Monday, May 31, 2010
active living study
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Click on image to see larger version3 events to sustain your ride
1 | Bike to Work Day
May 31 , 2010
Celebration at Gore Park, 8 -10am
Bike to Work and Win $100s of dollars in Mountain Equipment
Coop Gift Certificates as well as a FREE T-shirt for all cyclists.
To participate and win register at:
www.smartcommute.ca/hamilton/biketowork
Meet fellow cyclists from around the city and explore Hamilton’s vast cycling network on a
sustainable commute to work. Whether you are a new or experienced rider, you can meet
up with groups at various locations in the city and cycle to Gore Park or your place of
work! Check out the website for maps, meeting locations and more info.
2 | Open Streets Hamilton
Sunday, June 6 , 2010
On June 6 , from 10am to 3pm, James Street North, from Cannon to Burlington, will be closed to automobiles, and open to a festival of people walking, cycling, in-line skating, watching demonstrations, trying a new activity, listening to music and bands, or shopping along the
street. Get involved by visiting:
www.openstreetshamilton.ca
3 | Clean Air Commute
June 14 – 18 2010
During the week of June 14-18, The City of Hamilton will be participating in Pollution
Probe’s Clean Air Commute. Employees are encouraged to commute to work in a cleaner
way by: biking, walking, telecommuting, taking public transit, driving a hybrid, carpooling
or even just giving your car a tune-up.
Participants will be asked to fill out a diary card on-line record their commuting patterns
for the week here: http://www.cleanaircommute.ca/register.php?lSet=f&cid=23&lid=27
Reward yourself by Signing Up
The first 200 Clean Air Commute registrants to log at least one commute from June 14 to
18 will receive a Tim Horton’s Gift Card. Visit the Clean Air Commute Website and register
before June 14 , 2010 to win the incentive and grand prizes:
Incentive Prize: Also be entered into a draw to win:
High performance Bike Trip for 2 to Costa Rica Apple iPad
(Raleigh Airlite 200) (9 day Intrepid Tour)
Participating is Easy
Get car tune up tips at caa.ca/eco/english/you/road.html.
If you would like to form a carpool check out carpoolzone.ca
HSR Transit Maps can be found at: hamilton.ca/hsr or google.ca/transit
Find Bike Routes at: smartcommute.ca/hamilton/biketowork or hamilton.ca/cycling
All Access Wristband: During the week of June 14-18, your Smart Commute
wristband gets you access to savings and free transit on Thursday, June 17. Pick up your
band at the Smart Commute Hamilton Office (address below) or through a participating
employer. Wear your wristband to show your support for Clean Air Commuting!
Disclaimer: this is not an official opirg mcmaster sponsored event, and is posted for information purposes only. Please contact the event organizers with any questions or concerns.
Friday, May 21, 2010
stop the stink
Here's the local daily's coverage of the Dofasco event:
Crowd small, but angry, at meeting about Dofasco
Daniel Nolan, The Hamilton Spectator
(May 21, 2010)Environment ministry officials took it on the chin last night from east Hamilton residents upset the agency is aiming to let ArcelorMittal Dofasco meet alternative air-quality standards.
Only about 60 people attended the ministry meeting at the Barton Street East legion, but Lorna Moreau said that was because her neighbours are fed up and believed the ministry wouldn't push it to the limit with the steel giant.
"They knew they'd get alternative standards," said Moreau, who has complained about soot and odours impacting her home for the past several years. "They just knew they'd get it."
The ministry aimed to hold a public information centre, which allows officials to speak to pockets of residents.
Environment Hamilton members, however, insisted on a regular public meeting. They marched into the hall and told ministry officials they were now taking part in a question-and-answer session with the crowd. Ministry officials complied. Some citizens wore red T-shirts, with such comments as "Stop Pollution," and "Profits over Health."
Ministry spokesman Scott Burton explained the province has created new, stringent, science-based pollution measures, but recognizes some firms need time to meet them because the technology might not exist. ArcelorMittal Dofasco has submitted an action plan to meet alternative standards, which the ministry has accepted. It has been vetted by experts from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It aims to spend $16 million in the next five years to reduce benzo (a) pyrene by 27 per cent, benzene by 82 per cent, sulphur by 20 per cent and suspended particulate (dust) by 4 per cent.
The company said in a statement last night it runs a state-of-the-art operation, but it's always striving for improvements
"Our five-year improvement targets are levels that we know we can meet with current available technology," said the company.
Some residents believed they wouldn't get alternatives if their cars did not meet emission standards. Some said the pollution has gotten worse.
In the 1960s she could hang out her washing with no worries, Joyce Chapman said, adding: "Now I can't because of the soot floating around the city."
Barb LaFleshe said residents want the ministry to just stop odours and soot.
"We're telling you this has to end," she said.
905-526-3351
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Resource of the Week
READ A GOOD BOOK, SEEN A GREAT VIDEO FROM THE OPIRG LIBRARY? WRITE A REVIEW! KNOW A GOOD RESOURCE OPIRG SHOULD OWN? SUGGEST IT! May 16th - 22nd
FILM: The End of Suburbia
This film is an interesting exploration of the Peak Oil phenomenon, when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached and the rate of production enters a suicidal decline; as well as the implications it will have on the North America suburban lifestyle.
The director Gregory Greene explores the topic by having the host, Canadian Broadcaster Barrie Zwicker, interview a variety of people and gather information on the topic.
The film portrays a generous exploration of the topic of oil depletion and the fallacy of the American Dream.
I definitely recommend this film be watched.Wednesday, May 19, 2010
breathing cancer
Dofasco is applying for a new "alternative standard" because they failed to meet the original one set by the Ministry of Environment. This new standard will be a lot more lenient and will allow them to emit pollutants at higher levels for an additional 5 years. This is troubling seeing as some of them are cancer-causing. Thursday May 20th, 6-9pm at the East Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion (1180 Barton St. E - in front of Centre Mall).
Monday, May 17, 2010
Hamilton calls for coal phase-out now
Last night Hamilton City Council passed Councillor Sam Merulla’s motion requesting the Government of Ontario to direct Ontario Power Generation to put its coal plants on standby reserve and only operate them if they are absolutely needed to keep the lights on in Ontario. [read: Council: Shut Down Coal Now!]
The motion was also supported by Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson.
Please contact Premier McGuinty and asked him to phase-out coal now (and cc me).
For background info on how and why we can stop burning coal today, please see our leaflet or our report.
Please pass this message on to your friends.
Thank you.
Angela Bischoff, Outreach Director
Ontario Clean Air Alliance
402-625 Church St, Toronto M4Y 2G1
Phone: 416-926-1907 ext. 246
Disclaimer: this is not an official opirg mcmaster sponsored event, and is posted for information purposes only. Please contact the event organizers with any questions or concerns.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Logo-istics
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Friday, May 07, 2010
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Andrew on top of the world
Andrew Cruickshank is currently working on implementing greenroofs on campus as the new Greenroof Research Assistant at OPIRG. He is currently in fourth year of mechanical engineering and society at McMaster where he has combined his interests in sustainable design and environmental projects to create new inventions and systems such as a low-cost adjustable solar array for use in northern Canada. He has worked in environmental education for the past few years and looks forwards to using this background to make this project a success.
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