tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327702492024-03-13T14:42:10.731-03:00The Children's Clean Air NetworkVision: IDLE-FREE - the next smoke-freeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-90492600830203701562007-11-12T23:49:00.000-04:002007-11-12T23:51:04.242-04:00Visit our new web siteGo here: <a href="http://www.childrencan.ca">www.childrencan.ca</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-72871779911225555572007-09-11T09:27:00.000-03:002007-09-14T21:37:46.164-03:00IDLE-FREE September-blitz begins in Halifax with first of five schools<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-rihSIpJ5NGXm7B83n1XFMEnWHQTHGvHE_T09iHQXdSoR4nmJzpELICHlBwMmtnaZeRm3dMIkU5HF39My6vXXIM3jVX8p71oSQvUGmoKSOErTCnWmKrYghQoDch_8xn9z3JS9A/s1600-h/Group+photo,+small+file.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108922954003368370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-rihSIpJ5NGXm7B83n1XFMEnWHQTHGvHE_T09iHQXdSoR4nmJzpELICHlBwMmtnaZeRm3dMIkU5HF39My6vXXIM3jVX8p71oSQvUGmoKSOErTCnWmKrYghQoDch_8xn9z3JS9A/s400/Group+photo,+small+file.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Parents, staff & students join Ron Zima (CCAN) and Fusion Print’s Colin Anderson, declaring Sir Charles Tupper School IDLE-FREE</span></div><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">The Children’s Clean Air Network is expanding its matchmaking between business and schools across Halifax. Five schools have pledged to go “idle-free” this month with local businesses sponsoring and investing in signs and various promotional items.<br /><br />Sir Charles Tupper School was the first school to launch this week, thanks to the generous support of Fusion Print & Imaging.<br /><br />“I used to have acute asthma when I was a kid. Back then, maybe one or two kids in a class had asthma. Now, kids everywhere have it. Getting the word out on cutting out needless vehicle exhaust is important to us,” says Colin Anderson, of Fusion Print & Imaging.<br /><br />The entire school was on-hand at an assembly to give us a rousing kick-off to the campaign. Business sponsors invest in IDLE-FREE traffic signs, bumper stickers, a large banner, IDLE-FREE buck hand-outs and incentives for students to create artwork used for future IDLE-FREE bucks.<br /><br /><strong>For your own supply of IDLE-FREE bucks (to give to other motorists) or your own non-permanent stick IDLE-FREE bumper sticker, send your request and contact information to:</strong> <strong><a href="mailto:rzima@accesswave.ca"><span style="color:#000099;">rzima@accesswave.ca</span></a></strong>. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-38623357362794805232007-06-03T19:56:00.000-03:002007-06-06T08:35:19.072-03:00Halifax school buses gearing for 100K savings and cleaner air for kids<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Stock Transportation, the company that transports students across the Halifax Regional School Board system, is stepping up its partnership with The Children’s Clean Air Network to cut idle-time across its fleet of 263 buses. </span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Double-click on the image below to hear General Manager Brian Hackett's assessment of the progress so far. </span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puAxRVcSM1o"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071981753551106290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexFbomRxxlwH_OuJq9I5z_vALcFpiCAW7aLsVNGmtSMtRQIAfoilC5ttt8IdGOEZvhQDCFOc8G7S7S2G2ZH0Vmj8McNwV3G6up584n3UH4xmnzkk1NsptzopdahCHcUS3QBC3cA/s400/Brian+video+freeze-frame.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">The company figures it will easily save $100,000 dollars to its bottom line and eliminate several hundred tons of CO2 and other pollutants.<br /><br />“$100,000 dollars is pretty conservative. We think we’ll be able to save even more by coaching our drivers with the help of The Children’s Clean Air Network,” says Brian Hackett, General Manager of Stock Transportation.<br /><br />“We’re using a soft-sell approach to reach our drivers on the importance of clean air to kids. For example, we’re putting ‘cut idle time’ decals next to each ignition switch and reminders with pay stubs. The Children’s Clean Air Network also helped us with key messages from teachers and students. Our drivers are responding very positively. We’re delighted,” Hackett said.<br /><br />“We’re helping kids sell grown-ups on treating our air as if it were another landfill to avoid ,” says Ron Zima of The Children’s Clean Air Network. “The kids have the most to lose from poor air and the threat from climate change. When we position kids in front of adults on this, the adults respond.” Zima said.<br /><br />Carmelita Rowe is the principal of Kingswood Elementary School and an advisor to The Children’s Clean Air Network. She says, “Our school bus drivers are considered close members of the school family. Drivers personally consider our students’ health and safety a priority. When they’re reminded of the impact that diesel exhaust has on students, we’re confident they’ll shut the buses off whenever possible.” </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksgCCmgJrNgKMNv8qS-nfHK6coxC9zs5zwUyBoJnIItoSwB30HSKdfkbskI2odYkyhU79hHc56RsuPUKe4ew6dRN4R3mar0FU9aubZ5dXYueYNOhLQaGy6IhBzjZNKynaQyRbnQ/s1600-h/RZ,+Wendy,+Brian+small+file.