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Planet-Friendly Events, Resources & Feature on Pesticides (00/05/18)




***********************************************
PEOPLE- & PLANET-FRIENDLY 
EVENTS, RESOURCES & Feature on Pesticides
Revised Thurs. May 18, 2000
***********************************************
Here are upcoming SUSTAINABLE LIVING, ENVIRONMENTAL 
& SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS, workshops, courses, festivals, 
films, broadcasts, resources & jobs in Toronto, Ontario & beyond. 
PLEASE PASS THIS ON or post at your office or neighbourhood.

For a FREE e-mail subscription, send a message to icontario@aol.com

*** CONTENTS ***
(A) EVENTS IN ONTARIO
(B) Major Events in NEW YORK & VIRGINIA 
(C) More Cool Summer & Fall COURSES & APPRENTICESHIPS
(D) PESTICIDES, GMO's & CANCER -- Problems & Solutions
(E) About this Newsletter
(F) Support the People- & Planet-Friendly Events

Submit new listings at http://www.web.net/~ppf/submit.html
and please FAX all Toronto-area events to NOW magazine: 
new fax: 416-364-1166 (listings@nowtoronto.com) by 5pm 
Thursday, a week before the Thursday of publication. 

PLEASE CONSIDER making a donation to support this service! 
http://www.web.net/~ppf/donate.html (or email us for details)

* Events in Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton, Long Point, 
Kitchener, Stouffville, Hillsburgh, St. Clements, 
Chatsworth, Paisley, Midland, Lindsay, On-line, 
Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, France & India. 
New/modified listings (since May 11) are indicated by 
an asterisk (*). In order by date.  

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(A) EVENTS IN ONTARIO 
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*** NEW *** How to Submit an Event or Other Listing: 
If possible, please use the *NEW SUBMISSION FORM* 
at http://www.web.net/~ppf/submit.html  This will save us 
a LOT of time and help your event to be published in a 
timely & accurate manner. Help us to help you get the 
word out to thousands of organizations & individuals! 
(If you can't use the form, you can still e-mail 
submissions to icontario@aol.com) ***Thank you***

* ORGANIC FARMERS MARKET, Saturdays, 8am-2pm, 
Toronto.  Fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, pasta, bread & treats 
from local, organic farmers.  New location: Queen St. Market, 238 
Queen St. W. at John (indoors & maybe outdoors).  More info: 
Sam 416-703-4975 sam.hirst@utoronto.ca  [Another great location 
for organics is Karma Co-op, 7 days a week, near Bathurst subway, 
416-534-1470 -ed]

EARTHSHIPS, WIND POWER & PERMACULTURE, Fri-Mon 
May 19-22 (long weekend), Paisley (3 hours NW of Toronto).  
Hands on activities at two Earthships (earth- birmed, passive solar, 
recycled-materials house), with wind turbines & photovoltaics, 
radiant floor heat, composting toilets, grey-water beds.  $225-250.  
Kevin MacMillan 519-986-4737 or Jillian Hovey 416-410- 7581

GROW YOUR OWN ORGANIC FOOD, Sat May 20, 9am-4pm, 
Hillsburgh.  Everdale's five acre certified organic market garden 
will be your classroom.  Come out, get your hands dirty, take home 
lots of tips & handouts that will make your own veggie garden a 
great success.  Companion planting, composting, harvesting & 
storing, beneficial insects, crop rotation, cold frames, more.  At 
Everdale Learning Centre, a non-profit centre offering workshops, 
seminars, apprenticeships & demonstrations in sustainable living & 
technology - including energy consumption, building methods, 
healthy households, and agriculture. A working organic farm and 
diverse wildlife habitat. $50. Bring lunch, gardening clothes, 
camera. One hour northwest of Toronto. Also: June 3, build your 
own solar water heater; June 14, where to get healthy food; July 
15, herb walk; July 20, food that strengthens the immune system; 
Aug 19, renewable energy intro; Aug 23, wild seed collecting; Aug 
26, food storage; Sept 23-24, strawbale construction; Oct 7, 
permaculture intro; Nov 4, wind power.  More info: Gavin Dandy 
519-855-6533  everdale@albedo.net

