Yukon Environmental Network Bulletin –March 17, 2008

The next Bulletin will be posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008.To view current and/or archived bulletin(s) go to: http://yukonenvironetwork.blogspot.com/.

An arrow ► denotes new, revised item or approaching deadline. Yukon items are listed first under each heading; the rest are chronological.

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: yukonenvironet@gmail.com

If you would like to subscribe directly to the Yukon Environmental Network E-Bulletin, send an email to yukonenvironet@gmail.com, 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

►CALGARY, Alberta - BP Plc will join Canada's Irving Oil in designing Irving's planned $7 billion Eider Rock refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick, the closely held Irving said on Monday, as the British oil major looks to further expand in Canada \ March 18, 2008. BP, one of the world's biggest refiners, will contribute $40 million toward the engineering, design and feasibility study for the 300,000 barrel per day project, which would be the first new refinery in North America in a generation. The refinery project is the latest move by BP to expand its Canadian operations. After years of cutting back its presence in the country, BP has recently moved to gain a foothold in the massive oil sands region of northern Alberta with a production and refining joint venture with Husky Energy Inc. BP has also moved forward on coal-bed methane projects in Western Canada to expand its natural gas production, but Eider Rock, should it go ahead, would be the company's only refining investment in the country.

►Canada’s leading environmental groups release national roadmap to set more sustainable course for country\March 6, 2008. Canada at crossroads: Government must seize opportunity to address environmental concerns. Concerned about the lack of political leadership on urgent issues such as climate change, Canada’s leading environmental organizations have come to a groundbreaking consensus around a roadmap for action that is being released today. Tomorrow Today: How Canada can make a world of difference, issued by the country’s 11 largest environmental and conservation organizations offers practical directions for addressing the number one concern for Canadians - the state of the environment. The groups’ recommendations centre on climate change, energy use, food production, toxic substances, water, forests and oceans. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/latestnews/dsfnews03060801.asp

►WASHINGTON - The pilot of a container ship that hit the San Francisco Bay Bridge last year and spilled 58,000 gallons of oil was charged on Monday with violating federal pollution laws.\ March 18, 2008. John Cota, who was licensed to navigate ships through the bay's challenging waters, negligently caused the discharge that killed 2,000 birds including endangered Brown Pelicans, the Department of Justice announced. His attorney responded that the criminal charges were premature and that a federal safety investigation was continuing. Cota was charged with one violation each of the Clean Water Act and Migratory Bird Act. If convicted, he faces fines or sentences of up to 18 months in prison and. Cota was piloting the container ship Costa Buscan when it struck the Bay Bridge on Nov. 7, 2007. http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/47555/story.htm

►Melting Ice Sheets Can Cause Earthquakes, Study Finds \ March 14, 2008. As ice sheets melt, they can release pent-up energy and trigger massive earthquakes, according to new study. Global warming may already be triggering such earthquakes and may cause more in the future as ice continues to melt worldwide, the researchers say. A series of large earthquakes shook Scandinavia around 10,000 years ago, along faults that are now quiet, the scientists point out. The timing of each earthquake roughly coincided with the melting of thick ice sheets from the last ice age in those same places. Researchers had suspected that the melting had triggered these earthquakes by releasing pressure that had built up in Earth's crust. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/03/080314-warming-quakes.html

►BHUBANESWAR, India - An ancient Indian tribe opposed to an alumina refinery by Britain's Vedanta Resources has sacrificed dozens of chickens and goats in the hope their gods will prevent the firm's mining plans \ March 18, 2008. Vedanta wants to dig open-cast mines in the Niyamgiri hills in Orissa state to feed an alumina refinery it has already built in the area. It is spending $800 million on the project. But the local Kandha tribe says the mine will destroy hills they consider sacred, force them from their homes and destroy their forest-dependent livelihoods. Many of them participated at the weekend in a ritualistic sacrifice of chickens and goats as an offering to their gods and vowed to fight Vedanta off their lands. "We performed the rituals because some of us have seen the gods in dreams telling us to protect the hills, Kumuti Majhi, a tribal woman leader, said on Monday. http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/47556/story.htm

►Federal budget ignores environment \ February 26, 2008 - Today's federal budget fails to include real measures to protect the environment, says the David Suzuki Foundation. "The federal government has repeatedly stated that climate change must be addressed and has consistently refused to do anything meaningful about it," said Dale Marshall, an Ottawa-based policy analyst with the Suzuki Foundation. "Canada is falling further and further behind other countries that are taking action on climate change. Not only is Canada out of synch with the rest of the world, it's being upstaged by its own provinces that are showing leadership and taking action on climate change." http://www.davidsuzuki.org/latestnews/dsfnews02260801.asp

