Craig Venter's Talk

About Craig Venter's talk

Craig Venter and team make a historic announcement: they've created the first fully functioning, reproducing cell controlled by synthetic DNA. He explains how they did it and why the achievement marks the beginning of a new era for science.
About Craig Venter

In 2001, Craig Venter made headlines for sequencing the human genome. In 2003, he started mapping the ocean's biodiversity. And now, in 2010, he's created the first synthetic lifeforms.

Craig Venter

Craig Ventor - Dec 2010

Ventor creates biological synthetic cell

Craig Venter's Synthetic Cell; First Shot Of Biological War Upon All Natural Life ?
May 21, 2010 10:02 AM EDT (Updated: May 21, 2010 10:10 AM EDT)
views: 448 | 1 person recommends this | comments: 2

The biologist who mapped the human genome, Dr. Craig Venter, has announced he has now created a synthetic cell aka synthetic life. The new Ventor project transferred D.N.A. built from chemicals into a cell and mitosis (cell division) occurred. The plans for the D.N.A. were taken from a natural organism so it is a little less than making a new life form with a human design such as a living tyrannosaurus with some of George Washington’s facial features, or a tiny flesh-eating mosquito, yet the premise was demonstrated that the capability exists.

Dr. Venter and company plan to manufacture synthetic life forms in order to stimulate the economy, or find health solutions. I have a few comments.

Human society has a wild element. A thief recently stole five paintings valued between 100 and 600 million dollars from the Paris Museum of Modern Art. The paintings may be eventually a hedge against the collapse of civilization. Collectors in a post-apocalyptic world might value them quite highly. The Picasso, Matisse and other paintings in the collection may in the future be more valuable than gold. The end of civilization may develop through several channels including perhaps, synthetic life forms and synthetic viruses.

The scientific effort to understand life, and all of nature is commendable, yet the knowledge gained may be quite dangerous, and better left as knowledge rather than downloaded into a compulsory use category. Life took at least several days/eras/billions of years of time literal values to develop. Human society has existed in a civilized form just about 6000 years. It is rash to just create synthetic life and use it for economic or any other purposes as if human capacity to contain technology from oil spills to nuclear radiation is fool-proof. Let’s (humanity) study synthetic life issues for 5000 years—just a fraction even of the time life has been on Earth, and then consider the question again.

The usual excuse for playing God with nature is that it has positive economic benefits. Using economics as a justification to overcome moral objections is a bad rationale. It is an amoral compulsion consistent more with primitive life than philosophically mature life forms such as human beings occasionally try to be.

There are an infinite number of solutions to social economic challenges given existing materials that do not require the creation of synthetic life forms to fully satisfy human needs on Earth. The problem with human economics are in greed, unintelligent use of resources, failure to develop ecological economic policy and no plans to develop an exo-biological containment facility in the moon for returning astronauts from Mars and for Dr. Venter’s synthetic life forms.

Synthetic life—altered D.N.A. of biological organisms, present innumerable hypothetical problems of containment of new life forms and for survival of existing species. Creation of synthetic life except for research modeling perhaps is a reckless use of new science akin to letting every kid have a tabletop fusion kit so he can make fusion-powered rockets to visit other planets—such a power would be explosive.

In this universe, the 13.7 billion year evolution of intelligent life—and perhaps more time than we know with another sort of time-space precursor of this universe including the modge panc (mind plans) of God, has brought into being a synthetic, adaptive union of mind with inanimate materials existing uncertainly with a substratum of quantum wave-particles of an uncertain deep field nature. It is truly reckless beyond reason to alter the evolving life forms of given natural species and mutate beyond recognition theoretically, the phenomenal order of being that might eventually be deeply comprehended by the beings living within it.

The creation of synthetic life forms for war and peace, sales in Jiffy-Marts and marketed on Wall-Street is an epiphenomenal bit of idiocy that would make a kaleidoscope of living organisms for immediate, proximal economic value.

