The next Bulletin will be posted on Monday, February 18, 2008. To view current and/or archived bulletin(s) go to: http://yukonenvironetwork.blogspot.com/.
An arrow ► denotes new, revised item or approaching deadline.
This bulletin includes information on local and national environmental network-related news and activities, including extracts from the current RCEN E-Bulletin: http://www.cen-rce.org/ebulletin/index.html.
We encourage you to make your own important contributions to this bulletin. Submissions should include contact information and be summarized in less than 200 words. Please send your feedback and submissions to: yten@northwestel.net
If you would like to subscribe directly to the Yukon Environmental Network E-Bulletin, send an email to yten@northwestel.net, with a message or subject "please subscribe - bulletin". If you would like to unsubscribe, send an email with a message or subject "please unsubscribe - bulletin”.
BULLETIN SECTIONS:
1. NEWS
2. ACTION ALERTS
3. LOCAL MEETINGS & EVENTS
4. NOTICES
5. CONSULTATIONS, CALLS
6. WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES
7. RESOURCES
8. FUNDING
9. JOBS, VOLUNTEER
10. YOUTH
11. YUKON LINKS
12. CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK (RCEN) BULLETINS
1. NEWS
► Canadian Province Adds Protection For Polar Bears - ROBERTA RAMPTON, ROB WILSON | REUTERS NEWS SERVICE | FEBRUARY 11, 2008
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - The western Canadian province of Manitoba named the polar bear a threatened species on Thursday, enabling it to restrict new development on its Arctic shoreline, where hundreds of the big white bears spend several weeks each year. http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/46859/story.htm
► The time has come to kill all the plastic bags - JENNIFER CLAPP | GLOBE AND MAIL | FEBRUARY 11, 2008
► Google Says to Help Green Technologies Amass Scale - NICHOLA GROOM | REUTERS NEWS SERVICE | FEBRUARY 8, 2008
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - Google Inc is prepared to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in big commercial alternative-energy projects that traditionally have had trouble getting financing, the executive in charge of its green-energy push said on Wednesday. http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/46842/story.htm
► Americans Spend Less Time on Nature Activities – Study - JULIE STEENHUYSEN | REUTERS NEWS SERVICE | FEBRUARY 6, 2008
CHICAGO - When it comes communing with nature, a growing number of people appear to prefer computer images to the real thing, US researchers said on Monday. http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/46798/story.htm
► Who will pay for our failure to act on global warming? - DAVID SUZUKI | FEBRUARY 6, 2008
Dear readers and friends: I’m always amazed about how much Canadians care about the environment and how they’re coming together to resolve global warming. If there’s some frustration, it’s because Canadians don’t think government and business are doing their fair share. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/latestnews/dsfnews02060801.asp
► Making Agriculture Sustainable - THE WORLD BUSINESS COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (WBCSD) | FEBRUARY 5, 2008
Agriculture is possibly the most important sector of global activity. It is a source of foods, fibers and, increasingly, fuel. It provides livelihoods and subsistence for the largest number of people worldwide. It is vital to rural development and therefore critical to poverty alleviation. Up to 40% of the land’s surface is used for agriculture, along with 70% of the world’s fresh water supply. Today, agriculture accounts for 38.7% of total global employment. http://www.enn.com/agriculture/article/30651
► Energy Consortium Launches
CALGARY, Alberta - Enbridge Inc, Canada's No. 2 pipeline operator, is leading 19 energy firms in a project to develop carbon dioxide storage in Alberta, but growing emissions from oil sands plants will not initially be part of the study, an executive said Monday. http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/46778/story.htm
► Americans spend less time on nature activities: study - JULIE STEENHUYSEN | REUTERS NEWS SERVICE | FEBRUARY 4, 2008
CHICAGO (Reuters) - When it comes communing with nature, a growing number of people appear to prefer computer images to the real thing,
2. ACTION ALERTS
Help Save the Taku - Stop 50 Years of Toxic Mine Pollution and Government Inaction. Officials have found discharges from two now-abandoned mines — owned by RedCorp Ventures Ltd.– to be "acutely lethal". Yet Canadian and BC officials are failing to enforce the law to halt the pollution entering this major, transboundary salmon river. We need your help to make them do their jobs right. To sign the Clean-up Enforcement Petition go to: http://www.riverswithoutborders.org/cleanup. For more information contact; David MacKinnon ED, Rivers Without Borders, 668-5099 david@riverswithoutborders.org
Play World Food Programme's Free Rice Game. Test your word savy with the Wolrd Health Programme's custom database containing thousands of words at varying degrees of difficulty. With each word you get right, the WFP donates 20 grains of rice thourgh the UN to help end world hunger. The rice is paid for by the advertisers whose names appear on the bottom of the vocabulary screen. So far more than 20,000 refugees from
Petition to Save the Canadian Health Network (CHN). The Conservative government plans to shut down the Canadian Health Network by the end of March 2008. The Canadian Health Network (CHN) is a national, bilingual health promotion service operated by the Public Health Agency of Canada and major health organizations across the country. Please take a moment to read about this important issue, and sign the petition. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. We are trying to reach 5000 signatures - please sign here: www.thepetitionsite.com/1/saveCHN
3. LOCAL MEETINGS & EVENTS
► TONIGHT -
►
THIS WEEK - February 13: Preparing for Change: Managing Climate Change Risks in
February 20: as part of the International Polar Year Program Research on Whitehorse's ability to respond and adapt to climate change, with Robin Sydneysmith, PhD, Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia and Ralph Matthews, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, The University of British Columbia, and Editor, Canadian Review of Sociology, 6303 N. W. Marine Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia.
