<html> <body> <div align="center">Green On. The Online Newsletter of the Conservation Council of Ontario see <a href="http://www.greenontario.org/" eudora="autourl"> www.greenontario.org</a> for the online version and to subscribe or unsubscribe Editor:  Chris Winter, Executive Director Note:  The Green On. listserve is currently being used to promote our We Conserve Initiative Please see <a href="http://www.weconserve.ca/" eudora="autourl">www.weconserve.ca</a> for details. <img src="cid:6.2.1.2.0.20050919155122.03365298@pop.web.ca.0" width=322 height=41 alt="[]"> September 19, 2005 </div> In this issue... Conservation Collaborations -- the Next Step in Building the Movement Health and the Environment :   -- a Health and Sprawl seminar   -- a primer on Child Health and the Environment. Post your ideas for collaborations Conservation Collaborations -- the Next Step We’re building the conservation movement one step at a time.  This summer, we tested the waters with the Doors Closed Ontario! campaign which demonstrated the amazing potential for cooperative outreach campaigns, especially when Ontario's businesses and business associations, municipalities, community groups and volunteers, and provincial organizations all work together towards a common goal. Next on the agenda is the development of new collaborations.  And once we have a track record with the collaborations, we will be able to introduce some of the high-level programs for the conservation movement, including a provincial Conservation Fund and a conservation rewards program in support of a conserver economy. Here are some of the innovative ideas we've been involved with over the summer months.  These are all fledgling concepts and programs in the making, but they give a good idea of our potential… 1. Student Power:  a co-marketing initiative for environmental education and school-based programs.  A key innovation is to include a renewable power program to help schools set up windmills as a learning experience (see PURE’s trailblazing pilot project <a href="http://www.powerupenergy.ca/press.html"> www.powerupenergy.ca/press.html</a>).  Just as Evergreen helps schools to naturalize their playgrounds, the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association in partnership with environmental education groups will give students practical learning experiences in renewable energy.  The real bonus comes with a new generation that is willing to invest in renewable power and conservation. 2.  Selling Energy Conservation: a number of groups in the energy conservation sector are looking at how to combine forces in social marketing, and in packaging our services for municipalities with respect to energy conservation.  3.  Natural Yards: very much in the pre-planning stage, but with many municipalities considering pesticide by-laws there is a strong need for community-based programs to help people switch to natural pest control and to create wildlife habitat in their yards.  Maybe we’ll even need a new category in the annual “Communities in Bloom” competition <a href="http://www.communitiesinbloom.ca/">www.communitiesinbloom.ca</a> 4.  Cultural Connections: an exciting collaboration is forming between cultural agencies in the Greater Toronto Area and the conservation community.  We are pulling together an initial proposal to scope out the pressing conservation issues, the best practices, and the opportunities for engaging Ontario’s new immigrants and cultures in the conservation movement. These collaborations and more will be fleshed out for our Annual Meeting on November 15.  Details to follow. Are you working on any other solutions-oriented collaborations.  Let us know!  There are so many other conservation issues and opportunities out there: such as local and organic food, transportation alternatives, pollution prevention, waste reduction, and natural areas stewardship.  Please post your comments and ideas at <a href="http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=8" eudora="autourl"> http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=8 </a>   Health and the Environment:  News from the our Networks Here’s a couple of items from two of the networks we are working with…  Health and Urban Sprawl Seminar <a href="http://www.greenontario.org/osgn/fall05.html"> http://www.greenontario.org/osgn/fall05.html</a> The Ontario Smart Growth Network is hosting a one-day seminar on the links between urban sprawl and health.  Speakers include Dr. Sheela Basrur, Chief Medical Officer of Health; Dr Riina Bray, Ontario College of Family Physicians; and Hazel McCallion, Mayor of Mississauga. Child Health and the Environment <a href="http://www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/"> http://www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca</a> Two years in the making, the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and the Environment has released an excellent primer on the links between exposures to toxic chemicals and other hazards and prenatal and child health.  It’s available on the CPCHE website.  (Can a social marketing campaign be far behind?)  Your Comments Here’s two questions for you: 1.  What can we hope to achieve through collaborations?  Measurable results? Cultural shift?  Synergy? 2.  Where else can we build partnerships and collaborations? Please post your comments at <a href="http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=8" eudora="autourl"> http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=8 </a>Chris Winter Executive Director The Conservation Council of Ontario </body> </html>