Sustainability

Cool Projects

Join an Otesha Cycling Tour and Change your World!
WEB Reference, November 8, 2006 (GoodWork Canada) - Applications are now being accepted for The Otesha Project's 2007 life-altering cycling and presenting tours. This coming spring, summer and fall over 80 young cyclists (15-20 per tour) will transform Canada, delivering inspiring and information-packed theatrical presentations to schools, camps and communities, challenging audiences and themselves to improve their environmental and social impacts. The Otesha Project uses theatre to mobilize young people to create local and global change through their daily consumer choices. www.otesha.ca

Climate Change / Environment

Energy Use Can Be Cut by Efficiency, Survey Says
WEB Reference, November 29, 2006 (Steve Lohr, New York Times) - The growth rate of worldwide energy consumption could be cut by more than half over the next 15 years through more aggressive energy-efficiency efforts by households and industry, according to a study by the McKinsey Global Institute, which is scheduled to be released today. The energy savings, the report said, can be achieved with current technology and would save money for consumers and companies. The McKinsey report offers a long list of suggested steps, including the adoption of compact fluorescent light bulbs, improved insulation on new buildings, reduced standby power requirements, an accelerated push for appliance-efficiency standards and the use of solar water heaters. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/business/29energy.html?amp;adxnnl=1&_r=2&oref=slogin&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1164805382-C8CoU9glkCniPaHqoXNgvw&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1165068723-5OMSvK/aTqtUs7IX2XmPVQ

Sustainable Industry Ideas

Beneficial Billboards
SOUTH AFRICA, November 30, 2006, Sarah Rich (Worldchanging) - In the Alexandria Township in Johannesburg, South Africa, there's a giant billboard on the MC Weller Primary School grounds. It's an advertisement for Nedbank, the South African bank whose tagline is "Make Things Happen"; and unlike most billboards, which make very little happen other than marring otherwise pleasant landscapes and cluttering skylines, this one actually is making something happen: it's generating power from the sun sufficient to run the electricity for the school's kitchen. http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/005465.html

Self-Guided Learning

Sierra Club Small Parties
WEB Reference, November 2006 (EcoNews) - In a Sierra Club Small Party, you gather 5-7 people together in your home for a glass of wine and some great dessert, and watch a ready-made "home-spun" powerpoint that gets the main points across. Then you talk about what you might do, and people go away with commitments – including (for instance) to organize another such party. Patricia organized her first party in September, and as a result, she and her party-goers have achieved the following: 5 conversations by participants with politicians; 2 with ADMs and Deputy Ministers; 4 high schools, 2 middle schools and 1 community college have been lobbied to get involved; 6 religious leaders have been brought together across their faiths to support each other to make their congregations carbon neutral; 1 family switched to low energy light bulbs; 1 family is switching to a high efficiency washer; and lots are making enquiries about solar hot water, heat pumps, and so on. Zero burned out hosts, great conversations, lots of fun had all round. http://www.sierraclub.org/tv/dvdoffer/

Green Building / Science and Technology

Don’t let it go down the drain
WEB Reference - Air-to-air heat exchangers have become standard equipment in most new homes, but many people are unfamiliar with drain waste heat exchangers. The air-to-air heat exchanger is a great idea in that you are recovering the energy that you would otherwise be dumping outside after you spent the money to heat or cool it; however, you must use additional energy to reduce the amount of energy you lose, not to mention having a piece of equipment that constantly requires maintenance in order to operate efficiently. Water enters the home between 5-12ºC and is heated to 50ºC in the hot water tank. Showerhead temperature is approximately 41ºC and this water is flushed down the drain at 37ºC. This energy can be brought back into your home to substantially reduce hot water heating costs. http://www.watercycles.ca/watercycles/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=43

Exemplary Resources

New program to help 600,000 fleet vehicles across Canada go green
VANCOUVER, BC, November 15, 2006 (FBC) - Canadian private and public sector fleet managers looking to reduce costs, reduce their impact on the environment, adopt new technologies, and benchmark their operation against others will now have the tools they need thanks to a new Fraser Basin Council (FBC) E3 Fleet program that includes the first green rating system for vehicle fleets in North America. http://www.fraserbasin.bc.ca/news/documents/release%2020061115%20E3Fleet.pdf