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071983342689005826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksgCCmgJrNgKMNv8qS-nfHK6coxC9zs5zwUyBoJnIItoSwB30HSKdfkbskI2odYkyhU79hHc56RsuPUKe4ew6dRN4R3mar0FU9aubZ5dXYueYNOhLQaGy6IhBzjZNKynaQyRbnQ/s400/RZ,+Wendy,+Brian+small+file.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ron Zima, The Children's Clean Air Network, Stock Transportation driver Wendy MacKay, General Manager Brian Hackett.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-13437792866664932252007-05-07T14:39:00.000-03:002007-05-07T14:53:04.468-03:00Family Expo IDLE-FREE success<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPwtJOaVw9A"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061876903334717506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJJggT3Ffzzd2aVPuYo0PGsSL0fESdEGKtrWyVfi0lNZujhKw-b0yXejVEZBX2wYLmdeE_z-ErKoJe1KnjgqsyRAM1SfOMWjPQk40JSPPoeQpDysEOzr1vFGagVwDvnTpOsuyJA/s400/photo2++for+post+show+blog+post.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">The Children’s Clean Air Network was out in force at the “We Love Our Children” Family Expo this past weekend, <strong>the first IDLE-FREE event in Atlantic Canada</strong>. Conserve Nova Scotia was our main sponsor, and we greatly appreciated their support.<br /><br />Teacher/ student volunteers had a great time handing out thousands of IDLE-FREE bucks and speaking with passersby. Our message was very well received by the crowd.<br /><br />To experience our presence at the Expo, <strong>double-click on the first image above</strong> to view the short video featuring the kids talking about driving habits and the big picture regarding clean air and climate change. Most of what they say was from previous knowledge and what’s being discussed in school.<br /><br /><strong>Double click the second image below</strong> to take a tour via the The Children’s Clean Air Network expo photo album. </span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/gp/15997412@N00/153c8q"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061877435910662226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2L83nWyRoccCNKFeceAInvdBGoyeXYq8GEyld_hdpRdhCxLUIVBDLnS31jPa-C4koxifNZbSM5L-_D3uPEA3F2ZuGQutGci75u9_RS7Wu5LOK-Cx4Zd8k9hua0fxUfndkSBKs-A/s400/photo1+for+post+show+blog+post.jpg" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-12294099317361625052007-05-02T11:50:00.000-03:002007-05-02T16:47:32.647-03:00Atlantic Canada's first IDLE-FREE event<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">The Children's Clean Air Network is delighted to be sponsored by Conserve Nova Scotia to make this years' "We love our children Family Expo" Atlantic Canada's first IDLE-FREE event! </span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">What better place to educate and practice the habit of cutting out needless vehicle exhaust than at an event that celebrates the health and well-being of our most precious resource? For more information on the Expo, click on the image below.</span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.familyexpo.ca/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059976199917611042" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIidcHdZxWezLekGdB8aq9Xwyf1pipvZ02ZHk_YuAk4BBqE4IcXiKwtUFKzrjDCJHcYPxr8jJWoO8j5p8T38-F2UB6Kbab_dbC5m6D08q2Q1AHlsK3ZB79w6-GTkYEZh-ZglJ1HA/s400/Photo+for+blogpost.jpg" /></a></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Come visit us in <strong><span style="color:#000099;">booth #218</span></strong> and watch for Children's Clean Air Network volunteers in their IDLE-FREE t-shirts handing out IDLE-FREE bucks. Hope to see you there!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-16435056283242020222007-04-30T21:18:00.000-03:002007-05-01T09:32:40.210-03:00Media coverage of The Children's Clean Air Network<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Global News covers The Children's Clean Air Network launching another elementary school in Halifax to go IDLE-FREE.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Double-click on the image below to play the newscast report.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqcfIvDj0jI"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059383043459196946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3Hx8I0GCL6cJJ1D5NzaoDbn27mDMLFBYWp2Pq5EDz9KnYqHos6MmlyNcPZaQk3-lcb_HnwwRghKBwldCS4yadudYhZxOG9JJnJSIxFk3ON3CXZapmN2-V80DdCPh9Uiw6Xg7tQ/s400/Allan+Rowe+news+anchor+screenshot.jpg" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-90830648779498917582007-04-14T23:45:00.000-03:002007-04-14T23:53:17.522-03:00Media coverage of The Children's Clean Air Network<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">CTV News covers The Children's Clean Air Network launching another elementary school in Halifax to go IDLE-FREE.