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Nova Scotia Environmental Network Forests / Toxics / Oceans / Climate Change / Environmental learning / Population Forests / NSEN-NBEN-NLEN-PEINET Joint workshop: "How to Make Certification Work for Greens", a forest certification strategy workshop. Martin von Mirbach, on the Canadian Standards Association, Jim Drescher, on the Forest Stewardship Council. Sat 14 Nov 98, 10am to 4:30pm, Avard-Dixon Building, Room 112, Mount Allison U, Sackville, NB. Contact: NBEN, 167 Creek Rd, Waterford, NB, E4E 4L7, (506) 433-6101, fax: (506) 433-6111, nben@nbnet.nb.ca Forests / NS Caucus actions: At NSEN's Akala Point Conference in September, our Forests Caucus agreed to join the Forest Stewardship Council, and to endorse FSC regional standards. Heather Johannesen and Michel Palmer will be co-representatives of our Forests Caucus on the FSC Atlantic region committee. As well, NSEN members as a whole are asked to endorse FSC standards. The caucus will also be co-appealants to the J.D. Irving certification of Black Brook. The Forests Caucus has invited NSEN as a whole to join them in a resolution to ban clear-cutting and the use of biocides and bio-engineered organisms in Nova Scotia forests. Contact: Anna McCarron, chair, NSEN Forests Caucus, (902) 861-3624, amcarron@istar.ca Toxics / Opportunity to be heard: You can sign up to speak when the NS Law Amendments Ctte. considers Bill 47, The Municipal Government Act, in early Nov. RATE, Real Alternatives to Toxins in the Environment, considers the parts of the legislation dealing with pesticide use to be seriously flawed. "Bill 47 would put into effect a greatly weakened pesticide 'registration' system in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and throughout Nova Scotia." To speak, contact Gordon Hebb, (902) 424-8941. For further information, contact Maureen Reynolds, RATE, (902) 479-1440, ax168@chebucto.ns.ca Oceans / NS Caucus call for network endorsement: "NSEN's Oceans Caucus supports the Canadian Fishermens' Defense Society's court case challenging the right of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to sell off the fishery to private groups through the use of Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQ's). Members also endorse fishery regulation so that fishers use the least destructive gear available for the species being fished and for those species which can't be caught with a hook, exclude dragging from sensitive habitats." To endorse the above resolution or to sign on to the CFDS legal challenge, contact Mark Butler, Ecology Action Centre, 1568 Argyle St., Ste. 31, Halifax, NS B3J 2B3, (902) 429-2202, ar427@chebucto.ns.ca Oceans / Action in support of "Flagpole Fishers": "Why did four fishermen chain themselves to the flagpole at the Nova Scotia Legislature this past June? They wanted to draw politician's attention to the fishery crisis-and the impact it's having on communities in Shelburne County. Shelburne County fishers have engaged in numerous actions in recent years in an effort to preserve their age-old sustainable hook and line fishery, highlight the destructiveness of draggers mechanically harvesting the sea, and point out what they see as Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) mismanagement. "Tony Cunningham, Fred Sears, Jack Hatfield and Scott Nickerson were acquitted of charges of refusing to leave the Legislature grounds, after their third appearance in Halifax court, on October 23. Crown prosecutor Donna Keats called no evidence, so the fishers lost their opportunity to defend their right to protest at the Legislature. "If we can be charged there yesterday, where will it be tomorrow..." says Sears, "will it be on the sidewalk?" "Don Grady, a sociology professor, has been acting as the fishers' agent in court in Barrington and Halifax. Don and Bill McKiggan are organizing a Halifax-based support group for the Shelburne fishers. Bill is the co-producer of "Fish or Cut Bait" and "Fishing on the Brink", the best documentaries we have on the Nova Scotia fishery from the community point-of-view. Contact: Don Grady (902) 434-8815." (By Denise Demoura, Halifax free-lance writer, from her article in The Coast. With thanks to everyone.) Oceans / Oil and gas development on Georges Bank: The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment will hold a forum on the