CAW Durham Regional Environment Council

Keep up the fight, say Clarington incinerator foes

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:02:32 +0000

March 04, 2010

CLARINGTON — Opponents of an incinerator in Clarington say they need to keep the pressure on senior levels of government as the fight isn’t over.

“The good news is it’s not a done deal, but we all have to move quick because it’s five minutes to midnight,” said long-time incinerator opponent Linda Gasser. “People have the power to inform themselves and to stop these projects. An informed and engaged citizenry can scare the heck out of politicians, especially if they’re seeking re-election.”

She made the comments during a meeting Tuesday attended by 150 people at the Faith United Church in Courtice.

Last Friday, the provincial Environment Ministry released its review of the environmental assessment for the proposed energy-from-waste facility. The ministry review noted the facility “will benefit” Durham and York regions.

“The ministry is satisfied that the proposed mitigation methods and contingencies will ensure that any potential negative impacts will be minimized and mitigated,” the MOE review stated.

The public can comment on the review until April 2, while the minister of the environment has 13 weeks after that to announce a decision.

“What EA are they reading?” asked Wendy Bracken, another incinerator opponent. “Our air quality is already poor.”

Dr. Debra Jefferson, a Newcastle family physician, said emissions from the incinerator would compromise the health of citizens.

“Courtice has the highest measurable nitrous oxide (readings) in southern Ontario,” she said, adding children, older adults, asthmatics and diabetics would be most vulnerable.

“This incinerator will pollute not only for our generation, but our children’s generation and their children’s generation,” Dr. Jefferson stated.

“Our greatest challenge, dare I say, is apathy. People say if it’s not safe, it won’t be approved. The Region says if it’s not safe, the Province won’t approve it. The buck stops with us. If we want to stop the incinerator, we all have to do our part,” Dr. Jefferson noted.

She said particulate matter, very fine materials less than the diameter of a human hair, would be emitted.

The possibility of an incinerator, the Hwy. 407 extension through Clarington and a possible expansion of Hwy. 401 “all work together to increase the load of particulate matter in our atmosphere.”

“We need a groundswell of opposition to kill it,” said Doug Anderson, a Green Party candidate in Whitby in previous elections.

“In our opinion, the public has been let down by the politicians and bureaucrats at all levels,” Ms. Gasser added.

Dr. Connett’s UN Presentation

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 08:43:28 +0000

Click Here for the Presentation

Dear Zero Wasters,

Every so often we get a bit of luck and I think we got some today.

A few months ago I was invited to give a talk on Zero Waste at the UN. I didn’t get my hopes up because I didn’t know what the scope of this was. Well I gave my talk today and I am very excited. I spoke on Zero Waste and Sustainability at a meeting organized by the UN Division on Sustainable Development (DSD). There were three other speakers (Alan Hershkowitz from NRDC who spoke on E-waste; a consultant engineer who spoke on the problems of waste management in the Caribbean and a spokesperson from the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP). There were about 100 people in the audience representing delegations from many different countries.

From the opening remarks from the chair the Philippines delegate to the UN (he was excited to hear about the ZW conference in the Philippines in Oct), to the chairman of the UN DSD it was very clear that we were going to get a very receptive audience to the Zero Waste message - and this is exactly how it went. I was able to show 15 minutes from the On the Road to Zero Waste video which we shot in Nova Scotia in 2000 and I followed this with a 20 minute (i believe that they actually allowed me 25 minutes). I attach the power point I used. I had some more time in question time. it all went VERY, VERY well. Afterwards I had delegates from Colombia , Guatemala , Ghana , US and several others coming up expressing their positive response.

So I think the take home message on this is that where people are already tuned into the need for sustainability they are very receptive to ZW. I felt entirely vindicated for the efforts I and many of you have put into this for many years - I particularly stressed developments in California and Italy . I even mentioned that groups in the UK and Italy were talking about developing a residual screening and research facility. I also mentioned Eric Lombardi’s one stop system. Gary Liss and zero waste businesses and Bill Sheehan as contact for EPR - Gerry Gillespie’s rapid composting - low tech system.

