Sunday, January 27, 2013

What a freaking awesome turnout!

Jan. 26th, 2013
Wow! What a turn out for the I AM film screening at the Burlington Public Library!
I counted close to 170 people in the room.
Congratulations to the team of KAIROS, GSS Halton and Hamilton, Environment Hamilton, Hamilton 350. Something good is happening.


Read here for a piece on the walk that took place after the screening:

CBC News http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/01/26/hamilton-endbridge-pipeline-protest.html (check out photo and map) 

Friday, January 4, 2013

Opportunity Knocks: Youth get involved.

So you want to do your part for the environment?
Good. Youth, please take a look at some of the opportunities we have listed below:
Do you like Theatre?
Want to help write a play with a message that promotes sustainable live styles? Rather act in one? In partnership with scenechange.ca, we are looking for youth to get involved with creating the best theatre ever!

Get to Worship Without Your Car: Get To Your Faith Centre A Greener Way
September 2013
This is an opportunity for you to organize the challenge and promote sustainable transportation at your place of worship. Be part of the fun while promoting active transportation.

Join the GSS Youth Advisory Group!
GSS YAG will work together on projects that promote environmental stewardship, eco-justice action in our places of worship and in our community!
 • Enjoy the support and mentoring of community leaders and partners.
• Network and share ideas
•Gain access to resources and equipment such as video camera, editing equipment and more
•Gain and build upon leadership skills
•Meet new friends and be with peers who are equally passionate about protecting the environment around us.

Volunteer with Environment Hamilton Projects including:

The Good Food Box: a non-profit fresh fruit and vegetable distribution program. It makes healthy fresh food affordable and accessible to everyone. For only $15 you receive a box of fresh quality produce worth $25 or more. We buy food at wholesale prices, with a preference for Ontario farmers.
You will help pack the boxes.

The Fruit Tree Picking Project:  Volunteers help to harvest fruit from trees in Hamilton that would otherwise go to waste. Fruit tree owners contact us if they have trees that are available for picking. Volunteers then pick the fruit and divide it between the tree owner, local food banks and social service providers. Volunteers also enjoy the 'fruits of their labour' and get to take some of the fruit home.

The DustBusters: aims to reduce the airborne dust and particulate matter (PM) that dirties our city and enters our lungs. By building capacity within communities and empowering residents to observe, record, and report instances of excess dust and dust drag-out, we hope to place pressure on Hamilton's worst offenders and encourage them to conform to health and safety standards at both the municipal and provincial levels.

Pipewatch
Initially introduced by Environment Hamilton in 2002, the program has been revived in order to revisit discharge concerns from combined sewer and storm sewer outfalls within the Red Hill and Davis Creek. You will be trained to monitor our local watersheds, identify points of concern, and take action to help improve creek health! Project on hold

Stackwatch
EH staff and volunteer neighbours watch emissions from ArcelorMittal Dofasco. While the company is supposed to be in the midst of implementing a $16 million five year air quality improvement plan called "Blue Skies," the sky over the plant is far from being blue.
The plant continues to emit high levels of the potent cancer-causing substance benzo(a)pyrene among other hazardous pollutants of concern.

Other Service Opportunities in the Community 
Hamilton Victory Gardens:  a faith based, volunteer, not-for-profit Corporation, whose purpose is to develop and grow sustainable gardens, based on Urban Agriculture techniques, throughout the City of Hamilton.  Their goals are to provide local, organic, fresh produce to local food banks and hot meal programs, and are affiliated with Good Shepherd. http://www.hamiltonvictorygardens.org/

The Rotary Sunrise Garden at St. Mark's: A community garden from which the produce will go to the Dundas Food Bank. This garden encourages community building and knowledge about gardening.
http://www.dundasintransition.ca/community-gardening.php

Share the Road: Youth Summit
Help plan this summit. You can do it over the internet.
http://youthcycleon.weebly.com/