Environmental News from BC and the World Shuswap Flooding • Geiger Counting at Red Rose Mine • Pesticide Guide Special Issue on TOXICS

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Watershed Sentinel September-October 2012 Watershed

Sept-Oct 2012 Sentinel Vol. 22, No. 4 Health & Toxics 12 Since Silent Spring In 1962 Rachel Carson sounded the warning about the impacts of pesticides and other manmade chemicals on human and environmental health. Fifty years later, we look at some of the most recent research on toxic chemicals and health and ask: Are our governments doing enough to protect us? Edited by Miranda Holmes 13 Protecting Children Dr. Bruce Lamphear on the neglected legacy of Rachel Carson 16 Persistent Organic Pollutants Fe de Leon and Olga Speranskaya examine how Canada’s Strategy on POPs has fizzled 19 Asbestos, Still Killing Canadians Mae Burrows on Canada’s national shame The Land 20 Pesticide Residues in Our Food 10 Shuswap Flooding Analysis 22 Bill C-38, The Death of the Environment Jim Cooperman says it isn’t only rain that by Dr. Darryl Luscombe provokes the flooding 24 The Chronic War on Cancer by Devra Davis 29 Protect the Watershed of Comox Lake 26 I Hate Pink by Judy Brady Strathcona Park boundaries could be expanded to protect the lake 6 Oil Spills, Dilbit Spills & Health Dr. Riki Ott talks about oil spill impacts on all life Society 8 Red Rose Mine 30 Jumbo’s Wild Politics Dave Stevens takes our Geiger counter on a long Sudden provincial approval of the Jumbo Glacier hike up to the abandoned Red Rose mine on Resort came as a surprise in BC, after two Rocher deBoule mountain near Hazelton decades of political stalemate, but, even more surprising, the Jumbo deal and the Canada-EU trade deal (CETA) could both expire together, at Cover Photo from the ballot box Jumbo Wild Rally in Nelson 2004, News & Other www.dougpyperphoto. com 3, 5 News Briefs, 7 Pipelines Update 22 4, 27 Letters 36 Wild Times Joe Foy on cutting old growth Not a Subscriber Yet? Look for the Printed on Enviro 100, post consumer recycled, subscription form FSC®-Certified paper, with vegetable inks. inserted for your convenience 20 September-October 2012 GUEST EDITORIAL Watershed Sick, Stupid and Sterile One of the most shocking statements I’ve ever heard was made by Sentinel Judy Brady (see her article on page 26) at a breast cancer forum in the Editor Delores Broten mid-1990s. Discussing the way in which persistent organic pollutants Publisher Watershed Sentinel (POPs) bioaccumulate in fatty tissue, Brady pointed out that women, Educational Society unlike men, had a means of expelling these contaminants: through lacta- Associate Editors Don Malcolm Miranda Holmes tion. Yes, Brady said, breastfeeding can help a woman reduce her risk of Graphic Design Ester Strijbos developing breast cancer, but at what cost? What cost indeed? Circulation Manager Susan MacVittie In September 1962, Rachel Carson’s ground-breaking Silent Spring Special Thanks to Norleen Lillico, Arthur was published – a clarion call about the perils of pesticides. Soon after- Caldicott, Anicca de Trey, Jim Cooper- wards the indiscriminate spraying of DDT on farm fields and suburbs in man, Gloria Jorg, Norberto Rodriguez de la Vega, Mike Morrell, Clara Broten, the US ended, followed in 1972 by an outright ban on its manufacture Kathy Smail, Ray Woollam, the writers, and use. Forty years later, DDT’s metabolite DDE can be found in the advertisers, distributors, and all who send bodies of 95% of Americans. These chemicals persist. information, photos, and ideas. Deep For decades, the standard test manufacturers had to pass before new thanks to our Board of Directors: Anicca chemicals were allowed into the marketplace was whether or not the de Trey, Alice Grange, Mike Morrell, Pam Munroe, Norberto Rodriguez de la Vega, chemical would kill more than one person in a million. (Aside from how Susan Yates, and Fay Weller. preposterous this hypothesis is, as Peter Montague of the Environmental Published five times per year Research Foundation has pointed out, if regulators knew the name and Subscriptions $25 one year, address of this unlucky person, releasing the chemical would be pre- $40 two years Canada, $35 US one year, meditated murder.) Electronic only $15 a year The chief concern for regulators was whether or not chemicals Distribution by subscription, and to Friends of Cortes Island and Reach for caused cancer in humans. This concern has certainly not led to a reduc- Unbleached! Free at Vancouver Island tion in the number of cancers diagnosed every year. The so-called “war and Vancouver area libraries, and by on cancer” launched 40 years ago by Richard Nixon, has, as Devra Davis sponsorship in BC colleges, universities, points out in her article on page 24, been a spectacular failure. It has also and eco-organizations. been unforgivable, because regulators in Canada and elsewhere know Member Magazines Assn of BC and Magazines Canada what they need to do. Instead of removing known carcinogens from the ISSN 1188-360X environment, they blame the victim for their lifestyle or simply the pov- For photocopy reproduction rights, contact erty forcing them to live in highly polluted homes. Access Copyright, 1 Yonge St. Ste. 800, In 1996 another ground-breaking book was published. Our Stolen Toronto, Ontario M5C 1E5 Future by Theo Colborn and Peter Myers detailed the wealth of scien- tific research highlighting the ability of many supposedly safe manmade chemicals to mimic hormones and – in impossibly minute doses – in- terfere with cognitive, reproductive and immune system development. Publication Mail Canada Post Agreement Put simply, chemicals in our environment are making us sick, stupid and PM 40012720 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: sterile. Watershed Sentinel Many doctors, as Bruce Lanphear explains on page 13, have no Box 1270, Comox doubt that the increase in many previously seldom (or never) seen child- BC, Canada V9M 7Z8 hood ailments is the result of chemical contamination. Ph: 250-339-6117 As the distinguished scientist Paul Ehrlich has asked, 50 years later Email [email protected] what would Rachel Carson say? http://www.watershedsentinel.ca Disclaimer: Opinions published are not neces- Miranda Holmes, Gabriola Island BC, August 2012 sarily those of the publisher, editor or other staff and volunteers of the magazine.

