Green Guelph

Rob O’Flanagan
GuelphMercury.com
GUELPH

Major initiatives aimed at reducing Guelph’s environmental footprint well into the future, received more than $2.2 million in federal funding Tuesday morning.

Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong made the announcement at city hall.

Most of the six projects that received funding are well underway, and include remediation work on a contaminated former industrial site, turning gas at the former Eastview landfill into electricity, and significantly reducing the amount of wastewater biosolids that go into landfill.

Guelph Mayor Karen Farbridge said the projects will ensure that the city’s environment will be protected, even as its population grows.

I went to the Wooly tonight to meet up with other fellow greenies to talk about the environment. They were all so great to hang out with and I really had great social time. They were very receptive to my website and my hope is that some of them come on board here to contribute (hint hint!)

Check out the EVENTS section to see when the next Green-Drinks event will be held!

Cam

The monthly community newspaper called SNAP GUELPH, published a picture for their March edition of some guy named Cam Guthrie.

Wow he’s so handsome.

Cam Guthrie has created a web site for you to visit: www.greenguelph.ca

A very interesting article in the Guelph Mercury on Saturday. It’s title was “You’ve heard of a red Tory. Is Michael Chong a green one?” You can read the article here “ARTICLE“.

This article was very important to me because there are certain people, of all political stripes, that just won’t give people of other political stripes a chance at promoting certain issues that are important to them. But it’s not just political stripes that divide us. It can be religion as well. Or just plain “judging a book by it’s cover”.

I am a Conservative. I also believe in God. Period. I’m not ashamed of it either.

There were several things that made me start my own personal journey regarding the environment and finally coming to the conclusion that I needed to make some changes. One of those “things” on my journey was a person by the name of Ben Polley. Although I do not agree with some of the Green party’s platforms, it was him personally that challenged me about our environment. My old manager talked to me a great deal about the environment and some of the science behind his views, I insured a straw-built home several years ago and that just fascinated me. I started to read more books on the environment over the last year, watched movies on this issue both for and against “global warming”, and of course having kids was a huge factor. Knowing that they’re watching my every move, I just want to be a good example to them.

I know I’ve rambled on a bit but what I’m trying to get at is this… Give people a chance folks!

As most of you know I attended the Organics Show at the University of Guelph a few weeks ago. While I was there I received many compliments about this website and why I was doing it. But then there were those who shunned me, swore at me, people who talked rudely and some even told me I didn’t belong at the show because they found out I was a Conservative.  They said…

“there was no reason for me to be there nor could I do anything to help the environment”.

And so I plead with those that have this attitude. (and I’m looking in the mirror as well folks as I write this.) It’s an “I know best attitude”. it’s arrogant and selfish. It certainly doesn’t help to further any cause for the common good.

Just remember this, “A house divided against itself cannot stand”.

The environment belongs to us all, no matter what are politics or beliefs are. The earth is mankind’s “house“. We only vote every 4 or 5 years and on one certain day. We can all work together for a better environment the other days. Just try to make one of those days today and put your energy into doing something good about the environment, not wasting your energy, time or thoughts on discrediting someone else because they may be blue, green, red or orange.

What do you think Guelph?

Cam Guthrie

I meant to write about this idea a long time ago and completely forgot about it. In fact I can’t remember what jogged my memory about this today but here it is…

Have you received any emails with this tag-line at the end of it, usually after a signature?

” Please consider the planet before printing that email.“

I have, approximately 2 times over the last year and let me tell you, I receive at least a 100 emails a day. I probably print off 10-15 of them. That’s a lot of paper annually.

So I’m going to add that little tag-line to the end of my emails – both personal and from my work and I would suggest that you do the same. You’ll save a tree, save some clutter and maybe save your friends from an avalanche of needless paper. Hey, it’s these little things, these little suggestions that make a big difference! Let me know if you’ve added it yourself!

Thanks folks!

Cam Guthrie

It started with a question: How can we inspire people to take action on climate change?

The answer: Ask the people of Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour.

On 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour. This massive collective effort reduced Sydney’s energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour, which is the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year.With Sydney icons like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turning their lights off, and unique events such as weddings by candlelight, the world took notice. Inspired by the collective effort of millions of Sydneysiders, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.

You can explore our interactive supporter map, or else take a look at the live ranking by country.

When: 8pm March 29, 2008.

So the question is: What about you GUELPH? Will you join the world during this hour?

Click on Mayor Farbridge to watch the video about what Guelph is doing!

Thank you so much everyone! Let’s continue to make this site a well used site where ideas can be shared, businesses can be contacted and at the end of the day, we can make Guelph a little greener together!

Thanks a lot!

 Cam Guthrie

I’m doing it. I’m going to install a clothesline this year. What is up with this issue? Why is this such a big deal?

I just got off the phone with the most pro-active 69 year old I’ve ever met! Her name is Anne Dreer and she lives in the South end of Guelph.

She has been trying for 4 years to get this law overturned to allow clotheslines. She’s been persistent. She just told me that she’s written to the paper, called local television stations, called and wrote to the government and the developer of her subdivision. Last year she walked door to door in her area getting signatures to oppose the ban on clotheslines.

She’s won a battle, but not the war.

She’s been allowed to use an umbrella type of clothes dryer but not a “line”. The original purpose of the ban was to have some sense of neighbourhood esthetics’s. I can understand that, but I have never scene a clothesline in someones front yard. And yes, I don’t really want to know if my neighbour uses boxers or briefs but really, who cares?

With the demand on energy, this is again one of those small steps that we can take to make a difference. One Guelph city councillor, Gloria Kovach, raised the issue in 2006 after receiving complaints from residents, said putting an end to the bans is in keeping with the city’s community energy plan. “Really, to prohibit things that are environmentally friendly isn’t consistent with the direction I want the city to go,” she said.

There’s one more upside that I thought of if we started using clotheslines. Just maybe we’d start to get to know our neighbours a bit better as we talk to them while putting up or taking down our unmentionables.

For information on how to comment on the province’s proposal to end clothesline bans, visit www.ebr.gov.on.ca and enter registry number 010-2553. Comments must be submitted by March 21.

Have a good night folks! Leave your comments below!

Cam Guthrie