hamilton climate challenge

HAMILTON COMMUNITY GARDENS; Your Church could do this too!

2008-05-05T05:04:00.000-07:00

HAMILTON COMMUNITY GARDENS
Hamilton Community Gardens, a ministry of the West Highland Baptist Church, is pleased to announce that our two-fold garden resumes in May of 2008. The first is our “Victory Garden”, a one-acre plot where vegetables are grown in order to supply fresh produce to those in need in the Hamilton area. The goal for the Victory Garden in 2008 is the distribution of a minimum of 5,000 pounds of produce. The second objective of Hamilton Community Gardens involves our “Community Garden Plots”, which are sections of land (15 ft x 15 ft) made available for use by anyone who wishes to grow their own food and/or flowers. These plots are ploughed, have a water source, and are offered at a very affordable cost for the season. Location: 1605 Garth Street, Hamilton, Between Rymal Road and Stonechurch Road on the east side, behind West Highland Baptist Church Region: Hamilton, Sponsor: West Highland Baptist Church Contact Info: Bill Wilcox bwilcox@packagingservices.ca (905) 575-9439 www.westhighland.org

Ottawa Street Farmers' Market launch

2008-05-05T04:56:00.000-07:00

Ottawa Street Farmers' Market launch-May 9th, 9:30am

Eating locally couldn't be easier!

Film Screening; The Fight For True Farming

2008-05-03T07:23:00.000-07:00

The Melrose Movie Team presents

The Fight for True Farming

(Eve Lamont, 2005) 90 min.

Friday, May 9, 2008 at 6:30pm

Melrose United Church
Homewood Ave. at Locke St.
Entrance and Parking off Stanley Ave.

Complementary Fair Trade Coffee
Child-minding ages 3-12, $1 per child
Suggested donation of $5!
Everyone Welcome!
n this documentary, crop and animal farmers in Quebec, the Canadian West, the US Northeast and France offer solutions to the social and environmental scourges of factory farming. Driven by the forces of globalization, rampant agribusiness is harming the environmemt and threatening the survival of farms. The proliferation of GMO crops is a further threat to biodiversity as well as to farmers' autonomy. In Europe as well as North America, a current of resistance bringing together farmers and consumers insists that it is possible--indeed imperative--to grow food differently. The Fight for True Farming is a film of grim lucidity but also irrepressible hope.
You can find information about our past and upcoming screenings along with many other events on the revamped and relaunched Melrose United Church website at:
http://www.melroseunited.ca/index.php
And remember, save for this month, movies are the first Friday of every
month that isn't June, July or August!

Emission reduction tool kit tops program agenda

2008-05-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

May 03, 2008

The Hamilton Spectator
(May 3, 2008)

Green Venture, Environment Hamilton and the city are getting together to start helping Hamiltonians reduce greenhouse gas emissions at home and at work.

Their Awareness to Action program will begin with a pilot project aimed at helping four businesses, schools and/or institutions develop a tool kit this summer for use by 20 more organizations over the next year.

The project is financed by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment's Go Green Fund.

Heather Donison, the former head of Green Venture now serving as the city's sustainability manager, says: "We are delighted to be partnering with two of Hamilton's lead environmental organizations to deliver the program. The city intends on playing a crucial role by providing research and development support. In addition, we will develop a corporate action plan as a component of this program and to demonstrate leadership."

Peaked Out? Our Energy Challenge

2008-04-30T06:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all the groups that made this event such a success.

We had the Mountain Ministry Team, Green Venture, Hamilton Community Gardens (West Highland Baptist Church), Meadowlands Fellowship Geo Thermal church, Recycle Cycles, City of Hamilton Alternative Transportation, plus Union Gas kits to hand out and also Natural Life Magazines courtesy of the editor Wendy Priesnitz.
An estimated 100 people came out and enjoyed free coffee and donuts,while milling around the display tables and learning about ways to make their life styles more sustainable.
At 7pm, Richard Reble screened the film A Crude Awakening and after that, people came out to circulate the tables and pick up information once more before closing time at 9pm.