Exemplary Resources

There is Always an Alternative: Proposing Plan C
YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio, 12 Oct 2006, (Megan Quinn Energy Bulletin) – Participants at the Third U.S. Conference on Peak Oil and Community Solutions learned how they must use less energy, save and share resources and grow food in their communities. This response to the coming peak and permanent decline of global oil production, dubbed "Plan C: Curtailment, Cooperation, and Community," was a major theme at the conference last month in this small southwestern Ohio town, the epicenter for a growing national movement. http://www.energybulletin.net/21326.htm

Local Living Economies / Conservation and Biodiversity

Balancing biodiversity and local development in the Amazon
BRAZIL 22 September 2006 (id21) - Balancing environmental preservation with the needs of local people is an enormous challenge in areas of high biodiversity. This is even more difficult if there is pressure on resources from outsiders. The Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve in Brazil has many lessons for those seeking to achieve this balance. http://www.id21.org/nr/n2ik1g1.html

Hybrid Models and Organizational Structures

New organization aims to raise profile of environmental issues in Alberta
EDMONTON, AB, September 25, 2006 (Conservation Voters of Alberta) - A new organization called the Conservation Voters of Alberta has been launched to raise the profile of the environment during this transitional phase of Alberta�s history. Although the environment is one of the top three priorities of Albertans, together with heath care and education, protection of our environment has been neglected in recent years. As a result, serious declines in environmental health, affecting the land we live on, the water we drink, and the air we breathe are becoming evident. In contrast to existing conservation groups, which are restricted from engaging in political activities because of their charitable status, the Conservation Voters of Alberta will actively participate in political processes. The group will work to raise awareness of key environmental issues and to inform the public about the position and record of elected officials with respect to these issues. At election time the group will provide non-partisan endorsements of selected candidates based on their environmental record. http://www.conservationvoters.ab.ca/news-09-25-06.htm

Sustainability Education and Training

Teaching Psychology for Sustainability: A Manual of Resources
WEB Resource, September 28, 2006, (AASHE Bulletin) - Britain Scott & Sue Koger have developed a new web-based manual of resources to help instructors begin integrating psychology and environmental issues in their courses. The site includes: instructor resources (including lecture and discussion topics, class activities, multimedia resources, and suggested readings for students); a compendium of syllabi from instructors who currently teach psychology for sustainability; and a comprehensive site bibliography with links to publisher sites for authored books and tables of contents for edited volumes. http://www.teachgreenpsych.com/

BC EARTH MASTERS PROGRAM: REGISTRATION OPEN

Student Registration Starts For BC Earth Masters Sustainability Trades Workshop Program!

VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC, Canada, Sept.20, 2006 (Local Living Communities News) - "Earth Masters" (a sustainability trades school / workshops program of the Community Assets Project on Vancouver Island) has begun to accept applications for its Fall/Winter classes this week. Pre-registration is in full swing.

Six-day, evening and weekend workshop classes are to begin in October (specific start dates and schedules to be determined by instructors according to early participation) with a continuous schedule of daytime workshops expected to be available by March.

The Earth Masters Program is a grassroots, hands-on learning system created and supported by a co-operative web of not-for-profit, social enterprise, student and teaching partners designed to enable anyone, at any level, to build and live with more appropriately sustainable practices.

Study the areas that interest you, at your own pace. Fees are reasonable; a small number of barter and internship options are available for those of limited means.

For more information or for a Student Interest Package, Preliminary Course List and Admission Form, please contact:

Lisa or Wesley (250-753-5605)
Earth Masters Program
Community Assets Project
communityassets@telus.net
Box 4516, #54 - 650 Terminal Ave.
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
V9R 6E8

Media Requests & Speakers Bureau Contact: Roz Powell - em@vibc.ca

Climate Change / Students Involved in Sustainability Projects

“Focus the Nation” Global Warming Educational Initiative Launched
Portland, OR, September 14th, 2006 (Focus the Nation) - Focus the Nation is a major educational initiative that is coordinating teams of faculty, students and staff at over a thousand colleges, universities and high schools in the United States, to collaboratively engage in a nationwide, interdisciplinary discussion centered around the theme of "Stabilizing the Climate in the 21st Century." The project will culminate January 31, 2008, in the form of one-day, national symposia held simultaneously on campuses across the country. Students, faculty and staff can sign their schools up to participate on the project's website… http://www.focusthenation.org/fnpressrelease0906.html.

