Green Power, UNITE! UWENet News

UW Garden back for business

2007-03-07T07:52:00.000-08:00

Interested gardeners!

Come out to a garden party and find out more and do some seed planting. Pizza provided.

Thursday at 7:30 in room 2105 of the SLC - March 8.

Contact Candace if interested: clstryke@fes.uwaterloo.ca

UW Community Garden Profile

The University of Waterloo Community Garden is made up of individual staff, students, and faculty who are striving to construct a common long-term gardening location on campus. The goal is to promote and practice local organic food production, offer an example of sustainable living on campus, and to educate participants about gardening and vegetable production.

The garden promotes sustainable agricultural practices as well as sustainable lifestyle choices. Urban, organic farming enables people to practice a more conscientious form of consumption: it makes unproductive land productive, diverts waste (via composting), reduces the costs of food production (both visible and hidden, environmental and economic) and improves local biodiversity (through increased organic material in the soil, propagation of a more diverse range of cultivars, attraction of bird, insect and animal life). The garden also provides a source of fresh healthy food for students on campus that may otherwise not have access.

The garden is located on university land just north of Columbia Lake on Westmount. The garden is to be run by community members associated with the University of Waterloo, each member taking on a small part of the work and responsibilities. The garden space and work is done communally. The idea is to facilitate the transfer of knowledge between gardeners, of which encouraging new gardeners by providing them a support system. Two days a week are designated as gardening nights and members are encouraged to come out as often as they can. The produce is divided between the gardeners as it comes into season and excess is given to Food Not Bombs.

Several donations of seed and tools were made last year which was the first year of production. This year we were fortunately enough to secure $1000 from the Waterloo Environmental Studies Endowment Fund to purchase inputs for the garden for the 2007 season as well as to have canning parties, and garden/farm tours. The garden's focus is on sustainability and part of that is in promoting local food and food preservation.

One challenge of having the garden on campus is the fact that many students are gone during the summer. As a result, of approximately the 40 people that expressed interest in the garden only about seven gardeners committed to the garden during the growing season; many of these gardeners having never gardened before. The garden is always looking for new participants; if you are interested please contact clstryke@fes.uwaterloo.ca for more information.

There are high hopes for the 2007 season with more gardeners having been recruited and a greater awareness of the garden beginning to occur.

Green makes a good Roof

2007-01-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

UWSP's Green Roofs Over Waterloo is hosting its first seminar of 2007!

"A measure of a green roof's wet weather performance as a stormwater source control"

UW School of Planning graduate student Kyle Vander Linden gives a brief overview green roof history and function. In addition, an investigation of a green roof in Waterloo, ON looking at the its ability to reduce the volume of runoff and improve stormwater quality.

When: Wednesday, January 31. 5:00 to 6:00pm
Where: RCH 302

Please email Emma at grow.uw@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Sign up to GROW's mailing list by emailing: grow_uw-subscribe@yahoo.com
GROW is a working group of the UW Sustainability Project.

Environment's our business, is it yours?

2007-01-23T17:01:00.000-08:00

The University of Waterloo is hosting its first one-day Environment
and Business Conference. The aim is to promote the philosophies
concerning environment and business issues while exchanging ideas with
leading professionals, faculty and students. Also, featuring Bob
Willard as keynote speaker - a leading expert on the business value of
corporate sustainability strategies and author of The Sustainability
Advantage and The Next Sustainability Wave. The day will be filled
with workshops and panel discussions on topics such as energy
efficiency, green entrepreneurship and environmental management
systems.

Mark it down – Tuesday, March 27th 2007. To register online visit
www.ebconference.ca

Making the Environment your business … It just makes Cents!Envir

What a neat conference!

2007-01-14T23:12:00.000-08:00

A great possibility - for the UN Environment Programme...

Nomination Criteria
* For candidates to be considered their birthdates must fall strictly
between 8 September 1984 and 8 September 1992.
* Candidates must be nominated by their organizations and must be active
members.
* Only nominations from organizations working on or interested in
environmental and sustainable development issues will be considered.
* Each nomination must have two candidates - one female and one male.
But only one of them will be elected (Please note that applications will not
be considered unless the above is fulfilled).
* All nominations must reach UNEP on or before 28 February 2007.

For more details and to apply visit the website and complete the application
form:
http://www.unep.org/tunza/youthconference/

Climate Change is real! What do we do?

2007-01-11T10:12:00.001-08:00

UW Sustainability Project

The first general meeting of the term has been organized for Monday, January
15, 2007 at 11:30-12:30 AND/OR 3:30-4:30 in SLC 3103 (right beside our
office). The two times are set up to try and accommodate everyone's
schedules, so come when you can and find out what UWSP and its working
groups have planned for this term.

Tegan Renner
UWSP Coordinator
Email: uwspmail@gmail.com

North Campus Development - sports centre on Env Reserve?

2007-01-11T10:12:00.000-08:00

The university of waterloo has approved the development of a sports centre on the environmental reserve on north campus. It is now up to the city of waterloo to approve the proposal. The final public consultation is being held at the waterloo rec centre on father david bauer drive. Come to share your thoughts on this issue.

Name: UW North Campus Environmental Assessment: Public Consultation
Last stand for social and environmental justice
Time and Place
Date: Thursday, January 11, 2007
Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Waterloo Recreation Centre
Street: Father David Bauer

from Facebook (Nicholas Schwetz)
EMail darcyhiggins@gmail.com

Have a couple hours this week?

2006-11-05T17:35:00.000-08:00

If you have some time before the municipal election - Please help promote the Waterloo Moraine to the public.

Email David Wellhauser if you can help pass out flyers, so people will vote for groundwater protection in this election! Come out with a friend.
davidwellhauser@yahoo.ca

see Imprint: http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=442&Itemid=74&issuedate=2006-11-03

- Darcy

Tree Huggers!

2006-11-03T15:22:00.000-08:00

Member groups in the UW Environment Network are once again walking/biking/dancing/hooping their way through the KW Santa Claus Parade this year!

Last year, students got together with community activists and had too much fun.

Details
We meet at King & University for a 10:00 start at 8:30 (can be after that time).

You have the opprortunity to ride one of the fun bikes:
http://www.bikeforest.com/
(New this year: pick-up truck bike)
EMail: brent@bikeforest.com

Wear santa hats and other fun christmas clothes - and dress up your bikes with flagpoles and enviro logos.

All info can be found by emailing Susan Koswan: dandelion@gto.net

Darcy - darcyhiggins@gmail.com

Climate Change Fair and Campus Sustainability events!

2006-11-03T14:58:00.000-08:00

Check it out, November 7th and 8th.

Come by the SLC for lots of games, prizes, interactive booths, presentations and speakers from 2-6:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tuesday night

Sustainable Design: Building For The Future
Tuesday, November 7th, 7:00-8:30pm in RCH 309

(more info at bottom)

Wednesday night

showing of AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH in the Great Hall of the SLC at 7:00 and 9:00!
If you haven't yet seen it, or want to be inspired again!
http://www.climatecrisis.net/

Still time to volunteer to help with games - email Tegan:
uwspmail@gmail.com to sign up.

UWSP - Waste Management - Clearing a Path - STEP

>INTERESTED IN ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, AND SUSTAINABILITY? Then here is
an event you don't want to miss!

STEP is proud to present Sustainable Design: Building For The Future.
This seminar will be given by Ken Brooks of HOK Canada, an
award-winning architectural and interior design firm, and will be held
Tuesday, November 7th, 7:00-8:30pm in RCH 309.

Since the early 1990s, HOK has worked toward integrating
sustainability into its entire practice, driving sustainable design
for every building type, geographic region, and budget level. This
kind of integrated design is changing the way we think about
development. Learn about this exciting field from one of the world's
leading architectural firms.

For a more in-depth introduction to HOK Canada's projects,
achievements and philosophy, visit their website at
http://hokcanada.com/index.htm.

We look forward to seeing you there!

http://www.step.uwaterloo.ca

UWEN Minutes, November 1, 2006

2006-11-03T14:54:00.000-08:00

UWENET Meeting:

1. In attendance: Alex Chunaco (GLOW), Tegan Renner (UWSP), Darcy Higgins (Campus Greens),
minutes: Justin Williams (ES Society)

2. UWSP Climate Change Fair (Tegan)
Tuesday and Wednesday next week
- They are in need of volunteers for the event (This Thursday at 3-4:30 in Rm 3103 in the SLC or during event)
- Events of the fair = pin the tale on the donkey, climate change jeopardy,
- Giving away trees, GRT bus tickets
- If you would like to help email Tegan or going to the Thursday meeting
- uwspmail@gmail.com
- Societies, please post to students in your faculty

3. Santa Claus Parade
- Last year UWSP / Campus Greens went with the bike forest group and local environmentalists to the Santa Claus Parade (mix students and community groups) – Called the tree huggers
- November 18th is going to be when the event is held
- Darcy will post the event online

4. The Progressive Alliance
- Last fall when UWENET was formed, there weren’t many groups like us
- Group at Ithaca College in the states formed (Activist organization)
The have events every other week – events are the Progressive Alliance and all the other groups there
- They might be a good model to look at
- Give the organization a broader mandate

5. U – Pass (bus pass)
- Likely referendum in February – Email Darcy if you would like to be involved
- Could also email Michelle Zakrison at pres@feds.ca – to express your interest

6. Sustainability Office – Clearing a Path
- Is progressing very well
- Justin and Darcy will report to the group when there is more information

7. Other Business
- Darcy mentioned that WPIRG is having two Climate change events

8. For Next Term
- Please send Justin your availability for next term! uwenet@gmail.com
- That way we can meet right away

Next meeting time will be announced.

Climate Action Tour lands at UW

2006-09-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

The Climate Action Tour 2006 hosted by WPIRG
Wednesday October 11th
5:30pm-8:30pm
Hagey Hall room 150, University of Waterloo
FREE! All welcome. Pizza will be provided.
Registration is required by 5pm Tuesday Oct. 11th - email info@wpirg.org

The Climate Action Network is going on tour to find out what
Canadians want in a Kyoto plan to address the climate crisis. The
Climate Action Tour 2006 will present a series of workshops for
Canadians to design a climate action plan.

The tour is a response to the federal government's cut to climate
programs and its announced intention to create a "Made in Canada
Plan". Local CAN-RAC members are arranging over 18 workshops across
Canadian cities, including Montreal, Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg,
Saskatoon, Yellowknife, Quebec, Ottawa, St. John's, Truro and
Waterloo.

Each workshop will include background information about climate
change, Canada's greenhouse gas emissions and existing climate change
programs. However a majority of the time will be devoted to gathering
input from individual Canadians. A summary of the recommendations
from the session will be presented to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
in the fall.

Registration for this workshop is required by 5pm Tuesday Oct. 11th.
Email info@wpirg.org.

For more information about this, or other WPIRG events, visit http://wpirg.org
----

Ms. Raj Gill
Projects & Organizational Development Coordinator

Waterloo Public Interest Research Group
Student Life Centre Room 2139
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1
Tel: 519.888.4882 / Fax: 519.725.3093 / UW ext. 84882

Renewable challenge - KPL

2006-09-29T12:59:00.000-07:00

Oil prices may have dipped recently, but you can still expect to spend over 1/4 of a million dollars on energy over your lifetime. Meanwhile, inefficient use of energy is pushing ecosystems to the brink of catastrophic failure. Want to reduce energy consumption and save money? Come hear

WILLIAM KEMP
Thursday, October 5, 2006 at 7:00 PM
Kitchener Public Library, auditorium
85 Queen Street N, Kitchener

Bill Kemp is VP Engineering at Powerbase Automation Systems, author of best selling books The Renewable Energy Handbook and $mart Power: an urban guide to renewable energy and efficiency, and an articulate expert in a wide range of renewable energy technologies. This talk will help Ontarian's understand our energy challenges, find solutions and discuss how you can do your part in protecting the environment. After all, if you don't get involved, who will?

