Action

by

Corner Brook Christmas Bird Count

Posted on behalf of Humber Natural History Society (HNHS)

December 16th

Corner Brook to Little Rapids

People will count birds by walking/driving/skiing within a preset circle which includes Corner Brook and extends from Massey Drive around Curling to Mount Moriah, and out the Humber Valley to Little Rapids. A social follows to tally the results.
You must preregister so that there is no overlap in areas covered.
If interested in participating, please contact Lois Bateman lbateman@grenfell.mun.ca

by

Join the Blue Dot Movement as an organization!

The Blue Dot Movement is a movement for Environmental Rights in Canada initiated by the David Suzuki Foundation and Ecojustice in 2014. This nation-wide grassroots movement has led to over 140 municipalities making declarations for their citizens Right to a Healthy Environment, including Mount Pearl and St. John’s. Right now, a team of 40 volunteer ambassadors across the country are working with their local MPs to persuade them to support a Federal Environmental Bill of Rights, and the ultimate goal is to change the Charter to include this fundamental Human Right to clean air and water, safe food, and a stable climate.

Canada’s patchwork of environmental laws is simply not working to protect the people and places we love. Meanwhile, international examples demonstrate that countries with laws recognizing the right to a healthy environment perform better environmentally and economically than those that do not have them.

So what can you do?

1. Visit bluedot.ca to sign the pledge and learn more, and like Newfoundland Blue Dot Movement on Facebook.

2. Have your organization sign a declaration of support for environmental rights. This is a simple but fantastic way to help us keep growing a large base of support. Please email Alex Hayward at amhayward@mun.ca if interested!

by

2017 Pride in your Community 3 Hour Challenge

Facebook event: 3 Hour Challenge Community Clean up – Sponsored by Tim Hortons

The 2017 Pride in your Community 3 Hour Challenge, sponsored by Tim Hortons, will take place on Saturday, June 10. The clean-up will take place from 9 am to 12 noon with a community celebration to follow at the Conception Bay South Arena from 12:30 – 2:00 pm.

Celebration will include Tim Hortons refreshments, hot dogs, a photo booth, live music and family activities. Bags, gloves and a limited number of t-shirts will be provided.

To register as an individual or a group please contact the Department of Recreation and Leisure Services at 834-6500 ext. 601 or email recreation@conceptionbaysouth.ca

NLEN Member – The Kelligrews Ecological Enhancement Program are participating as a group focusing on the Kelligrews Pond and beach. They meet in the ourdoor classroom on Pond Road.

by

ACTION ALERT: Reinstate funding to the Canadian Environmental Network

The Canadian Environmental Network and its provincial affiliate networks need your help!

Historically, the Canadian Environmental Network and its provincial affiliate networks received annual core funding from the Government of Canada.  This was used to facilitate networking on environmental issues across the country, coordinate national and provincial issue-based caucuses, coordinate ENGO participation in federal public consultation processes, and maintain open lines of communication between ENGOs and the federal government.

In 2011, as part of the across-the-board cuts to civil society organizations by the previous federal government, all federal funding to the RCEN and its provincial affiliate networks was cut.  This left the national network and most of the affiliates with functioning primarily on a voluntary basis with limited capacity to do their work.

There is hope that the current government will provide for renewed funding in its upcoming budget.  This funding is crucial for the survival of the national network and many of the provincial affiliate networks.  A proposal has been submitted.  It now needs strong and immediate support from environmental groups and individuals across the country.

This is where you come in!

Please take a few minutes to write to Prime Minister Trudeau and your MP telling them why you value the RCEN, your provincial affiliate network, or environmental networking at the national level in general.  Feel free to use the template letter provided below.  You can personalize it based on your experience or simply copy and paste.

Trudeau’s email is justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca and you can find your MP’s email here:  http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members

Mail may be sent postage-free to any Member of Parliament. The mailing address for any member of parliament’s hill office is:

Hon. [Name of MP]
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Let’s show our federal politicians that a strong, well-connected grassroots environmental community is essential to a strong Canada!

 

Draft Template Letter:

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,

I am writing to ask that annual core funding to the Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) be reinstated.

Historically, the RCEN provided a crucial link between environmental groups across the country, both large and small.  This link was vital in helping communities address environmental issues right across the country and ensuring a robust approach to the development of environmental policy in Canada.

Since funding was cut in 2011, the RCEN and most of its provincial affiliate networks have been functioning primarily on a voluntary basis with limited capacity to do their work.  This is not acceptable.  A strong, well-connected grassroots environmental community is essential to a strong Canada.  I urge you to reinstate core funding for this crucial work immediately.

Sincerely,

[Your name here]

by

Final Reminder to Register: ENGO Consultation on the Fisheries Act

Registration for the ENGO Consultation on the 2012 changes to the Fisheries Act is due Tuesday November 1st. Email completed registration forms to nlen.ed@gmail.com. Within a limited budget, there is assistance available through NLEN for those requiring travel and accommodations. See below for more information or download the registration form here now: Registration Form.

As key stakeholders and environmental representatives, Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGOs) across Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) are being invited to participate as consultants in the review of the 2012 Fisheries Act being conducted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. The ENGO consultation is being coordinated by NL Environmental Network (NLEN), with the support of the Quidi Vidi/Rennie’s River Development Foundation, at the request of Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). NLEN will be compiling comments and submissions from ENGOs within NL recommending specific amendments to the Fisheries Act to restore lost protections and incorporate modern safeguards. This is in direct relation to the review of a number of environmental and regulatory processes launched by the Government of Canada on June 20, 2016.

