Water Conservation
Eco monitoring plan a non-plan says Sierra Club Canada
The 'environmental monitoring' plan for the Tar Sands announced today by the federal government is actually a non-plan says Sierra Club Canada. Delay, delay, delay would be a more apt assessment of the federal government’s announcement.
Monitoring is fine but the real question is limiting pollution and addressing climate change. Sierra Club Canada has no confidence the federal and Alberta governments will actually do that. There is a long history of allowing the oil companies to do what they want.
"We want a real plan that limits pollution and addresses climate change," said Sierra Club Canada's Executive Director John Bennett. "Unfortunately, this plan is about public relations."
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Greening Canada’s game: Manitoba looks at recycling shower water for ice rinks
Manitoba hockey players, figure skaters and curlers could soon be among the first in Canada to play on ice made from recycled shower water.
The province is looking at a pilot project that would see the Winnipeg arena where Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Toews played hockey as a child convert its shampoo and sweat-laced waste water into ice for five of its skating rinks.
If the project is successful, the province would like to expand the concept to include all Manitoba ice skating — and even curling — rinks. Water Stewardship Minister Christine Melnick said Manitoba is the first province to look at recycling so-called grey water this way.... Read more »
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Action H2O Forum - results report
On May 26th2011, Sierra Club Ontario hosted the Action H2O Forum, a day long workshop to discuss water policy, public outreach and communications, and collaborative action. The Forum was attended by over 25 representatives of environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs) that are actively working on Great Lakes and water-related issues in Ontario.
The overriding purpose of the Forum was:
To engage ENGO leaders in identifying strategies for collaborative action to enhance water policy and water resource management in Ontario.
The Forum focused on three key themes:
1. Influencing government policies;
2. Collaboration between ENGOs; and
3. Communication with mass media.
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Groups protest proposed environment spending cuts
A number of organizations are warning that proposed cuts by the federal government to environment-related spending will have a detrimental effect on the country's freshwater.
"The departure of dozens of scientists and technicians could hamper Canada's ability to protect our water supplies across the country," reads an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper that was posted on the website of the Council of Canadians.
The letter, signed by nearly 50 organizations, including the Council of Canadians, Sierra Club Canada and Canadian Union of Public Employees, cited $1.6 billion in overall cuts related to the environment, $222 million in reductions specifically at Environment Canada and the elimination of 1,211 jobs.
The letter's numbers appear to be based on proposed cuts released from the Treasury Board earlier this year before the recent federal election and budget.... Read more »
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Mixed results for Calgary in recent green city survey
Calgary is getting top marks for its water conservation, but a failing grade for air pollution.
According to the Siemens' Green Cities Index, Calgarians consume 429 litres of water per person, per day.
That is well below the average of 587 litres.
However, when it comes to nitrogen oxide emissions, Calgarians pump out more than 50 kilograms per person each year; twice the index average.
Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada John Bennett says he's not surprised that Calgary is doing a great job managing water use because local politicians realize it's a resource that is dwindling.
Bennett says the survey also shows Calgary's love affair with the automobile.
He says we can rein in their air-polluting ways by stopping urban sprawl and improving public transit.
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