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Double-click on the image below to play the newscast report.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE-nGPraccY"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053481569923542594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6J2UVlv_ruyLrD3fK9Bg8fty9T41A-Yz49sV4PYtX-7pn7fbSyFBVK7aC3_ONF1uB-v2WNu5TCRScPWWiRCDKqBeI8wDaJLAoGZhYZ7mddhMwvQ4ixlVr3fGLpl9hbiLnpGfIbw/s400/Steve+Murphy+news+anchor+screenshot.jpg" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-24089786322581771282007-03-22T13:56:00.000-03:002007-03-22T15:33:46.478-03:00Kids inspire Halifax car dealer to go IDLE-FREE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaY8hHWYMc26PEFalswGBwew4z_PH_Uj4egAErqb62Sgdwr4sr2ZJQpbWWUrLy2ex87sYf7qGsF1XhEQtL2BGT2-qUi0R_9L7leHDVSta5UNj7dBVYmuBqXTQV3hQeueWiHKbYOQ/s1600-h/blog+post+with+caption.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044808102213994434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaY8hHWYMc26PEFalswGBwew4z_PH_Uj4egAErqb62Sgdwr4sr2ZJQpbWWUrLy2ex87sYf7qGsF1XhEQtL2BGT2-qUi0R_9L7leHDVSta5UNj7dBVYmuBqXTQV3hQeueWiHKbYOQ/s400/blog+post+with+caption.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">“It’s hard not to act when you see kids asking you to think about your actions, especially when you have kids of your own,” Mike Velemirovich says, referring to a video presented by The Children’s Clean Air Network. The video features kids from an elementary school in Hammonds Plains explaining the myths and facts about idling cars and the impact on their future.<br /><br />Velemirovich is the owner of Hillcrest Volkswagen in Halifax. “We used to warm up and idle 50 to 60 cars on the lot every cold day. We’ve cut out that practice with no difference to our business except that we’ll save $3,000 every year. And we expect we’ll cut nine tonnes of greenhouse gas annually. I’m thrilled,” Velemirovich says.<br /><br />“At my kids’ school, I continually see 20 to 30 parents idling. It’s such a waste. I’ve noticed that a lot of my kids’ friends have asthma, they’re coughing. So I’m pleased to partner with The Children’s Clean Air Network and adopt schools to go ‘idle free’. At Westmount School near our dealership in Halifax, we’ll be paying for signs and helping educate parents on idling. I see my car-dealer friends doing the same,” Velemirovich says.<br /><br />Velemirovich is the incoming president of The Nova Scotia Automobile Dealer's Association. His example should have an important ripple-effect within the business community and the car-dealer industry.<br /><br /><strong>See and hear Mike’s reasons for going IDLE-FREE in this brief video:</strong><br /><p align="center"><object height="250" width="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pAyrfwIcaHs"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pAyrfwIcaHs" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="325" height="250"></embed></object></p></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><strong>See and hear one of Mike’s service technicians debunking the three myths about idling in this brief video: </strong></span><br /><p align="center"><object height="250" width="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PZED_OgIdR4"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PZED_OgIdR4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="325" height="250"></embed></object></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-1170617600520539832007-02-04T15:31:00.000-04:002007-02-04T17:24:20.553-04:00The importance of Kentville<p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/132/1647/1600/151327/Kentville%20town%20logo.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/132/1647/320/240133/Kentville%20town%20logo.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><strong>“It’s not for me and you…but for our children…and our children’s children…if they’re going to have a world they can live in”</strong> says Mayor David Corkum of the Town of Kentville, launching the town’s anti-idling campaign on January 31st.<br /><br />The Children’s Clean Air Network applauds the move and was instrumental in its launch this past week.<br /><br />The mayor’s words are vital for children for a number of reasons.<br /><br />First and foremost, it shows the town is prepared to “walk the talk” to address the huge flow of toxins and greenhouse gas pouring into our air from needless idling. This will make the town’s vehicles and managers accountable to the public, while demonstrating leadership on the issue. No other mayor in Nova Scotia has taken this crucial step.<br /><br />This gives the town credibility to pursue and promote its public education campaign. It’ll also build public support for an eventual bylaw—which wouldn’t be possible otherwise. How can the town ask its citizens to stop idling while its own fleet wastes fuel and pollutes the air? </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Kentville's lead also creates peer pressure among other communities in Nova Scotia to follow their example.