on eating fish and sustainable fisheries
posted by Rob Budde at
2:18 PM
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2 comments
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
PACHA Threatens Lawsuit
February 24, 2009
British Columbia Ministry of Environment
Prince George Office
Attention:
Peter Scharf, Director
Mellissa Winfield–Lesk, Section Head, Air Quality
Hand Delivered
Dear Sir/ Madam:
Re: Concerns about State of Prince George Air Quality
PACHA is very discouraged by the recent information which has shown that the MOE has failed to follow through with Phase ll recommendations that require owners of the most significant fine particulate sources to provide plans to temporarily reduce emissions during air quality advisories! Because we had been told in the past that these recommendations had been fulfilled, failure to comply on this task has led us to question the seriousness of the Ministry of the Environment to resolve the air quality issue. We believe that this lack of diligence by the Ministry in carrying out its responsibilities under the AQ Management Plan leaves the government open to possible legal liability where the health of the citizens of Prince George are compromised as a result.
This lack of action to address industrial emissions (and very specifically, the pulp mills) during AQ advisory episodes is a serious issue. As we see it, there are a number of reasons as to why the pulp mills in particular, can, and should make much more significant contributions to episode emission reductions without further delay:
Other source owners, including residents, businesses, the City and other industries, have been taking reduction measures during advisories for up to 10 years;
Ambient monitoring and modelling results demonstrate that sources such as the pulp mills and rail operations likely also contribute substantively to episode PM2.5 levels; and
Results to date indicate that the source studies will enable average and not short-term emission impacts to be addressed in the Phase III Plan, and therefore the pulp mills in particular should be required to identify substantial episode emission reductions now!
To date we believe that PACHA has expressed good will by trying to work within the system, by learning all we can about air quality and coming up with alternative solutions to the system we found when we first began our quest for cleaner air in Prince George. We do not believe that all parties that we have encountered along this journey have the same goal. We would like to know when these letters to industry are going to be sent out and how the Ministry is going to deal with the follow through!
If the response of these industrial operations is that they cannot for whatever reason reduce their emissions during advisories then another approach needs to be taken and these have to be explored quickly. Either the approach of providing access to new technology to reduce emissions or a forced one of regulation! As it appears to us at present, Industry is the one that dictates how this issue is going to be dealt with now and in the future and the MOE seems unwilling to confront them and deal with this issue.
For the sake of the residents' of Prince George's health and basic human rights and to avoid potential legal repercussions for failure in your office's duty of care to the public, MoE needs to find immediate means of addressing these issues. We would note also that the Supreme Court of Canada has now recognized that industries cannot create excessive annoyance for members of the public without incurring potential liability so it is in these companies' vested interests anyway to take the air quality issues of this city seriously and to act in the interests of the general public during advisories.
We look forward to your quick response and how and when this issue will be dealt with. In light of the very high particulate levels and the ongoing air quality advisory last week, we do not believe that waiting for Phase 3 is a viable option! The people of Prince George need and deserve immediate and effective action to redress these grave air quality problems and unacceptable levels of industrial emissions.
On Behalf of PACHA
David Fuller, Betty Bekkering, Mary MacDonald, Dr. Marie Hay,
Sergio Pettrucci, Kenneth Parker
cc Pat Bell MLA
cc Shirley Bond MLA
cc John Rustad MLA
cc Dan Rogers, Mayor of City of Prince George
cc Media
British Columbia Ministry of Environment
Prince George Office
Attention:
Peter Scharf, Director
Mellissa Winfield–Lesk, Section Head, Air Quality
Hand Delivered
Dear Sir/ Madam:
Re: Concerns about State of Prince George Air Quality
PACHA is very discouraged by the recent information which has shown that the MOE has failed to follow through with Phase ll recommendations that require owners of the most significant fine particulate sources to provide plans to temporarily reduce emissions during air quality advisories! Because we had been told in the past that these recommendations had been fulfilled, failure to comply on this task has led us to question the seriousness of the Ministry of the Environment to resolve the air quality issue. We believe that this lack of diligence by the Ministry in carrying out its responsibilities under the AQ Management Plan leaves the government open to possible legal liability where the health of the citizens of Prince George are compromised as a result.
