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World Urban Forum III
 About 10,000 people came to the United
Nations – Habitat’s World Urban Forum (WUF) conference held in
Vancouver from June 19-23. About forty Sierra Club of Canada
(SCC) and Sierra Youth Coalition (SYC) active members from
across Canada were among them. Some of the youth participated
in the World Youth Forum, Amelia Clarke (Past President of
SCC) moderated the Environment Round Sector RoundTable, Faith
Shamonda (SYC) participated in the RoundTable, Eric Lorenz
(Lower Mainland Group Chair) hosted a party at his house one
night, Emily Menzies (SYC-BC) hosted a booth at the parallel
Earth: World Urban Festival, and many of us gathered at the
SCC/SYC meeting and environmental non-governmental
organizations reception during the WUF. It was a chance
for us to meet each other, network with others from around the
world, share success stories, and learn new ideas. Jim McNeil,
from the SCC Advisory Board was also involved. Having been
instrumental in bringing Habitat I to Vancouver 30 years ago,
which is where UN-Habitat was launched, he gave the keynote
speech at the Alumni reception. All in all, Sierra Club of
Canada, including SYC, had a very strong presence at this UN
event, and helped bring environment to the urban agenda.
For more information about WUF III see:
Faith Shamonda’s report - www.sierraclub.ca/national/postings/wuf-3.html
The IISD’s daily coverage of the meeting - www.iisd.ca/ymb/wuf3/
The UN-Habitat WUF site - www.unhabitat.org/categories.asp?catid=41
Take Action! Save Kyoto Petition
Recently, a new coalition launched a petition to put
pressure on Harper to honour Canada's Kyoto commitments. Since
then, 40,000 people have signed it and it's only the
beginning. Individuals are encouraged to sign the
petition at: www.sauvonskyoto.org/english.asp.
NATIONAL
Search for a new Executive Director has
begun
Sierra Club of Canada is seeking a dynamic and inspiring
leader to become its next Executive Director. The successful
candidate will combine a passion for the protection of the
environment with proven experience and skills in managing
diverse and successful not-for-profit organizations. See
www.sierraclub.ca for
description.
Mackenzie Wild Campaign
Work continues on Sierra Club's campaign to stop the
Mackenzie Gas Project -- a multi-billion dollar energy project
that would pump relatively clean natural gas through the
pristine Mackenzie Valley to Alberta's notorious Tar Sands. At
People and the Planet, our "Tar Nation" workshop on the MGP,
Climate Change and the Tar Sands was widely attended. On July
6, the Joint Review Panel holds one of its only scheduled
Alberta sessions. Prairie Chapter Director Lindsay Telfer will
be there to tell the Panel about adverse environmental
effects. Then it's back to the Northwest Territories in July
and August where Mackenzie Wild campaigner Rachel Plotkin and
Sierra Legal lawyer Paul Falvo will make presentations and
cross-examine Imperial Oil witnesses. For updates and to sign
the Mackenzie Wild Declaration, visit www.mackenziewild.ca.
ATLANTIC CANADA
CHAPTER
Solar Homes
Inventory Project
Solar Nova Scotia, with funding from the Nova Scotia
Department of Energy and the support of the Ecology Action
Centre, has embarked on a mission to update our existing
database of homes utilizing solar and other renewable energy
sources and raise awareness of these resources throughout Nova
Scotia. Our Solar Home Spotting Contest is simple: people who
see a sustainable/renewable energy installation in their
community simply need to say (with accuracy) where they have
seen such an installation.
Information will be available on our website to assist
people in identifying different types of equipment and
architecture used to harness renewable energy sources at www.solarns.ca/ship.php.
Entries will be drawn to win solar prizes; the contest runs
from June 21 to August 6, with prizes being awarded September
23.
Become a Word Warrior
We are asking people to please become a Word Warrior and
submit Letters to the Editor on environmental issues to the
provincial newspaper or to their local newspaper during this
provincial election. If you do submit a letter, please cc it
to nsen@web.ca so that we can
try and keep track what letters are submitted.
