DIOXINS, DDT & WOOLWICH HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY

The 2012 Household Hazardous Waste Day Schedule has come out recently in the Woolwich Observer. The two closest locations for us are the Wellesley Township Yards two days ago (sorry folks) and the St. Jacobs Arena on October 20/12. August 25/12 is in the Ayr News parking lot and November 3/12 is at the Kitchener Auditorium. Regarding Dioxins and DDT in the above headline, our Chemtura neighbours in Elmira have been permitted by the Ministry of the Environment to dump them down the Canagagigue Creek for the last fifty years . Having set this precedent and not wishing to give offense or even consternation, the M.O.E. have decided to permit this practice to continue until this most toxic substance known to mankind no longer resides in Elmira.

The good news according to Chemtura spokespersons is that both DDT's and Dioxins have an affinity to soil and thus do not quickly or readily mobilize and travel through groundwater into the surface waters of the Canagagigue. This however may also be the bad news. It means that that which has indeed been tested for and found in the floodplain of the "Gig" downstream all the way to the Grand River, just below West Montrose, will continue unabated for many more decades. It will be unabated because our M.O.E. haven't the wallet, stomach, brains or balls for a fight. As industry hides behind them for protection, so they hide behind the rest of the Liberal government in Ontario. The best possible outcome of the upcoming provincial by-election in Kitchener is for McGuinty's Liberals NOT to win a majority.

There are a thousand ways for professional liars to circumvent environmental laws however it does take the cooperation of our government and the apathy of our citizens. Autism, asthma , dementia, species decline, hypersensitivity to environmental triggers, global warming; these are all indications that man has run amok and will pay dearly for his sins. Chemtura will very shortly be publicly announcing their "cleanup" plans for their Dioxins and buried DDT. Quoting an expert from twenty years ago they will once again be "...the cheapest and least effective " and our government will stand beside them and hold their hands. CPAC must not stand alone against Chemtura and the M.O.E.. I expect at a minimum Woolwich Township Council to join the fray and ideally hundreds of Elmira citizens as well. Please stay tuned!