Cool Projects / Sustainable Enterprise

Reducing the Ecological Footprint of Travel
TORONTO, Canada, September 28, 2006 (Zerofootprint) - A Toronto-based not-for-profit organization that helps businesses and individuals reduce their ecological footprint, has recently partnered with International Readings at Harbourfront Centre to aid the organization in becoming more “green” As a first step in moving toward this goal, Zerofootprint will environmentally offset the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from all air and automobile travel for participants in International Readings’ 27th annual International Festival of Authors (IFOA) which runs October 18-28. The Zerofootprint Offset Program neutralizes CO2 emissions, a known cause of global warming.
http://www.zerofootprint.net/about/news.asp?id=10143&p=

Sustainable Neighbourhoods and Urban Growing

Certificate Program in Ecological Landscape Design
BURNABY, BC, August 2006 (Gaia College) – An eye-opening experience that will leave you empowered with a new understanding of how gardens – and garden design - work. This is a two semester, part-time access program for home gardeners and landscapers interested in gaining additional expertise. Learn to work WITH nature to create healthy, vibrant, and ecologically sound landscapes. Curriculum includes landscape ecology, design principles, drafting exercises, lectures, field trips, and lots of hands-on practical application. A very intense and highly integrated program! The two terms are in Fall of 2006 and Winter of 2007, twice weekly for nine weeks each, with three study breaks. www.gaiacollege.ca/design

Cool Projects and Actions /Good News

Car-sharing Continues to Gain Momentum
WEB Resource, August 2006 (Vital Signs) – With auto ownership and fuel costs rising, people everywhere are seeking alternatives to private vehicle ownership. Car-sharing (or short-term vehicle rentals) provides such an alternative through hourly rates and subscription-access plans, especially for individuals and businesses in major cities with good access to other transportation modes, such as transit and carpooling. For nearly 20 years, there has been growing worldwide participation in car-sharing. Some 330,000 individuals—nearly two thirds of whom are in Europe—now share at least 10,500 vehicles as part of organized car-sharing services. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/4290

Students Involved in Sustainability Projects

Greening Your Campus Forum
WEB Resource, August 3, 2006, (AASHE Bulletin) – Climate Institute an online forum to connect members of universities that are looking to make their campuses more environmentally friendly. The forum provides a place for people to share their experiences and ask questions about campus sustainability. http://greencampus.forumer.com/

Sustainability Employment / NFP

New Nation-Wide Online Work Website Launched
CANADA, July 31, 2006, (ECVO) - A new nation-wide online work site has been launched, specifically tailored for organizations, job hunters, and suppliers in the nonprofit/voluntary sector. The aim is to help build and strengthen Canada's non-profit sector by connecting non-profits across the country with job seekers as well as suppliers of services and products, at prices affordable to even the smallest non-profit organization. Currently, there is no fee to post job openings on the site. Access this user-friendly site at www.workinnonprofits.ca.

Our Shifting Focus / Ecology

Nature had the Answer all along: Co-operation
USA, July, 2006 (Tijn Touber, Ode Issue 35) – Elisabet Sahtouris (www.sahtouris.com) has a simple message: Evolution is not a life-and-death struggle in which only the fittest survive. She says there is a great deal missing in Darwin’s theory, which for too long has been used to justify hunger, poverty and the continual devastation of the planet. Seventeenth-century philosopher René Descartes taught that nature works like machinery that can be understood and dominated by humans. Darwin described a battleground among species that fought to survive at the expense of one another. As a result, domination and competition have become a part of the modern world view—a view that emphasizes the separation between living things rather than the connection. If Descartes and Darwin were misled, as Sahtouris believes, then nature may be comprised of a refined network in which co-operation is key. Co-operation is a necessary foundation for survival and a necessary stage for sustainable success. http://www.odemagazine.com/article.php?aID=4329

Exemplary Resource Education

Lawrence Tech to Launch Energy Engineering Minor
SOUTHFIELD, Michigan, (LTU) – Lawrence Technological University will launch a new undergraduate minor in energy engineering this fall, aimed to provide mechanical engineering students with a better understanding of alternative or renewable energy sources, traditional fossil fuels, nuclear energy, energy management, and conservation. The courses will also be offered to practicing engineers as a certificate program. “The world in which our students will be operating will be one where new energy sources, sustainability, and conservation will be the norm, and where global energy issues will affect all areas of the economy,” said Lewis N. Walker, Lawrence Tech president.http://tinyurl.com/pugb3

