Resiliency and Development

What do the Alberta and Saskatchewan tar sands development mean to you?
Across Canada and the U.S., communities are confronted by poor land, air and
water quality from the increasing exploration, extraction, refining and
transportation of Canada's tar sands.  Canada's tar sands generates 3-5
times more greenhouse gas pollution then the production of conventional oil,
while the overall operations have environmental and social costs that span
beyond any constructed jurisdiction.

Mark your calendars! Polaris Institute and the Sierra Youth Coalition with
the support of Environmental Defence in Sarnia, Sierra Club Detroit
Environmental Justice Program, Canadian Auto Workers Windsor Regional
Environment Council, and Toxic Free Canada Ontario are inviting you to join
us from August 20th to 22nd on a three day educational tour of tar sands
impacts in Sarnia, Detroit and Windsor. If you are between the ages of 17
and 30, now is the time for you to serve as a leader in your global
community.  Please see below for details:

Who: YOU

What: Tracking the Tar Sands: A Tri-City Youth Tour-An educational youth
tour to Sarnia, Detroit and Windsor that highlights global warming, water
depletion, land degradation, energy insecurity, Aboriginal injustices and
social damages from tar sands development. You will have the opportunity to
meet with community leaders and youth from across Canada and Detroit who are
ready to make a difference now and for the future.

When: August 20 to 22, 2009

Where: Starting in Toronto on August 20th and traveling to Sarnia, Detroit
and Windsor. Returning to Toronto the evening of August 22.

*        Day 1: August 20

o       Gather group in Toronto (early morning) and travel to Sarnia

o       Tour Sarnia with Ron Plain from Environmental Defence during the day

o       Spend night in Sarnia

*        Day 2: August 21

o       Leave Sarnia for Detroit

o       Visit Detroit's Marathon Refinery and impacted communities with
Rhonda Anderson from Sierra Club/Detroit

o       Spend night in Detroit

*        Day 3: August 22

o       Travel with youth from Detroit to Windsor for a day workshop on next
steps and building a green economy

o       Meet with Mark Bartlett, President of Canadian Auto Workers Windsor
Regional Environment Council (CAWWREC) and Jim Brophy & Margaret Keith,
Toxic Free Canada Ontario

o       Leave Windsor for Toronto (late afternoon)

How: Tracking the Tar Sands: A Tri-City Youth Tour will cost $300.00 per
participant. This will cover all travel (from Toronto to Sarnia, Detroit and
Windsor and back to Toronto), accommodations and meals. Three staff members
will be accompanying the tour. Tar sands educational action planning and
awareness raising resources will also be provided. As the tour will be
traveling to Detroit all participants must have a valid passport.

Individuals are encouraged to fundraise to support the $300.00 cost of this
tour. The SYC Sustainability Education Fund aims to support individual
learning pursuits and can offer an online fundraising tool (credit card
accessible) as well as charity receipts to those who donate to your
expenses. For more information check out:
http://syc-cjs.org/tiki-index.php?page=Sustainability%20Education%20Fund

Join the Tour NOW!:

To join the tour or request more information please send the following
information in an email by July 16th to: youtht...@polarisinstitute.org

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Email:

Languages spoken:
Date of birth:

Male.....Female.....Other.....
Do you have a valid passport?

If you are under the age of 18 please have your parent/guardian fill out the
following:

I give permission for my child to attend the Tracking the Tar Sands:
Tri-City Youth Tour from August 20 to August 22, 2009;

Parent/Guardian name and signature:

.............................................................(name of
participant)

.............................................................(name of
Parent/Guardian)

 ............................................................(signature)

After we receive your email of interest you will be sent an email to confirm
your acceptance, and to see if you have any questions or concerns. We will
also send you a package that will include more information plus a list of
things that you will need to bring. All applicants are accepted on a first
come first served basis.

If you have any further questions please contact:

Elly Adeland, Polaris Institute, Water & Energy Campaigner

Tel: (613)237-1717 ext. 106

Toll Free: (866)346-6602 ext. 106

Or: Greg Boyle, Sierra Youth Coalition, National Director
Tel: (613)241-1615
Toll Free:  1.800.790.7393