Daily News:
letterstoeditor@hfxnews.ca
Chronicle Herald: letters@herald.ca
Come to our
Annual General Meeting
Sierra Club of Canada - Atlantic Canada Chapter and the
Nova Scotia Environmental Network's Conference & Annual
General Meeting, Friday, July 28 to Sunday, July 30, 2006.
Shire Learning Centre Carlton, Yarmouth County.
Registration is now open on our website. www.sierraclub.ca/atlantic/aga06.htm
Take
Action! - Public Feedback Requested on White’s Point Quarry
and Marine Terminal on Digby Neck
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the White’s
Point Quarry & Marine Terminal has been released and we
are now in the period of the Public Review which will end on
August 4, 2006. If the quarry goes ahead, two million tonnes
of aggregate per year will be blasted, crushed and removed
from a very fragile peninsula, about 2 kilometres wide.
The area’s very healthy fishing and tourism industries could
be severely threatened by the noise, dust and quarry
traffic. This flies in the face of the idea of
eco-tourism and environmental protection. The cumulative
effect of the clearly intended, large and long-term operations
is a grave concern for the future. Should this proposed
undertaking be given the green light by our two governments,
and should the shipments to international destinations get
underway, we will have no recourse for appeal when our
environment and quality of life are undermined. You will
find more information at www.wpq-jointreview.ca
and www.savedigbyneck.org.
Please help us stop this
quarry project by sending in your
letters and comments to Ms. Debra Myles, Panel Manager before
August 4, 2006.
Debra Myles, Panel Manager
White’s Point Quarry &
Marine Terminal Project-Joint Review Panel
c/o Canadian
Environmental Assessment Agency
160 Elgin Street, Ottawa,
ON, K1A 0H3
Fax: 613-957-0941
e-mail: Comments@WPQ-JointReview.ca
BRITISH COLUMBIA
CHAPTER
Education Program Update -
Action Challenge
Projects!
This year the BC Chapter School
Program Team saw over 10,000 students in hundreds of
classrooms – no small feat! Specially designed to meet
the needs of both teachers and students, our on-class programs
are curriculum-linked, science-based, and centered on the
principle of hands-on learning. All programs undergo a
rigorous evaluation process, with input from both teachers and
students.
This year, each class that they visited
during their multi-visit presentations was left with an Action
Challenge – a chance to take what they learned during the
program and apply it in special projects in their classrooms,
homes and communities. You can read about the projects
we left with classrooms on our website at www.sierraclub.ca/bc/programs/education/students/greenstar/actionchallenges.html,
and many of the special Action Challenges from participating
classes are up on our website at www.sierraclub.ca/bc/programs/education/students/greenstar/schoolsinaction.html.
Vicky Husband Receives
Honorary Doctorate
  Cited for her tireless advocate of nature
conservation, education and cultural integrity in British
Columbia, Vicky Husband was also recognized for her work on
behalf of Sierra Club of Canada and its role in protecting
old-growth forests and endangered wildlife.
She has previously been awarded
the United Nations Environment Programs Global 500 Award, the
Order of Canada and the Order of British
Columbia.
Congratulations
Vicky!
Great Bear Rainforest: 24
new protected
areas
The BC government has finally
legislated the first set of 24 new protected areas in the
region in early May. The new protection areas are
designated as “conservancies,” a new designation under the
Park Act also passed in May. The new designation was developed
specifically to meet First Nations’ needs for cultural and
traditional uses in protection areas. First Nations have
long-standing concerns about the legal mechanism normally used
to designate parks (known as a Class A park designation)
because of its restrictions on their traditional
activities.
While meeting First Nations needs
was the main objective in developing the new designation, the
BC Chapter also welcomed the broader “purpose” of the
conservancies. A conservancy is public land set aside for the
protection and maintenance of its biological diversity,
natural environments and recreation values, as well as the
preservation and maintenance of First Nations’ social,
ceremonial and cultural uses. The purpose of the current Class
A park designation is primarily recreation
focused.