And they want me back for a bigger meeting…You can see more at www.UN.org/ESA/dsd

So each of your grab a glass of red wine and toast all our hard efforts - I think we are making some progress -

Make Love Not Waste (got that in too!)

Durham Incinerator - EA first round public comment deadline Friday Sept 25th, 2009‏

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:23:41 +0000

http://zerowaste4zeroburning.ca/

Durham Incinerator - EA first round public comment deadline Friday Sept
25th, 2009.

On June 24th, Durham Region councillors voted 16-12 to submit the
Environmental Assessment study to the Ontario ministry of the environment
for approval of the proposed waste incinerator planned for Courtice.

The deadline for the first round of comments is this Friday, September
25th. We urge all concerned citizens to take action and send comments to
the ministry reviewers to alert them to concerns with the EA study and
process to date. The provincial government reviewers and the Durham-York
project team will review your comments.

Long-standing areas of concern with the Incinerator EA studies have
focused on air quality and the human health impacts of incineration, the
lack of sufficient and meaningful public consultation throughout the EA
study and the high costs of incineration.

This is not a done deal!

We urge you to submit your written comments to the MOE by Friday at the
address shown below, so that these could be considered by the government
reviewers before the final round of public comments. We will advise you
when those dates become known.

All EA documents can be found at
http://www.durhamyorkwaste.ca/ea_study_doc.php

Please submit your written comments to:
Gavin Battarino, Project Officer
Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch
Ministry of the Environment
2 St. Clair Ave. W., Floor 12A
Toronto, Ontario M4V 1L5

Fax: 416-314-8452

Email: Mr. Gavin Battarino

Send a copy to:

Minister of the Environment John Gerretsen
Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Gord Miller
Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin

Family seeking to lay criminal charges against Durham Politicians,Ontario & Federal Government Agencies for unsafe Steel Mill

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:18:48 +0000

On September 23rd 2009 at the Oshawa Holiday Inn at 10:00 AM, my family will be announcing at the public news conference the list of chemicals that the public was exposed to for 4 years as the Government has yet failed to provide proof that there is adequate “ventilation” at the former Whitby Lasco Steel Mill, now known as Gerdauameristeel.

For some reason the OPP Anti Racketeering Corruption Unit and Durham Regional police major crime Unit do not want to hold Durham Politicians and Government agencies “accountable” for allowing a steel mill operate with no bag house (ventilation system).

Durham Residents should be concerned as the same politicians who allowed this to happen want a incinerator in your back yard.

One steelworker has passed away, the second worker is on oxygen and I am the third worker seeking treatment at the Cancer Center because from toxin exposure that you cannot see ) particulate matter.

Back in March of this year, Durham Chairman, Mr. Roger Anderson and others believe that “Air Sampling” would cost too much. Approximately $270,000 per year. 2 months in the hospital cost tax payers over $60,000. My lung biopsy was $20,000. WSIB refused to pay it and fit the bill to Ontario tax payers. Mean while I receive Workers Compensation Benefits for the last 4 years? $80,000 in less than 3 months never mind the medicine I need every time I end up in the hospital.

Therefore, since Mr. Roger Anderson and politicians who have been portraying to the public that they are a responsible Government and care about our children’s health and families will be proven wrong and my family are seeking the following criminal charges against all politicians and Government agencies who are responsible for protecting the public’s health from Environmental Toxins.

Under Bill C-45 of the criminal Code of Canada, the law states;

“EVERYONE MUST TAKE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT ILLNESSES AND INJURIES IN THE WORKPLACE”

According to the Public health Department of Durham and WSIB, “Everyone” does not pertain to them. But WSIb advertises Prevent it.ca. Acting like they care?

