Superior Islands: Ontario's Largest Conservation Project Will Protect 4,700 acres

The Wilson Island group spans 4,700 acres in Lake Superior. It's a place where peregrine falcons and bald eagles nest in high cliffs, and rare plants like Mountain Fir-moss and Northern Woodsia fern are supported by rare coastal wetlands and forests. Wouldn't at least some of the eight islands make a great place for summer homes for big city folks? Don't worry, the islands have just been protected by The Nature Conservancy in the United States and its counterpart in Canada, in the largest conservation project (dollar-wise) that's ever been completed in Ontario. Read the full story on TreeHugger

photo op in a donut shop

Everybody who is anybody in politics was in New York to discuss climate change, world peace, listen to Obama and watch Gaddafi hog the mike. But not Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper; he was doing a photo op in a donut shop.

The Climate Action Network is outraged, demanding that Harper apologize for putting donuts before the planet. They have started a Facebook page and a petition.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Seniors compete for gold at Wii Olympics

TORONTO, Sept. 24 /Canada NewsWire/ - It's being billed as the unofficial Canadian video game championships just for seniors. The 2nd annual Wii Senior's Olympics is set to take over the GTA and surrounding areas, October 2 through October 9, 2009.

Riding a wave of excitement leading up to the 2010 Vancouver Winter games, the Wii Senior's Olympics is a week long community celebration featuring challenges in Wii Bowling, Wii Tennis, Wii Boxing and Wii Golf.

The week long event also features an intergenerational category pairing seniors with youth.

Organized by Lifecare long-term care homes and retirement residences, competition will take place in each of its 10 sites. Participation is open to the community and absolutely free of charge.

The Wii gaming system has opened a new world of entertainment for today's seniors. The ease of operation, superior graphics and excitement factor have created an interactive programming opportunity that extends to all age groups. Over 500 competitor's took part in the inaugural event, paving the way to gold medal success in 2009. Participants can play as often as they wish over the one-week competition period. Scores will be reported daily and posted on the virtual scoreboard at www.ourhomeyourhomecanada.ca

At the conclusion of the Wii Senior's Olympics, winners will be invited to an awards banquet at the Playdium in Mississauga on November 6, 2009.

7 Best Green Vacations in Canada

The Rocky Mountains From British Columbia to the Maritime Islands and across the Yukon tundra, Canada's landscape of glacial expanses, Boreal forest, and spooky badlands cover vast protected wilderness. National parks are home to endangered caribou, puffins, musk ox, and polar bears.

For environmentally-minded traveling, there are tons of options, thanks to a thriving rail system, local slow foodies, heritage culture from aboriginals to French, and organized eco trips. Get ready to hike, bike, and paddle through the glorious outdoors with seven of the best green vacations in Canada. Read the full story on TreeHugger

Formula 3 Racing Car Runs on Cocoa and Vegetables

On the eve of the Frankfurt Motor Show, we present the Flying Carrot. A.k.a.the WorldFirst, it won't be at the world-famous auto show, but it will be very environmental.

Built partly from vegetables and powered by chocolate, it may be the greenest car ever. And it is expected to reach a top speed of 135mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 in less than 2.5 seconds. It is hoped that it will reach 150mph when it hits the track at Brands Hatch. The 250 horsepower, one-seater racing car has been built by re...Read the full story on TreeHugger

Letter from camp

Dear Mom and Dad,

Our Scoutmaster told us to write to our parents in case you saw the flood on TV and are worried. We are okay. Only one of our tents and 2 sleeping bags got washed away. Luckily, none of us got drowned because we were all up on the mountain looking for Adam when it happened.

Oh yes, please call Adam's mother and tell her he is okay. He can't write because of the cast. I got to ride in one of the search and rescue jeeps. It was neat. We never would have found Adam in the dark if it hadn't been for the lightning.

Scoutmaster Keith got mad at Adam for going on a hike alone without telling anyone. Adam said he did tell him, but it was during the fire so he probably didn't hear him. Did you know that if you put gas on a fire, the gas will blow up?

The wet wood didn't burn, but one of the tents did and also some of our clothes. Matthew is going to look weird until his hair grows back.

We will be home on Saturday if Scoutmaster Keith gets the bus fixed. It wasn't his fault about the wreck. The brakes worked okay when we left. Scoutmaster Keith said that with a bus that old you have to expect something to break down; that's probably why he can't get insurance.

We think it's a neat bus. He doesn't care if we get it dirty and if it's hot, sometimes he lets us ride on the fenders. It gets pretty hot with 45 people in a bus made for 24. He let us take turns riding in the trailer until the highway patrol man stopped and talked to us.

Scoutmaster Keith is a neat guy. Don't worry, he is a good driver. In fact, he is teaching Jessie how to drive on the mountain roads where there isn't any cops. All we ever see up there are logging trucks.

This morning all of the guys were diving off the rocks and swimming out to the rapids. Scoutmaster Keith wouldn't let me because I can't swim, and Adam was afraid he would sink because of his cast, it's concrete because we didn't have any plaster, so he let us take the canoe out. It was great. You can still see some of the trees under the water from the flood.

Scoutmaster Keith isn't crabby like some scoutmasters. He didn't even get mad about the life jackets. He has to spend a lot of time working on the bus so we are trying not to cause him any trouble.

Guess what? We have all passed our first aid merit badges. When Andrew dived into the lake and cut his arm, we got to see how a tourniquet works. Steven and I threw up, but Scoutmaster Keith said it probably was just food poisoning from the leftover chicken. He said they got sick that way with food they ate in prison. I'm so glad he got out and became our scoutmaster. He said he sure figured out how to get things done better while he was doing his time.

I have to go now. We are going to town to mail our letters & buy some more beer and ammo. Don't worry about anything. We are fine.

Love, Jimmie

Global Warming has Opened the World's Next Suez Canal

Melting Arctic Shaves 4,000 Miles Off Vital Shipping Route

Businessmen, traders, and seafarers have spent hundreds of years wishing for a shortcut through the Arctic to ship goods between Asia and the West. Now, they're about to get what they wished for: global warming has cleared out enough ice to allow a shipping route to cut directly through the Arctic--and the first ever vessel to make the voyage is about to finish the trip. Its ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Summer’s Last Hurrah

September 7, 2009 — Labor Day

Always the first Monday in September, Labor Day was the idea of Peter J. Maguire, a labor union leader who in 1882 proposed a celebration honoring the American worker.

At his suggestion, 10,000 workers held a parade in Union Square, New York City, and followed it with political speeches, fireworks, and a picnic.

The date chosen was simply “convenient,” according to Maguire, because it was midway between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving.

Although the day’s focus on organized labor has diminished over the years, the legal holiday still marks the end of summer and the traditional time for children to return to school.

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac, www.Almanac.com
or Read more on Almanac.com