►Could Arctic Ice Melt Spawn New Kind Of Cold War? March 10, 2008- With oil above $100 a barrel and Arctic ice melting faster than ever, some of the world's most powerful countries -- including the United States and Russia -- are looking north to a possible energy bonanza. This prospective scramble for buried Arctic mineral wealth made more accessible by freshly melted seas could bring on a completely different kind of cold war, a scholar and former Coast Guard officer says. While a US government official questioned the risk of polar conflict, Washington still would like to join a 25-year-old international treaty meant to figure out who owns the rights to the oceans, including the Arctic Ocean. So far, the Senate has not approved it. http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/47403/story.htm

(back to top)

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

Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act (YESAA) Online registry (YOR). The YOR is the electronic registry that allows public access to documents and information associated with assessments under the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act (YESAA). To provide your comments on current proposed projects visit www.yesab.ca/registry

Yukon Water Board Online Water Use License Applications. In accordance with the Waters Act, the Yukon Water Board gives notice of applications they have received for water use licences, to give the opportunity for any person who wishes to request that a public hearing be held regarding the application to submit a written request by the deadline given in the notice. To view the list of current applications and deadlines, go to http://www.yukonwaterboard.ca/applications.htm. To view specific information on an application, click on the application register. License applications that have been approved are listed on the Water Use Licences page at; http://www.yukonwaterboard.ca/licences.htm.

► 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

(back to top)

3. LOCAL MEETINGS & EVENTS

►The MacBride Museum of Yukon History is pleased to present this talk as the first in its First Nation lecture Series. Each Wednesday for the next three weeks an expert will explore a different aspect of First Nation culture and history in the Yukon.

Look for these upcoming talks in the series:

March 19 – Learning from Yukon First Nation Artifacts, presented by Yukon conservator Valery Monahan.

For more information go to www.macbridemuseum.com.

Council of Canadians presents an engaging film about threats to the security of Earth’s fresh water supply – not from pollution, but from profiteering. March 25, 2008, 7pm, Whitehorse Public Library.

Earth Day Yoga and Meditation (to generate loving-kindness for our beautiful planet), put on by Yoga In the Alpine – and the location will be perfect, I think. Sunday, April 20 at the Yukon Arts Centre 10 am to 12:30 pm + time for refreshments and socializing Yoga - 10-11:15 am - Meditation - 11:30 am-12:15 pm - Chanting - 12:15-12:30 pm - Refreshments (by Bean North Coffee Roasting Co.) - 12:30 on Anybody interested in contributing baking, fruit, veggies, dip, etc. for post-event noshing, please let me know. Please spread the word! These events are always better when more people and their energy participate. A poster is attached if you'd like to print it out and hang it anywhere, anywhere at all. Contact Erica Heuer, p. 867.393.4440

BYTE’s green open house On Earth Day – April 22, 2008 from 9:00AM-4:30PM At 2-407 Olgilvie Street. Come in and pick up your free Yukon youth made recycled journal, have an organic tea and biscuit, or purchase the latest BYTE reusable tote and suck it up reuse your cup sticker. We will also be highlighting our green office policy and procedure manual and green event’s protocol checklist. www.yukonyouth.com

Celebrate this April - Yukon Biodiversity Awareness Month 2008: National Wildlife Week April 6 ^-12 ^th and Celebration of Swans 12– 20^th! As part of the festivities, Yukon Energy and Environment Yukon are calling for a unique swan art piece image for this year’s Celebration of Swans poster. In addition, inspirational wildlife art by Yukoners of all ages will be shown at the Marsh Lake Community Centre from April 12 th to May 12 th, 2008. The opening reception will kick-off A Celebration of Swans 2008 on Saturday, the 12 the at the Centre's Jackalope Lounge. For more information about Biodiversity Awareness Month, visit: http://environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/wildlifebiodiversity/wildlifeviewing.php. For information on the 2008 Celebration of Swans, visit: http://environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/wildlifebiodiversity/CelebrationofSwans.php

Canadian Wilderness and Parks – Dinner & Discussion Nights are held on the Third Thursdays of the month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the CPAWS office (506 Steele Street). Come and join other like-minded people and discuss the latest conservation issues over a scrumptious meal! Please let us know if you wish to receive e-mail notification of the Dinner & Discussion Nights. Otherwise, please check with us prior to the meeting as the dates sometimes vary from this schedule due to unforeseen events. http://www.cpawsyukon.org/events/index.html#dinner-discussion

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 Whitehorse, Yukon Territory during the annual Yukon Celebration of Swans. The conference will have special focus on swans in western Canada and Alaska. There will also be sessions dealing with Trumpeter populations in other parts of the continent, Tundra Swans, and the future of swan conservation. There will be a full-day field trip to see the concentrations of Trumpeter and Tundra swans and other waterfowl at several spring migration areas near Whitehorse. For more information visit http://www.trumpeterswansociety.org/index.htm.

