Wednesday, April 25, 2012

See below several of the events MiltonGreen has held over the last year or so.


Nature's Biodiversity - what it means to us!

On - Wednesday, May 9th 2012

Time : 6:30-8:30pm (Doors open 6pm)



Location: Milton Senior's Centre, 500 Childs Drive Milton, ON L9T 5G2
(Main & Ontario Street) Enter off Child’s Drive at the Police Station.

RSVP - miltongreen.ontario@gmail.com This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , info@miltongreen.org This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone No. - 905-878-0995

Free Event, Refreshments provided.




This event features Sean James (NPD) speaking on how to enhance our local, natural and urban, landscapes to ensure a healthy environment for our children! We will learn about the importance, beauty and joy of the use of non-invasive, ‘native’ plant species for low-water, ‘low-maintenance’ gardens. And how to apply such smart gardening practices in our own backyards using plants that are natural to the Milton area. Sean is a local horticultural expert and natural landscaper.


Then, Greg Hill (Certified Arborist) will present information about the significance and challenges of biodiversity in urban forest environments both above and below ground! Find out how to keep your trees beautiful for future generations by knowing what to do to encourage their survival.

It will provide a forum for Milton residents to celebrate both: the International Day of Biological Diversity (May 22), and the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (i.e., to contribute to the implementation of a Biodiversity Strategic Plan).

Come prepared with your questions and ready for a chance to win non-invasive ‘native’ plants to use this spring in your own backyard.

This event, hosted by MiltonGreen Environmental Association. The event is presented in partnership with Halton Environment Network and Fern Ridge Landscaping and Eco-Consulting, through a grant from the OTF. MiltonGreen is a member of the Halton-Peel Biodiversity Network.

Monetary donations graciously accepted.

Find out where you can acquire ‘Native Plant Species’. One such place will be the Milton Horticultural Society Plant Sale, Thursday, May 17th at 7:00pm at the Milton Fairgrounds (Hall 1 & 2), 136 Robert Street. There will be many garden varieties. For more info - http://www.miltonhortsociety.com/plant%20sale%20flyer%202012.pdf

Monday, April 23, 2012

2012 Milton Mompreneurs Spring Showcase


Join MiltonGreen this Saturday from 10am-4pm!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

MiltonGreen Movie Night - Escape from Suburbia


MiltonGreen Movie Night - Free Event 
Escape From Suburbia: local solutions to the “energy dilemma”.
On - Thursday April 12th, 2012 @ 6:30 pm
Doors Open - 6:00 pm

Location: South Side Community Church, 7480 Derry Road, Milton, ON L9T 4Y9.
Southside Community Church is located on the south side of Derry Road, west of Ontario Street (RR#25), between the Milton Sports Center and Milton District Hospital, and adjacent to the fire hall.

RSVP - miltongreen.ontario@gmail.com
Phone No. - 905-878-0995

Free Event, Refreshments provided.

Do you believe that the ideology of "endless growth" is no longer one we can build our world upon? Do you believe we are arriving at, if not already past, peak oil production levels?

MiltonGreen Environmental Association will host a free event on Thursday, April 12 to address these concerns by informing and actively engaging Miltonians in initiatives to live/work/eat/shop locally.

The evening begins with a one-hour screening of "Escape from Suburbia -local solutions to the energy dilemma". Director, Gregory Greene, examines the declining world oil production and its effects on (North) America's suburban life, and the subtle relationships between the potential solutions each person faces as the demand for fossil fuels out stretches supply. He deals with the complex layers involved with transportation, urban density, local farming, industrial agriculture, over-population, renewable energy and governmental attitudes toward peak oil. In the film he also makes it clear that time is running out,but solutions do exist. 

The film will be followed by Milton Councilor Zeeshan Hamid, speaking about the Derry Green Business Park and incentives for local businesses to be green, as well as other sustainable Town planning. A representative of, Eat Local Burlington will also be on hand, www.meetup.com/eatlocalburlington. There will be an opportunity to share your ideas and questions.

