Greetings
Welcome to the first 2009 SEN Bulletin, compiled as an Interim bulletin. There are so many upcoming events and job opportunities with deadlines approaching. A full Bulletin will be sent out on February 3rd.
Resources
Your Water Footprint
People use lots of water for drinking, cooking and washing, but even more for producing things such as food, paper, cotton clothes, etc. The water footprint is an indicator of water use that looks at both direct and indirect water use of a consumer or producer. The water footprint of an individual, community or business is defined as the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the individual or community or produced by the business.
If you're interested in learning more about your water footprint, you can check out the Water Footprint Network's web site at http://www.waterfootprint.org.
Listen to The Current's CBC special on Water Footprints: http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2008/200812/20081216.html.
Coming Events
Regina
Friends of Wascana Marsh AGM
January 22nd, 7 pm, Saskatchewan Science CentreCome out and celebrate last year's accomplishments and see what is in store for 2009 and beyond. Let's make Wascana Marsh theee showcase for the province for nature protection and education, community enthusiasm and just so much fun.
Friends of Wascana Marsh http://www.wascanamarsh.ca
SCIC Global Citizens Awards
February 6th, 5 pm on, All Saints Church Hall, 142 Massey Rd.In honour of this year’s Global Citizens Awards Winners: Dale Dewar, Bill Curry and The Prairie Messenger. More information is available on the SCIC web site at http://www.earthbeat.sk.ca.
5 pm: cocktails (cash bar); 6 pm: middle eastern supper by Afghan Cuisine; 7 pm: awards program, Tickets $15 ($10 students/low income) To reserve tickets contact SCIC at 757-4669 scic@earthbeat.sk.ca
Saskatoon
Oil Sands Discussion Night
January 21st, 7 pm, Law 64, U. of S.Students in the newly formed School of Environment and Sustainability acknowledge the importance of understanding the economic, social and environmental realities of potential oil sands development in northern Saskatchewan.
The Oil Sands Discussion Night will be held by the School of Environment and Sustainability Student Association (SEnSSA). Speakers from several relevant groups and organizations have been invited to present information about oil sands development in the province. The purpose of this event is to present perspectives on the tradeoffs associated with oil sands development in Northern Saskatchewan and generate dialogue surrounding this important topic. The evening will begin with each speaker giving a 10 minute presentation and will proceed to an open discussion among the presenters, and between the presenters and the audience. Representatives from Oil Sands Quest, the Saskatchewan Ministry of the Environment, the University of Saskatchewan Department of Economics, and the Saskatchewan Environmental Society have been invited to speak.
Refreshments will be available.
People Get Ready: The 411 On Community Organizing
January 23rd, 7:30 pm, Redeemer Lutheran ChurchBarack Obama's formative years as a community organizer in the inner city of Chicago became an issue during his recent victorious run for the U.S. presidential office. By the end of the campaign, political analysts recognized how his years of experience working with citizens' groups to effect change made a difference: his camp mobilized millions of people, not only to win the election, but also to change the political and social climate of the U.S.
Now, the citizens of Saskatoon can decide for themselves about the merits of community organization, as Mary Gonzales, one of Obama's original trainers in this work comes to Saskatoon to speak at People Get Ready: The 411 On Community Organizing.
Mary Gonzales, a community organizer for close to thirty years, is joined by Susan Engh, director of congregation-based community organizing for the ELCA, a church body in the USA. Together they will share stories and insights about everyday people organizing to improve life in their communities by fighting poverty and working for justice. Saskatoon community health facilitator Randy Robinson will provide a local perspective on poverty in the city of bridges. As well, The Four Elements, a gospel rock combo with members from Saskatoon, USA, and Jamaica, will give a special social justice-themed performance.
The event is jointly sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Admission is free, with a voluntary offering being collected for Station 20 West. For more information, please contact: Mark Kleiner (ph: 683-8619; email: mnmkleiner@sasktel.net) or Phil Penrod (ph: 382-4630; email: penrop@usa.net).