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/

CPAWS and Mountain Equipment Co-op invite you to an evening in the Big Wild. Come out and experience Stunning imagery, guest speakers, new ideas, children’s arts exhibit and more Saturday, May 24, 2008 At the Arts Centre. For more information or to volunteer contact: Theresa Gulliver at 393-8080 ext. 8. http://www.cpawsyukon.org/events/index.html

(back to top)

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

Former US Vice-President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore has trained 2,000 around the world - including 21 Canadians: to present a personalized and localized version of the slideshow on which the Academy Award-winning film An Inconvenient Truth is based. Following the initial U.S. training sessions, similar trainings have been held in Australia, Spain and the United Kingdom with more planned for India, China – and now Canada. From April 4-6 people across Canada from all walks of life will gather in Montreal, Quebec for a rare opportunity: to be trained by Al Gore to become one of 200 climate change presenters. If you are interested in applying, please see http://www.climateprojectcanada.org/indexen.html

The 2008 Hometown Heroes Award Program is a great recognition program highlighting important environmental work at the community level.

Please contact Reid Bodley (coordinator) at Gala & Hometown Heroes

Earth Day Canada,111 Peter Street, Suite 503

Toronto, ON, M5V 2H1

(t) 416.599.1991 x 114

http://www.earthday.ca/hometown/

http://www.earthday.ca/gala/

The Yukon Conservation Society (YCS) turns forty! 40 years of YCS: 1968 – 2008. In 2008, YCS is celebrating 40 years of YCS achievements in environmental education, research and advocacy work; 40 years of volunteerism, hard work, and dedicated efforts in Yukon conservation and stewardship. Calling all YCSers!! YCS is seeking your help with “institutional memory” recall and your help in celebrating this special YCS anniversary! When: March 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008. GET INVOLVED: Join the 40th Celebration team or lend a helping hand by calling Georgia at YCS: 668-5678 or email: ycs@ycs.yk.ca www.yukonconservation.org. YCS pursues ecosystem well-being throughout the Yukon and beyond, recognizing that human well-being is ultimately dependent upon fully functioning healthy ecosystems.

►Government of Yukon News Release #07-156 - Yukon Housing Corporation Supports Energy Conservation. http://www.gov.yk.ca/news/2007/07-156.html. Yukon Housing Corporation is introducing substantial program changes and enhancements to promote the conservation of energy in residential buildings. The new initiatives will assist existing home owners, people looking at new home construction and owners of rental properties. The new program offerings will be available until March 31, 2009. To learn more visit the Yukon Housing Corporation website: http://www.housing.yk.ca/

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 Yukon government’s Energy Solutions Centre at 206A Lowe Street. You can also pick up the Handbook at the Yukon Conservation Society office, Yukon Housing offices and Energy, Mines and Resources district offices. To order a copy call the Energy Solutions Centre at 393-7063 or send an e-mail to info@nrgsc.yk.ca.

► GreenLearning is pleased to announce that a new Pembina Foundation program is now up and running! GreenLearning has been developing a youth leadership program for the last two years, from the research phase through to program design and securing funding. We are working in collaboration with the Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership. Our youth leadership program will be unique in Canada, offering youth aged 18 to 24 accredited experiential leadership training in sustainability. The first semester will be piloted in early 2009. We are currently hiring a youth intern to assist with market research for the program. Funded through Green Street, the intern will receive a $1000 honorarium to complete the project by March 30, 2008. For information about this exciting new program, contact Youth Leadership Program Director, Nadine Raynolds at http://www.greenlearning.ca/contact-us.

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 Canada, gain leadership and public speaking skills, and make a real difference in the world—all from the seat of your bicycle? Join a cycling and performing tour. Otesha's 2008 cycling and performing tours are ready to roll! Seven teams of 15 to 20 motivated and energetic young people, aged 18 to 30, will set off on tours beginning in May, July and September. They will travel by bicycle throughout parts of Canada performing plays and offering workshops on sustainability and social justice issues to schools and community groups. You can be one of them! The Otesha Project has announced the routes for the 2008 Otesha Cycling and Performing Tours. Tour members will share an incredible experience as they live as a mobile and sustainable community for two months. Applications are now being accepted for seven regional tours throughout Canada that will take more than 120 inspiring young change-makers on the journey of a lifetime. You could be one of them! Visit www.otesha.ca to view the routes. Apply now! More information available at www.otesha.ca.

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 Ontario, which may be of interest to groups across the country. This report articulates and analyzes the rapidly emerging issue of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in an attempt to help the government of Ontario, municipalities and industry take proactive steps to advance the sustainable management of this waste stream. The paper concludes with 16 recommendations for Ontario and the province’s proposed WEEE diversion Program. The report and a one-page Quick Facts sheet can be downloaded from the CIELAP website at: http://cielap.org/pub/pub_wastebytes.html.