February 27: Threat to
► THIS WEEK - Globalization and the Power of Peasants - Presentation by author Annette Aurélie Desmarais. FREE. When: Wednesday, February 13th, 2008 at 7:00 PM Where: Alpine Bakery Meeting Room,
► THIS WEEK - Lunch Hour Lecture on Permafrost and climate change at Herschel Island (Qikiqtaruq), Yukon Territory by Chris Burn, Northern Chair and Geography professor at Carleton University, Ottawa. Location:
► Yukon Science Institute Lecture: A Dog’s-Eye View of the World by
► Yukon Science Institute Workshop - The Invisible Leash: Some Alternate Views of Dog Training (a workshop) by
Celebrate this April -
► Trumpeter Swans: 40 Years of Conservation - 21st Trumpeter Swan Society Conference, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, 16-19 April, 2008
We will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Trumpeter Swan Society in the beautiful wilderness city of
Make 2008 a Carbon-friendly birding Year! Join “Bigby“ for a year of carbon-neutral birding, where you only count those species seen within walking or cycling distance of your home or principle place of work. This is a low-key, friendly birding competition for these days of carbon emissions and climate change. For more information, go to: http://www.sparroworks.ca/bigby.html. Send your carbon-friendly birding ideas to yukonbirdclub@gmail.com and we'll share them with the world! To follow the adventures of Bird Year Yukon Enviro-birders, Malkolm Boothroyd and family go to: http://www.birdyear.blogspot.com/
4. NOTICES
► Spring 2008 Oil and Gas Rights Disposition Update January 25, 2008 - Request for Posting (RFP) RESULTS. Two RFP's were received in the Peel Plateau-Plain Oil and Gas basin. Maps and details of RFP Locations can be found at Rights Management Maps and Data. The next step in the disposition process is the RFP Review which will take place in February and March 2008. Please submit your written comments by March 28, 2008. Comments may be submitted to: Public Notice and Review, Government of Yukon, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Oil and Gas Resources, Suite 300, 211 Main Street, Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 2B2, Fax: 867.393.6262, Email: oilandgasdisposition@gov.yk.ca. Following the RFP Review, a Call for Work Bids will be conducted in May and June 2008 for any Locations accepted by the Minister. The next deadline for submissions of RFP's is July 16, 2008 at 11 a.m. Pacific for the Fall 2008 Disposition. Members of the public are welcome to meet with officials from Oil and Gas Resources to discuss the disposition process at any time. Please call (867) 667-3427 to arrange a meeting, or e-mail at oilandgasdisposition@gov.yk.ca. (YTG website - http://www.emr.gov.yk.ca/oilandgas/dispositions.html)
► THIS WEEK - Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). All
Parks
► DEADLINE COMING UP -
The
Government of
Energy Solutions Directory - get listed. The Energy Solutions Centre is developing a new Energy Solutions Directory that will help Yukoners find renewable energy solutions and energy efficiency expertise. If you offer an energy product or service in any of the following categories, contact us for a free listing; renewable energy, energy efficiency or transportation. To submit your companies information, contact the Energy Solutions Centre at 867.393.7148 or toll free from the communities at 1-800.661.0408 ext. 7148 or e-mail esc@gov.yk.ca
2007 GreenHoG Handbook is now available and it’s loaded with hundreds of dollar’s worth of coupons and tips to help Yukoners save energy, save money and reduce green house gas emissions. Pick up the Handbook from the
► The Otesha Project. Announcing! Otesha’s 2008 Cycling and Performing Tours. Are you looking for an opportunity to live sustainably in a mobile community, volunteer, explore
► THIS WEEK - International Year of Planet Earth to be launched at UNESCO. Building safer, healthier and wealthier societies around the globe by using the knowledge of the world’s 400,000 earth scientists more effectively is the main goal of the International Year of Planet Earth - Earth science for Society- which will be launched on 12 and 13 February at UNESCO. A joint initiative of UNESCO and the International Union of Geological Science (IUGS), the International Year of Planet Earth runs from January 2007 to December 2009, the central year of the triennium, 2008, having been proclaimed the United Nations (UN) year by the UN General Assembly. The Year contributes to the UN’s sustainable development goals by promoting wise use of Earth materials and encouraging better planning and management to reduce risks for the world’s inhabitants. It strives to attract more young people to geosciences, to reach out to the general public by highlighting the central importance of Earth sciences for our future and to encourage political leaders to use the available knowledge to shape their national policies. It also calls on scientists to work on ten broad themes particularly relevant to society: health, climate, groundwater, the oceans, soils, deep earth, megacities, hazards, resources and life. To know more on UNESCO’s action on Earth Sciences: http://www.unesco.org/science/earth/. Official website of the International Year of Planet Earth: http://www.yearofplanetearth.org/.