Perhaps some scientific sentiment exists to create a Frankenstein Supremacy Species better than science fiction has ever conceived before. Maybe Sigourney Weaver’s challenges in the Alien movie series are a little shopworn now and require spicing up with flesh eating synthetic life hungering for politicians in the District of Columbia (I don’t intend to inadvertently give support Dr. Venter’s plan), yet what needs to be done is passage of a law by congress directly making creation of synthetic life forms illegal in the United States of America.

The creation of synthetic life is a form of biological war upon all naturally evolved species that should be outlawed. With computer modeling of D.N.A. elements it may be possible to learn much from about the synthetic, hypothetical form of various creatures without making any. Slavery, cannibalism and other bad human practices required thousands of years to eliminate from human society, now is not the time-nor ever should it be, to dump creation of a Pandora’s box of new biological ways of exploiting life, endangering life, and dehumanizing anything so that the corrupt and unconscionable may have advantage socially over others. Such practices deserve war upon them rather than support. Breaking the boundaries of reason, justice and civility should be discouraged rather than tossed into the stew pot of corporate progress.

When the civilization collapses and the economic consumption patterns of today are history, we don’t want a plethora of synthetic life forms running loose to serve remaining humans up for dinner because there are no PhDs in biology around to war upon them.

Kayak the Grand River

Offered: May - October

Length: 2 day s - 1 night

Skill Level: Beginner - Intermediate

Region: Southern Ontario / Grand River (locate outfitter)

Park: Brant Conservation Area

Package Description: Explore the Grand River for a weekend or weekday paddle with our guided, all-inclusive camping package - a wilderness and historical journey with the opportunity to camp with a kayak. On Day 1, we paddle the historical Cayuga Run to the Brant Conservation campsite. Your campsite is fully-equipped with everything, including meals. On Day 2, paddle the wild Oneida Run. Our hearty Tripper lunches are supplied both days. Day 1 is the guided Cayuga Run, the historical route of the valley. It starts at our store-front dock on the Grand River. The first leg of the paddle drifts into the famous artist snapshot of Paris... then visit the largest black walnut tree in Canada... see natural conglomerate rock... drink from cool springs... run the splashing "bloop"... visit a mine from the 1830's... hike to the Lookout on the Black Walnut Trail... hear the history of the forgotten Neutral Tribe... pass the largest blue-heron rookery... visit the coldest creek in Southern Ontario... picnic on Sarah's Island... life-jacket float the Big "V" ... see the remains of an 1800's corduroy road and paddle the quiet stillness... see a red-tail hawk nest and the home of a bank beaver, then paddle to your final destination, our riverside campsites at the Brant Conservation Area (4-5 hour hike/paddle). Your campsite on the river has everything - tents, air beds, lanterns, cooking utensils, gas barbeque, firewood, ice cooler with supper & breakfast, showers and the river is right there for an evening paddle or bass fishing. The next morning, we paddle the pristine Oneida Run. Let our guides make the rare Carolinian Forest of the Grand Valley come alive and see what you would normally miss! This section is the gem of the Grand River... view the 300 year-old sycamore tree... climb bluffs overlooking the valley... hike on the interior trails to learn about plants, fauna and wildlife... hear about the native and settlement history of the valley... paddle the kilometer of splashing waves... lunch on an island... float the current... see the river-rock in which a spring flows... the ancient tree house... the amazing Noah's Ark... slip past the silent Three Sisters... thread the "Eye of the Needle"... behold the beauty of Southern Ontario's near wilderness. As you round the last bend, the scenic town of Paris slips into sight, an ending worth the view (4-5 hour hike/paddle). Package includes kayak & all equipment, shuttle rides, guide, riverside site, tents, air mattress, lantern, gas barbeque, cooking utensils, two Tripper lunches, ice cooler with supper and breakfast, plus firewood and swimming pool. $235/person for groups of 2-3, plus tax $199/person for groups for 4 or more, plus tax