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/

(back to top)

5. CONSULTATIONS, CALLS

►Deadline for Yukon Flats Land Exchange Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) comment is March 25, 2008: A proposed land swap between U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and for-profit Doyon Ltd. would remove 110,000 acres of critical and irreplaceable wildlife subsistence habitat from the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to allow oil and gas development on the land. It also threatens Beaver Creek National Wild River and Victoria Creek in White Mountains National Recreation Area with an oil pipeline and haul road corridor. The Refuge would obtain scattered parcels of land nearer to villages which are not currently threatened by development, but now would be at risk of contamination from operations upstream in the watershed and eventual industrial sprawl. Yukon Flats communities and communities on the Yukon River subsistence way of life is under threat by this land trade.

Local communities are seriously concerned with the proposed land exchange and potential human and ecological impacts, as well as impacts to their subsistence way of life. Please see the following websites for more information on local opposition: Learn more concerns from Fort Yukon tribal government: http://www.fortyukon.org/swap.html

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 Yukon plants, animals and special habitats. Speakers are asked to use plain language so the talks will be of interest to a wide audience including students, naturalists as well as biologists. This year's recipient of the Yukon Biodiversity Awareness Award will be announced at lunch time. If you have an idea for a talk or poster, or would like to learn more about the Biodiversity Working Group year please contact Scott Gilbert or Dave Mossop dmossop@yukoncollege.yk.ca. Attendance at the Biodiversity Forum will be free again this year but advance registration is required so we can keep track of numbers. To register please send your name by email to Scott Gilbert sgilbert@yukoncollege.yk.ca

Volunteers: The Yukon Conservation Society (YCS) turns forty! 40 years of YCS: 1968 – 2008. In 2008, YCS is celebrating 40 years of YCS achievements in environmental education, research and advocacy work; 40 years of volunteerism, hard work, and dedicated efforts in Yukon conservation and stewardship. Calling all YCSers!! YCS is seeking your help with “institutional memory” recall and your help in celebrating this special YCS anniversary! When: March 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008. GET INVOLVED: Join the 40th Celebration team or lend a helping hand by calling Georgia at YCS: 668-5678 or email: ycs@ycs.yk.ca see attached e-mail for more information.

►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 Yukon wildlife, Swan Haven, Biodiversity Awareness Month and Celebration of Swans, visit: http://environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/wildlifebiodiversity/wildlifeviewing.php Submission deadline: Friday, March 28th, 2008 by 4:30pm. Submit by e-mail, fax, snail mail or in person to the Wildlife Viewing office or the Marsh Lake Community Centre.

► Boreal Learning Network: Call For Participants - Environmental Groups and First Nations Working Together to Protect the Boreal Forest. Three sessions in a scenic retreat setting within an hour's drive from a major city: 1. May 28- May 30, 2008: Nakoda Lodge, Alberta (near Calgary), 2. September 2008: Winnipeg, Manitoba, 3. February 2009: Thunder Bay, Ontario. Each session is 2 ½ days long. Travel, accommodations and meals are provided to the participants. For more information on the Sustainability Network and registration go to: http://www.sustain.web.ca/LN/BorealLN.htm

►Call for Proposals - Environmental Education and Communication Conference (EECOM) 2008! Reconnect, Rethink, Rejoice…in Gros Morne! September 25-28, 2008 Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland & Labrador. We invite hands-on, participatory, multi-sensory sessions and workshops, indoors or out, rain or shine - Don't miss this opportunity to contribute as we escape the everyday bustle of line-ups, traffic lights and parking meters… in the great outdoors! Proposal Deadline: March 14th 2008 Click on the following link for more information or to download the proposal form: http://www.eecom.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=97 For additional information contact: Glenda Reid Bavis – EECOM Conference Coordinator contact@eecom.org 1-866-SEA-2-SKY or http://www.eecom.org

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 Gatineau, Québec. The theme of this year’s meeting will be Canadian Biodiversity Adaptation in a Changing Climate. The goal of the meeting is to produce an integrated, policy-relevant, science assessment of how biodiversity and ecosystems adapt to a changing climate. Abstracts for presentations and posters are sought describing investigations or experiences at local to global scales related to each sub-theme of the meeting. For more information about the meeting and what is being requested in preparation for it, please visit: http://www.eman-rese.ca/eman/reports/meetings/national2008/

Call for Proposals - Funding Available for Research on the Social Economy in Northern Canada. Value: Up to $20,000/year for 2 years. The Social Economy Research Network of Northern Canada invites applications for research projects dealing with the Social Economy in the North. Funding is available to support research that fits within the context of the Social Economy Research Network of Northern Canada. The overall goal of this Research Network is to bring together researchers and practitioners working on issues relevant to the social economy in northern Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik and Labrador). The Network has established four broad research themes for Social Economy research with coordinators located at four Canadian Universities. Subprojects should fit within one of these research themes and complement the overall activities and objectives of the program. Research Themes: Applications will be accepted for consideration in four research theme areas: 1. Profiling the social economy in Northern Canada, 2. Resource regimes and the social economy in the North, 3. The State and the social economy in the North, and 4. Indigenous communities and the social economy in the North. For more details on these themes, go to: http://dl1.yukoncollege.yk.ca/sernnoca/themes. For details on the call for proposals go to: http://dl1.yukoncollege.yk.ca/sernnoca/. Applications can be submitted at anytime but these will be reviewed at specific meetings of the SERNNoCa Scientific Committee

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 .