► Environmental Defence reviews first batch of high-priority substances in the Chemicals Management Plan Challenge program. The first screening assessments from the Challenge program of the federal government's Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) were published in the Canada Gazette on January 19th. The gazette notice includes the government’s proposed assessment and their proposed approach for each chemical. You can find this information by clicking here. A 60-day public comment period follows the Gazette posting. Go to: http://www.cen-rce.org/ebulletin/documents/Batch%201%20Report%2018-Jan-08-Eng.pdf to read Environmental Defence’s review of this first batch of high priority substances. Environmental Defence has chosen to focus on the high volume carcinogens in the batch as substances with the greatest potential for harm and the most urgent need for action. In the future, these reports will be found on the RCEN’s CMP website in French and English, and will be sent out by listserve, which will also be used to coordinate and circulate NGO responses to the CMP. Please contact Leela Ramachandran at leela@cen-rce.org to sign up for the listserve.
► CIELAP releases report on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. The Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy (CIELAP) has just released a new report entitled Waste Bytes! Diverting Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment in
► Climate change makes headline news in UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector quarterly magazine, SHS Views N° 19. Following a trend of continuous evolution, the issue N° 19 of the quarterly magazine of UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector has just been published. You will find in this issue an article on “2008 – Year of Planet Earth: Mobilizing societies to adapt to climate change”; an interview with Koïchiro Matsuura (UNESCO Director General): “Social and Human Sciences play an indispensable role” and articles on themes like science for peace, ethics, water management, racism and discrimination, sport, philosophy and human security. To read SHS Views N° 19 go to http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php-URL_ID=11734&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
BC Breeding Bird Atlas - the website and registration are open! The website for the BC Breeding Bird Atlas project is now officially open! We were a bit rushed into this by the offer of a prominent article in the newspaper (it must have been a slow news day) so not all links are functional. The registration page is open, though, so now is a good time to get your name and contact info online so that we can keep you up-to-date as other parts of the website, such as maps, instructional kits, and data entry (I'm already hearing from people who have found nesting birds and want to report them!) are available. The website URL is http://www.birdatlas.bc.ca. You can register by clicking the "Get Involved" menu and selecting "Register for the Atlas". For questions about the atlas project, contact Dick Cannings at dickcannings AT shaw.ca.
Hollyhock Leadership Institute: A school for Social Change - New Programs for 2008. For more information go to http://www.hollyhock.ca/
5. CONSULTATIONS, CALLS
Biodiversity Forum - First Call for Speakers & Posters: We are now recruiting speakers or poster presenters for the 2008 Biodiversity Forum to be held on Saturday April 5th. There are 15 spots for speakers and lots of room for posters. The Biodiversity Forum is an annual event put on by the Yukon Biodiversity Working Group. The one day forum provides an informal opportunity for researchers to share information about
Call for Nominees: 2008
Call for hunting stories - Tami Hamilton (
Call for Proposals: 2008-09
Volunteers: The
Call for Submissions: Community Wildlife Art Exhibit. Got any wildlife artwork? Celebrate this April! Yukon Biodiversity Awareness Month 2008 includes National Wildlife Week April 6th -12th and Celebration of Swans April 12th – 20th. As part of the festivities, inspirational wildlife art by Yukoners of all ages will be shown at the Marsh Lake Community Centre from April 12th to May 12th, 2008. If you need ideas, Pollination is the 2008 National Wildlife Week theme. And it is International Polar Year! Submission guidelines: Existing or newly completed art piece(s), Limit of 2 pieces submitted per person, Do not submit originals with proposal – professional photographs only, A brief description of your art piece and a short biography (1 paragraph). For more information about
► THIS WEEK – Call for Delegates: Sound Management of Chemicals (SMOC) Working Group Meeting. The RCEN has been invited to select 1 ENGO delegate to attend the upcoming stakeholder meeting of the Sound Management of Chemicals (SMOC) Working Group on March 5-6 2008, in
► THIS WEEK - Call for Participation: Sixteenth Session of the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development. Participants are being invited to participate in outreach activities being undertaken by Federal government officials with Canadian civil society stakeholders regarding Canadian participation for the Sixteenth Session of the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD-16), which will take place via teleconference on February 25th. Please confirm your participation by February 17th by contacting Chris Robinson of Sustainable Development Division, DFAIT, and please copy sarah@cen-rce.org in your email. For more information, please click here.
► NEXT WEEK - Call for Delegates: Approach to Air Pollutants under the Regulatory Framework for Air Emissions (RFAE). The RCEN has been invited to select 20 ENGO delegates to participate in at least one meeting related to consultations being undertaken on the approach to the air pollutant component of the Regulatory Framework for Air Emissions (RFAE), recognizing that there might be a series of follow-up meetings. The purpose of this initiative is to seek input on suggested improvement to the approach for air pollutants outlined in the Regulatory Framework. For more information, go to: http://www.cen-rce.org/eng/consultations/delegate_calls/08_02_AIR_RFAE.html or contact Daniel Casselman, National Caucus Coordinator at daniel@cen-rce.org. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, February 20th, 2008.
