Clean energy future
A couple of weeks ago, City of Powell River made a bold commitment to a bright future. Mayor Dave Formosa and council joined a growing list of British Columbia local governments all agreeing that Canada needs a bold plan to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, fight climate change and transition to a clean-energy economy [“Energy strategy,” December 12].
On November 15, Powell River council endorsed a statement of support for a set of principles for what a Canadian energy strategy should accomplish. In doing so, council joined the ranks more than 700 companies, industry associations, municipal and first nation governments, labour unions, and nonprofit organizations from across the country. All are calling for a Canadian energy strategy that would make the nation a global clean-energy leader and less of an energy waster.
Clean Energy Canada at Tides Canada put together the principles and priorities earlier this year after collaborating with more than 100 energy and climate change leaders from Vancouver to Halifax. The framework focuses on creating pollution-free jobs and prosperity, energy efficiency for families and businesses, developing renewable alternatives to fossil fuels, fostering healthy communities, fighting climate change and more.
Make no mistake, oil and gas will be a part of our world for some years to come. However, all the endorsers, including Powell River, agree that our nation must begin reducing its dependence on these fuels.
So long as we continue to place all our eggs in the petroleum basket, we will remain vulnerable to the boom-and-bust cycles that are tough on Canadian families, particularly those in smaller resource communities. A bold clean-energy plan could get us off this roller coaster, and help set a course for truly long-term prosperity.
More information about this initiative is available online.
Merran Smith, director of Clean Energy Canada
Tides Canada
Super natural British Columbia
In the article “Texada facility part of coal export expansion plans,” published in the Peak on December 5, Powell River Regional District’s Texada Island director Dave Murphy states the concerns about the impact of burning coal on the environment have nothing to do with Texada.
Need I say more?
Steve Perkins
Blair Road, Texada Island
Texada coal transport
Shipping thermal coal via Texada Island is a really bad idea [“Texada facility part of coal export expansion plans,” December 5]. If we don’t reduce our carbon emissions quickly, future storms will make Hurricane Sandy look like a minor squall.
Climate change is a world-wide crisis and we can’t just say it’s China’s problem. We must do everything we can to discourage expansion of the burning of fossil fuels and to encourage development of low carbon energy sources.
Rather than leaving a devastated planet for our grandchildren, let’s act now for a low carbon future.
Brian Voth and Martha Allen
Finn Bay Road
Inappropriate graphic
As I browsed the Weekend Shopper [Friday, December 7] I came upon a page with a large wheelchair symbol in the middle of it. This caught my attention because, as a wheelchair user, I am always curious about how disability is portrayed in the media. The large print surrounding the wheelchair symbol stated “Don’t drive distracted or you might be parking here sooner than you think.”
What kind of message is this sending about people with disabilities who park in wheelchair spots? That we drove while distracted? Or committed some other crime? Or that our situation is something to be feared, like prison or death?
In a town that is supposedly tuned in to disability issues, you would think someone at Peak Publishing would have known better than to run such a stigmatizing advertisement. Clearly, whoever approved this advertisement does not use a wheelchair, because if they did, I can guarantee you this advertisement would never have made it to print. The key is to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Ask yourself if you would like your life to be depicted as some kind of prison sentence.
The media needs to decide whether it wants to portray people with disabilities as strong, capable and valued members of society or something to be feared. To do both is hypocritical and insulting.
Kaia Sherritt
Abbotsford Street