(back to top)

6. WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES.

► Ecoprise 2008 - Green Business for a Sustainable Future Conference March 28th-29th, 2008. Expand your sustainable business contacts at interactive sessions and networking luncheons. Develop a deeper awareness of environmentally sustainable best practices across industries. Gain insight into turning environmentally sustainable practices into a competitive advantage. Immerse yourself in sustainability issues central to leaders in business, government, public agencies, and environmental advocacy organizations. Full conference details are available at http://ecoprise2008.dal.ca. Early bird registration $125. 902.494.6975 nnce@dal.ca

► GEOEC conference: the Global, Environmental, and Outdoor Education Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association! Where: Goldeye Centre, Nordegg, Alberta

When: April 10-13, 2008, Keynotes: Karsten Heuer, Dr. Ellis Jones, and the Dandylionesses. Maximum 200 conference participants – register soon to avoid disappointment! Goldeye Centre is nestled in the foothills of the Rockies near Nordegg: visit http://www.goldeye.org/where_we_are. Conference registration $185 (membership, accommodation, and meals are extra). This conference is always an uplifting and inspiring affair, and an important professional development experience for teachers in both formal and non-formal settings. Join together with old friends and new friends in a beautiful natural environment. Visit the GEOEC website to find out more about the workshops: http://www.geoec.org/conference/workshops-2008.html and then to register for conference, accommodation, and meals: http://www.geoec.org/conference/

Trade and Environment in North America 2008. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), in cooperation with Arizona State University’s North American Center for Transboundary Studies (NACTS), will host Trade and Environment in North America 2008 from 22–24 April in Phoenix, Arizona. The events are open to the public and will feature discussions on reducing the environmental impact of trade corridors and evaluating what has been learned from some 10 years of research on trade and the environment. A one-day symposium will present new research evaluating the environmental impacts of trade on the environment. The events, which will include presentations from some of North America’s top experts on environment and trade issues, will take place over three days. More information about the meetings, including a registration form, is available at: www.cec.org/symposium.

Tunza International Children's Conference on the Environment, Stavanger, Norway 17-21 June 2008 - Theme: A Climate for change. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will be organizing its Tunza International Children's Conference on the Environment in Stavanger, Norway from 17 to 21 June 2008. It will bring together 1,000 children aged 10 to 14 years, to learn about the environment through plenary sessions, hands-on workshops and field trips. The Conference will increase the children's understanding of environmental issues by providing them with a forum to share experiences and collectively voice their concerns for the environment. The themes of the Conference include, Energy, Bio-diversity, Resources and water. For more information on the Conference, and to submit a nomination from your organization please visit our website: http://www.unep.org/tunza/children/events/icc_2008/ . For further information on the conference, please contact: The Children and Youth / Sport and the Environment Unit, Division of Communications and Public Information, United Nations Environment Programme, P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya, Tel: +254 -20- 762 3937 / 762 5066, Fax: +254 -20-762 3927/ 762 4350. Email: children.youth@unep.org

(back to top)

7. RESOURCES

Energy Policy TV has a large inventory of full-length presentations, lectures, discussions, etc. covering all topics related to sustainability (not just energy).

http://video. energypolicytv. com/

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 National Center for Atmospheric Research offers a series of six-week

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.

http://www.earthocean.tv

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 Toronto. For more information, go to: http://sustain.web.ca/, or send an email to info@sustain.web.ca as seating is limited.

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

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.

Environment Canada's web site dedicated to educators. Environment Canada (EC) has compiled the many educational resources it has available on the new web site dedicated to educators at: www.ec.gc.ca/educators. Classified by age category and topic, you will find EC and its collaborators' educational resources in just a few clicks! Take a look at the Complementary Resources section of the home page for even more tools that are available to you.

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

National Round Table on The Environment and The Economy (NRTEE) Final Advisory Report: Getting to 2050: Canada's Transition to a Low-emission Future. The NRTEE is pleased to present its final Advisory Report entitled Getting to 2050: Canada's Transition to a Low-emission Future. This report is the culmination of a year of research, analysis, consultations and deliberations by the Round Table. The Advisory Report sets out clear recommendations for effective action to achieve the government's stated goal of deep, long-term greenhouse gas emission reductions of between 60-70% below current levels by 2050. It concludes that achieving this goal is feasible with the right policy pathway, at a manageable national economic cost over the long run. http://www.nrtee-trnee.ca/eng/publications/getting-to-2050/index-getting-to-2050-eng.htm

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 .