Biodiversity / Sustainable Agriculture

Genetic resource policies: what is diversity worth to farmers?
WEB Reference, July 26, 2006 (Eldis Biodiversity Reporter) – Who maintains agricultural diversity and what is the value of it? This set of six briefings sheds light on questions regarding who maintains diversity, where it is maintained, and how farmers value this diversity as societies and economies change. The six briefs cover on-farm genetic resources and economic change, traits and taxonomies as building blocks for understanding diversity, crop diversity and economic change, conservation objectives and policy trade-offs, seeds, markets, and information, and conservation policy development. Full articles available at: http://www.eldis.org/cf/rdr/rdr.cfm?doc=DOC22430.
http://www.eldis.org/cf/search/disp/DocDisplay.cfm?Doc=DOC22430&Resource=f1biodiv

Sustainability Building Projects / EcoDesign

First Post-Katrina 'Sustainable Building' Project Breaks Ground in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS, July 11, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) – HomeAid, the country's leading non-profit developer of transitional housing, has joined forces with Tulane University's School of Architecture to initiate the first post-Katrina sustainable building project in the City of New Orleans, where much attention is being placed on the opportunity to rebuild better, smarter and more efficiently for the future. The project, a 4,400 square foot, two-story Family Center that will house families displaced by the hurricane, will be built on the site of the historic New Orleans Rescue Mission. “In a historic city like New Orleans, where the majority of construction is decades or even centuries old, there is an opportunity to rebuild many of the city's structures in a sustainable, efficient and environmentally friendly way that is unprecedented in this country,” said Stephen Verderber, professor of architecture at Tulane University. “The Family Center Project brings together the expertise of the City's architectural, building, education and non-profit communities to set a standard for re-building in New Orleans. This immense opportunity is truly the silver lining in an otherwise devastating situation.” http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/news.html?d=101884

Climate Change / Mainstream Wake Up

Japan Prime Minister Advocates for Kyoto
OTTAWA, June 28, (Toronto Star – Canadian Press) – The made-in-Japan environmental plan is the Kyoto Accord, the product of international negotiations in that Japanese city nine years ago. Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has become one of the world's biggest proponents of the climate change agreement, and his country has taken aggressive steps in an effort to meet the targets for reducing greenhouse gases. "Economic growth should not be a negative to environmental protection, so the government of Japan works to achieve both. That is one of my top priority matters for the administration," Koizumi said. http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1151531411695&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home

Students Involved in Sustainability / Eco Education

Ecophilia or Ecophobia? Perspectives on Environmental Education
WEB Reference, Winter 1999, (Education for Life) – If we want children to flourish, says educator David Sobel, we need to give them time to connect with nature and love the Earth before we ask them to save it. What really happens when we lay the weight of the world’s environmental problems on eight and nine year-olds already haunted with too many concerns and not enough real contact with nature? Ecophobia – a fear of ecological problems and the natural world, is a fear of oil spills, rainforest destruction, whale hunting, acid rain, the ozone hole, and Lyme disease. If we prematurely ask children to deal with problems beyond their understanding and control, we cut them off from the possible sources of their strength. Empathy between the child and the natural world should be a main objective. As children begin their forays into the natural world, we can encourage feelings for the creatures living there. Early childhood is characterized by a lack of differentiation between the self and the other. Rather than force separateness, we want to cultivate that sense of connectedness so that it can become the emotional foundation for the more abstract ecological concept that everything is connected to everything else. Stories, songs, moving like animals, celebrating seasons, and fostering Rachel Carson’s “sense of wonder” should be primary activities during this stage. http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?ID=803

Zero Waste / Mainstream Wake Up

Wal-Mart Goes Green?
ELIST, Jun 29, 2006 (EcoNews) - Taking a leaf from the book Natural Capitalism (and guided by the Rocky Mountain Institute), Wal-Mart’s CEO, Lee Scott has set some changes in motion. Last October, he announced a new goal to transform Wal-Mart into a company that runs on 100% renewable energy, produces zero waste, and sells products that sustain the world’s resources and environment. To this end, Wal-Mart is investing $500 million annually in technologies and innovation that will reduce greenhouse gases by 20% by 2012; open a prototype store that uses 30% less energy and GHGs by 2009; reduce solid waste from US stores by 25% by 2009; increase fleet efficiency by 25% by 2008, 50% by 2015; and double the selection of organic food. With its huge market clout, Wal-Mart hopes it can influence global markets. The shift in attitude is apparent on Walmart’s website, http://www.walmartstores.com: "Zero net waste is good for business, it's great for the environment, and it even creates jobs; recycling is far more labor-intensive than dumping, after all. We think it just makes good sense.” http://www.earthfuture.com/econews/back_issues/06-06.asp

