Wood Smoke Has Got To Go!---letter to editor

Letter to the Editor

By Leonard F. Bradley
Parksville
© Copyright 2007 Parksville Qualicum News

Feb 27 2007

Most of us have heard the slogan: Think globally — Act locally.

I would like to commend the Mayor and Council of Parksville for their progressive action in moving to eliminate burning in our city. Such action is important globally and locally.

Globally thinking British Columbians are buying smaller cars, reducing air travel, replacing light bulbs and doing many other things to reduce their emissions.

Yet, others will burn anything indiscriminately even though in Parksville, the city will, without charge, pick up and chip many of the items they are burning.

Locally, we must all become more aware that breathing in smoke of any sort is dangerous to health. Many studies have demonstrated that wood smoke, for example, contains up to a hundred carcinogenic substances. That is why many jurisdictions have banned burning.

Breathing in wood smoke harms our lungs. Moreover, small particles pass through lungs into the blood and heart. Why do we allow this to be done?

It is time to end to the frontier mentality of “anything goes.” Let’s clean up our air for the sake of Parksville and the planet.