Sustainability, pipelines, pesticides, butterflies, birds, and play
- all this and more in EcoSask News
State of the Art in Sustainability, June 16
The Saskatchewan Eco-Network is holding its annual general meeting on June 16 from 1-5 pm at aodbt architecture + interior design, 235 Avenue D North. At 1 pm, Dr. Sean Connelly will host a session entitled “State of the Art in Sustainability.”
Twitter Storm, June 18
Organizations around the world are planning a 24-hour Twitter storm on June 18 to urge world leaders at Rio+20 to agree to end fossil fuel subsidies. Figures compiled by Oil Change International indicate that countries jointly spend as much as $1 trillion dollars annually on fossil fuel subsidies.
GHG in SK
The Corporate Knights’ Green Provincial Report Card gave Saskatchewan a failing grade, naming it the worst ecological laggard in Canada due to high energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
The federal government recently agreed to give Saskatchewan control over how it cuts greenhouse gas emissions at its coal-fired power plants.
Policing SK Pipelines
As Alberta mops up after a pipeline break that forced some residents to evacuate, Saskatchewan’s auditor says that the provincial government is not doing enough to police the pipelines that crisscross our province.
There are 23,500 kilometres of licensed pipelines in Saskatchewan, a quarter of which are more than 40 years old. In addition, there are 68,000 unregulated flowlines connecting a wellhead to a storage facility, with up to 4,000 more being added each year.
Pesticides and Children
The City of Regina’s Environmental Advisory Committee has rejected a ban on cosmetic (non-essential) pesticides. The Committee made the decision before holding discussions with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and the Canadian Cancer Society who have been pushing for the change. The Cancer Society says that there is growing evidence linking pesticides and cancer, particularly in children.
The City of Saskatoon hasn’t sprayed for dandelions since 1994 and supports the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and the Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Committee in their efforts to get the word out about alternatives to spraying.
The Environmental Society has an extensive collection of publications on this topic on their website.
Mining near the Athabasca Basin, June 27
Areva Resources is proposing to mine and mill ore from a uranium deposit near the eastern margin of the Athabasca Basin. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is inviting the public to comment on the report by June 27, 2012.
Permaculture Potluck, June 14
Doug Weatherbie will speak on the importance of living soils at the Permaculture Research Institute of Saskatchewan’s monthly potluck at 6 pm on June 14.
Nature Play Day, June 15
Make a date with your family and friends to play outside and connect with nature on Nature Play Day, Friday, June 15.
Monarch Butterfly Workshop, July 10 & 11
A two-day workshop for educators on Teaching and Learning with Monarch Butterflies will be offered in Regina on July 10 and 11.
Bird Monitors
Important Bird Areas (IBA) is an international program to monitor sites that provide essential habitat for bird populations. Volunteer caretakers watch for changes in bird populations, report conservation threats, and raise awareness.
Saskatchewan has 33 volunteer caretakers but needs more. Why not volunteer a day or two a year to visit one of the following sites: Big Muddy Lake (& surroundings); Cabri Area, Coteau Lakes, Cumberland Marshes, Grasslands National Park - East and West Blocks, Landis Lake, Manitou Lakes Area, Primrose Lake, Quill Lakes, South Saskatchewan River (Empress to Lancer Ferry), and Suggi Lake.
For further information, contact Deanna at dtmutafov@naturesask.ca.
EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. A complete listing of all upcoming events can be found on our Calendar.
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