Grand River Kayaking

Driving Directions:
Grand Experiences is located in Southern Ontario between London and Toronto on the Grand River. You can take either Hwy 401 or Hwy 403 to reach us. From Hwy 401 take Hwy#24 south through Cambridge to Brantford. Before Brantford turn right onto Hwy#5 to Paris. Hwy#5 turns into Hwy#2 at Paris, keep going straight on Hwy#2, drive over the Grand River and turn right at Kentucky Fried Chicken to enter the Paris Business area. We are 113 Grand River St., just pass the main stop lights, on the right in downtown Paris. Kayak in front! From Hwy 403 take Restacres Rd (Hwy#24) to Paris. Go north on Restacres Rd for about 2km. At the "T" intersection turn right onto Hwy#2. Go down the big hill and at the bottom turn left before the Kentucky Fried Chicken into the Paris

in Southern Ontario

in Southern Ontario

ELIZA by Necky Kayaks

FEATURES

• Light weight
• Ergonomically designed cockpit geared for a small to medium female frame
• The Eliza cockpit is wide at the hips but shorter in length, allowing for easier spray deck installation and removal.
• The 15' length hull provides optimum efficiency at cruising speed.
• Shallow V hull is very reactive to slight edging, yet provides an excellent balance between tracking and maneuverability.
• Low windage and water shedding fore deck combined with a low rear deck allow a small to medium torso to have unrestricted, spirited paddling
• Necky touring seat with backband
• Bow and stern Cross Lock hatches with bulkheads
• Comfort Fit™ thigh braces
• Deck bungee
• Reflective safety perimeter line
• Rudder system with adjustable foot pedals

MATERIAL	Polymer
LENGTH	15'3.5" / 4.6 m
WIDTH	22" / 55.8 cm
WEIGHT	49 lbs. / 22.2 kg
COCKPIT	28.25x16" / 71.6x40.6 cm
BOW HATCH	13.25x7.5" / 33.7x19.1 cm
STERN HATCH	13.25x7.5" / 33.7x19.1 cm

Blackfriars Bridge

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Blackfriars Street Bridge

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Blackfriars Street Bridge from south riverbed, fall 2007 - photo PM

Coordinates: 42°59′14″N 81°14′47″W / 42.98714°N 81.246268°W / 42.98714; -81.246268

The Blackfriars Street Bridge in London, Ontario, Canada is a wrought iron, through, bowstring truss or tied arch bridge, placed across the North Thames River in 1875 and still carrying frequent vehicular and pedestrian traffic. At 216 feet (65.8 meters) it is the longest working span of that kind in North America.^[1]

Contents 1 Engineering 2 Historical, natural and cultural aspects 3 Notes, including external links 4 Handcraft repair/structural views, Winter & Spring 2008 5 Gallery

Engineering

According to bridge historian Nathan Holth,Bowstring bridges are one of the rarest types of truss bridges, and most date in the 1870s. They fell out of favor due to the limited weight they could support. Any bowstring truss bridge that survives today is a miracle. Truss bridges are always intricate structures, but bowstring trusses are even more so. There [are] lattice, v-lacing, and members all over. This large amount of complexity is balanced by the simple, graceful appearance of the arched top chord. The result is a bridge with incomparable beauty and appeal. Among the rarest and oldest bridges in Canada is this breathtaking iron bowstring truss. Keystone Columns form the top chord. A sidewalk on the south side appears to be original. The bridge has undergone extensive repairs and modifications. Most notably, the top chord has had plates of steel welded to the top of the column. Numerous rods and bars have been welded onto many of the vertical and diagonal members as well. A couple of added bars of steel run lengthwise through the middle of the truss. These modifications have affected the historic integrity of the bridge, but have no doubt helped keep it standing over 130 years. The original lattice guardrails remain on the sidewalk, albeit with a metal pole welded above them. ^[2]

The deck surface (see illus. gallery below) is presently of renewable planking: a double file of approximately one-thousand, five hundred eight-foot two-by-fours each, on edge, upon a framework of nine longitudinally laid stringers of one-foot iron I-beams, topped with bolted-on wooden cladding, whose ends rest on the two abutments. Attached beneath these are fifteen transverse floor-beams, from which vertical lattice pillars, under tension, translate the live thrusts of traffic to the bowed upper chord, which transfers this back as tension along the bottom-chord "string" of the bow. This bottom chord consists of two sets of four 10 cm x 3 cm wrought-iron eyebars, running along, outside, both sides of the deck. Although originally two-lane, due to the weight and frequency of modern traffic, the Blackfriars is at present two-way but single-lane. Because of damage to the wooden deck surface and to the iron structure, there is recurrent consideration of closing it to four-wheeled vehicles.

