Archived Newsletters:
2008: May 27 | April 28 | March 31 | January 8 | January 16 | January 28
2007: December 30 | November 24 | October 9 | October 19
News for Sierra Club Members:
Halting new oil sands development
On the heels of the provincial government’s release of its climate change plan last week, the Sierra Club
of Canada’s Prairie Chapter is leading a coalition calling for a cease to new projects in Alberta’s tar
sands. The coalition is seeking individual and organizational signatures on a petition, located online at:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-new-approvals-on-tar-sands-developments
The petition is also found on Facebook at: http://apps.facebook.com/petitions/view?pid=882288252
For more information about the campaign to curb tar sands development, see:
http://www.tarsandstimeout.ca/
The Sierra Club Chinook Group has joined other Alberta organizations in expressing disappointment in
the province’s “green plan” announced by Premier Ed Stelmach, noting that the plan allows for Alberta’s
greenhouse gas emissions to continue rising until 2020 and aiming for only a 14 per cent reduction in
emissions by 2050 – far lower than the federal government’s emissions targets and nowhere near what
Canada has committed to under the Kyoto Protocol.
Biodiesel for sale
Community Natural Foods is now selling B100 biodiesel for an introductory price of 99-cents per litre.
The store’s website says: “If you drive a diesel vehicle, and would like to try adding B100 soy-based
biodiesel to the mix, stop by either store. We have 20L jugs for sale, at 99 cents per litre (plus gst), and a
$10 jug deposit. Reduce your emissions, choose a renewable fuel source, and improve engine life and
performance! B100 Biodiesel is 10 times less toxic than table salt, and more biodegradable than sugar.
Stop by the store for complete details, or visit the stores’ website: http://www.communitynaturalfoods.com/
Press Releases - All Current Releases
Also see archives: Current | 2004
| 2003 |
2002
May
20, 2005
Kinnie not activist just dedicated
March 23, 2006
Calgarians say no to pesticides
Sierra
Club of
Canada
Calgarians
for Pesticide Free Parks
March
23, 2006 -- Press Release
4 out of 5 Calgarians say "NO" to
Pesticides
Calgary, AB - March 23, 2006 – The Sierra
Club of Canada and Calgarians for Pesticide Free Parks are
holding a press conference today at the Calgary
Area Outdoor Council, 1111 Memorial Drive NW
(upstairs, enter through the back door on the river side),
at 11:00am to
release the results of a recent poll conducted by
Oraclepoll RESEARCH (Montreal, Toronto, Sudbury).
The
poll addresses the use of cosmetic or non-essential
pesticides on lawns, gardens and public green spaces in
Calgary
.
Commissioned by the Sierra Club of Canada and the Canadian
Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), the
poll surveyed 500 Calgarians in late February 2006 with a
margin of error +-4.4%, 19/20 times.
Highlights
of Poll:
The
poll clearly indicates that the majority of Calgarians
would like to see a phase-out of pesticides.
·
4
out of 5 respondents support the phasing out of cosmetic
use of pesticides in
Calgary
§
in public parks - 84%
§
private residential property - 82%
§
other common green spaces - 89%.
Dr
Warren Bell, a
CAPE
physician, states "From this study, it is clear that
most Calgarians -- like most Canadians -- favour phasing
out pesticide use on lawns, gardens, playgrounds and
schools. Medically, we believe that this is the right
decision, and strongly support every effort to eliminate
cosmetic pesticides. It's a solid preventive strategy --
and it's long overdue."
Robin
McLeod, a spokesperson for "Calgarians for Pesticide
Free Parks” states that, “We urge the Mayor and
Aldermen to respect the wishes of the majority of
Calgarians by enacting a bylaw phasing out the use of
cosmetic pesticides on private and common public spaces
following the example of more than 70 other Canadian
municipalities."
Barb
Kinnie of the Sierra Club of Canada and
Pesticide
Free
Parks
adds "This is not just an environmental issue, it is
everyone's issue. Because numerous studies have linked the
use of pesticides with serious health issues such as
cancer, reproductive problems and endocrine disruption we
support the adoption of the "precautionary
principle" with the regard to the use of pesticides
particularly for cosmetic purposes.
“The Calgary Foundation understands that the
struggle to protect our urban environment is more
challenging than ever,” says Cesar Cala, Neighbourhood
Grants Coordinator at the Calgary Foundation. “The
Calgary Foundation is pleased to have provided funds to
support volunteers to build a more public profile for
pesticide-free parks in
Calgary
,
giving us hope that we can achieve our goal of a clean and
safe environment for all Calgarians, now and forever.”
For
more information, contact
Robin
McLeod
Calgarians for Pesticide Free Parks
(403) 703-0018
Barbara
Kinnie
Sierra Club of Canada
Chinook Group
(403) 619-4841
Gideon
Forman
Executive Director Canadian Physicians for the Environment
(416) 306-2273
