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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Nestle vs. Wellington County, Ontario, and the need for a national water policy

While most Canadians acknowledge the importance of clean water to health and livelihood, relatively few are aware of the fact that in our country there is no national strategy to address urgent water issues, or to preserve and protect Canada’s fresh water.
Contamination, shortages, and increasing pressure to export water to the United States highlight the need for a comprehensive national water policy for this country. The Council of Canadians – Canada’s largest citizens organization – has long been campaigning for such a policy to protect Canada’s freshwater from privatization and bulk exports based on the belief that:

  • Canada’s freshwater supply is limited
  • Water is essential for both healthy ecosystems
  • Water is a basic human right and the commodification of water would not guarantee access for all
  • Public water is safer, cleaner, and more affordable

For no one have these concerns become more apparent than for the people of Wellington County, Ontario, where the community is currently embroiled in  a legal battle with Nestle Waters.

Nestle Waters is the world’s largest bottled water company and its largest bottling facility in Canada is located in Wellington County, a municipality in southwestern Ontario.

At present nestle pays $3.71 for every million litres of water it draws out of the local watershed. Once packaged in single-use plastic water bottles, Nestle then sells the water at an enormous profit – nearly $2 million.

Yet somehow Nestle believes it is entitled to an even better deal. Under the permit signed with the municipality, Nestle is required to reduce the amount it draws from the aquifer by between 10 and 20 percent during times of drought. The need for such restrictions was underscored last summer when the residents and farmers in Wellington County experienced one of the worst droughts in over a decade.

Nestle filed an appeal with the Environmental review Tribunal (ERT) to have these drought-based restrictions overturned, and in a stunning decision the Ontario Ministry of the Environment agreed to a settlement which would undermine the conditions for water extraction and could potentially allow Nestle to pump at its maximum rates even during times of drought. Therefore, even if the local community was under water restrictions, Nestle would still be allowed to pump millions of litres of freshwater from the local aquifer for profit.

In an attempt to protect the water rights of the people of Wellington County, the Council of Canadians, in partnership with Wellington Water Watchers – a Guelph-based water advocacy group – and with legal representation by Ecojustice, applied for and was granted official party status to represent the public interest in Nestle’s appeal hearing.

As the Council of Canadians states on its website:

“In many ways, this effort to protect an important aquifer in a small Ontario community is a microcosm of the global fight against corporate ownership of water. There is a growing global movement to declare water as part of the commons; a shared public resource that belongs to all.”

Clearly the Ontario government has put corporate profit before public water rights. It also underscores the need for a comprehensive national strategy to address urgent water issues, and the current lack of leadership at both the provincial and federal levels to conserve and protect Canada's freshwater reserves. This final decision in this case could set an important precedent for recognizing water as a public trust, and granting communities control over their water and how it is used.

To that end, the Council of Canadians needs your help to fund crucial research to support its case, and to cover its legal costs. I urge you to join the fight!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

21st Century Challenges: Thought-provoking Talks on Geographical Issues

I quite like this resource, particularly for senior geography courses.

 


21st Century Challenges is a thought-provoking discussion series run by the Royal Geographical Society that aims to:

“improve public understanding of, and engagement with, some of the big issues likely to affect our lives and society in the coming years.”

The purpose of the series is to help people make their own informed decisions and judgements on some of the most important challenges of the 21st century. The talks on this website were held at the Royal Geographical Society's headquarters in South Kensington, London.

 

Challenge Topics I have found particularly interesting/useful include:

 


In addition to the talks themselves, there are a number of resources developed specifically for use in schools, including  Each challenge topic can be explored through videos, articles, 60 second guides and up to date news articles, and all teaching resources have been created using the information and media available on the site.

The teaching resources have been designed to be used as stand-alone lessons with downloadable resources, but can easily be adapted/modified to work within lessons that have already been developed on these topics.

The link for the “Schools” page for resources is:



I also like the RGS “Geography in the News” page:



Friday, April 19, 2013

Students on Ice

STUDENTS ON ICE is an award-winning organization offering unique educational expeditions to the Antarctic and the Arctic. Its mandate is to provide students, educators and scientists from around the world with inspiring educational opportunities at the ends of the Earth and, in doing so, help them foster a new understanding and respect for the planet.