(back to top)

8. FUNDING

► Youth Venture for Young Canadians - Young Canadians in all provinces and territories can now apply to Youth Venture for support in launching their own “social ventures” – sustainable youth-led projects that benefit communities or the world at large. Young Canadians who are ready or willing to launch social ventures may apply at Youth Venture’s website: www.genv.net/en-ca . In addition to many useful tools and resources, the website also provides downloadable action plans to guide youth step-by-step in launching their project. Applications are accepted three times a year. The first deadline is April 30, 2008.

Funding Available for Research on the Social Economy in Northern Canada - Call for Proposals. The Social Economy Research Network of Northern Canada invites applications for research projects dealing with the Social Economy in the North. Funding is available (up to $20,000/year for 2 years), to support research that fits within the context of the Social Economy Research Network of Northern Canada. The overall goal of this Research Network is to bring together researchers and practitioners working on issues relevant to the social economy in northern Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik and Labrador). For details on themes, go to: http://dl1.yukoncollege.yk.ca/sernnoca/themes. For details on the call for proposals go to: http://dl1.yukoncollege.yk.ca/sernnoca/. Applications can be submitted at anytime but these will be reviewed at specific meetings of the SERNNoCa Scientific Committee.

►The Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation call for e 2008 applications for the Global Youth Fellowship program. The Fellowships are targeted towards emerging Canadian leaders who demonstrate potential to enhance Canada’s role on the world stage. The Fellowships will provide successful candidates with a cash award of $20,000 as well as other forms of support. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents between 24 – 35 years of age with previous international experience – paid or volunteer. They also need to demonstrate a sustained commitment to international issues through studies, career choices and volunteer activities. Application Deadline: Thursday, April 10, 2008 by 5:00 p.m. EST. More information about the Fellowship programme, including application forms, guidelines and information on current and past Fellows, can be found on our website at www.gordonfn.org.

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

Yukon Environmental Training Trust Fund (YETTF). The goal of the Yukon Environmental Training Trust Fund is to support training, retraining, upgrading and improving of occupational skills of those employed by Yukon’s environmental groups or individuals working on environmental issues and activities in the Yukon. The Yukon Conservation Society (YCS) administers the YETTF on behalf of the Yukon Territorial Government. Applications can be submitted at any time to: The Yukon Environmental Training Trust Fund Committee, 302 Hawkins Street, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 1X6. The YETTF committee meets every one or two months to consider applications. For information or to download application: http://www.yukonconservation.org/AboutYCS/AboutYCS.html. If you have questions or require more information, contact a member of the Yukon Environmental Training Trust Fund Committee (c/o YCS) at 668-5678 or ycs@ycs.yk.ca. (A)

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)

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 Yukon communities. Applications must be received by the CDF office no later than 5:00 P.M. on the deadline date. For more information call 867.661.0408 ext 8125 or e-mail cdf@gov.yk.ca.

· 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.

Ted Parnell Scholarship. The Yukon Conservation Society (YCS) offers an annual scholarship of $500 to a student pursuing any aspect of environmental studies. This scholarship is awarded annually to a student demonstrating outstanding interest and motivation in the environmental field. Interests pertaining to northern environments such as wildlife, ecology, renewable resources, energy, and environmental education are appropriate areas for eligibility. Application Requirements: Applicants must be Yukon residents and should be entering or currently enrolled in a post-secondary school program (excluding graduate work). Proof of acceptance will be required before the scholarship is awarded. Application should be made in writing by June 30. For more information visit http://www.yukonconservation.org/AboutYCS/AboutYCS.html or call Georgia at YCS: (867) 668-5678

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 Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, 91780 Alaska Highway, Whitehorse, Nancy.Hughes@ec.gc.ca, (867) 667-3928.

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

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)

(back to top)

9. JOBS, VOLUNTEER

►Leave No Trace Canada is excited to announce that we are entering into a new chapter as an organization. We are hiring for the position of “Coordinator” to help us achieve our goal of promoting and inspiring responsible use of Canada’s wilderness and natural areas. Please see the attached employment posting/links and pass the information on to anyone you know who might be interested in applying.

http://www.aventure-ecotourisme.qc.ca/content/templates/actu_gp_en.asp?articleid=345&zoneid=9

http://www.aventure-ecotourisme.qc.ca/content/templates/content_fr.asp?articleid=108&zoneid=2

►The Yukon Volunteer Bureau is looking for an Executive Director. Do you believe in the power of volunteers to grow our community? Are you passionate about supporting the work of volunteers in the Yukon? Do you possess a leadership style that ‘feeds the hearts’ of those you lead? The Yukon Volunteer Bureau is looking for you, a highly motivated and extraordinary individual, for the position of Executive Director. In this leadership role you have the ability to empower staff and volunteers at all levels of the organization to achieve the Yukon Volunteer Bureau’s mission of ‘fostering volunteerism throughout the Yukon’. Wage and hours of work are negotiable and are commensurate with experience.

