ELLE’s green issue misses the mark
June 14, 2008
Dear ELLE Canada,
I was delighted when I came across your “green” issue this week at my local newsstand. However, as inevitably happens with the green versions of most - if not all - mainstream glossies, I was disappointed that you chose not to dedicate 100 percent of this month’s editorial content to environmentally conscious fashion and glamour.
Government rethinks natural health bill
June 14, 2008
Health Minister Tony Clement agreed to key demands of the natural health products industry after the sector launched a grassroots campaign against restrictions on homeopathic medicines and herbal remedies in new legislation. When amendments to the Food and Drugs Act were proposed in April, natural medicines were lumped in with pharmaceutical drugs, raising concerns they would be subject to the same type of oversight. The government is now proposing to insert a definition of natural health products into the Food and Drugs Act to recognize them as distinct from foods and drugs under the law.
Coke adds 10 hybrids to its TO fleet
June 13, 2008
This week, Coca-Cola Bottling Company (CCB) introduced ten heavy-duty hybrid-electric delivery trucks into its fleet in Toronto. The move follows last week’s introduction of ten hybrids in Vancouver, and the company plans to have 142 hybrids on the road by August, giving it the largest heavy-duty hybrid delivery fleet in North America.
Vinyl shower curtains release toxic chemicals
June 12, 2008
As many as 100 toxic chemicals associated with adverse health effects are released into the air from polyvinyl chloride (PVC ) shower curtains, according to a new study released today. These chemicals make up that “new shower curtain smell” unique to PVC vinyl shower curtains and shower curtain liners, according to “Volatile Vinyl: The New Shower Curtain’s Chemical Smell,” a joint study by the US-based Center for Health, Environment & Justice, Canada’s Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA).
Rising gas prices help drivers see green
June 12, 2008
Toronto city council endorsed a fuel surcharge for taxis last week in the face of rising gasoline prices and may finally be considering relaxing its taxi leg room requirements to allow smaller cars and more hybrid models into city fleets. Meanwhile, hybrid sales are brisk at Canadian dealerships, proving a long-held belief among many environmentalists that high gas prices would be a strong motivator in encouraging mainstream residents to drive greener vehicles.
The green goods
June 11, 2008
Cool green stuff we stumbled across this week:
Did you catch the first installment of Burn Up last night on Global? This genuinely thrilling thriller about a London oil executive’s encounter with an Inuit environmentalist and some hard facts about climate change is a co-production between CanWest and the BBC with a few recognizable Hollywood faces thrown in for good measure. Part two is set for tonight at 9.
New recycling program boasts early successes
June 11, 2008
The city’s director of collection services says early monitoring results show that Toronto’s new recycling program is a success. The first 100,000 households to receive the bins recycled 10 percent more between February and May than they did last year, Robert Orpin said yesterday.
Eco-friendly gift ideas for Dad
June 10, 2008
Show dad how much you care this Father’s Day with gifts that are as good for him as they are for the planet. He’ll flip over his eco-friendly loot and appreciate your planet-friendly values more than the polyester socks and chemical-laden cologne of yesteryear.
Stay cool (and green!) this summer: CBC’s Your Interview
June 9, 2008
Canadians from coast to coast can expect another hot, sweaty summer, according to a long-range forecast from Environment Canada. If the forecast for the summer months proves to be correct, it would be the nineteenth of the last twenty-five summers to feature higher than average temperatures, an Environment Canada senior climatologist said last week. Living Green Toronto answers your questions on how to beat the heat and stay green this summer on CBC’s Your Interview series today.
June 8 is World Ocean Day
June 7, 2008
Celebrate the ocean this weekend! Sunday, June 8 is World Ocean Day. The concept of a World Ocean Day was first proposed in 1992 by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Although not yet officially designated by the United Nations, an increasing number of countries mark June 8 every year as an opportunity to celebrate our world ocean and personal connections to the sea. This year’s theme is “helping our climate/helping our ocean” with a special focus on coral reefs.
