[All] Gren News and Local Events Feb.9th to 23rd

[Louisette Lanteigne]

News and Upcoming Events Feb  9th to 23
 
News
 
City of Guelph lists dangers to drinking water
http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/594388
 
Bottled Water Spending Act, 2009 is a bill to make Ontario the first province to restrict bottled water
http://www.polarisinstitute.org/new_bill_to_make_ontario_first_province_to_restrict_bottled_water
 
CARP SUMMIT at the White House
The Obama administration scheduled a summit for February 8 to discuss the Asian carp crisis with Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn. The 2:30 p.m. meeting, closed to the public, will include Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Coast Guard.  Learn more about the Great Lake Carp Crisis here: http://www.onearth.org/article/asian-carp-crisis-deepens-243
 
Human Overpopulation and Extinction: Learn the facts, see the link and spread the word.
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/overpopulation/index.html
 
Environmental Group plans to sue EPA for 400 pesticides that impact over 800 species.
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/center/articles/2010/los-angeles-times-01-29-2010.html
 
The MOE is looking for public feedback in regards to new Source Water Protection strategies in Ontario.. You can give comments on the Ontario Environmental Registry until March 25th. Here's the link: 
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTA4NjQ1&statusId=MTYzMTY1&language=en
 
The January/February issue of GRCA's Grand Actions is available to view on line here: http://www.grandriver.ca/GrandStrategy/2010_janfeb_grandactions.pdf
 
Help for Haiti: Max on your donations! 
If you want to donate to Haiti, the Canadian government will match all donations until Feb 10th so if your thinking of donating, now's the time!
 
 
Upcoming Events
 
Thursday Feb 11 
GRCA Committee of the Whole will begin at 9:30am at GRCA head office located at 400 Clyde Road in Cambridge. Agenda, Reports and Minutes on line here:
http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=13&Sub1=62&Sub2=0
 
Feb 12 to 15th: 
Join the Great Backyard Bird Count!  
Bird Studies Canada are the Canadian partner for the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. Anyone can participate, from beginners to experts. You can count for as little as 15 minutes on a single day, or for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy – and it helps the birds! 
Just counting the birds at a location near you, tallying the highest number of birds of each species seen together at once, and filling out an on line checklist. As the count progresses, you can visit the GBBC website to view results and share photographs. Visit here for more info: http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/  Spread the word! 
Saturday Feb. 13
Worms Eat My Compost! 
1-3pm, Little City Farm, 508 Duke St W, Kitchener
Learn what it takes to farm your own worms, to turn your kitchen compost into wonderful soil! Participants take home worms and instructions to start a vermicomposting system. With Jeff Kitchen, of Transition KW - Cost: $25.  For more info see www.littlecityfarm.ca or call 519-575-9174
 
Saturday Feb. 13
Overwintering Bald Eagles Along the Grand   
With group leaders Josh Shea and Jason Bracey for bald eagle monitoring session outdoors; refreshments and informal discussion about bald eagles, the monitoring project and significance of eagles along the river at rare Administrative Centre; $10, rare event discount card holder $5; 7:45 a.m.; dress in warm clothing; register by Feb. 11, 519-650-9336, meet at rare Administrative Centre, 1679 Blair Rd., Cambridge/Galt
 
 
Friday Feb.19
A Swift Decline: Conserving Chimney Swifts in Ontario   
With Hazel Wheeler, bird studies Canada, project biologist; chimney swift now a threatened species in Canada; providing overview of Ontario SwiftWatch, its links to chimney swift recovery strategies and current challenges to the bird's conservation; $5, rare event discount card holder free; 7 to 8:15 p.m.; register by Feb. 17, 519-650-9336, rare, 1679 Blair Rd., Cambridge/Galt 
 
Friday Feb 19
2009 Edna Staebler Research Fellow Lecture   
Lecture by Edna Staebler research fellow, Christopher Yordy; topic: from pioneering stewardship to green enterprise: Mennonite farming and agricultural sustainability in Waterloo Region; cash donations supporting the fellowship received in lieu of an admission charge; 7:30 p.m.; call to reserve, 519-742-7752, Joseph Schneider Haus, 466 Queen St. S., Kitchener
 
Monday Feb 22
K-W Field Naturalists   
Bob Newbery, nature photographer and longtime member of club, presenting slide show of local wild flowers that we can observe through the seasons of the year; 7:30 p.m., Wing 404/Rotary Centre, Dutton Drive, Waterloo
 
Tuesday Feb 23
The Threat of Gravel Pits to Agriculture and Food
7-9pm, Kitchener Public Library Main Branch, 85 Queen St N, Kitchener 
Over 7,000 acres of the best potato land in Dufferin County has been bought by a company that seeks to mine the land for the mineral aggregates below the surface. Across the province, many more acres of prime agricultural farmland lie on top of valuable aggregates, and existing provincial and municipal policies do little to prevent their conversion to gravel pits. Come hear from a panel of local farmers and activists talk about the threat to our food production and what can be done about it.  Sponsored by the Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable.  No RSVP needed.  
 
Have a great week folks!
 
Lulu :0)
 
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20100208/920377b3/attachment.html>