Watershed Sentinel September-October 2012 NEWS Around The World

Compiled by Susan MacVittie

US Reactors Frozen EU Ship The US Nuclear Regulatory Fuel Laws Commission (NRC) has put a hold on A new European 19 final reactor licensing decisions in crackdown on pollu- response to the landmark Waste Con- tion from ships will fidence Rule decision of June 8th by require billions of the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. dollars worth of in- Circuit. vestment by shipping firms on filter Commercial fishing by US and Mexi- The NRC action was sought in technology and by refineries on up- can vessels is the primary threat. a June 18, 2012 petition filed by 24 grades to produce cleaner fuels. EU A floating robot has been de- groups urging the NRC to respond rules have already forced ships to cut ployed to track great white sharks in to the court ruling by freezing final sulphur emissions in harbours. the Pacific as part of efforts to under- licensing decisions until it has com- —Reuters, August 18, 2012 stand the giant predators. The “wave pleted a rulemaking action on the . glider,” which from above looks like environmental impacts of highly rad- Sea Ice Melting a yellow surfboard, picks up signals ioactive nuclear waste in the form of The US National Snow and Ice from tagged fish up to 1,000 feet away spent, or “used,” reactor fuel storage Data Center reports that sea ice in the in the ocean and then sends their po- and disposal. The groups noted that Arctic Ocean is likely to shrink to a sitions to researchers via a satellite most US reactor projects were already record small size and keep on melt- transmitter. sidetracked by problems, including ing. The amount of sea ice in the Arc- Scientists have only a hazy un- an inability to control runaway costs, tic is a potent global weather-maker, derstanding of where great white and the availability of far less expen- sometimes characterized as the sharks swim in the oceans. sive energy alternatives. world’s air conditioner. The decline —Reuters, August 16 and 18, 2012 —Beyond Nuclear, Inc et al, of Arctic sea ice has happened faster August 7, 2012 than projected by the United Nations EU Unemployment Rises Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Unemployment in the European Turkey Rejects GM Change five years ago. Scientists Union continued at over 11% in July, In view of public opinion and un- say these are clear signs of climate at the same time as inflation also rose, favourable reaction from non-govern- change spurred by human activities, threatening even more jobs. The prob- mental organizations, Turkey’s food notably the emission of heat-trapping lems, now spreading to northern Eu- trade body, the Federation of Food greenhouse gases including carbon ropean countries like Germany, are in and Drink Industry Associations, has dioxide. part triggered by a 12.4% increase in withdrawn an application to import —Reuters, August 21, 2012 the cost of oil in the last two months. 29 kinds of GM organisms. In addi- The European Central Bank said in tion, the Turkish Ministry of Food, Robot Detects Sharks June that the euro-area economy may Agriculture and Livestock responded Great white sharks swimming shrink 0.1 per cent this year. to pressure from Greenpeace Medi- off the California coast should be pro- —Bloomberg News, terranean and has agreed to impose tected under the US Endangered Spe- August 31, 2012 mandatory labelling for all animals cies Act, according to environmental fed with GM feed. groups that contend there are fewer —Greenpeace, August 16, 2012 than 350 left in Californian waters.

Watershed Sentinel 3 September-October 2012 LETTERS

Landslides in the Kootenays The Perry Ridge Water Users Association extends change itself is being exacerbated by forest removal. their sincere condolences to the victims of the Johnsons We do not wish to show any disrespect to the victims Landing landslide. of Johnsons Landing during their losses and grief. How- Our Association has tracked landslides in the Koote- ever, it is a long time overdue for the Government of BC nays for close to to act responsibly, 30 years. All of the which they have not Slocan Valley, Spring 2012. experts, in many done, by ignoring cases including the advice and warnings government’s own, from independent agree that British professionals. Columbia has many Marilyn Burgoon, high risk areas and Perry Ridge Water unstable areas, espe- Users Association, cially in the Koote- Perry Ridge, BC nays. Peter Jordan in his Incidence of landslides report (see Debris www.perryridge.org) We have lived states that landslides on the west coast for typically increase by over 45 years and two to ten times from Lucas Jmieff have watched myriad forest development. life forms wash in on Unfortunately, development continues to be planned glass balls and other fishing floats long before plastic was on unstable terrain and increases the risk to residents common. It seems to us that the most invasive species, like below. Whether forest development added to the already diseased Atlantic salmon on the west coast, and human be- existing risk of a high hazard at Johnsons Landing or ings in every corner of the planet, are ignored, even sanc- not, hazard mapping could have prevented this. It is well tioned, but when something like this junk comes in, people known that roads and cutting increase water volume and and the media jump on is what is attached to it. sedimentation in the steeply incised creeks in the West Yes, there are new species showing up, as we con- Kootenays. The headwater areas, which drain very large stantly alter the landscape and oceans, like broom showing areas of the mountains, all drain to the valley bottom up vividly alongside highways and in disturbed, often her- where we live. bicided and gravelly soils. These are a pea variety that are How many lives must be lost before the government putting more nitrogen into often depleted soils. There is no admits that there are areas in the province where there broom where old growth and evergreen forests grow. should not be development and that these areas should be Another thing that points to human’s distance from and should have been in the past removed from the Annual understanding how nature works is the efforts of people to Allowable Cut? dispose of the Humpback whale that died on a White Rock We accept that climate change is bringing sudden and beach, not too far from Vancouver’s garbage dump where torrential downpours – all the more reason to stop plan- thousands of eagles are starving and living off junk. ning into the areas above and around our homes. Climate There are some species that are parasitic and can be- come problematic but usually they survive due to human The Watershed Sentinel welcomes letters but reserves the meddling and destruction in areas where ignorant but well right to edit for brevity, clarity, legality, and taste. meaning efforts to control it all are obvious. Anonymous letters will not be published. Suzanne Lawson, Tofino, BC Send your musings and your missives to: Watershed Sentinel, Box 1270, Comox BC V9M 7Z8 More Letters, Page 27 [email protected] or online at www.watershedsentinel.ca

