Earth Will be "Unrecognizable" by 2050

from TreeHugger.com
by Stephen Messenger, Porto Alegre, Brazil

A lot has changed in the last 40 years, hasn't it? From the rise of personal computers and the Internet, to tubeless toilet-paper and carnivorous clocks -- the world today hardly resembles the one seen in faded photos of people with big hair dancing to disco that our parents closely guard. But, according to researchers, in another four decades things will be markedly different, too -- "unrecognizable," even, and not just for the hairstyles. Earth in 2050 will be home to an estimated 9 billion people, and the planet will be forced to change in order to accommodate them all

So, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) met today to discuss the future of mankind on this lonely little planet with finite resources. I mentioned 'finite' only to highlight the fundamental reality that we at TreeHugger are encouraging others to work within. And surprise, surprise -- in the next 40 years, the planet will welcome some 2.25 billion more adorable little babies, who will then, of course, grow up to be big hungry consumers.

Don't worry though, you won't have to feed them -- the finite planet will. Oh, wait, I guess that concerns us all.

A report from the AP offers more details from today's meeting, and what we can all expect from a future with more than a few additional planet-mates:

The swelling population will exacerbate problems, such as resource depletion, said John Casterline, director of the Initiative in Population Research at Ohio State University.

But incomes are also expected to rise over the next 40 years -- tripling globally and quintupling in developing nations -- and add more strain to global food supplies.

People tend to move up the food chain as their incomes rise, consuming more meat than they might have when they made less money, the experts said.

It takes around seven pounds (3.4 kilograms) of grain to produce a pound of meat, and around three to four pounds of grain to produce a pound of cheese or eggs, experts told AFP.

"More people, more money, more consumption, but the same planet," Clay told AFP, urging scientists and governments to start making changes now to how food is produced.

If such a population outlook isn't at first troubling, consider that population growth has historically been tied to the population declines of quite a few species we now nobly endow with the classification 'threatened' or 'endangered'. If the habitat loss and environmental changes associate with, well, people, were to be negated at the same rate that more folks are added, perhaps things would work out -- but on a finite planet, optimism is finite too... read more story at TreeHugger.com

Senator Art Eggleton to speak on the Senate's Poverty and Housing Report

GUELPH Ontario February 21, 2011 - Senator Art Eggleton will speak at Norfolk Street United Church, Downtown Guelph at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, February 23 about the Senate's "In from the Margins" report.

Frank Valeriote, Member of Parliament-Guelph, and the Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination will welcome Senator Art Eggleton to Guelph

Senator Eggleton, Chair of Senate Committee on Social Affairs, will discuss the Senate Report In from the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness.

Norfolk Street United Church, 75 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario

All are welcome to attend. No pre-registration required.


For more information:

Contact the office of:
Frank Valeriote, Member of Parliament
40 Cork Street East, Guelph
519-837-8276

or visit the Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Eliminiation website.

Ontario Heritage Trust honours volunteers and communities for contributions to conservation

TORONTO, February 18, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today, the Ontario Heritage Trust announced the recipients of its annual programs recognizing contributions to conserving Ontario's heritage.

"Each year, many volunteers and communities work to identify, preserve, protect and promote our history," said Dr. Thomas H.B. Symons, Chairman of the Ontario Heritage Trust. "This is an opportunity to recognize their leadership and celebrate their achievements in conserving Ontario's heritage."

The Trust's recognition programs honour achievements in built, cultural and natural heritage conservation. The Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award is the highest award given through the programs. This year's program recipients include:

...55 young volunteers being recognized as Young Heritage Leaders. Of these, 35 (one individual and two groups) will receive the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement. The individual recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's Award also wins a $2,000 post-secondary scholarship, jointly funded by the Ontario Heritage Trust and program sponsors Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life.

...139 volunteers being honoured through the Heritage Community Recognition Program for local conservation activities. Of these, 10 individuals with contributions over a period of 25 years or more will receive the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement.