HUMUS TOILET - DO IT YOURSELF, Sat May 20, 10am-6pm, 
Chatsworth.  How to make your "poop" work for you!  Hands on, 
practical workshop on how to plan, design & construct a low cost 
humus toilet.  Useful for cottages, homes, barns, outhouses, etc.  
With Greg Allen, Engineer & Architect, with over 25 years 
experience innovating, designing & building appropriate 
technology homes, commercial & public buildings.  "Nature's 
Dance" Farm, R.R. # 4 Chatsworth, Ont.  $75/$85 incl veg lunch.  
More info: Dan Shatil 519-794-3609

RESTORATION WEEKEND IN CAROLINIAN CANADA, Sat-
Sun May 20-21, Long Point.  Join us for a long weekend in the 
warm climes of Long Point, helping to restore a tall-grass prairie 
community in Canada's deep south.  Activities for all; planting 
native trees & shrubs; learning about restoration ecology.  
Camping, swimming (spring-fed pond).  Bring cameras, 
binoculars, guitars...  $20 incl. catered dinner Sat. night. Info / 
register: Bruce Mackenzie, Wildlands League 416-971-9453 x46  
info@wildlandsleague.org  http://www.wildlandsleague.org

OAK RIDGES - YUKKY TAP WATER - HUNTERS 
EVERYWHERE! Sun May 21, 2pm, Toronto.  Concerned about 
developers paving over the Oak Ridges Moraine into shopping 
mall parking lots?  Remember when Toronto tap water didn't taste 
like it was piped in from a public swimming pool?  Don't like the 
idea of hunters lurking around you when you're hiking in 
Killarney? Sierra Club Toronto (Ron Bruchell Group) is digging 
its heels in to stop bulldozers in the Oak Ridges Moraine, fixin' to 
clean up our waters locally & in the Great Lakes, and saying "no" 
to blood sports in our provincial parks. This your chance to 
actively help in a big way with these (and other) issues. 53 Elm 
Grove Ave. (near Queen & Dufferin) Come out & make our city a 
better place to live - or write us: ron.burchell.group@sierraclub.org

* SUN RUN CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING, Sun May 
21, 10am-4pm, near Lindsay.  An on-going, family-sized 
experiment in sustainable living; produces its own electrical power 
& most of its organic food supply; alternative-construction 
buildings; rare-breed cattle; various water use & conservation 
systems; integration of mind, body & spirit with those of plants, 
animals & nature.  Visitors Days, 3rd Sunday of each month 
(March-Nov) except July (2nd Sunday).  Pre- registration required.  
Suggested donation $5 per vehicle.  Located near Cameron & 
Lindsay, Ontario, about 2hrs NE of Toronto.  Milton & Barbara 
Wallace  sunrun@lindsaycomp.on.ca 705-887-1553

WORLD WATER DAY, Mon May 22.  Conserve & protect our 
fresh water!  http://www.ec.gc.ca/water  800-668-6767

FOOD DEMOCRACY E-CONFERENCE, Mon-Fri May 22-26, 
on-line.  Next steps in building a national food security network.  
mkoc@acs.ryerson.ca  http://www.acs.ryerson.ca/~foodsec/foodsec/fd.htm

* CHILDREN'S WATER & GROUNDWATER FESTIVALS, 
May & June, Stouffville, Kitchener, Mississauga...  Hands-on, 
interactive events for thousands of elementary school students. Fun 
& education about important water issues: conserving water used 
daily; protecting our water resources; understanding the water 
cycle; discovering the interface between water & technology in 
their lives; fostering respect toward water & the environment.  
Tues-Fri May 23-26: York Children's Water Festival, Bruce Mills 
Conservation Area, Stouffville;  Mon-Fri May 29-June 2, 
Waterloo-Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival, Doon 
Heritage Cross Roads, Kitchener;  Wed-Fri June 7-9 & Mon-Tues 
June 12-13: Peel Children's Water Festival, Vic-Johnston 
Community Centre, Mississauga.  Mor info / volunteer: 
http://www.kidsforwater.org  416-919-1158