Students on Ice is an organization near and dear to my heart. I had the privilege of travelling with SOI to Antarctica as a teacher-chaperone in December 2005. It was the experience of a lifetime. If you have an interest in the polar regions, or want to learn about the tremendous opportunities that Geoff Green and his staff provide, check out their website at http://www.studentsonice.com/. Spaces are still available for the fundraiser being held on Sunday April 28th at the Nota Bene Restaurant, 180 Queen Street West, Toronto. See the invitation below for further details.

Invitation to support the Students on Ice Foundation
View this email in your browser

To the Ends of the Earth 

An inspiring evening to support and celebrate
the Students on Ice Foundation


Hosted by Mr. Peter Mansbridge, O.C.
Chief Correspondent, CBC News


Sunday, April 28, 2013
5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Nota Bene Restaurant

180 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON

http://notabenerestaurant.com

You are cordially invited to join Mr. Geoff Green, C.M., Founder of the Students on Ice Foundation, and Mr. Peter Mansbridge, O.C., Chief Correspondent for CBC News, for a fun and inspiring evening at Nota Bene Restaurant in Toronto on April 28, 2013. 

The evening will feature dinner by renowned chef David Lee, performances by Inuit artists, a silent auction, special guests, a presentation by Students on Ice Alumni and a chance to spend the evening with polar experts.

All proceeds will support the award-winning Students on Ice Foundation and its educational programs and youth scholarships. For over a decade, Students on Ice has taken more than 2,000 students, educators, elders, scientists, artists, musicians and leaders from around the world on educational expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic.  SOI believes the Polar Regions are the world's greatest classrooms and tremendous platforms for education in history, culture, science, political, social and environmental issues.  The expeditions are inspiring and life-altering for the students involved and give the world's youth a heightened understanding and respect for the planet and for each other.





Nota Bene Restaurant

One of Canada's 10 Best New Restaurants
(En Route magazine 2008)
One of 15 Toronto restaurants recommended in 'Where Chefs Eat'

Dinner menu to be prepared by renowned chef David Lee

Nota Bene is a proud supporting partner of the Students on Ice Foundation





Table Sponsorships

  • To the Ends of the Earth Dinner Sponsors
    $15,000
    11 reserved tickets - Dinner with a polar expert - A scholarship in your organization's name for a student on the 2014 Arctic Youth Expedition ($10,000 value) - Logo recognition on all materials - Podium recognition by Peter Mansbridge - Media exposure during expeditions - Preferred seating - Tax receipt for $10,000 

  • Polar Inspiration
    $10,000

    9 reserved tickets - Dinner with a polar expert - An education program in your organization's name on the 2014 Arctic Youth Expedition ($5,000 value) - Logo recognition on all materials - Media exposure during expeditions - Tax receipt for $10,000

  • Polar Perspectives
    $5,000

    7 reserved tickets - Dinner with a polar expert - An arts and music program in your organization's name on the 2014 Arctic Youth Expedition ($2,000 value) - Logo recognition on all materials - Tax receipt for $5,000

  • Polar Dreams
    $2,500

    6 reserved tickets - Logo recognition on evening program - Tax receipt for $2,500
     

  • Polar Explorer (Individual ticket)
    $300 
    Seating is limited



    To purchase tickets or to receive a sponsorship package, please contact Ms. Jessica Freeborn at jessica@studentsonice.com or
    1-866-336-6423

    You can also purchase your tickets online by 
    clicking the 'Donate' button below, which will take you to our page on CanadaHelps.org. Next select the 'Donate Now' link and indicate the table sponsorship or number of tickets you are purchasing with your tax-deductible donation.
     



    *The Students on Ice Foundation Charitable Number is 836648766 RR0001

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Students on Ice Alumni Distribution
Our mailing address is:
Students on Ice
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www.uantarctic.org


Thursday, April 18, 2013

A beginning . . .

This blog represents an experiment on my part. It is intended for anyone with an interest in geography, geographic education, or environmental issues.

Honestly, I don't know where I am going with this just yet. At 48 years old, I am new blogging. Only time will tell whether I have enough interesting to contribute to make this site worthwhile. But I do believe that on occasion, an old dog can learn a few  new tricks, so I'll give it a shot and let you be the judge.