Health & Wellness « Sweet & Loveable

You’re Invited: Fabulous Bike Events in Toronto May 5-6,12 & 28, 2012

May 2nd, 2012Arts & Crafts, Community, Frugal Crowd, Green, Health & Wellness, VideosComment

This video shows that:

“biking in downtown Toronto ain’t so bad

the trails along the Don Valley Parkway are actually very challenging and there’s a lot of variety and varied terrain there

there’s even a dirt jump park and lots of features scattered along the trails as well“

The City of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, is developing a 1,000 km Bikeway Network that will:

link cyclists with neighbourhoods and destinations across the city

serve both commuter and recreational cycling

be comprised of:
- connected bicycle lanes
- shared roadway routes
- multi-use pathways in parklands as well as hydro and rail corridors

be reached within a five-minute bicycle ride for all Toronto residents when completed

Did you know about the 2012 Inventory of Toronto’s Paved Major Multi-Use Trails?

Between 2001 and 2012, 70 km of the Bikeway’s networked proposed bike trails were built, for a total of 191 km.

A comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) map is the basis of the 2012 Inventory of Toronto’s Paved Major Multi-Use Trails
- and now includes major multi use paths such as:

Short sections of major multi-use paths which branch off of the City’s Trail System to provide street access are now included in the bike trail inventory.

In total, approximately 95 km of paved, major multi-use trails are now mapped in excess of what was tabulated as part of the 2001 Bike Plan.

These bike trails may now be included in Transportation’s Trail planning process, and considered when discussing new connections, surface and width upgrades, maintenance, and similar issues.

This is an update to my previous blog Calling Cyclists: Public Meeting on Proposed New Trail Connections in Toronto Feb. 6, 2012.

City of Toronto informs us about the following outcomes of Trails Planning Public Open House:

“Transportation Services has compiled the input received from the public open house that took place on February 6, 2012, at the Northern District Public Library to help plan and prioritize future bike trail projects.

Respondents cited continuity of the trail network as their number one concern.

The importance of trail continuity reflected itself both in concept, as well as in the ranking by respondents of which bike trail projects they would like to see prioritized for construction.”

Please click here to read the summary of comments collected (pdf).

As listed below, there are three fabulous Bike Month 2012 events in Toronto.

Tags: 1000 km bikeway network, 2001 bike plan, 2012 inventory of toronto's paved major multi-use trails, bike month 2012, bikeway's network: proposed trails, cn spurline event, commuter and recreational cycling, completion of the new Trail built on the former cn leaside rail line, connected bicycle lanes, continuity of the trail network, geographic information system (gis) map, multi-use pathways in parklands and hydro and rail corridors, national bike safety week, new cn leaside spur trail, nfb mediatheque, ranking of bike trail projects, toronto city's trail system, toronto cyclists union, toronto group commute, trails planning public open house, transportation's trail planning process

Please Help Save Earth’s Most Threatened Tribe: Uncontacted Awá in Brazil

April 29th, 2012Community, Green, Health & WellnessComment

Please Help Save Earth's Most Threatened Tribe: Uncontacted Awá in Brazil. © Survival

This is an update to my previous blog Survival International Alert: Awá Tribe Will Face Extinction Due to Intensive Logging.

Survival International and Colin Firth are urging us to help save the Awá tribe:

to send a protest message to Brazil’s Minister of Justice: he can send in the federal police to catch the loggers, and keep them out for good
- this protest message can be accessed below in the Colin Firth Campaign for Brazilian Tribe Awá

and, even more importantly, please share this message with your family and friends

if enough people show they care, it will work:
- at the time of this blog posting, 12 041 messages have already been sent to Brazil’s Minister of Justice,
- please help us reach 20,000 messages:

Colin Firth Campaign for Brazilian Tribe Awá:

Colin Firth Urges Us to Help Save the Brazilian Tribe Awá © Survival

“Many of Brazil’s Awá are still uncontacted, and they are running for their lives.

A wave of illegal loggers, settlers and ranchers have invaded their lands, and time is running out.

Today Colin Firth helps us to launch a major new campaign to save the Awá, and we need your help.

‘One man has the power to stop the loggers: Brazil’s Minister of Justice. But it’s just not his priority. Let’s push it up his list.’

