Canada is killing aquatic life

I found some interesting news yesterday. Turns out that Canada will not support a UN mortatorium on bottom trawling. They are one of the few countries who refuse to sign.

Some countries that are on board? USA, Australia, France, Germany.

So it's not like all the cool kids aren't doing it...in fact all the cool kids DID do it...but Canada is apparently TOO COOL to save marine life..

For those are you who don't know what bottom trawling is




It is essentially the clear cutting of the ocean floor. Not only is the habitat left completely stripped and void of coral and other marine life (thereby preventing any OTHER life from returning to the area) The nets capture everything. So while they might be trawling for Red Snapper, they will also catch sea turtles, anemones, crabs, shrimp, sea cucumbers. EVERYTHNG that is down there will end up in the net.

Once the net is brought up on the boat, only the fish (or whatever is being hunted) will be kept. Resulting in a total waste of life for all the animals caught and not wanted.


Article on bottom trawling



I find it unbelievable that Canada is still on board with this dangerous and deadly practice. There are so many different species of aquatic plants and animals that are being needlessly destroyed.


What can you do?


First and foremost write to your MP. That's what they are there for.


Second. Buy/eat sustainable fish. If you aren't buying the products created from bottom trawling then you aren't supporting those companies. How can you find out? It's SO easy!


Oceanwise has a comprehensive list of sustainable choices, and for those living on the West Coast, a list of sustainable restaurants.


There's also a brand new app for the iPhone/iPod. Visit the app store and search for the Oceanwise app.

Time for another!

My Favourite things Monday!

Today's Monday is extra tired...which isn't good because my nap is delayed for an hour this morning...So let's all enjoy some happy!

Cats • Cookies • Bean bag chairs • iPods • The snooze button • Sunny days!

• Mirage bars (way better than Aero) • Cycling • Reading • Knitting! • Boots

• MEC • Spa days • Tea • Curling • Stretching • Mexico

Man I'm tired. I had a bad run yesterday and a bad sleep also. So here's hoping the week shapes up better!!

Less than a month...

and I'm almost at 5k! How awesome is that.

Yesterday I had a great run on the seawall. And if I hadn't needed to go shower to go to work, I know I could have kept going to hit 5k. I'm so thrilled...I definitely didn't think it would only take a month to get back to running 5k...Ok so I only ran 4.25 BUT that's SO close...and it's a new record for me in the 4k! Which means my 5k must be faster too! yipeee! I'll try to run it this week. Last week was rough for running...LOTS of rain. So I was at the gym mostly doing Zumba and spin class. Cross training really helps

If you follow my Sportstracker, some times you won't see a run on there. That's because I've had to use a treadmill. :( If it's REALLY pouring I don't want to run in that. I hate using a treadmill...but since it tends to rain for days on end here, I don't always have a choice.

My hips are a little tight today. I need to get back to doing yoga right after....I never allow myself enough time. I have to start running earlier in the day. But I feel so great. Between spin, yoga, Zumba, running, and cycling, I'm just a MACHINE.

I tried Zumba for the first time on Tuesday and it is SO FUN. I'm sad I waited so long to try it...and probably won't get to again :( At my gym it's an extra fee to take some specialty classes and Zumba is one of them...I can either pay the fee...or pay my membership to get back into swimming. So I think I'm going to go with the swimming, which is a bummer because I love spin class, Zumba, and some of the other programs. But it starts to get pricey! Bummmer.

My Favourite Things Monday!

It's the first of many of these posts! Surprisingly I have a lot of things I like.


First, I've changed the look of the blog. It's a little brighter. I was feeling Limey. ;)


Let's begin!

•Muffin monday! •My jobs (so amazing. I'm very lucky) • Rainboots! • Sleeping • Green tea with orange • My nonna blanket • Jalapeno chips • Hockey • Hamsters • Dance Dance Revolution • Harry Potter • Tekken • The Chronicles of Narnia • Comic Sans MS (there! I said it!) • Days of our Lives • Slippers • Clone High

PUGS

That's all for today...I can't list ALL my favourite things...I have a lot of Monday's to get through.

I'll have a running post up later this week ☺

New theme

I find it really hard to see good things in this world. Especially on a day like yesterday. I think I met every variation of a jerk this planet has to offer....it's just so irritating that these people think that their behaviour is acceptable! Who raised them!? Who is friends with this people? Grrr.

But! In an effort to reign in my blatant hatred for most things in existence (see my Twitter) I'm starting a new regular post.