Climate Change Solutions

Quebec unveils carbon tax to help meet Kyoto goals
QUEBEC, June 16, 2006 (Globe and Mail, Rheal Seguin) — Quebec plans to adopt tough vehicle emissions standards and will become the first province to levy a "carbon tax" on oil and gas companies as part of an ambitious plan to fight global warming. The tax will raise about $200-million a year over six years, provincial government officials said yesterday, and will finance a $1.2-billion Green Fund to make reductions in greenhouse gas emissions called for under the international Kyoto accord. Premier Jean Charest and Environment Minister Claude Béchard said that from 2006 to 2012, the province will tax oil and gas companies for hydrocarbon products sold in bulk to retailers -- non-renewable fossil fuels such as heavy oil, gas, natural gas and propane. The Green Fund would be used to finance projects such as improvements to public transportation, education about emission cuts and ways to make buildings more energy efficient. Quebec already has the lowest levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060616.wxquebkyoto16/BNStory/National/home

Sustainable Industry

Productivity without Leisure is Like a Cake without Baking Powder
VANCOUVER, BC, April 17, 2006 – In a reply to the BC Progress Board’s recent discussion paper on productivity, the Work Less Party pointed out that the paper has left out a key part the productivity story – leisure. The Progress Board had claimed its paper, "Boosting Incomes, Confronting Demographic Change: BC' 'Productivity Imperative'", “puts BC's productivity performance in context.” The Work Less Party’s reply puts that alleged “context” in context and calls on the Progress Board to engage in a broader dialogue that respects social and environmental aspects of productivity. http://www.worklessparty.org/productivity.html.

Our Shifting Focus / Energy

Changing the World, One Light Bulb at a Time
OTTAWA, ON, Apr. 6, 2006 (GoodWork.ca) - The largest project of One Change is Project Porchlight, a campaign that brings volunteers and community businesses together to deliver one, free compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb to every household in Canada. http://www.onechange.org

Exemplary Resources

Sweden Goes For Green as Nordics Mull Energy Future
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Thursday 20 April 2006 (Reuters, by Simon Johnson) - Twenty years after Sweden alerted the world to the meltdown at Chernobyl, it aims to phase out nuclear power and end dependency on fossil fuels, putting the country in the vanguard of green energy policy. With soaring oil prices, rising demand, uncertain supply and the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions, energy is in focus and the European Union is calling for coordinated policy. - http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyid=2006-04-21T013257Z_01_L18306615_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENERGY-NORDIC.xml

EcoDesign / Green Buildings

Bioregion Focuses on Green Building
ELIST, Apr. 11, 2006 (Greenbuilding) – (CIP Editor’s note: This particular Job Posting deadline has passed, but this great partner organization offers terrific resource support) - The Cascadia Region Green Building Council is seeking a visionary leader to inspire sustainable communities and green building stewardship in the Pacific Northwest. Cascadia's mission is to promote the design, construction and operation of buildings in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live, work and learn. See www.cascadiagbc.org. Resources: http://www.usgbc.org/chapters/cascadia/resources.asp.

Environment / Health Resources

Labour Environmental Alliance Society – Cancersmart Consumer Guide
ELIST, Apr. 3, 2006 (EN INFO: Green Shopper) - What do Orange Glo Orange Eliminator Spot Remover, Simple Green Cleaner Degreaser, Sunlight Laundry Detergent and many other common household cleaning products have in common? According to LEAS they contain carcinogens. Find out about these and other carcinogenic foods, personal care and homecare products. Buy your copy online. http://www.leas.ca.

Climate Change / Buying Local

There is Crude Oil in Your Oatmeal!
ELIST, Apr. 3, 2006 (EN INFO: Green Shopper) - Find out how much petroleum it takes to bring you breakfast.http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/03/26/ING3PHRU681.D.