<br /><br />Another reason the mayor’s words are vital is because it gives children a voice in an area that threatens their health and their future.<br /><br />The message children want adults to get is that idling your vehicle needlessly around them is no longer acceptable behaviour. Just like second-hand cigarette smoke. The news and science regarding greenhouse gas and air pollution (like cigarette smoke) grows grimmer each day while nearly one in five kids in Nova Scotia now has asthma (Lung Association of Nova Scotia).<br /><br />The town is focusing part of its awareness campaign in locations where kids are most vulnerable and where their parents needlessly idle the most; schools and sports facilities. No-idling signs are being posted at the towns rink and indoor soccer stadium.<br /><br /></p></span><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/132/1647/1600/226681/Photo%20%26%20caption%20for%20blog.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/132/1647/400/107457/Photo%20%26%20caption%20for%20blog.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><br /><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></p></span><p align="left"><br /></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#009900;"></p><p></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></p><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Is idling simply a “smoke screen” issue to divert attention from other areas where emissions may be greater? Not at all. In fact, The Children’s Clean Air Network would argue that a public commitment on idling is one of the most important that government can make at this time. It has the power to set off a chain-reaction of public support.<br /><br />Cleaner air and cutting emissions is the number-one issue for Canadians. They’re asking to be educated and led on actions they can take, right now. Turning off a car or truck is the easiest thing to do that can have an enormous collective impact. There’s no need for a hybrid car, a retrofit, or an incentive program. Just turn your key off whenever you can.<br /><br />And, an important thing happens once someone embraces the relatively easy habit of turning off their vehicle. They’re captivated by the fact that they’re part of a collective solution instead of a collective problem. “Hey, this wasn’t hard to do. Where else can I make small changes that will have a big impact?”<br /><br />They feel they’ve taken ownership and action and want to do more. They begin to demand that their government and businesses do more.<br /><br />It’s why idling is considered the “lost leader” of environmental action. It draws you into action and buy-in to do much more, providing a means of action and positive reinforcement right away.<br /><br />Lastly, the mayor’s words are valuable for simply focusing on children as a reason for taking action. This goes right to the heart of the success that The Children’s Clean Air Network has achieved so far. Adults will buy-in much quicker when children are the message and the messengers.<br /><br />That’s why this video was created to launch The Children’s Clean Air Network this past September. Please forward it on to as many adults as you can. </span><br /><br /><p align="left"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zbY-4eVguis" width="400" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-1164254455842156192006-11-23T07:58:00.000-04:002007-03-06T17:21:31.626-04:00C100 and 92 CJCH Radio set to help clear the air for kids in Halifax<a href="http://www.cjch.ca/index.asp?CP=BBAR_1"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/132/1647/320/984442/CJCH%20logo.png" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p align="left"><a href="http://www.c100fm.com/index.asp?CP=BBAR_1"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 109px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" height="109" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/132/1647/320/406405/C100%20graphic.jpg" width="306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;">November 23, 2006<br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <strong>(To hear the radio spots, click on the video below)</strong><br /><br />C100FM, 92 CJCH and The Children’s Clean Air Network (CCAN) are joining forces to help clear the air for kids across Halifax. The CHUM radio stations have a strong track record in supporting children’s causes, including the C100 IWK Radiothon, the C100 Annual Toy Drive, and the 92 CJCH Hats and Mitts for Kids campaign.<br /><br />“The leading reason for hospital visits by kids in Nova Scotia is asthma. Motorists need to know that if they stop idling whenever they can, it’ll have a dramatic effect in cleaning up our air and reducing asthma attacks for kids across Halifax,” says Terry Williams, Program Director for C100 and 92 CJCH.<br /><br />“Our listeners are a natural fit for The Children’s Clean Air Network public service campaign. Many of them are mothers with children. When they hear the voice of the young girl in these spots asking her mother to stop her engine, to clear the air, save money and resources, we’re confident they’ll respond,” says Williams.