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<TITLE>Re: [GREN-Exec] FW: #SaveTheBee campaign update...</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>I have added it to the GREN agenda, but if we don’t want to wait until then to start organizing on it, I don’t see any problem in going ahead with it. We already had a presentation on it at GREN and as a result of that meeting I sent in a letter on behalf of GREN. So there is no problem with GREN being behind it.<BR>
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Susan K, when does Sierra Club need to know our desire to go ahead? <BR>
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Also, it is something that we could hold in Guelph. It was because of Norah bringing it to us that I sent in the letter. And with the ag schools there, etc., it would be a good community to do it in. Perhaps this is a chance for us to work with some Guelph groups and do something outside of the Waterloo area. I am sure that Norah would be pleased to help connect us to the groups there, etc.<BR>
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Thoughts?<BR>
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John<BR>
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On 15-01-09 2:22 PM, "Gregory C. Michalenko" <<a href="gcmichalenko@uwaterloo.ca">gcmichalenko@uwaterloo.ca</a>> wrote:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'>I agree - it would be a good thing to put on. I would like to enlarge the focus: the bees are only part of the issue. Recent evidence shows that it is a systemic environmental poison. Insectivorous bird populations inHolland have declined by 50% because there are no insects left to eat. Co-sponsors could also include the Waterloo Region Food System Round Table, whichI'm on. It will meet the afternoon of Jan. 22 and I could bring up your proposal then. <BR>
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- Greg<BR>
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><B>From:</B></SPAN><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'> Executive [<a href="executive-bounces@gren.ca">executive-bounces@gren.ca</a>] on behalf of Susan Koswan [<a href="dandelion@gto.net">dandelion@gto.net</a>]<BR>
<B>Sent:</B> Friday, January 09, 2015 11:54 AM<BR>
<B>To:</B> 'GREN Executive'<BR>
<B>Subject:</B> [GREN-Exec] FW: #SaveTheBee campaign update...<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial">Hi John,<BR>
Please put this on the agenda. Anne Morgan suggested that we should have one in our area and I think she’s right. I spoke with her and we have both contacted Sierra to see what’s involved and if they can work Waterloo Region into their schedule. I think this would be another great collaborative event for GREN. Suggested partners are KW Field Naturalists (or whatever they’re called now), rare, local farming org’ns like ALUS, GRCA perhaps...<BR>
Thanks,<BR>
Susan K<BR>
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Dear friends, Hope you had a great holiday break! We did and we’re back, refreshed, and ready to go! It’s going to be a great year for the pollinators--I can feel it. But great things come from hard work, so we have to roll-up our sleeves and get to it. Let’s get started with the #SaveTheBees Tour and Ontario neonic plan (see below). As always, a sincere thanks for taking action. John Bennett, National Program Director<BR>
Sierra Club Canada Foundation<BR>
1510-1 Nicholas Street<BR>
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7<BR>
<FONT COLOR="#008000"><a href="jb@sierraclub.ca">jb@sierraclub.ca</a></FONT> <<a href="mailto:jb@communications.ca?subject=Feedback">mailto:jb@communications.ca?subject=Feedback</a>>
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<FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><FONT COLOR="#008000">John on Twitter</FONT> <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3720&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3720&qid=2861429</a>> / <FONT COLOR="#008000">Bennett Blog</FONT> <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3721&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3721&qid=2861429</a>> <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3736&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3736&qid=2861429</a>> <BR>
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<FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><FONT SIZE="5"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:18pt'><B>Update 1: #SaveTheBees Tour<BR>
</B></SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'>The Sierra Club Canada Foundation will be undertaking a cross-country speaking tour as part of our #SaveTheBees campaign. The tour will include a series of public meetings with beekeepers, farmers, academics, and environmental advocates, as well as individual Canadians concerned about the fate of bees and the environment who would like to further learn about the issues. <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429</a>> <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429</a>> <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429</a>> As you know, Sierra Club Canada has been campaigning to #SaveTheBees and raise awareness of the increased colony losses and bee carnage. We worked hard to convince the Ontario government to take strong action and mobilized over 100,000 Canadians to oppose Health Canada’s registration of yet another new bee-killing pesticide: flupyradifurone (a close cousin of the neonicotinoid killers). The Canada-wide tour will start in early spring to coincide with the 2015 planting season. Tour stops include Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, Montreal, Fredericton and Halifax. <B>If your town’s not on the list, let's talk <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429</a>> about adding it!</B> Events will include speeches from author Paul McKay and Sierra’s National Program Director John Bennett. The addition of local guest speakers will ensure that the #SaveTheBees tour builds partnerships with local communities and organizations, and furthers the dialogue on bee-killing pesticides and environmental protection. <BR>
