September is biodiversity month. This is a time to celebrate Canada’s rich diversity of life and learn about our local environment and the importance of biodiversity.

So why is biodiversity so important for us? Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life on Earth. This includes over 14 million species from mountain top to deep in the sea. Biodiversity is based on the variety within species, the variety between species and the variety of ecosystems. The interactions between these species and ecosystems are what provide us goods and services such as oxygen production, water filtration and storage, pest control, food production, carbon storage and erosion control. As a result, biodiversity is crucial to our survival.

In an effort to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. The aim of this year is to celebrate, appreciate and integrate biodiversity into our lives. Canadians have always celebrated the spectacular natural bounty that makes us one of the most diverse and beautiful nations. We encourage Canadians to go a step further and seek opportunities to take action on biodiversity to protect our diverse natural heritage.

Here are some things you can do to take action:

 - Contribute some of your time by volunteering for a nature-related cause

- Make a donation to a group engaged in biodiversity conservation

- Challenge yourself to buy local, organic food during the harvest times in your region

- Organize a native tree planting event in your community, or check with your town or city to see if a sponsored tree planting program exists

- Share your knowledge about the importance of preserving biodiversity with your friends and neighbours

- Take part in biodiversity events going on in your area. Here are some examples:

The Canadian Environmental Network’s (RCEN) 2010 Conference: Conserving Biodiversity Pays: The Values of Ecosystem Services- September 17^th- 19^th- registration is still open!

Ontario Environment Network Fall Conference—Theme: International Year of Biodiversity Fri Nov 5 to Sat Nov 6, 2010

Symposium: La nature a-t-elle sa place en éducation? Pour une pédagogie de la biodiversité!— November 4-5, 2010

Did you know that the average North American woman throws away 10,000 disposable menstrual products in their lifetime? That’s a whole lot of waste, but I can believe it.

During a shoreline cleanup event I attended, over half of the waste we collected ended up being tampon applicators and pads! Even when in landfills, many of these substances can leach into groundwater, streams and lakes, posing environmental health concerns.

Most tampons and pads contain a whole lot of things that do the body and the environment no good. Surfactants, plastics, adhesives, additives, and dioxin – a known carcinogen and by-product of the bleaching process.

If you are looking for more environmentally-friendly menstrual products or have concerns about the chemicals and synthetic materials used to make regular pads and tampons, you should know that there are many proven eco-friendly alternatives on the market.

Cloth Pads

Most reusable cloth menstrual pads are made from natural fibers such as cotton making them cool, breathable and comfortable to wear. By using organic cotton, you can reduce your cumulative exposure to toxic chemicals by ditching your disposable pads. Also, cloth pads cost a fraction of what it takes to keep buying disposable pads every month.

Sponges

Sea sponges are another alternative to tampons –they absorb and expand but require care to be reused again. Sea sponges come from the ocean floor and contain no synthetic materials – just try to find ones that have been sustainably harvested like sponges made by Sea Pearls. One sea sponge will last for about six months.

Cups

Another great reusable product is a menstrual cup. A small cup is worn internally to capture the flow. Contents are contained within the cup until it is removed, and can then be emptied. Some reputable brands include DivaCup, The Keeper, or the Mooncup.

Have fun finding new approaches to your monthly visit from Aunt Flo!

“Climate change, global responsibility, SUV driving moms and a biblical flooding of the Greater Toronto Area”

Last weekend, I took in Kayak a new play written by Jordan Hall and directed by Tommy Taylor.  The 60-minute play had my attention from the get-go with a strong script, a powerful lead actress and great direction considering the limited set resources. Toronto’s Summerworks festival hosted this, the North American premiere.

Synopsis

Annie (Rosemary Dunsmore), a suburban mother, recounts the events that led to her being stranded in her son’s old kayak. Reflecting on the past four years, she describes her turbulent relationship with Julie, her son Peter’s radical environmentalist girlfriend. As Peter and Julie grow closer, Julie’s black-and-white interpretation of environmental ethics clash more and more strongly with Annie’s middle-of-the-road politics. Annie fears that her son will be caught up in Julie’s increasingly dangerous attempts to make a difference in the world. Annie too is caught up in a global crisis, stranded alone on a vast stretch of water and is forced to confront the implications of her personal and political choices.

Lead actress Rosemary Dunsmore was seated centre stage in her boat for the entire production but produced a truly riveting performance from this challenging position.