Therefore, we are asking the police to uphold our laws in Canada and pursue the criminal Code and lay charges for failing to protect our communty, our environment, water, soil and food chain supply. Police already have the evidence int heir possession. They just don’t know how many other are sick?

Here is a list of the charges we are seeking against all parties involved?

1. Bill C-45 (this includes the board of Directors of the steel mill who are responsible of our safety as well)
2. Duty of person Direction work S. 217.1 of the criminal code (cc.)
3. Criminal Negligence s. 219.1 of cc.
4. Criminal Negligence Causing bodily harm s221 cc
5. Breach of Contract s422 cc
6. Death that might have been prevented s.224
7. Causing death by criminal negligence s.220
8. Public Servant refusing to deliver property s.337 cc
9. Acceleration to Death S. 226 cc.
10.Adminisitering Noxious Thing s. 245 ( No ventilation system) hazardous toxins exposed to me and public while we thought we were protected and safe?
11. Theft s.322 (my personal information and evidence was given to a stranger on a street corner) Rumors have it this gentleman “Heishel Hanley” also known as “Harold” according to testimony writes speeches for Stephen Harper. This would explain why police won’t investigate him. Police won’t investigate his money trail as he purchased a $20,000 sea Doo at the same time evidence went missing? Government is deeply involved in my opinion. How much would Government pay to have documents disappear?
12. Criminal Breech of trust s. 336cc
13. Fraudulent Concealment s. 341cc
14. Books and Documents s. 397
15. False statement s.362cc
16. Forgery s.366 ) Putting forged documents in play. Changing information/evidence
17. Damaging documents s.377cc (leaving out evidence, dismissing cases,) In the end, people get sick when they are more concerned about profit. This case is proof………company and union allegelly paying off people.
18. Punishment libel known to be false s.300 (Corruption, concealment, tampering with evidence)
19. Duty of persons undertaking acts dangerous to life (failing to protect the community from environmental toxins and failing to recognize relevant documents.

We have laws in Ontario for a reason and this is why people don’t want a incinerator. Durham Politicians are crooked in my opinion and has caused my life at a young age. My kids will lose a dad at a very young age.

I am trying to prevent others and prevent families of going through what my family has experienced.

The provincial and federal Government has a duty to protect our children and we will be seeking a public Inquiry from Ottawa immediately to put “ban” on the incinerator project as the Government must be held “accountable” for the people who became sick during the time frame they allowed the steel mill to operate with ventilation system for years as company and government has yet proved it is safe up to this very day!! I can prove it was unsafe and everyone has been negligent. Fear is your worst enemy!! That is why they do what they do!! They are human beings like you and I. Nothing more and nothing less. They just get paid to look the other way. Sorry not me!! I am a leader not a follower!!

675 different toxins are used to make steel!! Silica, mercury, lead, chromium, sulpher, dioxins and furans, the list goes on!!

Organizations such as Green peace and pollution probe are very supportive of this news conference, Environmentalist professors from Universities and if you don’t want a incinerator than come forward with your medical records and be responsible and help bring justice to Durham Region Politicians and the Government officials who has been helping the corporation and union cover this story up and have been putting your children and your life at risk.

Please forward this email to anyone you believe all of a sudden became ill and don’t know why over the years and live in Durham Region.

Yours Very Truly,

Jeremy Woodcock

On behalf of my family and Durham Residents

Please take control! you have the right to life, liberty and freedom

Public News Conference

Taking Preventative actions
T.P.A.
It will save your life

Oak Ridges Moraine Tree Planting Event

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:14:29 +0000

The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust is undertaking a tree planting (details below) on Saturday October 3, 2009 at the Coombs/Moran property on Ashburn Road (Lynne Creek) area of north Whitby. We are encouraging interested local groups to join our planting event and help support the work of the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust (see description of our organization below). I notice that your membership has concerns which include:

Land Stewardship
Wetlands Preservation
Protection of the Great Lakes

Securement of properties and maintenance are goals of the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust which are supportive of the issues of your membership.