...Two communities being recognized through the Community Leadership Program will receive the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Community Leadership for demonstrating exemplary leadership in heritage conservation and promotion.

Presentation events for the Young Heritage Leaders and Heritage Community Recognition Program recipients are held in local communities, coordinated by the nominating councils and schools. The Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award recipients will be presented with their awards at Queen's Park in Toronto on February 25.

"Heritage Week marks a great opportunity to celebrate the many commitments and contributions of volunteers and communities striving to preserve local heritage across this province," said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture. "Their efforts and dedication help make Ontario a diverse and vibrant place to live."

Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life have supported the Young Heritage Leaders program since its inception with funding through the companies' national corporate citizenship program.

"We have sponsored Young Heritage Leaders over the past decade because we appreciate the value of encouraging youth to take the lead in preserving local heritage and ecology," said Jan Belanger, Assistant Vice-President, Community Affairs, for Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. "We are honoured our long-term support helps the Ontario Heritage Trust recognize and inspire young leaders to greater involvement as we all work to build stronger communities together."

The Ontario Heritage Trust is an agency of the Government of Ontario, dedicated to identifying, preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario's heritage for the benefit of present and future generations.

The Treasures of "The Ward": An Illustrated Guide to Old Guelph's Best Kept Secret

Photo courtesy Guelph Museums

GUELPH Ontario February 18, 2011 - The Guelph Historical Society Presents:

EVENINGS WITH HISTORY

Guest Speaker: Dr. Terry Crowley

March 1, 2011 at 7:30 pm

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
Corner of Norfolk and Suffolk Streets

What we commonly refer to as “The Ward” is probably the least-known part of the old city. In this illustrated lecture, retired professor Terry Crowley will walk us through parts of Ward One Guelph and reveal some of the heritage gems to be found for those who venture on the quest.

Dr. Crowley, a resident of Guelph since 1971, moved to the City to work in the History Department at the University of Guelph. He served as the department chair from 2003 to 2008 and retired in 2010. Terry is an award-winning historian who has authored more than a dozen books in Canadian history.

Canadians donated more than 640,000 gift-filled shoe boxes to the world’s needy children in 2010

New, convenient option to pack boxes online available year-round

CALGARY, February 10, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Thank you Canada, you did it again! A total of 640,714 shoe boxes packed with toys, hygiene items and school supplies were collected across the country during the 2010 Operation Christmas Child campaign. That was slightly more than the 2009 total of 640,569.

Distribution of the 2010 shoeboxes in the developing world has already begun. During the next few weeks, children in Haiti, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Argentina, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Chile, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Guatemala, and Venezuela will be receiving boxes packed by caring Canadians.

"We are very grateful for the participation of people of all ages in Operation Christmas Child again in 2010," said Randy Crosson, director of Operation Christmas Child Canada. "Each shoe box is a chance to show hurting children around the world that they are loved by God and by us, and the generosity of Canadians has given us the opportunity to bless over 640,000 children globally."

Thousands of people chose to pack their shoe boxes online this year, taking advantage of Operation Christmas Child's new service that enables visitors to our website to choose shoe box gifts, write a personal note and add a photo, and make a donation.

All shoe boxes packed online in 2010, plus all shoe boxes from Quebec in 2010, are part of a 50,000-box commitment to Haiti, where the need for hope and a reminder of God's love remains very strong after a deadly earthquake in early 2010 and cholera epidemic in late 2010.

Canadians wishing to become involved in Operation Christmas Child can pack a shoe box online at any time of year ( http://www.samaritanspurse.ca/occ/sbintro.aspx), and/or can contact Samaritan's Purse Canada to learn more about volunteering with the organization, donating gift box items, and traveling on shoe box distribution trips.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief and development organization. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and hand-delivered more than 77 million shoe box gifts to children in 125 countries around the world affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, disease, and famine.

All Aboard!!