Win a free book! Copies of Bill’s books will be available for sale with one copy of $mart Power being given as a door prize.
Free admission. This event is sponsored by Natural Power Products of Kitchener and is the first of the 2006/2007 Energy $ense series hosted by Community Renewable Energy Waterloo and Kitchener Public Library. For more information or directions to KPL, please see http://www.kpl.org/ayl_main_lib.shtml. To be notified of future CREW renewable energy events, contact Sandra Mooibroek at smooi@owisp.ca.

Lecture & Book Launch - Toronto

2006-09-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

> David Korten Special Event
> The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community
> Featuring internationally respected author David Korten
>
> What does it mean to build a sustainable global society? How do we go
> beyond the conflicts and habits that limit our collective potential
> and threaten out future? What can we do as individuals and
> organizations to play a role in this great transformation?
> Join acclaimed author David C. Korten as he addresses the themes and
> explorations of his most recent book, The Great Turning: From Empire
> to Earth Community. Mr. Korten is best known as the author of When
> Corporations Rule the World (1995), and as a board chair and
> co-founder of the Positive Futures Network, which publishes Yes!
> Magazine.
> The event will also feature a book signing by Mr. Korten
>
> Wednesday, October 4
> 7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00pm)
> OISE/UT auditorium
> 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto
> Pay What You Can (recommended $5.00)
>
> This event is hosted by Green Enterprise Toronto and the following
> sponsors:
> Grassroots Environmental Products
> NOW Toronto
> The Transformative Learning Centre at OISE
> Centre for Social Innovation
> Raincoast Books
> The Centre for Social Justice
> Faith and the Common Good Network
> Business and Environment Program, York University Faculty of
> Environmental Studies
> Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit, United Church of Canada
>
> For more information and reviews please continue here
> http://greenenterprise.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=2

Wednesday Campus Market

2006-09-18T20:57:00.000-07:00

local. fresh. delicious.
The UW Farm Market will have its first showing this Wednesday, Sept. 20 in the Courtyard in ES1.
Come the first day for a chance to win prizes and see what local food in Waterloo Region is all about. It will run from 9:00AM-1:30PM, every Wednesday in the ES Courtyard until October 25th.
Thanks very much to Food Services, and to all the volunteers, particularly Teresa Van Massenhoven and Heather Dabrowski for your hard work and enthusiasm in this initiative!

More info check Sept. 18th's Daily Bulletin: http://www.bulletin.uwaterloo.ca/ or contact
Darcy Higgins: darcyhiggins@gmail.com

Save the West Side Lands - Waterloo

2006-07-05T15:15:00.001-07:00

On July 17th 2006 Waterloo City council will vote on the rezoning of
Vista Hills, Clair Meadows and Greyerbiehl lands. These proposed
subdivision area are located on the headwaters to the Clair Creek and
they contain an area of sensitive recharge. The Threatened Jefferson
Salamander, the Threatened Hooded Warbler and the Endangered Acadian
Flycatcher were all seen in ESPA 19 which is now at risk due to these
proposed subdivisions.

The Citizens for the Protection of the Waterloo Moraine are hosting
and event called "Save the West Side Lands" that will be held on
Thursday July 13 at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex (the
Swimplex)located at 101 Father David Bauer Drive in the Hauser Haus Room.

Public displays will be up from 6-8pm to inform the public about our
recharge areas and the risks associated with the proposed rezoning of
the West Side Lands.

There will be public speakers from 7-8 pm including award winning
Geologist Peter Russell.

At 8:15 there will be a "Walk to Save the West Side Lands" taking
place beginning at the parking lot of the Swimplex. It travels through
Waterloo Park and returns to the parking lot afterwards. Bring signs,
bring banners and join us as we stand united to "Save the West Side
Lands!"

Everyone is welcome to participate in this fun free family event and
cash donations to help sponsor the event are greatly appreciated.

For more information please visit our website at
http://geocities.com/savevistahills@rogers.com/

If you have any questions you may contact our event coordinator
Louisette Lanteigne at butterflybluelu@rogers.com

Together we can make a difference!

Save the West Side Lands - Waterloo

2006-07-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

An Inconvenient Truth

2006-06-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

Go see this Film: youth

High school and university students in Kitchener-Waterloo are urging young people and the broader public to go see Al Gore’s new film on its opening weekend in Waterloo. An Inconvenient Truth tells of the upcoming climate crisis, and many students have committed to seeing the film on opening night.
“The effects of climate change will be life-altering for people in every country on this planet,” said Brent Williamson, Vice-President of the University of Waterloo Campus Greens and member of the Elizabeth May Youth Team. The Youth Team is supporting May’s Green Party of Canada leadership bid and will have a presence on opening night of the film.

Other groups will be present, including Alternatives Journal, WPIRG, the NDP and the Green Party.

“In present times there are many global, national and local concerns that we are involved in. The concern presented in this film is applicable to ALL of us and our future generations. I cannot emphasize this enough,” said Azkaa Rahman, second-year UW student.

On May 4, Elizabeth May moderated a discussion on the film with Al Gore at a premiere in Toronto. Afterwards she remarked, “The documentary is unlike any other film I have seen. It is entertaining, hopeful and profoundly moving. It is both a very personal story and a hard core science briefing. It is often very funny.”

An Inconvenient Truth will be playing at the Princess Twin, beginning Friday June 23rd, and everyday until at least June 29th, at 4:45, 7:00, and 9:20pm. More information on the film can be found at: www.climatecrisis.net

Darcy Higgins
Email: darcyhiggins@gmail.com

WPIRG is giving away FREE TICKETS...read further and pass the invite along to others!

--------

WPIRG invites you to a cosponsored screening of the summer's most talked about documentary

"An Inconvenient Truth" on

Friday June 23rd at 7pm and 9:20pm at the

Princess Twin Cinemas (46 King Street North, Waterloo).

This documentary, starring former Vice President Al Gore has been called the scariest disaster movie ever made. With wit, smarts and hope, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH ultimately brings home Gore's persuasive argument that we can no longer afford to view global warming as a political issue - rather, it is the biggest moral challenges facing our global civilization.

WIN FREE TICKETS

Name WPIRG's green resource directory, and list two things you will find there (Hint: visit http://wpirg.org if you don't know the answer). Email us your answer by noon on Wednesday June 21st and your name will be entered in a draw for 2 pairs of tickets to this screening.

Join us on opening night where you will have an opportunity not only to see the film, but also to find out more information from our presentation partners.

2006-05-30T06:41:00.000-07:00

" People and the Planet Conference 2006"

When: June 9 - June 11
Where: Ottawa, Ontario,
Venue:Saint Paul University

SCC’s third People and the Planet conference will be held from June 9 through June 11 2006 in Ottawa, at Saint Paul University. Visit www.peopleandtheplanet.ca for regular updates on the exciting speakers and the stimulating conference program. Please contact Jennifer Mullane for more information peopleandtheplanet@sierraclub.ca."
Elizabeth May and Maude Barlow (Council of Canadians) will both be speaking.

if you really want to go but worried about a place to stay, there are billeting opportunities.

Monday Meeting - in support of the Bruce Trail

2006-05-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

Monday May 29
4pm
WPIRG - SLC 2139

This is a student-run awareness campaign regarding the Bruce Trail,
the Niagara Escarpment, and the Greenbelt of Ontario.

For FootSteps to be a complete success at the University of Waterloo,
I need your help! I'll be holding a meeting at the WPIRG office, on
May 29, at 4pm so that everyone can hopefully
attend. At the meeting, I'll be asking individuals to help me out in
order to continue the awareness campaign in my absence, and to run
booths, put up posters, and try to raise funds. This is a great
opportunity for students willing to participate in a
student-created and student-run environmental program.

If you have any ideas on ways to educate students, or ways to help
raise funds, please email me at spiffyfrodo@gmail.com. Remember, Ayden
and I are walking 850km as an incentive to donate to the BTA (that's
approx. 30-day straight walk).

Thanks everyone!

Rob Blom
University of Waterloo
Director, FootSteps to Conservation

Help with this year's Biothon

2006-04-20T18:07:00.000-07:00

2006 Biothon: 23rd/24th September
(Saturday 12:00 to Sunday 12:00 for the inventory and Sunday 12:00 to 16:00 for the public and entertainment.) Would like help from students and faculty!

The goals:
- Raising money for environmental education: By collecting pledges in support of the Biothon, our participants are contributing to the Grand River Foundation's Living Classroom Campaign (see http://www.grandriver.ca/Foundation/GRCF_currentprojects.cfm under Nature Centres)
- Natural heritage inventory: Participants go out to designated areas in one of our Conservation Areas (this year is Guelph Lake) and try to find as many species as possible working as part of one of three teams (High Life for vertebrates, Fun Guys for plants and fungi or Spineless Wonders for invertebrates.) You don't have to be an expert, just an enthusiast. There are plenty of experts on hand, so it is a chance to learn and improve field skills. An extra pair of eyes is always welcome, survey teams are assembled to accommodate the varying skill levels of our volunteers. Some of the participants camp out overnight, especially those who have travelled or want to participate in the nocturnal hunts (we have some great owl mimics!) Celebration: ... of our watershed's biological diversity. This bit is the public session where we have entertainment, refreshments on hand and kick back and relax. It's an opportunity to talk about interesting finds, to tally the results, evangelize about the GRCA and socialize.

Contact Phil if you'd like to help our or would like more info!

Phil Lenoir
Senior Business Analyst/Programmer Grand River Conservation Authority 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge Ontario. N1R 5W6 (519) 621-2763 x284 mailto:plenoir@grandriver.ca http://www.grandriver.ca/

K-W Earth Day Events!

2006-04-15T13:16:00.000-07:00

Event: Earth Day Park Crawl - by bike!
Date: Saturday, April 22, 2006
Time: 10am-3pm
Location: Starts at the Kitchener Farmer's Market, King St Entrance.

Come join us for an Earth Day of touring in Kitchener Waterloo! A chance to
hop from event to event while taking a stand for environmentally-friendly
transportation!

Tour stops will include:

* Kitchener Farmer's Market [10-11am]
[Environmental Info Fair]
* Stanley Park Community Centre [11:15am-12 noon]
[Spring Fair]
* Cedar Creek Community Cleanup [12:30-1:30pm]
[Albert and Weber]
* Picnic in Waterloo Park [2pm +]
[Bring a lunch, cheer on a race!]

Tour the info booths at the Kitchener Market and Stanley Park Community Centre,
help clean up a creek valley (gloves and bags provided) and cheer on runners in
the Earth Day: Crossing Borders Run (benefiting AIDS relief in Africa) in
Waterloo park.

The tour will leave the Kitchener Farmer's Market (King St. Entrance) at 11am.

Join us for the whole tour or meet us part way. Dress up or wear earth colours,
decorate your bike and be ready to make some noise! The Park Crawl will occur
rain or shine, so wear appropriate gear.

This event is brought to you by the Kitchener-Waterloo and Kitchener-Centre Green Party Associations.

Contact:
Caroline Rioux, UW Campus Greens @ crioux@math.uwaterloo.ca

UWSP call for applications - Coordinator position

2006-04-07T06:10:00.000-07:00

Are you enthusiastic about the environment and feel that you have the skills to lead a whole bunch of awesome volunteers?

Do you have leadership experience and an unsatiable itch to be involved on campus?

DO YOU WANT TO MOVE THE CAMPUS TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY?

