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Here are some people who are changing the way we think about our plastic usage.
This is by no means an exhaustive list and it will grow.
If you know of any others, please email us!
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Newest Activities
Our goal
was to mobilize 350 groups/activities
to come together on
October 24th
to send a message to our politicians
that we want them to take action to
"Halt climate change".
To join us or to tell us about your activity
contact:
wastefreeworld@gmail.com
International Day of Climate Action
London, Ontario - the 350.org movement, the Sisters of St. Joseph and the London Public Library co-sponsored an International Day of Climate Action on Saturday, October 24, 2009.
The day was designed to raise public awareness about climate change and the need for environmental activism in London and region.
The day highlighted the upcoming Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December 2009 and the need for world government leaders to respond with effective targets and commitments.
The day began with a 1 km Fun Run/Walk at John Paul II Secondary School, Oxford & Highbury @ 10 a.m..
No registration was necessary. In the afternoon there was a panel discussion on Climate Change and Activism in London and Beyond at the Wolf Performance Hall, London Central Library,
Citi Plaza (ex-Galleria) The panel featured Jay Stanford, Chief of Environmental and Engineering Services for the City of London, Maryanne MacDonald with Waste Free World, and Professor Sara Seck from the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law. All events were free.
350.org is an international grassroots movement dedicated to raising awareness about climate change and its impacts, locally and internationally. It is based on the work of NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen who determined that the level of carbon dioxide in the global atmosphere must be returned to 350 parts per million in order to be safe and sustainable for life. In the words of 350.org's co-founder, activist and author Bill McKibben, "Now that we know the most important number in the world is 350 it is time to stop treating global warming as a future threat and start calling it what it is, a very present emergency. And time to take real action."
This event was co-organized by the Sisters of St. Joseph
and
The London Public Library.
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Bliss Express
"Bottled Water"
Bryan Feller
Guitarist/Percussionist/Vocals,
Kaela Stradiotto
Vocals/Guitar/Bass/Kazoo/Slide Whistle.
Listen to
"Bottled Water" by Bryan Feller
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Alex Kajumulo
"Global Warming"
© Copyright 2008 by Alex Kajumulo.
Listen to
"Global Warming"
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"Circle of the Ocean"
© Copyright 2007 by Margaret J. Nelson.
Lead Vocal - Margaret J. Nelson
Harmony - Kate Early
Guitar - Phil Cooper
Listen to
"Circle of the Ocean"
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London Green Festivals achieves a 2008 Gold Award.
Oct 23, 2008
MINISTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT
AND OSCAR THE GROUCH...
THE ENVIRONMENT'S STRANGEST BEDFELLOWS!
TORONTO - October 23, 2008 - Under the 'green' googly gaze of an indignant Muppet,
the Recycling Council of Ontario handed out their 2008 Platinum prizes on
Tuesday night to such notable organizations as Teknion (Business),
Sony Canada (Business) Seneca College (Facilities), Exhibition Place
(Facilities), Oxford Properties (Facilities) and Hoselton Sculptures (Arts). And Oscar the Grouch,
the gruff, enduring star of Sesame Street, and this year's Waste Reduction Week spokes-Muppet,
was present to lend his iconic "Scram" to the gala festivities.
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Richmond Row merchants putting reusable bags in customers' hands.
Organizations:
Council of Canadians, London Chapter
The CoC has helped produce a reusable bag made from 100% organic cotton, along with TREA and LCAP. Those bags are sold out! They have helped enormously with publicity, outreach and support for the plastic bag project.
Envirowestern, University of Western Ontario
Will Bortolin and the team at Envirowestern have taken on the plastic bag challenge. They've produced a reusable bag, and are spreading the word on campus about alternatives to plastic bags.
Friends of the Coves (FOTC)
FOTC is supporting the plastic bag reduction campaign, by putting information up on their website. They have high-quality reusable canvas grocery bags, available at the Friends' office and at Quarter Master Natural Foods in Wortley Village.
The London Coalition Against Pollution (LCAP)
LCAP helped produce a reusable bag, and have been researching the plastic bag levies & bans in place in San Francisco and Leaf Rapids in Manitoba. They have put some information up on plastic bags on their website. Take a look!
The Thames Regional Ecological Association (TREA)
TREA has been instrumental in getting the London Plastic Bag Project off the ground. They've assisted with letter writing & funding proposal drafting. TREA has also allowed us to use their phone number as a contact point for the public. Thank you TREA!
The After Hours Emergency Food Bank, in partnership with the London & Area Food Bank (Leathhorne St)
This food bank does not give out plastic bags. Here's what Rev. Larry Edwards had to say,
"We have been bag free since May 2007 and it seems to be working well!
Almost everyone brings a backpack or a hockey bag or some other container for their food.
The odd first time user comes without anything and we have some boxes that we can give them"
The Hyde Park United Church
Members of the congregation have been working on the plastic bag challenge since 2006.
They created stories around reusable bags for the newsletter and shared these messages with all other United Churches in the Middlesex Presbytery.
They took the challenge further to include the refusal of bottled water as well as any item packaged in Styrofoam and plastic.
On October 20th as part of Canada's Waste Reduction Week,
Hyde Park United Church opened up the church hall to members of the public for a free showing, of the environmental film Message in the Waves.
The Northwest London Resource Centre
Retailers & Businesses:
Many retailers & business associations in London are taking steps to reduce plastic bag usage. Here are some that we've come across.
Richmond Row Business Association
The Hyde Park Business Association (HPBA)
was to our knowledge the first business association to tackle the plastic bag issue from an association perspective.
The HPBA purchased reusable bags to make available to their customers.
The bags carry the message "Bring Your Own Bag - The Planet thanks You".
The association also distributed information to customers on the environmental impact of plastic bags and the benefits of reusable bags.
The Toy Shoppe of London
Individuals:
The environment belongs to our kids. Many kids have come forward and taken the plastic bag pledge. Please visit their creations at our picture gallery.
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