Canada

Pagan interfaith on Cape Breton Island

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SYDNEY, Nova Scotia – On the east coast of Canada, looking out across the Atlantic Ocean, is Cape Breton Island, the northeastern portion of the province of Nova Scotia. This island’s only connection to the mainland is a 1,385 metre (4,500-foot) long causeway across the Strait of Canso. On this rocky, picturesque outpost of Canada is a population of slightly more than 147,000 people, mostly in the urban area of Sydney. The Mi’kmaq are the indigenous people of the land, and were joined first by French settlers in the seventeenth century. English settlers followed, bringing the large and hugely influential Gaelic-speaking population.

Book Reviews

Book Review: Seasons of the Sacred Earth by Cliff Seruntine

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In 2005, Richard Louv introduced an emerging theory that many of our modern children’s ills – obesity, depression, behavioral problems – are caused by their lack of interaction with nature. In his book Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, he brought together research and information from several sources to support the idea that reconnecting with nature was the antidote for many of these struggles. His work was inspirational and influential in several ways including the founding of the Children and Nature Network, an organization with a vision of creating a world “where every child can play, learn and grow in nature.” This is a stark contrast to the reports of children who spend endless hours inside watching television and playing video games. Increasing numbers of people, either out of support for the environment, concerns over rising food costs, or the desire to feed their families higher quality foods, are creating urban and suburban gardens and (re)learning how to preserve food, brew beer, make cheese, and raise chickens. Other people, including many who have been inspired by Louv’s work, are doing so for the healing that nature provides.