WHO WE ARE

Just in case you didn't know!

Environment Hamilton is a non-profit citizens group working to improve the health of the air, water and natural features in Canada’s most famous steel town.

We were born in 2001 from the efforts of a small group of east-end residents who took court action to force the cleanup of the Rennie Street dump which was leaking toxic chemicals into a local creek.

Today, we approach other environment projects with the same philosophy – involve residents in solving our industrial city’s environmental problems to work for a clean, healthy and sustainable city.

Contactus@EnvironmentHamilton.Org
(905) 549-0900
http://www.environmenthamilton.org/

What we’ve done

A sampling of more than 20 projects carried out by Environment Hamilton since 2001:

Stack Watch: Helping residents identify smokestacks that may be breaking the law with their emissions including what to look for and how to report possible violations.
Trees Count: Volunteer-driven inventory of trees in several city neighbourhoods that collects over 30 pieces of information per tree to reveal the health (or illness) of the urban forest.

Floating Classroom: Using a boat in Hamilton Harbour to teach residents how to spot harbour pollution and what to do to stop it.

Transit Users Group: Working to improve the HSR and DARTS by keeping fares down and increasing services.

Tonnes for Trees: Encouraging residents to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change and rewarding them with trees and other green prizes.

Hamilton Fruit Tree Project: Volunteers pick unused fruit in the backyards of willing residents and share this urban harvest with property owners, volunteers, food banks and social service agencies.

Public forums: We answer environmental questions from individuals and host frequent workshops, meetings and public forums on issues such as sprawl, incineration, land use planning and environmental law. We frequently use the Environmental Bill of Rights and other legal tools to help residents protect or improve their environment.


Tell us about it

What are the biggest environmental problems in your neighbourhood?
We can help. Call our hotline 905-549-0900.


2007 Projects of Environment Hamilton

Environmental Watchdog: Our permanent activity is to be the voice of the environment in Hamilton, responding to residents, pushing governments, and identifying both threats to our environment and opportunities to do something positive about them. That includes protecting local green space, providing information, and tackling global environmental issues.

Climate Change: We are going door-to-door asking people to pledge various actions to reduce their greenhouse gases and we are giving them a free home energy kit as a reward. We are also doing dozens of free screenings of the Oscar-winning Al Gore film “An Inconvenient Truth”. We follow each screening with a group discussion, and a call to action in the face of dire predictions about climate change. We are also urging City Hall to take similar actions.
Assisting North Hamilton Neighbourhoods: Now in its third year, this project has achieved victories such as getting stacks tested at a new bio-diesel plant, squeezing compensation out of a company that damaged homes with its demolition, greatly reducing waste at a local school, and fostering community leadership by teaching residents how to take action on environmental concerns.

Eat Local: By encouraging Hamiltonians to eat locally produced food (and even grow some), this project supports the local economy, combats global climate change and opens the door to fresh and healthy eating. Our colourful “Buy Local, Buy Fresh” map profiles over 50 local farms and outlets.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Everything we do has a place for volunteers – the lifeblood of our organization. Environment Hamilton strives to create a strong, collective environmental voice that lets you get hands-on action in the environmental trenches.

We also need you to join us as a member. Only part of Environment Hamilton’s work is funded by foundations and that doesn’t include challenging governments or polluters or much of the other advocacy work we do. Indeed, we have forgone the benefits of charitable status precisely because we see the necessity of taking strong positions on behalf of the environment. Funding for those battles has to come without strings attached – from our members.

Please join us in the battle for a clean and healthy environment.


Join Environment Hamilton
Name ..................................................................................... Regular $25________
Address.................................................................................. Student/unwaged $15________
Postal Code………………... Phone........................................ Donation________
Email address.......................................................................... TOTAL________
I’m interested in being a volunteer: YES___ NO ____
1130 Barton Street East, Suite 207, Hamilton L9H 7P9 – (905) 549-0900