A Plea to Canadian Councilors-Ban wood burning

The Wood Smoke Activist

August Newsletter

Educating the world about the health and climate impacts of wood smoke and combustion aerosols.

Editor: Shirley Brandie ...s.brandie@sympatico.ca
Co-Editor: Julie Mellum... info@takebacktheair.com
8/1/2009

See---http://woodburnersmoke.net/

A Plea to Canadian Councilors

Please consider banning wood burning in city limits. Citizens who burn solid fuels in any form including pellets or the best seasoned wood still produce unacceptable amounts of smoke. The best available sources of heat in order are activity, more layers of clothes, electricity, and natural gas. Burning wood is way down the list of acceptable sources of heat. Research shows that burning wood is 25% of the air quality problem in Prince George and is worst during the cold weather inversions of winter.

Wood is plainly out of date and unacceptable. Take a referendum about burning wood in our city and I am sure that the majority will agree to ban wood. So why do so many politicians have a blind heart on this issue? Maybe they are not convinced of the dangers to health. Are wood burners more aggressive by nature and to be feared? Are citizens who butt out and care for others to be ignored? Is smoke ignored because the effects on health are long term? Are there more pressing issues than a little bit of smoke?

There are many sources where one can learn about the dangers of wood smoke. There are many sites on the internet with stories of abuse. Just because many of us do not live right beside an abusive wood burner does not mean that we should not care. For Prince George I have written over 100 letters on air quality and often they just seem to get a few wood burners upset.

Please check out www.pachapg.ca in the Opinion section. The main issue for Prince George that affects our global reputation is air quality. We should ban wood burning to set an example.

Vic Steblin
BSc Honours Math, MA Math Education from UBC
Currently teaching math in a secondary school in Prince George, B.C.

Note....Please contact the editors above to receive the complete August 2009 Newsletter.