Consultation On Draft Guidelines For Sustainable Packaging. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) is now consulting on a proposed approach to developing sustainable packaging guidelines and encourages all interested organizations and individuals to review the consultation document: Inventory of Sustainable Packaging Initiatives and Proposed Approach to Develop Sustainable Packaging Guidelines and provide comments using the feedback form. The consultation period ends March 3, 2008. Please click on the following link for details: http://www.ccme.ca/ourwork/waste.html?category_id=18
► THIS WEEK - Call for Applications: Alcoa Foundation Practitioner Fellowships. The Alcoa Foundation has created a Conservation and Sustainability Fellowship Programme that aims to contribute to improving knowledge and building leaders in the field of conservation and sustainability. Practitioner Fellowships provide a non-degree opportunity for qualified mid-level professionals from NGOs to conduct approved six- to twelve-month intensive applied research projects in conservation and sustainability. Fellows work from their home organization and are mentored remotely by an expert from a selected Sustainability Institute. Further information on Practitioner Fellowship requirements, including application forms and procedures, can be found http://www.alcoafoundationfellows.org/page/pf2008/. Applications should be submitted no later than February 14th, 2008.
Call for Papers: 2008 Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) National Science Meeting. The 2008 Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) National Science Meeting will be held April 28 to May 3 at the Chateau Cartier Resort in
Call for Proposals - Funding Available for Research on the Social Economy in
Call for Papers: Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, Volume 14, 2009 - Practical Research. Volume 14 of the Canadian Journal of Environmental Education will feature the work of practitioners, highlighting the roles that educators have in informing the study and practice of environmental education. If you have been planning a new project, or if you are continuing with and existing one, this would be a great time to begin documenting and reflecting on your work. And, plan to share it with the world. Are you worried that you aren't a writer? We can offer to pair you with another researcher, with similar interests, to help you through this part of the process. In order to be ready for the World Congress, we encourage you to complete drafts of your case studies by July 2008 and have final submissions ready by September 2009. For more information or assistance, please contact Guest Editors: Marcia McKenzie marcia.mckenzie@usask.ca or David Gruenewald greenwood@wsu.edu .
6. WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES.
► THIS WEEK - Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) – Sustainable Communities Conference and Trade Show 2008. Taking place in
► Trade and Environment in North America 2008. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), in cooperation with
Tunza International Children's Conference on the Environment, Stavanger,
7. RESOURCES
► International Year of Planet Earth to be launched at UNESCO. Building safer, healthier and wealthier societies around the globe by using the knowledge of the world’s 400,000 earth scientists more effectively is the main goal of the International Year of Planet Earth - Earth science for Society- which will be launched on 12 and 13 February at UNESCO. To know more on UNESCO’s action on Earth Sciences: http://www.unesco.org/science/earth/. Official website of the International Year of Planet Earth: http://www.yearofplanetearth.org/.
► Climate Discovery Courses for Educators – Online. The
online courses for middle and high school science teachers, combining geoscience content, current climate research, easy to implement hands-on
activities, and group discussion. Registration is open for the Spring term, April 4-May 16, 2008. http://ecourses.ncar.ucar.edu/
► Environment Canada Website Upload: Clean Air Heroes. Clean Air Heroes is now posted on the Educators' Web site. You can find it in the section dedicated to lesson plans and teachers' guides for ages 9-12. See: http://www.ec.gc.ca/education/default.asp?lang=En&n=E70AABF9-1.
► BiologyBrowser - Biology Browser is a free website offering resources for the life sciences information community. You can browse by organism, subject,
and geography. The Guide to the Animal Kingdom offers a simplified (and somewhat abbreviated) classification scheme for the whole animal kingdom. A searchable database offers links to information and resources for educators and students. http://www.biologybrowser.org/
► earthOCEAN.tv - Online channel about the marine environment. They produce educational videos from the field documenting environmental issues, scientific research, and conservation efforts around the globe. All videos programs are 10-20 minutes in duration and are freely distributed online in a number of formats through their website. There are also teacher's guides and fact sheets, including Disappearing Dolphins, Southern Right Whales of Argentina, and more.
► Three Workshops: Green Legacies – Planned Giving for Environmental NGOs. The Sustainability Network will be offering three learning opportunities in February and March on the topic of planned giving. The goal of the intensive workshops is to help ENGOs develop a serious planned gifts program in order to help them do their vital work. All three workshops will take place at the Sustainability Network in
► Wireless Electrical and Electromagnetic Pollution (WEEP) – International Report. WEEP is a volunteer charitable Canadian organization dedicated to advocating the health dangers caused by electrical and electromagnetic pollution and helping victims who are harmed by it. They have collected a vast amount of scientific research and evidence which links electro magnetic radiation (EMR) harming humans, animals, birds, bees, trees and insects. Although the harm being caused to the Canadian environment may be extreme, the problem is still virtually unknown. For an international report on this, please refer to the Bio Initiative Report by a group of scientists who specialize in EMR- www.bioinitiative.org. If you would like further information about EMR and its effects, please send a message to WEEP at weather@golden.net.
