A new year is a great time to talk about a new initiative!
On January 21st, a number of individuals and groups will gather to discuss the new and growing ‘Transition Movement’ and its potential applications here in Calgary.
Launched in 2005 in the UK, the Transition Movement has spread rapidly from one city to the next and presents positive solutions for the joint challenges presented by climate change and decreasing availability of fossil fuels. Transition brings together those activities that build resilience in our community.
Would you like to be part of the movement to make Calgary a greener, healthier community? Green Calgary seeks four environmental sustainability enthusiasts to join our team.
We are hiring in four positions… Executive Director, full-time, 12-month maternity leave term
Office Manager, full-time, 12-month maternity leave term
Call for Green Calgary Board Nominations
Green Calgary’s Board of Directors has a major impact on the development and growing impact of our organization. Each year we seek new community leaders to join the Board, with tenure starting in April. This year, the new slate of directors will be approved at our AGM in spring 2010. We invite you to consider this opportunity to contribute to a dynamic organization that plays a critical role in the growing “green movement” in Calgary. Read more...
EcoStore Closed for One Week in January
Dear EcoStore friends,
The EcoStore will prorogue activities for one week from Tuesday, January 19th to Saturday, January 23rd, 2010. We are excited to be busy installing a new point of sale system in our continued quest to serve you better.
If your vermicomposting worms are scheduled to arrive this week, we will call you to arrange a pick up time. If you have an urgent request, please call us at 403-230-1443 ext 222 and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Thank you kindly for understanding. See you again on January 26th.
Love,
Your friendly neighborhood non-profit EcoStore
EcoLeaders 2010
(formerly EcoLogic 201)
Are you passionate about the environment and interested in developing your ability to effect change in your community shoulder to shoulder with other Calgarians?
EcoLeaders 2010 is a 20 + hour course for individuals who are aware of and committed to reducing their eco-footprint, but are interested in doing more. The EcoLeaders course investigates our roles as ecologically aware individuals through the lens of integrated community development. It is for anyone who feels compelled to make a sustainable difference in their community; whether that community is of business entrepreneurs, like-minded mothers who want to make change in their neighbourhood, students at their university, green-minded community members, friends, family or any group of people who simply want to make a difference.
If you are a teacher, or know someone who is, read on about this free workshop opportunity: HSBC Clean Air Achievers is a dynamic interactive program that brings a National or Olympic-level athlete into your classroom to talk about clean air and active transportation. The program gets students to track their modes of transportation now, and compares it to their modes of transportation after active suggestions are implemented. It is an on-line learning opportunity. This program is still opened to registration for the 2009/2010 school year. Please registeryour class on the website as space is very limited.
The Calgary Foundation and the Calgary Public Library will be hosting a series of Vital Conversations in 2010. Vital Conservations create dynamic community forums for Calgarians to discuss local quality of life issues that build on the results of from the 2009 Vital Signs Report. For more information on Calgary’s Vital Signs, view calgaryvitalsigns.ca
Objectives
The first event of the series, on the topic of SustainableCity, is supported by the new Office of Sustainability at The City of Calgary. Here’s your opportunity to Have Your Say and connect with other Calgarians about what’s working and what’s not in our rapidly changing city.
This event will:
- enhance citizen awareness on issues, assets, success stories and organizations active in this field
- build new relationships/connections by providing opportunity for discussion among Calgarians
- support individual and collective action
Join Us!
Friday, January 22nd Calgary Public Library
Discussion 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
John Dutton Theatre
Reception to follow
616 MacLeod Trail SE
YES Environmental Grant Deadline
Dear youth of Alberta:
Are you, or someone you know, between the ages of 16-29who has a great idea on how to improve the environment in Alberta?
If YES*, then you are eligible to apply for a grant of up to $5,000 to bring your idea to life, and make a lasting difference
in your community.
*YES stands for the Young Environmental Stewards and is a program of
Alberta Ecotrust Foundation in partnership with Young Environmental Professionals (YEP).
Local environmental heroes can be nominated to win either the Individual Hometown Heroes Award, with a $10 000 cash-prize ($5 000 to keep and $5 000 to donate to the environmental cause of their choice), or the Group Hometown Heroes Award, with a $10 000 cash-prize to support their work.
Ask Ashley:
Food Misconceptions Deconstructed
“Unquestioned assumptions are the real authorities of any culture.”
- Source Unknown
This month, for the first time in 3 years, I will be breaking away from the typical question and answer format used in the Ask Ashley column. This is not because we’ve completely exhausted every environmental question but because the recent articlesI’ve written on the subject of food have generated some discussion around this very important and urgent topic. The concerns raised by readers are certainly fair and I’m happy to see people being critical of what I am saying. After all, nobody holds all of the answers. Having said that, the points raised are reoccurring and if we are to develop an appropriate response to our current predicament, we will have to carefully examine them. We cannot wish to make good decisions with poor information. Good decision making requires good, honest information. Only then can we begin doing what is necessary to build a healthy and resilient food system for everyone. So let’s get started!
