[Uvic-sustainability] News and Evnets for week of Sept 15th
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- Published on Monday, 15 September 2014 13:40
- Written by editor
NEWS
Friday is the official opening Mystic Market, UVic’s new campus food outlet. Not only will it be serving up healthy and locally-sourced food choices with a distinctive west coast ambiance, it also promises to be our campus’s first “zero-waste” facility. As much as possible, all food waste and other waste from the food prep areas and of the customer trays will be recycled or composted. Check out the photo and story in Saanich News.
Lots of interesting on campus and off campus volunteer opportunities coming up:
A new University of Victoria-led radioactivity monitoring network is looking for volunteer “citizen scientists” along the BC coast to collect water samples and share science-based information on ocean health within their communities. The InFORM network is monitoring low-level radioactivity that is drifting across the Pacific from the 2011 tsunami and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear... disaster in Japan. See UVic media release. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and see website for more info.
Looking to get more involved in the campus sustainability community and meet like-minded people? The Campus Community Garden is looking for volunteer board members to help plan future direction and initiatives in the garden. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The UVic Sustainability Project is also seeking new members to help with many projects including the Good Food Box program and a garden facilitator. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more info and check out the new website.
The CRD Regional Bike Count Program is looking for volunteer bicycle counters for Oct 7th to 9th at locations around the region. Volunteers will receive training, an honourarium and get to be part of the CRD’s ongoing bicycle work. Most of the counts will be in the morning from 7 to 9am and the afternoon from 3 to 6pm. Results from previous counts can be seen on the CRD website. Contact Corey Burger, Count Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it."> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup hosted by the Vancouver Aquarium and the World Wildlife Fund needs volunteers to help with cleanups at various beaches around Victoria between Sept 20th and 28th. See website for more info.
On the national front, a very significant event in Canadian history was sealed quietly last Friday afternoon and flew under the radar of most Canadians. The federal government approved a sweeping investment agreement with China called the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement – “FIPA”. Despite widespread opposition from all the other parties, from within the Conservative caucus, not to mention citizens’ groups, environmental groups and First Nations, from pundits on the left of the political spectrum (see The Tyee) and the right (see Financial Post), negotiated in secret, this treaty will be in effect for a minimum of 31 years. Arguably the worst part of this agreement is that Chinese corporations doing business in Canada, mostly in resource development (e.g. tar sands), can sue Canada if any of our laws (e.g. environmental protection of land, air and water) impede their ability to make a profit. That’s right – our laws don’t apply. See more here, here & here .
Provincially, a leaked report shows that producing electricity from an array of smaller, renewable energy projects and upgrades to two major existing BC Hydro facilities, instead of the mega Site C Dam proposal, could save ratepayers $1 billion over the 70 year life of the facilities. See Vancouver Sun.
CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY WEEK - OCT 6TH TO 10TH
Watch our website for more info coming soon on a series of fun and informative events to profile and promote campus sustainability. Events include a Sustainability Photo Contest, an EcoSpeak contest, Bike to Campus Day, Love-A-Mug week, Earthfest, Dodge Ball in the Dark, and more!
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS:
DRIVE ELECTRIC VICTORIA - ELECTRIC VEHICLE DEMONSTRATIONS
Sept 16th, 11 AM to 2 PM, Lot C in front of Clearihue
Stop by to see view some electric cars and talk to their owners about the many benefits and pleasures of electric vehicle ownership.
Sept 21st, 9:30 AM to 4 PM, Lot 4 on McGill Road, next to the stadium
Join as a passenger in an Electric Vehicle on a scenic tour from UVic's Lot 4 on McGill Road, along a section of Victoria's shoreline. All you have to do is go to: http://tinyurl.com/DriveElectricVictoria and get a free ticket. Bringing friends? They'll each need a ticket too - free again. When the tour is finished, we'll have a FREE picnic lunch waiting for you. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it."> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
24 HOURS OF CLIMATE REALITY: 24 REASONS FOR HOPE
Sept 16-17th, online
Climate Reality hosts a day-long event to highlight the growing momentum for solutions to global warming and kick off 12 months of concerted climate action worldwide. Find out more on the
website.