Catch Kayak in Winnipeg this September as part of Femfest 2010 (Sept 25- Oct 2), Winnipeg’s festival of plays written and directed by women. Jordan Hall, one of Canada’s most up and coming female playwrights, will be doing a reading at the Vancouver Public Library on September 20

With the beginning of Ramadan on Thursday, Muslims across the world are beginning to prepare for the month of fasting from sunrise to sunset. At its simplest Ramadan is a welcome reminder of the basic but invaluable blessing of food and water, but it is also a chance for Muslims to re-affirm their faith and reconnect with god and all his creations. And what better way to do this then by ‘greening’ your Ramadan.

Historically, Muslims have long had a responsibility to be environmentally friendly. The Holy Quran states, “Now, behold! Your Lord said to the angels: I am placing upon the earth a human successor to steward it” (2:30). With that in mind, Ramadan is a great time to mesh spiritual practice with environmental action.

Here are some great tips I borrowed from thegreenprophet blog to help you green your Ramadan:

1. Eat healthy and buy local. After breaking your fast (iftar), there is tendency to have large feasts but do try to keep things to a minimum as you never eat as much as you think you will.

- Eat less red meat and chicken

- Eat more fresh and locally produced fruit and vegetables as opposed to processed or imported foods.

- Look for fair trade or free-range products

- This Ramadan could also be the perfect opportunity to switch to organic meats, vegetables and fruits

- Finally if you are organizing an Iftar, use reusable cutlery

2. Walk or ride your bike to prayers after Iftar (breaking your fast). Carpool if you need to travel by car, but remember that you are blessed for every step you walk to the mosque – not every mile you travel in a car.

3. Conserve water. Although it is really important to keep hydrated during Ramadan, don’t waste your money on bottled water — use tap water instead. Also be frugal when making wudhoo (washing solution used before prayers), the prophet made wudhoo with only half a litre of water and teaches us to conserve water.

4. Waste less. Buy less, use less and then recycle what’s left behind. As it says in the Qur’an: “Eat and drink but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters.” – 7:31.

5. Spread the message! Ask your imam to do a public speech (khutba) on the issue of caring for the environment.

6. Proof it can be done: According to the 2008 Greening Sacred Spaces report, the Islamic Foundation of Toronto switched to using biodegradable cutlery at events and also encourage attendees to separate waste into composting and recycling.

Ramadan can be transformed to be a truly green month, and Muslims, with all people of faith, can live up to their responsibility to be the true stewards on Earth.

Ramadan Mubarak! (Blessed Ramadan!)

Did you know?
In Chicago, a ‘Green Ramadan’ initiative was launched by the Council of Islamic Organization of Greater Chicago in 2009 which encouraged Muslims to eat locally, drink tap water, recycle and to educate themselves about climate change and what they can do to save the planet.

You’ve been so busy cultivating and growing this summer, why not take a moment to show off your labour of love? Just snap some shots of your garden and add  them to our Earth Day Canada Facebook page.

Post your pics by Friday, August 13 for your shot at winning a garden care toolkit!

www.facebook.com/earthdaycanada

Just 2 weeks after my Love your Lips post about the lead content in lipsticks, Annie Leonard (authour of Story of Stuff) released a new short film about the toxins in our cosmetics. The Story of Cosmetics is an 8 minute video where Annie talks about our “toxics in, toxics out” cosmetics system and how we got to where we are.

From the lipsticks you smooth across your lips to the shampoos you lather up with the morning, the $50 billion cosmetic industry is a chemical giant that is pumping potential cancer and birth defects into the millions of users that purchasing its products.

To learn more I encourage all of you to take a look at Annie’s enlightening video:

The weather is warm and summer’s marquee fruits and vegetables are well on their way to your kitchen. And the best place to get your share of this local bounty is at your local farmers’ markets, most of which are now open for the season.

Farmers’ markets are a great way to eat local, high quality, super fresh food. It also means supporting local artisans and farmers to positively impact your environment by buying products that are produced within the shortest distance to where you live. That cuts down on the use of fossil fuels, which leads to significantly reduced levels of pollution and resource depletion over your produce bought at the local supermarket.

Talk to local farmers who grow and care for our food, and learn about different varieties and other flavourful varieties you won’t find at groceries stores. And remember, farmers’ markets are not just for your fruits and vegetables, although those items alone are enough reason to pay a visit. Expect to find meats and fish, herbs, honey, mushrooms, garlic, eggs, cheese, bread and other baked treats, preserves, jams and even plants and flowers.

