The 2009 United Nations Copenhagen Summit was an unprecedented opportunity for our government leaders to come together to solve climate change. In the aftermath of 11 days of indecision, many questions remain: What are we doing now and what will we do in the future? How will future generations remember our time?The Copenhagen Legacy Essay Contest is seeking essays that attempt to answer this question in a creative and inspiring manner. The contest asks you to imagine yourself in the year 2110 and write an essay that explores the environmental legacy of the 21st century.The winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship from AIR MILES My Planet and a chance to be published in Alternatives Journal, Canada's national environmental magazine. The ... continue reading.

671: 8 March 2010 - Published by Green Communities Canada 10TH ANNIVERSARY. Resource Conservation Manitoba is turning 25 and celebrates its anniversary on 9 March.  RSVP . BOTTLED WATER FREE DAY. As a follow-up to EcoSuperior’s Back to the Tap Taste Challenge, Thunder Bay residents are being asked to celebrate Bottled Water Free Day on 11 March. “It’s a national initiative that fits well with the local campaign to encourage people to make tap water their first choice,” says Ellen Mortfield, EcoSuperior Executive Director. DOC SCREENING. BC Green Ideas Network presents documentary Buyer Be Fair: The Promise of Product Certification at Green Wednesdays, 10 March.  POLAR PLEDGE. Peterborough Green-Up is challenging local residents to pledge an act of green. The ... continue reading.

670: 1 March 2010 - Published by Green Communities Canada. GREEN JOBS. Clifford Maynes, Green Communities ED, presented last week on Green Jobs as part of the reeep Power Lunch webinar series. Included overviews of Blue-Green Canada, Green Economy Network, and community-based initiatives in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Georgina Island First Nation, and St. John’s. Webinar also included an illuminating update on the U.S. green jobs scene by Sarah White. See video of full webinar, or request presentation by C. Maynes. GCC STAFF. New appointments at Green Communities Canada: Sé Keohane, part-time bookkeeper, becomes fulltime Manager of Finance; Beth Jones, Associate Director, now has the added responsibility of Director of Finance; Bridget Indelicato is now the full-time Coordinator of Office and Member ... continue reading.

Washington - NASA has launched a new web page called A Warming World to help people better understand the causes and effects of Earth's changing climate. The page hosts a series of new articles, videos, data visualizations, space-based imagery and interactive visuals that provide unique NASA perspectives on this topic of global importance.  A new video, Piecing Together the Temperature Puzzle, illustrates how NASA satellites monitor climate change and help scientists better understand how our complex planet works.  ... continue reading.

Waterloo, Ontario - A Google search for "sustainability" may not bring up as many hits as one looking for "Harry Potter" (70.5 million) or "god" (465 million). But at a respectable 31.5 million, it's safe to say that this term has entered our vernacular.Alternatives Journal, Canada's national environmental magazine, has just released its newest issue, with hopes of introducing readers to a newer concept - one that just may rival sustainability as a means to bring about the change we require."Resilience" only generates 9.3 million Google hits, but it may become the rallying cry for change, replacing the more defensive plea for sustainability. "Resilience implies action, as in 'building resilience,'" writes University of Waterloo professor Andrew McMurray, in his article ... continue reading.

669: 22 February 2010  - Published by Green Communities Canada. RETIREMENT. Sue McGregor-Hunter, Executive Director of Peterborough Green-Up, will retire 11 June. During her 10-year tenure, Green-Up expanded from eight employees to more than 20. The number of environmental programs also increased. “I have had an amazing, enriching experience working for Green-Up and I believe the organization is in a good position to continue its success.” See job posting. BOW NEWS. Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley visited residents door-to-door to talk about sustainability as part of the Sustainable Action Canmore Program. See brochure … Bow Valley Climate Kids Project provides students the opportunity to raise awareness about climate change impacts … Canmore Community Monitoring Program helps identifying risk areas ... continue reading.

Citizen Shift’s latest dossier is up and running, featuring stories and contributions concerning the effects of the Olympics on Vancouver, BC and beyond.  A look behind the scenes at this renowned international event and the communities that host the games. http://citizenshift.org/olympicfootprint If you've got just 58 seconds to spare, don't miss Mike Geiger's hilarious and pointed poke at education and sports funding. http://citizenshift.org/how-run-school-2010-winter-games-style See more on CitizenShift ... continue reading.

668: 16 February 2010 - Published by Green Communities Canada. THRILLING RETREAT. “Strategic positioning” of Green Communities in the next five to 10 years was the focus of a three day retreat in early February, attended by about 45 people from Green Communities Canada member organizations, national staff, and board. We also celebrated the 15th anniversary of our founding conference in Cornwall in 1995. One participant enthused: “To be sitting in a room with so much passion, integrity, experience, intelligence, talent, and biting sarcasm was a complete inspiration and honour.”  Our Thursday night session was described as “wonderful, in fact thrilling, and ... insanely useful.” NEW BOARD MEMBER. Paula Steele was appointed as a member the Green Communities Canada Board ... continue reading.

Comprised of a community of environmentally-active athletes and supporters, Preparing the Trail 2010 is running a national, not-for-profit tree planting fundraising initiative to celebrate our natural playgrounds. The group hopes to draw attention to key environmental issues, contribute to Vancouver's "Green" Olympics, and raise money for our Canadian Olympic athletes as they compete for gold on home soil.  Preparing the Trail 2010 hopes their "Adopt-A-Tree" program will create a lasting impact on our environment for future generations to enjoy, while also inspiring a more healthy and active lifestyle across the country.  How Does It Work? Throughout 2010, athletes and community supporters will come together to plant thousands of trees across the country, in an active movement to engage the public ... continue reading.

667: 8 February 2010 - Published by Green Communities Canada SCHOOL TRAVEL PROJECT. Building on a successful pilot, a partnership led by Green Communities Canada will receive $2.18 million for a Canada-wide project to expand active school travel, using a community-based process known as School Travel Planning (STP). The two-year project is funded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and the Public Health Agency of Canada through the CLASP initiative (Coalitions Linking Action and Science for Prevention). Partners include active transportation organizations in all provinces and territories, University of Toronto (links between school travel and the built environment), and Cape Breton University (links between active transportation, sustainable happiness, education and health) … See latest School Travel Planning newsletter online. ... continue reading.