► Book - The Future Control of Food: A Guide to International Negotiations and Rules on Intellectual Property, Biodiversity and Food Security. Edited by Geoff Tansey and Tasmin Rajotte, The Future Control of Food is a wide-ranging guide to the key issues of intellectual property and ownership, genetics, biodiversity and food security. It also details the international agreements (such as TRIPS) and organizations (such as WIPO, WTO, FAO and CBD) involved in negotiations for future control of genetic resources and food production. For more info about the book, go to: http://www.earthscan.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=310 .
► Books - Illustrated children's books on composting by Larraine Roulston. Book combines compost facts with literature - for more information go to: www.castlecompost.com
Teachers' Domain Polar Sciences Collection launch. The entire special collection can be found at http://www.teachersdomain.org/exhibits/ipy07-ex/index.html The special collection includes the 20 new resources, lesson plan, and student activity funded by NSF as an IPY Education activity, and we've also catalogued other resources already on TD that complement these. Nearly all the new resources are available as Open Educational Resources for download and reuse. A listing of just the newly added materials can be found at http://www.teachersdomain.org/collections/wgbh/ipy07/all_resources.html. The student activity, "Observations of Climate Change" is a new feature on Teachers' Domain, giving students a chance to engage with qualitative and quantitative data as they examine issues affecting the
North3 website is a website, in eight languages, where young northern residents can record their opinions and ideas about the circumpolar world. On the occasion of the International Polar Year, this website will support an outreach program by the missions, including speaking events and school visits, designed to engage youth in the Government's priorities for the
Big Steps Forward: Recommendations for Budget 2008 (the Green Budget Coalition’s priority recommendations for the 2008 federal budget). This document details three priority recommendations, and six recommendations on other important issues, that aim to build upon the environmental progress made in Budget 2007 and to fulfill Canadians' desire for ambitious, effective action on the environment. For more information go to: http://www.greenbudget.ca/2008/main.html To download the report: http://www.greenbudget.ca/pdf/GBC_2008.pdf.
Environmental Petitions Process. The environmental petitions process was established in 1995 by Parliament when it amended the Auditor General Act to create the position of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development in the Office of the Auditor General. Since then, the Commissioner has managed the petitions process on behalf of the Auditor General and has reported on it annually to Parliament. Environmental petitions are letters sent by Canadians to the Auditor General as a way to present their environmental questions and concerns to specific ministers of the federal government. Ministers are required to respond in writing within 120 days. The issues raised most frequently in petitions since 1995 include biodiversity, human and environmental health, and environmental assessment. According to our recent survey, both petitioners and department officials who responded believe that petitions have had an impact on the way the federal government manages certain environmental matters. To learn more about this important resource, please visit the following websites. For information on the petitions process: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/domino/cesd_cedd.nsf/html/petitions_e.html. To access the Environmental Petitions Catalogue: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/domino/petitions.nsf/english - click on the Continue button to view the catalogue. To read the 2007 Environmental Petitions Report to Parliament: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/domino/reports.nsf/html/c20071002c_e.html
Agriculture Report - Cool Farming: Climate Impacts of Agriculture and Mitigation Potential. With agriculture being one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, a new report entitled Cool Farming details the destructive practices resulting from industrial agriculture and presents workable solutions to help reduce its contribution to climate change. Written by Professor Pete Smith, a lead author on the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on climate change, and his research team at the University of Aberdeen, the Greenpeace-published report aims to show how these practical changes will benefit the environment as well as farmers and consumers throughout the world. To read the report on Greenpeace’s website, go to http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports.
National Orphaned and Abandoned Mines Initiative: Extensive Study on Canadian Mining Law Now Available. A new report written by lawyer Joseph Castrilli for the National Orphaned and Abandoned Mines Initiative (NOAMI) is now available in CD format. In
Greentips: Environmental Ideas in Action. January 2008 Edition: The Smartly Furnished Home. From the Union of Concerned Scientists (Citizens and Scientists for Environmental Solutions) http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/greentips/
Environment
Northern Climate Exchange (NCE) UPDATE for 09 January 2008. To view the current issue, go to: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/User/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK46/January%2009.htm
Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN): E-Bulletin - January 9th, 2008 Edition. To view the current issue, go to: http://www.cen-rce.org/ebulletin/email/eebe090108.html.
► Newsletter: Nexus, February 2008: The Sustainability Network Newsletter. To view the February issue, go to: http://sustain.web.ca/Nexus/02-08.htm. The Sustainability Network is a support centre for environmental nonprofit organizations. Our mission is to strengthen the capacity of the environmental community by improving organizational management and leadership skills. Find out more at http://sustain.web.ca
January 2008 Toxic Nation E-News available now. To view the January issue, go to: http://www.environmentaldefence.ca/newsletter/toxicnation/enews.htm to get the latest news on Environmental Defence's efforts to protect human health from toxic chemicals. Find out about the latest science news on chemicals and health, and new tips for protecting yourself and family from exposure to toxic chemicals. Environmental Defence protects the environment and human health. We research. We educate. We go to court when we have to. All in order to ensure clean air, safe food and thriving ecosystems. Nationwide (Canadian). For more information about Environmental Defence, go to: www.environmentaldefence.ca. For inquiries related specifically to Toxic Nation, email info@toxicnation.ca, and visit the web site www.toxicnation.ca.