This lack of action to address industrial emissions (and very specifically, the pulp mills) during AQ advisory episodes is a serious issue. As we see it, there are a number of reasons as to why the pulp mills in particular, can, and should make much more significant contributions to episode emission reductions without further delay:
Other source owners, including residents, businesses, the City and other industries, have been taking reduction measures during advisories for up to 10 years;
Ambient monitoring and modelling results demonstrate that sources such as the pulp mills and rail operations likely also contribute substantively to episode PM2.5 levels; and
Results to date indicate that the source studies will enable average and not short-term emission impacts to be addressed in the Phase III Plan, and therefore the pulp mills in particular should be required to identify substantial episode emission reductions now!
To date we believe that PACHA has expressed good will by trying to work within the system, by learning all we can about air quality and coming up with alternative solutions to the system we found when we first began our quest for cleaner air in Prince George. We do not believe that all parties that we have encountered along this journey have the same goal. We would like to know when these letters to industry are going to be sent out and how the Ministry is going to deal with the follow through!
If the response of these industrial operations is that they cannot for whatever reason reduce their emissions during advisories then another approach needs to be taken and these have to be explored quickly. Either the approach of providing access to new technology to reduce emissions or a forced one of regulation! As it appears to us at present, Industry is the one that dictates how this issue is going to be dealt with now and in the future and the MOE seems unwilling to confront them and deal with this issue.
For the sake of the residents' of Prince George's health and basic human rights and to avoid potential legal repercussions for failure in your office's duty of care to the public, MoE needs to find immediate means of addressing these issues. We would note also that the Supreme Court of Canada has now recognized that industries cannot create excessive annoyance for members of the public without incurring potential liability so it is in these companies' vested interests anyway to take the air quality issues of this city seriously and to act in the interests of the general public during advisories.
We look forward to your quick response and how and when this issue will be dealt with. In light of the very high particulate levels and the ongoing air quality advisory last week, we do not believe that waiting for Phase 3 is a viable option! The people of Prince George need and deserve immediate and effective action to redress these grave air quality problems and unacceptable levels of industrial emissions.
On Behalf of PACHA
David Fuller, Betty Bekkering, Mary MacDonald, Dr. Marie Hay,
Sergio Pettrucci, Kenneth Parker
cc Pat Bell MLA
cc Shirley Bond MLA
cc John Rustad MLA
cc Dan Rogers, Mayor of City of Prince George
cc Media
posted by Rob Budde at
8:50 PM
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0 comments
Sockeye Salmon In Fraser And Skeena Rivers 'Critically Endangered,' Report Says
posted by Rob Budde at
8:47 PM
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0 comments
"Open Season - grizzly bear hunting in British Columbia" by Paul Koberstein
posted by Rob Budde at
8:45 PM
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0 comments
"Time to End the Multigenerational Ponzi Scheme" Kim Stanley Robinson
posted by Rob Budde at
8:40 PM
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Saturday, May 31, 2008
PACHA Update
This upcoming week marks National Envoronment week with Clean Air Day falling on Wed. June 4th. PACHA is celebrating this day with Two events.
Tomorrow Sunday June 1st we will be at the YMCA Healthy Kids Day at Masich Place Stadium from 10:00 - 4:00. This going to be a first class children's event with a free hotdog and chicken kebob lunch for everyone. We will be celebrating with a kite flying!!!
On Sat June 7th we will celebrate Clean Air Day at the farmer's market.
At our AGM in early May we welcomed 3 new directors on board:
Scott Roberts,Dr. Kenneth Parker and Dr. Marie Hay.
We invite everyone to come out to our next meeting Tuesday June 10th at the Raven's Haven. This is on Geroge St across from the Ramada, betwen Final Chapeter and Sassafras Savouries.
We placed another order of our ever so cool and sought after PACHA t-shirts. They are available at Ave Maria's for a cost of $20.
If you would like to comment on the present review of Open Burning, please visit our website www.pachapg.ca and click on the link.
Hope to see you all out at the Clean Air Day evnets!!!
