November 2006 E-news

iPod = iWaste…
Ever think about where your computer came from – how, where, who made it? Check out Greenpeace’s Green My Apple campaign and take action to make the greener wish come true (and while you’re there, take a look at their TV commercials. Goooood stuff that’ll make you laugh yourself senseless).

The Clean Air Act – Just A Bunch of Hot Air???
Canada contains 0.5% of the world’s population but we contribute 2% of the world’s greenhouse gases. That’s a lot! Under the Kyoto Protocol, Canada committed to reducing our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We said we would lower our 1990 levels by 6%. Instead, we’ve now raised our emissions by 24%! Not good!

The Clean Air Act put forth by the Conservative government to solve this problem has been met with strong opinions on both fronts. The Act’s main points are:

• to set national targets for smog and ozone levels by 2025;
• and to reduce our emissions between 45 and 60% from 2003 levels by 2050 – over 45 years away!

It doesn’t mention the Kyoto Protocol. Within the next year Canada will take on vehicle emission standards of the U.S. (the NUMBER ONE contributor to emissions) and over the next three years, discuss and set something they call “intensity based” targets for reducing GHG emissions rather than total emission targets.

The Liberal government admittedly disregarded their promise to ratify the Kyoto protocol, so to many people this new Clean Air Act is a step in the right direction. Some consider that Act a step toward environmental sustainability compared to the One Ton Challenge, another now-cancelled program set forth by the previous government which lots of people consider a total flop. But there’re many who feel the Act is still not good enough.

Dale Marshall, a representative of the David Suzuki Foundation’s said, “Instead of acting to cut pollution, the government is offering hollow rhetoric* as a smokescreen for ignoring existing laws that could make a real difference if they were enforced. It’s an elaborate framework for procrastination.”
* Rhetoric: the undue use of exaggeration

What do you think? It’s important to form your own opinions on this. Researching any issue is important. You can check out the government’s proposed Clean Air Act at www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur/.

For opposing opinions, check out the Suzuki Foundation’s site, or WWF’s Save our Climate website.

Take Action
If you agree, ask the government to keep Canada’s commitments to the Kyoto Protocol and demand cuts in fossil fuel pollution… go here to sign the World Wildlife Fund’s petition.

How I Took Over the School (or… I Was A Summer TV Star) by Yvonne

“So… what did you do this summer?”
“I filmed a T.V. show in Port Hope.”
*gasp* “YOU were on T.V?!!!”

Indeed I was. My name is Yvonne Su and this January I will be on TV. It is a TVO show called “Skool’ed”. The concept of the show is that students and teachers switch places and now kids rule the school. You guessed it, I was one of the kids who got to become a teacher and teach whatever I wanted. Ten teachers became students of five students who became teachers. What did I teach? World issues was my subject. It is my passion, my forte. I had been an activist and hardcore tree hugger the second I was old enough to know that the world is not a pretty place and that many people don’t live happily ever after, or even live happily at all. I saw this opportunity to reach out and inform the youth of the issues that exist and the actions they can take to better our world.

I also had the opportunity to inspire some of my adult know it all students. It was amazing to be able to have such an influence and impact on others. I was able to put forth my energy and plant seeds of sustainability in the minds of my ‘students’ and the minds of many of the children who will be watching the show. This was truly an inspiring and uplifting experience I will never forget; the friends I made, the actions I accomplished, the change that I have started. This all shows that change starts with one person.

An old Chinese proverb explains: “To help yourself is to save yourself; to help others is to save lives”. So all you hopeful hooligans and sustain-a-bots out there, start making a difference in yourself, your school or your community and I might be the one watching you on the telly.

Take Action
What’s with media – where’s it coming from, who’s watching, who’s making it? Check out Adbusters to learn more and get yourself in the loop…

ecoMentors Update
The ecoMentors Program has been growing, with tons of stuff that happened in the spring and summer of 2006. The website has a new look with lots of new features. New stuff includes:

• A collection of over 40 curriculum-linked and topic-specific environmental education lesson plans for both ecoMentors and elementary school teachers to use.
• There is also a new online Photo Gallery to showcase some of the great work ecoMentors are doing.
• ecoMentors will also be receiving an Earth Day Canada reward package for completing four or more classroom visits. Our reward package is growing bigger everyday to recognize the efforts of hardworking ecoMentors!