Watershed Sentinel 4 September-October 2012 NEWS

Have You Heard? Compiled by Staff

Multi-generational Impacts of Chemicals The GM “non-browning” apple is Ozone Destruction Research by Washington State engineered to keep from going brown Extreme summer thunder- University reveals that prenatal expo- after being cut and was designed for storms are likely causing acceler- sure to five common environmental fast food companies and food process- ated damage to the ozone layer over chemicals can result in multi-gener- ing companies. The technology was North America, as the frequency ational ovarian disease. Pregnant rats developed in Australia and licensed and strength of storms continue to were exposed to DEHP and another by Specialty Fruits. increase, according to a study in the phthalate, DBP, as well as BPA, the A recent consumer poll found journal Science. fungicide vinclozolin, the pesticides that 69% of Canadians do not want The water changes chlorine permethrin and DEET, dioxin, and the GM apple. and bromine into the free radical “jet fuel,” a hydrocarbon mixture The Canadian Biotechnology Ac- ClO which reacts to cause ozone used to control dust on road surfaces. tion Network (CBAN) is working with destruction, which in turn exposes Female pups developed ovar- groups to stop the GM apple. The petition Earth to higher doses of ultraviolet ian problems closely resembling two can be found at www.okanagongreens.ca radiation. ovarian disorders common to women. —CBAN, August 14, 2012 —“UV Dosage Levels in Sum- More alarming, these problems per- mer: Increased Risk of Ozone Loss sisted in at least the next three gen- Toxins in Canada’s Lakes from Convectively Injected Water erations – even though the younger A paper published in the Cana- Vapor,” Anderson et al, Science, animals were not exposed to the dian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic August 17, 2012 chemicals. In addition to the changes Sciences reveals that microcystin, a to the ovaries themselves, research- toxin produced by blue green algae ers also found epigenetic changes in (cyanobacteria), is present in Canadi- Clean Energy the descendants of rats exposed to an lakes in every province, particular- Ford announced that it is revamp- vinclozolin during pregnancy. This ly in central Alberta and southwestern ing its Van Dyke Transmission plant “proof-of-concept” study used higher Manitoba. to manufacture hybrid and plug-in doses of chemicals than people would Nutrient pollution is responsi- hybrid car transmissions. The $220 typically encounter. Further investi- ble for the algal blooms in lakes and million investment will generate full- gation is urged. waterways in summer months. Large time jobs for 130 workers. —“Environmentally Induced blooms of cyanobacteria can cause In New Jersey, PSE&G is build- Epigenetic Transgenerational Inher- fish kills, increase the cost of drink- ing a 1 MW solar array in the town itance of Ovarian Disease,” Public ing water treatment, devalue shore- of Hackensack. Situated on six acres Library of Science, 2012 line properties, and pose health risks of land, the project is part of an initia- to people, pets, and wildlife. Micro- tive to reclaim land previously used as Stop BC’s GM Apple cystins are well-established as po- brownfields (contaminated land) and Groups in BC’s Okanagan Val- tent liver toxins to humans and other landfill and will generate power for ley want Okanagan Specialty Fruits mammals, and are classified as pos- 1,000 homes. to stop pursuing a genetically engi- sible human carcinogens. A major Two biofuel projects, located in neered (genetically modified or GM) finding from the study is the strong Reno, NV and Harvey, LA are ex- “nonbrowning” apple which they association between low nitrogen-to- pected to generate a combined 64 full- say jeopardizes the reputation of the phosphorus ratios and high microcys- time jobs, as well as 430+ engineering Okanagan as a pristine fruit growing tin concentrations. and construction jobs. area. The groups are also petitioning —ScienceDaily, August 14, 2012 —Environmental Entrepreneurs, the BC government to take action. August 21, 2012

Watershed Sentinel 5 September-October 2012 Oil Spills, Dilbit Spills, and Health Dr. Riki Ott Gives a Message of Warning and Hope

caused a fine spray of micro-PAHs (polyaromatic hydrocarbons, which are major health hazards, causing cancer, asthma, hormone, and repro- ductive problems) to enter people’s bodies not only through the air but invisibly from water through the skin. “Ultra-fine particles,” explained Ott, “mimic mammal hydrocarbons, and Adapted by E.Strijbos are drawn into the body, jamming im- by Delores Broten mune system and DNA functions.” Those hydrocarbons bonded to On a hot Friday evening in Au- up” were two small jars Ott circulated the biofilm on the sand, sinking to gust, a packed audience at the Native through the hall. They were filled with a depth of nine inches, whereas the Sons Hall in Courtenay, BC listened sand and beach stones from a beach beach clean up only went down eight spellbound and sometimes close to that had been considered “cleaned inches. Responders were not allowed tears to marine toxicologist Dr. Riki up” for two decades. The jars stank of to wear respirators, even though that Ott. In an event sponsored by World oil, and the woman next to me, who is now standard practice in oil spill re- Community, Ott was describing the touched the stones, scrambled for a sponse, because it would look bad in long term impacts to fish, humans, tissue to clean her fingers.”We can re- the media. The PAHs have not gone and other mammals from the Exxon spond to an oil spill,” declared Dr. Ott, away, and are still causing major dis- Valdez, Deepwater Gulf, and Kalam- “We can never clean it up.” ruptions, despite the government and azoo River oil spills. industry spin. In the Gulf now up to Ott, who was a commercial fisher The dispersants caused a half the shrimp in some catches have in Cordova Alaska as well as a trained fine spray of micro-PAHs no eyes or eye sockets. The impact scientist, was in a unique position (polyaromatic hydrocarbons, on other mammals like dolphins and when Prince William Sound was hit which are major health hazards, whales continues, while the human by the Exxon Valdez oil spill 23 years causing cancer, asthma, population has received an inadequate ago. She described how the response hormone, and reproductive $7.8 billion in medical benefits. to the spill was nothing like what had problems) to enter people’s The Enbridge Kalamazoo River been promised by the oil companies bodies not only through the spill in Michigan is even more prob- air but invisibly from water before the port was opened. lematic, since the ruptured pipeline through the skin. was carrying Alberta tar sands oil – Clean Up Equals 15% dilbit – bitumen diluted with lighter She talked about how any spill Worst of all, Ott said, was the im- petroleum products plus other un- response collects, at the most, 15% of pact on the community, which was in disclosed chemicals. When the pipe the spilled oil, which continues to cy- chaos, as debt and despair ate at fam- ruptured, the dilbit separated and cle through the ecosystem with every ily and social life. The small fishing the lighter compounds evaporated, tide. “They said it was cleaned up,” community of Cordova had to pull to- spreading far and wide. The heavy tar she said, “but two years later the pink gether and revision its values. sands gunk sank to the bottom of the salmon run failed, and four years later river, covering over 40 kilometres. the herring disappeared. The herring Dispersant Makes It Worse Human health impacts have not fishery is now closed indefinitely.” The dispersant used in the Deep- been recognised by government or Herring eggs fail when exposed to oil water Horizon Gulf drill-rig spill did industry but suspicious numbers of at one part per trillion. little to help the “clean up,” actually deaths at a trailer court close to the The most poignant – and pungent masking the presence of the oil and spill seem almost certain to be related. – witness to the impossibility of “clean its toxic constituents. The dispersants Community groups have now begun

