Diversity Project Manager Sonia Dong Speaks on Diversity in the Environmental Movement

Sustainability Network’s Diversity Project Manager Sonia Dong speaks about diversity in the environmental movement on the DiverseCity Toronto website. Check out her video story.

Dec. 17 Webinar on Chicago's Community Engagement with Diverse Populations

Sustainability Network's Environment & Diversity partner Clean Air Partnership is hosting an interesting webinar on Chicago's community engagement with diverse populations. Hope you can make it!

The City of Chicago has formed a partnership with Chicago's Field Museum to engage the public in the development and the implementation of the Chicago Climate Action Plan. The Field Museum has also focused on reaching out to Chicago's diverse populations. Join Clean Air Partnership on Friday December 17th at 1 pm when:

• Jennifer Hirsch from the Chicago Field Museum will present on the activities and learnings of Community Engagement on Chicago's Climate Action Plan.

Register

Anti-racism for Environmentalists

"There can be no green movement unless there is a also a black, brown and copper movement ... our house is literally burning, and it is only logical that environmentalists expect the social-justice movement to get on the environmental bus. But it is the other way around, the only way we are going to put out the fire is to get on the social justice bus and heal our wounds, because in the end, there is only one bus." ~Paul Hawken

Sustainability Network recently held an Anti-Racism for Environmentalists workshop for the collaborative members in the Environment & Diversity Project. Led by Anu Radha Verma and Muna Ali, the jam-packed day included activities and case studies that addressed social location, everyday racism, institutional racism and systemic racism, environmental justice and environmental racism, a discussion about definitions and a learning session on the history of Canada and colonization. It was great day to learn about each other and about how move the movement forward.

We thought we'd post a couple of the documents Anu and Muna put together for us for you to download - an excellent terminology/definitions list with selected reading and comparison chart of multiculturalism vs. anti-racism. Both are available on the Sustainability Network website.

More about our facilitators:

Anu Radha Verma has lived and worked in Toronto, Peterborough, Mississauga and New Delhi. She is intensely concerned with issues of social justice and has engaged in work around issues of race, gender, sexuality and the environment.

Muna Abdulkadir Ali is a Masters student in Sociology at York University in Toronto, Canada. Her interests include: environmental justice, transnational sexualities, feminist theories, and anti-racism as well as anti-colonial work/organizing.

Saturday, Novemember 6: Toronto Public Library Hosts First Human Library

The Toronto Public Library is launching its first Human Library on November 6^th. Visit one of five libraries across Toronto on Saturday, November 6^th, 2010 from 10am – 2pm and you’ll have the opportunity to sign out a human “book” and find out what it’s like to walk in another person’s shoes.

Have a one-on-one conversation with a human “book” and learn about what it’s like to be homeless, or new to Canada, be in prison or start your own IT company (to name a few). If you’re interested, you can also volunteer to become one of the books at the participating libraries.

More about the Human Library

The first Human Library was held at Roskilde Festival in Denmark in 2000. The youth organization Stop the Violence was encouraged by the festival director at the time to create anti-violence activities for festival goers to encourage dialogue and help people build relations with each other - and that's how the Human Library came to be. In its original form, the "library" was set up in an outdoor space at the festival where people could come in and "borrow" human "books", ask questions and have a conversation to help break down stereotypes and prejudices.

With the help of the Human Library Organization, which provides a wealth of resources and information to support groups that want to organize their own event, Human Libraries are now held around the world.

In addition to the Toronto Public Library, other Canadian Human Library organizers include:

• Douglas College, British Columbia
• Coquitlam Library, British Columbia
• Moscrop Secondary School, British Columbia
  
• Calgary Public Library, Alberta
• Augusta Campus, University of Alberta, Alberta
• The University of Guelph, Ontario
• King's University College, University of Western Ontario, Ontario
  

First Nations History, Terminology & Cultural Differences Webinar with Kathleen Padulo

Kathleen Padulo will join us on November 3, 2010 @10am EST for a one hour webinar to
provide a brief cultural and historical overview of the First Nations who reside within the
boundaries of Ontario.

She will outline the significance of key legislation and policy including; the Royal Proclamation of 1763, the Indian Act of 1876 highlighting the objectives behind this Act, and the Constitution Act of 1982.

This webinar will also look at the Residential Schools a chronology of “killing the Indian in the child”.

The goal of this educational webinar is for all of us to gain a better understanding of First
Nations Peoples so we can develop and build long-lasting relationships built upon respect and knowledge.

Kathleen Padulo has her Masters in Environmental Studies from York University. She is from the Oneida Nation of the Thames and has 15 years working experience planning, developing and coordinating programs with Aboriginal organizations and First Nations communities.

This webinar is the first in a series of three over the next several months.

Please register online.

BARC's 'Welcome to Canada' Series on our Environment

Should I trust the tap water? Where does the water in bottled water come from? Are their dangerous animals in the woods? How does Hamilton’s water treatment system work? Where do I bring those funny swirly lightbulbs anyway?

These were just a few of the questions that new Canadians posed at the Bay Area Restoration Council’s four-part ‘Welcome to Canada’ series on Hamilton’s Environment.

Each session, we met at the Red Hill Branch of the Public Library, thanks to the invitation of Shahira Nabab Jhan, of the Settlement and Integration Services Organization (SISO).

When some one comes to a new area, it’s not only the language and customs that they may need to learn, but all of the environmental information that many of take for granted.

During the sessions we were able to share important information about local waterfalls, conservation areas and hiking trails – as well as how to access them all, whether by foot, car, bike, bus or trolley. We talked about ways to keep chemicals out of our water, the ‘ins and outs’ of Hamilton’s water treatment system, as well as our waste and recycling programs.

People were encouraged to ask any and all questions about BARC, Hamilton Harbour and our shared environment. The event was such as success that we hope to bring it to more libraries in the Hamilton area.

Sustainability Network Partner Clean Air Partnership Hosts Webinar on Building Better Relationships with First Nations

Sustainability Network is pleased to announce that Environment & Diversity Project collaborative partner Clean Air Partnership is hosting a one-hour webinar on Building Better Relationships with First Nations on Wednesday, October 6th @ 10 am EST.

The webinar will feature:

Ron Plain and Kathleen Padulo who will share their expertise and experience on what environmental NGOs and municipalities can do to improve relationship building with First Nations and how groups unwittingly undermine those relationships.

Ron is from Aamjiwnaang First Nation, a small community located in Sarnia, Ontario. He co-founded the Aamjiwnaang Environmental Committee, has worked with Environmental Defence Canada and Kathleen is from the Oneida Nation of the Thames. She has 15 years working experience planning, developing and coordinating programs with Aboriginal organizations and First Nations communities.

Join the webinar to find out more about First Nation priorities and perspectives.

Register for the webinar.