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People- & Planet-Friendly Events, Resources, Good News (00/07/01)
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PEOPLE- & PLANET-FRIENDLY EVENTS & RESOURCES
Supplemental Edition - Revised Saturday July 1, 2000
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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
or use the online form at http://www.web.ca/~ppf/subscribe.html
*** CONTENTS ***
(A) EVENTS & COURSES IN ONTARIO
(B) The Links Between Chemicals, Environment, Health, Cancer - Activist
Resources
(C) Other Notices, Resources, Jobs
(D) NEW: GOOD NEWS SECTION
(E) About this Newsletter
SUBMIT LISTINGS TO: http://www.web.ca/~ppf/submit.html
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See also: http://www.web.ca/~ppf/promote.html
New/modified listings (since June 29) are indicated by
an asterisk (*). In order by START date.
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(A) EVENTS & COURSES IN ONTARIO
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* This is a supplemental edition (due to late postings & changes)
For a more complete list of events, please see the June 29 edition.
This edition includes events in Toronto, Caledon & Ottawa.
* ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH COURSE, Tues July 4 - Sat July
15, 9am-5pm, Toronto. Education for social & ecosystem
healing! Understanding the links between environment & health is
critical to our survival & well-being. A down-to-earth, activism-
oriented course for community health workers, health
professionals, educators, labour activists, environmentalists,
community organizers, policy makers, economists, parents/
grandparents, youth - all welcome. Different [excellent] speakers
& videos every day. On Tuesday, Trevor Hancock, of the
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, will lead
the discussion. PAY WHAT YOU CAN (full price is $385). Space
still available, just turn up to register on Tuesday morning (if you
miss Tuesday, or can't attend the whole course, come anyway). At
OISE, room 12-200, 252 Bloor W (between St. George subway &
Bedford). More info: 416-928-0880 or Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg
416-960-4944 weed@web.net, or 416-923-6641 x2595
pboin@oise.utoronto.ca [I just took this course and can highly
recommend it. This is a diverse, eye-opening, but not very
demanding course. Please help spread the word to other interested
persons. - ed]
* OTTAWA/NEPEAN COMMUNITY GARDENING
WALKABOUT, Tues July 4 & Thurs July 6, 6:30-8pm,
Ottawa/Nepean. "Walkabout the Garden" with Master Gardener
Fleurette Huneault. TUES: Bethany Community Garden, Nepean,
behind Bethany Baptist Church, 382 Centrepointe Drive West at
Baseline. Rainsite: in the Church. THURS: Strathcona Community
Garden between 430 & 440 Wiggins Ct., walk through parking lot
towards Lees Ave. More info: Brenda 613-244-2804
binouye@sandyhillchc.on.ca
* MONITORING GLOBAL WARMING: Radar Remote Sensing
of Vegetation, Wed July 5, 2pm, Toronto. Forest ecosystems
control more than 50% of the seasonal change in atmospheric CO2
and are the dominant temporary storage of carbon. The ability to
monitor the rate of deforestation & regrowth is of vital importance.
Because of their ability to penetrate clouds and to some extent
through vegetation, imaging radars at microwave frequencies have
become a major tool for observing Earth's biosphere. An overview
of theoretical & experimental activities in retrieving forest
parameters from multi-frequency, multi-polarization, and/or
interferometric imaging radar systems. With Dr. Kamal Sarabandi,
Assoc. Prof., Electrical Engineering & Computer Science.
Galbraith Building, Room GB 244, Faculty of Applied Science &
Engineering, U of T, 35 St. George Street. More info: Ramesh
Abhari 416-978-4534
* PEOPLE OF COLOUR & COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
NETWORKING MEETING, Wed July 5, 6:30-8:30pm, Toronto.