Working for healthier air,
From the PACHA board of Directors
Tomorrow Sunday June 1st we will be at the YMCA Healthy Kids Day at Masich Place Stadium from 10:00 - 4:00. This going to be a first class children's event with a free hotdog and chicken kebob lunch for everyone. We will be celebrating with a kite flying!!!
On Sat June 7th we will celebrate Clean Air Day at the farmer's market.
At our AGM in early May we welcomed 3 new directors on board:
Scott Roberts,Dr. Kenneth Parker and Dr. Marie Hay.
We invite everyone to come out to our next meeting Tuesday June 10th at the Raven's Haven. This is on Geroge St across from the Ramada, betwen Final Chapeter and Sassafras Savouries.
We placed another order of our ever so cool and sought after PACHA t-shirts. They are available at Ave Maria's for a cost of $20.
If you would like to comment on the present review of Open Burning, please visit our website www.pachapg.ca and click on the link.
Hope to see you all out at the Clean Air Day evnets!!!
Working for healthier air,
From the PACHA board of Directors
posted by Rob Budde at
12:45 PM
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1 comments
Friday, May 30, 2008
Mountain Pine Beetle: From lessons learned to community-based solutions
June 10 — June 11, 2008
University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia
Conference Information
Are you someone who develops policy, community or land use plans, or conducts management activities in forested areas affected by Mountain Pine Beetle? FORREX Forest Research Extension Partnership, in collaboration with a number of partners, invites you invites you to Prince George, June 10-11, 2008 to attend a conference to listen, contribute, explore, and discuss what we have learned as a result of the past four years of research and other initiatives aimed at addressing the biological, environmental, and socio-economic questions and challenges associated with current mountain pine beetle epidemic, and how we can use this information to help us better plan and manage our natural resources now and in the future.
Key questions to be addressed at the conference include:
How do natural disturbances such as the mountain pine beetle influence the dynamics of the ecosystems in which they occur, and by how much?
What are the future forests in the areas affected by the mountain pine beetle going to look like?
Will the forests and ecosystems continue to provide the economic benefits, traditional non-timber products, ecological, and cultural services that we are accustomed to and expect from our forests?
Al Wiensczyk (Conference Chair)
Extension Specialist, Ecosystems and Stand Management
FORREX Forest Research Extension Partnership
c/o Council of Forest Industries
Phone: (250) 614-4354
Email: Alan.Wiensczyk@forrex.org
University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia
Conference Information
Are you someone who develops policy, community or land use plans, or conducts management activities in forested areas affected by Mountain Pine Beetle? FORREX Forest Research Extension Partnership, in collaboration with a number of partners, invites you invites you to Prince George, June 10-11, 2008 to attend a conference to listen, contribute, explore, and discuss what we have learned as a result of the past four years of research and other initiatives aimed at addressing the biological, environmental, and socio-economic questions and challenges associated with current mountain pine beetle epidemic, and how we can use this information to help us better plan and manage our natural resources now and in the future.
Key questions to be addressed at the conference include:
How do natural disturbances such as the mountain pine beetle influence the dynamics of the ecosystems in which they occur, and by how much?
What are the future forests in the areas affected by the mountain pine beetle going to look like?
Will the forests and ecosystems continue to provide the economic benefits, traditional non-timber products, ecological, and cultural services that we are accustomed to and expect from our forests?
Al Wiensczyk (Conference Chair)
Extension Specialist, Ecosystems and Stand Management
FORREX Forest Research Extension Partnership
c/o Council of Forest Industries
Phone: (250) 614-4354
Email: Alan.Wiensczyk@forrex.org
posted by Rob Budde at
8:20 AM
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Monday, February 04, 2008
Environment Canada muzzles top scientists
The following article is from the Winnipeg Free Press:
Experts must stick to 'approved lines,' says Ottawa
Fri Feb 1 2008
By Margaret Munro
ENVIRONMENT Canada has "muzzled" its scientists, ordering them to refer all media queries to Ottawa where communications officers will help them respond with "approved lines."
The new policy, which went into force in recent weeks and sent a chill through the department research divisions, is designed to control the department's media message and ensure there are no "surprises" for Environment Minister John Baird and senior management when they open the newspaper or turn on the television, according to documents obtained by Canwest News Service.
