Green Party in Carleton Mississippi Mills

2009 AGM Announcement

Murray Reeves — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:20:29 +0000

the CMM Greens will be holding our AGM in early November. Exact day and location are TBD and will be posted shortly.

if you'd like to run for an executive position, just contact us at cmmgreens@greenparty.ca, or call 613-831-4342. it is a great way to learn about issues, politics, and the community!

Volunteers Wanted!

Murray Reeves — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:29:25 +0000

The Carleton-Mississippi Mills Green Party Association is looking for volunteers! Our organization deals with all levels of politics in our community. Join us for a wonderful experience that is both useful and educational!

Here are some of the benefits of working with the "CMM Greens":
> Don't feel comfortable with your knowledge of federal, provincial, or local political issues and want to gain a better understanding? We have many people in our organization that will help you. the CMM Greens organization has expertise in business, economics, science and technology, as well as politics and environmentalism. We also welcome new ideas and perspectives into our discussions!

> Need to add content to your resume? Our organization provides a variety of areas to develop marketable skills: Fundraising, event planning, business planning, finance, resource coordination and development, public speaking, web site and desk top software tools, and more! As well, you will have an excellent opportunity to make contacts with professionals in our organization, and in the community. Our group members have had senior level experience in high technology firms, accounting, and public sector roles.

> The sense of doing good for your community and country! the Green Party is the most open and progressive major party in Canada. We are the only party that develops policies that focus on the long-term sustainability of our society, integrating the needs and issues of our economy, our social structure, and our environment. If you are concerned about your health and future, and that of your children and grandchildren, this is the ONLY political organization that you should work with!

If you are interested you can contact us through the web site, or call at 613-831-4342. We need more people like you working in our political system to make it vibrant, relevant, and productive!

ALL ages are welcome!

Murray Reeves
CEO
Carleton-Mississippi Mills
Federal Green Party Association

May 22nd is International Day for Biological Diversity

admin — Fri, 22 May 2009 23:24:27 +0000

The United Nations proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. To read more go to
http://www.greenparty.ca/en/media-release/2009-05-22/may-22-biodiversity...

Coca-Cola Strikes First Environmental Torchbearer Program

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:48:15 +0000

For full article:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/news/feature-stories/-/65882/32574/jkat6...

"Based on close consultations with World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF-Canada) and the David Suzuki Foundation, Coca-Cola has created the first-ever Environmental Torchbearer Program for an Olympic Torch Relay. The program will be activated during Canada’s 2010 Olympic Torch Relay for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, beginning October 30, 2009.

Coca-Cola’s Green Torch Relay Program encourages Canadians to pledge small lifestyle changes for the environment in exchange for the opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame. For North Americans, that may include turning off the water when brushing your teeth, biking or walking instead of driving, or washing clothes in cold water and then hanging them out to dry. The Green Torch Relay is one element of Coca-Cola’s Olympic Games Sustainability Plan.

Coke selected Gerald Butts, president and chief executive officer of WWF-Canada, as the first environmental Olympic Torchbearer.
Green Team Torchbearers

Members of the Mississauga Braves Hockey Association are the first chosen to participate in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, marking the first time a team will be allowed to carry the Olympic Flame. This hockey association based in Ontario, Canada makes diligent efforts to reduce environmental impacts by committing to simple initiatives such as carpooling, washing uniforms in cold water and hanging them out to dry, donating old equipment, and drinking from reusable water bottles.

“One of the environmental initiatives that I’m most proud of is carpooling because it cuts down emissions into the air and you get to travel with your friends,” said 13-year-old Mississauga Braves hockey player Kevin Mellegers.
Environment-Friendly Tips from the Mississauga Braves

•Carpool
•Use energy-efficient appliances
•Wash clothes in cold water and hang them out to dry
•Recycle old hockey equipment or give it to charity
•Turn off computers, printers, stereos and televisions when not in use
•Do not use gas or electric lawnmowers (old-fashioned push mowers do the job)
•Program your thermostat to what is needed
•Turn off lights when not needed
•Buy reusable shopping bags, not plastic
•Buy reusable mugs and water bottles to reduce waste from disposable cups (that’s for you too, hockey parents and fans)"

Green Meetings Are a Team Effort: Sign Up the Supply Chain

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:31:00 +0000

For Full article:
http://energypriorities.com/entries/2009/04/green_meetings_suppliers.php

"At the 8th World Conference on Sport and the Environment last week, the theme was "Innovation and Inspiration - Harnessing the Power of Sport for Change." What does that have to do with business meetings?

The conference focused on the power of large-scale events (in this case, sports) to demonstrate innovative solutions to environmental challenges, and to inspire people to pursue a more sustainable world. Substitute the gathering of your choice -- make it "harnessing the power of conventions for change" -- and the theme remains just as appealing."

Of 'Greenwash' and Image Management

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:31:56 +0000

Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/business/energy-environment/06green.ht...

"I am the devil," pronounced Matthew Rose at a conference Friday at Baruch College in New York City. The topic at hand was "greenwashing," that rather nebulous term used by advocacy groups, the news media, consumers — and even business competitors — to describe specious corporate claims of environmental stewardship."

