The E-Update – May 12, 2008

The E-UPDATE – May 12, 2008

The Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network
A Network of more than 30 Member Groups: Many Voices for the Environment

In this E-update you will find:

EVENTS
1. Public Forum with St. John’s Mayoral Candidates, May 13
2. Public Hearing on Sprung Greenhouse Site, May 21
3. International Day for Biodiversity Lecture at MUN Botanical Garden, May 22
4. Gardening with Native Plants Workshop, May 27
5. Take a Guided Tour of E-Learning Resources at The Charities File, May 29
6. Ocean Net’s Green Community Challenge Launch, July 19

ACTION
7. Right on Canada – Call to Action on Biofuels – Bill C-33
8. Take Action Against Genetically Modified Trees
9. Public Comment Requested on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Transshipment and Storage Terminal in Placentia Bay

OPPORTUNITIES
10.  Farm Apprenticeships in the Maritimes
11.  Evergreen Grants
12.  Job Opportunities with Conservation Corps
13.  Job Opportunity – East Coast Environmental Law Executive Director
14.  Wellness Coalition Grants
15.  Discount on Public Opinion Research for Environmental Non-Profits
16.  New Online Fundraising Resource Introduced
17.  Google Offers Services and Tutorials to Nonprofits

NEWS
18. Development NGOs Applaud Passing of Foreign Aid Bill
19. Canadian Environment Network E-Bulletin

EVENTS

1. Public Forum with St. John’s Mayoral Candidates, May 13

CBC will be hosting a public forum with the two St. John’s mayoral
candidates, Marie White and Dennis O’Keefe, on Tuesday May 13 starting
at 7:30 pm at MacDonald Drive Junior High. This will be a forum,
featuring questions from the audience rather than a formal debate. Come
out and ask the candidates about all the municipal issues that are
important to you! Do you want better bicycle services? More action on
climate change? More citizen involvement in municipal planning? Come
out and have your voice heard!

2. Public Hearing on Sprung Greenhouse Site, May 21

Please
be advised that a Public Hearing will be conducted regarding
development of the lands known as the former Sprung Greenhouse site at
7:00 PM on May 21, 2008 at the Foran Greene Room, St. John’s City Hall.

Persons wishing to make representations or objections to re-zoning
the land from agricultural to low density residential must make written
submissions to the City Clerk’s Department by 4:30 PM on May 20th.

For further reference see The Telegram May 10, 2008, p. F17.

3. International Day for Biodiversity Lecture at MUN Botanical Garden, May 22

International
Day for Biological Diversity Free Lecture: Goods From Our Woods – We
can use non-timber products to conserve forests

Thursday, May 22, 11 a.m. – 12 noon at MUN Botanical Garden, 306 Mount Scio Road
Fee: Free (Registration is not required).

Christmas
wreaths, maple syrup, and jam are just a few of the natural products
Canadians love! Collectively these products are termed non-timber
forest products. When harvested sustainably, these value-added products
have a considerable economic potential.  Communities and governments
are provided with an alternative to cutting their forests for timber
and a method to preserving biodiversity.  Join Susan Squires, a
research assistant with the MUN Biology Department as she talks about
the non-timber forest products of Newfoundland.

The International Day for Biological Diversity is a day to reflect
on the state and value of biodiversity. This year’s theme is
Biodiversity and Agriculture.  Agriculture is a key example of how
human activities have profound impacts on the ecosystems and
biodiversity of our planet.  For more information on The International
Day for Biological Diversity please visit http://www.cbd.int/ibd/2008/

For more information on Garden events and programs, please contact Anne Madden, Education Coordinator, 737-8590 or amadden@mun.ca.

4. Gardening with Native Plants Workshop, May 27

Tuesday, May 27, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at MUN Botanical Garden
Instructor: Todd Boland, Research Horticulturist
(Fee: $25 / Pre-registration is required).

Learn
about native plants that can be utilized in your garden. Whether your
garden is devoted to standard perennials, rock garden type plants,
shrubs and/or trees, there are native plants that can be used to
compliment the many exotic plants already available. Many exotic
ornamentals are prone to insects and disease or are genetically weak.
Our natives are adapted to our climate and are often more carefree. So
come and find out what Newfoundland natives have to offer to your
garden! Please be prepared to go outside. In the event of inclement
weather, a power point presentation will be provided.

For more information on Garden events and programs, please contact Anne Madden, Education Coordinator, 737-8590 or amadden@mun.ca.