Braden again

2008-04-26T06:38:00.000-07:00

No furnace? No problem

Energy-efficient house full of smart ideas by Peter Gorrie

Check out the Spectator today - full front page of the GO Weekend section is on Dave and Cathy Braden's new energy efficient home, plus a quarter page carryover.
http://www.thespec.com/printArticle/360214

E.U. plows ahead with coal (GRIST)

2008-04-25T06:35:00.001-07:00

Even as it makes plans to cut greenhouse-gas emissions, the European Union is gearing up to put some 50 coal plants on line in the next five years. Europeans' distaste for nuclear energy and the relative cheap cost of coal -- even when carbon permits are factored in -- have made the black rock attractive for meeting rising demand. E.U. electric companies say they're seeking out "clean" coal, an oxymoron that is unlikely to be feasible anytime soon. Any way you slice it, a slew of new coal plants means another five decades of dirty electricity in the E.U., which environmentalists say is pretty much a death sentence for the climate as we know it. Says ubiquitous NASA climate scientist James Hansen, "Given our knowledge about what needs to be done to stabilize climate, this plan is like barging into a war without having a plan for how it should be conducted, even though information is available."
source: The New York Times

Braden tours on May 3rd - Doors Open Hamilton

2008-04-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

Off the Grid House Tour

Address & Contact Info:
1820 Valens Road, near Regional Road 97, Flamborough
(905) 659-1040
Year Built: 2005-2008
Dates & Hours Open:
Saturday ONLY: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

From the outside the Braden family home resembles an 1880 log cottage. Inside it is a model for living off the grid
without reliance on traditional energy sources. Green features include solar panels, windmill, tankless hot water
heater, Energy Star appliances and efficient windows.
We have had 3 very successful tours (these are photos from the latest April 13th tour). Don't miss this opportunity because spots fill up fast!

DOC Nights at Meadowlands Fellowship Church

2008-04-17T05:53:00.000-07:00

DOC NIGHTS presents the documentary "Crapshoot".

A hazardous mix of waste is flushed into the sewer every day. The billions of litres of water-combined with unknown quantities of chemicals, solvents, heavy metals, human waste and food-where does it all go?
Filmed in Italy, India, Sweden, the United States and Canada, this bold documentary questions whether the sewer is actually compounding our waste problems. While scientists warn of links between sewage practices and potential health risks, activists, engineers and concerned citizens challenge our fundamental attitudes to waste. Does our need to dispose of waste take precedence over public safety? What are the alternatives?

April 25 at 7:30. Meadowlands Fellowship Church, 211 Stonehenge Dr, Ancaster, free/pay as you can. Questions: Denise 304-1912 or www.meadowlandsfellowship.com.

Peaked Out? Our Energy Challenge

2008-04-17T05:20:00.000-07:00

Tuesday Apr 29 2008

PEAKED OUT? OUR ENERGY CHALLENGE
6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
This is a free event to raise awareness around sustainable,renewable energy for the future. Local environmental groups and eco- teams from faith groups will be in attendance to share their resources/ideas with you. We will be screening the film A Crude Awakening; the oil crash. Free energy saving kits, and Natural Life Magazines while supplies last.

Location: Holy Trinity Anglican Church, , 120 Fennell St East Hamilton,

Sponsor: Environment Hamilton and Mountain Ministry Team

Contact Info: Beatrice Ekwa Ekoko beatrice.ekoko@gmail.com 905 627 2696

Waste Management Tours for Faith Groups

2008-04-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

This tour has been canceled due to lack of numbers. Stay tuned for an update.

Concerned about waste reduction? Want to learn more about where your garbage ends up then share the information with members of your congregation?

Waste Management Facilities Tour

Environment Hamilton has made two free tours available for members of your faith group.
2 HRS buses leave Fortinos on the corner of Rymal and Centennial at 8:15am on April 25th. One bus is going to the landfill, the other is going to the compost and recycling depots.

