Earth Day will be marked locally by a public program on the topic, ‘Our Earth and Climate Change: What Can We Do?’
The program will take place at 7 p.m. at First United Church Wednesday, April 22, and is sponsored by the Salmon Arm Ecumenical KAIROS Committee, with support from the Shuswap Environmental Action Society (SEAS), Wetlands Alliance: the Ecological Response (WA:TER) and Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE).
Organizers say Canada’s record on climate change is one of the worst globally and the upcoming federal election provides an opportunity for Canadians to influence the government to sign a strong climate treaty.
“If we act now, in sufficient numbers, then climate change can be contained within manageable bounds. If not, the consequences are likely to be very destabilizing,” says presenter Warren Bell.
“While action at the national and international levels is vital, it is also important to press regional and local governments to develop adaptation measures to help communities cope with the escalating impacts of global warming: drought, floods, fires and extreme weather events,” adds SEAS president Jim Cooperman.
The Earth Day program will feature four short films showing why we need to be extremely concerned about what is happening to the Earth’s climate, and also, what we can do about it.
This is a free public program; all interested persons welcome. For more information, call Anne Morris at 250- 833-5773.
As well, Ecojustice and the David Suzuki Foundation have a national campaign to amend the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to guarantee every Canadian’s right to a healthy environment. This Blue Dot Movement is named for the unique way the Earth is seen from space. On April 18, residents can show support for the Blue Dot Movement by signing a petition at the Mall at Piccadilly.