Monetary Donations Graciously Accepted.

If you have any questions or need more information about the event please email / call us.
Hope you can make it.

The event is presented through partnership with Eat Local Burlington and the Halton Environmental Network(HEN) with funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

 

Friday, February 3, 2012

Free Movie:POWERFUL - Energy for Everyone


This movie by by David Chernushenko will be shown Thursday, 09 February, 2012
at 6:30pm (doors open at 6pm) Note corrected times

location: the Southside Community Church (Derry Road between the Sports Centre and the Hospital)

The movie is free of charge
Refreshments will be served


Can we go from a world powered by fossil-fuels and nuclear power to one powered by renewable energy, and what would happen if we tried? By putting it into context the director enables us to discover how to make a difference in our own life through our ability to be part of a clean energy future and an empowered community.
Flick the switch, turn the key, press the button, and pay the Bill! Multiply that by 6 billion and you’ve got a picture of energy consumption on Earth today. We are hard-wired to a conventional energy system regrettably depleting our resources, polluting our air and affecting global climate change.

POWERFUL showcases the remarkable achievements and inspiring examples of people and communities pursuing a path of conservation and renewable energy. Tackling the spin of the big energy lobby and, equally dispelling the myths of a “green utopia” envisioned by many, POWERFUL is a candid examination of what a sustainable future may actually look like.


Please RSVP at: miltongreen2.ontario@gmail.com; 905-878-0995


Thursday, December 22, 2011

FLUORIDATION

Halton Regional council voted to continue fluoridating already fluoridated Halton water

Halton Region council voted on 31 January, 2012 to continue fluoridating Halton's drinking water. 
Note that old Milton does not have fluoridated water which comes from a Kelso well.


MiltonGreen, Oakvillegreen, Burlingtongreen and P.O.W.E.R. (Halton Hills) came together to address the Fluoridation of our Halton Lake source water supply and opposed continuation of fluoridation.

Our opposition to adding this Hydrofluorosilicic Acid (HFSA) to the water incorporates numerous hazards.  This video offers Professional Perspectives on this toxic addition, from Pharmacologists, Toxicologists, Risk assessment Scientists, Environmental Chemists and many more, including Dr. Hardy Limeback PhD, DDS, associate professor and head of preventative dentistry at the University of Toronto: http://www.fluoridealert.org/videos.aspx

Consider this:
1. There is indication that topical fluoride (toothpaste) may be more effective than ingesting/drinking fluoride.

2. HFSA (HYDROFLUOROSILICIC ACID) is a chemical formed when water spray is used to wash the air pollutions scrubbers of the chimneys of phosphate fertilizer plants.  It is NOT pharmaceutical grade.  Sodium Fluoride used in toothpaste IS pharmaceutical grade. HFSA cannot legally be disposed of into rivers, oceans or landfills.  It is considered a hazardous waste and can only be disposed of in toxic waste facilities OR DRINKING WATER.  

3. Toothpaste packaging advises consumers not to swallow toothpaste (SODIUM FLUORIDE).  In addition, labels also indicate toothpaste usage for Adults and children over 12 years.

4. The Canadian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry recommends that infant formula is mixed only with water that is fluoride free or contains low levels of fluoride.

5. Fluorosis (excessive exposure to fluoride, symptoms of mottling or yellowing of teeth) has been recognized in the Halton Region.

6. HFSA has been labelled by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as ‘Toxic’, and 99% ends up in our streams – what affect has this on wildlife?
 
7. The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment does not support adding fluoride to drinking water.  See their reasons at (click on): CAPE's position document on fluoridation  

See a list of locations which are not or have discontinued fluoridating their drinking water at: http://ffo-olf.org/fnfMunicipalities.html 



Monday, November 28, 2011

E-Waste Donation:

Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) has joined forces with Greentec Recycling Solutions in an effort to promote environmental sustainability by responsibly recycling waste electronics.

