Dear ONEIG Members,
A warm wish for a healthy new year to you and your loved ones!
The leadership team is excited to share activities underway, including:
- In December, we had a thought-provoking and inspiring open executive meeting attended by RNAO's Director of Nursing and Health Policy, Matthew Kellway, during which we discussed advancing the work called for in the Water Resolution passed in June 2020 and opportunities to strategically mobilize ONEIG's efforts in how we aim to push for ecologically-sound and healthy public policy. If you are interested in joining planning for next steps, please get in touch!
- Late this fall and championed by RN extraordinaire Hilda Swirsky (co-author of RNAO's 2020 Resolution on Environmental Laws), a group of Ontario nurses put forward a submission on Bill 229 outlining significant concerns related to changes that would, among other issues, restrict the role of Conservation Authorities and thereby limit tools for environmental protection. Unfortunately, the legislation received royal assent with problematic sections of the bill intact (including Schedule 6). Here is a recent Toronto Star article on the topic.
- In order to raise ONEIG's profile on social media, ONEIG held a giveaway campaign in late December for Ontario nurses and nursing students--the prize: a resources of the participant's choice that would help them further their knowledge on environmental health issues. The winner was announced on the group's Facebook page in early January,.
- In the next month or so, we collaborating on a webinar with the NSO to enhance awareness and action on health and environmental issues with undergraduate nursing learners. It will be an opportunity for ONEIG to reflect on how we can support more broadly a richer nursing curriculum as it pertains to ecology and health.
Please check out ONEIG's Youtube channel! We have videos of the Plastics and Human Health Webinar from May 2020 which was a collaboration with Environmental Defence as well as the amazingly inspiring presentation from Kiera Toffelmire and Chef Jagger Gordon on what we can do to reduce food waste and increase access to nutritious food to hungry people in our communities.
As always, ONEIG members are always encouraged to get in touch if you would like to get more involved or if you need help/support in enviro/health work you are undertaking. We are happy to get the word out on enviro/health campaigns you support/lead through our social media platforms.
Please also get in touch if you would like to leverage ONEIG's Youtube channel to share your nursing voice on environmental health issues. It is a great tool to share information and communicate our passion for a sustainable and equitable future.
Thank you for ALL you do ♥️♥️♥️
Your ONEIG team
Follow ONEIG on Facebook, Youtube and Twitter! You can reach us by email at oneigrnao@gmail.com