[Sust-mar] News from the Nova Scotia Environmental Network - Environmental Meeting this Monday

[NSEN]

News from the Nova Scotia Environmental Network

(A)
REMINDER: ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY SESSION THIS MONDAY
Monday, September 24
10am-2pm
Lunch Provided (only 35 spots, please RSVP at nsen at cen-rce.org)*There is
still room left.
Organized by the Nova Scotia Environmental Network 

Environmentalists and representatives of environmental groups are invited to
attend a strategy session to hear the highlights of the Power of Green
Conference and to strategize for next steps for the environmental movement
in Nova Scotia. We will also be preparing for the quarry decision and
hearing about the latest cuts to federal environmental programs. We will be
talking about the Voluntary Planning and Natural Resource Strategy and the
Environment and Sustainable Prosperity Roundtable - there is a call for
participation for both committees. We will also be discussing how we can
effectively mobilize for the upcoming federal and provincial elections.
There is a lot to talk about and a lot of ways we can engage! There is
limited space. Pizza and pop lunch provided. To attend, please RSVP to
Tamara at  nsen at cen-rce.org

Location: 
Canadian Centre for Ethics in Public Affairs (CCEPA)
630 Francklyn Street (Atlantic School of Theology Campus, building on the
waterfront)
Halifax (near Point Pleasant Park)
Phone: 428-4731 
 
Directions: 
*From Saint Mary's University, CCEPA is only a 10-minute walk or 2-minute
car/bike ride. Head south down Robie St. toward Saint Mary's campus, turn
left at Inglis St., right at Tower St., right at Pinehall (right past little
bridge), the road curves to your left and you will be at the Atlantic School
of Theology go past 2 big red buildings and you will see a small road down
to the water this is Francklyn St. At this road there is a white sign for
the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Public Affairs. Head down this road past
the library to the water (on the North West Arm) and the CCEPA is a red
brick house on the water.  


(B)
WEB SITE AND CALENDAR
This summer the Nova Scotia Environmental Network unveiled our new web site.
This web site is for ALL environmentalists and environmental groups. You can
post directly your upcoming events, action alerts, volunteer and job
postings. We would like to have the NSEN web site to be a clearinghouse for
environmental information and events - it is yours to use! Please check out
www.nsen.ca  


(C)
INSPIRING FILMS TO BUY
*We are selling two Nova Scotia home grown environmental films to inspire
change! The first carbon neutral films made in Atlantic Canada. Great for
all ages to show at the workplace, community centre, school and church. They
also make great gifts! Each film is $10 or you can buy both for $15.

(1) The Adventures of Captain Carbon
The Sierra Club of Canada - Atlantic Canada Chapter worked with an exciting
group of youth aged 14-19 from across Halifax to develop the first carbon
neutral film in Atlantic Canada. The youth tracked all of their carbon
emissions throughout the whole production and then they offset the carbon
through volunteer work around the city. In particular, they offered compact
fluorescent light bulbs to businesses, help delivered materials with
bike-trailers, assisted in putting plastic on windows in older buildings,
mowed lawns with non-electric push mowers and put up clotheslines. Follow
Captain Carbon as he shows people simple changes they can make in their
lives to stop climate change.

(2) Endangered Treehuggers
Sierra Club of Canada- Atlantic Chapter worked with a comedic group of
Annapolis Valley youth aged to develop this funny and enlightening film
about an endangered species - the treehugger. 

*You can buy the films from the Sierra Club of Canada Atlantic Chapter
Office, 1657 Barrington Street, Roy Building, Suite 532. For more
information about the films, please contact the Sierra Club at (902)
444-3113, or check out our website: www.sierraclub.ca/atlantic
You can also buy the films from the Nova Scotia Environmental Network. 


(D)
ADD YOUR ORGANIZATION AND RESOURCE TO THE NOVA SCOTIA SUSTAINABILITY
DIRECTORY! 
The Nova Scotia Environmental Network (NSEN) and its partners are working to
create a directory of community groups offering environmental and
sustainability resources in Nova Scotia. We are developing this resource
with the help of the Nova Scotia Education for Sustainable Development
Working Group (NSESDWG = SENSE), the Nova Scotia Department of Environment
and Labour, and Environment Canada.

This initiative is our contribution to the United Nations Decade for
Education for Sustainable Development (for more information, visit
http://preview.tinyurl.com/4ceyf). We are requesting your help to make the
directory a superb information resource for all Nova Scotians. The
information you provide will be used to build a searchable database of Nova
Scotia's Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) resources on the NSEN
website (www.nsen.ca), in addition to being published in a hard copy
booklet. Information that is submitted for all resources will also be
contributed to a national organization called Learning for a Sustainable
Future to complement their national ESD database. The compilation of ESD
resources in these databases will be valuable in directing the development
of ESD activities and programs in the future. Please visit
www.nsen.ca/sense_add.php and submit your information.