Leadership Training / Earth Building Ed

Cal-Earth Apprenticeship Program
WEB Reference, Mar. 19, 2006 (CalEarth.org) - If you have a vision for building your home, a community, or even helping others to build theirs, or if you're ready to start construction, stop, and consider the alternatives. "Anybody in this world should be able to build a shelter for his or her family with the simplest of elements - earth, water, air, and fire." These technologies to construct a natural architecture haven't been developed from clever designs and speculation, but from bridging traditional technology by meditation, commitment, and distilling, into future planning. Over the last twenty-five years architect Nader Khalili has been researching Earth Architecture with his associates and apprentices to bring building back into people's hands. Now for the 1.2 billion people in the world living with no safe shelter and no hope of ever affording one, new hope has begun to arrive. http://www.calearth.org/apprent.htm.

Local Living Communities / Human Rights & AT

Sustainable Solutions
WEB Reference, Mar. 2006 (One Sky Website) - One Sky's mission is to promote sustainable living globally. Find out more about us and our philosophy. One Sky works on projects to promote human rights and sustainable economics and to conserve and protect the environment. One Sky furthers appropriate technology systems, such as strawbale constructions and pedal- powered technologies, and is focusing on renewable energy at the local, national and international levels. http://www.onesky.ca. Solutions: http://www.onesky.ca/sustsolns.html.

Climate Change Solutions / Energy

Green Knight / Black Knight
WEB Reference, Mar. 17, 2006 (Green Knight / Black Knight) - Free Downloadable Book on Sustainable Solutions - Across Canada, and throughout the World, humanity is in an epic struggle to come to terms with its energy needs and desires. Civilization's powerful attachments to oil, gas, and electricity have brought us to the brink of a disaster unprecedented in our times. Soaring costs, dwindling supplies, political chaos and the hydra of Climate Change all roar out for a challenger. Sustainable solutions to this dilemma do exist. Clean, renewable sources of energy, in concert with better efficiency and consumers who give a damn, present the only viable plan of survival for society. Time is very short. When the supply lines fail, self-reliance will rule. Find your allies now. 1. Get up to speed on the Climate Change/Green Power puzzle in only two hours (the time it takes to watch one Hollywood movie). 2. Get scores of new regional and international prospects for training and employment in the hot new field of sustainable energy development. 3. Get ready for the future with fresh perspective and a sense of humour. Read a sample here.

Students Involvement / Personal Impact

WANTED: BC Sustainability Trades School & Workshop Students for Pre-Registration Survey
VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC, Mar. 30, 2006 (Earth Innovators Leadership Education Listserve) - Taking the leadership challenge, 20 students of sustainability trades, will enter this year what is possibly the newest game in designer education for eco-home, rural and community / neighborhood sustainability projects. The Vancouver Island multi-partner project will survey, produce and design courses in response to student needs for their own individual learning experiences on a 2 to 20 month calendar rotation, involving overview, classroom, shop and hands-on field learning, in all categories of sustainability awareness, renewable energy and project ‘start-up’. Independent study is being offered, as well as think tanks, 2 month, 6 month, 1 and 2 year structured programs for those with goals leading toward: Classroom Teaching, Project Assistance & Field Instruction; Maintenance & Mechanics; or Field Design for Home / Project Use. Various specialties, Jack-of-All-Trades and Self-directed Study programs are intended to emerge. The aim for this new trades school / workshop design program is to prepare keen ground-level students of the earth arts to be able take many of the next steps with their own project designs or sustainability interests. They will develop a level of familiarity, confidence and the language to converse comfortably with field engineers and professionals for home-designing, building and maintaining projects, equipment and tools, and to pursue life and career goals. Course fees and payment schedules will be determined by each student’s chosen study outcome and a limited number of Barter / Trade Students will be accepted on leadership terms. Students and community members who are not registered in a course of study will also be able to join in for individual sessions or for field trips with a fee-for-auditing, depending upon class size and seat availability. This is a leadership opportunity for those in need of more how-to, hands-on education in sustainability and for those wishing to co-create the next transitional phase to a new eco-future, where seek-and-be-helped education is an open service system for and by all people from all walks of life. For more information or to take part in the Student Pre-registration Survey you can contact the Community Assets Project, Earth Masters Program at: 250-753-5605 or email: communityassets@telus.net. Please leave a detailed message and a time when you can be reached by phone. All parties during the course of this survey will keep both questions and answers confidential. Final program and enrollment details will be announced after the survey wrap-up and the mapping of BC education options (and elsewhere) that could be accessed by students following the end of their introductory course material, when they may wish to pursue more specialized training. Instructor enquiries are welcome.