* WTO INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP, Wed May 24, 9:30am-
4pm, Toronto. New interactive workshop by the Canadian Labour 
Congress & Ontario Federation of Labour. Trade agreements, the 
World Trade Organization, etc. Cafeteria or bring a lunch. Ontario 
Federation of Labour Building, 15 Gervais Drive (Don Mills & 
Eglinton). RSVP Andrea Calver 416-441-3714 or Chris Schenk 
416-441-2731.

* WORKING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE - AN INTERFAITH 
PERSPECTIVE, Wed May 24, 6-8pm, Toronto. How can faith & 
secular organizations work together for social action & change?  
With Rachelle Wilner, Dav Phrimmer, Wahide Valiante, Harry 
Kitts.  Hors d'oeuvres & refreshments. All welcome.  U of T 
Faculty of Social Work, Room 548, 246 Bloor W at St. George. 
416-978-6394

* CORPORATE GREED GAME SHOW! Wed May 24, 7pm, 
Toronto.  An interactive presentation on how corporate greed 
blocks community needs.  Free.  At Masaryk-Cowan Community 
Centre, 220 Cowan (near Queen & Lansdowne). More info: Metro 
Network for Social Justice 416-398-3050

* GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS & the ENVIRONMENT, 
Wed May 24, 7:30pm, Toronto. With author/food activist Dr. 
Wayne Roberts (author of "Real Food For a Change"). Avoid GM 
& choose Real Food!  At Grassroots Environmental Products, 372 
Danforth (at Chester)  416-466-2841

* ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT - FRIEND OR FOE? Wed 
May 24, 7pm, Mississauga.  With Michelle Albanese (Cantox 
Environmental).  Also: GM Foods; Oak Ridges Moraine; how to 
promote environmental groups; networking opps, free posters . $3 
includes pizza & pop. At Cantox Environmental, 2233 Argentia 
Road, Suite 308.  Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists.  
RSVP by May 21: cseb_on@hotmail.com or Wendy Thomson 
416-972-7166.

* RISK ASSESSMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE TO 
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS, Wed May 24, 7pm, 
Mississauga. Presentation by Michelle Albanese of 
Cantox/Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists.  Followed 
by discussions on GM FOODS, OAK RIDGES MORAINE, more.  
$5 for pizza & pop. At Cantox Environmental, 2233 Argentia Rd, 
Suite 308, Mississauga. RSVP cseb_on@hotmail.com by May 21st 
for directions.

* PUTTING CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE INTO ACTION, 
Thurs May 25, 10am, Toronto.  The Australian experience: 
conveying uncertain climate change info to decision makers in an 
unambiguous manner; examples of resulting policy change. With 
Kevin Walsh, CSIRO Atmospheric Research, Aspendale, 
Australia.  MSC Auditorium, 4905 Dufferin St.  Sunling Gong 
416-739-5749

RED HILL'S FLYING SQUIRRELS, Thurs May 25, 7:30pm, 
Hamilton.  Annual Spring Public Forum, with Ewa Bednarczuk.  
Location T.B.A. Free.  Friends of the Red Hill Valley 905-381-
0240 http://www.hwcn.org/link/forhv

* ST. LAWRENCE FORUM, Thurs May 25, 7:30-9:30pm, 
Toronto. A public forum on "Brain Drain - Brain Gain" closes the 
forum's 30th season of discussion & debate on the life of the city. 
Monthly forums for the fall will include a mayoralty debate & 
local issues. Please write to us with your recommendations for 
community partners & topics for public forum discussions. Free 
admission. The St. Lawrence Centre Forum, 27 Front St. East, 
Toronto M5E 1B4.  Two blocks south of King subway, one block 
east of Yonge. http://www.stlc.com/forums.htm  416-366-1656 
ext.273/274  Fax: 416-947-1387