<br /><br />“C100 and 92 CJCH are in a unique position to have a huge impact on this issue,” says Ron Zima of The Children’s Clean Air Network. “Many folks often idle their vehicles while listening to the radio. It’s the ideal medium for the message and the radio stations’ reach is wide, particularly with women who have children,” Zima says.<br /><br />A campaign of pre-produced public service announcements will begin airing on C100 and 92 CJCH in January after the busy Christmas season. Other cross-promotional activity with the radio stations is planned as well.</span> </span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><br /></span><strong><span style="color:#009900;">(To hear the radio spots, click on the video below)</span></strong><br /><object height="250" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fFE2tKadBHA"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fFE2tKadBHA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-1161024387457895762006-10-16T15:40:00.000-03:002006-10-16T16:04:25.523-03:00Mothers, the media and The Children’s Clean Air Network<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><strong>How would mothers would react if they saw a group of other adults smoking outside an elementary school? What if mothers were reminded of the fact that their car exhaust can be far worse on little lungs? What would they do?<em><br /></em></strong><br />The challenge is in reaching as many mothers as possible.<br /><br />Mothers and the media are very important to The Children’s Clean Air Network. That’s why I’ll be pleased to appear on an upcoming installment of “Just Between Us” on CJCH radio.<br /><br />Protecting their children’s welfare and air is a hot issue for moms everywhere. The challenge is getting them (like the rest of us) to remember to shut off their cars whenever possible.<br /><br />HRM has had surveys done in which people said that poor air quality was a key concern and that 80 per cent of people would stop idling if they were reminded. That’s why print and broadcast media is so important. It’s part of the mix to reach as many people as possible to remind them about turning off their car or truck whenever parked.<br /><br />That simple act alone, done together as citizens—mothers and fathers across Halifax, would save 5 million litres of fuel and avoid pumping 10,000 tonnes of CO2 and other bad elements into our kids’ air. And that’s if everyone avoided idling when parked for just 10 minutes per day. You’ll see lots of people and business fleets idling for much longer than that.<br /><br />The Children’s Clean Air Network has received media exposure in The Chronicle Herald, The Halifax Daily News, The Bedford Sackville Weekly News, CBC Radio’s Mainstreet, and Live at Five on CTV.<br /><br />Constant reminders in the media are critically important. Soon, The Children’s Clean Air Network will begin airing a series of compelling public service announcements featuring kids, on participating radio stations. It’s intended to reach idling moms and dads on their </span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">car radios.<br /><br />We’re pleased to report that 920 CJCH radio will soon talk about the issue for mothers. It’s hosted by three moms who relate to women on many hot topics. Click on their photo below to see upcoming program details.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><p align="center"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.betweenus.ca/index.php"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://static.flickr.com/81/271519648_008a228be9_m.jpg" /></a></p><br />Another great example of a mother in action, a mother who won’t rest, a mother who’s thinking about her kids’ future all of the time, is <strong>Anna-Maria Galante</strong>…who’s captured media attention of her own. Visit her blog <a href="http://greenribbons.blogspot.com/"><strong>here.</strong></a></span><br /><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-1160703220272287052006-10-12T21:25:00.000-03:002006-10-12T22:41:37.916-03:00Filtres for dirty buses<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/132/1647/1600/school%20bus%20exhaust.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/132/1647/400/school%20bus%20exhaust.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">School bus and large diesel vehicle exhaust can be a toxic source of bad air, particularly for young kids. The effect of these emissions on small lungs (never mind adults) can be catastrophic. They’re blamed for a host of children’s illnesses, from asthma to cancer.<br /><br />The good news is that the school bus fleet operated by Stock Transportation across Halifax Regional Municipality has just been replaced with many newer buses with cleaner exhaust.<br /><br />The bad news: look at all the older "smoking" diesel trucks and buses still out there. You'll want to avoid following one in traffic, if you can help it. Especially if your child in the back seat is asthmatic.