Get Involved
Oct 5th, 2008 by admin
Curious?
Are you are feeling the urge to get involved? You are not alone! If you sense that there are problems in your Community that need some attention or you just want to meet others who feel and think as you do; the easiest and best thing to get you on track is simply to attend an event. Organizers will be happy to show you how to lend a hand, using as much or as little time as you are willing and able to give.
Just visit the Calendar page and find the one that interests you most.
Belong to a group with an upcoming event?
Fill in the form at the bottom of our Calendar page
If you are a new group or one that has not posted to this Calendar before, our requirements are simple. You must be non-commercial, not for profit and politically non-partisan (your group does not support any particular political party.) Other than that, if your group has an event, is hosting a speaker, is distributing information or promoting ideas that you feel would make Guelph a more socially just or environmentally sustainable city; then this Calendar is designed for you.
Things we can all do:
Whether you are hosting an event or just having a dinner party or get- together with your friends here are a few guidelines to make the time more sustainable and “eco-friendly”:
- Organize with no disposables, just real dishes, cutlery and napkins.
- Have a no plastic water bottle policy. Serve it all in pitchers.
- Sort and compost all your waste.
- Make sure all elements of your decor are locally sourced or grown (flowers etc.)
- Make your invitations, cards etc. from 100% post consumer recycled and preferably bleach-free paper.
- Serve fairly traded, organic coffee or tea.
- If serving beer or wine, buy brands from local breweries and vineyards.
- Encourage your guests to take transit, ride a bike, carpool or use hybrid vehicles to minimize your event’s carbon impact.
- If you have a family member or friend who is vegan or vegetarian, consider letting them create the menu; if not, splurge on some locally grown organic meat products.
The current Editor would like to personally thank the David Suzuki Foundation among others, for parts of the preceding excellent list. Also Greenpeace Canada for close to 40 years of trying to wake us all up.
Buy Fair Trade Products
- Fair trade ensures farmers a fair price for their coffee, teas, chocolate or other items and a portion of this price is invested in their communities. Fair Trade also means respect for the environment and therefore is sustainable in the truest sense of that word.
- A number of local and regional retailers are beginning to come on board although FT fresh roasted coffee is, so far; still the best known.
REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE…………….PLEASE!
The City of Guelph, as the most locally famous example; is implementing a progressive waste management system called Wet-Dry Plus.
If you live in Guelph, find out more and “Get with your program!” by visiting www.guelph.ca/living