--- Ls A eT ocr eee -- The Environment ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS by Janet Banting This column was supposed to be an easy one to write - listing, describing, and providing addresses for various environmental groups currently operating. It turns out that there are so many of them (1800 across Canada) that no column like this can possibly do full justice to the topic. Rather than throw in the towel altogether, however, I will name some of the better known groups that do exist and which some readers may wish to contact. Some environmental groups have paid staff (whose salaries tend to be minimal) and some are run by extremely dedicated volunteers. In either case, these groups very much depend on the volunteer assistance and financial donations that they receive from concerned citizens. I think we are all in the same boat as far as making donations is concerned: we all have one or several charities that we like to support on a regular basis with either our time or our money, two commodities of which there never seem to be enough! It isn't always easy to shell out for yet another cause. As far as environmental groups are concerned, perhaps the way we can think of our contributions is as an in- vestment in our children's future. Pick a group that is doing work that you consider particularly crucial, and start giving them some support. Even if what you give is not a lot, it all adds up! Friends of the Earth, Suite 701, 251 Laurier Ave. W., Ottawa, K1P 5J6 (613-230-3352), is a federation of major Canadian en- vironment groups which works on Canadian environmental pro- blems as well as campaigning internationally with 30 sister organizations around the world. They sell a book called 'How to Get Your Lawn and Garden Off Drugs" for $12.95. Pollution Probe, 12 Madison Ave., Toronto M5R 2S1 (926-1907) is involved in a wide variety of environmental issues, produces all kinds of pamphlets, and publishes Probe Post, a fascinating magazine about environmental problems. The Recycling Council of Ontario (R.C.0.), 489 College St., Suite 504, Toronto, M6G 1A5 (1-800-263-2849) represents indjviduals, government, industry, and environmental organizations and works mainly in the area of reducing waste and promoting the 3 Rs. Greenpeace, 5789 Bloor St. West, Toronto, M6G 1K1 (538-6570) works on regulating and protecting our global ecosystem. The World Wildlife Fund, 60 St. Clair Ave. East, Suite 201, Toronto, MAT 1N5 (923-8173) works with 27 national organizations worldwide to protect en- dangered wildlife and habitats. They have a program now call- ed Guardian of the Amazon which is working to protect rain- forests in South America. Environmental Action Ontario, c/o Tim Grant, 95 Roberts St., Toronto, M5S 2K5 (960-1224) is an um- - brella organization for 50 groups provincially and is currently working on a campaign against overpackaging. Their campaign kicks off on January 23. Maybe you can lend a hand! As feared, this column may be noted more for what has been left out than for what has been included! Next week I'll have more information on groups, one of them being of particular in- terest to teenagers. I will also be making available to the Scugog Memorial Library a booklet that lists 350 environmental groups operating around Toronto and Ontario that I have ordered from the Ontario Environmental Network (Box 125, Station P, Toron- to, M5S 2Z7, phone 925-1322). If you have interesting information about an environmen- tal matter that you would like to share, please either give me a call (985-3225), write to me care of the paper, or donate the material to the library so that other people can learn about it too! by Courtney Chase It's the start of a new year and things are busy here at 1.C. The kids enjoyed their Christmas holi- day but there's nothing like being back at school. To prepare this article I became an on the spot reporter and visited some of the classes and talked to some of the teachers. I travelled out in the cold to Mrs. Prechitko's portable. Her grade 3 class had just finish- ed reading the novels "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" and 'The Loghouse Mouse." They are now studying plants and animals in winter and working on a Fairy Tale unit and a Nutrition unit which should make them very healthy! I interviewed our librarian Mrs. Connell, and she seemed very happy about the profit of $900 that we received from the Book Fair held at the school in December. We have a computer in the library and she hopes to put the card catalogue on it next year. Won't it be great, modern technology at last in our library! Mrs. Herron's grade 4 students have been squirming as they've been studying mealworms in their Science class. They are going to PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 16, 1990 -- 27 Students study mealworm do experiments to see what colour they like, to see how far they move in a minute, and they are going to give them each a name. I don't know how they can recognize their own each day. I went to my own class, Mr. Hall's grade 8. It's beginning to feel like high school because we're doing algebra in Math. It sounds very difficult but so far it makes sense to me but I keep see- ing the letter "y" every time I close my eyes. The class just started basketball skills in gym...not too many slam dunks yet! Speaking of basketball, the Knights of Columbus is sponsor- ing a Free Throw Championship at the end of the month, which we hope we can enter, if the work to rule will come to an end for the teachers. Since the teachers are in a work to rule situation right now, we can't have basketball teams after school or at lunch time. The students are disappointed that we don't have a chance to try out for the school teams. Every week some of the grade 8 students visit the Port Perry Nursing Home to talk with the senior citizens. I think both young and old look forward to these visits. While we are there we talk with the residents, in their rooms or in the lounge. I would like to say hello to some of my new friends now in the paper so 'Hello Becky, George, Eva, Ozzie and Vera." On Thursday, January 11, the Durham Police came in to give a presentation to the grades 14. The presentation was about safe- ty rules of the road. Officer Wright and Officer Judges made it quite enjoyable. They had a lit- tle help from their robot Rocky. He made a grand entrance with the song "Rockin Robin." Unfor- tunately Rocky had a sore throat and had to go behind his black curtain. They had, the kids volunteer to cross the pretend street, complete with traffic lights and a stop sign. The presentation was fun and informative and I think I enjoyed it just as much as the little kids did. 4 The weather has madg' the playground slushy and wet and we have all had our share of soakers this week. I really enjoyed writing this ar- ticle and I wish all the best to you in the new year. Bridge 6 Table Howell Avg. 48 1st - Jeanne Dymond and Doris Beare 65%. 2nd - Dorothy Jacobs and Harold Brown 59%. 3rd - Gwen Rennie and Marie Carnegie 56. 4th - Kath Burley and Harry Carnegie 51. Evening 5 Table Howell Avg. 54 1st - Brenda and Jim Gilmour 70. 2nd - Audrey and Peter Francis 64. 3rd - Joan West and Gord Day 6215 : 4th - Judy Atkinson and Tom John 60. GOING SOUTH? for that dream vacation? Visit our "CRUISEWEAR ROOM" You will find everything you might need ... from Swimwear for the whole family to Travelling Clothes, Light Jackets, Co-ordinates - Slacks, Shorts, Tops, etc. Our clerks will be happy to give you personal service. If you cannot come into Brock's during regular store hours, please call for an appointment and we will arrange a convenient time to serve you. Complete Hi Tech FIREPLACE cal: OVER RIDGE REN Reach Industrial Park, Unit 4, Reg. 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