Earth Hour and Woodsmoke Awareness

Earth Hour and Woodsmoke Awareness

Earth hour World-Wide begins in a few weeks on March 26th.. Communities celebrating earth hour will focus on ways that we as citizens of the earth can protect our fragile environment by becoming educated and informed about the part we play in making ours a better, healthier world in which to live. We, and our environment, can also be healthier if the air we breathe is Woodsmoke-free too.

We embrace with pride new ideas to revitalize, enhance and renew our communities. We wisely acknowledge the fact that every step we take toward healthier Woodsmoke –free neighbourhoods also reflects our desire to better not only our own community but those world-wide. By achieving those goals and becoming empowered we too can encourage others to do the same.

Turning out the lights for an hour symbolically represents our global connection with each other, linking us profoundly as a united force. Our hope is for a better world in which to live and raise our families. If we turn out the lights for an hour, only to light up a Woodburning back yard fire pit, chimenea, outdoor fireplace, fire ring or other Woodburning device, we are absolutely defeating the purpose of Earth Hour. We then are taking part in destroying our health, air, environment, earth and communities. By allowing Woodsmoke to harm and destroy our life we are not protecting Mother Earth. Woodsmoke is a deadly silent killer taking away our breath, health, our quality of life and harming our fragile environment.

Community leaders must immediately become informed and aware of the toxic dangers we face from all outdoor open air burning in our respective neighbourhoods. All biomass burning destroys our air, making us ill, suffer and die from Woodsmoke-related illness. Millions die world-wide from Woodsmoke-related diseases.

Globally, we are aware of the impact of Tobacco smoking. Millions of lives were lost due to Tobacco related diseases. Woodsmoke is even worse for our health than tobacco smoke. Many of the same cancer causing chemicals found in Tobacco are also in Woodsmoke. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) when inhaled goes deeply into our lungs causing irreparable damage.

Woodsmoke and Woodburning are destroying our world. Scientists and doctors concur that Woodsmoke is killing us. Honour the role you play as a good steward of our Earth. Speak- up and take pro-active action to see that all outdoor open air burning (via a by-law) is prohibited in every community. Demand that regulations be implemented to phase out the use of Woodburning stoves, pellet stoves, Woodburning fireplaces, OWBs (outdoor woodboilers) and all biomass burning. New homes codes must exclude all Woodburning devices.

Make every hour Earth Hour when it comes to ending Woodburning. Protect your earth, health, community and most of all, your global family from the horrors of Woodsmoke Pollution. Make your voice heard. Speak up and fight for your life. Everyone deserves the right and common decency to breathe healthy air Woodsmoke-free. End destruction of the air we breathe…by ending Woodsmoke in 2011.

Author-Linda Baker Beaudin