Tuesday, 19 November 2013

EcoSask News, November 19, 2013

frosty pigeon

Upcoming Events
Alanna Mitchell, Nov. 22 
Alanna Mitchell, author of Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis, will be speaking at Prairieland Park on November 22. Tickets for the dinner and presentation are $50 and are available by calling 306.373.6365 or 306.343.6301 or at McNally Robinson.

Ecological Goods & Services, Nov. 22 & Dec. 5 
There are two upcoming events on Ecological Goods and Services:

Ken Belcher will speak on the topic at 12:10 pm on November 22 in Room 1024, Education Building, U of S. The presentation is part of the Native Prairie Speaker Series and will be broadcast live.

There is a full-day workshop on December 5 in the Agriculture Building, U of S, organized by the Society for Range Management. Topics include carbon sequestration as an ecological good and service, rangeland health assessment, and the worth of native prairie grasslands.

Where are the Birds?
Join the Saskatoon Nature Society on an upcoming field trip. Additional information is available on their website.
Nov. 24 – Pre-Grey Cup Birding at President Murray Park
Dec. 7 – Gardiner Dam Birding

Unacceptable Levels, Dec. 2
Unacceptable Levels, a film exploring the chemical revolution of the ‘40s, the 80,000 chemicals now in industrial circulation, and the effect this has had on our bodies will be shown at 8 pm, December 2 at The Broadway Theatre. The film is sponsored by The Broadway Theatre, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, and the Saskatchewan Eco Network.

Urban Transportation & Design Conference, Jan. 24
The School of Environment and Sustainability, in partnership with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan and the City of Saskatoon, is presenting a one-day Urban Transportation and Design conference on January 24, 2014. The sustainability networking conference will cover balancing sprawl and urban density and fostering change in transportation behaviour. Tickets are on sale now.

negative clarity

Take Action
It’s easy to become discouraged about climate change. It’s a lot harder to figure out ways in which we, as individuals or small groups, can make a difference. Here are some ideas. If you’re interested, be sure to apply for an EcoFriendly Action Grant.

Promote a Buy Nothing Day/Xmas or a Buy No Christmas Crap campaign

Host a Foodprint Challenge (reducing ‘Foodprint’ cuts waste, saves money)

Visit a local wetland and share photographs and impressions (Yes! In winter!)

Thumbs Up
Local activists speak out in favour of a strong municipal wetlands policy

Cheap green homes with no energy bill for 10 years

Over 650 swift fox now live in and around Grasslands National Park

Thumbs Down 
Water is undervalued. Recognizing its true value could lead to major savings in water use efficiency and sustainability

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. Additional upcoming events can be found on our Calendar.

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