A BLUEPRINT FOR WATERSHET GOVERNANCE IN BC
Sept 17th, 9 to 10:30 AM (PST)
A free online webinar hosted by UVic's POLIS Project on Ecological Governance will explore current water and watershed governance issues in BC with a focus on some of the “winning conditions” needed to move towards a more sophisticated approach to watershed governance in B.C. including the introduction of B.C.’s new Water Sustainability Act. Free but space is limited: Register now!
PRIVATE TOUR OF THE BC LEGISLATURE WITH MLA ANDREW WEAVER
Sept 18th, 2 PM, BC Legislature
The UVic Greens Club and local MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head Andrew Weaver from the Green Party of BC, and UVic faculty member (on leave), will be offering a firsthand tour of the BC legislature. Meet there or take the bus with others from campus. See Facebook for more info.
THE CLEANTECH EDGE: CANADA'S FASTEST GROWING INDUSTRY IN THE AGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Sept 18th, 4:30 to 7:30 PM, SFU with live webcast available
PICS and the David Suzuki Foundation present a discussion with cleantech leaders about the rapidly growing cleantech economy and Canada's advantage in clean technology. See website for more information.
REVISION THE (FOOD) HARVEST DINNER & COLLABORATIVE ART
Sept 18th, 6 PM, Vertigo Lounge, SUB
Join the Community Garden Collective and VIPIRG for an evening of delicious food and discussion leading to informed imagination of visioning a healthy food system. See Facebook to RSVP.
BOWKER CREEK OPEN HOUSE
Sept 18th, 6 to 8 PM, Oak Bay Rec Centre, 1975 Bee St
Drop by and review the plans for Bowker Creek restoration around Oak Bay High School. Presentation at 7 PM. Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
CREATING A CITY FOR EVERYONE: TRANSFORM SPEAKER SERIES #3
Sept 18th, 7 to 9 PM, Alix Goolden Hall, 907 Pandora Street
The CRD presents renowned sustainable city advocate Gil Penalosa (originally from Bogota, Columbia and now with the non-profit
8-80 based in Toronto) and Kay Teschke (from UBC’s School of Population and Public Health) for a discussion on how to make our region a safe place for people of all ages to walk, bike and play. $5 suggested donation to the Greater Victoria Cycling Association. See
CRD website for more info.
STONE SOUP FUNDRAISER FOR OUR ECOVILLAGE
Sept 18th, 6 to 9 PM, Odd Fellows Hall, 1316 Douglas Street, Victoria
An evening of gourmet food and entertainment in support of OUR EcoVillage. See
Facebook for details and how to purchase tickets.
CHANGEMAKERS SUMMIT 2.0: PUPPETS, PERFORMANCE AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Sept 19th, 1 to 3 PM, Cadboro Commons, Arbutus/Queenswood Rooms
Join Pacific Peoples' Partnership, the UVic Centre for Asia Pacific Initiatives, and Puppets for Peace for this artists' panel exploring the role of the arts in social transformation. Free pizza lunch and puppet making! Followed by conversations with local groups creatively tackling Pacific issues. See Facebook for more details.
ONE WAVE FESTIVAL
Sept 20th, Noon to 6 PM, Centennial Square, downtown Victoria
Celebration of Pacific arts and culture, with music, dancing, food and childrens' activities. Meet local groups taking action to protect the land and waters all around the Pacific ocean. See
website and
Facebook for more info.
SUSTAINABILITY: A HISTORY
Sept 20th, 6 to 9 PM, Wheelies Cafe, 2620 Rock Bay Ave
Book launch of "Sustainability: A History" by local historian Jeremy Caradonna which traces the growth of the sustainability movement from 1700 to the present day. $25 which includes a copy of the book, a pint of beer and a dinner sandwich. Get tickets and info here.
UVIC ENVIRONMENTAL ROUNDTABLE
Sept 24th, 5 to 8:30 PM, Vertigo Lounge in SUB
The UVic Environment Roundtable series hosted by the UVic Sustainability Project (UVSP) is a semesterly event for students passionate about building a sustainable future in our community. This event will provide an energized and exciting place for a moderated INTERACTIVE and FREE FLOWING dialogue among participants. Have projects and ideas? Come SHARE! Free sustainable snacks and special prizes for those arriving via bike, walking, carpool or transit. Bring your own bottle and plates. See Facebook for more info and order your free ticket on
Eventbrite.
Rita Fromholt
Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Campus Planning & Sustainability
University of Victoria
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it."> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., O: 250.853.3758, C: 250.884.5751