</SPAN><FONT SIZE="4"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13pt'><B>THE BEES NEED VOLUNTEERS
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<FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'>In order to make these events a success, we’re enlisting dedicated volunteers to help in the planning, promoting and running of local events. Whether you are an environmental campaigner or simply a concerned citizen, your help would be greatly appreciated. If you’re interested in volunteering, please get involved <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429</a>> today. <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429</a>> We can’t do it without your help so sign-up here <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429</a>> if you’re able to volunteer. If you’d like to help but can’t volunteer, please consider making a small donation <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3736&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3736&qid=2861429</a>> today. The bees need us more than ever before! <FONT COLOR="#FF0000">CLICK HERE</FONT> <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3724&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3724&qid=2861429</a>> for more information on our <B>#SaveTheBees</B> campaign <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3736&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3736&qid=2861429</a>> <BR>
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<FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><FONT SIZE="5"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:18pt'><B>Update 2: The Empire Strikes Back<BR>
</B></SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'>As you know, Ontario plans to restrict the use of bee-killing pesticides. In 2014, the Ontario government announced it intended to restrict the use of neonicotinoid pesticides. In order to develop the plan and regulations, the province began conducting consultations and invited the public to comment. A number of these public consultations took place this past December and the majority went very well, with farmers and other stakeholders able to give input on the new rules. A meeting on December 19th, however, was very different. <BR>
</SPAN><FONT SIZE="4"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13pt'><B>DIVIDE AND CONQUER<BR>
</B></SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'>The head of the Ontario Grain Growers (OGG), accompanied by (former MP <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3725&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3725&qid=2861429</a>> ) Ted Menzies, the new CEO of industry lobby group CropLife <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3726&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3726&qid=2861429</a>> , stood up at the beginning of the meeting, condemned the government, and then (took their toys) and stomped out. The OGG and CropLife intend to undermine the consultations and are already preparing a pre-federal election ground offensive, and the battlefield is Ontario’s urban/rural divide. You may remember CropLife is in the midst of a major lobbying and public relations campaign to prevent Canada from adopting a ban on bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides (an action the European Union took more than a year ago). They know they have to defeat any regulatory action in Ontario or risk seeing it spread across the country. <BR>
</SPAN><FONT SIZE="4"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13pt'><B>GOOD FIRST STEP<BR>
</B></SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'>The Ontario government’s plan applies only to corn and soybean crops in the province and does not prohibit other uses of neonicotinoid pesticides. The new plan will require farmers to demonstrate a need for them, replacing the present practice of spraying all seeds before delivering them to the farmer. The province confidently states that it can eliminate neonicotinoid use by 80% on these crops without a significant impact on production. New rules are expected to be in place by July 2015 (and apply to the 2016 crop growing year). Sierra Club Canada Foundation is supportive of the plan because it will be the first action by any jurisdiction in North America (the European Union acted in 2013). It should be viewed, however, as only a first step because it applies strictly to soybean and corn seed treatment and not other crops. As a precautionary measure to protect pollinators, we’re calling for restrictions on all uses of neonicotinoid pesticides. We see no logical reason to treat other uses of the bee-killing chemicals differently. <BR>
</SPAN><FONT SIZE="4"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13pt'><B>BEE HEARD TODAY<BR>
</B></SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'>We hear from our sources that CropLife and OGG’s lobbying of late against restricting bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides has been fierce (“unprecedented”). So let’s make sure Ontario stays strong. One way of doing that is submitting comments, and we have until <B>January 25th</B>. We’ve provided a <B>draft letter here</B> <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3727&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3727&qid=2861429</a>> , but we encourage you to personalize it and emphasize your concerns. <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3727&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3727&qid=2861429</a>> <<a href="http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3736&qid=2861429">http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=3736&qid=2861429</a>>
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<FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'>Sierra Club Canada Foundation 1510-1 Nicholas St<BR>
Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7<BR>
Canada <BR>
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