* BIKE WEEK, Fri May 26 - Sun June 4, Toronto. Ten days of 
events & festivities to promote cycling, encourage participation, 
showcase cycling resources & infrastructure, and suggest 
bicycling, walking & transit as sustainable methods of 
transportation. Festivals, group rides, tours, parties, swaps, trail 
clean-ups, Divorce Your Car book launch, workshops, kid's rodeo 
& safety, awards, bicycle race, alternative bicycles, open house, 
free breakfasts, more.  A small selection of the events is included 
in this newsletter; for a complete schedule of events around the 
city, see the web site: 
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/bikeweek_index.htm 
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/bikeweek_schedule.htm 
416-392-7592 btww@city.toronto.on.ca

* CRITICAL MASS BIKE RIDE, Fri May 26, 6pm, Toronto.  
Everyone is invited to join this group bicycle ride to celebrate 
urban bike riding. "We are not blocking traffic, we are traffic." 
Meet at Yonge & Temperance St. at 6pm. Free. 416-392-7592 
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/bikeweek_index.htm 
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/bikeweek_schedule.htm

* DIVORCE YOUR CAR! Fri May 26, 7:30pm, Toronto. Pull out 
of auto-dependency, break free from auto-cracy - and help save the 
planet. Well-researched, practical guidebook outlines fun, healthy 
& money-saving ways of liberating ourselves from our addiction to 
cars. Free. With Author Katie Alvord. Metro Hall, 55 John St., 
Room 304.  Info: 416-392-7592 
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/bikeweek_index.htm 
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/bikeweek_schedule.htm

FEDERATION OF ONTARIO NATURALISTS' 69th AGM & 
CONFERENCE, Fri-Sun May 26 - 28, Midland.  Come explore 
nearby marshes, swamps & parks & participate in the numerous 
panel discussions & presentations. Keynotes include wolf experts 
Mary & John Theberge; artist, photographer & writer Dan 
Stuckey; world-renowned astronomer Terence Dickinson; others. 
All welcome! Midland-Penetanguishene Field Naturalists Club & 
Friends of Wye March Inc.  Liz Schandlen schandlen@simcoe.net  
705-526-8320.

* DON'T BE SILENT THIS SPRING!
* RACHEL CARSON DAY, Sat May 27, 9:30am - 2pm, Toronto. 
Birthday of Rachel Carson, author of the environmental classic, 
"Silent Spring".  Rally, march, speakers, mock funeral for the 
environment, info tables, picnic. Help ban hormone-disrupting 
chemicals (pesticides, PVC, PCBs, plastic, dioxin, phthalates, 
bisphenol-A) that are causing infertility, toxic breast milk, breast & 
prostate cancer, learning disabilities & thyroid imbalance. It's time 
to stop! 9:30am: symbolic planting of sunflowers;  9:45am: march 
begins at Church of St. Stephen's in The Fields on College St., w. 
of Spadina at 103 Bellevue. 10:30am: speakers, singers & info 
tables at Queen's Park; 11:30am: 1st Annual Rachel Carson Award 
& Dead Duck Award; 11:45 rainbow web; 12:15 bring your own 
picnic lunch; 12:30-2pm: networking & info tables. With Dr. 
Sheilah Basrur (Toronto Medical Officer of Health), Peter Tabuns 
(Greenpeace Canada), Sat Dharum Kaur (Naturopathic Doctor), 
Dr. Riina Bray (MD), Brent Paterson (Council of Canadians), and 
the Raging Grannies. Bring a drum! More info: Sat Dharam Kaur 
416-923-4860

* ORGANIZING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, Sat May 27, 9:30am-
2pm, Toronto.  Community work in the new millenium. George 
Brown College, Room 128, 200 King E. (East of Jarvis).  Faculty 
of Community Services 416-415-2190  bluker@gbrownc.on.ca  
RSVP by May 15 (so we can plan lunch)

