Alanna Mitchell’s recent reading and public speaking about her new book, Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis was a far cry from what someone might expect of a talk based on such a title. A skilled storyteller, Alanna began the evening by giving a personal account of an expedition she attended to witness the spawning of coral in Panama – a biological event that occurs just once a year, at a preordained minute that is coordinated by an alignment of the sun, moon and earth. As the room sat riveted by this tale that highlighted the delicate balance and mystery of our world, it was almost impossible not to feel an outpouring of compassion for these tiny creatures. It was a story filled with the tragedy and beauty of our own human experience – beauty, excitement, anticipation, procreation, survival, disappointment and failed expectations.

The event, which was co-hosted by WHEN and Just Earth, and held at the Lawrence Park Community Church on Bayview Ave., was graciously moderated by Michele Landsberg. Refreshments were truly appreciated by a crowd of over 80 people, and Alanna held a book signing (100 books sold!). Rob Oliphant, MP for Don Valley West, publically thanked WHEN for hosting the evening; Georgina Wilcox, leader of the Green Party for Don Valley West spoke a few words in support of Alanna’s work. Several local environmental advocacy groups tabled and got their message out, including Council of Canadians, Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA), For Our Grandchildren, Just Earth, Voice of Women, and WHEN. Alanna’s talk, aside from describing the tragic yet beautiful scene of coral orgy, focused on explaining the “vital signs” of the ocean and how these are being measured and observed by scientists all over the world. Her book is essentially a medical report of the state of the global ocean, told through engaging stories from places as geographically distant as the Great Barrier Reef and off-coast Nova Scotia.

Alanna Mitchell has been a journalist on the Canadian scene for over 20 years. She worked for years as a reporter for The Globe and Mail and wrote for The Financial Post prior to that. In 2000 Alanna was named the Best Environmental Reporter in the world by Reuters Foundation. In 2004, she began devoting herself full time to writing popular science books and supporting environmental advocacy. “Sea Sick” is her second publication.
Despite the devastating message Alanna was delivering, she was careful to emphasize that she remains optimistic and hopeful, and encouraged others to do the same. Quoting from her epilogue at the conclusion of her talk, Alanna remarked, “ I don’t know exactly how the heroes will gather and how they will alter the course of the planet’s future ... but I know that if enough people are asking the right questions, we can make a start.”

More information about Alanna can be found at www.alannamitchell.com and her book can be purchased at book retailers across Canada.

Reviewed by Amy Sedgewick

 

This year WHEN led several important initiatives for our health and environment. Though your participation and your donations, we have been able to achieve great things!

As you know, WHEN successfully uses film and accompanying resource guides, such as Exposure: Environmental Links to Breast Cancer, and Toxic Trespass: How Safe are Our Children? in community workshops and screenings (excellent resources available for sale on our website).  In the spring, WHEN and Planet in Focus co-sponsored the Toronto premiere of Living Downstream, a film based on Sandra Steingraber's book by the same name, to great acclaim. In early 2011, Living Downstream will be added to our repertoire when it is released on DVD. WHEN will be partnering again with Planet in Focus in 2011, for the Toronto launch of Breathtaking, a film by Kathleen Mullen on another timely issue, asbestos.

This year, WHEN raised the issue of the toxics in our everyday household and personal care products. The edgy WTF! Campaign (wannabetoxicfree.org) challenges the composition of these products, particularly the hidden toxins labelled as "fragrance".  By combining information and action, this campaign encourages everyone to raise these issues with the policy makers who regulate these projects. 
Examining the full lifecycle of consumer products, WHEN also piloted a new collection program, Lower Your Doses, which raises awareness of the impact that discarding household and beauty products (and the parabens, phthalates, tricolsan, propylene glycol they contain) can have on our health and on our environment.  Working with South Riverdale Community Centre, we introduced collection bins into two Toronto Grassroots stores, and disposed of this toxic waste at the City of Toronto's environment days. We hope to broaden the program next year and offer a year-round option for safer disposal, while at the same time encouraging municipal collection as household hazardous waste.

WHEN rounded off a year's work on these issues with Connect Beauty, an event promoting ethical, eco-friendly fashion through a partnership with Fashion Takes Action. The event was both beautiful and educational. Many of the chemicals that go into making clothing affect all of us, but particularly the production workers.