Could you circulate this notice to your contacts with the CAW Durham Region Environmental Council? Can you suggest additional groups we could contact. The Support of the CAW Durham Region Environmental Council is appreciated.
The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust (ORMLT)

The ORMLT was organized in 1999 by concerned citizens and volunteers to help protect the Moraine ecosystem through strategic land securement of significant natural areas.

Since 2001, ORMLT has secured 3,110 acres (30 properties) through land donations and conservation easements registered on land title to protect natural values of these moraine lands forever. Nineteen (19) of these lands are within Durham Region (Scugog, Uxbridge, Pickering and Whitby). These protective covenants donated on private lands with appraised value of over $13.8 million dollars were secured at a fraction (about 3% to 7% on average) of the cost of land purchase. The natural area lands are retained as private open space with the landowner continuing as land steward in co-operation with the ORMLT. Landowner donors receive the benefit of tax incentives and support for private land stewardship.

The Trust has part-time staff and many volunteers working from our office located in the Gatehouse at Seneca College (King Campus). You can contact us by e-mail landtrust@bellnet.ca or website www.oakridgesmoraine.org or telephone our office at 905-833-3171 to get information or be on our mailing list for events and newsletters. Your interest, financial contribution and support do make a difference!
Thanks you,

Ann Rexe
Director,
Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust

Ashburn Road in north Whitby starting at 9:15 am Saturday October 3^rd

^{Please park along Ashburn Road}

There is no street number at the property but you’ll find it immediately south of the railway tracks that cross Ashburn Road south of Town Line and north of the village of Ashburn [visible on the Google Earth image below]. We’ll do a riparian planting along a section of Lynde Creek that flows north to south through the property as part of recommendations from Ontario Streams. Lynde Creek historically has provided habitat for the endangered red-side dace, a small minnow that needs cold water and shade. As always we will provide shovels, pails for moving mulch, work gloves and refreshments. Mulch mats, tree guards and planting training will help the trees and shrubs improve their chances for survival.

Guests welcome! Children welcome! If you can join us, please respond by return email – there are only enough tools and supplies for 30!

Hope to see many of you on October 3rd! Happy planting, and feel free to pass this on to others.

Here is a copy of the latest proof of evidence that was presented at the Ringaskiddy Public Inquiry in Ireland.

admin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:58:18 +0000

Report

Dear All,

Here is a copy of the latest proof of evidence that was presented at the Ringaskiddy Public Inquiry in Ireland. It contains some of the latest information on the toxicology of particles. Alan Watson was most helpful in collaborating in its preparation. Please feel free to use it.

Best wishes

Vyvyan

Professor C. Vyvyan Howard. MB. ChB. PhD. FRCPath.
Bioimaging Research Group
Centre for Molecular Bioscience
University of Ulster
Cromore Road
Coleraine BT52 1SA

Anti Incineration Emergency Resolution

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 02:41:27 +0000

CLC Resolution

Local 1520 Emergency Resolution

Kids Poster

Handout Front

Handout Back

Anti-Incineration Important Notice !

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:39:02 +0000

Please circulate this e-mail.
As you are already aware, we here in the Durham/York Region are into the fight of our lives. This is regarding the proposed $237,000,000 incinerator to residual waste. This issue is paramount to Labour, we know that the example of the stabilized landfill in Halifax produced 1200 hundred jobs on the front sorting out recyclable, compo-stable, rebuild-able material from the residual municipal waste and on the back end over 2000 jobs to take the segregated material and make it useful. These are the type of jobs are communities are in dire straits for.

I’m so proud of the CLC passing the say no to incineration resolution last year. We believe we can have a major impact if you where to make a delegation on this issue on June 24th to our Municipality of Durham’s Regional Councillors. Below are all the details regarding sign up instructions. I will gladly explain to personally or by telephone (905) 447-7373 the details of the campaign, its far to complicated to do by e-mail.

