The grass is greener when you're green :)

Someone left an article in our staff room recently with the sad news that the earth is warming faster than we knew..."read it and weep"

It is so darn easy to get down when the world is so messed up!

But becoming overwhelmed and sitting around doing nothing doesn't make us feel any better, and it doesn't fix the problem. If everyone says "there's nothing we can do!" then we are absolutely right.

So green keeners like me find even the smallest things we can do to try and make a difference. And guess what? This is actually good for you!

Here are 10 reasons why green people are happier. Maybe one or 2 of these can help if you are feeling blue about how red hot things are getting :D

www.ecohustler.co.uk/green-happy


Also don't forget that there are sooooo many people around the world and close to home that are working on solutions to a better world, and if young folks like Boyan Slat keeping building on their ideas, there is hope for us yet - so don't give up!! We may get those oceans cleaned up one day!

Check out this site for your break time viewing boyanslat.com and see what I mean. Do you think his plan will work?

Sustaining Our World - poster time!

Story of Solutions

I have been a big fan of the Story of Stuff Project from the very first video they produced! Today they launched another great one - The Story of Solutions. Enjoy :D
Story of Solutions



Cheers to changing the game and working towards something better! We can do it people!!

Have more time to watch good stuff? Please visit the Story of Stuff web site to check out more of their great videos, such as the Story of Bottled Water, The Story of Make up, and the Story of Change.
www.storyofstuff.org

Sustaining Our World 2013

The Britannia Green Team is hosting a Sustaining Our World event to wrap up Waste Reduction Week with a Sustainability Fair, a Race to Zero Waste, and a film screening on Sunday October 27th.

For the Sustainability Fair in Gym D from 12-5pm, we have invited people and organizations working towards sustainable solutions to come and share their efforts for our community, so come on down and see all the good happening in our world already!

Join us for hands on activities including a recycling craft zone, marimba music fun and workshops with the Urban Weavers and the Strathcona Green Zone.

If you and your friends or family enjoy a fun challenge, be sure to sign up for the 2nd Annual Britannia Race to Zero Waste which will have teams finding clues and working through activities together as they explore positive green initiatives in our neighbourhood!

We'll end the day with a screening of the movie Clean Bin Project from 7-9pm. This film follows the ultimate zero waste challenge this community has ever seen and is bound to inspire you!

Stay tuned for more details on the event which we will post here as we go, as well as registration information for the race, and we hope to see you there! :)

Please contact Kathy Whittam if you have any questions or feedback for this event at kathy.whittam@vancouver.ca

A world of good

Feeling like the world just can't be saved? Tired of all the bad news that has you believing humans don't care about the earth any more?

Then here is your break time viewing for the day - a dose of inspiration from Paul Hawken, author of many books including "Blessed Unrest". The revolution to build a better world has been under way for a long time, and in this video you will see "how the largest movement in the world came into being...and why no one saw it coming". Enjoy!

Sustaining Our World - Final Update

We are ready for a wonder-full day tomorrow for the Sustaining Our World event! We predict a nice break from the rain between the hours of 12-5 pm over Britannia Community Centre and the surrounding area for every one keen to get out and celebrate all things green with us! :)

Our Sustainability Fair will be held in the cafeteria of the Britannia Secondary school, and the entrance is right off the oval track & field. Here you can:
* enjoy some Sustainability shorts - a random sampling of amazing short videos to inform and inspire
* make seed bombs to spread new growth around your community
* create something beautiful from recycled materials
* help us map out the best green places in the neighbourhood
* chat with great people from Free Geek and BC Hydro
* support the Britannia Secondary Environment Club by bringing down your bottles, cans, cell
   phones, Ipods or mp3 players to contribute to their drives


Registration for the Britannia Race to Zero Waste will finish at 12:30pm so we can be prepared for the race to begin at 1pm. Teams can be 2-3 adults/youth and up to 4 members if 2 are under 12 yrs old. Recommended donation for the race is $20/team.

For teams who are not pre-registered, to be able to earn the most bonus points it will be helpful if you have a camera (or phone with camera capability). Prizes are for the teams who
* win the race with the fastest time
* earn the most bonus points
* show the most keen-to-be-green team spirit!! : )

See posts below for other information, or better yet just come on down and join us as we highlight all that is good and bright green in our community!

Sustaining Our World - update

The Britannia Green Team has a new logo with many thanks to Nana for her creative work! : )

The Sustaining Our World event is only a few days away - Sunday Oct 21st from 12:00 - 5:00 pm - so here's an update:

Registration for the Britannia Race to Zero Waste will now stay open until noon on race day. (instead of closing on the 19th)
With Mother Nature being so unpredictable in the weather department lately, we expect some fair weather teams may be up for the adventure of the race once they know the challenge won't include getting drenched to the bone. ;)

I know real Vancouverites won't let the weather stop them being part of a super fun time - so feel free to register your team in advance! (Activity # 65612.411BR)

Remember, only one team member needs to sign up, and teams can be 2-3 adults/youth, and up to 4 people if 2 are under 12 yrs. We already have one team with 2 kids signed up - if they can do it so can you!

The registration fee is by donation with a recommended rate of $20/per team.

If an amazing race is not your speed this Sunday, please feel free to come by the Sustainability Fair in the Britannia Secondary School cafeteria and see what's happening!

