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Kindness CalendarUpcoming events around Alberta and the world celebrating kindness to animals, people and the environment International Day of Peace The International Day of Peace, observed each year on 21 September, is a global call for ceasefire and non-violence. It is a time to reflect on the horror and cost of war and the benefits of peacefully resolving our disputes. This year will focus on the important issues of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Visit the United Nations website for more details. World Carfree Day Every September 22 people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don't have to accept our car-dominated society. To find out more visit the World Carfree Day website. Animal Health Week Animal Health Week is a national campaign organized by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) to promote animal health and responsible animal ownership. During Animal Health Week, many veterinary clinics across Canada will be hosting open houses, holding photo contests, clinic tours and more. Some veterinarians will be visiting school children to talk about animal health care. Teachers are invited to contact their veterinary clinic to become informed of AHW events taking place in their community. Waste Reduction Week Waste Reduction Week aims to inform and engage Canadians about the environmental and social ramifications of wasteful practices.The program’s educational resources and “take action” messaging empower all Canadians to adopt more environmentally conscious choices. For updates, visit the Waste Reduction website. Project FeederWatch Project FeederWatch is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. FeederWatchers periodically count the birds they see at their feeders from November through early April and send their counts to Project FeederWatch. FeederWatch data help scientists track broadscale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance. A kit costs $35 which covers the materials and resources that go into the project. To lean more visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Bullying Awareness Week Bullying.org's purpose is to eliminate bullying in our society by supporting individuals and organizations to take positive actions against bullying through the sharing of resources, and to guide and champion them in creating non-violent solutions to the challenges and problems associated with bullying. For more information and resources please visit Bullying.org National Child Day This day reflects Canada's commitments under Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Online resources to help you plan your National Child Day can be found on the Canadian Child Care Federation's website Christmas Bird Count Each of the citizen scientists who annually braves snow, wind, or rain, to take part in the Christmas Bird Count makes an enormous contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action. For more information visit the Audubon website. International Year of Biodiversity The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The world is invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity. Visit the website for more information. Random Acts of Kindness Week Would you like to encourage kindness in your school? Visit actsofkindness.org for a free Teacher's Guide, lesson plans, activity ideas, and other materials. Great Backyard Bird Count The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across North America. Each checklist submitted by these "citizen scientists" helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how the birds are doing—and how to protect them and the environment we share. For more information on participating visit The Great Backyard Bird Count website. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Since 1966, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21st has heightened national awareness of the harmful effects of racism and fostered respect, equality and diversity. For more information and promotional materials call 1-888-MARCH21 or visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. World Water Day World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. More information is available on the official UN World Water Day website. Earth Hour Created to take a stand against climate change, Earth Hour is more than switching off lights for an hour once a year. It's about giving people a voice for the future of our planet, and sending a message to our world leaders that we want action on climate change. For more visit the Earth Hour Website. SEEDS Bird Challenge This activity is easy, fun and educational. Started in 1991, this BIRD Challenge event has been designed to involve teachers, students and parents in an enjoyable springtime event to better their understanding of the bird environment. Visit the Seeds Foundation website for more information. Pitch in Week 2010 is the 44th annual PITCH-IN CANADA WEEK.The campaign's theme is: OPERATION: Clean Sweep. The program is the largest environmental improvement Campaign in Canada. It is a Partnership between governments, the media, industry and the public. Earth Day Earth Day provides the opportunity for positive actions to protect the fragile environment that humans and animals depend on to survive. For program ideas and resources, check out www.earthday.ca National Summer Safety Week Annual Canada Safety Council campaigns reach millions of Canadians through the media and volunteer channels with vital preventive information on: farm safety, summer safety, road safety, school safety, community safety and crime prevention, seniors’ safety, home fire safety and safe driving. Environment Week Environment Week celebrates Alberta's environment. It is a great time for Albertans to host and attend events that include some learning, some fun and some action. Action is doing something on purpose to lessen your impact on the environment. Celebrating and action projects are great ways to bring a community together towards a greener future. World Environement Day Commemorated yearly on 5 June, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. To learn how you can get involved visit the World Environement Day website. Alberta Water Quality Awareness Day Alberta Water Quality Awareness (AWQA) Day is an exciting opportunity for Albertans to get out and examine the quality of their local waters. The program provides free test kits for participants to learn about the water quality of any lake, stream or wetland of interest. The findings will be pulled together to create a snapshot of water quality in the province. For more information visit www.awqa.ca | |
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