Delegations are supposed to speak at the June 16th as a requirement to speak on the 24th, so I’m suggesting that you request to speak at both and send a letter before the 16th stating a basic position and apology due to scheduling restraints and that you wish to speak on the 24th. Please read below the requirements to sign up as a delegation. I’ve also attached CAW Council Resolution and the CLC Resolution.

Tell your Councillors burning garbage is NOT an option! It is not safe and not sensible.
Say NO to incineration! - Send a message to Durham Region leaders all at once
Send a message to Durham Regional Chair Roger Anderson and to all Durham Region Councillors to express your opposition to a plan to build an incinerator in our region. Clicking “Send the Message” will send an email to all Regional Councillors, Ministry Officials and a copy to DEW (see list below).

Please remember that not all Regional Councillors have been voting to approve every step of this incinerator plan. There are a few who have stood up for the residents and listened to what we’ve had to say, and they deserve our gratitude and respect.

Please keep your comments as polite as possible, but feel free to tell all our Councillors your concerns.

http://www.durhamenvironmentwatch.org/emailcouncil.htm - now live and working.

Feel free to circulate link to others. One more tool to get more emails out to Councillors. Any questions or suggestions let me know.
Here are some web sites for you to check out on the issue.
www.ZeroWaste4ZeroBurning.

ca • www.PreventCancerNow.ca

www.CAWDREC.com • www.DurhamEnvironmentWatch.org

Please see attachments for reference:

Important Actions and Meetings Concerning the Proposed Durham Incinerator
Attendance Required for both “Committee of the Whole” and “Durham Council”

Incineration will have a strong adverse impact on job creation in the Region; practising the 3R’s and gradually moving towards EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) is much better in terms of health, economics and job creation.

The situation at Council is now at a critical stage and incineration is likely to be approved if people do nothing. It is important, for your sake and that of your children to take immediate action in order to avoid what will turn out to be a major environmental, health and taxation disaster. The major steps in this action programme are as follows…

1) Write to the Region

It is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to indicate your opposition to this project. We have to flood the Region with letters or e-mails; keep them short (1 to 3 sentences). This can be done at any time of the day or night. Write to the Clerk’s Office so that your comment is officially entered into the project register and not possibly discarded by a politician. The address is:

For e-Mail CLERKS@Durham.Ca

On the first line, say: “For the Att’n of Council”

For Regular Mail Att’n: Council, c/o Office of the Clerk, Durham Region, 605 Rossland Rd East, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 6A3

2) Attend both “Committee of the Whole” on Tue June 16 (09:30h) and “Durham Council” on Wed June 24 (10:00h)

This could take a good part of the day; if you cannot come in the early part of the day, come in later in the afternoon (and possibly into the evening). Your attendance will help convey the message to Council that the population does not want an expensive Incinerator plus Landfill which only creates a few jobs.

You do not have to attend from the very beginning if your work schedule does not allow. However, do drop by in the afternoon or evening, as this could likely be a very long meeting. Do make the effort to attend as we certainly do not want to have a small audience; this would give the excuse to politicians to argue that “incineration is fine” and ignore the will of the people. We particularly need a large number of “New Faces”.

3) Talk to the “Committee of the Whole” on Tue June 16 and to “Durham Council” on Wed June 24

There must be a VERY LARGE number of people willing to talk on the issue. Although each talk is limited to 10 minutes, it can be extremely short (i.e. just a few seconds long) if people do not want to speak for long. For example, it could even be as short as giving one’s name and address, and saying just one sentence, e.g.

“I am opposed to Incineration with Landfill on the basis of health and cost. Thank you”.

Or “We should adopt a labour intensive approach that creates jobs, not one that burns our health. Thank you”

A VERY LONG line-up of citizens willing to speak is highly desirable; this will send a clear message that politicians cannot ignore. We particularly need mothers with young children (bring them with you at the podium) and peoples in wheelchair; this will help raise the profile of the issue with the media.