If yes, then you should apply for the position of UWSP Coordinator - there will be 2 positions available for Spring 2006. Interested individuals should send a resume highlighting relevant experience, including UWSP and other campus/environmental activities, and a one-page explanation (MS Word file) of why you want to be a Coordinator to farrah0101@gmail.com and darcyhiggins@gmail.com
Deadline for applications is WEDNESDAY APRIL 12!

We may be interviewing eligible candidates during the exam period, so please include the date of your last exam on your application.

IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE BUT NOT IN THIS MAILING LIST, PLEASE PASS THIS ON.

David Suzuki at UW

2006-04-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

SOLD OUT

From FES newletter (http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/faculty/newsletter/2006/march/index.html):

"David Suzuki book signing

The University of Waterloo, the UW Bookstore, and the Dean of Environmental Studies, Deep Saini, are pleased to welcome world-renowned geneticist, science broadcaster, and environmental activist Dr. David Suzuki. For decades, viewers around the globe have watched him on television, as host of The Nature of Things. Now you can be there as he shares life stories, video and photos of his family, and reads from his final book, David Suzuki: The Autobiography.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006
7 - 9 pm, Humanities Theatre, University of Waterloo [$5.00 a ticket]

A book signing will follow. UW alumni can register online at alumni.uwaterloo.ca/alumni/events/canada/on.html#kw Tickets are also available from the Humanities Theatre box office at 519-888-4908."

2006-03-29T05:40:00.000-08:00

Heard all the buzz around Premier McGuinty and David Suzuki announcing a new renewable energy program? Find out what it all means and how you can get involved.

Community Windfarms--in development!

Kitchener Public Library Main Branch

85 Queen Street N., Kitchener

Wednesday, March 29 at 7:00 pm

Come hear Doug Fyfe, General Manager of Ontario's first community windfarm, Countryside Energy Co-op, and Sandra Mooibroek, President of Community Renewable Energy Waterloo, explain the benefits of wind energy and opportunities for Waterloo Region landowners and wind energy advocates. Representatives of Local Initiatives for Future Energy Co-op Inc. will also be on hand to give a brief presentation of an exciting new project now getting underway in Baden.

Free admission and no need to reserve a seat--we'll be in the auditorium. Directions and a map to KPL can be found at http://www.kpl.org/ayl_main_lib.shtml

Win a free draw! Several copies of the 2005 OSEA publication "Ontario Landowner's Guide to Wind Energy" will be given as door prizes.

Can't make it next Wednesday? Fill in our survey and let us know what areas of interest you'd like to see presented next year. Better yet, join CREW (for just $10!) at our annual general meeting on May 11, 7pm at the Regional Social Services building, 99 Regina St., and participate in steering the future of renewable energy advocacy in Waterloo Region. All welcome. E-mail John Green, jgreen@alumni.uwaterloo.ca for a PDF of the survey and membership form.

The ENERGY $ENSE series is a joint initiative of the Kitchener Public Library and Community Renewable Energy Waterloo (CREW).

Upcoming events:

2006-03-23T08:22:00.000-08:00

Trash Theatre: Sat March 23 2:30 and 6:30 @ 122 Frederick St. Kitchener

UWSP Career Night: Mon. March 27, 5-7:30 @ Tatham Centre Room 2218a

WPIRG Board nominations due Mon March 27, 11-4:30 @ WPIRG Office, SLC

UWSP Hiring Coordinators and Board for Spring semester, Details @ UWSP Office, SLC or email uwspmail@yahoo.com

Visit http://uwenet.blogspot.com/ for more information and updates

2006-03-21T09:57:00.000-08:00

Exciting Environmental Entertainment

Proceeds go towards the protection of the Borneo Rainforest~

Doors open at

2:30 and 6:30

Sat. March 25^th, 2006

122 Frederick St. Kitchener

*Behind the Kitchener Public Library

@ The Registry Theatre

www.panda.org

Comments or questions please contact Crystal Bradford at:

crystal_bradford@hotmail.com

(519) 744-5531

reduce, reuse, repair, recycle

Parental Guidance

Trash Theatre

Entrance by Donation

UWSP Sustainable Career Nights

2006-03-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

Sustainable Career Nights

Date: Monday March 20th 2006
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: ES Courtyard
&
Date: Tuesday March 21st 2006
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: ES Courtyard
&
Date: Monday March 27th 2006
Time: 5-7:30pm
Location: Tatham Centre Room 2218a

A sustainable career can be a career in organizations that directly work towards achieving sustainability in society, or businesses that practice sustainable policies. Examples can be work in environmental organizations or businesses with environmental policies or businesses working directly with sustaining natural resources for future generation.

Come on out to listen to great speakers talk about their experiences and careers and how you can embark on similar paths. The goal of these evenings is to present career option ideas to people who wish to pursue a career where sustainability is considered. Food and refreshments will be served.

For more info please check out: www.uwsp.uwaterloo.ca

----------------------------------

UWSP is organizing an info session on the Master of Forest Conservation program offered by University of Toronto. The details are as follows:

Dr. Andy Kenney
Program Coordinator in the Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto will be hosting
an information session about the Master of Forest Conservation

on Monday, March 20, 2006
at 4:30 p.m.
in ES courtyard, University of Waterloo

We invite all students interested in pursuing a graduate education in the area of forest conservation to attend.

"Andy Kenney is full of knowledge on urban forestry and tree health and has a background with many great organizations. I worked with him in my community on the Neighbourwoods program he developed for volunteers to study and act on the urban forest." - Darcy Higgins

Please RSVP your attendance to tomasz.bednarczyk@utoronto.ca

The course-oriented Master of Forest Conservation (MFC) degree program is an intensive 16-month program with a strong focus on field and laboratory practical training, Canadian and foreign residential field courses, a practical internship and individual and group research.

Food Awareness this Friday

2006-03-15T15:50:00.000-08:00

This Friday, March 17th, St. Patricks Day, Food Not Bombs is hosting a
FOOD AWARENESS DAY, to educate people about food production, and healthier
eating options on campus. All events are in the Great Hall and
Multipurpose room, and all events are FREE!

Events include:

12-2pm: A FREE organic lunch in the MPR

12-3pm: A food fair including CHEAP local organic produce, snacks,
and dry goods for sale, and booths on food issues

3pm-4pm: A Speaker Forum discussing food issues and how they relate to campus,
with several local farmers and food activists, please
come contribute your thoughts on healthy food options on campus!

12pm-6pm: A mini-film festival, including three films entitled "Full
Circle","Deconstructing Supper" and "Food War" (with free organic
popcorn!) with free popcorn at the 6pm showing!

Come celebrate St. Paddy's day in style! Do your grocery shopping right on
campus, learn about food issues, eat a free lunch, watch the films, and
participate in a speaker forum! Help celebrate Food Awareness Day with
Food Not Bombs on March 17th!

For more information please contact:

Laird: lherbert@riseup.net
Heather: dabrowski_heather@hotmail.com
Meagan: ml2wilso@ahsmail.uwaterloo.ca

ES Students - Greening our buildings

2006-03-15T09:42:00.000-08:00

Dear FES faculty, staff and students,

We are writing to invite you to a building renovation and design
workshop on *Monday, March 20th at noon* to be held in the ES courtyard.
The image that our buildings present to potential students, faculty
and funding sources is an important component of our success as a
faculty, as well as vital to maintaining a stimulating and collegial
atmosphere among current members of the ES faculty. We have a unique
opportunity to make some long needed improvements to ES1 and ES2, but
would like to solicit your input on the kind of enhancements that we
should make. Therefore, please consider attending this event. Your
contribution to the ES building renovation project is important.

We look forward to seeing you at the workshop.

FES Renovations Committee:
John Lewis (Planning) Chair, Stephen Murphy (ERS), Peter Hall
(Geography),Marko Dumancic (MAD), Jackie Dawson (Grad), Mike Kahn (UG),
Deep Saini and Joanne Holzinger

Bomber

2006-03-15T09:32:00.002-08:00

Thanks to everyone who came out last night, and to those who helped, spoke and had displays.
Was a great success.

New UWSP website, has temporary URL here:
http://client.summerhilldesign.com/UWSP

Stay involved and make a difference!

Cheers,
Seamus, Les, and the UWSP Board and UWEN organizers

Run for the WPIRG Board

2006-03-15T09:32:00.000-08:00

WPIRG Board nominations open today, Wednesday March 15 at 11am and close at
4:30pm on Monday March 27, 2006.

Board members are vital for the functioning of WPIRG! Duties include setting
the budget, planning events and projects, maintaining the office and
library, monitoring expenditures and overseeing volunteer training. Board
members work closely with WPIRG staff to provide students with resources and
educational opportunities. Participating on the Board will give you
invaluable experience working for a non-profit organization and in consensus
decision making.

WPIRG is governed by a Board of Directors of 9 members. Seven of these
positions will be filled by election at the next WPIRG Annual General
Meeting on Monday, April 3, 2006.

If you'd like to run: Nomination packages are available at the WPIRG office
(UW SLC 2139). To be a Board member you must be a WPIRG member in good
standing. For more information please visit our office, http://wpirg.org or
call 888-4882.

UWENet meeting

2006-03-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

When: Monday March 13, 2006
Time: 5 PM
Where: UWSP office, 3rd floor of SLC

Are you up for it? UWENet's first big bash!

2006-03-07T21:56:00.000-08:00

Green Bomber Night is happening Tuesday, March 14th!
- 8pm till Midnight -

A free event to get to know what everybody's up to on campus and enjoy
some great entertainment - All Ages Welcome!

Les Loh from Math says, "When this party starts rockin, you just won't be able to stop it!"

Tiff Smith from ES says, "It's going to rock so hard you'll forget you're being sustainable!"

Featuring: local bands, Balance Pact, Sexy Tiger Party, Red Balloon + a DJ through the night
- Your MC Leprechaun Seamus O'Higgin!!
- free food (sponsored by campus environmental organizations)
- short speeches and displays by environmental groups
- a fundraiser for the Centre de Buruley in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, an
orphanage that treats children with leprosy.
- groups may have giveaways + you can order your UWSP "tree hugger" shirt!

Collecting non-perishable food items for the UW Food Bank!

Organized by the University of Waterloo Sustainability Project and
members of the UW Environment Network.

Email: uwenet@gmail.com for more details or to get your group more
involved in the night.

Trash Theatre

2006-03-07T18:52:00.000-08:00

Come check out 'Trash Theatre' an entertaining environmental experience.

This performance is the focus of an ERS undergraduate thesis on interactive education. Costumes have been constructed from "garbage" and on March 25th at 3pm and 7pm at the Registry Theatre they will come to life with the help of around 20 cast members.

Entrance is by donation with the proceeds going towards the protection of the Borneo rainforest through the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) www.panda.org.

End of Suburbia, Monday

2006-03-04T13:36:00.000-08:00

End of Suburbia
End of Oil

Ever ask yourself about how long the lights will stay on, or how many
years will it that I can still drive my car. Will reading an e-mail
off a computer become too expensive? The fact of the matter is that
our modern world runs on oil. So what happens when it runs out? The
world as we know it will definately change. When is it going to run
out? The truth is that we'll never run out, the real question is when
will oil supplies start to plummet? Peak Oil is coming some say its
already happened. Learn about this and other energy related topics at
the next STEP event.

Format
--------------
1) End of Suburbia
This is a movie that presents the facts of Peak Oil. The first
half will be screened.
2) The audience will break into groups and ask questions and enter discussion
with professors doing research in this area. Some of this experts are:
- Dr Michael Fowler Chemical Engineering
- Dr Paul Parker Environmental Studies
- Dr John Straube Civil Engineering / Architecture
- Dr Roydon Fraser Mechanical Engineering (Tentative)

Where? When? How Much?

Monday March 6
3:30-5:30pm
ES Courtyard - ES1 250
Cost: FREE!!!