5. Take a Guided Tour of E-Learning Resources at The Charities File, May 29

Community Services Council Newfoundland and Labrador (CSC) is
hosting an information session of particular interest to treasurers and
finance committee members of registered charities.  Come and learn
about e-learning resources designed specifically for those volunteers
who administer charities as well as those who are responsible for
completing the annual returns to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Date: Thursday 29 May 2008

Time: 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Place: Virginia Plaza, 2nd  floor, Newfoundland Drive
(CSC Board Room), St. John’s

Register: Call 753 9860 and ask for Jeannette, or
email: jeanettepiercey@csc.nf.net

Cost: Free however registration is required. Please register by May 26.

Please
forward the invitation to any volunteers or staff who would like to
attend. The session would be useful for treasurers and other board
members, bookkeepers, executive directors and managing staff of
registered charities.  Your hosts are Darlene Scott and Pam Corrigan. 
Free parking.  The CSC is wheelchair accessible. Please help us
maintain a scent free environment.

6. Ocean Net’s Green Community Challenge Launch, July 19

Saturday, July 19 at Portugal Cove – St. Phillips Community Center

Ocean
Net is seeking green environmentally-motivated partners for the
exciting launch of its “Green Community Fair”, scheduled for Saturday,
July 19th in Portugal Cove-St. Phillips. 

The launch will be in the form of a traveling “Green Community
Fair” and will include community partners, including exhibitors
including but not limited to:

•    A Farmer’s Market
•    Energy Conservation
•    Water Conservation
•    Composting
•    Recycling
•    Divers
•    Learn how to plant a garden

The
fair will also showcase local food and entertainment, special events
for children and youth, a workshop and great networking opportunities!
As we proceed to play a leadership role with our ten pilot
municipalities in the greening of their communities, the support of our
volunteers and partners becomes critically important.

We invite ideas and participation from all NLEN member groups and
others in Portugal Cove-St. Phillips as we launch this exciting new
province-wide project in your community.

Call Ocean Net at 709.753.3680, or email us at info@oceannet.ca

ACTION

7. Right on Canada – Call to Action on Biofuels – Bill C-33

Please
see below a letter from Right on Canada urging action to stop the
Canadian Bill that would commit us to biofuels use – you can go
directly to http://www.rightoncanada.ca to send a letter.

Bill C-33 provides a $2.2 billion subsidy for biofuels and requires
that all gasoline include 5% biofuel content by 2010. Yet there is
increasing evidence to show that the rush to biofuels will do more
environmental harm than good. And converting food crops to fuel, amidst
a serious food crisis, is increasing food prices and speculation.

This is putting food further out of reach of millions of hungry
people and is a “crime against humanity,” says United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Jean Ziegler.

Any day now, Bill C-33 could come up for 3rd and final reading and vote in Parliament.

Please write immediately and ask Opposition Parties to vote NO to
Bill C-33. If your MP is a Liberal, this is especially important, as
they are split on the issue.

IMPORTANT POINTS

“Demand
for biofuels like ethanol are not only a major cause of increasing
prices, but research suggests they may make climate change worse. In
this context it is absolute madness to have a mandatory target,” Robert
Fox, executive director of Oxfam Canada.

“Farmers in our countries pay with their blood so that people in
rich countries can feed their cars,” says Javiera Rulli, of Base
Investigaciones Sociale, based in Paraguay. The grain used to fill one
SUV tank with ethanol could feed a person for a year.

One thousand decision-makers on climate change from 105 countries
ranked biofuels as the last option, out of 18, for solving climate
change, according to a World Bank report.

The Harper
government’s target of 5% ethanol content in gasoline by 2010 will only
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 0.2%. (Greenpeace)

The World Bank and the IMF have singled out government subsidies
for biofuel as playing a significant role in rising proces for food.

In
Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, people are being evicted
from their land to make way for soy, sugar, and palm oil plantations
for agrofuels.

Biotech companies such as Monsanto have strongly lobbied for
growing biofuels industrially, which will increase monoculture,
genetically modified crops and greater corporate control of agriculture.

8. Take Action Against Genetically Modified Trees

Please sign on to an open letter to the Canadian Government
requesting an end to field tests of genetically engineered trees as
well as for support for a global moratorium at the upcoming UN
Convention on Biological Diversity meeting in Germany May 19-30. Sign
on at www.cban.ca/trees

GE trees would have potentially devastating consequences for our
forests, particularly if insect resistant trees (toxic to insects and
effecting the food chain for birds etc) contaminate.

The sign ons will be collected May 14 to enable impact at the UN meeting May 19-30.