FAIR FARE FAIR, Sat May 27, 12-4pm, Toronto.  Fair Trade. 
Fair Food. Fair Fun!  What makes food fair? Find out! Mural 
making (for all ages), a short (fun) play, info booths covering 
topics such as food co-ops, community gardens & fair-trade coffee, 
bread baking workshops, and a brick oven cranking out pizza 
(buck a slice). Plus, enjoy spring gardens & a playground for kids! 
At Dufferin Grove Park Clubhouse (1 block S of Bloor on 
Dufferin, NW corner of the park, across from Dufferin Mall). Free! 
More info: Matthew Adams, Catalyst Centre, 416-516-9546 
catalystcentre@web.net http://www.catalystcentre.ca

* OAS: CORPORATIZING THE HEMISPHERE, Sat May 27, 
noon-5pm, Toronto. Noon-1pm: Seattle & Washington videos; 
literature tables from organizations participating in the Windsor 
OAS events. 1-4pm: What is the Organization of American States 
(OAS)?  4-5pm: Outline of teach-ins, marchs, demonstrations & 
bus arrangements for the OAS events in Windsor June 2-6. With 
Christine Elwell, Sierra Club (on the structure of the OAS & 
Corporatizing the Environment in the Americas); Ana Isla, PHD & 
Peruvian-Canadian (on World Bank structural adjustment 
programmes in Latin America); Jaggi Singh (on Globalization as 
Corporate Colonialism), Carol Phillips, CAW International Dept 
(Why is labour concerned?).  At Innis College Town Hall, U of T, 
2 Sussex Ave (St. George south of Bloor). Toronto WTO Action 
Coalition &  PAMAI (People Against the MAI).  Endorsed by 
Toronto & York Region Labour Council, Council of Canadians, 
Metro Network for Social Justice, Science For Peace, Canadian 
Auto Workers, International Socialists.  More info: Bob Olsen 
416-967-0768 bobolsen@interlog.com  Buses to & from Windsor 
Sun June 4: Brent Patterson 416-885-6283 
<bpatterson@canadians.org>  Related web sites: 
http://www.tao.ca/~stopftaa/indexFTAA.htm
http://www.mnsi.net/~woasan http://www.ichrdd.ca  
icchrla@web.net  http://www.canadians.org  
http://www.agp.org/agc http://www.wtoaction.org/clcoas.phtml  
http://www.oas.org/  http://www.acerca.org/  
bobolsen@interlog.com

* WILDFLOWER PLANTING, Sat May 27, 10am-noon, Toronto.  
At the beautifully restored Don Valley Brickworks.  By car: 
Bayview Avenue, just south of Pottery Road, north of the 
Bloor/DVP on-ramp.  By TTC: meet outside Castle Frank Subway 
9:45am.  Rain or shine. More info: 416-392-7842.

* BIKE OUT A MOUNTAIN OF TRASH, Sat May 27, 11am-
1pm, Toronto. Help clean up the Don Valley and get ready for 
another exciting summer of cycling. It is everyone's responsibility 
to keep the trails clean. Join the U of T Mountain Bike Club in this 
annual effort to improve the cycling environment for everyone. 
Meet at the parking lot at the bottom of the hill on Thorncliffe Park 
Dr., E.T. Seaton Park. 416-392-7592 
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/bikeweek_index.htm 
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/bikeweek_schedule.htm

* FREE BIKE CLINICS at MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO-OP, 
Sat May 27 11am-4pm, Sun May 28 12pm-4pm, Sat June 3 11am-
4pm, Sun June 4 12pm-4pm. Bring your bike, or just yourself, and 
get help, advice & answers to your questions about bike repair, 
maintenance & safety. 416-340-2667  http://www.mec.ca

* BIKE SWAP & PARTY, Sat May 27, 7pm, Toronto. Learn 
about safe night riding, swap bikes, test rides, displays, hang out 
and enjoy the music. Valet bike parking!  At the XXX Diner, 894 
Queen St. W.  416-392-7592 
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/bikeweek_index.htm 
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/bikeweek_schedule.htm