"What to do, after all, when a company exploits a minor but true green data point to the exclusion of its larger environmental record, or peddles meaningless green images and aphorisms?

At some point, deference is given to free speech, Leonard L. Gordon, director of the Northwest regional office of the F.T.C., said at the greenwash conference Friday, and the agency has not been in the habit of challenging such ads."

Elizabeth May "It is a scandal that Chief Nottaway spent Christmas in jail for peaceful civil disobedience to demand governments live up to their responsibilities,”

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:52:25 +0000

Full Article: http://racismandnationalconsciousnessnews.wordpress.com/2009/04/06/land-...

"TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF SNUNEYMUXW FIRST NATION (NANAIMO, BC)– “It is a scandal that Chief Nottaway spent Christmas in jail for peaceful civil disobedience to demand governments live up to their responsibilities,” said Federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May at a rally in Ottawa on January 7 in support of the jailed Customary Chief.

Chief Benjamin Nottaway of the Barriere Lake First Nation was sentenced to two months imprisonment for peacefully proclaiming rights to traditional territories in Western Quebec.

In 2001, the government of Canada reneged on the binding 1991 Trilateral Agreement, a sustainable development and resource co-management agreement between Canada and the Barriere Lake First Nation."

Green age dawns at Stikeman

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:48:04 +0000

Full Story: http://www.financialpost.com/news-sectors/legal/story.html?id=1467757
"Stikeman Elliott LLP has new bragging rights today, becoming the first national law firm in Canada to be certified "carbon neutral."
It means the greenhouse gas output generated from the business of practising law is offset against credits the firm bought from a carbon trading company to achieve the neutral rating."
"The firm introduced a comprehensive recycling program, adopted double-sided printing, reduced font size, adjusted building temperatures, reduced light levels, used more video-conferencing and eliminated bottled water, replacing it with a filtered water system.
Stikeman now diverts 80% of its waste, reducing garbage sent to the dump by 16,900 kilograms annually. The printing changes cut paper use by four million pages in Toronto alone. The modifications saved $100,000 annually."

Air-quality crisis in Northern Ontario community

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:21:35 +0000

Full story:
http://www.timminspress.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1512140

"Attawapiskat isn't suffering an air-quality crisis, so the Northern Ontario community won't be evacuated, the federal government says.

That leaves the isolated First Nations hamlet scrambling to figure out what to do after it closed two schools and declared a state of emergency because of fuel fumes wafting from the demolition site of a nearby former school.

About 400 children can't go to class, and the local education authority is struggling to ensure Grade 8 and 12 students can still graduate.

Susan Bertrand, a spokeswoman for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), told Sun Media that for a community to declare a state of emergency, there must be a "present or imminent danger."

But air-quality monitoring by Health Canada before, during and after the demolition of the old school reveals no such threat, said Bertrand. "We are not evacuating the community."

Attawapiskat's former school sits atop the remains of an underground fuel leak from 1979. It was closed in 2000, and public school students were transferred to portable classrooms. Nine years later, their classes are still held in portables. "

The Navigable Waters Protection Act and Why You Should Care

Robert Postma — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:55:46 +0000

The recent budget implemenation act, C-10, included several non-budgetary items including changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA). This 100+ year old act enshrined the right of citizens to unobstructed navigation of Canada's waterways and was a trigger for envrionmental assessment (EA) of projects affecting those waterways. Changes under C-10 have taken away that right and given control of our waterways to the Minister of Transport, who will decide which waterways are to be protected and when EAs are required.

The decisions of the minister are unilateral and not subject to parliamentary or public oversight, i.e. behind closed doors. This is yet another example of the Harper governments attack on Canada's democracy and the environment, executed with the complicity of the Liberals.

Meanwhile, south of the border, President Obama's administration is strengthening protection of their rivers.
Here's what Rebecca Wodder, president of American Rivers had to say:

“America’s history and heritage are knit together by our rivers. These Wild and Scenic
Rivers are the lifeblood of our communities,” added Wodder. “By protecting our rivers,
President Obama is ensuring our grandchildren will enjoy a legacy of clean water, outdoor
recreation and all of the economic and quality of life benefits that come with healthy
rivers and wild places.”

What is wrong with this picture?

Why, when Americans are protecting rivers and speaking richly of their values, is Canada
doing the opposite?

What on earth is the Canadian government thinking in gutting the Navigable Waters
Protection Act, one of the pillars of protection on Canadian waterways? These changes are intended to accelerate development projects such as the private power projects launching in British Columbia. Take a look at the video on the Save Our Rivers website to see where this can lead from sea to sea to sea -

http://saveourrivers.ca/video-library-mainmenu-29/327-bute-inlet-

The Harper government has not yet linked the health of our economy and the health of our environment and appears intent on turning Canada into a resource big box store for the rest of the world, leaving Canadians to pick through the slag heaps, swim in the tailing ponds and look at pictures of the once healthy, verdent hills where we found our souls.