020

New 'Stop for me' project aims to protect pedestrians at Victoria intersections

One of the most common mistakes drivers make is not identifying what is a crosswalk, and who has the right of way. One Victoria-area group wants to change that.

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The Greater Victoria Placemaking Network’s (GVPN) newest initiative is a road safety sign project reminding drivers to yield at all crosswalks. The "Stop for Me" project is a grassroots effort to improve road safety for pedestrians and motorists.

Saanich News, February 13, 2020

Saanich man pitches road safety initiative to raise awareness of unmarked crosswalks

The Greater Victoria Placemaking Network’s (GVPN) newest initiative is a road safety signage project reminding drivers to yield at all crosswalks.

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“All intersections are crosswalks,” said Saanich-based researcher and GVPN board member Teale Phelps Bondaroff.

Victoria News, January 29, 2020

Victoria becomes first municipality to endorse campaign for provincially-funded contraception

In a committee of the whole meeting on Jan. 23, Couns. Sarah Potts and Jeremy Loveday presented council with a motion to support AccessBC, a Saanich-based campaign calling on the provincial government to include provisions for free prescription birth control for all residents in the 2020 provincial budget.

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​Council passed the motion unanimously and will now call on the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities to demonstrate support for the campaign as well.

Victoria News, January 11, 2020

Saanich resident pushes for colourful road murals, cites traffic-calming benefits

Colourful road murals may make an appearance on Saanich streets in 2020. Through the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network, Saanich resident and researcher Teale Phelps Bondaroff has been working to introduce artwork to the surface of roads as a way to calm traffic, beautify the District, highlight local artists and create community.

CTV News, December 18, 2019

Victoria cycling group working to measure air, noise pollution

According to Burger, air and noise pollution collected on street level has shown that separated bike lanes are a valuable resource to cyclists, not only as a safety measure, but also because it provides a barrier from the pollutions that vehicles emit, including exhaust and tire dust. The closer someone is to the source of an air pollutant, like an exhaust pipe, the worse it is for the health of that person. 

Victoria News, November 22, 2019

Resident pushes for electric in Saanich’s leaf blower replacement plan

The District of Saanich owns 83 leaf blowers and Teale Phelps Bondaroff, the Saanich resident pushing for a gas-powered leaf blower ban, wants them replaced with electric models by 2025.

Phelps Bondaroff feels the District could phase out gas-powered models as they expire and replace them with greener models that produce less noise and less pollution.

Victoria News, July 15, 2019

Saanich resident helps take a bite out of global shark fin trade

A Saanich resident has played a major role in flagging a large shipment of shark fins. Teale Phelps Bondaroff is the co-founder of OceansAsia, a conservation group which earlier this year alerted media to bags of shark fin being unloaded in Hong Kong.

Reuters, July 10, 2019

Massive shark fin haul into Hong Kong dodges global shipping bans

Two global shipping firms that have vowed not to transport shark fin products inadvertently moved a 40-foot container of the controversial delicacy from Nicaragua to Hong Kong this year, both companies told Reuters....

The shipment arrived in Hong Kong in April and was first flagged to Reuters by conservation group OceansAsia, which saw bags of shark fin being unloaded on a road in the city’s industrial western district.