Pass this on to your friends!

Contact: Mike McWilliam, STEP, step@feds.ca

Straw Bale & Sustainable Building session

2006-03-01T19:39:00.000-08:00

Scroll down for other great events!

Straw Bale & Sustainable Building
with author & teacher Chris Magwood
Wednesday March 1
Multi Purpose Room - Student Life Centre, UW
12pm

New homes and commercial buildings can achieve remarkable energy efficiency, use environmentally friendly materials and renewable energies and still be built for the same cost as conventional construction. Come learn how!
Straw bale building author and teacher Chris Magwood will be giving a talk and slide show to discuss how sustainable building strategies can and have been implemented across Ontario.
Magwood is the author of three books on straw bale building, and is part of a group of builders whose explorations of sustainable building techniques have helped make Ontario a world leader in the design and construction of buildings that are highly energy efficient, healthy for occupants and tread lightly on the planet. It doesn't hurt that many of these buildings are also uniquely beautiful, as his slide show will demonstrate.
After 10 years as a professional builder, Magwood is now dedicated to teaching the art and science of sustainable building to others. As the professor of Fleming College's new Sustainable Building program, he helps groups of students design and construct full-size buildings that are on the leading edge of energy and environmental performance. The first project completed by the students was the 4Cs Food Bank and Thrift Store in downtown Haliburton, and this will be among the buildings featured in the presentation.
Photo by Chris\nJohnston.\n\nMagwood\'s latest book, More Straw Bale\nBuilding (New Society Publishers) is a completely revised and updated\nedition of the book Straw Bale Building, which has sold over 20,000\ncopies and has become a standard resource for builders across North\nAmerica. Copies of the book will be available at the\npresentation.\n\nIf you would like to learn more about straw\nbale and sustainable building, this is a perfect opportunity to see\npictures, learn about costs and construction and have your questions\nanswered by an expert.

The Food Bank and Thrift Store in downtown Haliburton is an example of good sustainable building practice. It was constructed by students at Fleming College, and uses straw bale walls, earth plasters, earth floors and passive and active solar components. Photo by Chris Johnston.
Magwood's latest book, More Straw Bale Building (New Society Publishers) is a completely revised and updated edition of the book Straw Bale Building, which has sold over 20,000 copies and has become a standard resource for builders across North America. Copies of the book will be available at the presentation.
If you would like to learn more about straw bale and sustainable building, this is a perfect opportunity to see pictures, learn about costs and construction and have your questions answered by an expert.

UWEN Meeting Minutes - February

2006-02-27T10:52:00.000-08:00

Here are the minutes from February's Network meeting.
Email: uwenet@gmail.com if you would like more information about what the groups are up to or if you'd like contact info.

UWENET Meeting Minutes – February

February 13th, 2006 | 5:30-6:30pm | SLC Rm 2133
Facilitator: Tiff | Minutes: Farrah
Attending:
Tiff Smith (Env. Studies Society)
Raj Gill (WPIRG)
Darcy Higgins (UW Campus Green)
Farrah Chan (UWSP)
Ashley Page (WEBS)
Sarah McAlister (ERSA)
Michelle Zakrison (ES Feds Councillor)
Amber Cantell (UWFN)
Drew Adams (PSA)
Julia Ko (AGG)
Sabrina Bowman

Updates:
UWSP Social Event at Bomber
• March 14th, 8-12pm
• Free food, everybody is welcome
• Looking for bands
• Asking for donations from society
• Fundraising for African orphans and food bank

UWSP
• Sustainable Career Night
• Looking for alumni contact from each faculty
• 2-3 nights in last week of March

WPIRG
• Brief introductions
o Provides opportunity to work on issues
o Holds leadership, group communication etc workshops
• One-Tone Challenge
• Commuter Challenge
• Lectures on green building (March 13th) – architecture student co-op residence
• Walk to School Play
• UWSP green roof

MacLeans Campaign
• Petition on MacLeans magazine for campus sustainability indicator
• Hand in by Friday noon at UWSP office or ES coffee shop

WPIRG
• Ministry of Energy Ontario’s Public Consultation
• Friday 17th March @ Delta Hotel, 105 King St East
• 6:30-8:30pm

Clearing the Path (UWSP)
• Push for sustainability office
• First event
o Open house forum: visioning night for student, staff, profs, community
o What a sustainability office should look like
o Have support from new dean of ES
o A speech from associate dean Jean Andrey on the sustainability office
o Tuesday, March 7 at 5:00pm
o Will need help advertising to the list

ESS
• Wednesday meeting: Local and Organic Food @ Coffee shop
• Food miles work shop, public consultation
• Manager of Food Services may make a change in food supplies
• Faculty of ES, ES II is trying to incorporate what we learn from class  Town Hall Meeting

Campus Green
• Working to shift Conrad Gabriel (not connected to UW Food Services) to use of local food
• Mennonite farmers exist in the area and connections could be made
• Planning for a local market @ SLC

Feds Election
• All candidates are pro-environment – often discussed Sustainability Office, Upass, UWEN/UWSP
• Fed president has access to the administrative
• Can help overcoming to administrative barrier
• Darcy will meet with the Feds president on Admin transparency
• Electoral Platforms – Imprint coverage was successful

Upass
• GRT non-refundable Upass
• UW has a larger student population than WLU, should able to get a better deal
• Improving public transportation system
• Drew will be working on Upass as ES Councillor next year

PSA
• Social event upcoming, others invited

WPIRG
• Fair Vote Canada, Larry Gordon - Noon-2 multi-purpose room forum
• 7:30pm Adult Rec Centre

Next meeting:
13th March, 2006 | Facilitator: Sarah McAllister

Women's Week Events

2006-02-25T14:30:00.000-08:00

On Friday March 10:

What: Various workshops all day!
Hatha Yoga (10:30-12:00)
Herbal medicine and tea cafe (12:00-2:00)
painting (12:oo-2:00)
Sustainable menstruation and pad making (2:00-3:30)
Where: The MultiPurpose Room - SLC

Contact: Margarita: ooomargeooo@hotmail.com

Envision Sustainability at UW!

2006-02-25T07:43:00.000-08:00

Come out to our March 7th event & bring friends and colleagues.
Everyone invited!

Help us Envision Sustainability at UW!

contact: clearing_a_path@hotmail.com

Darcy Higgins, UWSP Coordinator

Free Coffee & Lug-a-Mug Sale

2006-02-23T16:22:00.000-08:00

Come out to our Lug-a-mug sale and free coffee....

Wednesday March 1,
10 to 1pm
SLC near the stairs (to UWSP/WPIRG!)

from Waste Management, UWSP

GROW

2006-02-13T09:25:00.000-08:00

Next Meeting: Thursday Feb. 14 @5:00PM
Green Roofs Over Waterloo

Here's the tentative meeting agenda:
-Current and future planned construction projects on campus (Antony: any
progess?)
-Schedules for roofing, lighting and other retrofits on campus ( i.e. to
push for green roofs, energy efficient/sensors on lights, improvements on
old construction, etc.)
-Lighting use (i.e. lights never get turned off in CECS building...)
-Seminar topics and connections for people to give the talks
-Green buildings display board for SLC set up (I need help
gathering pictures, misc facts, and people to volunteer to man the booth
when we set it up)

Contact:
Emma Halsall, GROW: ekhalsal@engmail.uwaterloo.ca

End of Suburbia, End of Oil - film and speakers

2006-02-13T09:23:00.000-08:00

End of Suburbia
End of Oil

Ever ask yourself about how long the lights will stay on, or how many
years will it that I can still drive my car. Will reading an e-mail
off a computer become too expensive? The fact of the matter is that
our modern world runs on oil. So what happens when it runs out? The
world as we know it will definately change. When is it going to run
out? The truth is that we'll never run out, the real question is when
will oil supplies start to plummet? Peak Oil is coming some say its
already happened. Learn about this and other energy related topics at
the next STEP event.

Format
--------------
1) End of Suburbia
This is a movie that presents the facts of Peak Oil. The first
half will be screened.
2) The audience will break into groups and ask questions and enter discussion
with professors doing research in this area. Some of this experts are:
- Dr. Xianguo Li Mechanical Engineering
- Dr. Ian Rowlands Environmental Studies

Where? When? How Much?

Thursday February 16
3:30-5:30pm
ES Courtyard
(The courtyard is in ES1 between ML and HH,
The courtyard is on the 2nd Floor, centre of the Building)
Cost: FREE!!!

Pass this on to your freinds!!!

Contact
Mike McWilliam, STEP - pilot.mm@gmail.com

Local Food, Sustainability in ES

2006-02-13T09:16:00.000-08:00

Are you interested in participating in meeting regarding how we can make the
Environmental Studies Coffee Shop more sustainable? It's an opportunity to apply what you have
learned in class to the 'real world'!

There will be a meeting Wednesday February 15 at 11:30 in the ESS Office. We
will discuss issues such as:
- introducing local and organic products to the selection of items being sold
- specific organic/local food items preferred and pricing
- how the coffee shop could be more appealing; i.e. suggestions for the coffee
shop and lounge area
- customers expectations when the visit the coffee shop

Bring ideas and any useful information that you have. Coffee and tea will be
provided.

Hope to see you Wednesday!

Sarah, Coffee Shop Manager
Ashleigh, Assistant Manager
Tiffany, ESS Environment Director - t3smith@fes.uwaterloo.ca

Next UWEN Meeting

2006-02-09T17:58:00.000-08:00

Next UWEN meeting is

Date:Monday February 13
Time: 5:30 pm.
Location: room 2133 in the SLC

Food Miles: The Environmental Costs of Eating Imported Foods

2006-02-07T07:25:00.000-08:00

"Find some local flavour at this lecture that will tickle your taste buds!
Marc Xuereb, a Public Health Planner with Region of Waterloo Public Health, has recently completed a study of the distances imported foods travel to Waterloo Region, and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their transport. He'll share the results of that research, and explain how eating local can help you meet the One-Tonne Challenge!

Thursday, February 9, 2006 at 5:15pm - doors open, 5:30pm - 6:45pm; Arts Lecture 124
For more information contact Jessica Kwik (jessica@ireduce.ca) "

Local, organic food on campus

2006-02-01T19:15:00.000-08:00

The UW Campus Greens next meeting will focus on getting food from local farmers on campus, for economic, social and ecological benefits.
Come out to help plan this initiative:

Thursday Feb. 2 at 4:30 - ES Coffee Shop (ES1, first floor).

Contact Miranda McLin: mmclin@fes.uwaterloo.ca

Campus Sustainability Meeting

2006-02-01T10:43:00.000-08:00

The next organizing meeting for sustainability on campus, will be Thursday, February 2 at 5:30 in the UWSP Office, 3rd floor SLC.

Clearing a Path, UWSP
contact: Justin: jewillia@fes.uwaterloo.ca

Mackenzie King Village Compost Night

2006-02-01T10:38:00.000-08:00

MKV Backyard Composting Info Night
Thursday February 2nd
10PM

MKV main floor TV lounge

Come and find out about the backyard composting program, meet some people and get some free prizes!

Contact Tiffany: tifftsun@hotmail.com
Sponsored by Waste Management, UWSP
http://www.uwsp.uwaterloo.ca/wm/

GROW's Green Building Meeting and Green Roof Seminar!

2006-01-31T08:12:00.000-08:00

Do you spend time in buildings? Do you design buildings? Do you strive for
efficiency? Are you interested in sustainable communities? If you
answered yes to one or more of those questions, then read on! No previous
experience necessary!

GROW (Green Roofs Over Waterloo) will be having it's first meeting:
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 2nd at 4:30pm - SLC 2136

What is GROW and why should you care? GROW's goal is to raise awareness
about green building technologies. These include: various ways to increase
energy and water efficiency, safe and efficient materials selection
(avoiding sick building syndrome), construction methods/practices, etc....