Sustaining Our World - The Britannia Race to Zero Waste

Have you ever wanted to know more about all the bright green initiatives going on at Britannia and around our community?

Do you like to have fun and enjoy a good challenge?

Have you got a friend or family member who is as keen to be green as you are?

Then you should sign yourself up for the Britannia Race to Zero Waste this Sunday October 21st!

The race is part of the Sustaining Our World event being hosted by the Britannia Green Team, the Latin American Youth Club and the Britannia Secondary School Environment Club.

We were inspired to organize the Britannia Race to Zero Waste as a fun way for families and friends to get out in the community for a hands on learning experience. A team may consist of 2-3 adults/youth, or you may register as a family team up to 4 members (ie 2 adults & 2 children 12 yrs and under).

Evergreen is an amazing organization which held a Green City Race back in the spring. My family participated in that race and had an awesome time, so we have modeled many parts of this race based on that experience - only this race is all within walking distance of Britannia and will not require any transit!

The Britannia Race to Zero Waste will have teams solving a series of clues that will guide them between gardens, businesses, homes and community spaces showcasing just some of the green wonder of our neighbourhood.

Along the way teams will have a few challenges that they will need to complete, and lots of opportunity to earn bonus points as well, especially for teams that bring the most funk and the most keen-to-be-green team spirit!

The race will begin at the Britannia Secondary School cafeteria (entrance at the oval track & field) with teams to meet up at 12:30 to get ready. The race will begin at 1:00 pm and should take approximately 2 hours. We will wrap up with some awards for the teams that win for best time, most bonus points and the most faboo funkyness!

Registration fee per team is suggested $20! One person from each team needs to register, (activity # 65612.411BR) and all racers who sign up early will be contacted before Sunday with any further information you will need for race day.

Get ready racers - this is gonna be fun!! :D

For more details please contact kathy.whittam@vancouver.ca

Sustaining Our World - The Sustainability Fair

This weekend is fast approaching and it's time to share some more details on the Sustaining Our World event to be held on Sunday Oct 21st.

A family fun Bike Parade will begin at Grandview Park with a decorating station set up with Kickstand for those who want to get festive with their bikes. The parade will end at the Britannia Secondary School Cafeteria.

Between 12:00 - 5:00 pm the cafeteria will be home to our Sustainability Fair which will feature a few green groups willing to share inspiration on ways we can save power, consume less and reduce our waste.

We will have a viewing area for people who are interested in watching short clips on sustainability issues, and an area for creative people to have fun making art with an array of recycled materials.


Please come on down and support the Environmental Club from Britannia Secondary by bringing along your refundable bottles & cans for their Bottle Drive with Return It!





The students will also be collecting used cell phones for the Recycle My Cell Challenge, and another drive for Ipods and mp3 players. Don't let those small unused techno gadgets clutter your drawers anymore!


Our event will also be solar powered with thanks to a portable power pack from the Vancouver Renewable Energy Cooperative!

A space for fun, learning, supporting students from your community and getting rid of your stuff - who could ask for more?

Well, the Sustaining Our World event does have another way to participate for those who are really green keeners - the Britannia Race to Zero Waste! Details on the race and what registered teams need to know are coming up next.

Waste Reduction Week

The upcoming Sustaining Our World and Britannia Race to Zero Waste events on October 21st are a wonderful way to wrap up Waste Reducation Week in Canada which runs from October 15- 21st!

Visit www.wrwcanada.com for resources and events from across the country if you are keen to reduce waste like we are!

Download your own copy of Atlas (below) and encourage everyone in your work site and community to help ease his load...his back is getting tired after shouldering the burden of our world for so long. ;)

Sustaining Our World

Sustaining Our World is an event the Britannia Green Team, Latin American Youth Club and the Britannia Secondary School Environment Club are hosting to celebrate green initiatives at Britannia and within our community, as well as to help raise awareness of the Zero Waste concept.

The day will begin with a Bike Parade which will lead green keeners to the Britannia Secondary School cafeteria where people can enjoy our Sustainability Fair.  With a short film viewing area featuring clips on sustainability issues, along with tables featuring amazing organizations and businesses who try to make it easy for us all to be a little greener.

Another exciting feature to the day will be the Britannia Race to Zero Waste which is for teams (2-3 people) who want to enjoy a fun way to learn about sustainability while exploring our neighbourhood. Racers will solve a series of clues and complete a few challenges highlighting all we can do to Sustain Our World and achieve a Zero Waste community.

Bonus points for teams that bring the funk and show the most keen-to-be-green team spirit!

Registration for the race is $20/team and will close Friday October 19th. You may register at Britannia Community Centre in person, by phone or online. (Registration is only required for those who choose to participate in the race.)

All ages are invited to play along and the race will be a great family activity for those with children & youth who like a good challenge! :)

The Sustaining Our World event will run from 12:00-5:00 pm on Sunday, October 21st and all are welcome to drop by any time!

Further details on the Bike Parade, Sustainability Fair, and Britannia Race to Zero Waste will be posted here soon. 

Teams who sign up for the Britannia Race to Zero Waste will be contacted prior to the day of the event with everything they will need to know for race day.

Please contact the Britannia Green Team Co-ordinator  kathy.whittam@vancouver.ca if you have any further questions.

Hope to see you there!