Multicultural Spotlight Series – Children’s Stories in Arabic
Submitted by Robyn Thomas
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Edmonton Police Service Downtown Division – District Three Community Alert
Submitted by Ariela Cerna
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SHINE Clinic Grand Re-Opening and Community BBQ
Submitted by Brianne Hudson
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Edmonton Public Library – Fall Book Sale
Item Submitted by: Katrina Paufler
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Canadian Mental Health Association - Edmonton Region
Learn about us, visit: http://www.cmha-edmonton.ab.ca
Fall 2008 Community Education Program Schedule
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (2 day) $135.00 . September 25-26th / October 9-10th / November 13-14th . ASIST Tune- Up - October 13, 2008 . Mental Health First Aid Training (2 day) $150.00 . September 18-19th / October 16-17th / November 20-21st
Location: #800, 10045-111 Street
For more information & to register:
T: 780.414.6300 / F: 780.482.7498
E-mail: main@cmha-edmonton.ab.ca
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Help protect Ghana forests and wildlife from mining!
Mine Threatens Forests and Wildlife
Ever heard of Pel's flying squirrel? Its home in Ghana's forests is currently under threat from gold mining.
US-based Newmont Mining Corporation wants to develop an open-pit gold mine that would destroy over a quarter of Ajenjua Bepo, a protected Forest Reserve in Ghana. The mine would eliminate habitat for many threatened species of plants and animals.
The Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency is considering Newmont's proposal. Ominously, it seems to be ignoring the advice of environmental technical experts and the affected communities.
Take Action!
Tell the Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency that it is unacceptable to mine in forest reserves and that the Akyem mine should not be approved.
"Ghana's forests have almost disappeared," said Daniel Owusu-Koranteng of Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM), a coalition of Ghanaian communities affected by mining. "Ghana can't afford to build a gold mine inside one of our last remaining forest reserves."
Livelihoods and Water Supplies at Risk
If built, the Akyem mine would force over a thousand people from their homes and hurt the livelihoods of thousands more. And experts note that acid drainage, heavy metals and other chemicals from the mine could pose risks to the community and water supplies for years to come.
Please sign the petition and join others from Ghana and around the world in urging the EPA to protect Ghana's forests from gold mining.
Thanks for your action,
the NDG team
Read more about Ajenjua Bepo Forest Reserve in Ghana and the problems with the Akyem mine plan at http://www.nodirtygold.org/ghanaakyem.cfm and http://www.earthworksaction.org/PR_NDG_Ghana.cfm.
Submitted by Miranda Bestman
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Hurricanes continue to threaten the Gulf Coast.
Three years after Katrina, communities are still not rebuilt.
Help Oxfam continue its work to strengthen Gulf Coast.
A dangerously strong hurricane is buffeting the Gulf Coast – almost three years to the day after Hurricane Katrina became a national disaster.
Hurricane Gustav is expected to hit the Gulf Coast tomorrow with winds above 115 miles per hour. It has already killed at least 59 people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic on its path towards the US.
After three years of broken promises by FEMA and other government officials to Gulf Coast residents, there is serious concern that the emergency response to this hurricane and others may be inadequate.
Donate now and help Oxfam strengthen Gulf Coast readiness and recovery efforts.
The shamefully inadequate federal government response in 2005 resulted in Oxfam America's first disaster relief efforts in the US, and our work helping build back stronger communities to withstand hurricanes continues today. Oxfam will be monitoring FEMA's emergency response to Gustav as we concentrate on our long-term rehabilitation work.
Since 2005 Oxfam has made 51 grants to partner organizations and provided support in the form of technical assistance, research, advocacy and communications. Our staff in the region has won many victories for Gulf Coast residents, but this might be their greatest challenge.
I wish I could tell you that confidence in state and federal rehabilitation efforts had improved since Katrina, but mismanagement of federal relief dollars – in one instance $600 million slated for housing went to renovate a port – has crippled the recovery. More than 35,000 people are still living in FEMA trailers. Hurricane Gustav is bearing down on this already fragile region.
Oxfam is working tirelessly to increase governmental support for rebuilding as well as calling for swift government action on other issues that adversely affect poor communities. But we can't keep up our work around the world without your support. Please give now >>
Oxfam knows that the work doesn't stop when the flood waters recede.
That's why we are calling on elected officials to make a long-term commitment to the Gulf Coast, including a new Office for Gulf Coast Recovery, a promise to reopen or replace all subsidized housing destroyed in the storms, full accountability for all federal recovery spending, and 100% compliance with labor laws.
Make a donation, and help us advocate for lasting solutions to the problems of vulnerable communities.
Thank you so much for your support.
Raymond C. Offenheiser
Board of Directors
Oxfam America Advocacy Fund
Submitted by Miranda Bestman
EMCN Weekly Newsletter - September 2, 2008