People will be returned at Fortinos (and they make their own way home).

There are 33 spots available for each bus tour. Since this is open invitation to faith groups, we are obliged to restrict the number from each to 4 maximum.

This is an opportunity for representatives of the faith groups to take photos, ask questions and perhaps, create a presentation to share with the rest of the congregation. It could be an idea project for youth members as well!
Since this is a first come first served situation, please have your representatives register as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Contact me at 905 549 0900 or email beatrice.ekoko@gmail.com

Beatrice Ekwa EKoko
Project Manager

Look, WHO's Talking

2008-04-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

World Health Organization says climate change bad for world health

Officials at the World Health Organization used the occasion of World Health Day today to stress climate change's negative impacts on human health, warning that warming temperatures are already affecting the spread of disease. Increased temperatures have slowly expanded the range of malaria-carrying mosquitoes into new areas, including South Korea and the highlands of Papua New Guinea and Rwanda, and increased flooding of communities with poor sanitation has increased cases of cholera by mixing drinking water with sewage, among other effects. "The core concern is succinctly stated: climate change endangers human health," said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan. "The warming of the planet will be gradual, but the effects of extreme weather events -- more storms, floods, droughts and heat waves -- will be abrupt and acutely felt. Both trends can affect some of the most fundamental determinants of health: air, water, food, shelter, and freedom from disease."

Daily Grist (April 07)

And the winner is

2008-03-30T16:33:00.001-07:00

Congratulations Barbara Hale for winning the two via rail tickets courtesy of Via Rail Canada. Ms Hale was not in attendance at the Environment Hamilton Annual General Meeting which was however well attended-over 80 people. Thanks to everyone who participated in the vehicle log project. You all did great and we will be contacting you with feed back.

AGM Meeting

2008-03-30T16:30:00.001-07:00

Lights Out; FIrst Unitarian Church on Dundurn

2008-03-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

What? A Charity Fundraiser
Who? Green Party of Hamilton and First Unitarian's Social Justice Committee
Featuring; Speaker Mike Nickerson, and local musicians
Cost; $10
All proceeds go all proceeds go to local environmental and social justice charities. Food donations are gratefully accepted
After 8:00pm all lights will go out and they will use candles.

Earth Hour Candle Light Vigil

2008-03-26T05:39:00.000-07:00

Finding Hope in Darkness

Earth Hour service at St. James Church, 137 Melville, Dundas. We will have an Earth Hour Candlelight vigil on March 29. Doors open at 7:30 for quiet meditation, and the lights go out promptly at 8 pm. and will be turned on again at 9 pm. Wheelchair accessible from the back door.

For more information contact Sheila Russell at 905-627-1424

Soot Pollution a big Contributor to Climate Change

2008-03-25T05:20:00.000-07:00

'Don't Soot': the Messenger
Daily Grist, March 25th 2008

Soot pollution contributes significantly to climate change and is second only to carbon dioxide as a climate-warming factor, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience. The study estimates that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change may have underestimated soot's role as a climate-warming factor by about three or four times. If the new research is correct, significantly reducing soot pollution with currently available technology could have a dramatic almost-immediate effect on reducing climate change in the short term since soot only lingers in the atmosphere for about a week; carbon dioxide lingers for up to a century. The world's governments already have plenty of incentive to cut soot pollution as it kills over 1.5 million people a year, mostly in developing countries where coal and wood are burned in homes for cooking and heating. "Providing alternative energy-efficient and smoke-free cookers, and introducing transferring technology for reducing soot emissions from coal combustion in small industries could have major impacts," the study said.

sources: The Guardian, Science Daily, Agence France-Presse
see also, in Gristmill: Ordinary soot second-biggest driver of climate change and quickest means of abatement

Plan to Adapt to climate change

2008-03-11T19:22:00.000-07:00

March 11, 2008

Eric McGuinness
The Hamilton Spectator
(Mar 11, 2008)

A new national report says Canadians better start planning to adapt to effects of global warming because they're real, happening now and will get worse no matter what we do to limit emission of greenhouse gases.

