“In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other. --- That time is now.” -Dr. Wangari Maathai, Kenya's "Green Militant" and winner of Nobel Peace Prize, 2004
Don't wait another minute for clean air.London Chapter of Council of Canadians is launching a campaign to urge Londoners to idle less. Toronto's medical officer has released a report stating a 30% reduction in vehicle emissions could save 200 lives, one billion dollars a year in health care costs and 68,000 asthma attacks for children a year.
In Ontario, the number of “smog days” nearly quadrupled from 15 in 1995 to 53 in 2005. If nothing is done to clean the air, medical experts estimate that by 2026 the number of smog-related premature deaths in Ontario alone will hit 10,000 annually. The combined health care and lost productivity costs are expected to exceed $1 billion. Pollution is a particularly serious issue for London, Ontario, the city with the province’s second highest number of smog days after Toronto. London has had 3 smog days already this year - all before the month of May.
Facts:- Children breathe 50 percent more air per pound than adults.
- Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15.
- Children's asthma symptoms increase as a result of car exhaust.
- Asthma is the most common chronic illness in children and the cause of most school absences.
- Exposure to vehicle exhaust increases the risk of death from heart and lung disease and lung cancer.
The council will be working with the City of London to look at bylaws and enforcement, however, Council President Cory Morningstar is encouraging Londoners to act now. "The science is overwhelming on the damage idling causes to our children’s health and our children’s future on this planet. I urge Londoners to start living by this 1 minute maximum principle immediately and not wait for a bylaw change. Children are the most vulnerable in our society. It is the responsibility of every adult citizen on our global planet to take every precaution to protect our children and mitigate against climate change. Just as all children must have the right to clean drinking water, all children must have the right to breathe clean air.”
Other initiatives include a London Smog bylaw, Amendments to our current idling bylaw to reduce idling time to a max. of one minute (& in some cases zero such as railway crossings), and a moratorium on drive-thrus.
The council has posted an online petition and urges Londoners who are willing to make this commitment to sign the petition and support their policy lobbying efforts.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/clean-air-for-children
Although leadership from provincial and federal governments is crucial in negotiating international agreements, setting frameworks and standards and for providing fiscal and financial incentives, when it comes to practical action on the ground, city leadership must take centre stage. Mayors and elected officials have responsibilities in areas key to taking swift action to reduce emissions, and can show leadership in taking decisive and radical action. It is at city level that innovation and progress on pollution and thus climate change is most likely to be achieved.
[http://www.managenergy.tv/me_portal/mst/home (go to this link – click – view interview – Nicky Gavron - Energy Week: The Covenant of Mayors]
According to a report issued by UNICEF entitled “Climate Change and Children”, deaths from asthma among children could increase nearly 20 per cent by 2016 unless something is done quickly to reduce emissions from vehicles and factories. The report utilized data provided by the WHO which indicates that the three biggest killers of children under five, which includes respiratory infections, diarrhea diseases and malaria are all closely linked to environmental issues. Apparently, the WHO also estimates that nearly one quarter of all deaths are attributable to environmental factors, causing more than one-third of deaths among children under the age of 14. Not surprisingly, UNICEF’s Executive Director Ann Veneman points out that "When young people are asked to list their concerns about the world they live in, one issue that features high on their agenda is climate change."
To take care of our world is a work that is incumbent on all of us, so that thus our children are developed in a healthful environment.
For more information:
Cory Morningstar
President - London Chapter
Council of Canadians
Environment & Climate Change Committee
519-642-4890
http://www.canadians.org/
It's a chicken, it's a chicken, two ladies on scooters cried as my Mum and I walked up along the path in Kiwanis Park. Sure enough, there it was, an unidentifiable baby chick, just hangin' out. Not one to leave an animal in distress, we looked around to see if there were any others and when there were no relatives in sight, made the executive decision to carry him home. He was incredibly wiggly and affectionate. Tweeted up a storm if he couldn't be near you, crawling up the sleeve of my cousins housecoat as she lay with him in the grass.
