Posted: Monday, 5 May 2008

On April 22nd, millions of people from over 180 countries will celebrate Earth Day. Around the world, these celebrations will bring attention to local and world wide environmental issues. Although there is a tremendous amount we can do to appreciate and celebrate our connection to the earth, for many it is a somber occasion.

While Greenhouse Gas Emissions continue to rise in Canada, our federal government continues to ignore the dyer state of our environment. Meanwhile, we fail to have chemical policies which make workers health, safety and the precautionary principle a priority. There is still much we can do.

Earth Day is a time to ask, “Is there anything we can do to make the world a cleaner place to live?” The CLC’s theme for Earth Day 2008 is “Take Responsibility and Action to get some satisfaction”. Individually, we can try to do the best we can to reduce the impact we have on our environment.

One of the easiest ways we can do that, is by reducing the amount of energy we use by doing simple things such as turning off a light, buying food and products which were produced closer to home and committing to driving less.

We can also organize green initiatives within our workplaces and incorporate environmental concerns into our bargaining.

On Earth Day, we would like to remind Canadians to advocate for action on Climate Change by doing two simple acts. First, we ask that you contact your Member of Parliament by phone, mail or e-mail and ask them to take action to avert catastrophic climate change. Second, we ask you to think about what you can do to reduce the amount of energy you use and take action in your own life.

Always remember that Earth Day is a celebration. The other 364 days of the year require a commitment to protect our health, our future and our environment.