Please send covering letter, resume, and salary expectations to: Hiring Committee, ED position,

Yukon Volunteer Bureau, PO Box 31107, 305 Wood Street. Whitehorse YT, Y1A 3W1,

Phone (867) 456-4304

Email – info@volunteerbureau.yk.ca to apply or request a job description

All resumes must be received by 4:30pm on April 4, 2008

Raven Recycling is looking for an Office Administrator. This is a full time position (75 hours bi-weekly). The salary is $35,100 per annum. Raven offers innovative conditions of employment and flexible scheduling. The Raven Recycling Society is a not-for-profit social enterprise that runs as a business. Raven provides over 20 well-paid private sector jobs and works for the good of the community. Lead by a volunteer board of directors since 1992, Raven works to divert waste from Yukon landfills and educate the public. Any questions, please contact: Joy Snyder, Executive Director, Raven Recycling Society, 100 Galena Road, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2W6 - 867-667-7269 ext 25

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 Yukon. We supply the personnel, the transportation, the accommodations, and some tools. You offer planning and direction, and a beneficial learning experience. You get your project done. The students learn and earn money for school. And the Yukon environment and its inhabitants benefit too! It’s a win-win-win situation! Application deadline is Friday, April 25, 2008. And it’s not too soon to call now! For further information contact: Morris.Lamrock@gov.yk.ca or call 667-3041 or check our website at: www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/educationyouth/y2c2.php

Environmental Careers Organization (ECO). ECO Canada was established in 1992 as part of Canada's sector council initiative. With a solid reputation in the field of human resource management, ECO Canada's services reach all participants of the environmental sector including employers, practitioners, educators, and students. The ECO Job Board Canada’s largest environmental job board helps you find current environmental job opportunities in wildlife conservation, policy, earth sciences, geology, energy, government, environmental engineering, waste water treatment, and more! How the ECO Job Board benefits you: Search for environmental jobs posted by Canada’s leading environmental employers including AMEC, Golder Associates, DESSAU, Rescan, and more! Submit your resume to ECO’s resume database and expose your skills to hundreds of employers who are short-listing candidates everyday to fill Canada’s top environmental jobs. http://www.eco.ca/portal/jobSeeker_viewJobs.aspx

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 Simcoe, Ontario.

GoodWorkCanada.ca: “More than just jobs, GoodWork is the place to get connected to environmentally and socially responsible projects, organizations and companies in Canada”. http://www.planetfriendly.net/goodwork.html (A)

(back to top)

10. YOUTH

►As part of their Time Capsule initiative, the International Polar Year (IPY) Canadian Youth Steering Committee (http://www.ipycanada.ca/YSC/), is pleased to announce the beginning of the Polar Photo Contest for Youth. Entries of photos taken in the Arctic and Antarctic are welcome from youth under 20 years old, and will be judged in three categories: 1. Traditional Culture Today 2. Polar Wildlife & Landscape 3. The Changing Poles

Photo entries will be included in the IPY Time Capsule, also organized by the Canadian Youth Steering Committee, and will be stored in the Prince of Wales Heritage Centre in Yellowknife until the next IPY (about 50 years). In addition, 12 entries will be used to produce a calendar for distribution to all entrants. Further prize information will be posted on the CYSC Time Capsule website (http://timecapsule.edublogs.org/ ).

We invite high school teachers and youth leaders from across the North to encourage participation in the Polar Photo contest. For more information visit the Time Capsule website at http://timecapsule.edublogs.org/ or contact us at IPY.timecapsule@gmail.com.

The deadline for entries is December 31st, 2008 and the photos should have been taken during 2008. Please contact Bob Van Dijken, Yukon IPY Coordination Office, International Polar Year. Bob.VanDijken@cyfn.net

Youth Venture for Young Canadians - Young Canadians in all provinces and territories can now apply to Youth Venture for support in launching their own “social ventures” – sustainable youth-led projects that benefit communities or the world at large. Young Canadians who are ready or willing to launch social ventures may apply at Youth Venture’s website: www.genv.net/en-ca . In addition to many useful tools and resources, the website also provides downloadable action plans to guide youth step-by-step in launching their project. Applications are accepted three times a year. The first deadline is April 30, 2008.

GreenLearning is pleased to announce that a new Pembina Foundation program is now up and running! GreenLearning has been developing a youth leadership program for the last two years, from the research phase through to program design and securing funding. We are working in collaboration with the Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership. Our youth leadership program will be unique in Canada, offering youth aged 18 to 24 accredited experiential leadership training in sustainability. The first semester will be piloted in early 2009. We are currently hiring a youth intern to assist with market research for the program. Funded through Green Street, the intern will receive a $1000 honorarium to complete the project by March 30, 2008. For information about this exciting new program, contact Youth Leadership Program Director, Nadine Reynolds at http://www.greenlearning.ca/contact-us.