The intent is to push the university to have a plan in place to start
building better buildings: for the environment, and for everyone that spends
hours upon hours in them! We will spread the word on various
technologies/practices through guest speakers from the university and
industry.

Stay posted, our first workshop will be on green roof design -- it's easy,
innovative, and effective!.

If you are interested in helping organizing, advertising, or just showing up
to the seminars, this meeting is for you! Come with ideas for what you want
to learn about, and I'll do my best to get the appropriate speakers. I will
keep it short and sweet. If you can't make it, but are interested, please
feel free to email me with your interests, what you can help out with, etc.

See you Thursday!

(GROW is brought to you by the University of Waterloo Sustainability Project
- UWSP)

Clearing a Path meeting Thursday 26th!

2006-01-24T19:25:00.000-08:00

Who wants to work on Sustainability on campus!

If you'd like to get involved this semester, this is an important group!
This Thursday at 5:30 Clearing a Path (UWSP working group) will have a meeting in the SLC room 2105b. The meeting will focus around the drive for a sustainability
coordinator / office on campus. During the meeting, we will discuss where
Clearing A Path can fit into this campaign and strategies to ensure that the
campaign succeeds.

If you cannot make it to this meeting, but have something that you would
like to add to the discussion, please feel free to email the comment, and I
will add it into the discussion.

email: clearing_a_path@hotmail.com

UWEN Meeting and Minutes - January

2006-01-24T19:02:00.000-08:00

UWEN Minutes
January 19th, 2006 | 5:30pm | ES Coffeeshop
Facilitator: Darcy | Minutes: Jason

Anyone can email if you have any inquries or questions about what happened at this meeting. These are your groups, your Network! You may wish to get invovled in something, or make contacts with these folks.
uwenet@gmail.com

Attending:
• Jason Hammond (UWSP / UW Campus Greens / CKMS Radio Waterloo)
• Kristina Domsic (Clearing a Path)
• Justin Williams (Clearing a Path)
• Miranda McLin (UW Campus Greens)
• Mike McWilliam (STEP)
• Michelle Zakrison (ES FedS Councillor)
• Sarah McAlister (ERSSA)
• Matt Stevens (UWAFT)
• Farrah Chan (UWSP)
• Ashley Page (WEBS)
• Amber Cantell (UWFN)
• Kristi Herlein (EngSoc)
• Darcy Higgins (UW Campus Greens)
• Tiff Smith (Env. Studies Society)
• Regrets: Raj Gill (WPIRG)

Updates
Justin (w/ Kristina) – 250 Project: Revitalizing WATGreen
Sustainability Office & Coordinator
Accountability for WATGreen
Exec. Summary on UWEN website
Darcy: review of reply letter from UW President Johnston
Sustainability Coordinator not addressed
Justin: Clearing a Path meeting: SLC 2105B Thursday at 5:30Mike: Upcoming STEP event
“End of Suburbia” (first half)
Professors to speak with 4 audience groups on specific topics
Date to be announced
Jason: One year UWEN joint project for May 2006 to April 2007
Building the environmental movement on campus
Report card on candidates during FedS election
Building a strong relationship with new FedS Executive
Clubs day style event for UWEN
Outreach to other campus groups
Recruiting and social events
UWEN gave consensus on this common focus
Miranda: WCRI becoming more eco-friendly
Recruiting green residents
Promote Eby-town food co-op on Phillip St.
Tiff & Ashley: SYC Sustainable Campuses Conference
Maclean’s – getting letters of support sign on and off campus – Action item: Ashley will work on getting a MacLean’s letter and Network members willing to sign on or go back to their groups on this
Sustainability office/coordinator helpful info
PAC – Provincial Action Committee – can use volunteer from Waterloo
Amber: UWFN
Jan 22nd 1pm SLC winter twig identification
For details: amcantell@yahoo.ca
Farrah: UWSP
Green Career Seminar (details TBA)
UWEN Social Event
Coffeehouse, etc.
UWSP to plan / book Bomber
Michelle: FedS
Enterprise Opportunity Innovation – apply to this FedS fund for greening!
Administration will match for environmental project funding applications
Amber: Online funding guide – Action item: Amber will work on pulling together funding info for a web page to link to our sites
Darcy: Campus Greens
Local food:
- at Grebel – local organics (Mennonite and other farms)
- food market at SLC
Michelle: FedS applications reminder
Tiff: Guelph Organic Conference January 27-29
Other groups will email to post meeting times: uwenet@gmail.com
------------
Next Meeting
Tiff to facilitate
Amber to take minutes
Monday Feb 13th, 5:30
Location TBA

Comment Board

2006-01-17T15:41:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

We're posting a form to post your opinions on the implementation of a University of Waterloo Sustainability Office including a Sustainability Coordinator.
Please post your comment at this site and we may use them in future campaigns.
Thanks.

Environmental Meetings

2006-01-15T19:36:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone and welcome to the semester!

The first UW Environment Network meeting for group reps will be held Thursday January 19th at 5:30 in the ES Coffee Shop, lower floor ES1.
If you're a group that has or hasn't been to meetings yet, please email us to let us know if you can make it: uwenet@gmail.com

The next Campus Greens meeting is Thursday at 5:30 in the ES Coffee Shop, lower floor of ES1.
Please email us with your meeting times and environmental events so we can post them here!

UWSP call for applications - coordinator position

2005-12-05T08:03:00.000-08:00

Are you enthusiastic about the environment and feel that you have the skills to lead a whole bunch of awesome volunteers?

Do you have leadership experience and an unsatiable itch to be involved on campus?

DO YOU WANT TO MOVE THE CAMPUS TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY?

If yes, then you should apply for the position of UWSP Coordinator -there will be 2 positions available for Winter 2006. Interested individuals should send a resume highlighting relevant experience, including UWSP activities, and a one-page explanation (MS Word file) of why you want to be a Coordinator to HINGMAN.LEUNG@GMAIL.COM. Deadline for applications is FRIDAY DECEMBER 9.

We will be interviewing eligible candidates during the exam period, so please include the date of your last exam on your application.

IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE BUT NOT IN THIS MAILING LIST,PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO THEM.

Another Great Joint Environmental Movie Night!

2005-12-05T07:19:00.000-08:00

The Environmental Studies Society and UW Field Naturalists are co-hosting anenvironmental/field-naturalisty movie night on Tuesday, Dec. 6th in the ES Coffee Shop in ES1 (lower floor), to help students chill for a bit before the exam crunch gets underway. :)
7 pm - March of the Penguins - the story of the livesn of penguins living in the Arctic and the crazy hike they have to take in order to survive - Incredible!
9 pm - Medicine Man - a field botanist tries to find the cure for cancer in the Amazon Rainforest - before it all gets cut down! Also, Sean Connery with a ponytail. ^_^ Admission is free, popcorn is free, and as we all know, the best things in life are free. ;)

- Amber Cantell, UWFN

Two Movie Nights: 3 Great Movies!

2005-11-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

Tuesday November 29
------
The film, Fire, will be shown in the SLC, Multi-purpose room (next to the Great Hall).

8:00 - come for free popcorn!

A report on the movie:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/213417.stm

Sponsored by Womyn's Centre, Campus Greens, Gays & Lesbians of Waterloo, UW Sustainability Project

Wednesday November 30
------

Begins at 6:30 in the Great Hall SLC!

Being Caribou - a film about the migration of the endangered Porcupine Caribou!
http://www.beingcaribou.com/

The End of Suburbia - about the end of cheap oil, the development of the suburbs, and how we'll have to deal with a very different future.
http://www.endofsuburbia.com/

Sponsored by the University of Waterloo Sustainability Project and the UW Campus Greens

Friday November 25th - Bring your friends!

2005-11-22T17:56:00.000-08:00

WPIRG's Food Not Bombs and UW Campus Greens present:

Buy Nothing Day celebrations on Campus

Buy Nothing Day was launched 12 years ago and has grown to a global
celebration of consumer awareness and simple living. It is held
yearly about a month before Christmas, because this is the West's
busiest shopping period of the year. On Friday November 25, 2005
millions of people around the world will chose not participate in the
consumptive patterns that dominate western society. Instead we will
make a small choice not to shop; we shrink our footprint and take a
day to reflect upon our unsustainable path and celebrate Buy Nothing
Day.

You can participate in the global movement by choosing not to shop on
Friday November 25, 2005.

Three Fabulous Events at the University of Waterloo that don't Co$t a thing:

Event: Swap Table (Bring items that you no longer need and trade for
something new).
Place: Great Hall-SLC
Time: 10:00 am-3:00 pm

Event: Free Food Serving (Enjoy a snack prepared by Food not Bombs).
Place: In front of Modern Languages
Time: 12:30 pm-2:00 pm

Event: Movie "Koyaanisqatsi".
Place: Great Hall-SLC
Time: 12:00

Check out a good film called "Koyaanisqatsi". This film takes
the viewer on a wild flight from the tranquil western deserts of the
United States, through the great planes of the nation's heartland and
mid-west, our forests and on to America's largest cities. The pace
accelerates as the music and images drive individualism from the
minds' eye. Modern technological life becomes impersonal and
mechanical, and humans become robotic. Our everyday lives seem
meaningless as we produce, consume, and maintain ever increasing
amounts of need.

UWEN Meeting and Minutes

2005-11-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

Minutes à UWENET meeting, Nov.15/2005

4:30-5:30pm

Attendance:

-Miranda – UW Field Naturalist Club, UW Womyn’s Centre

-Melanie – UWSP (University of Waterloo Sustainability Project)

-Hingman - UWSP

-Darcy – UW Campus Greens, ERS Student Association

-Catherine – Planning Students Association

Mike McWilliam, STEPs - had ideas and supports the network. Will meet with Darcy Friday for discussions.

Regrets: Sara (ERSSA), Justin (Clearing a Path), Maggie (ERS 250 Project)

Catherine - PSA, - Planning Students Association, no environmental initiatives for this term, fundraising event for the Homeless

-toque drive in February, selling toques for $10 with the ‘raise the roof’ symbol on it

Darcy UWGreens– Sustainability letter delivered to Office

-Article in imprint on Friday, Nov.11 looked great

-wait for response from administration

-John Anderson very receptive to everything that we’re doing

-university has not supplied information on what they are doing

-for green buildings etc. – see Gregory Richardson’s thesis, available (#292):

http://www.watgreen.uwaterloo.ca/studentprojects.htm

“Specific recommendations are presented to move forward with green building implementation at UW: strong administrative leadership, sustainability targets, faculty/Plant Operations collaboration, and increased communication (a Plant Operations web site and published UW resource consumption data).”

-start advocating for accountability

-passed around document on sustainability initiatives

-can get information from the waste management web site on WATgreen accomplishments

-keep pushing for the Sustainability Coordinator?

-try to implement Green buildings on campus?

Hingman – LEED initiative from ERS 339

-possibly looking at having Leadership Energy Environmental Design standards implemented on campus

-currently still working on project

Catherine, PSA

Larry Smith à main contact between the building designers and UW for construction of North Campus, (Research and Technology part)

-work closely with the planners and be the voice for the students that have environmental concerns with the process

-need to find out who has the information à Administration, FEDS reps

-could this be an additional campaign initiative?

