Go Green Hudson Environmental Seminar.

Please join us at 7:30 p.m. on January 15 at the Hudson Community Centre (394 Main Road) for "Making Cents of Going Green." Kimon Valaskakis, PhD, will talk about why going green makes economic sense in these turbulent financial times. Admission is free.

Dr. Valaskakis's work with the Conserver Society Project of 1979 was a precursor to today's notion of sustainable development. He is a former ambassador of Canada to the OECD and the current president of the Club of Athens/Global Governance Group—an international initiative that seeks positive reforms in the management of globalization.

Remember your reusable bags this week.

The Défi Survivre Sans Emballage asks you to join the challenge to live without plastic bags and other packaging. The week-long challenge organised by Les Éditions le Mémento, a non-profit organisation that promotes citizen action in Quebec, starts today and continues through October 26. The idea is to bring your own bags when you go shopping and your own coffee mug to the café, thereby reducing the amount of garbage generated by packaging.

The goal is to have 10,000 fewer packaging items used this week. Participants can register all the bags and disposable cups they did not use on the organisation's website at www.sansemballage.org.

Two important events coming up in Hudson.

Pesticide seminar:

The town of Hudson's Environment Committee is pleased to present a special seminar titled "From the Ground Up: Pesticides and the power of local communities", by Dr. Pralle, a professor of political science at Syracuse University.

Dr. Pralle studies environmental advocacy in Canada and the United States, with a particular interest in pesticides use, including Hudson's groundbreaking by-law. The seminar will take place on Sunday 28 September at 7:30 PM, at the Stephen F. Shaar Community Centre 394 Main Rd, Hudson. Admission is free. Contact Chris Buddle for more information at 514-449-7559.

Hazardous waste drop-off:

The Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC has set up several locations in Saint-Lazare and Hudson where you can drop off old paint cans, oils, paint thinners, insecticides, pesticides, batteries, tires, computers, printers and microwave ovens. These things should never be put out with the regular trash as they can harm sanitation workers and leach toxic chemicals into the groundwater.

The MRC says that more than 90% of collected items will be reused and recycled. Please bring ID that proves you are a Vaudreuil-Soulanges resident. Only hazardous waste from domestic use will be accepted.

September 27, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.:

Hudson: 525, rue Main (Municipal garage)
Saint-Lazare: 1301, rue du Bois (Community centre)

First environmental seminar a success.

Go Green Hudson invited Jack Layton and Thomas Mulcair to speak at the first of our series of environmental seminars on June 16. The event was a great success. Layton and Mulcair shared their ideas on sustainability and CanadaÕs role in reducing global warming, and the enthusiastic crowd had pertinent questions for the politicians. We are encouraged by the success of this first seminar, and look forward to our next event which will focus on growing and eating local food.

Idling vehicles

Chris Ives sent us this note regarding pollution due to idling vehicles.

A lot of big diesel trucks/diggers/contractor-vehicles in Hudson these days, installing our expensive new water/sewage systems. Do these guys ever think of not idling their stinky engines when they really don't need to? Yesterday and today I myself approached two crews and asked them why not cut the engine if you are waiting. They looked at me as if (A) I came from another planet, and (B) I was nuts to dare ask them.

In Europe you get fined for non-compliance - plain and simple. The Japanese get serious too. At red traffic lights people turn their engines off - until the lights go from red to amber (before green). At stop signs and intersections there are sometimes signs with a pictures of a cyclist or pedestrians enveloped in a cloud of exhaust. There are good scientific, economic, and commonsense reasons - never mind plain old caring for our fellow-citizens and creatures.