(E)
CAUCUSES
There are ways you can connect with others on different issues and campaigns
through the Nova Scotia Environmental Network:

Environmental Education Caucus 
The next meeting for the Environmental Education Caucus is Friday, November
2, 2007 from 9:30am to 11:30am.  The location has been tentatively set for
the BioSciences Centre located on 1721 Lower Water Street (Soil FoodWeb
Canada might host us).  If you are interested in joining this group, please
contact Tamara at nsen at cen-rce.org
 
Watershed Caucus
If you are interested in the watershed caucus, please contact Anna McCarron
Wellington, HRM NS, (902) 861-3624 Email: amcarron at istar.ca There is a list
serv established that you can join.

Education for Sustainable Development Working Group: SENSE
NSEN will be receiving funding again this year to establish our working
group "Sustainaiblity Education in Nova Scotia For Everyone". We expect to
have our first meeting at the beginning of November. If you are interested
in joining this group, please contact Tamara at nsen at cen-rce.org

Pesticide Free Nova Scotia Group
 If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Tamara at
nsen at cen-rce.org


(F)
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE PROSPERITY ROUNDTABLE
Nova Scotians and non-governmental organizations are being invited to join
the province's Round Table on the Environment and Sustainable Prosperity.
More information here:
http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20070919006


(G)
VOLUNTARY PLANNING FOR NATURAL RESOURCES STRATEGY PROJECT COMMITTEE
Volunteers are needed to help create the foundation for a natural resources
strategy. Members of the project committee will engage the public in
discussions around four key components -- forests, minerals, parks and
biodiversity. Biodiversity is the connectedness and diversity among and
within plant and animal species in an ecosystem. The information gathered
through the public-engagement process will inform phase two of the
strategy-development process where an independent panel will conduct more
detailed analysis of the Voluntary Planning project committee's findings.
Phase three will be development of the long-term strategy itself, by the
Department of Natural Resources.  Individuals interested in becoming a part
of the Natural Resources Strategy project committee can forward an
expression of interest on or before Monday, Oct. 1, to:
Voluntary Planning 
Suite 600, Joseph Howe Building
1690 Hollis St.
Halifax, NS B3J 3J9
For more information on the Natural Resources Strategy Project committee
call 902-424-8644, toll free at 1-866-858-5850 or see the website at
www.gov.ns.ca/vp .


(H)
UPCOMING EVENTS
A reminder to mark your calendars for these upcoming environmental events:

(1) Sharing Nature Lecture & Panel Discussion on October 11 at Dal
A free public lecture on Sharing Nature by acclaimed environmental educator,
Joseph Cornell, followed by a panel discussion with local nature educators
will be held on Thursday, October 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Potter Room of
Dalhousie University's KC Rowe Management Building (6100 University Avenue,
Halifax, NS). This event is sponsored in part by the Dalhousie School for
Resource and Environmental Studies. For more info contact: Janet Barlow
Sense of Wonder Environmental Education
j.barlow at ns.sympatico.ca
http://www.senseofwonderee.ca

(2) 
Nova Scotia Nature Trust 10th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction with Margaret
Atwood in Oct!
The Nova Scotia Nature Trust's 10th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction, with
special guests Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson. Ms. Atwood and Mr. Gibson
have both been active on the environmental front for many years, and have
worked with a variety of conservation groups. This includes the World
Wildlife Fund, as well as the Rare Bird Society, where Ms. Atwood and
Mr.Gibson are currently Joint Honorary Presidents. Starting at 5:30 pm, the
10th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction will be held at the World Trade and
Convention Centre in Halifax on October 25th, 2007. Regular tickets are $100
and patron tickets will be $150. Tickets can be purchased by calling
425-5263 or by e-mailing nature at nsnt.ca. More info:
http://nsnt.ca/newsevents/dinner/

(3)
"The Challenge of Sustaining Production and Consumption" Thursday, October
4, 7:30 p.m.
HSBC Bank Canada Business and the Environment Lecture
Potter Auditorium, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building
Dalhousie University
6100 University Avenue, Halifax. 
All are welcome
Keynote speaker:  Mr. Fritz Balkau
International Sustainability Advisor in Paris, France. 
Fritz Balkau has spent his professional career in environmental management
working in a range of government and intergovernmental organizations as well
as undertaking private consulting tasks and contributing to NGO initiatives
in education and conservation..

(4)
Young Naturalists Club Calendar of Events
Get your kids 8 years+ interested in the earth through this great club
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/FNSN/YNC/index.html

(5) 
Green Drinks on September 26th at the Niche Lounge in Halifax 
Come and join us on Wednesday September 26th at the Niche Lounge, 1505
Barrington Street (below the Maritime Centre).  We will gather from 7pm to
10pm at the bar/lounge area closest to the entrance off of the patio. Come
for a drink and order food if you choose.  Don't feel shy about coming
alone, the organizers will be happy to introduce you to unfamiliar faces and
please feel welcome to bring a friend or two... or ten.  Everyone has
something to say about the environment after all.   


In solidarity for the earth,

Tamara

Tamara Lorincz
Executive Director  (NSEN)
Nova Scotia Environmental Network 
55 Willowbend Ct. 
Halifax, NS Canada B3M 3L3
Phone: 902-454-6846
Fax: 902-454-6841
Email: nsen at cen-rce.org 
Web Site: www.nsen.ca
*NSEN : Connecting for a Sustainable Future*