* MUSIC, COMMUNITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE (concert), Sat 
May 27, 8pm, Toronto.  "Common Thread" Community Chorus of 
Toronto, a new chorus with the goal of promoting social justice & 
a sense of community by performing joyful & empowering music.  
Our multicultural, multilingual repertoire of folk songs will inspire 
your toes to tap and your heart to sing in celebration of the dignity 
of all people and their struggles to create a better world. With guest 
performance by folk musician Pat Humphries.  Child-friendly, 
wheelchair accessible, hearing assistance. Adults $10/$12; seniors, 
youth, children:  $5 adv/ $6 door (sliding scale available at the 
door). At Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor W. (at Huron, a 
block from St. George or Spadina subway).  For advance tickets or 
more info: 416-410-5022 or ctchorus@interlog.com.

* GREEN POWER - TIME TO TAKE ACTION!, Sun May 28, 
9:30-4:30pm, St. Clements.  Taking Action for Change - building a 
greener world from the grassroots up, with Lynda Lukasik, 
Hamilton's Environmentalist of the Year.; How to Tap into Green 
Power, with David Argue, Consultant & VP of Greengrid Electric; 
others.  $30/person; $50/couple; $12/age 10-16 includes lunch.  
Pre-reg by May 20 so the cooks can be ready!  CITIZENS FOR 
RENEWABLE ENERGY AGM.  Environmental Learning Centre, 
YMCA Paradise Lake Camp, St. Clements (near Waterloo).  Ziggy 
Kleinau phone/fax 519-795-7725  http://www.web.net/~cfre  or 
Karen Gventer 519-376-3272

* FISH OF TORONTO BAY, Sun May 28, 10:30am-noon. Guided 
Nature Walk with Toronto Bay Initiative & the Toronto Field 
Naturalists. Tour along the central Toronto waterfront & learn 
about fish, their habitat & new regeneration projects. Meet in front 
of Second Cup, 145 Queen's Quay West (at the foot of York 
Street). More info 416-943-8080 x227

* WILDFLOWER & WETLAND PLANTING, Sun May 28, 
10am-noon, Toronto.  Park entrance is on south side of Lawrence 
Ave E, just east of the Don Valley Parkway exit.  Meet: parking lot 
at bottom of hill. Rain or shine. More info: 416-392-7842.

* WOMEN & PHILANTHROPY, Mon May 29, 5:30-7:30pm, 
Toronto. Strategies women can use to make a real difference; how 
to be more strategic & organized in your giving; how to find the 
women's organizations doing the work you want to support; how to 
make a greater impact on the causes and issues you passionately 
care about. $50. Pre-registration required. At the Royal York 
Hotel, Canadian Room. Canadian Women's Foundation 416-365-
1444 info@cdnwomen.org  http://www.cdnwomen.org/

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(B) MAJOR EVENTS BEYOND ONTARIO
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NGO MILLENIUM FORUM, Mon May 22 - Fri May 26, New 
York. Bringing together representatives of civil society from all 
over the world to consult about humanity's common future -- and, 
particularly, the role of the United Nations in confronting the great 
global challenges of the 21st century.  United Nations 
Headquarters, New York.  http://www.millenniumforum.org  
phone: 212-803-2522  Fax: 212-803-2561

MILLENIAL STEWS: FOOD & FOOD SYSTEMS IN THE 
GLOBAL CITY, Thurs. June 1 - Sun. June 4, New York.  
Association for the Study of Food & Society, and The Agriculture, 
Food & Human Values Society.  At New York University 
food.conference@nyu.edu  
http://www.nyu.edu/education/nutrition/foodconference