Watershed Sentinel 6 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS

testing the air for themselves because provides the opportunity to reorgan- movement building, with three and of a lack of response from the oil com- ize, decide what wealth means in your four generations of people coming to- pany or government. community, and develop democrati- gether for social change. When asked, In all this, insisted Ott, over and cally-driven local economies, such as she suggested that the role of the over again, whether 23 years ago or those championed by the Transition experienced grassroots of the envi- two, the communities find themselves Town movement. “Protect your local ronmental movement now is to “Em- alone, with ruined environments, ru- wealth with local laws,” and work for power these folks,” sharing skills and ined industries, and lingering but un- real democracy. “We can believe in it. historical knowledge. recognised personal health impacts. We can work for it. It’s not a goal, it’s Riki Ott said, the question she Citizens, she said, are the victims of a journey.” asked herself after the Exxon Valdez “lies and betrayal,” being sacrificed Ott told the Watershed Sentinel spill was: “I know enough to make a for the economy. Her response, espe- that the recent upsurge in organizing difference. Do I care enough?” cially to the issue of the proposed dil- activity through the Occupy move- t bit pipelines facing BC, is that crisis ment is a massive opportunity for

Pipelines Update: at work for the pipeline proponent in 2011 and 2012. So The Rubber Stamp…..and Bouncing Back much for the fate of the pipeline being based on science, not politics, eh, Stevo? [More on the fed’s cuts on page 22.] by Susan MacVittie People aren’t buying Enbridge’s spin. Though Enbridge responded to outcries about the deleted islands Keystone XL in Douglas Channel in its promo video by adding a dis- An unlikely coalition of environmentalists, good ol’ claimer, a Vancouver duo got real and used stunning boys, and Tea Party members mounted a court challenge footage to produce, “This is not an Enbridge video.” And against TransCanada over its right to exercise eminent reports from across BC say when Enbridge’s ads appear in domain, to run the Keystone XL pipeline across an oppos- movie theatres, audiences boo them, or laugh. ing landowner’s property. A Texas judge ruled in favour of Keystone, but the opposition to pipelines is crossing politi- Pacific Trails Pipeline cal stars and stripes. In August the Unis’tot’en and Lhe Lin Liyin hosted the Closer to home, Canada’s National Energy Board said 3rd annual Unis’tot’en Action Camp near Houston, BC. A pump stations for the Keystone oil pipeline in Manitoba callout to activists brought people to the camp to take part and Saskatchewan didn’t have alternative power supplies in workshops and hear the perspectives of native activ- for emergency shut-down systems. TransCanada first ists. Exercising their right to give or withhold their free, argued that it was in compliance, and lost. It then asked for prior and informed consent, activists turned away logging relief, and was denied. TransCanada has until September trucks that were clearing the path for the construction 17 to file a corrective action plan. of the Pacific Trails natural gas pipeline. The proposed pipelines and their status are: Enbridge’s Northern Gate- Enbridge Northern Gateway way (diluted bitumen, condensate – under Environmental Joint Review Panel Hearings – Questioning Phase. Assessment); Pacific Trail (natural gas – active); Pembina Edmonton: September 4 -8, 17-28; Prince George: October Condensate (or Plateau Pipeline) – proposal dormant since 9-19, October 29-November 9; Prince Rupert: November 2006; and Kinder Morgan’s TransMountain – North (dilbit 22-30, December 10-18. – a concept only). The terrain from south of Houston has The environmental review panel has asked Depart- resulted in three, maybe four, of these pipelines heading ment of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for risk assessments up the Morice River where it turns south of Houston, on on the nearly 1,000 waterways the pipeline would cross. their way to the Clore, Hoult, and Kitimat Rivers, into The department was unable to provide those assessments Kitimat at the point where the resistance camp is built. because they haven’t been done yet. Critics say budget Perhaps, it’s time for an un-Occupy movement.… cuts limit DFO’s ability to conduct a full assessment. The —CBC News, Montreal Gazette, Vancouver Sun, federal registry of lobbyists shows 12 different lobbyists The Tyee, August 2012

Watershed Sentinel 7 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS

After the Fukushima disaster, the Watershed Sentinel and the BC Environmental Network got together to purchase a GammaScout™ Geiger counter to use for citizen survey work on potential sources of radiation. We plan to put the Geiger counter on the road, sending it to volunteers in communities around BC and Alberta to test for hotspots. Activist Dave Stevens has been working with the equipment around Smithers BC, and he and a friend were our first Gamma scouts, going on an expedition to an old mine site.

by Dave Stevens

There are a lot of excited about. But in our campground, when we checked old mines in BC where it, we were getting readings in the 0.4 to 0.9 range, the uranium is present. One highest we’d seen. We planned to leave our packs and shel- of these is the abandoned ter at the camp at about 800 metres, and then the next day Red Rose Mine, near Ha- hike up to the old mine site, around 1700 metres, with just zelton, BC. Minfile, the minimum supplies. BC Mineral Inventory, shows that Red Rose mine The next morning we set out up the switchbacks produced silver, gold, across a steep scree slope until we hit a slide-gouged tungsten and copper. gully across the slope. Our predecessors had clearly been On August 2nd, there often enough to have worked up a new set of steeper 2012 my friend and I switchbacks, so we took the path of least (or in this case travelled to the mine most) resistance. About 2½ hours up the trail we found the with a Geiger counter to mine site. Fantastically beautiful landscape. Fantastically see if we could pick up ugly mess. Talk about abandoned! Some buildings stand- any elevated gamma ra- ing, some with roofs, some without, an old bunkhouse, diation. We did. machine shop, office, core shack, dump, every imaginable The hike in is about kind of clutter. Up a short sharp slope from the mine camp 4½ hours of steady up- was an adit (an entrance to an underground mine) with a hill, mostly on a good wooden door and a higher gamma reading. quad track, with a few Photos by Morgan Hite stream crossings and a Back down to a lower adit and a six inch pipe and little bushwhacking. We pool, laced with malachite and who knows what else. We got close to where we thought the mill must have been got a water sample. High levels again. back in 1954, when this site was last worked, and found Back down to the mill, just a tad uphill from our old collapsed buildings strung out along the road, graffiti, camp. Higher than background readings but not by much. old pieces of equipment, bottles and just plain junk in eve- Found a seep, took a water sample. Tracked an overgrown ry direction. The road in was straight glacial till, boulders path back to our camp. Hmmmm.... All that sand.... Turns and coarse gravel mixed with clay. Overgrown with alder out we had camped on the lowest level of the mill tailings. but quite passable. On our left was a nice flat sandy patch And so had many others as it seemed from all the tire that had obviously been used as a campground. Happy to tracks. I guess those tailings account for the higher read- be rid of our packs, we voted to set up here. ings we were getting there. Ordinary readings in Smithers We had our Geiger counter and GPS running through- over a 24 hour period as I write (August 14, 2012) are 0.1 out the hike in, getting gamma readings of about 0.1 or microSieverts./hour. The campsite readings were higher maybe as high as 0.2 microSieverts/hour. Nothing to get than anything we’d seen on the way in. We had been get-