A facilitated discussion for People of Colour & First Nations
people to talk about activism and organizing in communities of
colour. Florence Heung will touch on some of her experiences
from her internship in the fall of 1999 with The Centre for Third
World Organizing (CTWO), in the Minority Activist
Apprenticeship Program (MAAP), Oakland, California. Florence is
an Educator-in-Residence at the Catalyst Centre, working on The
Environmental Justice Action Research Project (TEJARP). She
recently spent time in Oakland, California, working in
communities of colour as an intern with MAAP. Free. At the 519
Church St. Community Centre (just north of Wellesley). More
info: Clare Nobbs, Catalyst Centre http://www.catalystcentre.ca
416-516-9546 catalystcentre@web.net
* COMMUNITY GARDEN TOUR, Sun July 9, 12:45-4pm,
Toronto. Tour Toronto's community gardens, including Alex
Wilson, the Big Back Yard, Davenport-Perth, High Park Children's
Garden. Pay what you can. Meet the bus at the south side of
Nathan Phillips' Square (Toronto City Hall), 100 Queen W. at
12:45 sharp! To register, call Seema Patel at 416-922-7626 asap!
Toronto Community Garden Network
http://www.foodshare.net/grow.htm
* EXPLORING COMMUNITY GARDENING IN HIGH PARK,
Sun July 9, 1-5pm, Toronto. Learn how community gardening
links with over 10,000 children, First Nation's history, and High
Park ecology through storytelling, music, activities, and games.
Feast your senses on foods from around the world. All ages
welcome. Free. High Park Children's Garden, South end of
Colborne Lodge Drive. More info/register: Jane Hayes
kidsgrow@city.toronto.on.ca 416-392-1560, ext. 85695
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/parks/programs/children.htm
* GENEaction MONTHLY MEETING & INFO SESSION, Wed
July 12, 7pm, Toronto. GENEaction's monthly meetings feature
talks/presentations/workshops on various aspects of Genetic
Engineering (GE) / Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMO's).
We are a diverse group of citizens who wish to inform & inspire
themselves & others to act on the issue of GE food. Find
out how GE affects you & what we can all do about it. All
welcome. Free. Second Wednesday of each month. Room 212,
348 Danforth (upstairs at Carrot Commons, near Chester subway).
More info: geneaction@graffiti.net 416-406-2481
New website: http://ecoexplorer.com/GENEaction.htm
[Related sites: http://www.canadians.org/ge-alert/index2.html
http://www.greenpeacecanada.org (click on "campaigns", then
"genetic engineering") http://www.consumerhealth.org (click on
"articles", then do a "keyword" search on "genetic engineering".
GENEaction (Toronto) Geneaction@graffiti.net 416-438-1254
http://www.ratical.org/jumpdoors.html#BioKoya
http://www.biodev.org/index2.htm (click on "resources", "general
biotech info") http://www.rafi.org/web/action.shtml
http://www.resistanceisfertile.com http://www.panna.org]
* URBAN SPRAWL, GROWTH & RESOURCE
SUSTAINABILITY: the Role of Environmental Advisory
Councils, Fri Sept 29 - Sun Oct 1, Alton (in the Caledon Hills).
Planners, environmental consultants, NGOs & local politicians will
come together with members of Ontario's municipal environmental
advisory committees to learn more about how to deal with the
pressures of urban sprawl & resource exploitation. With Dr. David
Suzuki (Saturday evening), William Rees (author of "Our
Ecological Footprint"), John van Nostrand (Planning Alliance
partner), Mark Taylor (senior scientist at Beak International). On
Sunday morning, participants can participate in a workshop where
they will work with experts to design Mayfield West, a community
of 15,000 residents that must be located somewhere within
Caledon's boundaries. Starts Friday at 6pm; ends Sunday 1:45pm.
Conference: $100, Dr. Suzuki only: $20. Register if possible. At
the Caledon Centre for Culture & Education. More info: Nicola
Ross cca@woodrising.com 519-927-0548
http://www.town.caledon.on.ca
http://www.woodrising.com/cca/homepage.htm Nancy Pickard
(Dr. Suzuki tickets) 905-584-1456 or admin@caledon.library.on.ca
(Caledon Environmental Advisory Committee)
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(B) ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH RESOURCE GUIDE, BOOK, VIDEO...
