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10 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday May 2, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com School boards warming up to An Inconvenient Truth Continued from page 1 says the two screenings of the movie at Burlington Central School were intended to educate students on climate change specifically the impact of greenhouse gas emissions, like carbon dioxide, are having on the accelerated warming of the planet - and to show what students can do to offset its impacts. At the screening to answer questions or offer their observations were Peter Love, Chief Conservation Officer of Ontario, outdoor environmental educa- tor Harry "Skid" Crease of EcoNexus, a UK-based, not-for-profit, public interest research organization and science watchdog, Ron Ballentine, co-ordinator of science, technology and environmental education for the Halton public board, and SunOpta Chair Jeremy Kendall. SunOpta Inc. sponsored the screening of the film. The company, which has an office that straddles the border between Halton Hills and Brampton, specializes in health products and promoting environmental responsibility. A second screening of the film for Halton students is set for Wednesday, May 23 at Christ the King High School in Georgetown. Some elementary and high schools in Halton, and some from around the province, have already shown the 2006 film to a select group of their students. The two Halton boards are now taking the issue a step further. They are giving teachers of Grades 7-12 students the opportunity to use DVD copies of the documentary (30 special edition discs for each board) and the accompanying book by Gore; both items, also donated by SunOpta, will be available through the boards' respective media libraries. However, not everyone is pleased with this approach to teaching about climate change. Burlington resident Ron Cirotto says he does not subscribe to the greenhouse gas/global warming theory. The owner of a company that designs and markets mortgage amortization software -- he holds Canadian university degrees in chemical engineering and polymer technology -- wrote a letter to Education Minister Kathleen Wynne in March about the issue, but says he has not received a response. In the letter he writes, "I would like to know the Ontario government's policy concerning teachers and their selection of educational films in the classrooms. It is my understanding that currently in Britain the Al Gore documentary An Inconvenient Truth is being shown to school children without allowing the documentary The Great Global Warming Swindle to also be shown. Showing one without the other is pure propaganda in its ugliest form! "Our children, especially the elementary grades, deserve an unbiased science education that is not based upon science conclusions by consensus. I am told children in the elementary grades are being shown Al Gore's movie and it is frightening them to the point that some children cannot sleep properly. This is not the proper way to teach." Instructional packages have been developed to help teachers incorporate -- in whole or part, or not at all if they choose -- aspects of An Inconvenient Truth in educating students about climate processes, the environment and sustainable `green' principles and practices. "Teaching today's youth about the effects of global warming is important for the future of our environment and our climate," said Ballentine. For him, there is no doubt the world is caught in a climate crisis. "I've got a network of people who have extensive experience in climate change at the university and international research level. We have found, and this is from all groups, provincial, national and international, that the worst you can say about the (documentary's) science is that sometimes he (Gore) goes to the extreme of the five (research/prediction) models (but) he never leaves any of the models," said Ballentine. "Anything he presents is scientifically sound and supported by the research of the 2,000-plus scientists on the inter-governmental panel. So there's no substance to the attacks on the science. "What many scientists are saying about the (climate change) predictions ... is that they are being very conservative -- we are in for a lot worse, and he (Gore) doesn't even go that far." Ballentine dismissed the global warming naysayers. "The counter arguments are coming from groups largely from the oil (industry) lobby. They are not reliable; they are public relations masters." However, Ballentine noted the teacher instructional packages on climate change would encourage students to look at the issue from different sides, noting websites that offer opposing viewpoints. "We promote debate, so take an opposing point of view. We invite students to consider other perspectives and do the research and see if they can come up with a thoughtful, sensible, logical counter-argument to what's being portrayed. "For the most part the teacher resource package will emphasize the science, geography and civics," although teachers of art, music and media literacy might find parts of the Gore documentary and book useful, he said. "Teachers can choose to use it or not," he added. No approval is needed from the Ministry of Education to use the Gore documentary or the companion book in Ontario's classrooms. "The ministry is responsible for setting the curriculum, policy and learning expectations. The implementation is a board/local school matter. They know what is going to resonate, what needs, what resources, best suit their pupils," said ministry spokesperson Patricia MacNeil. "For resources that aren't on that (Trillium textbook/resource materials) list, that's a board decision, to use them, to incorporate them, to make them available." MacNeil said she had not been made aware of any boards in Ontario using the Al Gore documentary as a teaching tool. "The expectation is that teachers will provide an atmosphere for discussion, for critical thinking to help foster that process, to help present things in an objective manner that is inclusive," she added. OAKVILLE - Celebrating 150 years! requirements for Complete Application for development applications requiring approval under the Planning Act. An Official Plan Amendment for Policies Establishing The information and materials required to support an Complete Application requirements and application will be determined at a pre-consultation By-law requiring Pre-Consultation prior to submission of meeting and may include plans, mapping, reports and Development Applications technical studies prepared by qualified professionals. TOWN INITIATED ­ Town Wide - File: 42.14.273 NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING the Planning and Development Council. Notice of the public meeting will be advertised in the future. The public may view planning documents and background material at the Planning Services Department between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Questions, written submissions or requests for notification may be directed to Lesley E. Gill Woods, Planner, Planning Services Department, Town of Oakville, P.O.Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON. L6J 5A6, telephone (905) 845-6601, extension 3261 or e-mail: lgillwoods@oakville.ca Dated at the Town of Oakville this 2nd day of May, 2007. In addition, the Planning Services Department is proposing Members of the public are invited to attend and provide that a by-law be passed, as authorized under the Planning input at this Public Information Meeting hosted by the Act, that requires pre-consultation with the Town before Planning Services Department on: an application for an Official Plan amendment, Zoning By-law amendment, draft plan of subdivision or draft plan Tuesday May 15, 2007 - 7:00 p.m. of condominium is submitted. Acorn Grill (Cafeteria), Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road Following this meeting, a staff report will be prepared, The Planning Services Department is proposing an Official which will be presented at a future public meeting before Plan Amendment to establish policies that set out submission