"Just as we have 'one department, one website" we should have 'one department, one voice'," says a PowerPoint presentation from Environment Canada's executive management committee that's been sent to department staff.
It laments that there has been "limited co-ordination of messages across the country" and how "interviews sometimes result in surprises to minister and senior management."
Environment Canada scientists, many of them world leaders in their fields, have long been encouraged to discuss their work on everything from migratory birds to melting Arctic ice with the media and public. Several of them were co-authors of the United Nations report on climate change that won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
"It's insulting," says one senior staff member, who asked not to be named. She says researchers can no longer even discuss or confirm science facts without approval from the "highest level."
Until now, Environment Canada has been one of most open and accessible departments in the federal government, which the executive committee says is a problem that needs to be remedied.
It says all media queries must now be routed through Ottawa where "media relations will work with individual staff to decide how to best handle the call; this could include: Asking the program expert to respond with approved lines; having media relations respond; referring the call to the minister's office; referring the call to another department," the presentation says.
Gregory Jack, acting director of Environment Canada's ministerial and executive services, says scientists and "subject matter experts" will still be made available to speak to the media "on complex and technical issues." He would not explain how "approved lines" are being written and who is approving them.
Jack said the policy is meant to bring Environment Canada in line with other federal departments, but insists "there is no change in the access in terms of scientists being able to talk."
He says the intent of the new policy is to respond in a "quick, accurate way that is consistent across Canada."
The reality, says insiders, is the policy is blocking communication and infuriating scientists. Researchers have been told to refer all media queries to Ottawa. The media office then asks reporters to submit their questions in writing. Sources say researchers are then asked to respond in writing to the media office, which then sends the answers to senior management for approval. If a researcher is eventually cleared to do an interview, he or she is instructed to stick to the "approved lines."
Climatologist Andrew Weaver, of the University of Victoria, works closely with several Environment Canada scientists. He says the policy points to the Conservative government's fixation with "micro-management" and message control.
"They've been muzzled," says Weaver of the federal researchers. "The concept of free speech is non-existent at Environment Canada. They are manufacturing the message of science."
"They can't even now comment on why a storm hit the area without going through head office," says Weaver, who's been fielding calls from frustrated media who can no longer get through to federal experts scientists who once spoke freely about their fields of work, be it atmospheric winds affecting airliners or disease outbreaks at bird colonies.
The weather service has been exempted from having to go through head office.
-- Canwest News Service
Experts must stick to 'approved lines,' says Ottawa
Fri Feb 1 2008
By Margaret Munro
ENVIRONMENT Canada has "muzzled" its scientists, ordering them to refer all media queries to Ottawa where communications officers will help them respond with "approved lines."
The new policy, which went into force in recent weeks and sent a chill through the department research divisions, is designed to control the department's media message and ensure there are no "surprises" for Environment Minister John Baird and senior management when they open the newspaper or turn on the television, according to documents obtained by Canwest News Service.
"Just as we have 'one department, one website" we should have 'one department, one voice'," says a PowerPoint presentation from Environment Canada's executive management committee that's been sent to department staff.
It laments that there has been "limited co-ordination of messages across the country" and how "interviews sometimes result in surprises to minister and senior management."
Environment Canada scientists, many of them world leaders in their fields, have long been encouraged to discuss their work on everything from migratory birds to melting Arctic ice with the media and public. Several of them were co-authors of the United Nations report on climate change that won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
"It's insulting," says one senior staff member, who asked not to be named. She says researchers can no longer even discuss or confirm science facts without approval from the "highest level."
Until now, Environment Canada has been one of most open and accessible departments in the federal government, which the executive committee says is a problem that needs to be remedied.
It says all media queries must now be routed through Ottawa where "media relations will work with individual staff to decide how to best handle the call; this could include: Asking the program expert to respond with approved lines; having media relations respond; referring the call to the minister's office; referring the call to another department," the presentation says.
Gregory Jack, acting director of Environment Canada's ministerial and executive services, says scientists and "subject matter experts" will still be made available to speak to the media "on complex and technical issues." He would not explain how "approved lines" are being written and who is approving them.
Jack said the policy is meant to bring Environment Canada in line with other federal departments, but insists "there is no change in the access in terms of scientists being able to talk."