HHS staff wants to give back to those in need during this Holiday season. To help fight hunger and reduce waste, bring your outdated, broken or unwanted computers and electronics to the main entrance of the Milton District Hospital (MDH) located at 7030 Derry Road (accessible from Derry Rd).

Also, accepting non perishable food items for donation.
Please do not enter the parking lot.

On December 10, 2011
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Main entrance of MDH (please do not enter the parking lot)

The Salvation Army in Milton will benefit from this unique fundraising opportunity with $0.10 per pound being donated to their organization to give hope and a good food this holiday season to those who need it the most. HHS is also donating all accumulated waste electronics from the Milton site towards this great cause.

For more information:
Nancy White
905‐878‐2383 x7320
nwhite@haltonhealthcare.on.ca

Friday, September 30, 2011

MILTONGREEN NEWS September 27, 2011






   
  Miltongreen 2011 Event Series:

A.   mark-your-calendars

i.              “Greening” Your Celebrations - October
Guest speaker Rod Muir was noted as, “delivering urgently important information about genuine sustainability with a skill for communication, humour, and personal connection with the audience. He can inform and inspire a crowd. (Rex Weyler, Co-Founder Greenpeace International)

Followed by a forum on ideas of waste reduction/diversion at holiday events.

ii.            November Miltongreen Fundraiser - Movie Screening – The Lamp Details soon at www.miltongreen.info

2.    miltongreen events news: The All Candidates Meeting on Sept. 14, 2011
sponsored by Halton Region “green” organizations raised key environmental questions. This summary of our notes of the meeting is meant to advise our readers of priorities and responses of the Halton Riding MPP Electoral Candidates.

·         Family Coalition Party (FCP) Tony Rodrigues’s wants to re-establish the importance of the family unit.
·         Green Party (GP) Karen Fraser’s wants change in politics, with informed and active people making leaders accountable.
·         Liberal Party (LP) Indira Naidoo-Harris wants balance in growth, economy and environment, and for Milton to be a good place for families (incl. hers) to live.
·         New Democrat Party (NDP) Nik Spohr wants to overcome insecurity in the populous, empower people to make ends meet otherwise hard to be green.
·         Progressive Conservative (PC) Ted Chudleigh wants to increase private business jobs since a strong economy can allow an environmental focus.


Ted (PC) said green energy has a place but it is not economical yet. Nik (NDP) said he wants to see ‘tweaking’ of the Green Energy Act so that communities can own green energy. Indira (LP) said, it can add diversity to the economy while Karen (GP) spoke of solar energy options. Tony (FCP) said we need new coal technologies.  

3.    miltongreen update

A)  Transportation News: Halton All Candidates Meeting Transportation questions -

Candidates agreed in principle that the Midway-Peninsula Hwy through Burlington’s greenspace is not an option. Ted (PC) suggests a route from the Hamilton Airport to Hwy 401, while Indira (LP) proposes a Hwy 403 to North Burlington solution. Tony (FCP) noted that the relatively new Hwy 407 is underutilized. Nik (NDP) stated that more roads just increase use of the combustible engine. He thinks transit is the key to ‘grid lock’. Karen (GP) wants alternatives explored.

Transit is controversial because of the ownership of rail-lines (Ted-PC) and our non user friendly funding model (Nik-NDP). Indira (LP) said the government invested in infrastructure and mass transit since 2004, targeting all corridors to remove millions of cars from roads. Tony (FCP), a first generation immigrant, pointed out that the car represents ‘freedom’ and that rail across such a large country is not practical.


