Auckland in the morning

Could it be? Am I actually in New Zealand in again? This little country that captured my imagination and admiration 3 years ago is once again my home. I’m ecstatic!

This time I’m here on a three month internship with the New Zealand Green Building Council in downtown Auckland, in the North Island. Unfortunately, everyone I’ve told so far while in NZ about my job seems to have no clue what I’m talking about. This doesn’t necessarily surprise me as this country is notorious for its poorly designed homes. No insulation and no proper heating systems mean that this winter (switched seasons you see) I will be freezing!
Lucky for New Zealand I love it no matter what! Also, the opportunity for improvement is massive!

A few other things that make this country special include:
- every toilet has dual flushing
- being bare foot downtown is very, very common
- pedestrians do NOT have the right of way.

IRIS Speaker Series: Urban Forest Studies in the GTA and UFORE launch

IRIS Speaker Series: Urban Forest Studies in the GTA + Keele Campus UFORE Report

Monday, February 8th, 2010
1:30pm to 3:00pm
Room N280, York Lanes, York University

Lionel Normand and Meaghan Eastwood
Urban forest studies in the GTA
Mr. Lionel Normand, Terrestrial Biologist (TRCA) and Ms. Meaghan Eastwood, Urban Forestry Technician (TRCA), will present on TRCA’s current urban forest study project providing an in depth look at its intentions, partnerships and collaborations, study methodology, findings, recommendations, stakeholder consultation and expected outcomes.
TRCA manages a number of urban forest studies within the GTA in partnership with municipalities and other Conservation Authorities.

Dr. Cecilia Tagliavia
Do you know the value of York’s urban forest?
Dr. Tagliavia, Ecology Consultant and IRIS Senior Fellow, has been examining the Keele campus’ urban forest canopies in both existing blocks of natural forests (woodlots) and in man-made urban forests (gardens, recreational areas, and parklands).

When: Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 305
Time: 10:00am to 11:00am
Where: 305 York Lanes

York University, in partnership with the ECOAR Institute for Citizenship in Brazil, has received observer status for the upcoming UN climate change conference (COP15) in Copenhagen.  Together we will be holding a 2 hour side-event, aimed at international delegates from the North and South, entitled “Global Forum on Climate Justice for the Disenfranchised” on December 15th, 2009. Check out the YFile story about the side event.

The event will feature a panel of climate justice experts from Brazil, the Canadian Arctic, South Africa and India who will speak about climate change issues and adaptive initiatives undertaken in their respective countries. We will hear about the activities already underway, such as an international course on climate change in Brazil and several pilot intervention/demonstration projects throughout our representatives’ countries. Multimedia exhibits including videos, poster, photos and art will be used to show just how far we’ve already come!

Please check out the poster!