We have posted more information at www.cban.ca/trees – and below is a call to action

TAKE ACTION before May 14, 2008 to Stop Genetically Engineered Trees

ALERT!
The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity should agree to
establish an international moratorium on the field testing and
commercial release of genetically engineered (GE) trees at the major
COP9 meeting May 19-30 in Germany.

1. GROUPS are asked to sign-on to the open letter to the Canadian
Government asking for an end to approvals of field trials in Canada and
asking to support an international moratorium on GE trees.

2. INDIVIDUALS are asked to write to the Minister of the Environment.

SIGN-ON to the open letter and write to the Minister at http://www.cban.ca/trees

“GE
trees have the potential to wreak ecological havoc throughout the
world’s native forests…GE trees should not be released into the
environment in commercial plantations and any outdoor test plots or
existing plantations should be removed.” – Dr. David Suzuki

See http://www.cban.ca/trees
for more information, to sign on and take action. You can also contact
Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network,
Ottawa coordinator@cban.ca 613 241 0147 or 613 241 2267

9. Public Comment Requested on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Transshipment and Storage Terminal in Placentia Bay

http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/DocHTMLContainer_e.cfm?DocumentID=26566

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) invites
the public to comment on the conclusions, recommendations and any other
aspect of the comprehensive study report (CSR) prepared for the
proposed Grassy Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Transshipment and
Storage Terminal in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Public comments received by May 28, 2008, will be considered. All
documents received will be considered public and will become part of
the public registry.
To obtain a copy of the report, contact the
Agency representative below. Interested persons or groups are invited
to send their remarks in the official language of their choice to:

Scott Morrison
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
160 Elgin Street,22nd Floor
Ottawa ON K1A 0H3
Tel.: 613-957-0407
Fax: 613-957-0935
scott.morrison@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

NewfoundlandLNG Ltd. proposes to construct, operate and eventually
decommission a LNG transshipment and storage terminal. The proposed
development would include a marine terminal comprised of thee jetties,
a tug berth, eight LNG storage tanks, and supporting infrastructure
including an access road, office facilities, security fencing, and
utilities such as water and power. The proposed facility will provide
LNG to markets in the north-eastern United States and Canada.
The proponent proposes to locate the development at Grassy Point, within Come-by-Chance Harbour, at the head of Placentia Bay.
Transport
Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the responsible authorities,
have undertaken a comprehensive study of the marine terminal, a tug
berth, eight LNG storage tanks, and supporting infrastructure and have
submitted their report to the Minister of the Environment and to the
Agency.

Following the public comment period on the report, and upon review
of the comments received, the Minister of the Environment will issue an
environmental assessment decision statement.

The report, along
with further information on the project is available on the Agency’s
Web site, registry # 07-03-26546.The public may also consult the report
in the following centres:
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
1801 Hollis Street, Suite 200
Halifax, NS

Town of Come By Chance
111-117 Main Road
Come By Chance, NL

Town of Arnold’s Cove
270 Main Road
Arnold’s Cove, NL

Town of Placentia
23-27 Patterson
Placentia, NL

Town of Southern Harbour
1 Municipal Drive
Southern Harbour, NL
 
 
OPPORTUNITIES

10. Farm Apprenticeships in the Maritimes

Dozens of farms across the Maritimes have farm apprenticeship
opportunities for the up-coming season. Learn first hand from
experienced producers-from livestock (including heritage and rare
breeds) to horticulture to greenhouse management and market gardening.
There are also opportunities to learn direct sales, farm-restaurant
sales, wholesaling and distribution, plus other practical skills like
welding and machine repair. Room and board, plus a stipend available.
This is real education for the real world. For more information, visit www.soilapprenticeships.org/martimesfarms.html.

For other farm and organic-related job opportunities check out www.acornorganic.org

11. Evergreen Grants

Evergreen
Common Grounds is now accepting applications for two grant programs
supporting community environmental restoration projects!

The Home Depot-Evergreen Rebuilding Nature Grant 2008 provides
grants of $1,000, $3,000 or $8,000 – plus $2,000 in Home Depot gift
cards – to cover the costs of tools and building, native plants and
trees, and other expenses associated with urban environmental
stewardship projects in Canada. Download the grant Guidelines and
Application Form at: http://www.evergreen.ca/en/cg/cg-funding.html

The application deadline is Friday, June 6th 2008.

