[getsmart-l] FW: CLIMATE ACTION NOW newsletter Oct/Nov 07

[Janet May]

FYI - The newsletter of Climate Action Now (St. Catharines)

-----Original Message-----
From: Jane Hanlon [mailto:janehanlon at cogeco.ca] 
Sent: November 18, 2007 1:28 PM
To: St. Catharines Climate Action Now
Subject: CLIMATE ACTION NOW newsletter Oct/Nov 07



St Catharines
CLIMATE ACTION NOW
November 2007 Newsletter


Next Public Meeting:

November 22, 2007	6:30pm
Centennial Library, Banker's Room
St. Catharines

Come out and meet with fellow environmentalists!

.......................................................................

The Public Meeting will be followed immediately by the next in our
Eco-Speaker Series:

Centennial Library, Banker's Room
November 22, 2007	7:30pm-9:00pm

Affordable Solar and Wind Power
Presented by Deborah Power and Mike Fournier of Niagara Wind Power

Explore very affordable alternative energy systems including solar power,
wind turbines, windmills, anemometers, geo-thermal, and biogas.  Following
the presentation, there will be an open discussion.

.......................................................................

Project Porchlight is in full swing.  We've had to order another shipment of
bulbs, due to arrive Monday, Nov 19.  For those who have offered to deliver
but haven't received your light bulbs and info, they can be picked up
Tuesday Nov 20 from 42 Oakmeadow Place.  Call 905-938-8882 to confirm
pick-up time.  Please return the empty bags and info sheets to the same
location.  C.A.N. offers a hearty thanks to those who have volunteered their
efforts to further your neighbours' awareness.

.......................................................................

The Green Shopping Bags are selling well. Our reusable shopping bags, which
fold conveniently into their own zippered wallets, are available at our
monthly meetings or call the contact numbers below.   For only $2.50, you
can give someone a useful, environmentally aware Holiday gift or
stocking-stuffer - while supporting St. Catharines C.A.N. projects at the
same time.  We encourage our members to pick up a supply for themselves and
also to sell to co-workers and friends.

.......................................................................

Our Market Square Education Table is no longer feasible.  The location has
been pre-empted by long-term leaseholders at the Market Square location, as
it should be.  When the numbers of vendors dwindles, as they seasonally do,
we'll return to the Market Square.  It's a great location that has offered
us regular contact, visibility and the chance to connect with supporters and
suppliers of local food.

.......................................................................

WMAC's waste reduction initiatives have been heartily endorsed by St.
Catharines CLIMATE ACTION NOW this week.  From the bi-weekly garbage
pick-up, to the permanent hazardous waste depots, to increased presence and
the reintroduction of the green bins, we're delighted.  There are still
areas of concern where we may be able to assist, ... better event use,
restaurant composting, apartment pick-ups and so on.  Waste reduction
strategies will receive serious consideration in the coming months, as we
define direction for 2008 and 2009.

.......................................................................

St. Catharines C.A.N. is launching our

		Poinsettia Coupon Fundraiser!!
When: November 14th - December 15th, 2007

We are asking all members to sell 5 Poinsettia Coupons each. Purchasers can
redeem their coupons at the Broadway Gardens or Rice Road Greenhouses.
There are thousands of beautiful blooms to choose from.

Prices for the coupons are as follows:
		Size                           Selling Price

    		4" pots                    	$ 3.99
    		6" pots                    	$ 7.99
    		8" pots                    	$ 17.99
   		10" pots                   	$ 24.99

Proceeds from the coupon sales go towards costs of St. Catharines CLIMATE
ACTION NOW.

Members can pick up their poinsettia coupons from Rainbow Phelan at the
St. Catharines C.A.N. meeting November 22nd, or can call Rainbow at
684-8048, or e-mail Rainbow at kinderline at hotmail.com to arrange another
pick up.

Please do your part - St. Catharines C.A.N. can't run without your help!

.......................................................................

International Buy Nothing Day

Every November, for 24 hours, we remember that no one was 'born to shop'. On
Friday, November 23, millions of people around the world will go on a
24-hour 'consumer fast'. Thousands of activists in 65 countries will engage
in credit-card cut ups, zombie walks, pranks and shenanigans, in an attempt
to catalyze a mind shift towards sustainable lifestyles. It's easy to join
in - just buy nothing for 24 hours!

.......................................................................

St. Catharines C.A.N. has applied for funding to support the Circle Greening
Projects, and hopes to complete three in the coming year. With adequate
funding and business donations, we can provide three additional cul-de-sacs
with trees, shrubs and groundcovers, while still encouraging stewardship.

Also, we've been meeting on a regular basis with other Eco Groups from the
Niagara Region, for the purpose of improving our collective capacity.
Niagara-based Environmental Groups focused on Climate Change are encouraged
to contact Jane Hanlon at 905-938-8882 for further information.

.......................................................................

JOIN US ON THE (FREE) MID- PENINSULA BUS TOUR !

When:	Saturday, November 24, 2007
	10:30am to 5:30pm

Where:		Meet at 10:30 a.m.
		St. Catharines VIA Rail Station
		4 Great Western Street (off St. Paul West)

What:		Enjoy an innovative day of interactive learning and
networking on the
ROVING ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM. Revel in the threatened beauty of Niagara and
the Niagara Escarpment, understand the dangers of the Mid-Peninsula
Expressway and explore the Proposed Expressway Route.
Areas to be visited include:
Headwaters of Welland River
Dundas Valley
Spectacular Vistas of Mount Nemo

		**** Lunch Will Be Provided ****
		Washroom Facilities on Bus

SEATING IS LIMITED
	RESERVATIONS AND INFO: JOHN BACHER
	Phone 905-684-4834 or e-mail pals at becon.org

Sponsored by: 	The Ontario Smart Growth Network
		The Preservation of Agricultural Lands Society (PALS)

....................................................................

Much attention is being paid to the quality of our water sources, in the
context of climate change with increased storms, longer droughts, and more
intense heat.  Many residents across Niagara have made the conscious effort
to use less water.

The Pesticide By-Law continues to be weakened, most recently by our own
Ridley College requesting a 3-year exemption to allow them to finalize
irrigation of their playing fields.

We can understand the attitudes of those whose incomes rely on the by-law.
After all, they weren't watching our collective presentations to council
that highlighted the fact that businesses grow and flourish in cities where
pesticide by-laws have been implemented.  We'd be happy to share this
information and expect it will put their concerns to rest.

We had presumed that when our Parks Department retained a pesticide
exemption for themselves for reasons of 'safety' they were referring to
something like poison ivy on a playing field.  Are sports fields are
'unsafe' if a weed surfaces??  What exactly does this teach our young
people?  Are Ridley parents aware of this?  We believe that more attention
to soil quality, increased fibre and microbial activity would stand the
young people in better stead.

.......................................................................

Finally, as we're not having a December meeting,


CLIMATE ACTION NOW is hosting a

CAN SOCIAL XMAS POT-LUCK

December 9, 2007
696 Lake Street
St. Catharines, ON
>From 1:00 to 4:00pm

Please come out, meet and greet, share where we've been, what to focus our
strengths on for the coming year and celebrate our lives on this amazing
planet we call home.  Details to follow.

..................................................


As always, comments are welcome.
Jane 905-938-8882
Jan 905-684-7781
Joyce 905-934-0593

If you have received this email in error, we'd like to hear from you to
amend our records.  Thank you.  JH
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