We also engaged individuals and groups in a very personal way. In partnership with Live Green Toronto, WHEN presented the Leaside Eco-Fair, a local example of how we can bring together organizations that offer alternatives to the toxic chemicals in our household cleaning and personal care products, and even teaching us how to "do it ourselves"! We also partnered with the Multicultural Inter-Agency Group of Peel, working with immigrant women in Mississauga and Malton to share practical information about environmental health risks and how to make better choices for themselves and their families. Also new in 2010, WHEN's Book Club offers another avenue for learning about the issues.  Once a month, activists gather to discuss a new book on the environmental scene, such as, Slow Death by Rubber Duck, Not Just A Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry, Pink Ribbons, Inc., Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis, Living Downstream and Disconnect.

As always, WHEN welcomes your participation! Join our volunteer team. WHEN's work is largely carried out by volunteers - the more we have, the more we can do. And with social media, the possibilities for raising awareness grow and grow! 

Another way to support WHEN is to become a monthly donor. Supporting us this way, a little at a time, may be easier for you to manage, and at the end of the year, you will receive a charitable donation receipt for the entire year's amount. This method of supporting us is efficient and cost-effective, as we have a more predictable monthly income to match our highly predictable monthly expenses! 

In the spirit of peace and solidarity, on behalf of the WHEN Board, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season and a good year in 2011.

 

Each year, WHEN hosts a Connect event focusing on a different theme. Speakers, demos and displays allow participants to explore the themes and engage with each other and local experts on a topic of importance to the environment and our health. This year our CONNECT event focused on exposure to harmful chemicals through cosmetics, personal beauty products, and clothing.

On Thursday, November 17th WHEN partnered with Fashion Takes Action for its fourth annual Connect event – CONNECT BEAUTY.

A fun, interactive, and beautiful evening was had by all. 

 

 

Guests had the opportunity to: 

• Hear from Lynn Marshall – Medical Education Liaison, Environmental Health Clinic, Women’s College Hospital – discuss the toxins in everyday beauty and personal care products, such as lead in lipstick, and how we can all reduce our toxic load. 
• Learn about new trends and approaches in eco fashion from Kelly Drennen, Founder and Creative Director of Fashion Takes Action.
• Watch the Fashion Takes Action eco fashion show, featuring seven local designers, with hair by World Salon and make-up by Raindance Cosmetics, and modelled by eco-conscious junior models. 

• Shop from great local vendors, stocking up on toxic-free soaps, creams, shampoos, and other personal care products, and purchasing gorgeous and sustainable local jewellery and fashion. 

  

• Eat yummy food and drink local and organic wine and beer. 
• Play games at the WHEN table to learn about chemicals in beauty products.
• Win great prizes in a raffle and 50-50 draw. 

The event was a great success, and we thank everyone who came and participated.  And a big thank you to all of our partners and sponsors.  We hope to see you next year!

Support WHEN's 2011 Cancer Prevention Challenge!

Each spring, WHEN works to raise money and awareness in support of Cancer Prevention.  We have all been touched by preventable cancers - within our families, within workplaces, within our schools, and in our neighbourhoods. All funds raised within the Cancer Prevention Challenge support local efforts to educate and empower individuals and communities to take action for prevention. Join us!

This year, WHEN would like everyone to pledge to take one or more specific actions to prevent cancer.  It is your own Cancer Prevention Challenge - make it is a easy or as difficult as you wish.

How does it work? 

• Donate on-line by sponsoring "Take the Challenge" as part of WHEN's team.  All donations over $20 are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
• Pick something that you'd like to pledge to do for 30 days during the month of June in an effort to prevent cancer.
• Spend the month sharing with others about your experience.  You can blog, photograph, post Facebook updates and e-mail friends to spread the word. 
• Encourage friends and family to join you in taking the challenge!

Need some inspiration? We've got plenty of ideas to get you started.   

Take action today!  You will be making a positive difference in your own life, and helping WHEN raise awareness and take action on environmental health risks. Thanks so much for your support.

 

Each year, WHEN hosts a Connect event focusing on a different theme. Speakers, demos and displays allow participants to explore the themes and engage with each other and local experts on a topic of importance to the environment and our health. This year our CONNECT event focused on exposures we, and our children, receive from common household items, the potential health implications and explored alternatives.

On Thursday, November 5th WHEN hosted its third annual Connect event – CONNECT HOME: Creating Healthy Homes.

