| Re: "Battle for the boreal," by Amy Steele, September 28-October 04, 2006.
I appreciate the coverage of this issue. It seems this province is all too happy profiting in the short-term at the expense of our long-term interests in our own health and our livelihoods. The environment provides our health and livelihoods. We are not separate from it. But we don't hear about that in Calgary. This city is now, more poignantly than ever, becoming made of two separate groups of people – those who are rich from playing their part in exploiting the environment and those who aren't.
By the way, what is the source for the paper Fast Forward is printed on?
Daria M., Calgary, Alberta
Re: "Battle for the boreal," by Amy Steele, September 28 – October 04, 2006.
Now that Canada's environment commission has declared Canada's record amongst the worst in the world, even the Conservatives are responding after meeting first with the oil and auto industries (Jeez guys, what should we do?). One of the worst tragedies on the planet now is the total destruction of the boreal forest (earth's lungs) in the tarsands area of Alberta where huge lakes of poisons are leaking into the Athabasca River. The polluters only pay one per cent royalties as long as they are expanding and then rates increase to 25 per cent. Small wonder those impoverished companies like Esso ( largest profit ever posted in history) keep expanding rather than pay fair royalties! Harper has decided on voluntary restraints (same as before) and promises to do something in a year. Meanwhile, he wants to go to the polls hoping for a majority government and you can bet your Ralph bucks the oil and car boys will be spending big on the campaign to elect this Canadian Bush buddy.
David Suzuki, after 30 years of warning about Global warming, says voluntary measures don't work and that individuals need to take responsibility for their own actions. What can we do? Even Peter Lougheed has suggested a moratorium on tarsands development until we get this mess under control. We Albertans are on the front line.
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