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* ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COURSE, Tues July 4 - Sat July
15, 9am-5pm, Toronto. Education for Social & Ecosystem
Healing! Understanding the links between environment & health is
critical to our survival & well-being. A down-to-earth, activism-
oriented course for community health workers, health
professionals, educators, labour activists, environmentalists,
community organizers, policy makers, economists, parents/
grandparents, youth - all welcome. Different (excellent) speakers
& videos every day. On Tuesday, Trevor Hancock, of the
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, will lead
the discussion. PAY WHAT YOU CAN (full price is $385). Space
still available, just turn up to register on Tuesday morning (if you
miss Tuesday, or can't attend the whole course, come anyway). At
OISE, room 12-200, 252 Bloor W (between St. George subway &
Bedford). More info: 416-928-0880 or Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg
416-960-4944 weed@web.net, or 416-923-6641 x2595
pboin@oise.utoronto.ca [I just took this course and can highly
recommend it. This is a diverse, eye-opening, but not very
demanding course. - ed]
TAKING ACTION FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE - Resource
Guide & Community Handbook. (1) Background; (2)
"Prevention Works!"; description of key issues: pesticides,
chlorine, plastics, radiation, mammography, tamoxifen & the
medicalization of prevention; electromagnetic fields; air quality;
biological markers; (3) Resources & commentary on cancer & the
environment; women's health; women, ecology & history; health
promotion & advocacy; alternatives to conventional medicine;
political economy and the Cancer Business; human rights &
environmental justice; workplace & occupational health;
sustainable economic alternatives; poetry & prose for ecological
wisdom; (4) What we can do: educational resources; critical
thinking; media resources (films, videos, radio programs); film &
popular education catalogues; organizations, networks &
institutions; web sites; safe alternatives to hazardous products &
services. $10. By Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg & Liz Armstrong.
Available from the Women's Health & Environment Network,
416-928-0880 weed@web.net
WOMEN'S HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT NETWORK,
416-928-0880 weed@web.net 233 - 517 College St., Toronto
M6G 4A2
Book: LIVING DOWNSTREAM: AN ECOLOGIST LOOKS
AT CANCER & THE ENVIRONMENT, Dr. Sandra Steingraber,
1997, Addison Wesley, New York (and 1998, Vintage Books(?)).
Video: EVERYDAY CARCINOGENS - Acting in the Face of
Scientific Uncertainty. This simple, direct video draws a clear,
moving, and scientific picture of the links between man-made
chemicals, environmental pollution and cancer - and the immediate
implications for adults, and especially babies, children & youth. It
includes a moving description of what is in breast milk - and how
it got there. With one in four Canadians already dying of cancer,
end ever-greater amounts of toxics being unnecessarily released
into the environment, this topic is of great relevance to us all.
Consider buying a copy to show to your doctor, family, friends &
co-workers. By Dr. Sandra Steingraber, biologist, cancer survivor,
and author of "Living Downstream: An Ecologist Looks at Cancer
& the Environment". (1997, Addison Wesley, New York, and
1998, Vintage Books) Available from Lorna Wilson, the Breast
Cancer Prevention Coalition, 23 Lynden Hill Crescent, Brantford
N3P 1R1. 519-751-2560 Lorna.Wilson@sympatico.ca
http://www.stopcancer.org Complete transcript at:
http://www.stopcancer.org/conf_ec/transcr/tr_steingraber.html
Video: STOPPING CANCER WHERE IT STARTS. The same
corporations that are profiting from the manufacture of carcinogens,
are profiting from the manufacturing of chemo-therapy and other
cancer treatments -- they have a vested interest in the "Cancer
Industry". See the Toxic Links Coalition (California)
http://agitprop.org/tlc/ 510-548-9286 jibasmil@aol.com
PESTICIDES ON YOUR PLATE (magazine feature & website).
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? New Internationalist Magazine (May issue & website)
follows the poison trail from the big pesticide companies to your
plate - and explains what we can do. With examples of how it's
done differently in Australia, Thailand & Cuba. Available in better
bookstores & some chains (e.g. Chapters, Indigo, Book City)
Web site: http://www.newint.org Full text of articles available
on the web: http://www.oneworld.org/ni/index4.html
Subscriptions: 905-946-0407
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Powerlessness & silence go together. We...should use our
privileged positions not as a shelter from the world's reality but as
a platform from which to speak. A voice is a gift. It should be
cherished and used." - Margaret Atwood.
