Like many issues surrounding the environment, there is an incredible amount of information (and misinformation) about sustainable seafood floating around. To help sort the facts from the flotsam, five respected conservation organizations – Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, the David Suzuki Foundation, Ecology Action Center, Living Oceans Society, and the Sierra Club of British Columbia – have joined forces to form SeaChoice, a program designed to give clear answers to Canadians about sustainable aquaculture.

SeaChoice takes a scientific approach to preparing resources that empower consumers with the knowledge of which seafood gets the thumbs up, which species are a maybe, and which little fishies you should avoid due to over-harvesting, poor management, or adverse impacts on their habitat and other species.

The SeaChoice website provides a ton of information on its assessment methods, a breakdown of the species that are most at risk and why, and a comprehensive FAQ section that includes a solid argument for closed containment aquaculture (for all you salmon fans out there). Off the web, SeaChoice offers handy, wallet-friendly seafood and sushi guides to help you pick out the most sustainable option on any menu.

Never underestimate the power of voting with your wallet. Every time you choose sustainable seafood over the fish of unknown origins, retailers, suppliers and producers take note.

2. Plaster quotes, magazine ads and photos devoted to running around you, so when you’re not feeling motivated, there’s always reminders of why running is good for you.

3. When it’s time for your run, force yourself out the door. Once you’re outside, it’s much easier to make yourself hit the road. Even putting on your workout clothes can be enough to get you going.

4. Read lots of running magazines, which are full of information on anything from running workouts to nutrition, with stories about other runners in your community.

5. Start by building a base of running 20 minutes straight without stopping, then start doing running workouts such as tempo runs, hill runs, and fartlek runs. These specialized workouts will help you run faster.

6. When you’re about to end your run, challenge yourself to sprint the final minute or so. This will prepare you to dig deep for that finishing kick on race day.

7. Have a running mantra when workouts get tough. Mine is “I think I can, I know I can.”

8. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and replenish your fuel after each workout. My personal favorite is my green shake: two celery sticks, 2 cups of spinach, ½ cup of boathouse fresh apple juice, ½ cup of orange juice, and protein powder. Not your cup of tea? Chocolate milk, nuts, and sports drinks can also be good post-run options.

9. It’s always good to do some cross training like yoga, strength training or something fun like capoeira. The goal is to build strength in your core muscles to prevent injury, and balance out training for other parts of your body that running doesn’t work out.

10. The idea of doing a long race can be pretty intimidating. To make your training more manageable, set small goals that lead up to your big goal. Be sure to reward yourself when you accomplish your small goals!

With the growth of the Internet, datacenters like Facebook’s have become major consumers of electricity. So far, these server farms have not been running on clean and renewable energy, but this story is beginning to change.

In partnership with Greenpeace, Facebook recently announced a program promoting the generation and use of clean energy. Facebook is also encouraging its users to press lawmakers for policies and investment in renewable energy sources. This was the result of a two-year Greenpeace campaign, with the support of 700,000 Internet users, asking Facebook to use clean energy instead of coal to power their datacenters.

Facebook’s plans include using clean and renewable energy and sharing its expertise in energy efficiency with other IT companies through the Open Compute Project, an industrial network that works to develop more efficient and sustainable technologies.

Have you heard of Earth 3.0? Scientific American came up with this term to define the global environmental transition that is currently taking place. We are gradually changing our mindset and realizing that every person’s actions have an effect. We are leaving the industrialized age – Earth 2.0 – and upgrading to a more sustainable planet.

Distance runners can be a part of this eco revolution. Being outside so much brings us closer to nature, both physically and spiritually. But we need to do our part by encouraging friends, family, and co-workers to be more environmentally conscious. Participating in eco-friendly sporting initiatives is a good way to keep both you and your planet healthy. Motivate friends to participate in Earth Run and be an agent of change!

In keeping with our 2012 theme of healthy and sustainable oceans, the David Suzuki Foundation, Surfrider Foundation,Young Naturalists’ Club of BC, and the West Vancouver Streamkeepers have been selected as our beneficiary partners. We are excited to be working with these four local initiatives to promote and protect our natural environment!

The David Suzuki Foundation works with government, business, and individuals to conserve our environment by providing science-based education, advocacy and policy work, and acting as a catalyst for the social change that today’s situation demands. The foundation addresses a wide range of environmental concerns through their environmental initiatives. Their marine programs promote ocean conservation, marine use planning, ecosystem-based management, and environmental education. They also support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture at all levels of the seafood supply chain through participation in SeaChoice.

The Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots, non-profit, environmental organization that works to protect our oceans, waves, and beaches. The Surfrider Foundation was established in 1984 and now has more than 90 chapters worldwide. The Vancouver chapter was founded in 2005. Their programs focus on marine education, eradication of plastic pollution, and watershed protection.

The Young Naturalists’ Club of BC encourages young people ages 5-14 to get out and explore nature. Their programs teach students about native plants and wildlife, and instill a sense of respect and responsibility for their surroundings. Chapters of this volunteer-led club have been active in British Columbia since 2000. They provide resources to parents and teachers like SalmonWILD, an online source of facts about wild salmon and its importance among First Nations communities and British Columbia’s ecosystems.

