City Banning The Wrong Smoke
Letter to the Editor
Ladysmith Chronicle.com - Letters
341 1st Avenue, Ladysmith, B.C., V9G 1A3
1-250-245-2277
Published: October 25, 2010
Editor:
It was no surprise when the annual Cowichan Valley light up started last Friday. Following a notice sent to my phone, I watched as the sky slowly filled to its familiar haze. In fact, one of my neighbours celebrates the first day of light up by lighting his wet leaf pile to share the smoke with my children gallivanting in their own back yard.
As I hustle my children indoors on the lovely autumn day, I am struck by the fact that Duncan council has spent so much energy on this politically correct bylaw to try and ban cigarette smoking downtown, but are seemingly oblivious to the billowing of wood smoke.
I very easily keep my children away from cigarette smoke; however, I find it rather difficult to shelter them from the smog that all the open burning creates over our lovely valley.
I am sure it is much more politically correct to try and ban smoking. I have born witness to the wall anti-open burning campaigners come up against with the city.
It is a shame that the easy way seems to be taken when it comes to banning the correct light up.
A. Richards
North Cowichan
Breathe At Your Own Risk!--Letter to the Editor
Friday, November 19, 2010
Breathe At Your Own Risk!
Letter to the Editor
London Free Press Website
369 York Street, P.O. Box 2280
London, Ontario N6A 4G1
Posted November 19, 2010
Breathe At Your Own Risk!
It surrounds us. It is a life necessity. We cannot survive without it. AIR! Yet, the message being sent by our Canadian Government is to Breathe at your own risk!
Small Particulate pollution (PM2.5) is destroying our health, quality of life and fragile environment. People suffer and die from the toxic effects of Woodsmoke Pollution. Canada is a burning Nation. Today a most needed bill C-311 was killed by the Harper Government. Once again the message being delivered by the Conservative Government is that the health and well being of Canadians falls into the abyss. Sadly, we become the canary in the cage being subjected to breathing more cancer causing chemicals each day.
The facts are alarming. The statistics shocking! In October, 2010, a statement was issued from environment ministers "Air Pollution has a huge impact on the environment, human health and the economy" said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Environment and Conservation, and CCME president.
A study released in 2008 calculated that the costs of illness caused by air pollution (exceeded) $8 billion (annually in Canada). "CCMC is the primary minister-led intergovernmental forum for collective action on environmental issues of national and international concern." The development of the major elements will begin in 2011. Implementation to improve air quality standards will begin in 2013. Meanwhile we become ill, suffer and die from particulate pollution in Canada.
Woodburning stoves, Woodburning fireplaces, pellet stoves, pellet plants, Biomass plants, all Woodburning devices, and all outdoor open air burning contribute to the toxic polluted air Canadians are breathing. All Woodburning must be banned, if not we continue to breathe at our own risk.
Scientific and medical evidence support the claim that Particulate Pollution and Woodsmoke Pollution are causing grave harm to our health and environment.
According to pediatrician, Dr. William Sammons, USA, biomass burning emits the most toxic chemicals known to science, including deadly dioxin, mercury, fine particulate matter and others. "These emissions cause asthma, heart disease, diabetes and other illness in children as well as adults, and should never qualify as the "cleanest" technology under our Clean Air Act," Dr. Sammons said. Over 77,000 doctors, the American Lung Association, Massachusetts Medical Society, North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians and others oppose burning biomass on health grounds.
Renowned global scientists and medical doctors concur and support the fact that biomass burning is contributing to our global warming. Biomass burning is a leading contributor to millions dying from the toxic cancer causing chemicals found in Woodsmoke.
It is long overdue that the Canadian Government becomes fully accountable for the mass suffering of millions of deaths each year from Woodsmoke related diseases, due to air quality and particulate pollution. Sadly the lack of efforts in leading our country toward cleaner air has become as toxic as the air we breathe.
We in Canada should not have to.....Breathe At Our Own Risk.
Written by....Linda Baker Beaudin, Air Is Precious, Cornwall, Ontario K6J 4P8
Letter to the Editor
London Free Press Website
369 York Street, P.O. Box 2280
London, Ontario N6A 4G1
Posted November 19, 2010
Breathe At Your Own Risk!
It surrounds us. It is a life necessity. We cannot survive without it. AIR! Yet, the message being sent by our Canadian Government is to Breathe at your own risk!
Small Particulate pollution (PM2.5) is destroying our health, quality of life and fragile environment. People suffer and die from the toxic effects of Woodsmoke Pollution. Canada is a burning Nation. Today a most needed bill C-311 was killed by the Harper Government. Once again the message being delivered by the Conservative Government is that the health and well being of Canadians falls into the abyss. Sadly, we become the canary in the cage being subjected to breathing more cancer causing chemicals each day.
The facts are alarming. The statistics shocking! In October, 2010, a statement was issued from environment ministers "Air Pollution has a huge impact on the environment, human health and the economy" said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Environment and Conservation, and CCME president.
A study released in 2008 calculated that the costs of illness caused by air pollution (exceeded) $8 billion (annually in Canada). "CCMC is the primary minister-led intergovernmental forum for collective action on environmental issues of national and international concern." The development of the major elements will begin in 2011. Implementation to improve air quality standards will begin in 2013. Meanwhile we become ill, suffer and die from particulate pollution in Canada.
Woodburning stoves, Woodburning fireplaces, pellet stoves, pellet plants, Biomass plants, all Woodburning devices, and all outdoor open air burning contribute to the toxic polluted air Canadians are breathing. All Woodburning must be banned, if not we continue to breathe at our own risk.
Scientific and medical evidence support the claim that Particulate Pollution and Woodsmoke Pollution are causing grave harm to our health and environment.
According to pediatrician, Dr. William Sammons, USA, biomass burning emits the most toxic chemicals known to science, including deadly dioxin, mercury, fine particulate matter and others. "These emissions cause asthma, heart disease, diabetes and other illness in children as well as adults, and should never qualify as the "cleanest" technology under our Clean Air Act," Dr. Sammons said. Over 77,000 doctors, the American Lung Association, Massachusetts Medical Society, North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians and others oppose burning biomass on health grounds.
Renowned global scientists and medical doctors concur and support the fact that biomass burning is contributing to our global warming. Biomass burning is a leading contributor to millions dying from the toxic cancer causing chemicals found in Woodsmoke.
It is long overdue that the Canadian Government becomes fully accountable for the mass suffering of millions of deaths each year from Woodsmoke related diseases, due to air quality and particulate pollution. Sadly the lack of efforts in leading our country toward cleaner air has become as toxic as the air we breathe.
We in Canada should not have to.....Breathe At Our Own Risk.
Written by....Linda Baker Beaudin, Air Is Precious, Cornwall, Ontario K6J 4P8
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