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CANADA CANADA CANADA CANADA
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AMERICANA 1999 ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS CONFERENCE
Canada will host the third bi annual "Pan American Environmental
Technology Trade Show and Conference, March 24 to 26, 1999 in
Montreal (Quebec). Entitled, "The Gateway to the Americas for the
Environmental Industry", the conference will have 4,000 participants
viewing environmental products in 400 trade show booths. The
conference will deal with seven subject areas. They include water and
wastewater management; air quality; soil remediation; hazardous waste;
ISO 14000 and environmental management systems (EMS). Registration
is $560. For more information ph. Americana 99, ph. (514) 270- 7110,
fax (514) 270- 7154, email info@americana.org,
website http://www.americana.org/
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ITEC- MINERAL INC. MINE TAILINGS ENVIRONMENTAL
REMEDIATION
Don't have enough money to clean up your mine tailings? You are a
government and left with bankrupt mining properties with old leaking
tailings? Then you can call ITEC-Mineral Inc., Montreal. The company
reprocesses the tailings with its NEVARM technology. It extracts valuable
metals, sells them on the market, and uses the money to clean up the mine
tailings and establish a strong and secure second generations tailings pond.
The process neutralizes acid tailings and substantially reduces toxicity. The
company can clean contaminated land and free it for greenspace revegetation,
or for redevelopment. ITEC has operations at old gold mine tailings sites at
Norebec Manitou, Quebec and Boulder, Colorado. Contact Jean Larivee,
ITEC-Mineral Inc., 1800 McGill College Ave., Suite 2800, Montreal,
(Quebec) H3A 3J6, Tel. (514) 281-8434, fax (514) 281-6247
Email: general@itecmin.com Website at http://www.itecmin.com/
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FREE CANADIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY
SOFTWARE AVAILABLE
Natural Resources Canada has announced the availability of a new
software tool for evaluating renewable energy technology projects.
The software called RETScreen, is a standardized project analysis
software that facilitates the identification of cost-effective deployment
opportunities for renewable energies. The following models are currently
available: wind energy, small hydro, photovoltaic, solar ventilation air
heating and biomass heating. Three new models which deal with solar water
heaters, passive solar heating and ground source heat pumps, will be added
to the tool in August 1999. For more information contact Natural Resources
Canada at Tel. (450) 652-4621 or fax (450) 652-5177 or email rets@nrcan.gc.ca.
The software can be downloaded free or charge at website: http://retscreen.gc.ca
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ELIZABETH MAY BEGINS TOUR TO SAVE
CANADA'S FORESTS
In a flat tone without over statement, Elizabeth May documents
the poor government management of forests in her book, "At the
Cutting Edge - The Crisis in Canada's Forests". Now Elizabeth
May, Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Canada will team
up with film maker/activist Shelley Wine for a national tour to stop
the clear cutting of Canada's precious remaining forests. The tour
will begin on March 8th, 1999 on International Women's Day and
travel across Canada and culminate on April 22nd (Earth Day).
If you would like more information about the tour call Colleen
at Sierra Club of Canada, Ottawa, ph. (613) 241-4611, or 1 888
810 4204.
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BEYOND REGULATION - VOLUNTARY MEASURES BY IISD
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
completed a report entitled, "Beyond Regulation, Exporters and
Voluntary Environmental Measures", written by Robert Kerr, Aaron
Cosbey, IISD and Ron Yachnin with the Conference Board of Canada.
The report speaks to the economic competitive advantage that can be
gained by companies and industry sectors that voluntarily implements
environmental efficiency programs. It reports on successful use of
voluntary and non regulatory initiatives (VNRIs) by companies like
Trans Alta, Nortel, and Kraft Canada. The IISD report warned, however,
that "in spite of the effectiveness of voluntary challenges such as ARET
and the interesting revising the VCR, it appears that the momentum to
develop VNRIs in the style of voluntary challenges in waning. The work
by the New Directions Group indicates that civil society wants programs
with more consultation in goal setting and tougher measures regarding
accountability and verifiability." Also it reports that, "the issue of free
riders (companies that don't participate) diminishes the credibility and
recognition of voluntary challenges." Contact IISD at 161 Portage Ave.
