1.

Calls For Delegates

1. 2nd Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity

2.

ACTION ALERTS

1. Support Friends of the Earth Canada’s Global Warming Lawsuit
2. Ontario Clean Air Alliance Peak Busters 

3.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. New RCEN Agriculture Caucus Steering Committee
2. Webpage Launched: RCEN 2007 Conference on Environment and Health
3. Jour de la Terre’s DANSE-O-THON E=MC2, 3rd Edition   

4.

RESOURCES

1. New Publication, Bridging Gaps: Building Diversity, Resilience and Connectivity
2. New Publication on Environmental Management  

5.

CALLS FOR INPUT / COMMENTS / NOMINATIONS / PARTICIPATION

1. Call for Comments: Draft Follow-Up Assessment Report and Notice of Intent to Apply the Significant New Activity Provisions of CEPA 1999
2. Call for Interest: Consultations on the Risk Management of  Mercury-containing Products  

6.

Events

1. 8th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment
2. Canadian Environment Week   

7.

Employment

1. Executive Director, Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Network  

1.

Calls For Delegates

i.

2nd Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity

The RCEN is seeking one (1) ENGO representative to be part of the Canadian Delegation at the 2nd Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation (WGRI-2) of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to be held in Paris, France, on July 9-13, 2007. Information about WGRI-2 including the provisional agenda and official documents can be found on the CBD Website. Environment Canada will reimburse the travel and accommodation expenses for the selected representative but will not cover any costs for the time spent at the meeting nor for any preparation time spent prior to the meeting. The deadline to apply is June 12, 2007. If you are interested in participating, visit the RCEN website.
For more information, contact Sarah Heiberg, National Caucus Coordinator, telephone: (613) 728-9810 ext. 224.

2.

Action Alerts

i.

Support Friends of the Earth Canada’s Global Warming Lawsuit

Friends of the Earth Canada has launched a lawsuit against the Government of Canada for "abandoning its international commitments under the Kyoto Protocol".  According to their website, FOE's goal is “to obtain regulations that will put an absolute cap on greenhouse gas emissions at a level and within a time frame that meets the Kyoto obligations.” FOE is asking the public to support the lawsuit with donations, which can be made directly to FOE through Canada Helps.
To read the application, visit the Sierra Legal website. For more information, visit the FOE website.

ii.

Ontario Clean Air Alliance Peak Busters

The Ontario Clean Air Alliance is challenging communities and companies across Ontario to participate to their new Peak Busters initiative.  According to the OCAA, as temperatures across Ontario will climb considerably during the summer months, a demand for electricity will also increase. The OCAA alleges that “by simply busting the extreme summer peak in electricity demand that occurs for 88 hours a year, we could eliminate the need to operate 7 of Nanticoke’s 8 boilers by 2010”. 
For more information on how your community and company can participate in the Peak Busters challenge, visit the Peak Busters website.

3.

Announcements

i.

New RCEN Agriculture Caucus Steering Committee

The Call for Nominations for the 2007-2008 RCEN Agriculture Caucus Steering Committee is now complete. Nominations were received from across the country - Thank you to everyone who put their name forward! Co-Chairs will be selected at the first Agriculture Caucus Steering Committee meeting.
For more information on the new Steering Committee members, visit the Agriculture Caucus Steering Committee Nominations webpage or the Agriculture Caucus webpage, or contact Leela Ramachandran, RCEN Agriculture Caucus Coordinator, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 223.

ii.

Webpage Launched: RCEN 2007 Conference on Environment and Health

Information on the RCEN 2007 Annual Conference on the Environment and Annual General Meeting is now available on the RCEN website in English and French. The Conference and AGM will take place on November 1-4, 2007 in Ottawa. The specific theme of this year’s 30th anniversary conference will be Environment and Health. Additional information on the Conference, including the agenda and exact location, will be added to the Conference webpage as it becomes available.
Note: Currently, funding to attend the Conference is available for National Council members and Regional Network coordinators only. Further funding details for all other RCEN members, will be made available in the coming months. Though the Conference is intended primarily for RCEN members, certain sessions will be open to the general public (a registration fee will apply). For more information, contact Claire Sales, Office & Events Administrator, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 221.

iii.

Jour de la Terre’s DANSE-O-THON E=MC2, 3rd Edition

Jour de la Terre will partner again with the Piknic Électronik within the framework of the Danse-o-thon E=MC2 event’s 3rd edition that will take place on June 23-24, 2007 at the foot of Calder mobile in Sainte-Hélène Island (Montreal). Each dancer can commit to dance a number of hours in favour of an environmental cause of her/his choice. There will be the opportunity, for individuals wishing to encourage a dancer and her/his environmental cause, to pay an amount through the Jour de la Terre online shop or on site during the event. ENGOs will be able to benefit from this fundraising to achieve their project goals.
For more information, visit Jour de la Terre’s website or communicate with the Jour de la Terre team, tel.: (514) 728-0116 or 1 (800) 424-8758.