Self-reliance / Energy Sources

Small Scale Geothermal: Saving Up to 75% on Heating!
WEB Reference, Mar. 30, 2006 (Magnumpm) - Practical in its method, GeoExchange heat pumps are installed in the basement or mechanical room of the building and are connected to underwater or underground pipes called loops which extend into the site footprint. These loops collect the 51% of extra energy that the sun transmits into the earth each year. In the heating months, the energy is transformed by the heat pump into a usable form. In the cooling season, the energy is transmitted back to the earth where it came from, hence "Geo Exchange". This proven technology is an affordable, effective, and environmentally sound way of heating or cooling your home. http://www.magnumpm.com.

EcoVersity

Ecological & Organic Learning Centres & Places in North America
http://www.planetfriendly.net/learn.html.

Global Village / Women

Women and Environmental Conservation
ELIST, Mar. 2006 (id21) - International treaties and conferences now recognise the central role of women as caretakers of the natural world. Most societies and governments, however, have been slow to act when it comes to improving women's conditions. They have also neglected the link between women and the environment. http://www.id21.org/society/s4aUNEP1g1.html. Email request: GET http://www.id21.org/getweb/s4aUNEP1g1.html (see end of message for full instructions to receive full research highlight by email).

EcoDesign / Solar Decathalon Follow Up

Department of Energy Announces 2007 Teams
WEB Reference, April, 2006 (www.solardecathlon.org) - Twenty teams (http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar_decathlon/solar_decathlon_2007.html ) have been selected to compete in the 2007 Solar Decathlon. Each selected team will be awarded $100,000 over two years to support the Solar Decathlon's research goal of reducing the cost of solar-powered homes and advancing solar technology. http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar_decathlon. (Editors note: Do NOT miss the Gallery of Homes to date. This is some of the most fantastic work in the world!)

Self-reliance / Solar Housing

Sustain Mini-home Hits the Road
WEB Reference, Apr. 16, 2006 (Treehugger.com) - So many prefabs are vaporware- great ideas that never make it off the drafting board. Imagine our excitement to see the SIP walled, green roofed, solar panelled, stirling powered Sustain MiniHome hit the road to Toronto for its first exposure at the National Home Show. (although we cannot guarantee that all of those components are in this first unit) This TreeHugger may go over the top a bit about this little unit but it is the future- small efficient spaces, green materials and low impact. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/04/sustain_minihom.php.

Exemplary Resources / EcoDesign

Building Green: A Complete How-To Guide
WEB Reference, Feb. 27, 2006 (Metaefficient / Goto Reviews) - This practical book is the first step-by-step green building guide we've seen. It is packed with photographs illustrating building techniques like Earth Plastering, Straw Bale Construction, Living Roofs, Cordwood Building and Cob Building. At over 600 pages, this hefty guide is useful for anyone wanting to see the nitty-gritty details of green building. The author's web site is Think Building Green. Available from Amazon.

Resources / Links From The BC Sustainable Energy Association…

BC Hydro Quick Facts (a useful little 2-sider): www.bchydro.com/rx_files/info/info3519.pdf

The Mid-Island Co-op's Energy Efficient Demonstration Cottage:
www.midislandcoop.com

Condo retrofit; a US case study:
www.buildinggreen.com/hpb/energy.cfm?ProjectID=404

The G-Wiz (EV) "The greenest car in Britain":
www.goingreen.co.uk

Electric scooters, in Vancouver: www.geocities.com/robert04mat/707_scooter_photos.html.

Zero Waste / EcoTourism

What is the Real Price of Cheap Air Travel?
ARTICLE Reference, Jan. 29, 2006 (The Observer, by Tom Robbins, via The Bubble.ca) - While the rest of us snap up £1.99 flights to Rome, a small but growing band of conscientious objectors are making a stand by refusing to fly. Is this the beginning of the budget travel backlash? Michael Gibson’s new year’s resolution was a tough one, but nothing to do with giving up cigarettes, alcohol or junk food. He has decided to stop flying. ‘I just realised that all my other efforts to be green - recycling, insulating the house, not driving a giant 4×4 - would be totally wiped out by a couple of holidays by air,’ said Gibson, 32, from Manchester. He’s not alone. Suddenly and spontaneously, growing numbers of travellers are deciding they must give up, or at least cut back on, their far-flung weekend city breaks and long-haul holidays in the sun. http://thebubble.ca/v1/magazine/issues/1/main.php.