 As a fellow market-goer , I have learned a few helpful strategies:

Get there Early
Showing up in the late morning means big crowds and picked over produce. Beat the rush by going early and getting the best of the season.

BYOB
Remember to bring your own reusable bags.  

Be adventurous
One of the advantages of shopping at a farmers’ market is that you get the best of the season from local farmers, which is likely to be different from your normal grocery store purchases. There’s nothing wrong with buying foods you know you like, but try to be adventurous with new produce.

Ask questions
You may not know everything there is to know about seasonal vegetables, but the farmers who grow them certainly do. Walk up to each vendor and ask them what their favorites are this week. If you’ve never cooked with them before, ask for a sample recipe or serving suggestions.

Cash only
Most farmers do not accept credit cards and the line at the local ATM machine is a wait you could live without. Pick up some cash on your way to avoid the headache.

Shop around
Samples are commonplace at farmers’ markets and allow you to find the best produce to match your taste. Nothing is worse than buying a basket of strawberries, then finding better ones two stands away. Shop around a bit before deciding on the best purchases.

Lipstick….my first flirt with makeup at the age of 5…20 years later that flirtation never ceased. But now I realize that the product that gives me those glamorous, flirty lips can be endangering my health at the same time.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, many lipsticks on the market today contain a surprising amount of lead. Lead is a toxic substance that can affect the nervous system and brain and stunt the growth of children. Makeup worn on the mouth is not only ingested but also absorbed through the skin. In addition to lead, there are an estimated 10,000 chemicals that the cosmetic industry uses to produce lipstick.

Ready to trade your tube of red for something a little greener?
Today, there is an amazing array of natural ingredient and certified organic makeup lines featuring eco friendly lipstick. When looking for natural lipstick, check for ingredients such as – jojoba oil, shea butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, hemp seed oil, flowers, natural butters, and botanical extracts. I personally use Aveda’s Nourish-Mint Smoothing Lip Color, which not only comes in a refillable lipstick case, it is also made with 96% post-consumer recycled resin. The lipstick also contains natural lip plumping ingredients such as coconut protein, pomegranate seed oil and bilberry boost.

Checking for Toxins
If you’d like to see how your lip color fares, check out Skin Deep, a very comprehensive cosmetic safety database from the Environmental Working Group. They provide safety ratings and list ingredients that could be toxic and potentially irritating for more than 40,000 products.

Are you concerned about the ingredients in lip products? Are you switching to more natural alternatives? What are your favorites?

Oh, Canada… it’s nearly time again to celebrate this great country of ours with parades, parks, food and fun as the 2010 Canada Day celebrations kick off tomorrow. It’s a great time to come together and enjoy the sense of community that is so much a part of everyday Canadian life.

Besides celebrating Canada, it’s also important to go a step further by celebrating part of what makes Canada so great — our environment and our achievements in protecting the environment. Earth Day Canada’s Hometown Heroes program recently recognized Heather MacFadyen of Canmore, AB and GreenHere of Toronto, ON as environmental leaders. Heather’s work has been instrumental in seeing a functional wildlife corridor established between Wind Valley, Bow Valley, Spray Valley and Banff Park. GreenHere is a not-for profit organization dedicated to planting trees and developing tree stewardship programs in Toronto in order to protect urban ecosystems and long-term air quality. Thanks to the efforts of Canadians like them, we have made some great strides to protect Canada’s natural heritage.

Canadians have always celebrated the spectacular natural bounty that makes us one of the most beautiful and prosperous nations on Earth—from oceans and coastlines to mountains and foothills to prairies and grasslands. If we continue to work together, we can ensure that we and our children and grandchildren will have much to celebrate long into the future. Give back to Canada this year by thinking green and reducing your impact!

Happy 143rd Birthday Canada!

A construction worker works on the G20 security fence.

Walking down the streets of Toronto it’s hard not to notice the large amounts of police officers, steel fences and empty streets. This is all preparation for The G20 summit, which starts tomorrow. The G-20 leaders are meeting to discuss ways to address the financial crisis. The heads of state will attempt to create new international frameworks to govern global finance and the global economy.

A man dressed as Prime Minister Stephen Harper leads protesters covered by oil down the streets of Toronto.