-quantify the number of students that are represented by the uwenet

Action Item: Darcy -schedule another meeting with John Anderson and groups interested – obtaining and sharing information decided to be most important first step

Hingman – UWSP

-movie night, Nov.30/05, showing some environmental movies

-bring in professors for discussion

-UWGreens want to help out with the movie night

-held on the last night for the Bomber night, and reach out for the people in line

-Games day/volunteer appreciation on Dec.6 (first day after classes end)

Catherine PSAàLessons to be learned from scheduling activities at CIF

- make sure the weather is good

- can only schedule during the day

-had 80 people promise that they would show up, but only had 11 ppl present

-probably cannot serve food in the gym

Darcy – UWGreens

-Buy Nothing Day, next Friday Nov.25

-Swap day, can still drop off stuff in ES Coffee shop, and also during Nov.25 at SLC

-Food not Bombs will be serving free food outside of ML

-Show movies: Culture Jamming, and Koyaanisqatsi

Hingman – UWSP can send out an email about Buy Nothing Day

Miranda – Santa Claus Parade

-have not had a good response of number of individuals that want to participate in the parade

-meeting at 8:30-9:00am at corner of University and King

-email Susan to tell of details

-meetings on Wednesday night

Hingman –UWSPà Coffee house

-location.date format

-who is going to rearrange what

-UWSP could potentially book the space

-UWSP probably can do a poster run for it

-UWGreens, ERSSA, interested

-courtyard? Can we book this at night?

-time for this term?

-maybe do something for next term to start off the term? Meet/greet

-UWSP will organize activities for Dec.6 for UWEN and pass on info to ERSSA and UWGreens for support – then all welcome – UWSP awards beforehand.

PSA- having a karaoke/pub night

-Dec.6/05

-time: 6pm

-others welcome

-free food for planners

Midnight Sun à from Bruce Cameron

-Build a new team, by recruiting new members
-Attend various events and sponsors (EcoFest in NYC, FunFest in Ottawa)
-Retrofit old race car with new technology
-Participate in the Formula Sun Grand Prix in May of 2006

Miranda -UW Field Naturalist

-Levi, former ERS grad will come in and speak to students on a Wednesday in the future around lunch time

-just in process of becoming a FEDS club

-Dragonfly lecture Monday Nov. 28 with KW Field Naturalists

-shuttle from school to event from the school: mmclin@fes.uwaterloo.ca

Darcy - UWGreens

-Sandra from CREW à Regional Energies group

-very interested in what’s going on on campus

-STEP and CREW are working together on initiatives

-lots of contacts for locally environmental stuff

-will share info on campus events that the public is invited to

-information can be sent to us as well and posted on the uwenet blog space

Hingman - UWSP – planning on doing t-shirts or sweatshirts

-organic cotton t-shirts, probably expensive

Miranda UW Field Naturalist

– American Apparel à has organic t-shirts, question of company ethics

Catherine -PSA – took orders and had people sign up for the t-shirts

-when you give them the design they have to digitalize it, that flat fee will be divided among number of students that order them

-charge slightly more just in case and excess money is put towards a charity

Green Christmas parade!

2005-11-14T20:19:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, November 19, 2005 a motley bunch of local
environmentalists/activists/students/raging
grannies/cyclists/walkers/rollerbladers/misfits will be
walking/biking/blading in the KW Santa Claus Parade. We're the Tree
Huggers- and we're wishing you a Green Christmas!

In reaction to the huge trucks that normally make up small town Santa Claus
parades, we're trying to develop a people powered "green float" idea in the
grand tradition of Critical Mass that will consist of the following:

1. 1 person to hold tree "trunk" walking in parade
2. 4 people to hold the four cloth corners of the "tree" walking in parade
or 4 well-coordinated people to ride 3-wheelers holding them
3. 2 - 3 people on couch bike - (Ride a couch? Sounds like FUN!)
4. at least 2 people to walk the sidewalks and hand out bookmarks informing
people of how to have a GREEN Christmas
5. as MANY people as POSSIBLE to ride bikes or walk in parade wearing
backpacks that have been decorated with material to look like sacs (Those
fugly frosh kit bags would work GREAT for this!!!!)

We also need people to work on Wed. Nov. 16 from 7 - 9 at Rod Coutts Hall rm
308 to create the "tree" decorations, one decoration per organization,
distribute materials to cover
backpacks, ensure we all have antlers or Santa hats and green and/or red
clothing to wear in the parade. We'll also be working on Thurs. Nov. 17
from 7:30 - 8:30 in the SLC Room 2132 for those who can't make it Nov. 16!

If you'd like to participate, PLEASE e-mail me at queenmiranda@hotmail.com
and tell me what you can do- specifically if you plan on walking or biking!

We will be meeting between 8:30-9:00 on the day of the parade (Nov. 19)
Just ask the parade marshalls to direct you towards the "tree huggers"
float.

See ya then!

-Miranda McLin
President, UW Campus Greens

Interesting local speakers, utptown Waterloo

2005-11-14T20:16:00.000-08:00

Second Annual Waterlooians.ca Ladies Late Luncheon – Sunday November
20, 2005 @ 4:00 p.m. in the basement of the historic Huether hotel.

Free late luncheon served. Please RSVP, due to limited seating,
waterlooians@yahoo.ca.

Waterlooians.ca is a community organization dedicated to protecting
and strengthening the social, environmental and economic health of our
community. At the luncheon three local and one national woman will be
recognized for making a difference volunteering to protect the health
of our community.

Kristy McDonnell – Waterloo

Independently organized and coaches a synchronized swim team for women
at both Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) and the University of
Waterloo (UW). The team is scheduled to compete at McGill University
on November 10, 2005.

Judy Greenwood-Speers – Waterloo

Local volunteer with extensive participation in community
organizations and coalitions. Member of Citizens for the Protection
of the Waterloo Moraine (CPWM), Highway Seven Alternatives (HALT7),
Seven Generations Environmental Network, Raging Grannies, and is the
newly elected President of the Green Party of Ontario.

Louisette Lanteigne (LuLu) – Waterloo

Raised money for children adversely affected by the Walkerton crisis
and local women's shelters, organized events for the Waterloo Peace
movement, and created the Waterloo Block Parent Halloween Carnival.
This year Lulu has exposed environmental infringements on Waterloo
Region construction sites, leading to 39 charges and over 300 stop
actions. She is currently working with the Citizens for the
Protection of the Waterloo Moraine (CPWM) to help bring media
attention to the important issue of source groundwater protection.

Angela Bischoff – Toronto/Halifax

Key note address "What's up with Antidpressant Drugs? given by Angela
Bishcoff. Angela, the widow of renowned environmental and social
justice advocate Tooker Gomberg, takes a critical look at the dangers

of antidepressant drugs. Questions to be explored include: was Tooker
driven to suicide by the antidepressant drug he'd recently begun, what
is the evidence that anti-depressants lead to violence and self harm,
and is Health Canada doing enough to protect Canadians?

Entertainment provided by the Ladies Luncheon duet. Due to limited
seating to attend please RSVP waterlooians@yahoo.ca.

Respectfully,

David Wellhauser

Waterlooians.ca Spokesperson

http://www.waterlooians.ca/

Solar Energy presentations!

2005-11-14T20:08:00.000-08:00

Solar Enthusiasts! Waterloo or Cambridge residents! ES/Engineering/Architecture students!

Two great opportunitiesto learn more about renewable energy technologies, particularly solar: Sunlight is Life! The Path to a Sustainable Future a visual presentation by Steven J. Strong, President of Solar Design Associates
University of Waterloo Davis Centre, Room #135
1200 University Ave W, Waterloo
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Steven will present a highly visual world overview of Solar Electric Architecture using the best built examples of solar-powered residencesand commercial-scale buildings from Europe, Japan and the U.S. Solar Design Associates, Inc. (http://www.solardesign.com/) is a group of Architects and Engineers dedicated to the design of environmentally energy systems which incorporate the latest in innovative technology.

Steven is the author of The Solar Electric House and Solar ElectricBuildings, an Overview of Today's Applications and the editor andcontributing author of Photovoltaics in the Built Environment, a Design Guide for Architects and Engineers as well as contributing author to Photovoltaics in Buildings and Building with Photovoltaics. Articles about him and his work have appeared in some 100 publications including TIME Architecture, Architectural Record, Environmental Design and Construction, World Architecture, Popular Science, Spectrum, Wired, Forbes, New Age, Fortune and Business Week and ontelevision and in energy and environmental documentaries.

This presentation is sponsored by Arise Technologies Corporation,
Enterprise Canada and the Photonics Group in partnership with the
Sustainable Technologies Education Project, University of Waterloo,
and Community Renewable Energy Waterloo. For directions to U Waterloo
see http://www.findoutmore.uwaterloo.ca/visitus/directions.htm or
http://www.information.uwaterloo.ca/howtoreach.html. A campus map to
locate the William Davis Computer Research Centre (DC) may be found at
http://www.uwaterloo.ca/map/map.html. For more information, contact
Marina Hermann, Office & Human Resources Manager, ARISE Technologies,

marina.hermann@arisetech.com or (519) 725-2244 ext. 221.
-----
Inspired by Steven's presentation, or want to know what you can do athome? The Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP) is hosting afree workshop for the general public focusing on solar thermal andgeothermal technologies for residential use:
Renewable Energy Workshop U Waterloo School of Architecture,
3rd Floor Loft
7 Melville Street S, Cambridge
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
6:30pm to 8:30pm

Workshop presentations related to renewable energy and energy efficiency will be given by: John Grotheer, President & CEO of Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro; Terry Hollands, distinguished professor emeritus from the University of Waterloo; and Jim Collison, a Cambridge electrician who has both geothermal and solar thermal technologies at home.Jim is the first recipient of the EarthWise incentive for solarthermal and ground source heat systems. If you're a customer of Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro, you'll want to hear more about EarthWise, a demand side management initiative to reduce household energy use in Cambridge and North Dumfries.Plus, a light bulb exchange! The first 100 workshop visitors who bring in an old incandescent light bulb will receive a free compact fluorescent bulb. Renewable energy and energy efficiency suppliers, installers andadvocates (including CREW!) will be on hand for informal questions anddiscussion during the last half hour of the workshop. For directions and a map to UWaterloo's School of Architecture, see http://www.findoutmore.uwaterloo.ca/visitus/directions.htm or http://www.information.uwaterloo.ca/howtoreach.html. For more information, contact Jessica Fisher at REEP, 744-6583, or by email: jl3fishe@fes.uwaterloo.ca.

UWSP Yoga

2005-11-08T07:24:00.000-08:00

Free yoga sessions are happening every Wednesday for people who want to try it out or those with some experience.
They take place in Studio room 1 in the PAC - drop in on our session from 1:00-2:30.
Mats provided or bring your own.
Email with any questions!

A thank you to all you enviro volunteers!

Melanie Lum & Darcy Higgins
uwenet@gmail.com

Free Fair Trade Organic Coffee at SLC!

2005-11-06T12:57:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday November 9th, the Waste Management group of UWSP is hosting a bake sale at the SLC from 10am to 4pm. Free fair trade organic coffee courtesy of Whole Lotta Gelata will be provided for those who bring their own mugs, if you don't have one, you can purchase a Lug-a-mug for $5 each. There will be plenty of cookies and baked goods, some vegetarian and vegan goods as well.

Please drop by the SLC to partake in food alternatives and support Waste Management!

Waste Management is a working group through UWSP made up of commited volunteers who are concerned about waste issues on campus. This term, Waste Management is focusing on composting awareness, waste reduction, as well as ecologically friendly alternatives to plastic and one-use items. To find out more, email wasteman@feds.uwaterloo.ca

Buy Nothing Day

2005-10-31T10:27:00.000-08:00

Events will be happening on November 25th in the SLC.

These will revolve around the idea of less consumerism and promoting a less wasteful & more social ethic.

A swap is being organized of clothing and other items - you can give your items early if you wish and then go to the event on the day to take something - email Chloe at chlosmo@msn.com
Need someone to help setup a table and spread the word.