National Round Table on The Environment and The Economy (NRTEE) Final Advisory Report: Getting to 2050:
Launch of the Fourth Global Environment Outlook: Environment for Development (GEO-4). Published 20 years after the World Commission on Environment and Development produced its seminal report, Our Common Future, GEO-4, the latest in UNEP's series of flagship reports, assesses the current state of the global atmosphere, land, water and biodiversity, describes the changes since 1987, and identifies priorities for action. The full report, including graphs, fact sheets and other resources can be found at http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4 .
8. FUNDING
Funding Available for Research on the Social Economy in
Sources of Funding for Environmental/Conservation Projects (last updated February 2007). This listing has been compiled by the Yukon Department of the Environment to help you find funds to carry out your environmental projects. It includes Yukon Funding Sources, Federal Government Funding Sources, NGO/Foundation and Trust Funding Sources, and Private Funding Sources. http://environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/educationyouth/documents/FundingSourcesUpdate_2007_Feb.pdf
Waste Reduction and Recycling Initiative Fund (WRRI) - Yukon Territorial Government (YTG), Department of Environment Recycling depots, nonprofit organizations, community groups, or individuals. Projects dealing with ‘hard to recycle materials’ or materials posing a threat to environmental and/or human health. Typically up to $10,000 applications accepted year round. Contact Pat Paslawski (867) 6675934 email: pat.paslawski@gov.yk.ca (A)
► DEADLINE THIS WEEK - Environmental Grant (City of
The Community Development Fund (CDF) - The CDF gives Yukon community, industry & professional associations, non-profit & charitable organizations and municipal & First Nations governments money for projects and events that: create jobs, generate spending on Yukon goods and services, support community well being, have measurable social, cultural and economic benefits for Yukon residents and communities. The primary goal of the CDF is funding projects and events that provide long-term benefit and value to
· Tier I ($20,000 or less) application deadlines are; January 15, May 15, July 15, and October 15.
· Tier II ($20,001 to $75,000) application deadlines are; May 15, September 15
· Tier III ($75,001 or more) application deadline is January 15.
Aboriginal Funds for Species at Risk Recovery: Call for Proposals 2008-2009. This week marks the release of the formal call for proposals for the Government of Canada's Aboriginal Funds for Species at Risk http://www.recovery.gc.ca/AFSAR-FAEP/ – the Aboriginal Capacity Building Fund and the Aboriginal Critical Habitat Protection Fund. New for 2008-2009 is an on-line application tool through which applicants may submit their proposals. Interested applicants must contact the Regional Coordinator to obtain a User ID and password to submit their proposal. The regional coordinator will set up the account and then forward the instructions of how to access the system. Please refer to the Aboriginal Funds for Species at Risk Application Guidelines for further details. The Aboriginal Funds for Species at Risk is only one of the SARA-related programs available to Aboriginal organizations. Other programs include the Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk, www.recovery.gc.ca/HSP-PIH , and the Interdepartmental Recovery Fund, http://www.irf-fir.gc.ca/. Contact: Nancy Hughes, Environment
Funding available: Invasive Alien Species Partnership Program (IASPP). IASPP has funding available for projects that address the threat of aquatic invasive species, terrestrial invasive alien plants and plant pests, and invasive alien animals. Projects supported by the program will: reduce the introduction and spread of IAS and address their pathways of invasion through prevention, detection, and management (eradication, containment, and control) activities; enable Canadians to become actively involved in projects that address the threat of IAS; and improve Canadians' understanding and awareness of IAS and the individual actions and choices which contribute to their introduction and spread. http://www.recovery.gc.ca/IASPP-PPEEE/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.main&lang=E
► Common Grounds Grant Program accepting proposals for the Wal-Mart – Evergreen Grant Program. The deadline for applications is Friday February 29th, 2008. You will find the Spring 2008 guidelines and application forms for the Wal-Mart – Evergreen Green Grants at http://www.evergreen.ca/en/cg/cg.html.