To receive the
entire article email ana@sierraclub.bc.ca,
Communications Coordinator, Sierra Club of Canada BC
Chapter.
ONTARIO
CHAPTER
Volunteers needed
in Toronto!
The Ontario Chapter is
gearing up for several environmental campaign actions in and
around the city of Toronto. We need your help as
volunteers to ensure their success.
Ontario
Electricity Campaign
Dalton McGuinty needs to
be constantly reminded of his nuclear mistake(dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org).
You can help by writing the Premier, Energy Minister Dwight
Duncan, and Environment Minister Laurel
Broten.
Address and contact
information is available at olaap.ontla.on.ca/mpp/daIndex.do?locale=en
If you live in or
near the Toronto provincial riding of Parkdale – High Park
where there will soon be a by-election, we need your
help to speak against the disastrous electricity future
Premier McGuinty is planning. Contact ontariochapter@sierraclub.ca
for more info on this opportunity.
Even though the province
is only opening its electricity plan to public comment after
its passed legislation to exempt it from an environmental
assessment, it is important to have your opposition
heard.
The government has now
posted its exemption regulation on the Environmental Bill of
Rights for comment (www.ene.gov.on.ca/envregistry/028017ex.htm).
Car Free Day in
Toronto
Sierra Club of Canada's
Ontario Chapter and the City of Toronto are working together
to present Toronto's first major, downtown, weekday, Car Free
Day signature event!
We need lots of help to
ensure this event runs smoothly. If you can help and
volunteer a few hours on Sept.22 please let us know at ontariochapter@sierraclub.ca.
On Friday September 22nd,
from 10:00am- 3:00pm, Yonge Street from Shuter to
Dundas
will be closed to cars and open to those interested in
exploring the other mobility options available to
Torontonians! This stretch of Canada's longest street,
and Dundas Square will be THE place to be for pedestrians,
cyclists, transit riders, walkers, strollers, and
roller-bladers.
There will
be:
- Musicians and bands,
dancers, bike stunt performers and other
entertainment,
- Local celebrities,
speakers and the reading of a Toronto Car Free Day
proclamation, &
- Informative
environmental displays, interactive programs, encouragement
and tips on how to be more car free!
Toronto Car Free Day 2006
Goals
- To encourage people to
rediscover their local community and open our streets to
greater public use and access.
- To educate individuals
on the issues of air pollution, climate change, personal
stress, health, and public safety as they relate to an over
dependence on the private automobile.
- To help reduce traffic
congestion, automobile-related accidents and injuries, smog,
and greenhouse gas emissions.
- To emphasize the need
for more and better public transit.
- To highlight the
public health benefits of alternative modes of
transportation – active modes of transportation like
walking, cycling, and rollerblading allow individuals to get
more exercise and stay healthy.
- To increase
interaction among community members and neighbourhoods in
the space usually reserved for cars.
Keep an eye on www.carfreeday.ca for
more details as they develop.
PRAIRIE
CHAPTER
Energy
Solutions
Building the New
West
This summer our Energy Solutions campaign
is kicking in to high gear with the launch of our "Building
the New West,"  campaign for clean
energy solutions in Alberta. With Alberta now producing nearly
40% of Canada's green house gas emissions, we at the Prairie
Chapter (along with the Toxics Watch Society of Alberta) are
proposing a new direction for energy in the province.
Check www.sierraclub.ca/prairie/
for regular releases on elements of sustainable energy
solutions for the province of
Alberta.
Taking Action in the
Prairies
The early spring was a busy one in our
offices with efforts turning towards climate change given the
Alberta leadership in the current federal Conservative
governments directions. Check out the Prairie Chapter website
soon for campaign and action updates.
(www.sierraclub.ca/prairie/)
Water in the
Prairies
The prairie region is one that will be
most adversely impacted by drought in Canada. According to a
recent report by Dr. David Schindler et al entitled "An
Impending Water Crisis in Canada's Western Prairie Provinces,"
the prairie region is expected to experience an unprecedented
drought. Working to understand the major impacts and ensure
actions to mitigate or reverse the trends are currently being
sought. We are currently in the development phase of this
initiative, if you want to help, please contact Lindsay at lindsay@sierraclub.ca.