WPIRG's Food not Bombs will is organizing to give away free meals outside of Modern Languages.

Campus Greens will try to show a relevant video.

If you're group is doing something, please leave a comment to let us know.
UWSP or the waste management group?

We can work on collaborating and advertising the events together.

uwenet@gmail.com

Meeting Minutes for October 18 2005

2005-10-19T15:48:00.000-07:00

UWEN Meeting Minutes for October 18, 2005

Chair: Justin Williams
Minutes: Hingman Leung

In Attendance: Darcy Higgins (UW Greens), Drew Adams (PSA) , Melanie Lum (UWSP), Maggie Janik (ERS 250), Stephon Prelto (ERS 250), Janet Yip, Justin Williams (ERS 250), Hingman Leung (UWSP)

1. Chair selection – Justin volunteered to act as chair

2. Introductions

· Darcy Higgins – Representing Campus Greens is the Green Party group in UW

· Stephan and Maggie – Representing ERS 250 Networking Green Groups, working towards a document that will help environmental groups network effectively

· Janet Yip - Feds Counselor, just here to find out about network

· Hingman and Melanie – Representing UWSP, a Feds Service that promotes environmental outreach and facilitates greening initiatives

· Drew Adams – Representing PSA (Planning Students Association)

· Justin Williams – Representing Fall 2005 ERS 250 class

3. UWEN Purpose

· To act as a tool for different “green” groups on campus to connect

· To allow for information sharing and chances to collaborate between different groups

· To promote the sharing of information and resources

· Blog to act as information hub for events and pertinent information for all “green” groups, to post to it, email content to uwenet at gmail

· All groups to keep individuality – UWEN will not function as a separate or individual organization

4. Update on Letter to UW President

· Darcy Higgins of UW Greens initiated the drafting of a letter to urge David Johnson to establish a Sustainability Coordinator and Sustainability Office for UW

· Need is motivated by the absence of a Waste Management Coordinator, who, in the past, has acted as a Sustainability Coordinator and saved UW a significant amount of money

· As well, other universities have established such positions, UW should do so as well to support its students who pursue “greening” projects

· Current confirmed signatories include Engineering Society, Environmental Studies Society, UW Sustainability Project, UW Greens, Field Naturalists Club, Planning Students Association, Environment and Resource Studies Student Association, Womyn’s Centre

o Others still waiting for confirmation – Midnight Sun, Alternative Fuels Team, WPIRG, Engineers Without Borders

o Other possible groups – Science Society, Arts Students Union, UWIHDA, and others to be identified

· Article to be submitted to Imprint to reach out to other groups who would like to be included as a signatory, as well to raise awareness of this campaign

· At this stage the letter is aimed at UW President as a plea from students, therefore excluding faculty and staff members. ES Faculty will send a similar letter to council.

o Depending on the success of this letter, there is a possibility to involve faculty and staff as well as FEDs

o Question of whether or not UWEN should approach FEDs President John Anderson for support

§ Janet recommends approaching ERS counselors first – Michelle Zakrison – to be brought up on the agenda of the next council meeting

· WPIRG potentially can aid in this campaign in estimating the cost and budgeting of hiring a Sustainability Coordinator and the running of a Sustainability Office; with researched numbers the letter will be more effective in engaging a response from the UW President

· There are alternatives still being discussed, for example a sustainability geared section of ES Faculty

5. New Items

· Clearing a Path Action Group through UWSP hopes to address administrative barriers to greening projects

o 1^st campaign is called “Get it Signed”, to urge UW to commit to and sign the Talloires Declaration that was created in 1990 in France by various universities who believed that universities should be the leaders in sustainable development

o Currently there are only 23 Canadian universities who have committed to it, UW is not one of them

o If signed, “greening” projects would be more easily and more efficiently implemented

o UW President has in the past supported sustainable development, Clearing a Path anticipates the need to influence his “green” side.

o 1^st meeting is Thursday October 20^th 2005, 6pm in SLC 2133 – to discuss method and scope, i.e. postering and petitions

· ERS 250 Networking Green Groups – trying to get in contact with other organizations who would mutually benefit UWEN or a similar network

· Bike Racks – there has been a past UWSP audit on where bike racks should be placed on campus, UWSP to follow up on audit; potential for a viable proposal to increase bike racks on campus

6. Collaboration Opportunities

· ES Green Roof

o The building of a vegetative roof surface for educative purposes has been approved. It is hoped to feature a mix of intensive and extensive construction. Improved air quality is but one of its benefits

o Funding and information is required

o Emma Halsal of Green Roofs Over Waterloo (GROW) to lend expertise to ESS

o Opportunity to contact Systems Design Engineering for expertise

· Coffee House

o UW Greens can help organize, Womyn’s Centre is interested as well

o If hosted in the Bombshelter (in SLC) UWSP or ESS can book it

o If there is enough interest from UWEN groups, it will be put on the next agenda to be discussed thoroughly.

· SLC Waste Management Campaign (Rick Theis)

o Rick Theis (Former Clubs Manager) to head a week of education events in the SLC to promote awareness of waste in shared spaces

o Rick intends to fill areas of the SLC with garbage and do a photo shoot to as a tool for this campaign

o Call for ideas is open to all UWEN groups – organizations and clubs have an open opportunity to be involved in this campaign

§ Interested groups please email uwenet at gmail by October 23 2005

o UW Greens in the past has done a garbage sorting event in the SLC, Nancy O’Neil interested in repeat of this event

o UW Greens this year intend to act on Buy Nothing Day in November, to educate students about consumption

§ Clothing and item trade event, possible collaboration with WPIRG

· Won Ton Challenge

o Spin on words to promote the One Tonne Challenge

o Educate students on the ecological footprint of different types of wonton, and influencing their buying and eating habits

o Youth Environment Network has a call for proposals, deadline is end of October, if approved will provide a grant of approximately $5000

o Interested groups to contact UWSP coordinator Melanie Lum at extension 2182

7. Information Sharing

· Feds “Crew” is holding a publicity stunt – cleaning student ghettos to show the Waterloo community that the Crew cares

o Opportunity to urge Crew to clean up areas of the campus as well, possibility to collaborate with Rick Theis on SLC Waste Management Campaign

· PSA is holding a bowling night as well as a ES Faculty wide dodge ball event on November 9^th 2005.

8. Meeting Adjourned

FREE Peaceable Kingdom Film Screening

2005-10-19T15:34:00.004-07:00

Peaceable Kingdom film screening with Harold Brown
Mon. Oct 24
5:30pm
Davis Centre 1304 - University of Waterloo
FREE - Food and refreshments provided

Harold Brown, Outreach Coordinator for Farm Sanctuary is coming to the University of Waterloo!

He appears in Tribe of Heart's newly released documentary Peaceable Kingdom, where he tells the powerful story of his transformation from "beef farmer" to vegan farm animal advocate.

At a time when the public is more concerned than ever about the health and environmental problems associated with large-scale factory farming, Peaceable Kingdom explores anorther angle of this unfolding story: the interconnected life journeys of farm animals, former farmers, and animal rescuers struggling against an out-of-control industrial system.

Harold travels the continent raising awareness about the state of modern agriculture; the environmental damage it causes, and the state of denial that industry representatives and farmers are in about the ruthless cruelty inflicted upon animals. He will first give a short introductory presentation, which will be followed by a full screening of Peaceable Kingdom, and the evening will conclude with a Q&A period.

He will first give a short introductory presentation, which will be followed by a full screening of Peaceable Kingdom, and the evening will conclude with a Q/A period.

This will be a rare opportunity to hear this extraordinary story firsthand!

*Event brought to you by the Center for Compassionate Living (CCL) and WPIRG*

FREE Peaceable Kingdom Film Screening

2005-10-19T15:34:00.001-07:00

Peaceable Kingdom film screening with Harold Brown
Mon. Oct 24
5:30pm
Davis Centre 1304 - University of Waterloo
FREE - Food and refreshments provided

Harold Brown, Outreach Coordinator for Farm Sanctuary is coming to
the University of Waterloo!

He appears in Tribe of Heart's newly release documentary Peaceable Kingdom,
where he tells the powerful story of his transformation from "beef farmer"
to vegan farm animal advocate.

At a time when the public is more concerned than ever about the health and
environmental problems associated with large-scale factory farming, Peaceable
Kingdom explores anorther angle of this unfolding story: the interconnected
life journeys of farm animals, former farmers, and animal rescuers struggling
against an out-of-control industrial system.

Harold travels the continent raising awareness about the state of modern
agriculture; the environmental damage it causes, and the state of denial
that industry representatives and farmers are in about the ruthless cruelty
inflicted upon animals.

He will first give a short introductory presentation, which will be followed by
a full screening of Peaceable Kingdom, and the evening will conclude with a
Q&A period.

Please come and show your support. This will be a rare opportunity to hear
this extraordinary story firsthand!

*Event brought to you by the Center for Compassionate Living (CCL) and WPIRG*

Two Hikes: Invasive Species and Tree Identification

2005-10-18T07:48:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody, Just wanted to let all the ERS'ers out there know that Larry Lamb, head of the Ecology Lab here at UW, is going to be holding a hike & talk this weekend at the Cruickston Charitable Reserve (aka "RARE") in Cambridge this Sunday, from 1-4. This is a great chance to learn some of Ontario's worst invasive species (he'll be covering about half a dozen) and to explore one of Cambridge's largest nature reserves (and see its very rare alvar ecosystem). Larry's got friends in town and so he's promised to "make it a good one". ;) Unfortunately, as it's on a Sunday, no buses are running out to the site. If anyone is interested in going and would be willing to carpool, let me know and I will do my best to co-ordinate people. (It would be extremely appreciated!) Alternately, if there is a group wanting to go, we could split a cab from Fairview Mall in Kitchener. E-mail me if you would be interested (and specify interested no matter what vs. interested with carpooling) - registration deadline is this Wednesday (I'll submit all ES names at the same time), and total cost is $5, which goes to support RARE. NEXT Wednesday, October 26, I'll be leading a tree identification hike (which got delayed due to weather) with the UW Field Naturalists Club. We'll be leaving from the front of Fed Hall at 11:30, and the hike will probably go till about 1:30 - pack a lunch and we'll stop to eat somewhere around 12:30. :) This is a great chance to come out and learn the basics of identifying some of our native trees, or, if you already know them, a great chance to come out and impress the rest of us. ;) Full details on Larry's trip posted below. Cheers! :) Amber ********* Alien plant species pose a threat to several plant habitats at rare. Join Larry Lamb, rare Environmental Advisory Team Member, who will take participants to where about a half dozen main invasive species are grown (e.g. buck thorn, barberry, etc), and will discuss the threats they pose and strategies for eradication. Cost: $5.00 (Friends are free). Please register by Wed., October 19th, 2005. Location: rare Resource House and Slit barn, 768 Blair Road.

Article on the UW Environment Network

2005-10-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

Meeting of the UW greens
Cross-campus network created to share resources
Sabrina Bowman - Imprint staff
Student groups at UW that are concerned about the environment have decided to connect through the creation of an environmental network called UWEN (the University of Waterloo Environment Network).
"There are so many groups [on campus] striving towards the same thing... [we wanted to] get everyone together to see if we have common ground. We can be stronger working together," said University of Waterloo Sustainability Project (UWSP) coordinator Hingman Leung.
Leung, along with Darcy Higgins, president of the UW campus greens, contacted environmentally-focused groups on campus, including the environmental studies society, Engineers Without Borders, the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group and several others about getting involved in the network.
The aim is to connect the different green groups on campus so that they can share ideas, resources and volunteers, as well as seek help with any problems they encounter.
"We want to work as a network - keep our individual groups but work together on one project, which would be stronger - and avoid duplication of projects," added Higgins.
Present at the meeting were representatives from the UW Campus Greens, UWSP, the planning students society, the environment and resource studies student association and the science society.
Some of the possible activities proposed at the UWEN meeting include a letter-writing campaign to the university to push them to hire a sustainability coordinator and a coffeehouse event to allow the members of the network to connect face to face.
The network will be made up of representatives from any groups on campus interested in environmental issues and activism. There will be monthly meetings and an e-mail list, on which questions, volunteer opportunities and general updates will be posted.
"We are going to have such a variety of societies and people [who join the network], so we are going to have more cross-campus involvement; and we will be able to reach people on a more intimate level," said science society representative Andrew Falcao.
For more information on the network and how you can get your campus group involved in UWEN, e-mail uwenet@gmail.com.