Wonderful Health News about Vitamin D and Why the Powers that Be are not Ready to Accept It
January 26th, 7 pm, Frances Morrison Library TheatreIntroduction by Dr. Susan J. Whiting, Professor, College of Pharmacy & Nutrition,U. of S.
Invited Speaker: Dr. Reinhold Vieth, Professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences, and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology University of Toronto Director, Bone and Mineral Laboratory Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital
Dr Reinhold Vieth is internationally recognized as an expert in the clinical nutrition and toxicol- ogy of vitamin D, with over 100 publications. His current research is funded by the Canadian Cancer Society, and by Direct-MS. This work focuses on the role of vitamin D in breast cancer, prostate cancer and multiple sclerosis. He is a Professor at the University of Toronto, in both the Department of Nutritional Sciences, and in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. He is a professionally certified clinical biochemist, and at Mount Sinai Hospital, he is Director of the Bone and Mineral Laboratory, the regional reference laboratory for bio- chemical testing related to vitamin D nutrition and osteoporosis.
The Edith Rowles Simpson Lecture Series was established in 1972 to honour Dr. Simpson for her years of service to families of Saskatchewan through her work at the College of Home Economics and the University of Saskatchewan.
For information contact: Anita @ 655-4575 or karen@chep.org Refreshments to follow, compliments of CHEP Good Food.
Nuclear Debate: Is Nuclear Power Right for Saskatchewan?
January 27th, 4 pm, Thorvaldson Bldg, Rm. 105, U. of S.Featured guests are:
Dr. Jim Harding, Author of "Canada's Deadly Secret: Saskatchewan Uranium and the Global Nuclear System" and retired professor of Environment and Justice Studies at the University of ReginaDr. Chary Rangacharyulu, Head of the Department of Physics & Engineering Physics at the University of Saskatchewan.
The Debate is free and open to the public. Sponsored by: The Campus Sustainability Network & Anthropologists Among US (AnAmUS).
Hop on Board!
January 27th, 7 pm, Winston's English Pub and GrillSaskatchewan Environmental Society's information night. Find out what the SES is all about and how you can be involved! Presentation at 7:00-7:30, Social 7:30-8:00 pm.
Forum: Is Renewabe Do-able?
February 24th, 2 pm, 241 Arts, U of S. and 7 pm, Frances Morrison LibraryTwo forums on the feasibility of meeting Saskatchewan’s energy needs from safe, renewable sources will take place on February 24th. Co-sponsors for these events are the Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES), the Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Congregation of Saskatoon (UCS-SAC) and the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union.
Presenters at the forum will be: Roger Peters, an engineer with 30 years experience in renewable energy and efficiency, board member of the Canadian Renewable Energy Alliance, Dr. Stan Shewchuk, researcher emeritus at Saskatchewan Research Council, an expert on wind energy, and Peter Prebble, Director, Energy and Water Policy, Saskatchewan Environmental Society, author of a report on sustainable energy for Saskatchewan.
These events are open to the public and are free. For information or to arrange to interview the speakers, please contact: Ann Coxworth, SES, ph 665-1915 or Nayda Veeman, UCS-SAC, ph 244-0034.
10th Annual Seedy Saturday
March 14th, 11:30 - 5, Princess Alexandra School (210 Ave. H South)This year's community seed exchange and eco-fair will be held March 14th from 11:30 until 5:00 pm at Princess Alexandra School ( 210 Ave. H South).
I am now taking bookings for display tables at this event. Tables rent for $20, or $10 for half a table. If you would like more information or are interested in booking a table, please contact Community Garden Coordinator Dana Barrand at dana@chep.org or 655-5322.
Opportunities/Call for Delegates/Proposals
Saskatchewan Environmental Society - Water Issues Coordinator
The Saskatchewan Environmental Society is seeking a part-time or full-time Water Issues Coordinator, initially for 9 months with the possibility of extension, starting in February 2009. Within the context of a non-governmental organization committed to environmental sustainability, the Coordinator will have a good understanding of provincial water issues and policies, and be able to relate well with government and the public.
