Join the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup this September

No Matter How it Comes, Litter Puts us at Risk

What do a payphone, wedding dress, and false teeth all have in common? These unusual items, along with plastic bags, bottle caps, and other debris were all found on Canadian shorelines! To make our rivers and lakes cleaner and healthier for everyone, the Vancouver Aquarium and WWF are asking you to sign up for the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, presented by Loblaw Companies Limited.

No matter what form it comes in, shoreline litter puts wildlife and people at risk. The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is a great opportunity for Canadians to get outside and transform their community into a litter-free environment.  A few hours removing litter from your favourite shoreline really can make a difference.

Our program runs from September 15-23^rd, 2012, sign up today.

Last year, the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup cleared more than one hundred forty-three thousand kilograms of litter – the approximate weight of seventy-two Steller sea lions – from over three thousand kilometers of shorelines. This year, we’re hoping to accomplish even more.

Register today at ShorelineCleanup.ca

We Want YOU to be a facilitator, speaker, and/or presenter at PowerShift 2012 in Ottawa.

We are contacting you to join us in educating, training and mobilizing our generation in the fight for climate justice. We are currently seeking panelists, speakers, workshop facilitators, and caucus facilitators for PowerShift 2012.  Scroll to bottom for direct links to application forms.

What is PowerShift?

From October 26-29, PowerShift 2012 Canada will bring 1500 youth (age 18-30) from diverse backgrounds together in Ottawa to build a movement for climate and environmental justice.

Through keynote speakers, workshops, caucuses, panel discussions, actions, and many other activities, participants will develop their understanding about the intersections between environmental and social justice issues, and build a range of skills for taking action, and gain the connections and confidence to mobilize in their communities.  For more information on PowerShift, visit our website at wearepowershift.ca.

If you are interested in attending PowerShift, and whether or not you intend to apply as a facilitator or speaker, you can follow us on our website, twitter, and facebook. Registration will be opening in late July.

If you are interesting in participating in PowerShift programming in another way that is not described below (ie. entertainment, art project, etc.) please email powershift.programming@gmail.com.

Why do we need you?

Your skills and experience could contribute to making PowerShift 2012 an engaging and effective learning, training, and networking opportunity. We are particularly looking for speakers and facilitators living on the frontlines of fossil fuel extraction and other climate injustices, folks from underrepresented communities, people with successful campaigning experience, and/or youth who are dedicated and ready to learn!  While PowerShift itself is focused on youth, we are not exclusively looking for youth speakers, presenters, and facilitators, and instead want to encourage intergenerational learning.

How do I sign-up?

We encourage anyone who is interested in sharing their skills, experience, or story to apply to speak or facilitate at PowerShift.  Much of the framework for our programming has already been created through consultations with dedicated volunteers and other community members, so we are mostly looking for speakers and facilitators who can offer workshops or presentations within what we are looking for.  That being said, PowerShift is going to be a huge gathering and we are looking for an incredibly broad range of different things!  Also, if you have something to offer that falls completely outside of the framework we are looking at, while it is less likely to get chosen for this particular event, it will definitely still be considered.

Below (scroll down) we describe the four different types of sessions we are looking for speakers and facilitators for – Skills-based workshops, speakers and panelists (both for “frontline” and “digging deeper”, issues-based panels), Issues-based workshops, and Caucuses (for caucuses we encourage suggestions from people who would prefer not to facilitate themselves as well).  Each of the four session types has a separate form for prospective facilitators and speakers to fill-out that can be found below.  The form shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes to fill out.  If interested, you are encouraged to apply for multiple session types or workshops / topics in the same type.  Please fill out a separate form for each application (with the exception of the speaker / panelist form, where you can list all topics you are comfortable speaking on).

Also, we have a minimal budget; however, we are willing to work with chosen speakers and facilitators who need help with funding their transportation.  Small honorariums will also be available for presenters and facilitators depending on need.

We are looking forward to your application(s)!

Skill-Based Workshop Facilitators:

Skill-based workshops will give participants the skills and confidence to step into new roles as strategizers, trainers, spokespeople, advocates, educators, media liaisons, action organizer, facilitators, and more. The skill-based workshops will also develop participants understanding of strategy, creative action, anti-oppression, and democratic and horizontal organizing. Here is a list of many of the workshops we are particularly looking for facilitators for (this list is by no means exhaustive).

We are looking for people with experience facilitating workshops related to social action skills or people with extensive experience with the particular skill itself who are willing to dedicate some time into planning an effective workshop. To be accepted, workshops must be engaging, accessible, and develop skills relevant to the vision of PowerShift.

If you are interested in facilitating a skills-based workshop please fill out this form.

Speakers and Panelists:

At PowerShift 2012 participants will learn more about issues facing our generation through engaging panels.

There will be “Frontline” panel discussions about the impacts of climate change and toxic development on communities that are directly impacted, as well as on how these communities and their allies are mobilizing in response. The panelists for these will come from communities directly impacted by climate change and/or toxic development.  Here is a list of “frontline” panel topics we are particularly looking for speakers for (this list is by no means exhaustive).

