1.

Calls For Delegates

1. There are no Calls for Delegates this week. 

2.

ACTION ALERTS

1. Sign Petition to Help Ban Bisphenol A
2. Help Seek Protection for the Ogoki Forest’s Woodland Caribou
3. Sign On to Great Lakes United Position Paper on Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement  

3.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Draft Agenda Now Available: RCEN 2007 Conference on the Environment  

4.

RESOURCES

1. New Report on Acute Pesticide Poisoning in Canada Now Available 

5.

CALLS FOR INPUT / COMMENTS / NOMINATIONS / PARTICIPATION

1. Call for nominations: RCEN Atmosphere & Energy Caucus Steering Committee
2. Call for nominations: RCEN Toxics Caucus Steering Committee   

6.

Events

1. 7th Biennial Conference “Sustaining Communities and Development in the Face of Environmental Challenges”   

7.

Employment

1. Communications Coordinator, RCEN
2. Office and Events Administrator, RCEN
3. Director, Comité ZIP Alma-Jonquière

1.

Calls For Delegates

i.

There are no Calls for Delegates this week.

2.

Action Alerts

i.

Sign Petition to Help Ban Bisphenol A

Environmental Defence has launched a petition to ban Bisphenol A, a synthetic chemical compound. According to their website, the chemical is currently classified by the Government of Canada as a hormone disruptor, which means it can affect other hormones in our bodies. Bisphenol A is found in many consumer products, including baby bottles, food cans and hard plastic drinking bottles. Environmental Defence is inviting ENGOs and individuals to sign the petition to Environment Minister John Baird and Health Minister Tony Clement, to ban Bisphenol A in all food and beverage containers.

ii.

Help Seek Protection for the Ogoki Forest’s Woodland Caribou

Earthroots is currently inviting ENGOs to submit comments on the Proposed Operations for the Ogoki Forest, 2008-2018. According to Earthroots, Ogoki is one of the only forests in the Area of Undertaking that can support a viable Woodland Caribou population. Furthermore, Earthroots has concluded that the proposed harvesting threatens to destroy 57% of Caribou habitat in the Forest, and that a large network of logging roads will fragment habitat and lead to further Caribou extirpation. Comments can be directed to Heather Farrer, Area Forester, Ministry of Natural Resources. The deadline to submit comments is July 8, 2007.

iii.

Sign On to Great Lakes United Position Paper on Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

The Canadian and U.S. Governments have put out a document for public comment, which reviews the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Great Lakes United has put together a statement proposing a direction forward on the GLWQA.
ENGOs are invited to sign onto the position statement by July 10, 2007.

3.

Announcements

i.

Draft Agenda Now Available: RCEN 2007 Conference on the Environment

The first draft agenda for 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 exact location, will be added to the Conference webpage shortly. Further funding details for participation to the conference 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.

4.

Resources

i.

New Report on Acute Pesticide Poisoning in Canada Now Available

A new report from the David Suzuki Foundation, Northern Exposure: Acute Pesticide Poisonings in Canada, is now available on their website, in English and French. According to a recent news release, the report tallied data on pesticide poisonings gathered from provincial and regional authorities covering nine of the 10 provinces. In addition to the number of acute pesticide-related poisonings, the report concludes that Canada operates an ineffective system for tracking and monitoring acute poisonings. The report also estimates that acute pesticide poisonings might cost the Canadian economy as much as $16 million per year.

5.

Calls for Input / Comments / Nominations / Participation

i.

Call for nominations: RCEN Atmosphere & Energy Caucus Steering Committee

The RCEN is currently conducting a Call for nominations for membership on the Atmosphere & Energy Caucus Steering Committee. This is an excellent opportunity for RCEN members to be part of Caucus decision-making and the planning of activities! This call is open to all RCEN members who belong to, or are willing to join, the Atmosphere & Energy Caucus. Current Steering Committee members are eligible to re-apply. The nomination deadline is TODAY, July 6, 2007.

ii.

Call for nominations: RCEN Toxics Caucus Steering Committee

The RCEN is currently conducting a Call for nominations for membership on the Toxics Caucus Steering Committee. This is an excellent opportunity for RCEN members to be part of Caucus decision-making and the planning of activities! This call is open to all RCEN members who belong to, or are willing to join, the Toxics Caucus Caucus. Current Steering Committee members are eligible to re-apply. The nomination deadline is TODAY, July 6, 2007.

6.

Events

i.

7th Biennial Conference “Sustaining Communities and Development in the Face of Environmental Challenges”

The 7th Biennial Conference of the Canadian Society for Ecological Economics (CANSEE) will take place from July 26 to 28, 2007 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Conference will reflect the focus of CANSEE in fostering transdisciplinary research activities and dialogue among natural and social scientists, government, the private sector and civil society, to deepen understanding of the interactions between humans and nature, and to inform the sustainable stewardship of our natural resources and the environment.

7.

Employment

i.

Communications Coordinator, RCEN

The Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) is currently seeking a Communications Coordinator. Reporting to the Associate Executive Director, the Communications Coordinator will be responsible for all internal and external communications, including the RCEN website and weekly E-Bulletin, to ensure optimum networking and communications capabilities. Only candidates who are fully bilingual (French, English) will be selected for interviews. The deadline to apply is July 18, 2007.

ii.

Office and Events Administrator, RCEN

The Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) is currently seeking an Office and Events Administrator. Reporting to the Associate Executive Director, the Office and Events Administrator will assist in performing multiple duties related to the administration of the RCEN office, will organize the logistics for the Annual Conference on the Environment (ACE) and will assist the Executive Director. Only candidates who are fully bilingual (French, English) will be selected for interviews. The deadline to apply is July 11, 2007.

iii.

Director, Comité ZIP Alma-Jonquière

The Comité ZIP Alma-Jonquière, a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and support actions aiming to protect and develop the Saguenay River’s watershed through ecosystem conservation and restoration, is currently seeking a Director. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the selected candidate will monitor the implementation of the Board’s decisions, and manage green projects, among others. The deadline to apply is July 20, 2007.