Every Monday (which we all know is the poindexter of the week) I'll be posting "My Favourite Things Mondays" in which I will share things that make me happy and fun and awesome :D

It's an exciting prospect...especially because Monday morning at 4 am is my least favourite time...so thinking about things I love should make it easier :)

Run RUN!

Well last week was certainly interesting for running...considering it was calling for snow! I ran on Wednesday I think, and towards the end of my run little flakes were falling! I have a running touque...I never thought that would happen...I've gone to the dark side!

This week was much better. It's not as cold so I'm able to run along the water. On cold windy days I run through the neighbourhood away from the ocean so I'm much warmer. Downside (or maybe upside) there are several hills through out the neighbourhood. Last year I avoided hills like the plague. But now I can see how they really help me train.

I'm still running 3 times a week. Yippee! Trying to follow the running plan my father-in-law gave me. It's a little lofty for me yet, but I'll do it!

Yesterday I ran along the seawall to almost David Lam Park and back and it felt amazing. I really chalk this up to running hills for the past couple weeks, and then running flat. I almost did 4 k!! I'm even more confident now that I'll be able to run 10k by April...still not sure about a half-marathon by June though...it seems like SUCH a long distance!

I'm officially registered for both the TC10k and the Sun Run! No turning back now!

Also, I got this AMAZING app for my cell phone. It's called Sports Tracker, and using the GPS on my phone it tracks me, so I know exactly how far I've run, where I ran, how long it took, my pace and so on. SO AMAZING (and it's not just for running either!) I'm in love with it. So check out where I've been! Click The Link

I didn't eat the best in the last week...I really want to have more veggies for eating in the house...the problem I find with that is, when I'm cold, I definitely don't want to eat cold food...problem is the healthy stuff is cold...the warm stuff is all the carbs in the cupboard. Yar. I was eating a lot of trail mix the past week...but I find all the nuts make me feel sluggish and all warbly. I should just stick to almonds. I'm also back on having green tea first thing in the AM. Keeps me awake at work, and it's good for you. I find coffee makes me sick, and I had a really bad caffine problem I kicked a few years ago (see: severe withdrawl symptoms) and I really don't want to become dependant on it again. Sure Green Tea has caffeine too...but I don't feel the same way when I drink tea vs coffee... What I can't wait for is the summer..Green Tea lemonade with matcha...so. amazing. Matcha is so great for you. And so tasty. I used to do the Matcha Frappucino...but that's good for nothing! So I got hooked on the lemonades and occasionally with have a straight up Matcha Tea. It's also fantastic in smoothies, which I also hope to get back on making in the spring. yum yum!! With dessert tofu they are SO amazing. Banana and coconut were my faves.

RUN!

So I've started running again. I'm signed up for two runs in 2011. The Vancouver Sun Run and the TC10K. Both were runs I wanted to do last year but wasn't at that level when I thought about it. But now I have nearly 5 months to train. NO excuses! So I will also keep a little blog about it. Keep myself accountable to all of you!

So this week was tough! I was SO SORE after I went for my first run since October. Not very far, 5min x 3. But I was thrilled to be able to run at all!! I thought I would be back to square one since it had been so long. So the run was great!...the next day was awful. My back was so sore...lots of heat and massages for a couple days. It's since loosened up and hasn't given me any trouble after my other runs!

I ran in the pouring rain the other day. I headed out for a quick one when the rain had stopped, but halfway...boom. So I toughed it out. I'm going to have to get used to that if I'm training for the next few months! I really hate using treadmills. That day was 7min x2 and a hill or two!

Today was chilly! I realized that I've gone to the dark side if I have a running touque!! But it feels good. Not cold but chilly makes me feel invigorated. It takes longer for my muscles to warm up though. So I took it easy. 7min x2 again with one mini hill. Slowly working my way back to 10 and 1's.

I know I can rock these 10Ks. I'm also doing a lot of yoga to keep me stretched and limber. I think this will make a big difference and I find I get A LOT of tightness in my hips, and my calfs and ankles are constantly tight (My physiotherapists won't let me hear the end of it). I've also got new tunes on my shuffle, and I'm getting use out of that running jacket I earned with my 5k last year. My heel finally doesn't hurt either! So really everything is in my favour! I just have to keep up the training...so webland. Don't let me slack!! I'm going to be with the Global team for the Sun Run, and a co-worker lives a block away from me, so we can motivate each other on the rough days, but the TC10k is all me! I'm even travelling for it! :O

Soon I'll be back to all my running glory!

Vancouver running, rained of course