He says the intent of the new policy is to respond in a "quick, accurate way that is consistent across Canada."
The reality, says insiders, is the policy is blocking communication and infuriating scientists. Researchers have been told to refer all media queries to Ottawa. The media office then asks reporters to submit their questions in writing. Sources say researchers are then asked to respond in writing to the media office, which then sends the answers to senior management for approval. If a researcher is eventually cleared to do an interview, he or she is instructed to stick to the "approved lines."
Climatologist Andrew Weaver, of the University of Victoria, works closely with several Environment Canada scientists. He says the policy points to the Conservative government's fixation with "micro-management" and message control.
"They've been muzzled," says Weaver of the federal researchers. "The concept of free speech is non-existent at Environment Canada. They are manufacturing the message of science."
"They can't even now comment on why a storm hit the area without going through head office," says Weaver, who's been fielding calls from frustrated media who can no longer get through to federal experts scientists who once spoke freely about their fields of work, be it atmospheric winds affecting airliners or disease outbreaks at bird colonies.
The weather service has been exempted from having to go through head office.
-- Canwest News Service
posted by Rob Budde at
2:20 PM
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0 comments
Saturday, January 26, 2008
PACHA -Better Air Symposium -
Saturday, Feb 2, 2008-Coast Inn of the North
Learn about and discuss Prince George's air quality challenges and what we can do about them - Listen to some great speakers & musicians - Check out the information booths - Admission is Free! Kids Activities!
9am Opening comments by MC, Dan Rogers
9:15 am Dr. Catherine Elliott, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
"How dangerous is our air shed to the community: The link between particulate levels and mortality"
10:30 Key Note - Mark Bekkering, Acting Manager, Environmental & Planning Support, City of Toronto.
"Working together to address climate change and air quality"
12:15-Music - Performance by ColdSnap Musical Artist Carla Luft of the Wailing Jennys
12:30-1:30 Free Lunch
(no cost to first 250 symposium attendees)
Presentation of 1st annual PACHA Clean Air Awards - Awards will be given to Individuals, Businesses, Government / Politicians and Media representatives who have shown leadership and contributed to the improvement of air quality in Prince George-Green Card Children's Art Competition Awards ˆ 2 elementary school students will talk about their experiences with the air quality in Prince George (Awards presented by Hon. Pat Bell, MLA, & Sean Sharpe, Regional Director, Ministry of Environment)
1:30-1:45 -- Performance by Musician - Jeremy Stewart
1:45 - Break-out sessions with short introductions by each of the session speakers.
The Breakout sessions will focus on the following areas from 2:10-3:30 and will include sessions on Monitoring, Implementation Committee, Mayors Task Force, Designing and using effective airshed plans, Politics and Air Quality, Best Available Technology what is it? Reducing Vehicle emissions, Reducing your impact Greenhouse gasses and emissions, Benefits of Transit,
Everyone Welcome - Free Admission - Kids activities
Please drop in to show you care about our air!
See online schedule here
posted by Rob Budde at
11:16 PM
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2 comments
Monday, December 31, 2007
PACHA year end
from PACHA:
"The year 2007 has been an eventful one in terms of air quality issues. As you know Prince George has some of the worst air quality in British Columbia. The recent report released by Northern Health estimates the mortality rate in Prince George at 60 people per year due to particulate inhalation. This makes the problems associated with our air all the more unacceptable.
Recently we have seen some changes in the attitude of the City Council, in that, air quality could be an issue to the citizens of Prince George. This is fantastic; however, we need more... if this problem is going to change. We need to see movement by the provincial government in terms of how they are going to attack this problem. The technology is available to make the air quality better in Prince George. The political will is not there yet. Government seems more intent on protecting the bottom lines of companies than protecting the health of the citizens that work to make these companies profitable.