National Green Source Funding Guide The Green Source is a resource guide prepared by Environment Canada that will help you locate numerous sources of funding for environmental projects. It includes information on public and private sector programs and organizations that provide financial assistance, labour costs or in-kind donations to community groups. The Green Source is available in searchable database format, or hard copy format from the Environment Canada regional office serving your area. http://www.ec.gc.ca/ecoaction/before_e.html (A)
9. JOBS, VOLUNTEER
► Environmental Careers Organization (ECO). ECO Canada was established in 1992 as part of
►
Internship Opportunity - Organic Apprentice/Intern, f/t, M'Clintock Valley Farm,
Application deadline: March 1, 2008. Farm is Certified Organic, producing forage hay, vegetables, herbs and meat chickens. Certification by PACS BC. The
farm is 180 acres, with 80 acres of grass hay, cut and baled once per season. There is an 8000 sq ft garden producing mainly carrots, peas and potatoes. Another ½ acre is under development. Small greenhouse producing mainly herbs. This is a volunteer learning position, but we may be able to pay a stipend, depending on the what we can accomplish this year with crop yields, etc. The farm work should be wrapped up by Sept 15. Please e-mail resume and brief cover letter to jjj@northwestel.net as soon as possible and no later than March 1, 2008 or mail to: JJJohnson,
Volunteers: The
Get youth working on your conservation project this summer… we pay the wages! Research work, public education and surveys, environmental cleanups, interpretive site development, day camps…these are the kinds of challenges that our summer student employees seek when they join the Yukon Youth Conservation Corps (Y2C2). They are counting on you! We need your projects, in any part of the
► Canadian Program Coordinator - MiningWatch
Current RCEN e-bulletin employment postings: http://www.cen-rce.org/ebulletin/employment.html.
Jobs: Students interested in jobs in the environment sector. Check out www.goodworkcanada.ca , www.charityvillage.com and www.eco.ca.
WorkCabin.ca is the latest tool for Canadians seeking employment in the growing green economy. WorkCabin was established in 2007 as a way to help Canadians find green work opportunities. It has quickly become the source for employment and volunteer opportunities in all fields concerning the environment. For job postings go to http://www.workcabin.ca/job-postings.htm. For more information, visit www.WorkCabin.ca. WorkCabin.ca is 100% Canadian owned and operated and is located in
GoodWorkCanada.ca: “More than just jobs, GoodWork is the place to get connected to environmentally and socially responsible projects, organizations and companies in
10. YOUTH
► NOW -
► Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes seeks nominations for its 2008 awards. The Barron Prize honors young people ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Each year, ten winners from the
► DEADLINE THIS WEEK - The GLOBE Forum for Emerging Environmental Leaders - March 14th,
► Festival VidéEau - "Water, People and Sustainable Development". The Festival VidéEau is an international competition for video clips organized by the International Secretariat for Water (ISW), in preparation for the International "Water and Film" Events that will take place in Istanbul in 2009, within the context of the 5th World Water Forum. The Festival invites young people aged from 17 to 30, to submit 90 second or shorter video clips on the theme "Water, People and Sustainable Development". The winners of the competition will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony to be held during the World Youth Congress, taking place in
► The Otesha Project. Announcing! Otesha’s 2008 Cycling and Performing Tours. Are you looking for an opportunity to live sustainably in a mobile community, volunteer, explore
► KidsCall is the international Youth Campaign by the World Future Council. We are writing to the most important politicians in the world to save life on Earth! Will you join us? Our Earth is in danger! Climate change and environmental damage threaten our future. To cope with the increasing demand for energy and growing traffic, people are burning more and more oil, gas and coal. This releases CO2 which heavily pollutes our atmosphere and causes climate chaos. Climate change threatens life on our planet. The polar ice-caps are melting and sea-levels are rising. Natural disasters such as floods, storms and droughts are on the increase. As more and more land becomes desert, many species of animals are dying out and more and more people are starving. We can do something about climate protection! We are the future generation. We will intervene! Politicians have the power to make the right decisions. That's why we're writing to the most important politicians in the world to tell them how we'd like our future to look and what they should do about it. If we pressure them enough, they have to listen to us! Join Us go to: http://www.kidscall.info/en/campaign.html for more information and to join. You can find more information about the World Future Council at www.worldfuturecouncil.org
► World Wildlife Fund
Get youth working on your conservation project this summer… we pay the wages! Research work, public education and surveys, environmental cleanups, interpretive site development, day camps…these are the kinds of challenges that our summer student employees seek when they join the Yukon Youth Conservation Corps (Y2C2). They are counting on you! We need your projects, in any part of the
Doing something to help the green cause? Simon &Schuster is publishing a book called Green Generation and is looking for young people under 20 who are engaged about the environment and doing something to help the green cause. See attached e-mail for additional information. Anthony Chiorazzi, tel:831-901-5614, drchiorazzi@gmail.com
The Canadian Environment Awards invites you to join The Green Team Challenge 2008! The Green Team Challenge recognizes school-based projects that are protecting, preserving and restoring
Kaleidoscope, Real World Video Challenge. An online video contest is a CIDA funded public engagement initiative that aims to sensitize and engage young Canadians to global development issues and to support them in becoming responsible and engaged global citizens. WHO: Canadian youth (8 to 12 and 13 to 18)
WHAT: to produce short 5-minute videos about what they think is the most important global issue, and what we can do about it. Videos will be uploaded by participants to any video sharing platform of their preference (youtube, google video, etc). FOR MORE INFO: visit www.videochallenge.ca DEADLINE: The contest will be open for submissions from December 1, 2007 until March 31 2008. PRIZE: A video camera (or the equivalent value in cash up to $1,000)
French environmental education resources – interactive games and nature activities - Ressources d’éducation à l’environnement en français - jeux interactifs et activités de nature. http://www.frapna.org/
EnerAction Now Up and Running! Bring energy conservation and efficiency projects to your Grades 4 to 7 classrooms with EnerAction. Eleven lesson plans, written by teachers for teachers, offer you a range of ways to make energy come to life in your classroom. Try the new Carbon Calculator! This innovative and interactive web-based lighting activity is a great tool for students. In one lesson, students investigate the costs in energy and in greenhouse gases to light their classrooms. They then identify ways to save energy and track their success. Students work alongside the Carbon Critter whose footprints grow larger when they use a lot of energy, and shrink when they save. Teachers can register with GreenLearning here: http://www.greenlearning.ca/register. To learn more about EnerAction got to: http://www.greenlearning.ca/eneraction. To visit the student website and try the Carbon Calculator go to: http://eneraction.greenlearning.ca/
Jobs: Students interested in jobs in the environment sector. Check out www.goodworkcanada.ca , www.charityvillage.com and www.eco.ca.
