Nature Challenge Newsletter

Dear Nature Challenge Champion,

This month we're asking you to leave your car at home to help reduce air pollution. You can make a real difference by walking, biking, or using transit to get to one of your weekly destinations. 

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THIS ACTION IS NOW CLOSED. Letters sent to date: 559
Send a free fax to Transport Minister David Collenette asking for employers to receive tax breaks for issuing transit passes to employees.

Contents (links may not work on older browsers - please scroll instead)

1. Leave your car in the driveway!
2. We're making a difference! 
3. Fax action
4. Lace up your sneakers
5. Kids and the car
6. Cycle your way to a healthier planet 
7. Canadian of the Month
8. Share the drive! 
9. Telecommute into the new millennium!
10. Share the drive! 

Leave your car in the driveway!

Try leaving your car in the driveway for just one trip a week. Cars are the largest source of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants. Each day Canada’s 14 million cars lead to:

• greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. A recent study found that over 45 per cent of Canada's habitat could be lost by the end of this century due to climate change.
  
  
• premature deaths of up to 16,000 Canadians each year. Tens of thousands more suffer from respiratory ailments such as asthma that are associated with and aggravated by air pollution.
  
  
• more smog days coupled with more heat waves. Toronto, for example, has experienced record-breaking smog, with 18 smog alert days in 2002.

For more info:

Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST).

We're making a difference! The national retrofit program

Each month the Nature Challenge newsletter includes a fax action, where you can send a free fax to our elected leaders.

Recently, we were among the many voices calling on the government for a national retrofit program. Our politicians have been listening.

A soon to be announced program will provide rebates of up to $1,000 to homeowners who invest in energy efficient home improvements.

Congratulations to all those who took our fax action supporting a national retrofit. We’re making a difference! 

Lace up your sneakers!

Walking and jogging are simple alternatives to driving and great ways to get in shape. Consider these tips before you take the first step:

Make a plan. The average pedestrian can walk one kilometre in 10 minutes so estimate how far you’ll need to walk and how long it will take to get there.


Save on gym fees. A 125-lb. person walking at a brisk pace for only 30 minutes burns 150 calories; a 196 lb. person burns 235 calories. Visit the Walking Calorie Calculators.


Get fit. Thirty minutes of walking per day cuts the risk of heart disease by up to half, and reduces the risk of some cancers, diabetes, obesity, and osteoporosis.


Learn more. Walking is a great way to get to know your neighborhood and community. In addition the pace of walking is conducive to visiting or contemplation.  

Kids and the car  

So you’ve read this newsletter and you can’t wait to leave the car at home and start walking. Great! But what about your kids? Two-thirds of Canadian children and youth don’t get enough exercise.

Getting your kids off the couch and outdoors doesn’t need to be painful. Share what you’ve learned about the environmental and health benefits and get them involved in planning a car-free day. They might enjoy working on a project with you and you’ll spend quality time together.

For more kid-friendly ideas:

• Organize a "walking school bus" (PDF)
• Sign up for "International Walk to School Day"

    
Cycle your way to a healthier planet  

Many of our car trips are for distances less than three kilometers - well within the range of an easy bike ride. In just 15 minutes the average person can bike 3.5 km. Here are some other benefits to cycling to your destinations:

Get there quick! For trips of up to 10 km, cycling is usually the fastest way to travel within the city.

Save $$$. It costs about $200 per year to maintain a bike, plus an additional $300 for accessories - compared to $7,500 the average Canadian pays to own a car.

Improve your health! 30 minutes of brisk cycling several times a week reduces the risk of developing coronary heart disease, adult diabetes and obesity by as much as 50%.

For more info:

• Read about the benefits of cycling
• The International Bicycle Fund promotes sustainable transport 
• Learn about an innovative bike-sharing program in downtown Toronto    

Canadian of the month 

"Our family recently decided to take the Nature Challenge. My partner is a year-round cyclist, we do not own a car, we have always made sure our home has been near school, work and on a major bus route.

We are a cycling family - we use our bikes for transportation, pleasure and exercise. My husband actually bought us two Southern California beach cruisers as a wedding gift - these are amazing looking and the most comfortable bikes! He wanted to show people that you can look just as "cool" riding a bike as in any sports car!"

-Sharon Young, Winnipeg
(Pictured: Sharon Young, Ryan Thiessen,
and 16-month-old Callum Young-Thiessen)

Share the drive! 

More than 12 million Canadians use transit, which helps alleviate traffic congestion and improves air quality.

Check out the links below and start using mass transit today for a healthier environment tomorrow:

Transit is cheaper than driving: A family using transit can save an average $586 in auto expenses each month!

Transit frees up time: Riding public transit gives you time to read the paper, catch up on work, chat with friends or have a nap! Find out what your drive is costing you with the Commuter Calculator.

Carpooling is another great option: Carpooling replaces up to four cars and causes less air pollution. Carpool lanes allow you to bypass traffic congestion so you arrive on time with less stress. Carpooling also saves money since passengers share gas and vehicle expenses.

For more info:

• Visit the Canadian Urban Transit Association
• Check out the Commuter Connections Society
• Figure out your savings with the Carpool Calculator
• To search for commuters in your area use the Carpool Tool

Telecommute into the new millennium!

Telecommuting is rapidly becoming one of the most popular ways for people to work.

According to consulting firm InnoVisions Canada, about 1.5 million Canadians telework from home at least once a week.

If a million telecommuters worked from home just one weekday each year, Canada could save some 250 million kg of CO2 emissions; 100 million litres of fuel; and 800 million fewer kilometers of mileage on our roads.

Check out these telecommuting facts:

• People often enjoy working from home for the flexibility in their workday. A real plus for families with newborns!
• Companies that use teleworkers often experience increased productivity and reduced accommodation costs. (Employees are typically 20-40% more productive when telecommuting!)
• Many employers will subsidize or contribute equipment to employees who telecommute. Ask your employer about telecommuting options.

For more info:

• Visit the Canadian Teleworker Association
• Tips for for those thinking of telecommuting

Coffee Table Book Winner!

By taking the Nature Challenge your name was automatically entered in a monthly draw for an autographed Sacred Balance coffee table book! This month's winner is Kent Bushey of Murray Harbour, PEI. Congratulations, Kent!

Read about the science behind the Nature Challenge. (PDF)

Read the Green Guide, a comprehensive look at the 10 challenges. (PDF)