Environment needs girl power

By lisi tesher

As Canadian women, we need to be concerned about our environment.

In Toronto this year, there have been a record number of smog alert days already.

You can see it when you’re flying in to, what is known to the rest of the country as, ”The Big Smoke.” The sky overhead hangs a murky brown layer over the city. You can’t see it when you’re on the ground, but it’s there.

This can’t be good for us — for our skin, our hair, or our lungs. I know they call Toronto “Hollywood North” but this is ridiculous! How did this city, once known for its cleanliness, get so dirty?

Things aren’t much better on the West Coast. Just recently, Vancouver was hit with a tsunami warning following a massive earthquake in Northern California. Thankfully, this natural disaster never came to fruition, but if it had, the areas in question were insufficiently prepared. One resort never told its guests how and where to find higher ground, reminding us of the plight of so many people in Thailand at the end of last year.

Some areas had no warning system so firefighters had to spend their time going out on foot, to knock on doors. And when, finally, some people were able to get in their cars and head for safer territory, they got stuck in a jam on the one narrow highway leading out of the potential danger zone.

And in Ottawa, like the rest of Ontario, they’ve been informed that the Liberal government is unable to dismantle all the coal-fire plants, as they had hoped to, by 2007.

So how can we, as individual women, help save our fair cities, our environment, and improve our health all at the same time? Although each small effort may seem insignificant, if we all try, our combined efforts should make some improvement.

Let’s start with the basics: try to carpool, saving on car emissions, whenever possible. Moms already do it to help each other out when it comes to getting our kids to and from school and/or various programs. Or, in the warmer, dryer months, choose alternative forms of transport, like biking or walking. If you have to use your car, refrain from idling. And if you see any city vehicles idling, call City Hall and complain.

Although few of us enjoy the humidity, try not to use your air conditioner constantly. Try putting it on a timer, so your home is cool when you return from work, but you don’t leave it on all day.

In the evening, if there’s a breeze, open some windows and get the fresh air blowing through your home.

As I recently learned, the number of children who suffer from allergies and asthma has increased greatly in the last few years. Studies show it’s a direct result of our worsening environment.

Let’s help save our planet — for our children’s sakes — one person and one city at a time.