<br /><br />To look into the future of where Halifax may be headed in eventually addressing this problem, read how one school district in Massachusetts is retrofitting its’ school bus fleet with filters. The impact on kids’ health and the environment is expected to be dramatic. Read the story <a href="http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/article_9862.shtml">here.</a> </span><br /><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">To read more about the filtering technology available, visit <a href="http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/retrofit.htm">here.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"> </p><br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-1159320611136225772006-09-26T22:26:00.000-03:002006-09-26T22:44:30.916-03:00The garage test<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">The STOP YOUR ENGINES campaign for me really started in earnest when I started talking to the kids at the elementary school in our subdivision. </span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><p align="center"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15997412@N00/253706801/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://static.flickr.com/115/253706801_a3808def14_m.jpg" /></a></p><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15997412@N00/253706801/"></div></a></span><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:0;" ></span><br />I had done some basic research on idling and had simplified the presentation for the grade fours, fives and sixes. Kids love imagining pictures in their heads, so I used statistics that would easily create images for them.<br /><br />That’s when the size of the problem really hit home for me. I’ll never forget the statistic from the federal government that states: “the average motorist traveling 20,000 km a year puts out 4 ½ tons carbon dioxide a year…or, about 3 x the weight of your car!” <div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><p align="center"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15997412@N00/253706800/"></a> </p><p align="center"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15997412@N00/253706800/"></a> </p><p align="center"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15997412@N00/253706800/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://static.flickr.com/98/253706800_529069a025_m.jpg" /></a></p><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15997412@N00/253706800/"></div></a></span><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15997412@N00/253706800/"></a></span><br />I created the slide to provide the picture for the kids’ imaginations. I still didn’t really quite believe it myself. Until almost a year later.<br /><br />I was backing my car into my garage, when I left the engine on for just a few extra seconds. When I got out and around my vehicle, I was overcome by the heaviness and sour taste of the air. The garage door was still open. And I was driving a new, highly efficient subcompact.<br /><br />I now believe that statistic.<br /><br />Try it yourself. If you have a garage, check to see what the air’s like in that confined space after only a few seconds. It’s unbelievable. For me, it reinforced the urge to turn my car off every chance I get. </span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Visit Natural Resources Canada's IDLE-FREE ZONE <a href="http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/communities-government/idling.cfm?attr=8">here.</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Visit The David Suzuki Foundation's Drive Smart site <a href="http://www.davidsuzuki.org/WOL/Challenge/Newsletter/Three.asp">here.</a><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-1158886188682836422006-09-21T21:48:00.000-03:002006-09-21T22:14:27.843-03:00The perfect way to approach people on STOPPING THEIR ENGINES.<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">There’s a lot of underlying support for the idea of cutting back on idling in Halifax Regional Municipality. HRM has had surveys done in which people said that poor air quality was a key concern and that 80 per cent of people would stop idling if they were reminded.<br /><br />Many grown ups are uncomfortable approaching other adults to ask them to shut their car off when they’re parked. I know—I started out that way myself. Until the notion of this simple tool came along.<br /><br />Try printing off your own IDLE FREE hundred dollar bills. Simply walk up to someone idling and ask them: “how would you like some free gas money?” About 98 per cent of the time their eyes light up and they say “sure!” Hand them this hundred dollar bill. Nine times out of ten, a wry smile comes across their face as they turn their car off.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span><p align="justify"><a href="http://www.hammondsplains.ca/cleanair/download_bucks.pdf"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/132/1647/400/100%20idle-free%20bucks.