ca 1878: BSB from southeast; Petersville left, original Carling brewery right

2007: BSB from southeast; showing west bank modern dike, Oxford Street bridge upstream, north

Historical, natural and cultural aspects

The Blackfriars Street Bridge (BSB) was manufactured by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company (WIBC) of Canton, Ohio, although erected by local London contractor Isaac Crouse. There is evidence for its being prototypical for a revised design by WIBC, incorporating a double-panel web.^[3] The BSB is the successor to a series of fixed, wooden structures at the site since 1831, which were damaged mainly by spring "freshets" of the river.^[4] It has been designated a historic structure under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. The BSB is the northernmost and oldest of a company of eight bridges of different ages, constructions and uses,^[5] surrounding the confluence of the North Thames and Thames rivers, which fixes the historic center of London. The Bridge is sited at the east end of a short Blackfriars Street,^[6] which turns sharply south and up a slight grade, as the downtown Ridout Street, upon crossing it. To the BSB's west is the lower ground of the previous town of Petersville, protected by an extensive dike embankment, due to a history of flooding; to its east a terrace rises above the North Thames River to central London.^[7] The river there is bordered on both sides by extensive bicycle and walking paths, and the Bridge is well framed by a variety of second-growth trees.

Much of the "beauty and appeal" of the BSB is its appearing to float, from many profile views provided on both banks of the gently winding river, up and downstream. That is owing not only to its strung-bow shape but also to its light placement, at its very tips, upon modest granite abutments—a feature rare among more modern tied-arch bridges. These abutments bear the passive vertical load of the open structure itself. However, the varying ‘live’ thrust forces of traffic downward on its deck are translated by the bowed chord above into horizontal tensions along the longitudinal iron eyebars of the 'string' or bottom chord running parallel to the deck.

The Blackfriars Street Bridge has figured in various artistic works, visual and literary, including a series of stained glass windows by Ted Goodden. Nathan Holth praises the City of London and the Province of Ontario for maintaining its old iron bridges. Regarding the nearby, larger pony-truss Kensington Bridge he praises the City for "keeping the Thames River looking wild and natural," even near its center, with the look of "a rural bridge in an urban environment, which further enhances the beauty of the bridge",^[8] a remark that would apply as well to the Blackfriars. With recent improvement of the rivers, wild nature seems to confirm the point.^[9] (See, below, resident Great blue heron in winter.)

Blackfriars Street Bridge, from North, winter 2007, heron.jpg - photo PM

Notes, including external links

1. ^ F. Michael Bartlett and Dana R. Tessler, "Wrought-Iron Bowstring Bridges: The One-Hit Wonder of the 1870s", 7th International Conference on Short and Medium Span Bridges, 2006, Montreal. For discussion of other extant bowstrings in the North American Midwest, see Holth[1]
2. ^ Nathan Holth, "Historic Bridges.org" [2]. This site features a map and many structural photographs of the Bridge, with close commentary expanding on the details cited here. The raised pedestrian guardrail is likely owing to the original's being less than 31 inches or 80 cm above an outward sloping snowpack after heavy snows.
3. ^ "The bridge is one of the first to feature a ‘double-panel’ web diagonal arrangement that was patented in America one year after the bridge was constructed….The patent highlights the structural contribution of these members… and because their participation can only be accurately assessed using modern computer analyses, Blackfriars Bridge may have been built as a prototype to validate the double-panel design feature." F. M. Bartlett, J. M. Graham and J. Camiletti, "1870s Innovation in London Canada Blackfriars Bridge", Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (EH003, 2009): 1-7. This allows the substitution of verticals rods for posts in the center.
4. ^ London Free Press (28 September 1875). In 1861 that newspaper had reported that in a "freshet" of almost twenty feet a wooden bridge "erected by subscription last fall" was carried away in a day. This was the only river crossing to the north: thus the iron bridge investment of $10,000 in 1875 (ca $180,000 today).
5. ^ These include two pony-truss bridges, the Kensington and the Victoria (the Ridout Street crossing of the other river branch); a Pratt (see truss bridge) deck-truss, iron, railroad bridge; and the little metal-pinned, Pratt, through King Street Bridge (1895), now a pedestrian walkway. See Holth, [3].
6. ^ Though long enough to be the childhood home of Academy-Award winning screenwriter, director, producer, actor Paul Haggis, whose production company is named "Blackfriars Bridge Films". See IMDb listing [4].
7. ^ The broad, shallow valley of the Thames is the path of the westerly-flowing meltwater of glaciers from the last ice age, ca 15,000 years BP. (See Thames River (Ontario).) For information on Petersville and the flood, see "History", London, Ontario.
8. ^ See Holth, [5].
9. ^ 2007 Upper Thames Conservation Authority assessment