Important: In order to address Durham Council, you must have previously addressed the “Committee of the Whole” on June 16th, although there could be isolated exceptions to this. Also, the Clerk’s office must be notified; the sooner, the better, but no later than the preceding Thursday at Noon to be on the Primary Agenda. In unusual circumstances, registration will be accepted up to the preceding Monday morning at 08:00h and these will be on the Supplementary Agenda. If you have a schedule constraint, state clearly in your request to the Clerk the time frame where you will be present.

4) Be Present for the Final Vote

It is absolutely important to have a large crowd when the vote is taken. We do not want to have people leave during the course of the day and not return; this would leave politicians to vote without being subjected to strong public pressure.

People present in the morning who have to leave should come back for the vote in the late part of the day. Similarly, people who cannot attend the early part of the meeting should drop by during the later part of the day. Unfortunately, the time for such a vote by Council cannot be anticipated at this time.

5) Forward this text

Tell all of your contacts residing in Durham Region. Invite them to take action as you do and ask them to forward this action sheet to their own contacts residing in Durham Region. We can achieve a very large coverage in the Region if we follow this “Chain Letter” process.
Important: In order to address this Committee, the Clerk’s office must be notified; the sooner, the better and no later than noon Thursday the 11th of June.

4) Be Present for the Final Vote

Some people will not be able to attend the early part of the meeting. However, it is important that there be a large crowd at the end of the day when the vote is being taken. It would be sending the wrong message if people leave during the course of the day and do not return to the meeting.

Thanking you in Solidarity,

Dave Renaud
CAW Environment Rep.
Oshawa Autoplex
President, CAW Durham Regional Environment Council
W: (905) 644-4930
H: (905) 404-1279
W: Dave.Renaud@gm.com
H: Dave.Renaud@rogers.com
Web: www.cawdrec.com

Take Action - Help us Ban Asbestos

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:36:16 +0000

Facebook:

Dear Friends,

Over 25 of Canada’s foremost health, environment and labour organizations have signed a statement urging Parliamentarians to ban Canadian asbestos, supporting a call brought to Ottawa by three Grade 10 students from Smithers, British Columbia. Chloe Staiger, Hayley McDermid and Claire Hinchliffe wrote a bill to end Canada’s mining and export of asbestos to developing countries. Their Member of Parliament, Nathan Cullen, is presenting the bill in the House of Commons today, June 1, 2009.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION:
http://preventcancernow.ca/asbestos-action

There you can:

- Read our news release
- Check the facts
- Send the Prime Minister and Opposition an email
- See who supports our call for a ban
- Read the party positions
- See the asbestos ads
- Find lots of Asbestos resources

Thanks,
The PCN Team!

Incinerator News !

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:34:38 +0000

Standing room only at Newcastle anti-incineration meeting

NEWCASTLE — Durham is fast moving toward an “out-of-date, 20th-century solution to a 21st-century problem” as it presses forward with its proposed incinerator, says a member of the group which fought against an energy-from-waste facility proposed for but never built in Halton.

Group protests change in Clarington incinerator stance

CLARINGTON — A handful of protestors gathered outside the Clarington municipal building this morning, opposed to the municipality being a willing host for an incinerator.

Clarington councillors will debate a motion Monday night that reverses its previous position that it’s an unwilling host for an incinerator.

Protesting against incinerators

WHITBY — Dave Renaud of the Canadian Auto Workers union speaks at the aniti-incinerator rally held outside Durham Regional Headquarters Wednesday night. Union members from both the CAW and CUPE attended. May 20 2009

BOWMANVILLE — Becky and Stephanie Kinsman silently protest in the back of the room during the public meeting on the proposed incinerator facility in Clarington. May 12, 2009.

WHITBY — Fynn Davey and Izabelle Haller (centre) were among opponents of plans to build a garbage incinerator in Clarington who say it’s not a done deal, despite the fact that the Region of Durham has chosen a preferred builder and operator. A small group held a demonstration outside Regional headquarters Wednesday night. May 20, 2009.