Healthy
Communities
School Pool
With the addition
of two summer students, the School Pool program has received a
boost to end the school year with a boom? Schools are
registered and the summer will now turn to planning for
September's School Pool Challenge.? For more information check
out www.schoolpool.ca.
Imagine Calgary
The City of
Calgary announced the results of the Imagine Calgary process
this past week at the World Urban Forum and the Cities Plus
conference. The Chinook Group has been very heavily involved
in this journey of developing a 100-year vision for
sustainability in Calgary. The starting points were The
Melbourne Principles and Gro Harlem Brundtland's definition
for sustainability. As such, we, Sierra Club of Canada –
Chinook Group, have signed on as founding partners and signed
the Imagine Calgary Charter. Please see www.imaginecalgary.ca
for more information.
QUÉBEC CHAPTER/SECTION DU
QUÉBEC
Nouveau directeur pour la section du
Québec
La section du Québec et le bureau national sont très
heureux d’annoncer l’embauche de Claude Martel à titre de
directeur de la section. Tous les bénévoles ont investi
beaucoup d’efforts pour en arriver à embaucher un permanent,
et nous commençons maintenant une période excitante de
consolidation de la section.
Claude est le candidat parfait pour ce poste. Non
seulement détient-il la maîtrise des communications et
possède-t-il un esprit entrepreneur, mais il a démontré son
engagement depuis deux ans à titre de directeur bénévole des
communications.
Claude apporte avec lui une vaste expérience, tant du
domaine public que privé, que ce soit comme expert en
relations médias/communications, en gestion de projets, comme
consultant en implantation de la norme ISO 14000 en gestion
environnementale, en création et gestion de banques de
données, comme producteur et coordonnateur d’événements dans
les milieux de l’art et de l’environnement et également, à
titre de traducteur/interprète. Mais surtout, il est un
passionné de l’environnement et désire mettre ses talents à
contribution.
New Quebec Chapter
Director
The Quebec Chapter and National are very pleased to
announce that Claude Martel has recently been hired on as the
new Quebec Chapter Director. All Quebec volunteers have worked
very hard at getting the Chapter to the point of hiring a
staff member, and this is an exciting start.
Claude is the perfect candidate for this job. Not only
is he a master of communications and has an entrepreneurial
spirit, but he has shown great commitment to the Quebec
Chapter as Communications Director on a volunteer basis over
the last 2 years.
Claude has a varied background in both the public and
private sectors: Media/Communications expert; Project
Management; Consultant on the implementation of Environmental
Management System (ISO 14000) and Database
creation/management; Coordinator/Producer of large scale
events in the arts and environmental fields; and freelance
Translator/Interpreter. Moreover, he is passionate about the
environment and anxious to put his skills to work.
SIERRA YOUTH COALITION
The Sierra Youth Coalition
presents: BE HEARD, LEARN HOW
We are touring the country this summer and we
want you to be there with
us! .
We're stopping in major cities
to:
1.
Meet you!
2. Give a high-energy & inspiring
presentation (+ short film & dynamic
discussion).
3. Talk with you about who we are, what
we do, and how you can get involved!!
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Tour Dates
Montreal July
4th
Edmonton July 6th
Calgary
July 10th
Kootenays July 17-19th
Saskatoon
July 20th
Vancouver July 24th
Victoria Aug
3rd
Toronto Aug 8th
Ottawa Aug
14th
Halifax Aug
22nd |
For POSTERS and other DETAILS go to www.syc-cjs.org.
To help with the tour, contact Zoë Caron atlantic@syc-cjs.org. |
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Dorothy Cutting, a 75-year-old grandmother
from Salt Spring Island, is driving her hybrid car to Inuvik
to learn about how climate change is affecting the people of
the North.