By Joanne Chianello , The Ottawa CitizenMarch 13, 2010OTTAWA — Almost one year ago to the day today, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities resolved to, in their own words, “phase out the sale and purchase of bottled water at their own facilities where appropriate and where potable water is available.”About 70 municipalities have made good on that pledge. The City of Ottawa is not one of them. Ottawa can’t go bottle-free because there aren’t enough public fountains to provide water to its citizens. Indeed, there are only two hard-to-find fountains in the City Hall building itself.“We have a long way to go to provide access to our residents of our own water,” said Councillor Diane Holmes, who has been championing the installation of more public fountains.“There have been some fountains taken out as bottled water became the thing. And now it’s time to put those fountains back in.”The water and sewer budget, which will be discussed later this month, is expected to set aside money...
Welcome to the Sierra Youth Coalition!
The Sierra Youth Coalition is an organization run by youth for youth, serving as the youth arm of the Sierra Club of Canada. Our mission is to empower young people to become active community leaders who contribute to making Canada a better society. To this end, we educate young people about ecological and social sustainability; we challenge unjust and environmentally destructive systems by using a hope-based approach; and we advocate for the new generation of youths in Canada who want to inherit a world worth inheriting: one where social justice and the environment are at the center of everyone's priorities.
Over ten years the Sierra Youth Coalition has grown into a pretty big network, with hundreds of registered members and thousands of determined volunteers, operating in over 80 colleges and universities and in 50 high schools. The Sierra Youth Coalition is present and active in every major urban center and in many rural regions as well. Our projects affect the health and well-being of over 500 000 people across Canada.
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By Maggie CameronThursday, 11 March 2010 12:26Thousands of Canadians are saying no to bottled water today, taking part in Canada’s first Bottled Water Free Day. Canadians are standing up against bottled water and choosing the fountain today. In an effort to raise awareness about the negative environmental, economic and health impacts of bottled water, the day was organized by the Canadian Federation of Students, the Polaris Institute and the Sierra Youth Coalition. “Students are really standing up against (bottled water),” Noah Stewart, spokesperson for the Canadian Federation of Students, told TheDailyPlanet.com Stewart said raising awareness about the negative impacts of bottled water is important, but today is also intended to address...
In order to promote regional and student awareness of climate change, Vancouver Island University (VIU) professors are participating in a 12 day long teach-in, reports the Nanaimo Bulletin. The theme of the teach-in is 'Climate Justice." The theme aims to promote discussion on how the people that stand to be affected most by climate change are also largely the people that have done the least to contribute to the problem in the first place. From March 1-12, teachers are dedicating at least 15 minutes of class time to discussion on climate change and environmental solutions. The aim of the initiative is to educate and engage students on global climate issues, and introduce environmental sustainability education into the curriculum...
A group of activists are getting ready to cycle 1,000 kilometres from the Fort McMurray area in northern Alberta to Calgary to draw attention to their environmental concerns about the province's oilsands. The trek, which begins later this week, is organized by the Sierra Youth Coalition and is the second in what the group hopes will be an annual event. Last year, cyclists travelled from southern Alberta to the oilsands area.Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2008/08/12/edm-oilsands-trek.html#ixzz0h8gIdkfu
EDMONTON - Dr. John O'Connor will be returning to Fort Chipewyan to a hero's welcome Friday to deliver the keynote speech at a "Water is Boss" conference.O'Connor, the doctor who drew attention to health problems in the community downstream from the oilsands, is held in high esteem, said Athabasca Chipewyan Chief Allan Adam."He is perceived as a good man," Adam said Tuesday on the eve of the five-day conference that kicks off with an elders and youth gathering. "His name will be legend."Mikisew Cree spokesman George Poitras said O'Connor, who now runs a medical clinic in Nova Scotia, has paid a high price for raising concerns about what he called disproportionate rates of rare cancers in the community, and local people are grateful for his sacrifice.
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