4.

Resources

i.

New Publication, Bridging Gaps: Building Diversity, Resilience and Connectivity

The Sustainability Network has announced the publication of a paper, Bridging Gaps: Building Diversity, Resilience and Connectivity, by Dr. Ann Dale. Published in February 2007 by the Canadian Environmental Grantmakers Network, this paper discusses the state of the environmental sector in terms of connectivity, diversity and resilience. To receive this paper published in 2004 as a 6 page 448 KB PDF document, contact Jessica.
Interested individuals are also invited to subscribe to the Sustainability Network’s free, monthly e-newsletter.

ii.

New Publication on Environmental Management

A new French publication by Laval University, "La gestion environnementale : de la prévention à la mobilisation" is now available. This document is an attempt to address environmental concerns and to find a way for companies to consider sustainable development. The publication also proposes a way to combine environment and competitiveness in a new light, based on numerous case studies.
For more information on this work and to read its first pages, visit the Laval University’s website. If you are interested in a critical commentary on this work, an article on this subject, or an announcement with the book references, please contact Olivier Boiral.

5.

Calls for Input / Comments / Nominations / Participation

i.

Call for Comments: Draft Follow-Up Assessment Report and Notice of Intent to Apply the Significant New Activity Provisions of CEPA 1999

The public has been invited to submit written observations to the Minister of the Environment by June 20, 2007 regarding the draft follow-up assessment report on Organotins and a notice to apply the significant new activity (SNAc) provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). In addition, a draft environmental performance agreement (EPA) on some organotins has been released for comments prior to being finalized. Public consultations on the assessment report and on the EPA are currently announced on the Chemicals Portal. The draft report on organotins and the notice to apply the SNAc provisions are available on Environment Canada’s website.
For more information on the PSL1 assessment on organotins, visit the Existing Substances Division website or send an e-mail.

ii.

Call for Interest: Consultations on the Risk Management of  Mercury-containing Products

Environment Canada is seeking expressions of interest regarding attendance at stakeholder consultation sessions planned for Fall 2007. On December 20, 2006, Environment Canada published a Risk Management Strategy for Mercury-containing Products (RMS). Currently the RMS can be accessed on Environment Canada’s website. The development of the proposed instruments is scheduled to begin in the fall 2007. The intent of the Fall consultations will be to consult on a discussion document that will identify the intent of the proposed instruments. ENGOs are invited to participate in the survey by contacting Elise Legault via e-mail to obtain the survey form. The survey should be returned to Ms. Legault by June 8, 2007.

6.

Events

i.

8th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment

The 8th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment, Climate Change: Science and Solutions, is taking place January 16-18, 2008 in Washington, DC. Climate Change: Science and Solutions will explore approaches to climate stabilization, minimization, mitigation and adaptation. There will also be ample opportunity for all participants to propose and discuss solutions. Interested individuals are invited to propose to organise a workshop or breakout session, present a scientific poster or display a technology or organisational approach in the Showcase of Solutions Exhibition. Additionally, individuals under the age of 30 are encouraged to enter into their first ever New Media Competition: Communicating Climate Change.
For more information, visit the Conference webpage.

ii.

Canadian Environment Week

ENGOs are invited to be part of the Canadian Environment Week (CEW), taking place from June 3-9, 2007, to help promote and celebrate community action for the environment. Activities are being planned to encourage Canadians to take action, and to celebrate local successes. Environment Canada (EC) is inviting ENGOs to post their events on their Community Action Board for others to see and participate. EC will post all events received. ENGOs may also inform EC if they would like a CEW button to place on their website.
Requests to post events of for CEW buttons can be sent via e-mail.

7.

Employment

i.

Executive Director, Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Network

The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Network (NLEN) is currently seeking an Executive Director to fulfill a permanent, part-time position in St. John’s. The Executive Director will be responsible for the organisation’s communications, events and administration. The ideal candidate will have some post secondary education, excellent organizational and time management skills, experience working with grassroots community groups, and a proven ability to organize or facilitate organisation of group and/or public events. The rate is of $13/hr for a 90 day probationary period and $15/hr thereafter. The deadline to apply is Monday, June 4, 2007 at noon.
For more information, or to apply, send your resume or question via e-mail to the NLEN Coordinator.