B)   Water News: Halton Region reviewing Fluoride in drinking water

·         There is data showing that topical application of sodium fluoride is useful to protect teeth. However, there appears to be considerable information indicating that ingesting hydrofluorosilicic acid (which we believe is added to Halton's lake-origin drinking water) may not be beneficial and, in fact, maybe be hazardous.
     Miltongreen will be attending a Halton Region standing committee meeting for Health and Social services. There will be a few delegates there supported by Miltongreen who wish to have it removed from Lake-based drinking water. For more information see the links within our blog: www.Miltongreen.info

C)   Waste News: All Candidates Meeting - What will they do to improve the Waste Diversion Act – Indira (LP) argued that the benefits are not understood. Nik (NDP) wants “cradle-to-grave” waste management, and Federal and Provincial legislation. Ted (PC) will create a new program. Karen (GP) thinks education and follow through is needed. Tony (FCP) doesn’t think families should pay for waste disposal.

Local waste diversion - Miltongreen volunteers physically supported Ribfest 2011Event organizers in their efforts to divert waste from landfill to recycling and composting through optimized bin usage. Milton Ribfest diverted materials (recycling, organics) at a total weight of 4 metric tonnes. The percentage of diversion is not known at this time.

4.    volunteering

·         MILTONGREEN EVENT COMMITTEE seeking VOLUNTEERS –
·         MiltonGreen events Series planning miltongreen.ontario@gmail.com

5.    Announcements

Miltongreen monthly A meet-and-greet to discuss Events & Projects – Oct. 3rd, 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Email Milton.green@gmail.com or call 905-878-0995 for directions.

the rare bobolink bird spotted in south Halton

Many of us haven't even heard of the Endangered Ontario Bobolink Birds but they have been sighted along a stretch of Britannia Rd from Regional Road 25 to Fourth Line, and 4th Line to the end of Lower Baseline and back up 5h Line.
They require tall grasses which are found in the large farmlands in the area. Their habitat is threatened by road and urban expansion. For more Google: Bobolink, Milton or see: http://www.insidehalton.com/community/environment/article/1051344--couple-on-quest-to-protect-bobolink
Submit Events and News items to the Miltongreen Newsletter to:
We will circulate as appropriate.
halton region art contest for the Cover of the 2012 Waste Management Guide and Collection Calendar. Halton students Gr. K-8 submit at www.halton.ca/waste. Deadline Oct. 14, 2011.
environmental scholarship for youth  
to pursue Post Secondary studies in fields related to
the environment. $1,000; www.halton.ca to apply.

Miltongreen yahoo group launched - join us!
.
6.   
Check:  www. miltongreen.info for links to groups and helpful green organizations & companies.

resources
"Environment issues top green debate"
The environment and how it can be made better were the main
topics discussed, Wednesday night, during the Halton all-candidates

EXPANDED NEWS AND INFORMATION
2. Miltongreen Event news: All Candidates Meeting continued more questions:
Nik (NDP) wants all levels of government to improve the aggregate industry’s approach to environmental concerns. Ted (LP) noted we each use 7 tonnes per year of gravel equivalent, expansion approvals are exhaustive and working. Karen (GP) encourages us to know the extent of the problem. Indira (LP) wants citizens to raise issues, she knows the process is challenging. Tony (FCP) wants policies to reduce demand for the construction industry’s gold (i.e., limestone).

Both NDP and PC agreed that eco-fees are not improving the environment. Nik will work to improve the “mismanaged incentive program” to help people live ‘greener’, while Ted will cancel it. Indira spoke of a legacy for her children, and Liberals are actively protecting the environment (e.g. 5 coal plants close by 2040). Karen (GP) said need more awareness, while Tony (FCP) said families shouldn’t have to pay.

Liberal, Indira noted that energy rates are reducing usage and helping conscientious Ontarians pay less. PC, Ted noted that high daytime rates hurt business, he’ll give options. While NDP, Nik noted that all sectors of society share the burden of a shift to a ‘green economy’, he’ll work to make it easier to be ‘green’.

Waste diversion can be FUN!!! Miltongreen Members July 1st Canada Day Event