TWO UPCOMING PUBLIC EVENTS

In a perfect world, which never has and never will exist as long as human beings are in charge, one could solve all problems through quiet discussion, agreement on the obvious facts and then a meeting of the minds possibly including some comprimises to sweeten the agreement. In regards to Uniroyal/Chemtura in Elmira it's always been about money, power and influence. If they had been dealing with strong, publicly motivated politicians at the municipal, regional and provincial levels their wiggle room would have been substantially minimized. Unfortunately that has not been the case. Individual politicians of good character have always been vastly outnumbered by the rest. This is why we live in the world that we do.

Therefore other directions need to be pursued to exert pressure on recalcitrant polluters, politicians and their assorted fellow travellers. These fellow travellors are motivated by self interest and unfortunately as has occurred in Elmira and elsewhere, also includes co-opted private citizens. This is where the media, including both their positive and negative characteristics, come into play. They help shape public opinion and knowledge. Ultimately however it's all about the public. If they truly deep down don't care one way or the other then all is lost. This is often the goal of politicians and polluters. Give the public no reason to care. Lie to them that all is well. Pretend that everything is under control. Use any and all manipulative means to pursuade a very busy public with lives, jobs and children that they really shouldn't commit their time and effort to being watchdogs of the public interest.

40% of our population will have cancer in their lifetimes. As I posted yesterday this is due to the air you breathe, the water you drink and the food you eat. Is this really acceptable to you? Dioxins are now ubiquitous in milk. Fourteen years after the Walkerton water tragedy, contaminated source water is common throughout Waterloo Region. Chemicals as additives in food are now the norm. Our air here is better than Toronto or Hamilton and certainly better than in third world developing countries including China. But it's still polluted and all air is connected.

One week from today I will be a Delegate at the televised Woolwich Council meeting (7 pm.) speaking about the "progress" in cleaning up the Elmira Aquifers and the Chemtura/Uniroyal site itself. A week from this Thursday in the same Council Chambers (6 pm.), the Chemtura Public Advisory Committee (CPAC) will hold their monthly meeting. Attend in person or watch the Woolwich Township televised meeting live on Rogers cable TV (channel 20 ?).