Watershed Sentinel 8 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS

Photos by Morgan Hite ting about 0.1 or maybe 0.2 microSieverts/hr., here we ards would be in effect if a new owner decides to explore regularly got as high as 0.7 or 0.8 or 0.9. Although all the or reopen the workings. Uranium has a half-life of 4.47 references I looked up say that Sieverts are not linearly billion years. Cause enough for concern, even if it isn’t computable from the Geiger counts, the records we gath- Chernobyl. ered were pretty linear. But there are gotchas. The Geiger counter is cali- I’d like to acknowledge the able assistance of Ian brated to count all particles received, but to calculate Siev- Douglas, intern at the Bulkley Valley Museum for much erts as if the source were Cesium 137. The source we were valuable research on the site. Morgan Hite, backpacker exposed to, however, is known to be uranium oxide. The cook extraordinaire, supplied 2,000 very tasty calories per more energetic emitted photons will have a higher health day and much good companionship and GPSness. effect, which is what Sieverts represent. So the effect is  underestimated using this device, but what we found was [Note: blog posts at www.choked.ca/d622 have links cause enough for concern, never mind the fine print. to photos, tracks, waypoints, video from this trip and an expanded narrative.] Conclusion? Waste disposal standards were not ad- equate at the time to deal with this issue of radioactive Dave Stevens is an air pollution activist with a strong waste, and we still have uranium oxide lying around in interest in the ultimate particulate pollution – radioactive high enough levels to be of concern. In this case the high fallout. He’s also a hiker and trail food gourmand. altitude and difficulty of access are likely to be adequate protection for the moment. What will happen to dissolved uranium we don’t know. We also don’t know what stand-

Your donation will help with the training to learn how to use and monitor the Geiger counter, inter- pretation of the results and posting of data to the Watershed Sentinel HotSpots webpage. Please send your donations, payable to the Water- shed Sentinel, to “Make It Count,” c/o Box 1270, Comox BC V9M 7Z8 or go to www.watershedsentinel.ca and click on the Make it Count button. Thank you. We guarantee we will make every penny count.

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Watershed Sentinel 9 September-October 2012 Shuswap Flooding Analysis

by Jim Cooperman

It was fifteen years ated more water than ago that the last wash- the culvert under the out devastated the Mara Skyline Road could Lake area, when a debris handle and according flood swept down Hum- to Ministry of For- mingbird Creek and ests engineering of- tore up the highway and ficer Lyle Knight, the parts of Swansea Point. road washed out. The This year the damage Bernhard Kramer resulting sediment was even greater and and high flow then there were two events, joined with the high one in Sicamous Creek Abnormal is the new normal flow from the other and the other in Hum- channel and began mingbird and Mara Creeks which join it creates a debris flow slide that can eroding stream banks along the main together just above the highway. In cause major damage. However, the stem of the creek. The debris plugged 1997, the slide occurred because af- lack of debris in the flood at Swan- the highway bridge forcing the flow ter 5 days of heavy rain, a poorly de- sea Point, indicates that neither of the along with the debris into the Water- signed cutblock channeled too much creeks plugged up as Hummingbird is ways Houseboat property and also to water into an inappropriately placed still scoured from the 1997 event and the south into the 2-Mile subdivision. culvert that diverted water onto a Mara Creek held up. This time it was The damage to the Waterways steep slope, which then gave way into the culvert under the highway that property and to its business was so ex- the creek. plugged with a few trees and when tensive, that the houseboat company is It appears that the major cause the water overtopped the highway, it suing the provincial government and of this year’s massive flood events took out the pavement and proceeded the District of Sicamous for $1.7-mil- was simply inadequate culverts that to tear up the roads in the residential lion. The court documents state, “The could not channel the amount of wa- area and damage houses and cabins. natural channel that formed the banks ter and debris unleashed by upwards In 2004, the BC government an- of Sicamous Creek was altered when of 80 mm of rain that fell on the re- nounced its intention to construct a the road was built and a culvert was maining snow in the mountains. For bridge and debris basin, but Swansea installed in place of the natural chan- the Swansea flood, another obvious residents were unwilling to undertake nel,” and logging after the road was factor is clearcut logging, which has the responsibility and costs of mainte- built increased the flow of water in the been extensive in the watersheds. Ac- nance, given that no other community creek. Also, “The forest service road cording to the “Compendium of For- in the province has this liability. effectively became a dam that caused est Hydrology,” the loss of forest cov- The Sicamous Creek wash- a large volume of water and debris to er results in a significant increase in out was more of a natural event, as accumulate,” and as a result “A tor- the amount of water entering streams, there is much less logging in this rent of water, mud, sand, boulders, which increased from 5 to 70 per cent. watershed, and most of the logging trees and other debris was unleashed.” When the flow in streams is at that has occurred was part of the Si- Waterways wants to be compensated a peak flow rate, stream banks tend camous Creek research project that for the $400,000 they spent on the to erode and often trees can block includes selective logging and very cleanup, the $800,000 of customer the creek and when the dam bursts small blocks. The intense rain gener- refunds and another $500,000 for lost