Handcraft repair/structural views, Winter & Spring 2008

Damage to wooden deck surface, February 200.	1. Spring 2008 renovation project begins: lifting stringer wooden cladding.	2. Deck structure: nine I-beam stringers cross two transverse floor beams; four eyebar ‘strings’ on upstream bow catch light (left).	3. Renewed stringer cladding, west abutment
4. Handcrafted deck surface	5. Routing for deck plates	6. Painting dado	7. Surface plates renewed
8. Welding deck steel members	9. Lifitng walkway surface	10. Walkway cantilevered on floor beams	11. Restoring restoration--not original, older replacement side-plate bolts and hex nuts
12. Tension connectors of upper & lower chords

Westminster April 2010

ARVA Slide Show

Global Warming

Al Gore Debate

Map #8

The Most Teriffying Video You'll Ever See

Al gore Global Warming Testimony @ Congress

Inconvenient Truth

Interview with Al Gore

Global Warming - A tribute to Al gores Gift

US oil spill explained

Exploring our Watersheds Forum 2010, May 28th-30th Lambton College and Inn, Sarnia, Ontario Forum updates below: Professional Development Opportunity Network for Success A Biodiversity Vision by the Environmental Commissioner Carolinian Canada Coalition AGM, Awards and Cruise   We invite you to join us for our 3-day conference, "Exploring Our  Watersheds" at Lambton College, Sarnia on May 28th-30th, 2010.  This major conservation event will showcase the rich diversity of  Carolinian Canada's coasts and Lambton County's watersheds  through a variety of presentations, workshops, field trips, and a special evening cruise on the St. Clair River. 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and this conference  is a great opportunity to highlight this special part of Ontario, while  sharing, learning and experiencing all that Lambton's World Class Natural Areas in Carolinian Canada have to offer. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY Join us on Friday, May 28th to find out how the Big Picture and other leading-edge landscape and ecosystem programs are  progressing in southern Ontario.  Travel (virtually) along Carolinian Coasts and Greenways and into marshes and channels with some of Ontario’s most interesting and rare species. Get involved in one  of our afternoon workshops and discuss new strategies to apply to  your own projects.  Register now for the PD Special Package here. [back to top] NETWORK FOR SUCCESS  Spring is here and it is time to renew your working relationships!  Register now for “Exploring Our Watersheds” Forum 2010 and  learn, hear, get inspired and enhance your relationships with  your colleagues and partners in the conservation community. Rebuild old partnerships and create new linkages for  your own projects. Connect your group on a local, regional and provincial scale with other experts from the conservation field. [back to top] A BIODIVERSITY VISION Don’t miss your chance to hear Gord Miller, the Environmental   Commissioner of Ontario, speak on “Re-casting a Vision for a  Biodiversity Strategy for Ontario” in 2010, the Year of Biodiversity. [back to top] CAROLINIAN CANADA COALITION AGM, AWARDS & CRUISE The Coalition has initiated some exciting new programs.  Join  us over dessert for our Annual General Meeting after Friday lunch @ 12:30.  Sta  for the Friday banquet and Carolinian Conservation Awards Ceremony in the evening and  then get on board for a cruise of the St. Clair River with local  speakers, international live music “Migration of the Monarchs”  and cash bar.  This is all included with the PD  Package Special along with Saturday morning offerings.   [back to top] Registration online now! ** New this year - pay by credit card ** Accommodation is available for only $60!  Link to forum 2010 details from www.carolinian.org Check out the Conference "Programme at a Glace" at   www.ontarionature.org and www.carolinian.org/AGM-2010.htm.  Carolinian Canada Coalition www.carolinian.org Stay connected.  Sign up for our free monthly Eco-news here