There will also be “Digging Deeper” panels will look at how different issues link and overlap with climate justice, current science and policy, real solutions to the climate crisis, and/or how we can mobilize internationally, nationally, and in our communities to make these solutions a reality. Here is a list of “digging deeper” panel topics we are particularly looking for speakers for (this list is by no means exhaustive).

Fill out this form if you are interested in speaking on a panel at PowerShift 2012.

Issue-Based Workshop Facilitators:

While most content related to specific issues will be delivered through panels, there will be some opportunities for issue-based workshops where participants will dig deeper into issues facing our generation (ie. climate change and agriculture or climate and migrant justice). Here is a list of issue-based workshop topics we are particularly looking for facilitators for (this list is by no means exhaustive).

If you are interested in facilitating an issue-based workshop please fill out this form.

Caucuses:

Caucuses are facilitated discussions or meet-ups based on particular topics, questions or identities. For example, Racialized Participant caucus; Safe(r) Spaces: Accountability and addressing violence in our movements caucus; LGBTQ+ meet and greet. We want to hear from what what caucuses you want to see at PowerShift 2012. Here is a list, that is by no means exhaustive, of some of the caucus ideas that the PowerShift programming team had.  For caucuses in particular, we encourage you to submit any other ideas that you have for caucuses (meaning caucuses that you would be interested in attending), whether they are on our list or not.

This form will let you indicate a caucus that you want to see at PowerShift 2012 and will let you indicate if you want to facilitate the caucus.

Links to all forms:

Skill-based workshops – http://tiny.cc/9hfyfw

Panelists and speakers – http://tiny.cc/6bfyfw

Issue-based workshops – http://tiny.cc/19eyfw

Caucuses – http://tiny.cc/fdfyfw

We look forward to working with you. PLEASE SHARE THIS CALL-OUT WIDELY.

Heading out to cut a rug with your sweetheart this year for Valentine’s Day, tell the one you’re wild about that you want to make it a Dance for Wildlife.

Whether you glide to slow waltz, kick up you heels with a bouncy number, sway to jazzy tune, or move to anything that gets your feet a-tapping, make it a Dance for Wildlife this Valentine’s Day. Are you celebrating at a community or school dance?  Get everyone involved in the Dance for Wildlife.

Go to DanceforWildlife.ca for all the details about how you can take part in our Dance for Wildlife video contest. You can either follow the easy dance steps on our website set to the tune of Remy Rodden’s “What’s that….Habitat”or come up with your own wildlife themed dance.  Just grab a camera, film your dance and upload it to our contest page by March 1, 2012. It’s that simple. So when you’re dancing the night away on Valentine’s Day, tell everyone how much you care for wildlife.

Make Canada’s Wildlife one of your Valentine’s this year by joining in the Dance for Wildlife.

Sincerely,

Luba Mycio-Mommers, Ph.D.
Director of Education

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is holding a formal consultation process on “The Future of Canada’s Commercial Fisheries.” The deadline to submit feedback via email at consultations@dfo-mpo.gc.ca is February 29, 2012.

More details online:

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/future-avenir/index-eng.htm 

On behalf of CPAWS-NL and National Geographic we would like to thank you for the nominations to the Geotourism website to help make Eastern Newfoundlanda choice destination.  Due to the overwhelming response we are happy to announce that we have decided to extend the nomination deadline to March 9^th, 2012.  Please continue to submit what’s so special about your place to the website www.nlgeotourism.com.

If you have any questions/concerns please contact either Tanya Edwards (tedwards@cpaws.org) or Suzanne Dooley (sdooley@cpaws.org) or call our office at (709) 726-5800.

The MV Canadian Miner, a bulk carrier, was being towed to Turkey to be scrapped.  The tow line broke and the ship is wrecked on Scaterie Island, a provincially protected wilderness area in Nova Scotia.  The ship poses an environmental and navigational hazard.

The owners simply walked away, the province and the Feds dither over who will clean it up – in the meantime, the ship is breaking up and discharging asbestos, oil and chemicals.

Please consider signing a petition to urge Denis Lebel, the Minister of Transport and Darrell Dexter, Premier of Nova Scotia to take immediate action. We’d appreciate your help in circulating the petition.

To sign go to: enviroyouthnl.com

Petition submitted by: 

YEA! Youth for Environmental Awareness
Visit Us on the Web www.enviroyouthnl.com 

Small Change Boreal Fund!

Are you working on an important, grassroots project that aims to protect Canada’s boreal forest ecosystems and the livelihoods of those who live there?

Would you like to promote your cause and engage donors in supporting your efforts in a new and innovative way?

If so, Small Change Fund wants to hear from you!

The Small Change Boreal Fund is an opportunity for approximately five grassroots projects across Canada to receive up to $5000 to support their community driven initative.  Small Change Fund can also help you promote your grassroots project, connect with donors and potentially receive matching funding to reach your fundraising goals.

SCF is a registered foundation that helps grassroots environmental and social justice projects carry out their important work in communities across Canada by enabling them to generate support that is simple, timely and responsive while building relationships with donors across the country.  With support from the Ivey Foundation and the Canadian Boreal Initiative until February 15, 2012, Small Change Fund will be able to provide additional direct funding to groups whose projects are featured on www.smallchangefund.org.