The study, the first comprehensive cross-Canada look at the impact of climate change in more than a decade, was quietly posted on the Natural Resources Canada website shortly after 5 p.m. Friday. It had been ready for release for several months.

Quentin Chiotto, one of two lead authors of the Ontario chapter, told a Hamilton audience late last month that fighting climate change "calls for an effort equal to dealing with global world war," but said current efforts fall far short.

The tipping point will come in about 15 years, said Chiotto. We should start now to make tough decisions on how to deal with lower levels on the Great Lakes, inland water shortages, heat waves, more smog, intense storms and flooding.

Climate Action Network Canada said the report provides dramatic evidence of the costs of climate change and the need for urgent action.

"This report is yet another wake-up call for a government that has not yet produced a meaningful climate change plan or passed any legislation to protect Canadians from global warming," said the network's Graham Saul.

"Canada is paying the environmental and economic costs of climate change already, and unless the government acts immediately, the future impacts will be catastrophic."

The Ontario chapter contains both good and bad news, and while the authors feel the province has the potential to adapt, they say, "It also is possible that some changes in climate may occur too rapidly for ecosystems, social systems and industry to adapt effectively."

John Bennett of ClimateforChange.ca said in response, "An adaptation strategy that protects Canada's environment and economy must become a government priority."

The report says northern Canada will feel the greatest impacts and is less able to adapt than other regions. But it pulls together data indicating that southern Ontario -- with a burgeoning population -- will also have to scramble to cope.

It foresees lower Great Lakes water levels limiting cargoes ships can carry, making it more expensive to ship coal and iron ore to Hamilton steel mills, reducing hydroelectric power production and drying up wetland fish and water bird habitat.

With water in the lakes warming, toxic blue-green algae and invasive species from warmer climates will flourish, while lake trout will become scarce.

The growing season for grapes and other fruit may be longer, but icewine production could drop. Ice fishing is already in decline, but the golf season could be longer by the 2020s.

To read the full report titled From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate 2007, go to: http://adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca/assess/2007/index_e.php.

emcguinness@thespec.com

905-526-4650

Environment Hamilton Annual General Meeting

2008-03-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

March 27 Environment Hamilton Annual General Meeting

We will have speaker Mark Mattson Environmental Lawyer and Lake Ontario WaterKeeper; Legally Protecting Our Water Ways

An environmental lawyer, Mark is in the forefront of protecting our lakes and rivers and fighting for real improvements. He has acted as counsel for environmental and public interest groups at some fifty hearings, and is host of the weekly radio show and podcast, Living At the Barricades. Mark is also the supervising attorney with the Clean Water Workshop, a program dedicated to mentoring law students and providing legal tools to citizens fighting for clean water in their
communities. And he closely follows the situation in Hamilton Harbour,

Where; Free Way (FRWY) Cafe 333 King Street East at Wellington
starts at 7pm
Note; to people who took part in the vehicle log pilot, we will be having the Via Rail draw at this meeting. Plan to be there!!

Green Faith?

2008-02-26T07:09:00.000-08:00

Hamilton faith organizations are on the move; they want green. This weekend EH volunteer Jessica and I attended a workshop on 'creating an eco team in your place of worship' lead by True City's Greg Reader. There was about 25 people in the room all eager for help on how to get things moving in the green direction.

It was revealing to hear many people admit that their places of worship still use Styrofoam cups and still don't recycle. Just a week prior to that I along with 2 other EH staff were invited to help brainstorm ideas for a local church which faced the same problems of waste reduction although they have been at it for years already!
Environment Hamilton is wiling and ready to be of service; we have film screenings with an environmental message, we have workshops that we offer free of charge as a practical response to climate change, we have a newsletter and a monthly column on climate change we can offer your faith group to include in their newsletter, we have resource information and we have partners we work with such as Green Venture and Faith and the Common Good that can be of great assistance if people are interested.
Contact me Beatrice, at environment Hamilton to get more information.
905 549 0900