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(C) OTHER NOTICES, RESOURCES, JOBS
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* WIND ENERGY - GALLON ENVIRONMENT LETTER. The
current "International Edition" of this informative e-newsletter
includes a feature on wind energy (Vol. 4, No. 26, June 29). Also
in this issue: smog, sewage, mining chemicals, California drinking
water pollution lawsuit, world bank environment loans, over-
fishing, and international environmental events. A biweekly e-mail
providing immediate & timely info on enviromental & economic
issues in Canada & internationally. Also includes "Green Jobs
Available". cibe@web.net 514-369-0230
* GET THE INDY OUT! Do you remember last year's Indy Race
around Toronto's Exhibition Grounds? What is going on here -- a
three day car race in a city suffering under a pall of killer smog?
Well, we're getting organized for this year's Indy, scheduled for
July 14-16. There will be some creative responses to this lunacy.
We're IndyOut.com, and we invite you to join with us in gettting
this abomination run out of town. Drop us an email & join the fun:
IndyOut@hotmail.com As of Wed. July 5, check out our site:
http://www.IndyOut.com
OTHER EVENT CALENDARS http://www.web.ca/oen
http://www.web.ca/~ppf/othev.html
http://www.ec.gc.ca/conf/conf_e.cfm http://events.web.ca/
http://www.interlog.com/~cjazz
http://www.charityvillage.com/charityvillage/event1.html
http://www.sustainable.org http://www.greenontario.org
http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/current/daily.html
Now Magazine "7 Days" & "Grassroots"
listings@nowtoronto.com
416-364-1300 fax: 416-364-1166.
http://www.web.ca/~ppf (People- & Planet-Friendly Events)
http://www.web.ca/~ppf/othev.html
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(D) THE GOOD NEWS DEPARTMENT!
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Seeking brief, positive & inspiring tales, facts, anecdotes
for inclusion in this section (as time & space allows). Submit at
http://www.web.net/~ppf/submit.html or icontario@aol.com
SUPERMARKET CHAIN TO SELL ONLY ORGANIC FOOD
Supermarket chain Iceland was today due to announce plans to switch
complete food ranges to organic - at no extra cost to the customer.
The retailer has bought up to nearly 40% of the world's organic
vegetable crop to meet a growing demand among supermarket shoppers.
The chain, which was the first to ban genetically modified ingredients
from its own brands, is to pledge that there will be no extra cost to
the consumer.
The company is also injecting #1 million into the National Trust, the
UK's biggest landowner, for a project to promote
environmentally-friendly farming.
But the firm will warn shareholders that the organic move is being made
at a price, and will result in an #8 million drop in profits by December 2000.
Iceland's managing director, Russell Ford, told BBC radio that the
investment was prompted by a survey suggesting three out of four
customers would prefer to buy organic goods if they were cheaper
than current prices.
The new scheme will set organic products at the same price as average
supermarket own-label products. Frozen organic vegetables will be
introduced first.
"At the moment Britain has minimal organic production due to lack of
Government investment in the organic industry in its formative years,"
said Malcolm Walker, chairman of Iceland.
"We hope that our investment will help change this."
Iceland's #1m investment will support the National Trust's farming
programme, which works with tenant farmers to develop environmentally
responsible practices.
At present, only 3% of UK agricultural land is organic and all the
supermarkets are forced to rely on imports to meet the demand.
Sainsbury's is reported to have bought sites on Caribbean islands to
guarantee its organic supplies.
But with 40% of the organic crop sown up, experts say Iceland's
investment could act spur on the rest of the food industry, increase
competition and cut prices further.
Previous initiatives by the chain, which has 760 stores in the UK, such
as the GM food ban were widely welcomed by environmental campaigners
like Friends of the Earth.
Its introduction of a range of environmentally-friendly fridges and
freezers led to its products being the only ones to gain an endorsement
by Greenpeace..
The new scheme may also put pressure on the government to give more
financial help to would-be organic food producers.
By Padraic Flanagan, PA News
Received from: Kathryn Scharf <kathryn@foodshare.net>
FoodShare Metro Toronto http://www.foodshare.net 416-392-1657
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(E) ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
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"Never doubt that a small number of dedicated people can
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- Margaret Mead
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