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As previously mentioned, when I was a child, I developed a strong affinity for the
plants and animals to be found all around us. My interest in nature continues today,
although lately I have not managed to find as much time as I would like to day hike into
the local wild areas to be found all around the Greater Victoria region.
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[Rant Mode ON] My love of nature grew naturally out of my
childhood experiences, and I became one of the junior members of SPEC - a local
environmental group formed in the 1960's by a New Zealander named Kurt Horn. We used to go
down to the Crofton pulp mill's pumping station, located on the Cowichan River, and
estimate the numbers of salmon fry being sucked into their powerful pumps. Then we would
go down to the mills settling ponds, and count the dead fry. We used to call up the mill
manager at 3 o'clock in the morning, and remind him of just how much pollution his mill
was dumping into Crofton Bay. The mill dumped pollution at night, in order to fool the
government inspectors. The present-day environmental movement bears no resemblance
to the early beginnings of those groups. Today, they are highly organized, professionally
run foundations, with slick media relations managers, and professional fund raisers. They
have lost their way. [Rant Mode OFF]
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The Capital Regional District runs a superb regional park system in this area. The parks
present a wide variety of flora, fauna, and micro-climates to those who walk and hike the
parks. I have systematically experienced each park in the region, and have taken my camera
along to record the variety to be found in each. One of these days, I'll put those photos
online...
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