Georges Bank Moratorium, Thursday 19 Nov 98, 1pm to 5pm at the Hotel Halifax, The Baronet Room, 1990 Barrington Street, Halifax. The purpose is "to discuss transboundary environmental considerations relative to oil and gas development on Georges Bank. To register, contact: The Gulf of Maine Council Secretariat Office, Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture, (902) 424-1764, fax: (902) 424-4671, tritesml@gov.ns.ca (Contributed by Ishbel Munro, Coastal Communities Network, R.R. #2, East Bay, N.S., B0A 1H0, ph/fax: (902) 379-2688, coastalnet@auracom.com www.gdlewis.ednet.ns.ca/~coastal/ ) Climate Change / New NSEN Climate Change Caucus: under construction. Participants currently include Colin Stewart, Heather Johnannesen, Steve Szabo, Mark Butler, Michel Palmer, Mil Nickerson, Allister Marshall and Anna McCarron. Contact: Meinhard Doelle, Clean Nova Scotia, (902) 420-3476, mdoelle@clean.ns.ca Environmental learning / The "Echo Eco" Tour: This winter and spring, the Sierra Youth Coalition (SYC) is co-ordinating with local organizers to deliver youth-organized skills-building and discussion workshops in rural Atlantic communities to reach over 1500 youth, adults, and educators concerned about social and environmental problems-- the Eco Echo Tour. The workshops will be positive and constructive and will focus on: creating awareness of the local-global connection; identifying locally-based opportunities to create positive change; and building the capacity of individuals to work on environmentally and socially beneficial initiatives. Eco Echo is eager to work with community organizers to develop a workshop series that addresses the diverse needs and hopes of your community. To offer the highest quality workshop series, it is critical that it reflect the joint production of both Eco Echo and the community organizer. Youth and community groups, and high school teachers would be ideal organizers. To help your community's voice be a part of the Echo, call Hillary Walkley, (902) 682-3060 or (902) 425-3939, hwalkley@hotmail.com Environmental Learning / Help wanted, help wanted: Following on the heels of a successful Sustainable Community Fair (a conference on sustainable development), the Kings Community Economic Development Agency is now initiating another forum of discussion just for YOUTH! (Grades 6-12). "We are looking for a keynote speaker to open the day's session - someone who can speak well to the interests of youth and is fun, inspiring. If you have any suggestions of individuals, please reply with a name. If you would like to recommend yourself, please outline a topic and any past experience in speaking to or working with youth." The conference "Learning and Acting for a Sustainable Future" will be Thurs 19 Nov 98 at the Greenwood Community Centre, 9am to 4:30pm. (Opening keynote, 9am to 9:30am) Lunch and travel cost provided. Contact: Andrea Caven, Kings Community Economic Development Agency, 28 Aberdeen St., Kentville, NS, Canada, B4N 2N1, (902) 678-2298, fax: (902) 678-2324, andrea.kingsced@go.ednet.ns.ca www.go.ednet.ns.ca/pages/kingsced.html Population / Conference series: Action Canada for Population and Development (ACPD) has organized a series of five national forums taking place in the next two months across Canada. You are invited to the Dalhousie University Club on Monday 9 Nov 98, 9am to 9pm. Public discussion will begin at 7:30pm. Individuals who have expertise in the areas of international development, international women's reproductive health and rights, migration, the environment or demography, and who support the International Conference on Population and Development Program for Action (Cairo, 1994) have been invited to participate in this working forum. Contact: Jan Riddell, rayriddell@compuserve.com To contribute to NSEN News, contact: NSEN, Box 33070, Halifax, NS, B3L 4T6, (902) 422-7110, fax: (902) 422-7117, nsen@web.net The Nova Scotia Environmental Network provides a framework for coordinated awareness, action and mutual support among its members and Nova Scotians generally, toward the protection and restoration of local environments. NSEN is an affiliate of the Canadian Environmental Network. We are grateful for public funding provided through Environment Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of the Environment.
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