Environment / 3 Rs

Recycling paper at your company? How's it going?
WEB Reference, Jan. 31, 2006 (Grist Magazine) - If you answered "yes" to the first question and "not so good" to the second, you're in fine company. After years of trying, an astonishing number of outfits both large and small are having trouble accomplishing this seemingly simple task. At least, that's my conclusion after talking with companies -- and hearing from Grist readers. Why is paper recycling such a challenge? http://www.grist.org/biz/tp/2006/01/31/paper/index.html.

Youth & Eco Leaders / Training

Environmental Leadership and Management Program
ONTARIO, CA, Feb. 16, 2006 (Nexus) - The Sustainability Network invites young and emerging environmental leaders from across Canada to apply to participate in this customized, sector-specific program designed to meet the needs of this group of future leaders. Sessions will be held at the Ecology Retreat Centre in southern Ontario on May 28-31, 2006 and January 7-10, 2007. The total cost per participant is approximately $4 500, but the vast majority of costs are being covered by our generous funders. Tuition for participants from larger organizations (budgets >$500 000) is $800 and $600 per person for smaller organizations (<$500 000). We will provide instruction, inter-session support and room and board as well as return air travel for the gatherings. For more details and information on the application procedure, please see the flyer posted at http://www.sustain.web.ca .

EcoJobs / Events / Energy

Hot Pages on the BCSEA Website
VICTORIA, BC, Jan. 2006 (BCSEA) - Have you check our website recently, at www.bcsea.org? Two of our pages have become very rich of late: the Jobs and Contracts page www.bcsea.org/jobs, and our Events page www.bcsea.org/events . The Jobs come and go, since they always have deadlines, but it's worth keeping an eye open here; there have been a lot of good sustainable energy and climate jobs advertised here over the past 3 months.

Renewable Energy / Solar Progress

Solar Hot Water Acceleration Makes Progress
VICTORIA, BC, Jan. 2006 (BCSEA, SolarBC program) - 16 households have had systems installed, 12 more are awaiting installation, and 42 have filed applications, which are awaiting rebate approval (with funding now frozen) …The good news is that beyond our immediate program, we have been promoting the vision of 100,000 solar roofs for BC, and the BC Ministry of Energy and Mines has just given Solar BC a small grant to develop the idea, and give it some solar muscle. For all the details, see www.solarbc.org.

Student Leadership / Global Village – Braunwald, Switzerland – July & August sessions

Youth Encounter on Sustainability 2006
Session 1: July, 08-23, 2006; Braunwald, Switzerland
Session 2: August 12-27, 2006; Braunwald, Switzerland
PORTLAND, OR, Feb 23, 2006 (AASHE) - Youth Encounter on Sustainability (YES) is a two-week course for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students of all disciplines. Participants will explore economic, social and technical complexities in meeting the sustainability challenge and gain better understanding of the need for multi-disciplinary perspectives for problem solving. The program incorporates academic coursework with field experience and training. The cost of participation for students from the US and Canada is US$1500, which includes air travel to Switzerland as well as room and board in Braunwald. The application deadline is 31 March 2006. http://www.sustainability.ethz.ch/en/activities/documents/YES_Flyer2006_wInlay_000.pdf.

Events / Sustainable Business / Ed – Seattle, WA – May 20

Business for the Long Run Conference on Teaching Sustainable Business
SEATTLE, WA, Feb 23, 2006 (Seattle University via AASHE) - This conference will bring together leaders from business, government, NGOs and educational institutions to present and discuss ways they integrate sustainable business practices into their work and teaching. Participants will network, share and discuss challenges and achievements, and come away with resources that will enrich research and teaching for graduate and undergraduate students. http://www.graphicmail.com/members/4051/ftp/PDFs/HOLD%20THE%20DATE.pdf.

Climate Change / Solutions

A Twelve-step Process for Achieving 100% Fossil Fuel Reduction in British Columbia
WEB Video Reference, Feb. 2006 (EcoNews) - An 18' video webcast by Guy Dauncey from Montreal COP-11. http://unfccc.streamlogics.com/unfccc/agenda.asp (scroll down to December 8th, at 5:30pm).