* Earth Day, April 22 *
Earth Day: Be proud but push for more
David Suzuki, Special to the Sun (Vancouver)
Published: Friday, April 21, 2006
For a guy like me, every day should be Earth Day -- April 22. But for many Canadians, it already is.
Since Earth Day began in 1970, Canadians have really stood up for the environment. They've embraced curbside recycling as a regular part of daily life. And they've successfully encouraged governments to ban harmful substances like ozone-damaging CFCs and leaded gasoline.
They should be proud of these accomplishments.
But you don't need to make such a big splash to make a difference. Some actions to protect nature are much quieter.
A few years ago my foundation launched the Nature Challenge, a list of the 10 most effective actions people could take in their daily lives to protect nature. We invited Canadians to do at least four of them, including: driving less, preparing meals from local producers, replacing chemical pesticides with non-toxic alternatives, and finding ways to reduce home energy use.
This week we passed a milestone -- more than 200,000 individuals have joined the Nature Challenge. That's the population of a mid-sized city!
Recent surveys have also found that Canadians want to do their part to conserve the environment -- they just think other people aren't doing theirs. But the success of the Nature Challenge shows that people across the
country do want to help.
Municipal and provincial governments are finally waking up to this reality and taking action. The Ontario government, for example, recently announced a renewable energy initiative that will help lower the number of smog days, improve health and boost jobs.
Manitoba is aggressively pursuing wind energy and charging ahead with its goal to meet the Kyoto protocol.
Quebec plans to reduce electricity consumption and use renewable power for any additional electricity needs, and P.E.I. has committed to eventually supplying 100 per cent of its energy needs through renewable energy.
All of these actions are important, but Canada has a long way to go. A recent study of industrialized countries ranked Canada's environmental performance 28th out of 30. We simply aren't living up to our reputation --
or our values.
To really improve our environmental performance in the way Canadians expect, Canada needs leadership at the federal level.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said he's serious about tackling climate change and air pollution. But rather than presenting a bold, cohesive plan to do that, the new federal government has busied itself with dismantling
and discrediting the previous government's efforts.
As a result, Canadians -- including those in the business community -- have been left to wonder where our country is headed. Yet businesses need certainty to fuel investment. They need to know where Canada is going.
Canadians involved with the Nature Challenge come from all political stripes; it doesn't matter how they voted. What matters is that they're all willing to look beyond the short term and take action now to protect our
best long-term interests. They know our future and our quality of life are at stake.
So on Saturday, while you're reading about or even taking part in those annual Earth Day events -- the trash clean-ups, stream restorations and recycling drives -- think about that future.
And remember that you're doing your part -- so you should demand that your governments do theirs.
David Suzuki is the chairman of the Suzuki Foundation.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
Further thoughts from SAFE: Energy use, chemical toxins, and resource use are often the focus and measure of our environmental consciousness and responsibility. While all important aspects, our society needs to increase our attention on one of the greatest changes individuals can make to lighten our detrimental impact on the Earth. That one change is to strive to eliminate the use of animals, especially eating their flesh.
* SAFE is proud to co-sponsor upcoming IIHE Humane Education Workshop *
News Release
For Immediate Release
Workshop Teaches New Approach to Social Issues
Registration opens for first humane education workshop in Vancouver
Vancouver, BC: April, 4, 2006 - The International Institute for Humane Education (IIHE) will be holding a "Sowing Seeds" humane education workshop for the first time in Vancouver on July 15-16, 2006 at the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC) located at 2150 Maple Street.
Humane education is a field of study that examines the connections between social justice issues such as human rights, ecological degradation, animal welfare and consumerism. The Sowing Seeds workshop will teach participants how to engage others in making positive choices on behalf of people, animals and the Earth and to find solutions to pervasive global problems.
Registration is free for teachers in the Greater Vancouver area courtesy of the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) and the Vancouver Foundation.
VHS Humane Education Program Director, Lesley Fox says, "Social justice is a growing hot topic among local teachers. This workshop provides an opportunity for teachers to learn more about how to approach these issues in their classrooms, at no cost."
Interested teachers should contact Lesley Fox at 604-266-9744. Limited enrollment.
For anyone else interested in attending, early registration is $209 (register by June 23rd). Late registration is $255. The student fee is $81. Financial aid is available. Participants can register now at www.iihed.org/events/workshops.html or by calling (207) 785-2224.
The workshop is sponsored by the Vancouver Humane Society's new humane education program, Power of One, the Society for Animal Freedom and Equality (SAFE), and Earthsave Canada. The International Institute for Humane Education is a non-profit organization based in Surry, Maine, that helps create a just, sustainable and peaceful world by training people to be humane educators.
For more information visit: www.IIHEd.org
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Contact:
Kathy Kandziolka
Sowing Seeds Coordinator/Trainer
International Institute for Humane Education
Tel: (207) 785-2224
sowingseeds@IIHEd.org
Lesley Fox
Humane Education Program Director
Vancouver Humane Society
Cell: 604-671-4898
Lesley@vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca
If you, or anyone you know of, are interested in attending this inspiring workshop, or learning more about it, please contact IIHE or Lesley at VHS. Please pass this notice on! Thank you.
* SAFE Discussion Board *
We still need your participation to get more discussion happening! Please feel free to add topics of interest to you that are within the line of animal protection, veganism, etc., or email us at safe@animalequality.org with your suggestions.
Please visit www.animalequality.org and choose "Forums" from the menu on the left, sign up and join in.
Society for Animal Freedom & Equality (SAFE) * PO Box 44143 * Burnaby, BC V5B 4Y2
Phone: 778-371-8229 * Email: safe@animalequality.org * Website: www.animalequality.org