[van-announce] Alert - On Thurs. Support Ban on Pesticides at Council Planning & Environment Committee

[Roslyn Cassells]

CAN VANCOUVER BAN DOMESTIC USE OF TOXINS IN OUR CITY - YES WE CAN!!!

Write city council and say so, or come out this Thursday and speak at the
committee meeting.

* Council email is:  mayorandcouncil at city.vancouver.bc.ca

* Sign up to speak at the committee meeting by emailing the City Clerk at:
cc at city.vancouver.bc.ca 
   (with a copy to laura_kazakoff at city.vancouver.bc.ca) or by calling the
office of the City Clerk at: 604-873-7276

In a bold and brave move, the City of Halifax, setting legal and ecological
precedents, led the way to all Canadian municipal governments gaining the
right to ban harmful toxins in their jurisdictions.

Now is the time for Vancouver to follow in her footsteps to create a
healthy environment for all residents.  Pesticides and other chemicals
commonly used in and around our homes, gardens, schools, parks, community
buildings and businesses are known to cause serious health effects ranging
from autoimmune disorders such as asthma, allergy and cancer, to death.
Toxins in the workplace negatively effect the health and safety of workers,
toxins in our schools and schoolyards result in sick children (with
children effected several-fold as compared with adults), and toxins in our
parks and gardens poison our companion animals, wildlife and indigenous
ecosystems.

A public education campaign will assist residents in choosing healthier
alternatives to some of the chemicals currently in use.

A series of recommendations were approved earlier this year at the
Vancouver Park Board, and the recommendations, due to their city-wide
application in both public and private lands, has now progressed to city
council, where it was then referred to the Planning and Environment
Committee.  This item on pesticides is on the agenda this Thursday, the
meeting starts at 2pm.

Council report link:
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/020912/pe5.htm

for more information about the meeting, your city hall contact is meeting
secretary Laura Kazakoff at: 604-873-7276 or email:
laura_kazakoff at city.vancouver.bc.ca


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This email is a message from Park Commissioner Roslyn Cassells.  Should you
need to get hold of park board staff, call 604-257-8400 and the switchboard
operator will direct you to the correct staff member.  If you require
information on animal issues, please visit the "Animal Groups" link on my
webpage at http://www.alternatives.com/greenwave/  There is also a section
on Urban Coyotes.