I may be many things in this world, but stupid is not one of them. That being said, there are some things I will never understand. One in particular stands out. That is the question of who was the first person who stood by a pile of sand and said, "You know, I bet if we took some of this, mixed it with potash and heated it, we could make a substance that was solid and yet see-through. Yes - we should call it glass." You could stick me on that beach for the remainder of my years, and I would never have come up with that.
Additionally, another mystery is how, in 2007, a month after 200 of the world's greatest scientific minds agreed that human actions are to blame for our planet's changing climate, why a pulp and paper mill is allowed to conduct a trial run using 700 tonnes of coal?
As previously reported in Coast Reporter, Howe Sound Pulp and Paper is attempting to reduce high costs associated with burning wet wood with the addition of coal into their burners.
The astonishing thing is, when a representative went to a Gibsons council meeting to announce the mill's plans, not one councillor raised any concerns. Not only that, they actually congratulated the mill on its pursuit of environmentally friendly practices.
I will give credit where credit is due. I admire the mill's integrity in informing the public of its intentions, something the business did not need to do. I also respect that the mill is a massive contributor to the community. However, that should only push the business to make it mandate to preserve the air quality for all those who live and work on the Coast. Business is business, I understand that. However, an environmentally minded journalist is quite another.
There is no excuse any more - the time for change is now. To be perfectly honest, it was 10 years ago. Reducing our ecological footprint should be at the forefront of people's minds, and implementation is required to see results. Businesses are the key to change, and consumers hold the power. Purchasing low-watt light bulbs and low-flow toilets, recycling and reducing the electricity use in our daily lives are all incredibly effective in lowering our footprint.
However, that is as far as the average citizen can go - business is the next step. The Alberta tar sands project, an overwhelming project taking place in Fort McMurray, is the third largest CO2 emissions producer in North America; and that reflects current emissions. As of today, the project produces 1,000,000 barrels per day; it is projected that the operation will rival the Saudi Arabian oil fields at 10,000,000 barrels per day.
The tar sands are an unequivocal injection into the Canadian economy, no question, and an excellent source of prosperity for the next generation. But at what cost?
What remains to be seen is a serious commitment from Canadian businesses to make the jump to green solutions. Developing and patenting a green solution would not only ensure an impressive step forward, it would summon other businesses to follow suit.
Consumers do have the power here by investing our hard-earned money into financial institutions that encourage green activities, not the traditional military weapons development, nuclear technologies or tobacco companies. I urge anyone to express concerns over environmentally damaging activities taking place on the Coast and within your own lives. Buy the low-flow toilet, drive less. And with regards to recent testing at the mill, it's time to move forward. We've already invented the wheel - there is no need to bring us back in time.