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></p><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Often times they say, “hey, this is a great idea. Thanks for reminding me. I keep forgetting.” The kids’ artwork on the front reinforces how important an issue poor air quality is for kids. </span><br /><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Click on the hundred dollar bill for your two-sided bills featuring idling myths.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><br />If you want to see the IDLE FREE BUCKS work almost 100 per cent of the time, have your child present the bill to the person idling. You’ll be touched by the response. They’re humbled by the realization that a member of a future generation is asking them to consider their present habits.<br /><br /><strong>*****ONLINE EXTRA</strong> Going green or clean isn’t just for “tree-huggers” anymore. It’s mainstream politics and business in the U.S.<br /><br />Read the BusinessWeek article about how the U.S. Congress is poised to leave Canada in its dust with landmark legislation on global warming: <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_38/b4001071.htm">Global Warming Heats Up Capitol Hill<br /></p></a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-1158269760722703242006-09-16T15:28:00.000-03:002006-09-16T15:44:33.013-03:00Why idling??<p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">People often ask me: "why did you pick idling as your issue?" Good question. I can speak from experience, since I used to idle a lot myself.<br /><br />I started seeing the headlines and cover stories in places like <strong>National Geographic</strong> (“Global Warning”), <strong>Time</strong> magazine’s cover (“Be Worried, Be Very Worried”).<br /><br />It wasn’t so much ME that I was worried about. It was my kids (below). What kind of planet will they get in 10 years? ---what about THEIR kids?<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/132/1647/1600/zima%20kids,%204%20and%205.2.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/132/1647/320/zima%20kids%2C%204%20and%205.2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I felt I had to do something. I suspect most Canadians are bewildered right now and many of us are in a state of denial about all the bad news on climate change.<br /><br />So, just as I needed something to do…mainstream Canadians need something easy to do, to make a difference on climate and the air. The hook is when they start thinking about their kids. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Look into your kids’ eyes and imagine their future if we all do <strong>nothing</strong>.<br /><br />Idling is the easiest thing to do to make a big difference when you’re outside your home. It’s the equivalent of turning off a light switch. You turn a key off, whenever you’re parked.<br /><br />You don't need a government grant, you don't need a refit, you don't need to make an investment.<br /><br />But the numbers will grab you too: turning off the key for just 10 minutes a day, motorists would easily save the cost of several fill-ups in a year. Collectively, the numbers are staggering: annually Halifax would save 5 million litres of fuel and avoid pumping almost 12,000 tonnes of CO2 into the air.<br /><br />Do you want cleaner air for your children to breathe in HRM?<br />Do you want to save money?<br />Do you actually want to protect your car investment and its engine?<br />Do you want an easy way to help reduce greenhouse gas?<br /><br />If we can't turn a key to save gas, protect our kids lungs and their air, what WOULD we be willing to do?</span></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><strong>What you can do:</strong><br />STOP YOUR ENGINE whenever you can.<br /><br />Here’s something else you can do: “if it’s not a problem, it’s not a problem.” Right now, most people forget about this issue. And if it’s not top-of-mind, it’s not a problem.<br /><br />You can make it a problem though. You can contact your councilor in HRM by e-mail or phone and say you want HRM to endorse The Children’s Clean Air Network. <a href="http://www.halifax.ca/council/mayor/RegionalCouncil.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">HRM Councilors.<br /></span></a><br />Our goal is to get the politicians in HRM to see the children as constituents who want cleaner air and a brighter future. We want a long-term public awareness campaign on this issue. Most of it will be paid for by donations. Much of it will be paid for by the savings HRM will realize when we get all their departments to STOP THEIR ENGINES.<br /><br />Read how the City of Edmonton saved taxpayers $205,000 in the most recent effort in fleet driver training: <a href="http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/business/documents/success-stories/municipal-edmonton.cfm?attr=16"><span style="color:#3333ff;">$205,000 bucks!</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><br />What are we waiting for? </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">******Today's cool site..the U.S. government has a great resource here: <a href="http://www.fueleconomy.gov/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">you want fuel economy? You GOT fuel economy!