Peak Oil Screenings for the Month of March

2008-02-26T07:03:00.000-08:00

EH volunteer Richard Reble continues to screen the peak oil film A crude Awakening at the following locations;

March

Wed., Mar. 5- Barton Stone United Church, Peak Oil (talk plus DVD)

Wed. Mar. 12- South Gate Presbyterian Church- Peak Oil

Tues., Mar. 18- Binbrook/Blackheath United Churches, Binbrook- Peak Oil

Wed. Mar. 19- Grace Lutheran Church

Wed., Mar. 26- Laidlaw United Church- Peak Oil

Fri., Mar. 28- St. John’s Lutheran- Peak Oil

Sun., Mar. 30- Emmanuel United Church- Peak Oil

PEAK OIL ROAD SHOWS; Month of February

2008-02-01T06:13:00.000-08:00

Dates and Places for Environment Crises Presentations in 2008
presented by Richard Reble, retired teacher and Environment Hamilton volunteer

Mon., Jan. 28- Current Affairs Discussion Group (a non-church group)- Peak Oil

February

Fri., Feb. 1- Westdale United Church- Peak Oil

Sat., Feb. 2- Eternal Springs United Church- Peak Oil

Sun., Feb. 3- St Paul’s United Church, Dundas- Climate Change

Wed. Feb. 13- Melrose United Church- Peak Oil

Mon., Feb. 18- First Pilgrim United Church- Peak Oil

Wed. Feb. 20- Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Burlington- Peak Oil

For more information please contact Richard at therebels_rands@mountaincable.net

Dave Braden Tour Jan 2008

2008-02-01T05:47:00.000-08:00

By all accounts another successful tour! And for those who couldn't make it this time, there is going to be another one in the spring so get your name on the list soon.

Neighbourhood Rocks

2008-01-27T05:45:00.000-08:00

What do you love about your neighbourhood?
One woman writes;


"We rural people have less garbage since we make our own compost and
supervise burning other materials in contained barrels on days that are
not windy.
We perfer to take care of our own needs.  We do have city garbage
pick-up and snow plowing but both were better handled in the days when
Glanbrook took care of those services themselves.  We do not want urban
amenities like busing, sidewalks, streetlights and sewers etc. Thus, we
should have our taxes lowered.
The one thing we truly miss now is seeing the starts to the north of us,
which are obliverated by the city lights, especially the fog lights on
Rymal Rd intersections.
We, and our neighbours moved to the country because we want to live in
the country.  I did hear one new neighbour, on a different road than
ours, say that he couldn't wait for development so that stores, banks
etc. would be closer to him.Well, if he didn't want to be away from
developed areas, he should not have moved to the country. We see
developers' signs saying: Live the country life.  Really! - If they
build their houses here, the will be NO country life. Developers should
be in-filling within the Hamilton city boundaries - not in the
amalgamated areas.  Everyone needs to eat.  Thus everyone needs farmers.
Those of us in this area who are not farmers do grown our own yearly
supply of fruits and vegetables on our large lots. Unlike sod farms, we
add nourishment to the soil, we don't deplete it."

Another writes;
I live in Ainslie Wood North. Things I like about this neighbourhood include heritage trees, close to Cootes (we see deer in our neighbourhood all the time), Rail Trail, McMaster (my husband can walk to work), character homes. Things I don't like: poor walkability; businesses nearby are not ones I frequent ( e.g. 3 paint stores, fast food chains), it's nice having the Fortinos nearby, but its set up for cars as you must walk through massive parking lot to get to front door; too many rental properties that are not well maintained.

A Gent writes about his North End home;
I feel that the North End rocks.
We have Bayfront, Pier 4, Pier 8, and Eastwood parks all within walking distance.
The waterfront trail is exceptional and connects the North End to Westdale.
Transit service could be improved as currently there is only one bus that travels sporadically through the area on Burlington St. Traffic can be heavy at times particularly on Burlington and James St. Our neighbourhood is also close enough to downtown that the Farmer's Market and Central Library are within relatively easy walking distance.