— Colin Firth

Please watch our new film, and take a few seconds to send a message to Brazil’s Minister of Justice: he can send in the federal police to catch the loggers, and keep them out for good. And, even more importantly, please share this with your family and friends.

If enough people show they care, it will work.“

Watch now »

Tags: awá tribe, awá tribe faces extinction, awá’s forest is being illegally cut for timber, colin firth, colin firth campaign, josé eduardo cardozo, protest message to brazil’s justice minister, stephen corry, survival international, uncontacted awá

Please Help: 24 Hours to Save the Bees!

April 27th, 2012Community, Green, Health & WellnessComment

Please Help: 24 Hours to Save the Bees!

Here is an emergency request from the Avaaz team urging us to petition Bayer to stop selling one group of pesticides in order to save bees from extinction.

At the time of this blog posting, 716,136 people have signed. Please help us get to 750,000 signatures on the petition which can be accessed in the letter below:

“Dear friends,

Pesticides are killing bees and threatening our food supply. In 24 hours, shareholders at the biggest chemical producer, Bayer, could vote to stop their toxic production. Massive public pressure has forced this debate at their Annual General Meeting, now let’s make sure they vote to stop the pesticides and save the bees. Sign the emergency petition:

Quietly, globally, billions of bees are dying, threatening our crops and food. But if Bayer stops selling one group of pesticides, we could save bees from extinction.

Four European countries have begun banning these poisons, and some bee populations are already recovering. But Bayer, the largest producer of neonicotinoids, has lobbied hard to keep them on the market. Now, massive global pressure from Avaaz and others has forced them to consider the facts — and in 24 hours, Bayer shareholders will vote on a motion that could stop these toxic chemicals. Let’s all act now and shame the shareholders to stop killing bees.

The pressure is working, and this is our best chance to save the bees. Sign the urgent petition and send this to everyone — let’s reach half a million signers and deliver it directly to shareholders tomorrow in Germany!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/bayer_save_the_bees/?vl

Bees don’t just make honey, they are vital to life on earth, every year pollinating 90% of plants and crops — with an estimated $40bn value, over one-third of the food supply in many countries. Without immediate action to save bees, many of our favourite fruits, vegetables, and nuts could vanish from our shelves.

Tags: avaaz team, bayer shareholders, bayer-largest producer of neonicotinoids, save bees from extinction, vote on a motion that could stop these toxic chemicals

You’re Invited: Tree Planting Events in Ontario April 28, May 5 & May 9, 2012

April 27th, 2012Community, Frugal Crowd, Green, Health & WellnessComment

Did you know that trees provide health, economic and environmental benefits to you and your neighbourhood?

Trees in Toronto, Ontario, Canada:

can store 2.6 tons of carbon (pollution) per acre of trees annually,
- and concomitantly gives enough oxygen daily for 18 people

provide relief for city residents by softening the harsh texture of concrete buildings and landscape

offer privacy screens

provide protection from the sun’s UV rays

provide natural habitats for birds, insects and other wildlife

help prevent soil erosion
- also, help prevent flooding

provide tree canopy so that air temperatures are lowered considerably in streets and parking lots
- City areas without tree cover are known as “heat islands” which can cause cities to be five to nine degrees warmer than surrounding areas.

boost the City’s image and can help attract residents, tourists and investors

can increase the value of homes significantly

deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides of a house can reduce air conditioning needs substantially

evergreens planted on the north side of a house act as windbreaks, lowering winter heating costs by up to 10 per cent

for every 5 per cent of tree cover area added to a community, storm water run-off is reduced by approximately 2 per cent

in 50 years, one tree can:
- generate $30,000 in oxygen,
- recycle $35,000 of water,
- and eliminate pollutants that would otherwise cost $60,000 to remove from the air

Thus, trees “with their health, economic and environmental benefits are the lifelines of our city.”