Watershed Sentinel 10 September-October 2012 THE LAND

business. spite the likelihood of floodplain and organic matter went into the lake, Compounding the potential for problems. However, they did insist which increased the potential for an- problems such as we are seeing now on a covenant that acknowledged the other algae bloom.. When the water fi- in the Shuswap is climate change, as property’s potential flood hazard and nally subsides, the Shuswap definitely the planet warms and as more mois- thus protected the CSRD, the Minis- needs to find ways to adapt to climate ture enters the atmosphere the fre- try of Transportation and the province change and installing larger culverts quency of severe weather patterns from “claims against them related to and bridges should be at the top of the increases. Abnormal has become the damage from the hazard.” Only much list. new normal, with the increased likeli- appreciated, but now deceased Area As for the entire province, the hood of both deluges and droughts, as damage in the Shuswap and the storm well as either overly warm or overly It appears that the related disasters in the Kootenays, es- cold weather at unexpected times of pecially the massive debris torrent at the year. major cause of this Johnson’s landing, should be a wake- Given the predictability of dam- year’s massive flood up call. Extensive mapping is needed aging floods and slides in floodplains, of all watersheds that could pose risks one might wonder why governments events was simply to settlement areas and a warning continue to allow floodplain devel- inadequate culverts system should be developed so that opments. The town of Sicamous ap- that could not channel residents are made aware of when it proved a massive condo development is necessary to leave their homes. for Waterways Houseboats for the the amount of water British Columbia is indeed one of the property now covered in mud and de- and debris unleashed by most beautiful places in the world bris in the Sicamous Creek floodplain, to live, but given the challenges we despite submissions by local residents 80 mm of rain that fell. face due to climate change, protective warning of the potential for this dis- measures are needed in rural areas aster. Fortunately, the development C director Ted Bacigalupo voiced any where there are greater risks from the has not yet been built because if it had concern, “We cushion ourselves from increasing number of fires, slides and been, it would have been thoroughly the legal aspect, but we don’t neces- floods. damaged and damage to the adjacent sarily provide a safe environment for  properties to the south would likely the people. The risk is still there.” have been more severe as the concrete This year’s flood has become an- Jim Cooperman was editor of the walls would have channeled the water other one for the record books, as lake BC Environmental Report and the to the south. levels rose to nearly the flood level of BCEN Forest Caucus coordinator for a In the case of Swansea Point, in 1972. Creeks and rivers were all run- decade. He lives above Shuswap Lake 2007 the Columbia Shuswap Regional ning at peak levels. Fields that had and is the president of the Shuswap District approved the Hummingbird been covered in manure were covered Environmental Action Society: Resort recreational development de- with water, massive amounts of debris www.seas.ca

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Watershed Sentinel 11 September-October 2012

In 1962 Rachel Carson sounded the warning about the impacts of pesticides and other manmade chemicals on human and environ- mental health. In an article written to mark the 50th anniversary of the publica- tion of Silent Spring, distinguished scientist Paul Ehrlich points out: “Many people have the impression that climate disruption is the worst environmental problem human- ity faces, and indeed, its conse- quences may be catastrophic. But the spread of toxic chemicals from pole to pole may be the dark horse in the race.” After all, as Ehrlich observes, there is a mass of evidence which should “alert humanity to the risks of toxifying Earth from pole to pole with synthetic chemicals.” Fifty years later, we look at some – though by no means all – of the most recent research on toxic chemicals and health. We – and the scientists who have contributed articles to this special section of Watershed Sen- tinel – also ask: Are our govern- ments doing enough to protect us? We asked Miranda Holmes, who spent a decade working on toxics and genetic engineering for Greenpeace and other environmen- tal organizations in Canada and the UK, to edit this special section, which is sponsored by Reach for Unbleached..

September-October 2012 Photo Ester by Strijbos HEALTH & TOXICS

“As the tide of chemicals born of the Industrial Age has arisen to engulf our environment, a drastic change has come about in the nature of the most serious public health problems. Only yesterday mankind lived in fear of the scourges of smallpox, cholera, and plague that once swept nations before them.… Today we are concerned with a different kind of hazard that lurks in our environment – a hazard we ourselves have introduced into our world.” —Rachel Carson, 1962

by Bruce Lanphear

At the turn of the 20th century, Currently, environmental chemi- 1970s, but one recent study found that the greatest threat to the health of cals are “innocent until proven its metabolite, DDE, can be detected children was infectious diseases, like guilty.” They can be introduced with- in 95% of Americans. DDE has been cholera, tuberculosis and typhoid. out being fully tested for toxicity: linked with diabetes, preterm birth The development of vaccines and indeed, of more than 200 industrial and diminished IQ scores in children. antibiotics played an important role in chemicals known to have neurotoxic PCBs, which have been linked to reducing deaths from infections, but effects in adults, only a handful have lower IQ scores and thyroid dysfunc- the single greatest factor in reducing been tested for neurotoxicity at lower tion, have been banned for decades; death rates and improving life expec- (subclinical) doses. however, they are routinely detected tancy was altering the environment in newborns and children around the to make it inhospitable to infectious Rachel Carson’s work led to the world; exposure is nearly universal. insecticide DDT being banned in the agents: providing access to clean 1970s, but one recent study found that Our experience with lead, water, better housing and sanitation. its metabolite, DDE, can be detected in tobacco, PCBs, mercury, and other Over the past 50 years, the burden 95% of Americans. toxicants indicates that Canada and of childhood illness and disability has the US should adopt the precaution- shifted from infectious disease to Moreover, a chemical is only ary principle and identify toxicants chronic conditions like asthma, dia- taken off the market or a pollutant before they are marketed and widely betes and obesity, and behavioural regulated when harmful effects are disseminated in the environment. problems, such as autism and ADHD. proven definitively; by convention, Several environmental contami- this means that a chemical or pollutant “One part in a million sounds like nants and pollutants contribute to has to be proven toxic in laboratory a very small amount – and so it these disabilities that collectively experiments and in a series of epide- is. But such substances are so potent that a minute quantity can afflict about one in five children. miologic (human) studies, which usu- bring about vast changes in the These contaminants include (but are ally take decades to complete. In the body.” by no means limited to) lead, mercury, interim, millions of people, includ- tobacco, air pollutants, DDT, organo- ing children and pregnant women, Fifty years ago, Rachel Carson phosphate pesticides and PCBs. will have been exposed and possibly warned us about the toxicity of even The good news is that we have the harmed. small amounts of chemicals, like pes- opportunity to prevent many of these Thousands of chemicals are cur- ticides. We now know that, depend- childhood disabilities. The sanitarians rently in the environment, making it ing on when an exposure occurs in a of the early 20th century understood difficult to attribute disability or dis- child’s development, an environmen- that uncovering a pattern of disease ease to any one particular chemical. tal chemical can result in irreversible was often sufficient to act, sometimes For persistent chemicals, even effects at concentrations in the parts decades before the bacterial or viral when harmful effects are identified, per billion. In fact, for a given expo- agents were discovered. One way to stemming the tide of exposure may be sure, the effects of some chemicals are apply that lesson today is by revising the most that can be accomplished. greater at lower levels of exposure. the way we regulate environmental Rachel Carson’s work led to the chemicals and pollutants. insecticide DDT being banned in the Continued on Page 14 

Watershed Sentinel 13 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS

Children continued

case” for the ubiquity and variety of “For the first time in the his- man-made chemicals and pollutants. tory of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact It would not be surprising if a chemi- with dangerous chemicals, from cal (or combination of chemicals the moment of conception until acting together) were contributing to death.” the increase in autism.