To learn more about ecoMentors – especially if you want to become an ecoMentor or arrange for a training session in the Toronto area - please contact Jason Kun, Program Manager, at ecomentors@earthday.ca or call (416) 599-1991 ext. 103.

Youth Driven! Environmental Leadership Program
The Pembina Institute has always had a dream of developing a youth driven environmental leadership program, for youth ages 16 to 24 in Western Canada. Now, the research phase of the leadership program is done, and they know what youth want and need to become tomorrow's leaders.

What have youth said so far? Youth expressed the need for education that is experiential (i.e. real!), action-oriented, community-based, offers choice and follow-up programming, that is fun, and that demonstrates ecological sustainability and social equity. Wow!

Now, how will they make it happen? With the help of a Green Street grant, they interviewed youth to learn more about existing youth leadership education programs in Canada and abroad, and to identify gaps and opportunities. A new Youth Advisory Group will also help Pembina plan future steps and direction. They’re now starting to create a vision plan, and are looking to start up a pilot program for Canadian youth in 2007.

Sound like something you’d like to be involved in? To learn more about the Youth Environmental Leadership Program, contact Kathy Worobec at kathyw@pembina.org. To learn more about the Pembina Institute, go to their website.

Environmental Defence isn’t for wusses... Website Review by Ula Burns

While doing some research for a school project I came across a website called www.environmentaldefense.ca. At the time I was looking for information on toxins located in the average home, but I found the website to be so informative on a variety of other environmental topics that I now visit it frequently merely for interests sake.

Environmental Defense is a non-profit organization seeking to protect the environment and human health. The website offers interesting relevant information about various topics such as the campaign to save Lake Simcoe in Ontario, and the Blue Flag initiative on Canadian beaches. Check out the website – it’s excellent,providing many ways to learn about and get involved in environmental initiatives within your community.

Join an Otesha Cycling Tour and Change your World!
Looking for an opportunity to live sustainably in a mobile community, volunteer, explore Canada, gain leadership and public speaking skills, and actually make a real difference in the world, all from the seat of your bicycle?

Applications are now being accepted for The Otesha Project’s summer 2007 sustainable, educational, and life-altering bike tours. This coming spring, summer and fall over 80 young cyclists will transform Canada, delivering inspiring and informing theatrical presentations to schools, camps and communities across Canada encouraging people to take action for a more socially just and environmentally sustainable future.

The Otesha Project uses theatre to mobilize young people to create local and global change through their daily consumer choices. Since 2003, Otesha has run 5 fantabulous bike tours, and this year they’re running 5 more!

An information kit can be found at www.otesha.ca/on+two+wheels. Applications are accepted until all positions are filled. You can email them at applications@otesha.ca or reach them by phone at 613-237-6065. Apply now – be a part of the change!

They have regular bike events in the Vancouver area – check out their basic and all-girl bike mechanic workshops, bike radio, mass bike rides and other great stuff. Their calendar (add it to your bookmarks) is at calendar.best.bc.ca/month.php#.

Sound Your Voice - Youth Leadership Focus Groups
If you’re between the ages of 16-24 and have ever been involved in running or leading a group – like an advisory committee, a steering committee, a local charity, a non-profit project – your ideas and experience are needed. Folks at the Heartwood Centre and Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia are putting together cross-Canada focus groups of youth who know what it’s like to be involved in making things happen. The information from the focus groups will be taken and put together into a video and guide for other groups on how to involve youth in leadership roles, and how to change the ways organizations view youth leadership.

The study involves an online questionnaire (about 15 minutes long) and focus group meetings in towns across the country. Meetings are being held in:

• Vancouver - Nov. 7 & 8
• Ottawa/Gatineau - Nov. 10 & 12
• Montreal - Nov. 13 & 14

Interested? Click here to read the info sheet to learn more. If you’re interested, contact Saskia Tait at saskia@heartwood.ns.ca or go to their website.