A fun and interesting evening was had by all. Guests had the opportunity to:

• Hear from Bruce Lourie – co-author of Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects our Health and director of Ontario Power Authority
• Hear from Leslie Garrett – author of the syndicated column, The Virtuous Consumer
• Learn how to make natural, non-toxic personal and household cleaning products
• Enjoy a relaxing Shiatsu massage
• Eat yummy food and drink local and organic wine
• Receive non toxic door prizes, drop off toxic personal care items for safe disposal, and win great prizes in a raffle

The event was a great success, and we thank everyone who came and participated.

We hope to see you next year when we connect the dots on another theme!

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CONNECT FOOD: Exploring Healthy Food Choices in our City

There was yummy, healthy food and local experts to mingle and talk with about making better food choices.  A popular demo on sprouting was offered by Marie Larsson and Trefor Randall of Toronto Sprouts.  The Stop Community Food Centre's Urban Agriculture Manager, Rhonda Teitel-Payne challenged us to consider the health, environemtnal and social justice issues associated with food and the access to healthy food as the evening's featured speaker. All in all it was a great way to make connections between health, the environment and our food choices!  

WHEN would like to thank all of the sponsors for making this popular evening such a success.  A special thank you to Oliva Chow, MP (Trinity-Spadina) and WHEN's Matron of Honor who gave a rousing welcome address, encouraging us all to Take Action For Prevention!

 

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On July 5, 2007, the Korean Women’s Environmental Network KWEN held a conference called “Environment and Women’s Health” at which WHEN was fortunate to be represented. KWEN was seeking to raise the issue of gender in the context of the Korean’s government’s upcoming unveiling of a new environmental policy. To this end, the KWEN sought international presenters to demonstrate how women in other countries were making links between environmental issues and women’s health. “Korean society ignores the particular way environmental toxins affect women’s health at our peril,” said the keynote speaker, Shin Kyung-Rim, Dean of the College of Health Sciences of EWHA Women’s University, where the conference was hosted in Seoul, South Korea. International presenters came from Canada, Japan, the United States, the Philippines and France, and included activists, scientists and academics.

WHEN’s presentation sought to make the links between community action and local legislations, highlighting successes such as anti-pesticide and community-right-to-know legislation in various communities in both Canada and the United States. Presenters from France and the United States showed the clear scientific links between common by-products we encounter in our daily lives and cancer, particularly breast cancer. A presenter from Health Care Without Harm in the Philippines highlighted some of the issues facing activists in health care industries as they struggle to eliminate polluting practices such as incineration. A brave woman from an NGO in Japan who suffered severe environmental and chemical hypersensitivity talked about the extent to which we are surrounded by toxins and how it can affect every aspect of our and our children’s lives. The conference was very much concerned with effects on women’s health, but of course there are parallels for men, and in different ways, for children’s health. Korean activists discussed similar developments in their own country and sought to make demands on their government for increased recognition and support for women’s health issues, in particular, women’s health and environmental policy.

The conference culminated the following day with an action in downtown Seoul, making use of interesting props to relay a message of concern about the pink ribbon campaign, which has reached worldwide status. Sponsored by large corporations and surrounded by commemorative product marketing and sales, the pink ribbon campaign against breast cancer was criticized by activists for taking attention away from the environmental causes of breast cancer, many of them toxic chemicals marketed by the very same corporations who purportedly support research for “the cure”!

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Carbon Copy

WHEN in conjunction with the Art Gallery of Ontario Youth Council hosted Connect Art – Making the connections between art and the environment Fundraiser on November 15, 2007.

The event at the Centre for Social Innovation was well attended. WHEN showcased ‘Carbon Copy’ an art installation of a paper forest that was constructed from collected paper over a one-month period from the recycling bins at the AGO. The AGO Youth Council’s goal is to spread awareness throughout the artistic community about the dangers of carbon dioxide and other waste by-products in our atmosphere that are accelerating climate change and environmental degradation. WHEN brought the artistic and environmental community together to spread the message about the environmental links to health. The participants of the evening also contributed to creating a mural of recycled materials which will be displayed at WHEN’s new office at the Green Arts Barn in 2008.

WHEN would like to thank all who participated, supported and donated to Connect Art. The evening was a great success!

CONNECT ART was a unique, interactive and educational event that was open to the community. We had opening remarks from the Hon. Jean Augustine, information about WHEN, a silent auction and the opportunity for participants to produce art from recycled materials.

WHEN was proud to recognize our Supporting Sponsors for this important fundraising event:

Click here for details.

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