Ice-e Mysteries: Polar E-book Project. A innovative approach to science, art and literacy education on polar regions and polar science for the IPY2007-08. Twenty-six middle school classes (grades 5-8) will be paired across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (13 in each hemisphere). Each of the paired classes will develop a collaborative web-based book based on polar science themes.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched the 17th International children's painting competition. The Competition is organized annually by the UNEP and the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE), Bayer and Nikon Corporation. It has been held since 1991 and has received over 190,000 entries from children in over 100 countries. This year’s Competition will focus on Climate Change: Actions we can take now. The selection process will be in two stages; the regional selection which will be done by UNEP Regional Offices and their partners, and the global selection which will be done by UNEP and its partners, Foundation for Global peace and Environment (FGPE), Bayer and Nikon Corporation. For more details on the competition visit http://www.unep.org/Tunza/paintcomp/.
$50,000 School Video Contest – Be the Change. An innovative new Web broadcaster is using the power of the Internet to inspire children and youth in schools across
YOUTH Resources:
North3 website - a website, in eight languages, where young northern residents can record their opinions and ideas about the circumpolar world. On the occasion of the International Polar Year, this website will support an outreach program by the missions, including speaking events and school visits, designed to engage youth in the Government's priorities for the
Website – Pembina - GreenLearning.ca. GreenLearning is a premier learning resource for innovative teachers. Lessons and activities are curriculum-aligned, comprehensive, fun and FREE. Help your students participate in their own learning while gaining a more holistic and hopeful understanding of complex energy and environmental issues. Sign up for GreenLearning today! http://www.greenlearning.ca/ Also, now available – eCards: research, write, design, send! eCards is an innovative core-curriculum integrated resource for Grades 6, 7 and 8. It meets curriculum expectations in Geography, Language Arts, Visual Arts and Information Technology. Visit the GreenLearning website for a complete list of the
Consumers Guide to Afterschool Science Resources. The Consumers Guide to Afterschool Science Resources contains reviews of high-quality, hands-on science content for afterschool programs. It provides a wide range of after school activities, curricula, and more. Reviewed materials include semester- and year-long curricula, activity kits, instructor guides consisting of many related activities, and websites that offer content appropriate for afterschool programs. Users are able to search and sort entries by title, subject, grade level, audience, and cost. A brief description of each resource is accompanied by two expert reviewers' detailed commentary. http://www.sedl.org/afterschool/guide/science/index.html
Earth Matters: Studies for Our Global Future. The Population Connection is updating the secondary curriculum, Earth Matters: Studies for Our Global Future, and offers the second edition free for downloading on its website, including all readings and activities. Units include Population Dynamics, Climate Change, Water Resources, and more.http://www.populationeducation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=443&Itemid=2
youtube video! Declaration on Climate Change from Youth of the Arctic - A bunch of great young people from across the Arctic got together and wrote/filmed this Declaration on Climate Change in 2005. The video was taken to the United Nations (Framework Convention on Climate Change) and highlighted during Arctic Day at CoP11 (Montreal , Canada , 2005 UNFCCC). To view video, click here or go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxjbTBi8e3g&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Etaiga%2Enet%2Fayn%2Fhome%2Ehtml
Environment
11. YUKON LINKS
▫ Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op
▫ Arctic Youth Network
▫ Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Yukon
▫ Environmental Educators Association of the Yukon
▫ Northern Climate Exchange
▫ Raven Recycling
▫ Rivers Without Borders
▫ Wildlife Conservation Society Canada
▫ Wilderness Tourism Association of the Yukon
▫ Yukon Bird Club
▫ Yukon Conservation Society
12. CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK (RCEN) BULLETINS:
CURRENT E-BULLETIN:
English: ▫ http://www.cen-rce.org/ebulletin/index.html
French: ▫ http://www.cen-rce.org/ebulletin/indexfr.html
ARCHIVED BULLETINS:
English: ▫ http://www.cen-rce.org/eng/bulletins/index.html
French: ▫ http://www.cen-rce.org/fre/bulletins/index.html