For a detailed description of this position, please visit http://www.environmentalsociety.ca. Deadline: January 23rd.
Heifer International: Finance & Administrative Assistant
Heifer International, a progressive, sustainable community development organization with more than 60 years of grassroots success seeks a Finance & Administrative Assistant to provide financial & administrative support and leadership for our Canada Country Program Office located in Saskatoon. Deadline to apply is January 30th. Full details at: http://www.heifercanada.org/heifercanada.php#careers.
New SCIC-sponsored Global Issues Prize at Yorkton Film Festival
Filmmakers! Enter your short films in this year's Yorkton Film Fest and you could win the $500 SCIC-sponsored Global Issues Prize! This prize will be awarded to the best film from any category that explores a global development issue through the lens of human rights and empowerment.
Call for Submissions - Yorkton Film Festival - Deadline is fast approaching - February 1, 2009.
Canadian filmmakers, producers and distributors are invited to submit their original work to the competition for the Golden Sheaf Awards. Canadian productions 60 minutes and under that have been completed in the period between February 1, 2008 and January 31, 2009 and not have been entered in a previous Golden Sheaf Awards competition will be accepted.
Along with the 21 category and 3 craft awards, the Festival is pleased to once again offer a number of special awards, including the newly announced “Global Issues Award” sponsored by the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation and the “Ruth Shaw Award”, formerly the Best of Saskatchewan Award. Included in the 21 categories, are 2 new awards for Community Cable Productions and Student Productions.
The entry form, list of categories, rules and regulations and all information about the 2009 Golden Sheaf Awards competition can be found on the Festival’s website at http://www.goldensheafawards.com. Entries will be accepted until the deadline of February 1, 2009 at which time the adjudication process will begin. The nominees will be announced in March 2009 and the Golden Sheaf Statues awarded at the Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival Gala on Saturday May 23, 2009 in Yorkton. For information, contact the Yorkton Film Festival office at info@goldensheafawards.com or 306.782.7077.
Toyota Earth Day Scholarship for Young Environmental Leaders
Every day, in communities across Canada, young people are actively demonstrating their passion for the environment through the important work they accomplish. These dedicated young Canadians are emerging as tomorrow's environmental leaders and advocates.
Toyota Canada Inc. and Earth Day Canada established the Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program to help cultivate and nurture this environmental leadership. The Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program encourages and rewards graduating Canadian high school students who have distinguished themselves through environmental community service, extracurricular and volunteer activities, and academic excellence.
The deadline for applications is January 31, 2009. Details at http://www.earthday.ca/scholarship/ or phone 1.888.283.2784 ext. 108.
Evergreen Grants 2009
Home Depot–Evergreen Rebuilding Nature Grant 2009 provides grants of $1,000, $3,000 or $8,000 — plus $2,000 in Home Depot gift cards — to cover the costs of expenses for tools and building, planting native plants and trees and more as part of urban environmental stewardship projects in Canada.
The Unilever–Evergreen Aquatic Stewardship and Conservation Grant Program 2009 provides funding of between $3,500 and $10,000 to support small-scale, community-driven, education and restoration projects that increase public awareness of sustainable water use and the importance of aquatic features, while providing meaningful opportunities for community involvement.
For more information and to download an application package, please visit the Common Grounds Funding page at http://www.evergreen.ca/en/index.html. The 2009 deadline for both the Home Depot–Evergreen Rebuilding Nature Grant and the Unilever–Evergreen Aquatic Stewardship and Conservation Grant is February 6, 2009.
If you have questions, or need help downloading the forms, please don't hesitate to contact Zanita Lukezich, Common Grounds Grant Co-ordinator, at: 1-888-426-3138 (toll-free) or email zlukezich@evergreen.ca.