You are invited to the following great tree planting events in Ontario, Canada:

Tags: "heat islands", annual community planting event, caa south central ontario, gives enough oxygen daily for 18 people, leaf - local enhancement and appreciation of forests, lowering winter heating costs, norm kelly (ward 40 scarborough agincourt), parks and environment committee, proper tree planting technique, reduce air conditioning needs, spring tree planting weekend, store 2.6 tons of carbon (pollution) per acre of trees annually, storm water run-off is reduced, tree canopy, trees across toronto event, trees ontario, trees provide health and economic benefits, urban forestry services, ‘emerald ash borer’ (eab)

Water Level Alert: New Brunswick, Canada 25 April 2012

April 26th, 2012Community, Health & WellnessComment

Water Level Alert: New Brunswick, Canada 25 April 2012

The River Watch program provides awareness of potential flood risks and encourages residents to be prepared for flooding events.

The program involves monitoring and flow forecasting in the St. John River Basin, and is co-ordinated by the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization in conjunction with provincial, federal and state agencies.

Water levels continue to rise in the following areas:

Tags: department of public safety's new brunswick emergency measures organization, flow forecasting in the st. john river basin, nashwaak river, new brunswick emergency measures organization, potential flood risks, river watch program, water level advisory

You’re Invited: Annual Free Kids’ Day at Hunter’s Point Dental Centre, May 6, 2012

April 26th, 2012Community, Frugal Crowd, Health & WellnessComment

Canada’s national oral health month is in April, and this year Hunter’s Point Dental Centre is addressing the oral health needs of the community not only this month but year-round.

Here is your invite from Hunter’s Point Dental Centre:

“Hello everyone,

In honor of April’s National Oral Health Month, Hunter’s Point Dental Centre is proudly hosting its second Annual Free Kids’ Day at the Dentist:

Tags: 2 to 10 year-olds, annual free kids' day at the dentist, april's national oral health month, hunter's point dental centre, norma ng

Ontario’s Updated 2012 Budget: Proposed Changes Lead to a Faster Deficit Reduction by 2017-18

April 25th, 2012Community, Frugal Crowd, Health & WellnessComment

UPDATED 2011-12 INTERIM RESULTS: The interim results for 2011-12 published in the 2012 Budget were based on information available as of early March 2012. Since that time, additional information has become available that projects a further improvement in the Province's expected 2011-12 fiscal results. The government now projects a deficit of $15.0 billion in 2011-12, an improvement of $0.3 billion compared to the 2012 Budget projection and $1.3 billion lower than the 2011 Budget forecast.

This is an update to my previous blogs:

Put Food In The Budget Campaign Tour Starts Apr.19/12: Voice Your Concerns About Premier McGuinty’s Budget

Requesting Canadian Responses to the Ontario Budget 2012: Surveys from Liberals and NDP.

The recently updated 2012 Budget outlined the government’s plan to eliminate the deficit, and balance the budget by 2017-18 as follows:

Additional revenue from:
- A temporary new Deficit-Fighting High-Income Tax Bracket for individuals earning more than $500,000 annually:
  - income tax rate on taxable incomes over $500,000 will increase by two percentage points (i.e. two per cent point surtax), from 11.16 per cent to 13.16 per cent
  - this change would generate additional revenue of:
    - $280 million in 2012-13
    - $470 million in 2013-14
    - and $495 million in 2014-15.
- All of the additional revenue raised by this proposed measure would be used to reduce the Provincial deficit and accelerate Ontario’s plan to eliminate the deficit by 2017-18.
- The new tax bracket would be eliminated once the budget is balanced by 2017-18.

and by not increasing overall spending
- the Province’s deficits are now projected to be lower than the 2012 Budget each year between 2011-12 and 2016-17.

McGuinty Government aims to accelerate Ontario’s fiscal plan to balance the 2012 Budget in order to eliminate the deficit even faster by 2017-18 via the proposed measures above as well as redirect proposed new savings (from other measures) to support important social priorities with no net new provincial spending, which include:

Tags: debt will be reduced by $3.5 billion by 2017-18, dwight duncan, eliminate the deficit and balance the budget by 2017-18, income tax rate on taxable incomes over $500 000 will accelerate Ontario's plan to eliminate the deficit by 2017-18, increasing ontario disability support program and ontario works rates by one per cent, minister of finance, not increasing overall spending, projecting a $0.5 billion surplus in 2017-18, small and rural hospitals improve patient care and transform their organizations, social assistance, strengthening the child care sector, temporary new deficit-fighting high-income tax bracket for individuals earning more than $500000