Hello Ontario Nurses for the Environment!
Do you want to get more involved? Our interest group elections are coming up. Some roles are bigger commitments while others are less. If we get multiple people for one role, then it will go to a vote, but we will make sure to find an alternative role for you so you can be included!
Roles coming open: Co-chair, Finance, Social Media, Webmaster, Policy and Political ENO, Workplace Liaison, Membership ENO, Student Liaison
Some roles already have people volunteering in them that are up for re-election or are interim. Other roles are completely vacant – we would like to fill those. A formal call-out with application forms will be sent out in the near future. If you are interested, it would be beneficial for you to email us so that we can help guide you to the role that best fits your strengths: oneigrnao@gmail.com
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Newsletter
We heard comments last week that people could not access the newsletter. Please note: You need to be logged into myRNAO first and then you will have access.
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Windsor-Essex Earth Day Event
On Sunday, April 21, ONE and the Windsor-Essex Chapter will have a booth at the city’s Earth Day event taking place in Malden Park from 10AM to 4:30PM. There will be a nature walk from 3:30–4:30 p.m. Additionally, there will be several food vendors, performances, yoga and booths from other environmental organizations. It will be a great way for members in Windsor-Essex to get involved in their local community.
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New community of practice: Greening Nursing School
On Friday, April 26 from 11 a.m.–12 p.m. ET, the ONE-IIOE will be hosting the first meeting for the Greening Nursing School Community of Practice. This is a place for nursing educators and those interested in nursing education.
The goals: to collaboratively find ways to make nursing school both environmentally sustainable operationally, as well as to find ways to weave planetary health into an already jam-packed entry to practice curriculum. If you are already working on such projects, please share them at the meeting as they will inspire others. If you are looking for ways to start something but unsure where to start, come looking for inspiration. Through networking, we can all support each other in our initiatives.
The hope is to meet bimonthly so that we can build momentum. Register via this link: https://chapters-igs.rnao.ca/events/95
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ONE-IIOE quarterly meeting
The ONE-IIOE quarterly meeting is coming up on Monday, April 29 from 7:30–9:00 p.m. ET. We will quickly discuss business at the beginning and then our feature discussion will be “Looking into the future by learning from the past, reducing waste in nursing”. Our guest speakers from the Retired Nurses Interest Group will discuss how nursing practice has changed over the decades with the increase of single-use plastics. How did they perform quality patient care that met infection control standards before single-use plastics? How can we learn from these past practices to make nursing practice more sustainable in today and in the future?
Please register via this link: https://chapters-igs.rnao.ca/events/96
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How Canadian Nurses are Advancing Planetary Health: From the Local Stage to the International Arena
On Wednesday, May 8 at 12 p.m. ET, there is a collaborative event with the Ontario Nurses for the Environment (ONE-IIOE), the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE) and the Canadian Coalition for Green Healthcare. Join us in celebrating Nursing Week by engaging with several nursing leaders who are actively advancing planetary health. From international action all the way to local advocacy, we are bringing together four incredible nurses who are working hard to protect the health of both people and the planet. Please watch for more details and the registration link - coming soon.
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On Monday, May 27th at 7 p.m. ET, ONE will be hosting a webinar with Sacred Earth Solar - an indigneous, women-led clean energy organization. Please watch for more details and the registration link - coming soon.
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On Thursday, Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. ET, RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun will speak at a collaborative webinar with the RNAO, CANE and Shift Action to discuss decarbonizing pension plans including HOOPP. The fossil fuel companies, who are largely responsible for climate change and the destruction of many ecosystems, are able to operate because they receive financing from the banks and investment portfolios including pension plans. Stay tuned for registration details.
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Partner Initiative: National Health Care Forest
With the help of our partners, the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care (Coalition) is helping to create a national health care forest!
Trees and plants are essential for human health and welbeing, as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation. They also bring beauty into surrounding neighbourhoods and communities. Health-care facilities can take the lead in creating carbon sinks, bringing back biodiversity and improving health and well-being simply by re-wilding their facilities with trees and various plants. These plantings can include trees, shrubs, pollinator plants, natural grasses, rain gardens, healing gardens and more. Staff, clinicians and patients would be able to enjoy the restorative benefits of viewing and – when possible – walking through health-care forests, natural landscapes meant for regeneration, relaxation, and healing. The Coalition has worked with several tree charities over the past two years, collectively planting 2,400 trees at more than 20 different sites.
If you are interested in planting trees or shrubs at your facility, please reach out to the Coalition via this link: https://greenhealthcare.ca/home-page/contact/
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Sign CAPE’s Petition: Big Oil’s Lies Cost Lives – Support Bill C-372
Like big tobacco used to, oil and gas companies spend millions every year blanketing the airwaves and social media making false claims to protect their profits at our expense. But now we have the opportunity to stop the disinformation and greenwashing in its tracks. Bill C-372, a private member's bill tabled by New Democrat MP Charlie Angus, would ban the promotion and advertising of fossil fuels just like tobacco advertising is banned.
Fossil fuels are driving climate change and causing skyrocketing levels of deadly pollution – Fossil-fuel pollution is directly linked to up to 34 000 premature deaths in Canada per year and over 8 million globally.
Sign the petition now to support this important legislation and ensure its speedy passage into law.
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News from Queen's Park:
The Ford government just tabled Bill 185. Early analysis has indicated that it will worsen urban sprawl and green space / farmland destruction while potentially opening the doors for corruption with developers. Stay tuned as we watch and respond to how this piece of legislation develops.
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