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 U.S. and Canada each receive $2,000 to support their service work or higher education. Half of each year's winners are chosen for their work to protect the environment. Nomination deadline is April 30. For more information and to nominate, visit http://www.barronprize.org/

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 Quebec City, Canada, from 10 to 21 August 2008. Winners of the Festival VidéEau will automatically be selected for the official competition of the International "Water and Film" Events. For more information, go to: http://www.i-s-w.org/en/videeau_en.html.

► NOW - 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 Canada, gain leadership and public speaking skills, and make a real difference in the world—all from the seat of your bicycle? Join a cycling and performing tour. Otesha's 2008 cycling and performing tours are ready to roll! Seven teams of 15 to 20 motivated and energetic young people, aged 18 to 30, will set off on tours beginning in May, July and September. They will travel by bicycle throughout parts of Canada performing plays and offering workshops on sustainability and social justice issues to schools and community groups. You can be one of them! The Otesha Project has announced the routes for the 2008 Otesha Cycling and Performing Tours. Tour members will share an incredible experience as they live as a mobile and sustainable community for two months. Applications are now being accepted for seven regional tours throughout Canada that will take more than 120 inspiring young change-makers on the journey of a lifetime. You could be one of them! Visit www.otesha.ca to view the routes. Apply now! More information available at www.otesha.ca

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 Canada (WWF-Canada) Launches: Young Leaders for a Living Planet. Do you care about the state of our living planet? Do you believe that youth can make a positive impact? Then WWF-Canada’s new Young Leaders for a Living Planet program is for you! Starting in the spring of 2008, you will be involved in exploring, understanding and engaging through hands-on projects. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge, skills, and an inspiring network of friends, so you can take action to protect our fragile earth. Depending upon your age and location, there are two ways for you to get involved in the Young Leaders for a Living Planet program: The Footprint Challenge Are you a high school student who wants to DO SOMETHING to help ensure a future for our living planet while having fun with friends? If your answer is 'yes', join the Footprint Challenge, a unique activity for youth who are ready to take charge. The Footprint Challenge gives you the ideas and inspiration needed to coordinate a project in your community that engages you and your friends in making a difference to the health of our planet." http://www.wwf.ca/youth/

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 Yukon. We supply the personnel, the transportation, the accommodations, and some tools. You offer planning and direction, and a beneficial learning experience. You get your project done. The students learn and earn money for school. And the Yukon environment and its inhabitants benefit too! It’s a win-win-win situation! Application deadline is Friday, April 25, 2008. And it’s not too soon to call now! For further information contact: Morris.Lamrock@gov.yk.ca or call 667-3041 or check our website at: www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/educationyouth/y2c2.php

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 Canada’s environment. Tell us how your class or environmental club is bringing a green dream to life, and you could win $2,500 from TD Bank Financial Group to support an environmental initiative at your school. Five runners-up in each of the Junior and Senior categories will receive digital video camcorders from Panasonic Canada. All participating schools receive a year-long subscription to Canadian Geographic. The Junior and Senior Grand Prize winners will be invited to attend the Canadian Environment Awards Gala on June 2, 2008, in Toronto. For complete details or to post your green game plan, visit http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/cea2008/gt.asp. The Green Team Challenge closes on March 1, 2008

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 North America to make a difference. http://www.quantumshift.tv/contests/. Pick an environment or social cause and get your school involved in making a difference. QuantumShift.tv, a Web TV network featuring solution-oriented news, documentaries, and entertainment, is challenging students and teachers at all K-12 schools in the US and Canada to document their work on a social or environmental project through a series of short videos over the 2007-08 school year - September 1, 2007 - April 30, 2008. The winning schools will receive a prize package worth $50,000 in cash and educational resources. Electronic Press Kit available at: http://quantumshift.tv/schools/press

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 Arctic and North. North3 is the short name for this project, called, in full, "Your North is My North is Our North," a name which emphasizes that, despite its vast distances, the circumpolar world is a unified whole, rich in culture, history and natural resources, and facing common environmental, social and economic challenges. The North3 website has been supported by the Northern Initiatives Fund managed by Aboriginal and Circumpolar Affairs in DFAIT. It is part of a larger Arctic youth website called "Ookpik." Both are hosted by the International Institute of Sustainable Development in Winnipeg. www.ookpik.org/north3

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 Ontario grade 7 expectations addressed by eCards. Using the eCards website, students research a renewable or non-renewable source of energy, create eCards with their own message and graphics, and with teacher approval, email them to a family member, friend or community leader - making their voices heard on their energy futures. To check out eCards go to: http://www.greenlearning.ca/node/172

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 Canada's Website for Youth - Connect to youth and organizations in environmental fields to get involved, expand your knowledge, and be inspired. Go to: http://www.ec.gc.ca/Youth/index_e.cfm (3)

(back to top)