West Vancouver Streamkeepers is a non-profit organization that encourages grassroots stewardship of the creeks, watersheds, and wetlands on Vancouver’s north shore. Their school program educates students about stream upkeep and care, with a hands-on program raising and releasing fish into local creeks.

Still not sure if you want to do this year’s Vancouver Earth Run? Here is our top 5 list of reasons why you definitely should:
 
5. It’s a great way to keep your New Year’s resolution
Mid-January to early February tends to be make-it-or-break-it time for those lofty New Years resolutions. THIS was going to be the year: exercise, eat well, etc etc. So instead of feeling guilty every time you get the monthly e-newsletter from that gym you never visit, how about you take a stand and commit to running the 10K at this year’s Earth Run? You too can be one of those Lycra-clad pedestrians bounding across the Burrard Bridge, or that guy in the office who gets in a “quick 5K” during lunch. Sure you can!
 
4. It’s going to be super fun
There’s a really good reason people sign up for events like Earth Run. Yes, there are the hyper-competitive adrenaline junkies who live for the thrill of beating everyone, everywhere, all the time. That’s nice, but for the rest of us, running with a huge group of incredibly pumped-up and positive people is a very uplifting experience. The combination of joy that comes from a hard-earned accomplishment and the good vibes from all your fellow runners is enough to make anyone want to do this sort of thing over and over.
 
3. You get to learn about oceans, and oceans are amazing
This year’s theme for Vancouver’s Earth Run is Oceans. If you’re lucky enough to call this city home, you may have noticed that we live pretty close to an ocean. Oceans can be scary (see also: the Titanic) but more importantly they are vital to the health of every ecosystem on the planet. Here are a couple awesome facts about oceans to get you started:

• - The lowest point in the world is called Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean, 36,200 feet below the surface.
• - The temperature of the water next to some deep sea volcanic vents can reach 450 degrees Celsius. Even though that’s enough to parbroil their shallow water relatives, organisms such as eyeless shrimp and white-tentacled anemones call the vents home.

 
2. Your fundraising efforts will inspire and awe your friends
We’re not going to lie: fundraising can be a lot of work. You have to put yourself out there and declare that you care enough about something to -gasp- ask for money. But once you get past the initial awkwardness, there’s will be a subtle but noticeable transformation from armchair environmentalist to eco-visionary. You are standing up for what you believe in. You are being a positive and dynamic citizen of Earth. You rule!
 
1. You will be doing your part to support three awesome environmental non-profits
And speaking of money, funds raised for Earth Run will be going toward three beneficiary organizations: the David Suzuki Foundation, Surfriders Foundation, and the Young Naturalists’ Club of British Columbia. The money they receive will pay for conservation projects, research, and advocacy work that supports a healthy environment for all of us. This is important work, and you get to be a part of it!
 

With 8 schools in 4 provinces there were over 6800 students becoming more aware of the environment and their role as future stewards of the planet–  all in a fun and healthy way!

Each school received Earth Run T-shirts for the student leadership volunteers and green shoelaces with Reduce, Reuse, Recycle printed on them for participants – great conversation starters.

Participating Schools

• Sir John A MacDonald High School in Waterloo, ON
• Abraham Erb Elementary School in Waterloo, ON
• Havergal College in Toronto, ON
• Elizabeth Sutherland Elementary in Halifax, NS
• Lindsay Thurber High School in Red Deer, AB
• David Suzuki Elementary School in Windsor, ON
• York House School in Vancouver, BC
• Ladner Elementary School in Vancouver, BC

The Events

Most teachers organized their Earth RUN School Day events in a location close to their school. It was so chilly in Halifax, they ran in the gym!

Some schools worked together for their Earth RUN event with the secondary leadership students doing a great job coming up with creative ideas and putting them into action for the elementary students. Nancy Froklage and Martha Knowlton organized a fantastic combo Earth RUN for Abraham Erb and Sir John A Macdonald schools.

Also, most schools did fundraising using either the Earth Run Foundation’s online system or a donation jar. All donations to the schools were used (at the school’s discretion) to donate to a charity of their choice and/or their own school environmental project.

The Projects

Each school chose their own environmental project and the results were great!

• A rooftop garden, demonstrating biodiversity and habitat for many species
• A pesticide-free vegetable garden, which demonstrated how to grow our own healthy food. It allowed children to work cooperatively to build, maintain and harvest a garden.
• School green spaces were designed and plants chosen, planted and cared for, to create natural, shade spaces for students to gather.
• Donations were made to a local animal protection group helping animals at risk.
• Two conservation areas environmental projects received donations.
• Donations were made to the David Suzuki Foundation supporting their environmental projects.

In all, over $1,000 was raised and went to benefit environmental projects in these school communities!

Visit our Virtual Run FAQs page for more information, and stay tuned for the opening of registration in February!

Don’t let that pavement pounding be for naught. Make your run count by participating in Earth Run Vancouver! Nowhere near us? Check out the other places we’re running and this year’s new Virtual Earth Run!