Renowned Canadian Fiddler Scott Woods from Fergus Ontario will be pulling into Guelph to deliver a live presentation of his all new 2011 show called All Aboard!

GUELPH, Ontario February 7, 2011 - All Aboard! is an old time fiddle variety show featuring Canadian Open and Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champion Scott Woods and a band of incredibly talented performers. The show delivers a collection of old time fiddle music in the style of Canadian Fiddle Icon Don Messer, along with traditional country songs, gospel favourites, trick fiddling and some sensational Canadian step dancing sure to delight all.

The Scott Woods Band travels across Canada each year performing a limited number of engagements, all of which help to support churches, charities and other community groups. This ‘too good to miss’ concert will take place at Norfolk Street United Church on Saturday April 9th at 7 pm and proceeds help to support our church Outreach projects.

Find out more about Scott and his Band at his website

Tickets for this top notch entertainment are very reasonably priced at only $20 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under and can be purchased at the church, corner of Norfolk and Cork Streets, 9 am until noon, Monday through Friday or by calling 519-822-6165.

The Salvation Army Elects Canadian as its Next International Leader

Commissioner Linda Bond to become The Salvation Army's 19th General

TORONTO, January 31, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Salvation Army has today announced its new world leader and the 19th General will be Canadian-born Commissioner Linda Bond.

Commissioner Bond becomes the third woman and the fourth Canadian to hold the post of General of The Salvation Army since the international church and charitable organization was founded 146 years ago.

The Commissioner, who currently heads up the church and registered charity's work in the Australian Eastern Territory, was elected by The High Council of The Salvation Army made up of senior leaders from around the world who met this week in Sunbury-on-Thames near London, England.

Commissioner Linda Bond (64) will have the title General-elect until she succeeds the current world leader General Shaw Clifton, who retires at the beginning of April.

Once in post as General of The Salvation Army, the Commissioner will become the head of more than one million Salvationists in 123 countries. The Salvation Army also has more than 100,000 employees who between them communicate in 175 different languages.

In recent days and months, The Salvation Army has been involved in relief work in the aftermath of the Australian floods, the devastating mudslide in Brazil, floods in Sri Lanka, and the New Zealand earthquake.

Commissioner Bond comes to the role of General of The Salvation with 42 years experience of Christian ministry and leadership.

Since 2008 Commissioner Bond has headed up The Salvation Army's work across Eastern Australia, a huge territory with its headquarters in Sydney. This includes the recently devastated state of Queensland where The Salvation Army continues to be heavily involved in assisting victims of widespread flooding.

Prior to this, the Commissioner worked at Salvation Army International Headquarters (IHQ) in London, as the Secretary for Spiritual Life Development and International External Relations. This was her second spell at IHQ where she had previously served as Under Secretary for Personnel in the mid 1990s.

As a Salvation Army officer (ordained minister of religion and leader) Commissioner Bond has served in local corps (church) ministry, on the staff of Salvation Army national and regional (divisional) headquarters and as part of the training staff for new officers in her home territory of Canada and Bermuda. During those years she also served as a divisional and subsequently a leader of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda.

Other appointments have included divisional leadership roles in the Manchester region of the United Kingdom between 1998 and 1999, and as Territorial Leader in the USA Western Territory of The Salvation Army.

During the past five years under the leadership of General Shaw Clifton, the work of The Salvation Army has expanded into 12 new countries. The Salvation Army is now in 123 countries. During his term General Clifton established the Salvation Army's International Social Justice Commission, based in New York USA and the Army's Centre for Spiritual Life Development in London. The General and Commissioner Helen Clifton have also actively worked to aid the plight of struggling women and children around the world, including mobilising The Salvation Army in a concerted effort against human trafficking. Increasing the role of women in Salvation Army leadership has been of special concern to General Clifton and he has appointed many more women to senior leadership positions around the world than has occurred previously.

About The Salvation Army:

The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and more than 120 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community.