The
Unilever-Evergreen Aquatic Stewardship and Conservation Grant Program
2008 provides grants of between $3,500 and $10,000 to support
small-scale, community-driven, education and restoration projects that
increase public awareness of sustainable water use and the importance
of aquatic features, while providing meaningful opportunities for
community action. Download the grant Guidelines and Application Form
at: http://www.evergreen.ca/en/cg/cg-funding.html

The application deadline is Friday, June 13th 2008. For more information on our grant programs, visit www.evergreen.ca.

12. Job Opportunities with Conservation Corps

Employment Opportunity

Water Protection and Efficiency Coordinators
Conservation
Corps Newfoundland and Labrador (CCNL), in partnership with ACAP –
Humber Arm and Northeast Avalon ACAP (Atlantic Coastal Action Program),
are currently seeking two confident and energetic individuals to
coordinate a multi-faceted water source protection and efficiency
project.  One position will be based out of St. John’s while the other
will be located in Corner Brook.  This exciting initiative will focus
on water conservation to ensure efficient use of the resource and will
also target well and septic owners providing information on how to keep
their well water safe and septic systems maintained properly. This
project provides information through community workshops and outreach
events and on-line resources. One on one guided well and septic
assessments with homeowners are also provided and will be a major focus
of this project.

Duties/Responsibilities: 
The successful applicant will be
responsible for coordinating and implementing a variety of outreach
activities related to this project. This includes planning and
logistics for workshops, coordination of marketing and promotions,
coordinating and conducting homeowner visits, researching and
developing new communications materials, conducting presentations and
lunch and learn sessions, assisting with program reporting and
administration and other duties needed to create a successful outreach
component to the project.

Qualifications:
The successful candidate will have:
•    Excellent communication, leadership, planning, organization and co-ordination skills.
•    Completion of post-secondary studies in an applicable field
•    Experience in the implementation of workshops and learning opportunities/materials.
•    Excellent writing and public speaking ability.
•    Media and public relations experience would be an asset.
•    Interest and knowledge of septic systems, water quality and conservation issues.

Salary is $15.00/hour (35 hours per week) for 12 weeks. 
Please apply with resume, cover letter and three references.
Application deadline May 18, 2008.
Please send applications to:

Terry McNeil, Executive Director
Conservation Corps Newfoundland and Labrador
267 Duckworth Street
St. John’s, Newfoundland, A1C 1G9
Fax: (709) 729-7270 Tel: (709) 729-7267
Email: tmcneil@conservationcorps.nf.ca
Website: www.conservationcorps.nf.ca

13. Job Opportunity – East Coast Environmental Law Executive Director

The East Coast Environmental Law Association (2007) is seeking its first Executive Director.
East Coast Environmental Law is a not-for-profit environmental law
organization founded in 2007 and based in Halifax. East Coast
Environmental Law was formed:

–
to assist community and environmental groups in the Atlantic region of
Canada by providing information about environmental law;

– to provide clinical environmental law opportunities for law students; and

– to support initiatives to improve environmental laws in Canada and the Atlantic Provinces.

The
first Executive Director will be the key player in establishing the
organization’s operations and initiating its programs in accordance
with the policies and directives established by the Board of Directors
and the Executive.

The deadline to apply is May 20, 2008. Please send resumes by e-mail to info@ecelaw.ca
or mail to East Coast Environmental Law, c/o Meinhard Doelle, Dalhousie
Law School, 6061 University Ave., Halifax, N.S., B3H 4H9.

To read the full job description visit the East Coast Environmental Law website at www.ecelaw.ca. We will only contact those short-listed for interviews.

14. Wellness Coalition Grants

These grants are open to coalition members and membership is free!
Grants are available to a maximum of $1000 for wellness projects. The
next deadline for grants is May 15th in the Avalon East region and June
15th in the Western Region.

Check out http://www.regionalwellnesscoalitions.com/ for info on grants in your region!

15. Discount on Public Opinion Research for Environmental Nonprofits

Sustainability Network, McAllister Opinion Research and GlobeScan
are once again offering a special arrangement for environmental
nonprofits to subscribe to the GlobeScan’s (formerly Environics
International) Environmental Monitor.

The Environmental Monitor provides subscribers up to date and in
depth insight into where Canadian public opinion is headed on issues
like global warming, air pollution, water pollution, protection of
wilderness ecosystems, energy conservation, environmental credibility
and much more. This information will help you assess which audiences
care about your issues most, what matters to them and how to reach them.