In terms of improvements there is currently numerous studies underway examining commerical, residential, recreational, and transportation development. There is strong pressure from our neighbourhood association to maintain the local feel by utilizing traffic calming measures and limiting large scale development.

The City of Hamilton is heavily focused on waterfront development. It is great to be by the water; the North End Rocks.

And again from a North Ender;
Our neighbourhood (the North End) is definitely walkable - to downtown and the West Harbour (trails and all). Buses are good. Bike paths non-existant (on city streets), but streets are calmer and smaller than above Main, so riding is ok. The kids walk to school and the library is close. We have awalking and biking trail by the water. And it's generally very quiet and very safe.

I do wish the air were cleaner here. Also, there's a suburban rogue attittute down here -they've embraced all the 'conveniences' and have little regard for the effect some behaviours have on others. The garbage on the street is noticable (especially today with this winter thaw!). I wish that there was much more of an urban forest here (more trees!). I wish folks didn't have so many cars and made their front yards into parking 'pads' to accomodate them, hence removing street parking and creating ugly front yards and less permeable ground for storm water to be absorbed into.
I wish there were more 'friendly' commercial venues right within a few blocks... I wish folks didn't use snow blowers or leaf blowers or burn in their backyards and even in their fireplaces, as it pollutes our local air. Idling is also quite prevelent, sigh.

Leg It

2008-01-27T05:33:00.000-08:00

What do you see when you go out your front door? I see a very traffic-heavy street. Indeed it is a highway, highway 99 (Governors Rd). It carries a none-stop sea of vehicles that thunder down the road to the suburbs beyond, or through the city to the 403.

But the good thing about my neighbourhood is that it is a 20 minute walk to local amenities in the area. There's a bakery, a library, a post office and drug store, a swimming pool, a health food store and grocery store all congregated in one main area- King Street (in Dundas).

I'm a walker. I prefer walking to a destination rather than taking the bus, driving or biking. If it's within reasonable walking distance (4km or so) then I'll walk it. So this set up suits me fine. Except when I have to go to Hamilton and getting there can be somewhat of a song and dance as the 5 Delaware bus service is erratic at the best of time and not at all on the weekend and holidays.

Still, I'm with the comedian Steven Wright who said, "You can walk anywhere- if you got the time." Uncommon as this view may be, walking is not a big deal; its part of my lifestyle and that of my family. My husband walks from our Dundas home to his office at McMaster- takes him about 45 minutes. It's a time for reflection and solitude. He takes the trail - the healthy highway and that makes it all the more pleasurable.

A walk down the street is a way of connecting to your neighbourhood and if you are really lucky as I am, the natural environment close by.

People know me and I know them. The standing joke in my family is that I always get back late from running errands because I speak to at least 3 people on my route! Running into people regularly is an indication that my neighbourhood is healthy and vibrant. It's the kind of place people want to live in!

Besides the dubious bus system there is still room for improvement. After a snow storm we pedestrians would appreciate ploughed side walks. We'd also like less traffic on our roads; many communities in Europe and North America have adopted a /close street policy/ in core areas- increasing shopping and business in the core as people find it more pleasant to walk. And I wouldn't mind a farmers market to get my locally grown veggies.

How about your neighbourhood? Why not grab a pair of walking shoes and get legging it?

Is your neighbourhood easy to get around in? Are there many amenities within walking or cycling distance? Is there a well serviced transit route?

Speak out!

Let your councillor know what you think will help create a better neighbourhood. Better still; invite him or her for a walk around the neighbourhood as did the folk from Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC). Join a Transit Users Group (TUG) that can help you. Participate on municipal committees.

One of the best gauges to knowing if your community is walkable is considering whether it is safe for children. How fast are cars allowed to go down your street? What are the traffic calming measures on your street? Does you community center, banks etc have bike racks? What kind of stop lights/signals does your street have?

A community that supports walking supports health, safety and the vibrancy of that community. It's a walk/win situation!