</span></a></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-1157680814277497582006-09-07T22:47:00.000-03:002006-09-10T08:38:35.196-03:00The little girl and the tail pipe: the image that haunts me<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/132/1647/1600/kid%20and%20exhaust.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/132/1647/400/kid%20and%20exhaust.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">This is an image that spurs me on to keep at it. For me, it represents two key points.<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">The lack of awareness on what our habits are doing to kids</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">The exhaust is an attack on her future planet</span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">Maybe if I didn't have two kids (ages 11 and 12), I wouldn't be so consumed by this. But then again, with all the headlines about climate change and the ticking "carbon bomb", you wonder why more people with children aren't.<br /><br />Tell your friends and neighbours to stop their engines whenever they can. It's so simple to do, and it can lead to an entire shift in thinking to protect our children's future.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-1157538677475649632006-09-06T07:10:00.000-03:002006-09-06T10:50:16.336-03:00Wasted fuel, damaged air: the numbers for Halifax<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">People ask: "how do you come up with those numbers...the amount of gas that's wasted and CO2 pumped into the air,"---by people idling?<br /><br />Natural Resources Canada does that work for us. Simply visit here: <a href="http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/tools/co2-calculator/index.cfm?attr=8">The CO2 Calculator<br /></a><br />You'll find an easy to use calculator where you can plug in idling time and cost-per-litre for gas, and voila, you have the damage.<br /><br />HRM is broken down into several areas whereby you can actually identify the numbers for specific areas like Dartmouth, Lower Sackville, Eastern Passage, Hammonds Plains and so on.<br /><br />For Lower Sackville, as an example, I used 9 minutes a day of idling at $1.00 a litre for gas. Here's the results:<br /><br />If every driver of a light-duty vehicle in Lower Sackville avoided idling for 9 minutes a day, they could prevent 7.84 tonne(s) of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each day.<br /><br /><strong>That's 2,859.93 tonne(s) per year!<br /><br />That's enough CO2 to fill The Sackville High gymnasium 486 times.<br /><br />Motorists in Lower Sackvile could collectively avoid wasting 3,320.1 litres of fuel worth $3,320.10. On an annual basis, that's savings of 1,211,836.5 litres worth: $1,211,836.48.<br /></strong><br />Click on IDLE-FREE bucks on the right. Keep one as a reminder in your car; you'll save yourself several fill-ups a year by avoiding idling for just ten minutes a day. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32770249.post-1157369501246342702006-09-05T08:30:00.000-03:002006-09-04T09:49:13.543-03:00Kids plead with grown-ups in video: stop your engines<span style="color:#009900;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Kids want adults to stop idling their vehicles whenever possible. Needless idling is affecting their health and the future of their planet. It also costs a lot of money.<p align="left"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zbY-4eVguis" width="400" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></p><br /><p align="left"><span style="color:#009900;">The Children’s Clean Air Network (CCAN) is a network of like-minded partners with one goal in mind for Halifax Regional Municipality: reducing vehicle emissions which will improve the quality of our air and reduce the threat from climate change. CCAN was born out of a grassroots reduced-idling campaign in Kingswood subdivision (</span></span></span><a href="http://www.kingswood.ca"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">www.kingswood.ca</span></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#009900;">). </span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#009900;">Like-minded partner organizations include: <strong>Clean Nova Scotia, The Ecology Action Centre, The Lung Association of Nova Scotia and the Halifax Regional School Board.</strong> CCAN also collaborates with local environmental and business organizations, including the Eco-Efficiency Centre.<br /><br />CCAN seeks to apply its strategies and tactics across HRM to assist the municipality in becoming a Canadian leader in reducing vehicle emissions. Needless vehicle emissions are a serious threat to the health and future of our children and a waste of resources. CCAN seeks to educate the public on the seriousness of this threat and to help children be heard on this issue.</span><br /><br /></p></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#009900;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com