Apartment Greening, Natural Death, & Green Happy – GC News for 20 July, 2009

640: 20 July 2009 – Published by Green Communities Canada

NOMINATION. Rideau Environmental Action League (REAL) was selected as one of the ten finalists for Earth Day Canada’s Hometown Heroes award.

GREEN-UP NEWS. Peterborough Green-Up’s Cathy Dueck won Ontario Horticultural Association’sEnvironmental and Conservation awards on 11 July. Association delegates toured Ecology Park and participated in workshops … Executive Director Sue McGregor-Hunter has joined Green Communities Canada’s Member Relations Committee … Vermicomposting workshops, 23-24 July.

APARTMENT GREENING. Toronto Green Community is working on a recycling pilot project with Toronto Community Housing Corporation to increase recycling and reduce waste in a multi-residential building. Apartment buildings’ recycling rates are 13% compared to 50% for single family homes.

RESULTS. Since 1999, home energy retrofits by REEP-Waterloo customers have resulted in a reduction of 7,014 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Over $3,095,026 in grants have been received by area residents.

FUNDRAISING IDEAS. Toronto Green Community raised over $2,500 and received $3,000 by creating a video uploaded onto All At Once website. Each viewing garnered TGC a $1 donation … TGC GREENtuityworks as a "tip for the environment". People are asked to make a one-dollar donation at the time of purchase at participating locations. GREENtuity twitter account has nearly 450 followers.

NATURAL DEATH. Green Venture’s partner in energy conservation, Ethical Consumers Cooperative, offers natural burials creating living memorials with native trees, shrubs and plants.

BEST-SELLER. Environmental Defense’s Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health is a Canadian bestseller. US, Australian and Korean editions of the book will be released this fall.

GREEN HAPPY. "People in the Netherlands live on average over a year longer than Americans, and have similar levels of life satisfaction, yet their per capita ecological footprint is less than half the size" saysHappy Planet Index.

MANAGEMENT BURSARY. Bursaries are available to help Ontario-based environmental leaders access nonprofit management training. Up to 50% of the cost of training to a maximum of $500 per person is available. By the Sustainability Network.

RAIN BARRELS. Brochure Roll out the Rain Barrel reveals all you ever wanted to know about rain barrels and never dared to ask … An Ontario Rain Barrel Pilot Project distributes 1,000 free rain barrels to determine if they are effective in reducing sewer overflows and conserving water.

LEG POWER. Cyclists powered speakers at the first Bicycle Music Festival in San Francisco … Toronto Cyclists Union provides a voice for Toronto cyclists … World Naked Bike Ride takes place in 20 countries.
PRISONS FARMS. National Farmers Union is building a national campaign to re-orient Canadian prison farms, due to shut down, toward sustainable farming … Toronto’s Youth Crime Reduction Program donates 1,000 pounds of organic produce yearly to food banks through its Farm in the City Urban Agriculture Program.

FRANKENMEALS. Activist documentary Food, Inc. talks about the force-feeding of junk food to Americans … New York chef cooks sustainable and local food.

AIR CARS. Compressed air cars’ only exhaust emission is atmospheric air.

JOBS. Green Communities Canada, Project Coordinator/First Nations Well Stewardship Pilot Project. Peterborough, due 24 July … EcoSource, Local Food Educator. Peel & Surrounding Regions, due 24 July … Resource Conservation Manitoba, Backyard Composting Coordinator. Winnipeg, due 17 July …Climate Change and Energy, International Institute for Sustainable Development, Project Officer. Ottawa, due 17 July … Climate Change Connection, Community Facilitator. Winnipeg, due 3 August.