ADVANCING COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY - 
NATIONAL MEETING, Thurs - Sat June 1-3, Roanoke, Virginia. 
All over North America, public officials, business leaders, & 
nonprofits are recognizing the need to rethink urban life to achieve 
environmental, social & economic sustainability.  Interact with 
practitioners experienced with implementing sustainability 
projects.  For state & local public officials, business leaders, 
nonprofit organization managers & citizen activists. Speakers 
include agency heads, department directors, private sector 
managers, nonprofit organization officers, others.  (A) physical 
development (e.g.: infill, adaptive reuse, and sprawl prevention); 
(B) infrastructure design (e.g.: alt transit, waste mgt, energy 
systems); (C) economic structure (e.g.: industrial ecology, local 
economic resilience, job creation).  The Sierra Club's Anti-Sprawl 
Campaign; Federal Programs in Support of Sustainability; 
Community Development Through Sustainable Jobs; Services & 
Resources Available through the Local Environment Government 
Assistance Network.  Virginia Tech & the Center for 
Organizational & Technological Advancement Tel: 540-231-5182 
http://www.sustainable.org/information/www.conted.vt.edu/advcom.htm

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(C) MORE COOL SUMMER (and Fall) COURSES & APPRENTICESHIPS
---------------------------------------------------

* SUMMER INSTITUTE IN SUSTAINABLE LIVING, July 7 - 
Aug 18, Massachusetts & New York State.  Learn valuable skills 
in sustainable living while experiencing the richness of two 
intentional communities & ecovillages. Integrate academic & 
experiential learning through holistic awareness practices, 
seminars & readings, an ecological design project, bioregional 
field trips, and integration into the day-to-day lives of two 
communities - "Sirius", a spiritual ecovillage & education center in 
western Massachusetts; and "Ecovillage at Ithaca", an ecological 
cohousing community in upstate New York.  $1600 incl meals & 
camping. http://www.siriuscommunity.org/LR/SummerInstitute.html 
http://www.LivingRoutes.org  info@LivingRoutes.org  413-259-
0025  1-888-515-7333

GEO COMMUNITIES SEMESTER, Aug 27 - Dec 9, France, 
India & USA.  The Geo Communities Semester, formerly known 
as Geocommons College Program, is a semester-long journey into 
ecology, community, and mindful living.  After forming a 
"Learning Community" in New Hampshire, students & faculty 
spend ten days at Plum Village, a Buddhist monastery in southwest 
France; two months in southern India at Auroville, an ecovillage & 
spiritual community of 1500 people; and ten days at Mitraniketan, 
a Gandhian community promoting village renewal.  Re-entry to 
North America occurs at the Sirius Community in Massachusetts 
where students reflect upon & integrate their experience.  Studying 
sustainable living practices, students come face to face with issues 
of world population, globalization, & habitat destruction as well as 
experience the joys of intercultural exchange, biological 
restoration, and mindfulness training.  Upon successful completion 
of the program, students receive 12 semester credits through the 
University of New Hampshire's Department of Natural Resources.  
http://www.LivingRoutes.org  info@LivingRoutes.org  413-259- 
0025  1-888-515-7333

* WWOOF! (Willing Workers On Organic Farms). Work in 
exchange for room, board, learning & fun. Support the organic 
movement and get hands-on experience. $30 annual fee for list of 
400 host farms across Canada. John Vanden Heuvel, RR #2, S.18, 
C.9, Nelson, BC, V1L 5P5. 604-354-4417 New web site 
http://www.members.tripod.com/~wwoof (incl. world-wide links) 
wwoofcan@uniserve.com

* For more Ontario courses, see last week's issue & back-issue at 
http://www.web.net/~ppf/spring2000.html

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(D) PESTICIDES, GMOS AND CANCER -- Problems & Solutions
---------------------------------------------------

* PESTICIDES ON YOUR PLATE (magazine special edition).  
Agricultural chemicals have slipped invisibly into every corner of 
our lives.  We drink these poisons, we eat them and we breathe 
them.  They accumulate in our body and every mother has them in 
her breast milk. We know they kill fish & wildlife and that they 
cause cancers & reproductive disorders. So why are they still being 
used? And why aren't governments & corporations doing anything 
about them? The May issue of New Internationalist Magazine 
follows the poison trail from the big pesticide companies to your 
plate - and explains what we can do. Examples of how it's done 
differently in Australia, Thailand & Cuba. Available in better 
independent bookstores & some chains (e.g. Chapters, Indigo, 
Book City)  April issue focuses on Fair Trade.  Check out their 
web site at: http://www.newint.org  Subscriptions: 905-946-0407  
Full text of articles indexed & available on-line: 
http://www.oneworld.org/ni/index4.html

