Global Warming Editorial Letter in Toronto Star - December 29, 2006

[brazer]

Hi everyone,

Canada's largest daily newspaper, The Toronto Star, has published the following editorial letter today. The Toronto Star’s Friday edition has a circulation of about 450,000 and a readership in excess of 1 million, so this letter should certainly help to increase awareness in regards to global warming to the residents in Toronto as well as Canadians nation-wide.

Best wishes.
Brazer
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Yaz Maziar: Letter to the Editor on Climate Crisis - 29/12/06:

www.thestar.com/opinion/article/165991

CLIMATE CHANGE
Begin taking action now
Now that the environment has become one of our chief concerns, it is time to start making changes

December 29, 2006

Re: 10 ways to reduce greenhouse gases, Editorial, Dec. 27.

In reading this editorial and the tips it presented for Canadians to begin reducing their individual greenhouse gas emissions, I was reminded of a statement made by former U.S. presidential candidate and long-time advocate for the environment, Al Gore, who poignantly said that if we were to recognize and acknowledge the issue of global warming and the corresponding environmental crisis it has created, then "the moral imperative to make big changes would be inescapable."

Now that we Canadians are prioritizing climate change as one of our chief concerns, it is, therefore, "inescapable" for us to begin to make changes, including those mentioned in the editorial. Those are certainly preliminary steps that we can all implement without much sacrifice. It is equally important to examine additional changes we can carry out to save even more energy and further reduce our carbon dioxide emissions immediately as well as in the longer term.

In addition to buying energy efficient light bulbs, we should also purchase energy efficient appliances. These include fridges, stoves, microwaves, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, televisions and computers. As well, turning off electronic devices instead of setting them to standby would further increase energy savings.

Weatherproofing our homes, including increasing insulation and getting an energy audit performed are other positive actions we can undertake.

Being consistent in using our blue boxes and green bins to recycle even more of our waste is another great step. Avoiding buying products with excess packaging would decrease household rubbish directly at the point of purchase.

For those who drive, consideration should be given to buying hybrid cars. Alternatively, switching to a vehicle with higher emission standards would also be an environmentally friendly choice. Better yet, simply drive less and when possible, walk, ride a bicycle or take public transit.

Those who have backyards should consider planting trees. Amazingly, just one tree has the ability to absorb one ton of carbon dioxide in its lifetime.

And finally, we need to vote for political leaders who will place the environment at the top of their priority list.

Future generations are depending on us to begin the fight against global warming. It is incumbent upon all of us to begin taking action now.

Yaz Maziar, Toronto