Workbee Event!

2005-10-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

The J. Steckle Heritage Homestead in Kitchener (811 Bleams Rd) is looking for volunteers for a work-bee this Sunday at 12:30, preparing a prairie & riparian corridor restoration site for winter. Refreshments will be provided (mmm, cider)! This is a great opportunity to come on out, learn a bit about ecological restoration, mulch some trees, and enjoy the crisp Fall air. Take a break from all the school and come join us in the great outdoors and help us to recreate one of Ontario's most endangered ecosystems!

Also, the University of Waterloo Field Naturalists Club is breaking in our "field trip" shoes, so if anyone's interested in learning about tree identification, I'll be attempting to lead a hike in the (expansive!) Huron Natural Area site directlyacross from the JSHH following the work-bee, probablystarting around 3. (Please RSVP if you'd like toattend).

If anyone is interested in attending (either event) but needs directions, please e-mail me at (amcantell(at) yahoo.ca) and I'll forward them on ASAP. I'll also be leaving from the 12 busstop on University Ave.just out front of South Campus Hall (That's on University Ave., not the stop on Ring Road!) at 11 am Sunday, if anyone wants to join me/be spared attempting to follow my directions. ;)

Amber Cantell, UW Field Naturalists

Welcome Everyone!

2005-10-11T18:14:00.000-07:00

Please Bookmark This Page!

Email us to get involved with UWEN, or with your group's events or ideas that we can post. UWENet@gmail.com

Wind Energy Expert here

2005-10-07T11:26:00.000-07:00

The Sustainable Technology Education Project (STEP) is hosting wind energy expert Paul Gipe at the Unversity of Waterloo. Paul Gipe has lectured widely in Europe, North America, and the South Pacific on wind energy and how to minimize its impact on the environment and the communities of which it is a part. For his efforts the World Renewable Energy Congress honored Gope as a "pioneer" in 1998 abd tge American Energy Assiciation named him as the industry's "person of the year" in 1988. The Ontario Provincial Government is about to pass standard offer contract legislation that will encourage Ontarians to set up renewable energy systems, allowing them to sell clean power back to the grid at a fixed premium. The federal government has made commitments to adopt 10 GW of wind energy by 2010. Rising oil prices and increased environmental concerns are driving the explosive wind energy industry in Ontario. It is only a matter of time for wind turbines to be a common sight as in Germany and Denmark. This is an ideal time for students to enter into the industry at the ground level. Ontario will need thousands of people with wind energy skills to develop the infrastructure, expertise and organizations for Ontario to embrace wind. STEP along with WPIRG and UWSP is giving University of Waterloo students the chance to experience what wind energy is all about.

Wind Energy Lecture
Wed. October 12, 2005 8:00pm - 9:30pm Hagey Hall FREE admission

Wind Energy Workshop
Thurs. October 13, 20059:00am - 4:00pmFed HallFREE admissionRegistration: $5 refundable deposit at WPIRG office, SLC 2139

Contact:
www.step.uwaterloo.ca
email: step@feds.ca

Brandon Seegmiller, STEP director

Water Resources meeting

2005-10-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

For those interested in water issues:
The Canadian Water Resources Association (CWRA) (UW Student Chapter) will bemeeting this upcoming wednesday OCt 12, 6pm Molly Blooms inthe UniversityPlaza. The CWRA is run out of the GRCA and is an Nation wide association. From myunderstanding it is a great way to network and learn more about waterresouces. Steve Murphy (ERS professor) has done a presenation for them in the past.
Website:Other groups that i think are assoicated with them:
Canadian Water Network (http://cwn-rce.ca/) which is run out of UW earthscience but lists Profs such as Sarah Michaels (in Planning).
Conestoga Rovers (craworld.com) which does EAs, Brownfield cleanup,groundwater/hydrology stuff
GRCA (grandriver.ca)

For info, contact: Sarah McAlister, ERS Student Association
mcbrea@hotmail.com

Greens Meeting

2005-10-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

The UW Campus Greens (Green Party) will be meeting to discuss environmental/political
ideas for the semester with all old and new members - Thursday at 4:30 in the ES Coffee Shop (ES1 lower floor).
Everyone is invited and we'll be looking for executive members.

Another way to get involved!

http://watserv1.uwaterloo.ca/~uwgreen/
(needs updating)

2005-10-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Check out our new poster for the Network.
Feel free to distribute it to get the word out.

Darcy Higgins (dp)
UW Campus Greens

Call for Volunteers!

2005-10-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Faculty and students,

The Waste Management Working Group at the University of Waterloo Sustainability Project (UWSP) is working on improving waste management activities on campus. We are actively recruiting new members for Fall and Winter term.
S ome of our ongoing and proposed activities include:
Mackenzie King Villages Composting Project
Lug-a-Mug Campaign Groceries Cloth bags
Guelph Wet/dry facility Field trip
..and many more!
This is an excellent opportunity to meet new people and gain valuable skills. We need your help to make this campus a little cleaner and greener.
If you want to make a difference,
please contact Tiffany at thytsun@fes.uwaterloo.ca or visit our office at Student Life Centre, third floor 3102! Hope to hear from you,

Tiffany Tsun
4A Planning
Waste Management Head
Office Hours: Wednesday 10am - 1pm
UWSP office SLC thrid floor
x2182

Meeting Minutes for September 27th 2005

2005-10-03T16:06:00.000-07:00

For the inaugural meeting, the following groups were in attendance:
Imprint, SciSoc, ERSSA, PSA, UWSP, UWGreens.

Purpose and structure of meetings:
- to provide a forum for green groups on campus
- to serve as a tool to foster community
- meetings each month
- each group will take turns charing and taking minutes

Past work of represented groups:
ERSSA - support environmental projects, fund students for educational trips, maintain ES composter
SciSoc - mainly a social group for science, instituted "lights off" policy in SciSoc office, eliminated use of styrofoam in Science C&D
Greens - speakers coming to campus to speak on environmental topics, and spread the word about environmental education
PSA - represents different views of planners, events held mostly social events for planning students and professional events
UWSP - several working groups focusing on different aspects of greening the campus, for example solar panels on top of Fed Hall, naturalized islands throughout campus

Establishment of a NAME:
- inspired by Ontario Environment Network (OEN)
- concensus was UWEnvironment Network
- potential in the future to join the OEN

Function of UWENet:
- question of whether faculty societies should all have representatives, as well as student clubs
- UWENet as only a means to connect, so that all groups who attend meetings can keep their individual activities
- lots of potential to collaborate on projects, especially with Enterprise Opportunities and Innovation Fund, Special Projects Fund, and Student Life Endowment Fund
- email list set up, with gmail account - uwenet (at) gmail.com
- blog to function as a message board, where each group involved can post important information, will serve as a communication tool between meetings
- representatives to pass on information to sub-groups and affiliated groups

News:
- Waste management position not being replaced
- there is a need for the school to hire a Sustainability coordinator, to take initiatives to implementing projects that improve the sustainability of our campus
- first project for UWEN is to generate a letter requesting the President of UW to establish a Sustainability Coordinator
- Darcy of UWGreens to draft letter, will be reviewed at next UWEN meeting

Possible collaborations:
- pushing for more bike racks around buildings on campus
- SciSoc open for suggestions, has a wide volunteer and member base
- news items can be forwarded to Imprint
* make full use of the network by collaborating on initiatives and projects

Outreach:
- question of whether or not UWEN should present itself to FEDs
- possibility of attending clubs meeting, to present UWEN invitation
- student societies to be invited and extended to sub groups
- pass around UWEN email address to interested groups
- meetings not open to individuals yet

Action items:
- representatives to spread the word about UWEN
- representatives to generate discussion on the need for a Sustainability Coordinator
- emailing list to be set up
- blog to be set up

Welcome

2005-09-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the University of Waterloo Environmental Network Blog!

The purpose of this blog is to keep everybody updated on UWENet meeting minutes and news which will be of interest to any green group on campus.

If you are not yet a part of the network but wish to be, or have any news or information that you want to share with the rest of us, do email us at UWENet at gmail.com.

To find out what UWENet is all about, take a look in the profile section.

Thanks for visiting and hope to see you at our meetings!

Green Power, UNITE! UWENet News

UW Garden back for business

Green makes a good Roof

Environment's our business, is it yours?

What a neat conference!

Climate Change is real! What do we do?

North Campus Development - sports centre on Env Reserve?

Have a couple hours this week?

Tree Huggers!

Climate Change Fair and Campus Sustainability events!

UWEN Minutes, November 1, 2006

Climate Action Tour lands at UW

Renewable challenge - KPL

Lecture & Book Launch - Toronto

Wednesday Campus Market

Save the West Side Lands - Waterloo

Save the West Side Lands - Waterloo

An Inconvenient Truth

Monday Meeting - in support of the Bruce Trail

Help with this year's Biothon

K-W Earth Day Events!

UWSP call for applications - Coordinator position

We may be interviewing eligible candidates during the exam period, so please include the date of your last exam on your application.IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE BUT NOT IN THIS MAILING LIST, PLEASE PASS THIS ON.

David Suzuki at UW

Upcoming events:

Entrance by Donation

UWSP Sustainable Career Nights

Food Awareness this Friday

ES Students - Greening our buildings

Bomber

Run for the WPIRG Board

UWENet meeting

Are you up for it? UWENet's first big bash!

Trash Theatre

End of Suburbia, Monday

Straw Bale & Sustainable Building session

UWEN Meeting Minutes - February

Women's Week Events

Envision Sustainability at UW!

Free Coffee & Lug-a-Mug Sale

GROW

End of Suburbia, End of Oil - film and speakers

Local Food, Sustainability in ES

Next UWEN Meeting

Food Miles: The Environmental Costs of Eating Imported Foods

Local, organic food on campus

Campus Sustainability Meeting

Mackenzie King Village Compost Night

GROW's Green Building Meeting and Green Roof Seminar!

Clearing a Path meeting Thursday 26th!

UWEN Meeting and Minutes - January

Comment Board

Environmental Meetings

UWSP call for applications - coordinator position

Another Great Joint Environmental Movie Night!

Two Movie Nights: 3 Great Movies!

Friday November 25th - Bring your friends!

UWEN Meeting and Minutes

Green Christmas parade!

Interesting local speakers, utptown Waterloo

Solar Energy presentations!

UWSP Yoga

Free Fair Trade Organic Coffee at SLC!

Buy Nothing Day

Meeting Minutes for October 18 2005

FREE Peaceable Kingdom Film Screening

FREE Peaceable Kingdom Film Screening

Two Hikes: Invasive Species and Tree Identification

Article on the UW Environment Network

Workbee Event!

Welcome Everyone!

Wind Energy Expert here

Water Resources meeting

Greens Meeting

Call for Volunteers!

Meeting Minutes for September 27th 2005

Welcome

We may be interviewing eligible candidates during the exam period, so please include the date of your last exam on your application.

IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE BUT NOT IN THIS MAILING LIST, PLEASE PASS THIS ON.