* EVERYDAY CARCINOGENS: ACTING FOR PREVENTION 
IN THE FACE OF SCIENTIFIC UNCERTAINTY (online 
transcript). Missed the film & talk? Transcript available online: 
http://www.stopcancer.org/conf_ec/transcr/tr_steingraber.html  A 
powerful documentary about the links between environment & 
cancer - and the time-bomb we are creating by continuing to use 
pesticides, chlorine, plastics, radiation, etc.  Also, a description of 
what is in breast milk - and how it got there.  More info: Breast 
Cancer Prevention Coalition 519-751-2560 
Lorna.Wilson@sympatico.ca  http://www.stopcancer.org;  
Women's Health & Environment Network 416-928-0880 
weed@web.net

* ORGANIC FOODS & FARMING IN PERIL AGAIN (action).  
There are very real problems with the USDA's second proposed 
organic rule.  Now & until June 12 is the time for organic farmers 
& customers to partner again.  Send comments to 
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/ or fax 730-365-0760  Exercise your 
right for pure & unadulterated food!  From: Erorganic@aol.com  

* DON'T BE SILENT THIS SPRING! - RACHEL CARSON 
DAY, Sat May 27, 9:30am to 1or2pm, Toronto.  Rally, march, 
mock funeral for the environment, speakers, info tables. See details 
in section (A), above. 

* TAKING ACTION FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE (Resource 
Guide & Community Handbook).  $10.  Women's Health & 
Environment Network, Toronto 416-928-0880  weed@web.net  

* GENE ACTION, 2nd Wednesday monthly, 7pm, Toronto.  A 
diverse group of citizens who wish to inform & inspire themselves 
& others to act on the issue of GE food.  All welcome.    
geneaction@grafffiti.net  416-438-1254  

* FOODNET-L MAILING LIST - discussion about food security 
issues in Ontario. To subscribe, send an e-mail to 
Majordomo@list.web.net with the following command in the body 
of your email message: subscribe foodnet-l Questions: owner-
foodnet-l@list.web.net or foodont@web.net

* PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK UPDATE SERVICE.  
Reviews of publications, videos & other resources relating to 
pesticide reduction, genetic engineering & food security, more.  To 
subscribe, send a blank message to: panups- 
subscribe@igc.topica.com   Pesticide Action Network North 
America, San Francisco 415-981-1771  panna@panna.org  
http://www.panna.org

* ORGANICS IN ONTARIO & CANADA. Knives & Forks 
Consumer's Guide to Eating Organics 1-888-84-EARTH.  
Canadian Organic Growers, Ecological Farmers Assoc. of Ontario, 
searchable "EcoMarket" database: http://www.gks.com  Organic 
food sources across Canada: http://www.inforganics.com

* ORGANICS & GENETIC ENGINEERING resources in the US:  
http://www.purefood.org   http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org  
http://www.ucsusa.org (Union of Concerned Scientists)  
http://www.ota.com (Organic Trade Assoc)  
http://www.organicgardening.com (Organic Gardening Magazine)

* WWOOF! (Willing Workers On Organic Farms). Work in 
exchange for room, board, learning & fun. Support the organic 
movement and get hands-on experience. $30 annual fee for list of 
400 host farms across Canada. John Vanden Heuvel, RR #2, S.18, 
C.9, Nelson, BC, V1L 5P5. 604-354-4417 New web site 
http://www.members.tripod.com/~wwoof (incl. world-wide links) 
wwoofcan@uniserve.com

* See also May 20, 21, 22 & 24 & June 1 events in (A) & (B) above.

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