On February 2nd 2008, only 1 month away, PACHA is hosting a symposium at the Coast inn of the North. We are bringing in Mark Bekkering an expert in terms of how to make change in Air Quality. Mark helped Hamilton reduce their pollution by approximately 25% - He is going to tell us how that worked. Mark is now working in Toronto on a similar effort. There will be presentations by Northern Health on their recent report on mortality as well as short talks in the afternoon on everything from how individuals can reduce their effect on air quality to presentations on what technology is available to industry to reduce their impact on the air quality. A complimentary lunch will be provided. The first annual PACHA Clean Air awards will be awarded to individuals, companies, politicians, and media who have made a difference to our air quality. Please go to our website www.pachapg.ca and download the information to submit a nomination. There will be music, entertainment as well as a
children‚s environmental art competition. We need you to come out to the symposium and make it successful.
We also need help organizing this event. We need people to phone our members. People are needed to help at the event. People are needed to help put up posters and get the word out. If you can help, please reply to our email or call me at 617-7467
Our thanks for sponsorship of this symposium goes to the City of Prince George, Northern Interior Health, Ministry of the Environment, the Citizen and PGTV. If you know anybody that works at these places please thank them for helping clean up our air.
Finally we know that there are many issues surrounding air quality. I would personally like to thank your board of directors for all the work they have done to continue to bring this issue to the forefront - The number of hours they have put in during the past year is probably in the thousands. Without them we wouldn't be getting the movement we are in terms of this issue. Thank you for joining PACHA and believing that we can make a difference to our air quality. We can and we will make Prince George a better place to live, and breathe
PACHA holds its meetings the first Tuesday of every month at 1400 N. Nechako Rd. We welcome anyone interested in attending. Our next meeting is Tuesday Jan 8th. Meetings run from 7:00pm ˆ9:00pm."
Dave Fuller
"PACHA (People's Action Committee for Healthy Air"
"The year 2007 has been an eventful one in terms of air quality issues. As you know Prince George has some of the worst air quality in British Columbia. The recent report released by Northern Health estimates the mortality rate in Prince George at 60 people per year due to particulate inhalation. This makes the problems associated with our air all the more unacceptable.
Recently we have seen some changes in the attitude of the City Council, in that, air quality could be an issue to the citizens of Prince George. This is fantastic; however, we need more... if this problem is going to change. We need to see movement by the provincial government in terms of how they are going to attack this problem. The technology is available to make the air quality better in Prince George. The political will is not there yet. Government seems more intent on protecting the bottom lines of companies than protecting the health of the citizens that work to make these companies profitable.
On February 2nd 2008, only 1 month away, PACHA is hosting a symposium at the Coast inn of the North. We are bringing in Mark Bekkering an expert in terms of how to make change in Air Quality. Mark helped Hamilton reduce their pollution by approximately 25% - He is going to tell us how that worked. Mark is now working in Toronto on a similar effort. There will be presentations by Northern Health on their recent report on mortality as well as short talks in the afternoon on everything from how individuals can reduce their effect on air quality to presentations on what technology is available to industry to reduce their impact on the air quality. A complimentary lunch will be provided. The first annual PACHA Clean Air awards will be awarded to individuals, companies, politicians, and media who have made a difference to our air quality. Please go to our website www.pachapg.ca and download the information to submit a nomination. There will be music, entertainment as well as a
children‚s environmental art competition. We need you to come out to the symposium and make it successful.
We also need help organizing this event. We need people to phone our members. People are needed to help at the event. People are needed to help put up posters and get the word out. If you can help, please reply to our email or call me at 617-7467
Our thanks for sponsorship of this symposium goes to the City of Prince George, Northern Interior Health, Ministry of the Environment, the Citizen and PGTV. If you know anybody that works at these places please thank them for helping clean up our air.
Finally we know that there are many issues surrounding air quality. I would personally like to thank your board of directors for all the work they have done to continue to bring this issue to the forefront - The number of hours they have put in during the past year is probably in the thousands. Without them we wouldn't be getting the movement we are in terms of this issue. Thank you for joining PACHA and believing that we can make a difference to our air quality. We can and we will make Prince George a better place to live, and breathe
PACHA holds its meetings the first Tuesday of every month at 1400 N. Nechako Rd. We welcome anyone interested in attending. Our next meeting is Tuesday Jan 8th. Meetings run from 7:00pm ˆ9:00pm."
Dave Fuller
"PACHA (People's Action Committee for Healthy Air"
posted by Rob Budde at
8:55 PM
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0 comments