East, 6th Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 0Y4, Tel. (204) 958- 7700
fax (204) 958- 7710, email info@iisd.ca, website http://www.iisd.ca/
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APPLY FOR NAFTA GRANTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
COOPERATION PROJECTS IN THE U.S., CANADA, AND MEXICO
The North American Fund for Environmental Cooperation (NAFEC)
will accept pre -proposals for review for 1999 from Mexico, Canada,
and the United States. Deadline for application is April 6, 1999. The
Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) staff in Montreal
will assist applicants in preparing their pre- proposals right up until
March 12, 1999. They will provide feedback on drafts, etc. It is
recommended that applicants submit their pre proposals as early as
possible in the process. For more information, please contact NAFEC
at Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), 393 St.-Jacques
W., Room 200 Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1N9, Tel. (514) 350- 4357,
Fax (514) 350-4314, email NAFEC@ccemtl.org . To obtain the full version
of the 1999 Call for pre- proposals, which includes criteria and guidelines
for submissions, go to
the website http://cec.org/english/nafec/preprop2.cfm?format=1
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ONTARIO LIBERALS RELEASE POLLUTION STRATEGY
Dalton McGuinty, Leader of the Liberal Party of Ontario issued a
statement, February 24, 1999, saying that they would, "crackdown
on polluters and would start by hiring 100 new environmental inspectors
and prosecution staff". Stating that, "Premier Mike Harris can't be trusted
to protect our environment...", McGuinty stated that, "Harris slashed
the environment ministry's budget by 45% and cut ministry staff by one
third — 714 job." For more information contact, Duncan Fulton,
Ontario Legislature, Queen's Park, Toronto, ph. (416) 325- 7157.
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AWMA ONTARIO BREAKFAST MEETING ON THE ENVIRONMENT
The Air and Waste Management Association of Ontario will host an
environmental business breakfast in Hamilton, Ont., Thursday, March
4, 1999. The guest speaker is Mark Bekkering, Regional Municipality
of Hamilton-Wentworth who will speak on environmental management
systems and ISO 14000, using the region of Hamilton Wentworth as an
example. It will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Garden's Cafe
in the Royal Botanical Gardens, Headquarters Building, 680 Plains Road
West, Burlington, Ont. The cost is $35 ($30 for AWMA members). To
register contact Stephen Toplack, AWMA-OS Hamilton Breakfast Series,
C.V. Environmental Services, Hamilton, Ph. (905) 389- 2624,
fax (905) 389- 1233, email cves@icom.ca
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CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON COMPLIANCE AND EMS
The 7 th Annual Environmental Compliance and Due Diligence
Conference will be held April 7 and 8, 1999 in Toronto at the
Regal Constellation Hotel. Tom Davey, Publisher of Environmental
Science& Engineering magazine, one of the conference organizers
reports the conference this year added issues related to greenhouse
gas emissions and to environmental management systems(EMS).
Roger Cotton from the law firm, Tory Tory Deslauriers & Binnington,
will speak on "the New Framework for Environmental Compliance".
Robert Milne from Enbridge/Consumers Gas will speak on "Emissions
Trading in Practice" for greenhouse gases. Cost $679.45. Call
ph. (905) 727- 4666, fax (905) 841- 7271.
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UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA CONDUCTS TRAINING FOR
INDIA'S ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY
The Ministry of Environment & Forests of India has asked the University
of Ottawa to draw up a detailed training program for training sessions
starting from February 23, 1999, to be completed by 31 March 1999.
The contract came as a result of the strong effort of the Canadian Embassy
post in Delhi to contact and help bidding groups out of Canada. The
proposal was first learned about December 10, 1998 when the Canadian
embassy heard India was looking for appropriate foreign environmental
training institutes. The Canadian Embassy post swung into action and
requested IBOC to help in arranging a suitable proposals within two weeks
time. With full support of PSA ( Linda Brazeau) and extra-ordinary efforts
of Molly Jo Beauchamp of IBOC and we were able to submit seven
expressions of interest (five serious offers) from Canada. After careful
evaluation, the World Bank in consultation with the Indian Ministry of
Environment & Forests chose the offer from the University of Ottawa in
consortium with Senes Consulting Inc., Canada. In order to make the most
out of this opportunity, the post is encouraging MOEF to consider asking the
17 pollution control board officers to also attend AMERICANA'99 to be held
at Montreal from 24-26 March 1999.
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INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
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ASPEN INSTITUTE REPORT ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF ENVIRONMENT
The Aspen Institute has issued a study, entitled, "Uncovering Value -
Integrating Environmental and Financial Performance". It was prepared
by a diverse group of corporate, financial, governmental and environmental
officers who paid particular attention to how financial institutions value,
or fail to value, corporations with integrated environmental planning. The
Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit educational institution dedicated
to enhancing the quality of leadership through informed dialogue. The study
reported success stories. For example, it found that Anheuser-Busch, concerned
about recycling, developed an aluminum can that is 33 percent lighter and a
recycling plan that saves the company $200 million a year. DuPont developed
a family of herbicides that dramatically reduced herbicide application per acre
with no drop in crop yields. More than 200 million fewer pounds of chemicals
are applied to the soil each year because of the development, which means 4 to
6 billion pounds less waste. That breakthrough enabled DuPont to jump from
eighth to second in market share in the crop protection chemical industry.