Southwestern Ontario is Canada's most ecologically diverse landscape.  Visit this link to find out more about the unique nature of Carolinian Canada including significant areas, habitats, wildlife, plants and species at risk. You are receiving this message in response to your request for more information about the Carolinian Canada Coalition and our activities. Unsubscribe maccabej@gmail.com from this list. To Contact Us: Carolinian Canada Grosvenor Lodge, by appointment 1017 Western Rd. London, Ontario N6G 1G5 519-433-7077 fax 519-913-2449 email info@carolinian.org Forward this email to a friend

What is TREA? Concerns, Achievements, Your Role, Structure, Support, Mission Statement TREA (Thames Region Ecological Association) is a vital, non-profit, charitable organization promoting awareness of ecological issues to its members and the community. What Are Our Concerns? "The Earth does not belong to man. Man belongs to the Earth. Man did not weave the web of life. He is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself." Cheif Seattle, Dwamish tribe, 1853 The long-term survival of future generations will depend on a new relationship between the human and the natural world. To keep a healthy planet on which to live we need pure air, water, and sunlight; fruitful soil; and all those living forms that provide the context in which human existence can be properly nurtured. This requires our attention to: The management of the overwhelming stream of garbage and hazardous waste. The environmental degeneration taking place on our planet. The toxins and pollutants and their effects on our ecology and humans. The lack of awareness and commitment to act on climate change issues. The over indulgence of the Western world. Priority given to a healthy environment and lifestyle over economic growth. The unexpected environmental and health problems we can trace to many of man's inventions and discoveries. Back to Top Achievements Since its establishment in 1986, TREA has achieved success on several major issues: We convinced London City Hall to establish the curbside recycling program. TREA started the promotion of a Home Composting plan. The City of London and the Provincial Government supported this plan by co-ordinating the distribution of thousands of composting bins. TREA followed by teaching people about composting through our Master Composting home study program. Bicycle Festival -Sat. May 29th - June 6th Check Web Site for details TREA facilitates the staging of the annual London Bicycle Festival and Commuter Challenge, a week-long event encouraging alternate means of transportation. TREA publishes "The Green Directory", a guide to environmentally friendly products and services available in the London community, and "TREA Talk", our bi-annual newspaper. TREA has successfully delivered an Air Quality Community campaign and then the One-Tonne Challenge with a number of acticities to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse emissions. Back to Top Accomplishments TREA participates as a member in event planning for a yearly spring cleanup with Clean and Green London, composting with London Composts, pesticide reduction with London Coalition Against Pesticides and energy reduction with London EnerGuide for Houses partners. TREA also attends Imagine London and Urban League meetings. As of 2003, TREA co-leads with the two school boards, the Active and Safe Routes to School (ASRTS) program and IWalk to School Day. A community steering committee includes the Middlesex-London Health Unit, London Police, Block Parent, the City of London and the Community Council of White Oaks. TREA's yearly Bicycle Festival and Commuter Challenge Week is promoted to workplace and school commuters, media and the public. 80 agencies took part in 2006. In 2003-2004, TREA delivered a community agenda on air quality and climate change "Do Your Share for Clean Air" with a baseline survey and promotion of 12 organizations involved with energy/air issues and federal initiatives reaching 30,000 citizens and engaging various governments. In 2004, TREA organized a ‘Your Health and a Changing Climate' conference with focus on curriculum, health impacts and community policy with the University’s Faculty of Education. In 2005-6, under the federal One-Tonne Challenge banner (locally reaching 25,000 citizens), TREA delivered on 14 measurable projects with retailers, day cares, corporations, youth groups, schools, neighbourhoods, hospitals and various government offices emphasizing personal behaviour change and emissions reduction as well as registering over 3,000 people for the Challenge. In 2006, TREA delivered a 'Budding Opportunities' networking forum with 40 participants from local community environmental groups to discuss successes, best practices and opportunities for capacity building. Back to Top How Can You Fit In? TREA is an organization that cares about the environment. Everyone is welcome at our monthly meetings where one can learn from our guest speakers, meet others who care about the environment and find out about environmental activities in the area. Within TREA are several "Working Groups" focused on specific projects (e.g. composting, alternative transportation, clean air, etc.). If you care about the environment and want to get involved there is a group for you. TREA seeks funding to deliver staffed programming in the community on special issues of community concern when resources are available. Future generations can survive only as functional members of the larger community. They are instinctively aware of this. We need to foster this awareness. Back to Top Structure of TREA TREA has a Board of Directors, elected by the general membership, which serves to organize monthly meetings and oversees the activities of the working groups and staffed programming. TREA holds a general meeting at 7:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month. The organization operates by consensus, giving all members the opportunity to participate in the decision making process. There are a number of Working Groups, which focus on specific issues. These groups meet between the general meetings, particularly if they are planning initiatives or preparing information for the members. Back to Top Support TREA promotes governmental decisions and local activities based on sound ecological principals and the improvement of environmental conditions. The organization funds its operations through membership fees, government grants and donations. The funds are used for organizational needs, the gathering of information and public education. Back to Top Mission Statement TREA is a non-profit group committed to educating its members and the community towards the development of an ecologically responsible and sustainable future through awareness, reflection, caring and action.