Subscribers receive:

    * A copy of the Environmental Monitor for use throughout your organization
    * Success for up to two representatives to two ENGO briefings by report author Angus McAllister in Toronto

You can acquire this highly respected source of public opinion
research at a significant discount from the regular ENGO price of
$14,310. There are several ways your organization can participate:

Small ENGO Discount Package
(Limited to small ENGOs with 10 staff or less and budgets under $1 million)
Cost: $1,590

ENGO Regular Discount Package
(Limited to ENGOs with budgets of under $2 million)
Cost: $5,300

Qualified
environmental organizations across the country are being invited to
take advantage of this offer. Subscribers will receive their first
Environmental Monitor and briefing in the fall of 2008.

To subscribe to either ENGO Regular Discount or the Small ENGO Group Package, please contact Paul Bubelis at 416 324 2792 or paul@sustain.web.ca.

Anyone
interested in finding out more about Full Service ENGO subscriptions at
$14,310 should contact Angus McAllister at 604 601 2111 or angus@mcallister-research.com.

For more information about the Sustainability Network and to sign up for their newsletter go to www.sustain.web.ca

16. New Online Fundraising Resource Introduced

The mission of Network for Good’s new online Learning Center is to
provide nonprofits with free access to the best available web-based
fundraising and nonprofit marketing resources.

The Learning
Center features hundreds of articles in six areas: Online Fundraising,
Social Networking, Website 101, Email 101, Donor Database, and
Nonprofit Marketing. Much of the content comes from nonprofit
professionals, coaches, trainers, bloggers, and consultants who are
working everyday to improve fundraising and marketing effectiveness.

Check it out at: http://www.fundraising123.org/

17. Google Offers Services and Tutorials to Nonprofits

A
new portal, called Google for Nonprofits, is now available that
provides charities access and guidance on how to use a variety of tools
and resources that Google offers. Google for Nonprofits offers
instructions (with video tutorials) on how to use the program, as well
as guidance as to how charities can get the most benefit out of each.
Use of each of the services is free of charge. The site also features
examples of how some charities are already using the various tools to
further their mission. Although none of the services offered are new,
this is the first time the company has marketed many of them to the
nonprofit community.

For more information about the Google for Nonprofits program, visit: www.google.com.

NEWS

18. Development NGOs Applaud Passing of Foreign Aid Bill

Members
of Parliament, of all political stripes, are to be commended for
unanimously passing Bill C-293 today. Bill C-293, also known as the
“better aid bill”, makes ending poverty the exclusive goal of Canadian
foreign aid.

“The Conservatives, Liberals, Bloc Québecois and New Democrats were
all on side for this Bill,” says Gerry Barr, President and CEO of the
Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC). “What we’ve
seen here today is the putting aside of partisanhip to esure that
ending global poverty is given the attention and support it deserves.”

Bill C-293 was a private member’s Bill that managed to gain the
support of all Members of Parliament.  Canada’s foreign aid must now
focus on poverty reduction, take into account the priorities of the
people living in poverty and be consistent with Canada’s international
human rights obligations. Bill C-293 also makes Canada’s aid spending
more accountable and transparent.

But both more and better aid is needed. CCIC is calling for a
timetable to increase Canadian foreign aid spending by 15% annually for
the next ten years to reach the United Nations aid target of 0.7% of
Gross National Income by 2017.

“Increasing foreign aid is critical to ending poverty,” says
Maria-Luisa Monreal, Director General of the Association québécoise des
organismes de coopération internationale, “but  improving the quality
of the aid distributed is just important as its quantity. And this Bill
does that.”

The Canadian Council for International Co-operation is a coalition
of approximately 100 organizations working to end global poverty.

19. Canadian Environment Network E-Bulletin

Check out the latest edition!

http://www.cen-rce.org/ebulletin/index.html
 

—
The E-Update Instructions
This
E-Update is intended to announce your meetings and showcase your
interests and events. Please send notices by Friday 10 a.m. as a
paragraph with 10 point font, simple formating, single spaced and left
hand justified. Notices less than 200 words, and with no attachments,
are best.

More about NLEN
The NLEN is a network of more than 35 member
groups in the province. The goal of the NLEN is to facilitate
communication between non-government environmental organizations, and
assist members with initiatives through non-advocacy means. Member
groups operate to conserve, protect or restore the Earth’s ecosystem
through action, education; stewardship and/or modeling ecologically
sound ways of life. All provinces and the Yukon have environmental
networks funded by the Canadian Environment Network. www.cen-rce.org.

Katie Temple
Executive Director, NL Environment Network
nlen.ed@gmail.com
www.nlen.ca
tel 709.753.7898
fax 709.726.2764