Volvo increased its market share in one truck segment by 35 percent
over three years by differentiating its trucks on environmental factors
like fuel efficiency and lower emissions. As a result, Volvo's truck
operations jumped from 30 percent to 56 percent of the company's
operating income in a three-year period. ITT Nokia's market share in
the Netherlands for 24-inch televisions increased by 57 percent and their
gross revenue by 73 percent in the month after a consumer testing magazine
rated their product as a "best buy," based in part on energy consumption,
recycling, materials and use of hazardous materials. Contact, The Aspen
Institute, Suite 1070, 1333 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., Washington,
DC 20036, ph. (202) 736- 5800; fax (202) 467- 0790,
email kodonnell@aspeninst.org. Website http://www.aspeninst.org/ Or
contact Jack Riggs ph. 202-736-5820 or Scott Treibitz 703-276-2772.
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JAPANESE COMPANIES COMMIT TO ACHIEVING ZERO EMISSIONS
Under new voluntary initiatives, some Japan's leading companies are
developing their business plans to achieve zero emissions of pollutants
to their air and water. The first sector companies to adopt zero emissions
is the beer industry. Kirin Beer, Sapporo Beer, Asahi Beer and Suntory
have opted in to achieving zero emissions to air and water. Also,. Fuji Xerox
has committed. Companies which have decided to adopt zero emissions
include Honda Auto, Sharp Electronics, Hitachi, and NEC. Companies which
are seriously contemplating achieving zero emissions in Japan include Coca Cola,
Sanyo and Nihon Seishi Paper. For more information contact Anders Karlsson,
ZERI Foundation at website http://www.zeri.org
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GIL FRIEND INTRODUCES "BUSINESS METABOLICS"
SOFTWARE
Business Metabolic's is an environmental performance software
that delivers new insight into business efficiency. It is an environ-
mental performance indicators software which makes resource
efficiency and productivity a visible part of daily business decisions.
Business Metabolics can help your company meet the central business
challenge by processing and analyzing your company's utility and other
operating data; generating key indicators -- such as resource productivity
and throughput efficiency trends, and more -- that will help optimize
environmental and economic performance; and benchmarking performance
between companies and facilities. Business Metabolics reduces time spent
on data gathering and analysis; simplifies environmental reporting; adds
insight for both management and decision making; and turns environmental
reporting into a strategic business tool. For more information, or to download
a free demo version of Business Metabolics, go to the website,
http://www.eco-ops.com/eco-ops/NaturalLogic.
Or call Gil Friend at Strategic Sustainability ph. 1-888-ECO-OPS-1
or Tel. 510-548-7904, fax 510-849-2341, email gfriend@eco-ops.com
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WATER, NOT OIL BECOMING FLASH POINT IN MIDDLE EAST
Following the year 2000, the struggle for fresh clean water will become
of greater importance than protecting oil supplies for the U.S. and Europe.
Population growth, industrial development, and increased macro agriculture
has pushed up the demand for water in Middle East beyond the available
supply. To address the issue a special conference is being held, entitled,
"Creating Water for A Sustainable Future — A Regional Water Forum",
March 10 & 11, 1999, in Amman, Jordan. The geographic focus will be
on Jordan, Palestinian Authority areas in the West Bank and Gaza, and
Israel.
Keynote Speakers will include Yasser Arafat, President of the
Palestinian Authority; Mikhail Gorbachev, President of Green Cross
International; Prime Minister, and HRH Prince El-Hassan bin-Tal, and
The Honorable Hani El-Mulki, Minister of Water and Irrigation, the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The focus of the session will be to
estimate the demand for and supply of fresh water during the next 20
years from a regional perspective. Investigate the regional potential of
"demand management" (e.g. conservation, water re-use, and water price
reform) as a means of addressing future water deficits. For more information
about the conference contact Sahana Dharmapuri, The Center for Middle
East Peace & Economic Cooperation, 633 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C., Tel. (202) 624- 080, fax (202) 624 0855
email sahana@centerpeace.org; website at http://www.centerpeace.org
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ECUADOR STOPS MINING, LOGGING, AND OIL DRILLING
IN ITS FORESTS
Ecuador declared a swath of Amazon jungle twice the size of the state
of Delaware off limits to oil drilling, mining, lumbering and colonization.
Ecuador's President Jamil Mahuad's decree strengthened legislation
controlling the economic exploitation of the Cuyabeno- Imuya and
Yasuni national parks, which together total 2.7 million acres. The decree
blocks planned oil exploration in the Cuyabeno-Imuya park that
had angered Ecuador's environmental groups. The two parks, located
close together, are located near Ecuador's borders with Peru and Colombia
and contain a vast system of environmentally sensitive rivers and lakes,
ecologists say. Story from Associated Press.
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H3Y 2R5.
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Copyright (c) 1999 Canadian Institute for
Business and the Environment, Montreal
All rights reserved.
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