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Thanks to you, 13,000 square kilometers of Boreal Habitat will be protected! Dear john, I love a good reason to celebrate, and we’re still celebrating Canada’s commitment to establish this country’s next national park -- a National Park Reserve in the Mealy Mountains of Labrador! I want to thank you for your part in helping us achieve this success. By supporting Nature Canada you helped give us the voice we needed to work with local communities, First Nations leaders, and governments at all levels to make this dream a reality. We have been working towards this day for over 15 years, and it is historic achievements like these that illustrate how important ongoing support from people like you really is in protecting habitats and wildlife. The permanent protection of such a large area of boreal forest inside Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve ensures at-risk species like the woodland caribou and the harlequin duck have the habitat they need to survive. The park also serves as an anchor of protected space along the Atlantic Flyway, an important breeding ground and migration route for many arctic bird species. I invite you to view this special photo slide show featuring some of the species that will now be protected, thanks to you. Sincerely,   Ian Davidson, Executive Director Nature Canada	Help Achieve More Successes Like Mealy Mountains With your support, we can restore more critical habitat, like Mealy Mountains, and push for greater protection of endangered species. Working together, we do make an impact!
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The Nature Conservancy

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Dear John Maccabe, It was just last Arbor Day when we reported that more than 1.5 million native trees would be planted in Brazil's Atlantic Forest as part of The Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Trees campaign. This Arbor Day, as the campaign closes its second year, thanks to the support of caring supporters like you, more than 6 million native trees will be restored! Read more about our work in the Atlantic Forest including how just one project’s return is estimated as being equivalent to taking more than 65,000 cars off the road. You enable the Conservancy to take innovative steps to expand the scope, scale and pace of conservation action and solve some of the most pressing forest conservation challenges. You're invited to learn more about our forest work when you visit nature.org/forests: Take simple steps to protect the world’s forests Explore solutions that help sustain forest ecosystems and local economies See how your support makes a difference to protect, restore and manage forests for people and nature. Arbor Day is dedicated to the health and well-being of our trees, it is also a day to recognize supporters like you who make our pragmatic and pioneering conservation efforts possible. Thank you for all you do for nature. Happy Arbor Day, Sue M. Citro Digital Membership Director The Nature Conservancy p.s. As part of our 2010 Spring Match Campaign, when you use this special link to make a safe and secure online donation, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar meaning your gift will go twice as far for our natural world. PHOTOS: Serra Bonita Reserve, Bahia, Brazil. Photo © John Tschirky. Seedlings. Photo © Scott Warren.

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