Green Living Ottawa

Written by guest blogger Denise Deby, who has worked in international and community development, and is currently trying to figure out how to connect the local with the global in her everyday life.

Ottawa City Council will start debating the city’s 2010 budget on January 25.  It’s not Copenhagen, but Council’s decisions will directly affect the health of Ottawa’s environment and people.

Ecology Ottawa has examined the environmental implications of the draft budget.  They identify encouraging aspects such as support for new cycling paths and investments in pedestrian infrastructure and in energy-efficient improvements in city-owned buildings. But they also point out areas of concern, including:

• service cuts and fee increases for OC Transpo
• cuts to forestry services including tree maintenance, and elimination of funds for the tree protection by-law which requires residents to acquire permits before cutting down mature trees
• reduction in funding for “Buy Local” initiatives that help fund the Ottawa Farmers Market and market local produce
• lack of investment in other areas, including air quality, water quality and climate change management.

Residents can express their views on the budget by:

• phoning the city at 311
• e-mailing 311@ottawa.ca
• registering as a public delegation at City Council by contacting 613-580-2424 ext. 12487 or budgetdelegations@ottawa.ca
• contacting a city councillor.

The draft budget is available on the City’s website or at public libraries and city client service centres.

By guest blogger, Jacob McBane, Events and Outreach Intern, Climate Action Network Canada – Réseau action climat Canada

World leaders are meeting in Copenhagen over the next two weeks to negotiate a new global climate agreement.

Between December 11th and 14th, Canadians will be organizing and attending events across the country to send a clear message: The world wants a real deal. That means a climate agreement that is fair, ambitious and binding. Rallies in support of a real deal are being held in major cities in Canada and around the world on December 12th as part of the Global Day of Action.

In Ottawa, there are a number of vigils scheduled.  To find one near you, visit http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e/action/events/real-deal.php#map .  Or, if you’re going to be downtown this Saturday, come stop by the Human Rights Monument for a short vigil, at 6pm.

Event details:
Vigil for a REAL DEAL to stop climate change
Saturday, December 12, 2009
6:00pm-6:35pm

Vigil for a REAL DEAL to stop climate change, hosted by Climate Action Network Canada and Friends will start on Dec 12, at 6:00 pm at the Human Rights Monument on Elgin, between Laurier and Lisgar (beside city hall).

We will have a brief address on the week’s happenings.  Following this, we will sing three climate carols and we will light our candles and hold a moment of silence.  Candles and carols will be provided to you when you arrive.  For those of you who wish to continue your involvement after the vigil, we will be walking together as a group to gently canvass and give out our candy canes to the general public down on the Hill.

Written by guest blogger Denise Deby, who has worked in international and community development, and is currently trying to figure out how to connect the local with the global in her everyday life.

Welcome news for anyone who’s looking for more ideas for living sustainably:

Adria Vasil, author of Ecoholic and columnist with Toronto’s NOW Magazine, will be in Ottawa to talk about her new book, Ecoholic Home.  She’ll be speaking at Arbour Environmental Shoppe, 800 Bank Street, on Monday, November 9 at 7:00 p.m., courtesy of Arbour and Octopus Books.

Ecoholic Home is full of advice about products and services for greening the place where you live.  It reviews electronics, gardening, energy, cleaning, decorating, renovating and more.

Vasil’s 2007 book, Ecoholic, covers health and beauty products, food, clothing, children’s stuff, household items and transportation.  It has lots of suggestions for environmentally friendly and healthy options, from making your own toothpaste to safe food storage, where to buy recycled office supplies, and alternative gift ideas.

Vasil also helps interpret “green” labeling, and suggests sources for more information.  And it’s not just about consuming consciously.  Ecoholic also has a section on how to influence “big issues” like climate change, deforestation and clean water.

Ecoholic Home, like Ecoholic, is based on Vasil’s writing for NOW Magazine.  Both books are available in bookstores and the Ottawa Public Library.

Just a couple more events to let you know about:

Earth Day Ottawa Info Fair, Concert and Student Awards Show – April 22nd 6pm

There will be an info fair, followed by a folk concert, and award ceremonies for various student Earth Day Ottawa contests at Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive.  Local peace and environment groups will have booths up from 6pm and the show will begin at 7pm.  The first performers, Pippa and John, will be enjoyed by younger members of the audience.  While the second set, Kate and Hollis, play bluegrass and folk.

Spartacat will be on hand to give out awards to the students who won the Cloth Bag Design contest and the Waste to Gold contest.  Booths will open again after the show.

This is a fund raiser for Earth Day Ottawa programs.  Tickets are $15 and can be bought on-line at Earth Day Ottawa.

Earth Eve at the Cube Gallery – April 22nd 7pm

The Ottawa River Keeper, Meredith Brown, will be giving a short talk at the Cube Gallery about the importance of the Ottawa River and the challenges it faces.  This will be followed by a tasting of a variety of sustainably-produced wines and an opportunity to view the current exhibit of art entitled “Water.” Entry by donation.

Cube Gallery, 7 Hamilton Ave. N., (613) 728 1750