The 2011 Oshawa Earth Hour community event was such an enjoyable event, and the support for doing it again is tremendous. Therefore we are going to drum once again.

The drums are scheduled to be delivered, the Facilitators are ready and the people are registering. You can play, or you can clap, or just listen.

Earth Hour is a global event that is bring attention to the issue of climate change and encouraging everyone to act by conserving and make responsible choices that are sustainable.

Small acts:

- Turn off lights when you leave a room

- Install energy saving light bulbs

- When using an oven, try to cook more than one thing

Watch 2011 video:

Recognizing Oshawa War of 1812 Patriots

We are encouraging anyone from Oshawa and surrounding areas to:

- Share stories associated with the War of 1812;

-Write scripts;

- Videotaping;

- Costuming;

-Photographing; and

- Having fun and more.

Researchers  Joe Marion, Robert Bell and Glenn McKnight have already discovered a number of nuggets of history and they are sharing their finds at:

 Http://www.1812waroshawa.com

We are seeking volunteers who would be interested in reinactment of these stories in short videos in a docu-drama style.

For more information, contact:

Glenn McKnight at  905-434-6655

No thanks: An anti-Monsanto crop circle made by farmers and volunteers in the Philippines. By Melvyn Calderon/Greenpeace HO/A.P. Images.

Finally, US Agri-business Monsanto is declared guilty for the use of its pesticide in farming.  According to the Reuters’ Article:

“Monsanto always considered that there were not sufficient elements to establish a causal relationship between Paul Francois’s symptoms and a potential poisoning,” the company’s lawyer, Jean-Philippe Delsart, said.  Previous health claims from farmers have foundered because of the difficulty of establishing clear links between illnesses and exposure to pesticides.

Vanity Fair’s, Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear, tells the story of Monsanto’s ‘seed police’ and the tactics used to intimidate small farmers, coops and country stores.  The ‘seed police’ are sometimes referred to as ‘Gestapo’ and ‘mafia’ according to the article.

Taking Action

• Watch the World According to Monsanto and become aware the Issues

• Sign Millions Against Monsanto Petition
• Naturalize your home garden
• Read your Food labels

Consider visiting your Doctor and discuss your plans for eating and activities.  Allergies play a role in some people’s choice so be aware of your situation.

Try a couple of activities such as: walking, stretching, bowling, dancing.  Eating fruits, yogurt and nuts lead to healthier bodies.  One of my favourite snack is apples, grapes, strawberries, oranges, mangoes (changes with the seasons), with homemade yogurt, raisins and nuts.  I try different  combinations of fresh fruits, dried fruits and nuts.

Another way is to make a smoothie with fresh or frozen fruits.

Honey can be added to sweeten to taste.

Either way, delicious and health.

Partners and supporters

• TD Canada Trust, Sprouting Green Project
• OPUC
• Oshawa Centre
• Meals Exchange
• Ministry of Transportation
• City of Oshawa

The Conservation Fair is an annual event to  encourage actions that will reduce greenhouse gases and preserve the natural environment.

The 2011 Conservation Fair was held at the Oshawa Centre and in addition to share tips and receiving information, visitors were able to see the new GM Volt on display.

People are asked to share their conservation tips allowing everyone to learn from each other.