Please take a moment to review the details of this opportunity below and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Details of the Small Change Boreal Fund Opportunity:

• Submit your project idea to www.smallchangefund.org by December 9, 2011.

• We accept project submissions from registered charities or registered Aboriginal bands in Canada. If you would like to discuss submitting a project or have any question regarding this submission process, please contact Dani LaGiglia at dani@smallchangefund.org.

• Project budgets cannot exceed $5,000. Please visit our website at  http://smallchangefund.org/sumit-a-project and complete the form with details on your project.

• Small Change Fund’s advisory committee will review your proposal and respond in a timely way to let you know whether your project will be profiled on the website.

If approved, your project will be profiled for up to 4 months on www.smallchangefund.org.  (All projects who apply will be vetted and are eligible to appear on our website.)

Between January 1, 2012 and February 15, 2012, up to five selected projects will also be eligible to receive up to $5000 direct funds from the Small Change Boreal Fund!

We will give you additional tips on how to use your networks to raise support and awareness for your project to ensure you reach your fundraising goals.

Please note: Submitting an application is not a guarantee that a project will be posted on www.smallchangefund.org or that a project will be funded. We can’t post all project submissions but we will post all those that our advisors feel are timely, compelling, and consistent with our focus on our environment and projects with a focus on First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples.

What We Do:

Small Change Fund was founded on a simple idea: people can make big change with small change. We connect people to grassroots projects across the country – projects like yours that just need a few dollars to realize their potential. We provide a platform for you to raise the funds you need from individual donors and other sources, and connect you to a community of grassroots action. Through Small Change Fund grassroots projects are getting the support they need.

Small Change Fund is a crowd-funding platform that aims to help your project get access to individual donors across Canada.  We believe in the power of people coming together to do good, and that their small change can, and will, make a big difference to you.

Why We Care About the Boreal:
The Canadian Boreal Forest stretches more than 5000 kms from the Yukon in the west to Newfoundland in the east.  The boreal is home to about two-thirds of Canada’s 140 000 species of plants, animals and micro-organisms and it is one of the largest intact ecosystems on the planet, however only 10% of Canada’s Boreal is protected.  The boreal is rich in natural resources that are under expanding pressures from industrial and resource extraction activity that is increasingly resulting in negatives impacts for regional ecosystems such as; water pollution, habitat loss and fragmentation, new threats to endangered species and air pollution.

How we can help:
Small Change Fund aims to support small-scale projects that both contribute to and represent the larger ambitions of boreal conservation in Canada.  We have the capacity to support you as you undertake important Boreal conservation projects through the use of social media to:
·     Reach thousands of potential donors and volunteers,
·     Receive regular, ongoing donations toward a fundraising goal,
·     Access dollars that don’t require excessive and burdensome administration, and
·     Promote learning and action among Boreal networks across Canada.

Examples of recently funded projects:

•       A group of community volunteers have been able to upgrade their boat to monitor their shores and coastlines, and protect their waters from pollution and industrial development.   http://smallchangefund.org/projects/protecting-the-bay-of-fundy

•       Inuit elders are documenting traditional management practices to conserve the species they depend on, their culture, and their land.   http://smallchangefund.org/projects/tusaqtuut-inuit-knowledge-and-climate-change

•       A community of native elders is able to produce a short film in an effort to save their lands from development, capturing the emotion of the people who use those lands for their livelihood.  http://smallchangefund.org/projects/help-save-fish-lake-from-acid-waste

•       A lake-based community is identifying lake ambassadors to  continue crucial water monitoring and stewardship work for the protection and enhancement of the lake’s ecosystem. http://smallchangefund.org/projects/lake-winnipeg-shoreline-management-guidelines-initiative

If you have any questions about this process, myself or Dani are more than happy to assist, please contact us at:

Small Change Fund

                       Centre for Social Innovation – Annex, Suite 311
720 Bathurst Street
Toronto, ON, M5S 2R4

(416) 519-1260
patrick@smallchangefund.org or dani@smallchangefund.org

Learn more about us at:  www.smallchangefund.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Small-Change-Fund/
twitter.com/smallchangefund

*Si vous souhaitez soumettre votre proposition en français, nous vous encourageons à le faire. Small Change Fund n’est pas une organisation bilingue, mais nous avons la capacité d’évaluer les propositions présentées en français et d’afficher les propositions retenues sur le site de www.smallchangefund.org. N’hésitez pas à nous contacter si vous avez des questions.

Protected Areas Association of NL celebrates 22 years of saving spaces for species.  Please support our online auction at http://www.paanl.org   Thanks to Parks Canada for sponsoring the auction and to all the people, businesses and organizations who kindly donated the items for bid.  The auction will close at midnight on Sunday, December 4^th.  Good luck!

Ruth (Godden) French

Development & Outreach Coordinator

Protected Areas Association of Newfoundland & Labrador

(709) 726-2603 (t)

(709) 726-2764 (f)

http://www.paanl.org