Items filtered by date: May 2011

Tuesday, 28 June 2011 15:33

My Water's On Fire Tonight

Gotta love it! Check out this Fracking song!

Published in NBEN Blog

Tuesday, 28 June 2011 14:49

Feds pull out of nuclear once and for all

AECL sale to SNC-Lavalin near - CBC News

Published in NBEN Blog

Tuesday, 28 June 2011 07:58

Big news: I’m having a baby!

I will be taking a break from the NBEN for a year-long maternity leave. My last day in the office will be June 30.

My husband and I are very excited to welcome our new family member into the world. I am looking forward to spending a year at home with the little one.

Never fear, I will still keep in touch with the NBEN and all the environmental goings-on in the province, via the NBEN’s new website of course! I look forward to returning to work next summer.

Published in NBEN Blog

Saturday, 25 June 2011 21:09

Asbestos

The government’s position on asbestos is creating a lot of controversy. There is a poll on CBC where you can register your opinion. There is a an online petition and a crazy video which shows the lighter side. The Globe and Mail has a comprehensive column on the issue.

Published in NBEN Blog

Saturday, 25 June 2011 20:26

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Progress Report

Plan, Do, Check, Improve - Check out Environment Canada's first
Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Progress Report

Environment Canada has just released its first Progress Report on the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS). The Report describes actions taken to implement the requirements under the Federal Sustainable Development Act since the tabling of the FSDS. It outlines the 'plan, do, check, and improve' approach to reporting on sustainable development by focusing on progress made on setting up the systems needed to implement the FSDS. The Report also lays the foundation for future reporting by outlining how results will be measured and shared.

Some of the key accomplishments to date include:

Establishing a Sustainable Development Office;
Putting in place a management framework for the FSDS;
Putting in place a way to integrate Departmental Sustainable Development Strategies into the expenditure management system for the first time;
Developing greening government operations targets, implementation strategies, and guidance;
Revising the guidelines for strategic environmental assessment requiring consideration of, and public reporting on, FSDS goals and targets; and,
Establishing a performance measurement system for the FSDS to effectively monitor and report on progress. This includes a suite of environmental indicators and performance measures for Themes I-III, and common performance measures for Theme IV.

The FSDS, tabled in Parliament in October, 2010, sets out sustainable development goals, targets, and implementation strategies organized under four priority themes:

I. Addressing climate change and air quality;
II. Maintaining water quality and availability;
III. Protecting nature; and
IV. Shrinking the environmental footprint - beginning with government

For more information, check out the 2011 FSDS Progress Report here!

Published in NBEN Blog

Wednesday, 15 June 2011 14:50

New Staff!

We would like to extend a warm welcome to two new staff members: Jennifer and Brenna!

Jennifer Kay, our new Collaborative Programs Coordinator, will be working on our children’s environmental health, sustainability education, and biodiversity programs…along with some other things! Jennifer is from southern New Brunswick and studied environmental science and international development at Dalhousie.

Brenna Coles is our summer student this year. One of her main projects will be promoting our new website and helping groups learn how to post events, news, and videos. She is from Moncton and studies at Dalhousie.

Published in NBEN Blog

Monday, 13 June 2011 15:50

Province seeks public input on proposed Species at Risk Act

New Brunswickers are invited to comment on a proposed Species at Risk Act intended to provide an improved approach to conserving plants and animals in danger of disappearing from the province. New Brunswickers have until Friday, July 15, to comment on the proposed act.

Published in NBEN Blog

Wednesday, 01 June 2011 15:03

Labour in China

I’ve been reading the April issue of New Internationalist – it’s all about labour in China and it’s mind boggling. I can’t distinguish the difference between that situation and slavery. Often workers live in dormitories at their workplace, away from their family and friends, they are not allowed to strike, wages are low and conditions are arduous. Some people resort to suicide as a form of labour protest.

Published in NBEN Blog

Wednesday, 01 June 2011 15:01