The consultation will happen in two parts; November 3rd from 9am to 12pm will be a teleconference detailing background information on the 2012 changes to the Fisheries Act with the assistance of DFO personnel in preparation for the workshop on November 21st from 9am-3:30pm held at the Suncor Energy Fluvarium. Participants will take knowledge gathered from the initial teleconference back to the ENGO they represent and compile the organization’s recommendations in advance of the workshop . All ENGOs within the province are welcome to submit recommendations on the Fisheries Act to NLEN and are invited to send a representative to the workshop to further discuss and defend the organization’s position. Within a limited budget, there is assistance available through NLEN for those requiring travel and accommodations.

The registration form is available here and must be completed by November 1st, 2016.  Email completed forms nlen.ed@gmail.com.

ENGOs interested in participating can email NLEN at nlen.ed@gmail.com for more information.

NLEN will additionally be holding the Annual General Meeting and launching a provincial Oceans Caucus on November 21st, following the workshop. More information is available here.

NLEN would like to particularly thank our member organization the Quidi Vidi-Rennie’s River Development Foundation and their catering location the Suncor Energy Fluvarium for supporting the workshop portion of this consultation. Further information about their venue and catering services can be found here.

by

NLEN AGM and Oceans Caucus

NLEN AGM and Launch of Provincial Oceans Caucus

Monday, November 21st, 2016
2:30PM (CORRECTION, previously advertised at 3:30pm)

At The Suncor Energy Fluvarium, 5 Nagle’s Place, St. John’s

All members of the public and Environmental organizations are welcome to attend. For voting privileges please ensure your organization has recently renewed their membership. For more information on membership please visit our membership page here.

New steering committee nominees from member organizations are welcome. Please email nlen.ed@gmail.com with questions or nominations. Agenda will be published on the nlen website once available.

The AGM and Oceans Caucus is being launched in unison with the ENGO Consultation on the 2012 Changes to the Fisheries Act. All are welcome to attend the AGM, without reservation. However, to participate in the consultation, you must register. Please find more information on the consultation here.

NLEN would like to particularly thank our member organization the Quidi Vidi-Rennie’s River Development Foundation and their catering location the Suncor Energy Fluvarium for their support for these events. Further information about their venue and catering services can be found here.

by

ENGO Consultation on the 2012 Changes to the Fisheries Act

As key stakeholders and environmental representatives, Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGOs) across Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) are being invited to participate as consultants in the review of the 2012 Fisheries Act being conducted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. The ENGO consultation is being coordinated by NL Environmental Network (NLEN), with the support of the Quidi Vidi/Rennie’s River Development Foundation, at the request of Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). NLEN will be compiling comments and submissions from ENGOs within NL recommending specific amendments to the Fisheries Act to restore lost protections and incorporate modern safeguards. This is in direct relation to the review of a number of environmental and regulatory processes launched by the Government of Canada on June 20, 2016.

The consultation will happen in two parts; November 3rd from 9am to 12pm will be a teleconference detailing background information on the 2012 changes to the Fisheries Act with the assistance of DFO personnel in preparation for the workshop on November 21st from 9am-3:30pm held at the Suncor Energy Fluvarium. Participants will take knowledge gathered from the initial teleconference back to the ENGO they represent and compile the organization’s recommendations in advance of the workshop . All ENGOs within the province are welcome to submit recommendations on the Fisheries Act to NLEN and are invited to send a representative to the workshop to further discuss and defend the organization’s position. Within a limited budget, there is assistance available through NLEN for those requiring travel and accommodations.

The registration form is available here and must be completed by November 1st, 2016.  Email completed forms nlen.ed@gmail.com.

ENGOs interested in participating can email NLEN at nlen.ed@gmail.com for more information.

NLEN will additionally be holding the Annual General Meeting and launching a provincial Oceans Caucus on November 21st, following the workshop. More information is available here.

NLEN would like to particularly thank our member organization the Quidi Vidi-Rennie’s River Development Foundation and their catering location the Suncor Energy Fluvarium for supporting the workshop portion of this consultation. Further information about their venue and catering services can be found here.

 

by

Climate Change Town Hall

Nick Whalen, the Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, will be hosting a Climate Change town hall on Thursday, September 8th from 6-8pm at St. Thomas’ Anglican Church auditorium, located at 8 Military Rd.

As part of this event we are planning to have outside groups, involved in mitigating climate change in various ways, joining discussions at roundtables throughout the room. To make this event a success in harvesting ideas to provide to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change we would like to extend the invitation to anyone interested in joining our discussion and provide solutions. Tables include: International Cooperation, Food and Agriculture, Mitigation of Emissions, Preservation of Habitat, and Municipal Planning.

Hope to see you there!

https://www.facebook.com/NickWhalenMP

nick.whalen@parl.gc.ca

by

ANNUAL NATURENL LONG POND CLEAN-UP

ANNUAL NATURENL LONG POND CLEAN-UP
Nature Newfoundland and Labrador is holding our annual clean-up of Long Pond on Saturday, May 7, 2016, starting at 10:00 a.m. Meet  and other campus buildings). We anticipate that Clean St. John’s will supply garbage bags and collection. Volunteers should bring their own gloves and wear boots. For more information, email: naturenl@naturenl.ca