Photo Spacing by Magazine Another group of chemicals, Researchers have found strong endocrine-disrupting chemicals Vancouver links between exposures to environ- (EDCs), are raising new questions A City of the Future? mental toxicants and behavioural about how chemicals may cause problems. ADHD, which affects harm. Several researchers have found There is no question that the about one in 10 children, is on the rise that prenatal exposure to phthal- urban environment impacts on the among US children. We found, in a ates and Bisphenol A was associated health of children, but what would study of over 3000 children, that those with a decreased anogenital distance a healthy community look like? who had higher blood lead concentra- (a condition linked to later problems In many ways, Vancouver fits tions were two and a half times more with infertility), decreased “mascu- this description. likely to have ADHD than children line” play behaviours in boys, and The city has low levels of air with the lowest exposure. We also hyperactivity in three-year-old girls. pollution and relatively low rates found that tobacco exposure magni- Bisphenol A has been banned by of smoking. fied the effects of lead; children who Health Canada for use in baby bottles, The city is built to encour- were in the highest lead category and but many other routes of exposure for age walking, bicycling, and use were prenatally exposed to tobacco pregnant women still exist. of public transit; the number of smoke were eight times more likely While most of the evidence on major highways cutting through to have ADHD than children who had the effects of EDCs concerns sex the heart of the city is minimal. neither exposure. hormones or the thyroid, some EDCs And its inhabitants seem to live Other chemicals which are rou- (known as “obesogens”) can mimic longer, healthier lives. tinely found in pregnant women and hormones involved in the develop- In 2005-09, Vancouver’s children, such as organophosphate ment of obesity. The chemical tri- life expectancy at birth was 82.6 pesticides and PCBs, have also been butyltin is one possible obesogen. A years, which – if it were a coun- linked to the development of ADHD. study in adolescent girls also found try – would rank second only to The long latency between exposure an association between obesity and Japan. and the onset of ADHD makes it diffi- phthalates. In addition, Vancouver has cult to establish these links with abso- More than a quarter of Canadian begun an initiative to become the lute certainty, but these studies raise children are considered either over- world’s greenest city by 2020, troubling questions about a regulatory weight (17%) or obese (9%). In the an effort that includes sustain- system which essentially allows chil- United States, childhood obesity has able industries, low levels of air dren to be exposed to environmental more than trebled in 40 years. Obese pollution, and a citywide goal of contaminants until there is definitive children are more likely to become walking, cycling, or using public proof that they are toxic. obese adults, who are at heightened transportation for at least half of The incidence of autism has risk for type II diabetes, cardiovas- all trips taken. increased dramatically. Autism has cular disease, and some cancers. This vision is in stark contrast a genetic component, but the rapid Dia­betes is also on the rise in young with cities of the past that aspired increase in the condition points to an people, where it can have especially to attract industry, only to end up increase in one or more environmental serious health consequences (com- with high levels of air pollution risk factors. A few early studies have pared with a later onset). While many and widespread sprawl centred found that the risk of autism increases factors contribute to the rise in obe- around cars and highways. in children if their mother lived near sity, there is mounting evidence that —BL a highway during the third trimester some chemicals may also play a role. of pregnancy. Autism may be a “test

Watershed Sentinel 14 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS

“Thalidomide and pesticides rep- resent our willingness to rush ahead and use something new without knowing what the results are going to be.”

Thalidomide was an early and dramatic warning of our failure to regulate drugs. Widely prescribed in the 1950s to treat morning sickness at doses established to be non-toxic for adults, the drug turned out to have devastating effects on fetuses. Many environmental exposures, which are often beyond our control, including environmental chemicals American robins killed by DDT, See also Paul Ehrlich, “As Silent Spring’s 50th and contaminants, can have sub- 1961 at Michigan State University. anniversary nears, what would Rachel Carson stantial and lifelong implications for From Introduction to Ornithology, be saying now?” Environmental Health News, 25 children. Unfortunately, these subtle 3rd Edition, 1975. June 2012. www.environmentalhealthnews.org. effects are unlikely to be recognized. (Creative Commons) ehs/news/2012/commentary-paul-ehrlich-on- Tragically, as David Rall, former rachel-carson. Paul Ehrlich is the Bing Professor director of the National Institute of of Population Studies and President, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, once cals; we should look about and Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, remarked, “If thalidomide had caused see what other course is open to Stanford University. His many publications a ten-point loss of IQ instead of obvi- us.” include The Population Bomb and The Betrayal ous birth defects of the limbs, it would of Science and Reason: How Anti-Environment probably still be on the market.” It’s not impossible to change the Rhetoric Threatens Our Future, both co- way we regulate chemicals. Other authored with his wife, Anne Ehrlich. “The choice, after all, is ours to governments have already adopted make. If, having endured much, the precautionary principle. In 2007 we have at last asserted our the European Union instituted the Bruce P. Lanphear, MD, MPH, ‘right to know’, and if, knowing, REACH Program, which requires is a Professor of Children’s Environ- we have concluded that we are manufacturers to prove that chemicals mental Health at BC Children’s Hos- being asked to take senseless and are safe before they are marketed. pital, Vancouver. frightening risks, then we should Surely the children of Canada and no longer accept the counsel of those who tell us that we must fill the United States deserve as much? our world with poisonous chemi- 

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Watershed Sentinel 15 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS

Canada’s POPs Strategy Fizzles Current efforts to address Persistent Organic Pollutants are insufficient to protect vulnerable populations and ecosystems by Fe de Leon and Olga Speranskaya with POPs includes cancer and re- representatives of both in national productive, developmental, cognitive stakeholder engagements and in inter- and behavioural disorders. Many are national delegations on POPs elimina- s their name suggests, known to interfere with foetal devel- tion. persistent organic pollut- opment in humans and wildlife. ants (POPs) are toxic sub- The global nature of this threat Chemicals Management Plan stances which persist for a led to the creation of the United Na- longA time in the environment. POPs tions Stockholm Convention aimed In 2006 Canada released a bioaccumulate (magnify) in the food at curtailing the production and use Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) chain, increasing in strength as, say, of POPs. Canada was one of the first designed to assesses and manage microscopic traces on phytoplank- countries to sign and ratify the 2001 priority substances. The CMP is not ton are consumed by small fish, then convention. designed to specifically address POPs larger fish, then mammals (including Minimal action was required and thus has its limitations as a pro- humans). POPs can travel thousands in Canada to address the original 12 gram for meeting elimination targets. of miles before they are brought back POPs (also known as the Dirty Doz- However, it is ideal for identifying to earth by cold climates. Thus, the en), as the production and use of many substances with POPs characteristics. people and animals of Canada’s Arc- of these substances had already been Canada has made significant tic (recently listed by the Blacksmith regulated. Canada completed a Na- contributions to the research involved Institute as one of the top 10 most pol- tional Implementation Plan and Ac- in expanding the list of POPs for in- luted places on earth) bear the toxic tion Plan, as required under the Con- clusion in the Convention. While the body burden of their industrialized vention. original Dirty Dozen were industrial southern neighbours. Recognizing the legitimate con- chemicals or (like dioxins) by-prod- The long list of human and envi- cerns of indigenous and environmen- ucts of production, many of the 10 ronmental health impacts associated tal groups, the government included POPs subsequently added are present in consumer products. In addition to research into the risks associated with these POPs, Canada has taken a lead- Climate change worsens POPs threat ing role in reviewing and highlighting Most worrying are the implications of the Canadian government’s alternatives. decision to walk away from its Kyoto Protocol obligations to act decisively In the 11 years since the sign- to curb emissions of greenhouse gases. This decision not only jeopardises ing of the treaty the threats posed by global efforts to mitigate climate change, but also significantly undermines POPs have not diminished. Research any efforts by Canada to reduce global POPs contamination. suggests many more POPs require ur- As reported by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) gent global attention, while the work and the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) in Climate to eliminate the original 12 POPs is Change and POPs: Predicting the Impact, climate change increases the far from complete. planet’s vulnerability to highly toxic chemicals. For example, higher tem- peratures can make wildlife more sensitive to exposure of certain pollut- Recycling & Waste Management ants. In the Arctic region, climate change can alter the exposure levels of marine mammals, such as seals or polar bears, through a variety of means One challenge which countries including changes in long-range atmospheric and oceanographic transport, must address is the safe disposal of along with the melting of the ice caps. Levels of some POPs detected in the POPs-contaminated waste. Arctic are very high in top predators which are the basic traditional food – Unfortunately, the situation in and thus source of POPs exposure – for indigenous people. Canada is piecemeal, with hazardous waste disposal falling under provin-

Watershed Sentinel 16 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS

Original Dirty Dozen POPS (2001)

Substance Use Exposure & health effects Aldrin Pesticide Most exposure is through dairy products and animal meats.

Chlordane Pesticide Exposure occurs mainly through the air. Chlordane has been detected in the indoor air of residences in the United States and Japan. Dieldrin Pesticide Primary exposure is through food. Dieldrin was the second most common pesticide detected in a US survey of pasteurized milk. DDT Widely banned pesticide DDT has been detected in food from all over the world. Long-term expo- sures have been associated with chronic health effects. DDT has been detected in breast milk. Dioxins Unintentional by-product Food, particularly animal products, is the major source of exposure. Dioxins of the manufacture and have been associated with a number of adverse effects in humans, includ- disposal of chlorinated ing immune and enzyme disorders and chloracne, and are classified as substances probable human carcinogens. Endrin Pesticide Primary exposure is through food Furans Unintentional by-product Food, particularly animal products, is the major source of exposure for of the manufacture and humans. Furans have also been detected in breast-fed infants. disposal of chlorinated substances Heptachlor Pesticide Food is the major source of exposure. Residues have been detected in the blood of cattle from the United States and from Australia. Hexachloro- Pesticide and by-product HCB has been found in food of all types. A study of Spanish meat found benzene (HCB) of the manufacture of HCB present in all samples. Mothers also pass HCB to their infants through certain industrial chemi- the placenta and through breast milk. cals Mirex Pesticide Mirex is one of the most stable and persistent pesticides, with a half-life of up to 10 years. The main route of human exposure is through food, particu- larly meat, fish, and wild game. Polychlorinated Industrial compound Consumption of PCB-contaminated rice oil in Taiwan in 1979 caused pig- biphenyls mentation of nails and mucous membranes and swelling of the eyelids, (PCBs) along with fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Due to the persistence of PCBs in their mothers’ bodies, children born up to seven years after the Taiwan inci- dent showed developmental delays and behavioural problems. Similarly, children of mothers who ate large amounts of contaminated fish from Lake Michigan showed poorer short-term memory function. PCBs also suppress the human immune system and are listed as probable human carcinogens. Toxaphene Pesticide Toxaphene can persist in soil for up to 12 years. For humans, the most likely source exposure is food. cial jurisdiction. The federal govern- Transboundary Movements of Haz- potential exposure to POPs posed by ment has failed to establish minimum ardous Wastes. lax recycling (or disposal) of electron- standards or a national POPs program Although federal recycling ic and other goods containing toxic which would ensure all provinces guidelines do exist, these are volun- materials. meet Canada’s obligations under both tary in nature and do not effectively Recent research by the Interna- the Stockholm Convention and the address the growing concerns under tional POPs Elimination Network Basel Convention on the Control of the Stockholm Convention about the Continued on Page 18 

Watershed Sentinel 17 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS

POPS continued

(IPEN) revealed that several of the • CEPA does not require the da’s ability and commitment to elimi- POPs listed in the Stockholm Con- government to assess the environ- nating POPs. (For full details, see vention are present in new consumer mental and health impacts of low- “Bill C-38: The death of the environ- products in Canada. dose concentrations of POPs. ment” on page 22.) For example, the study, conduct- ed in six countries including Canada, The long list of human and Clearly, Canada’s commitment to found high levels of polybrominated environmental health impacts the Stockholm Convention has dimin- diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in recycled associated with POPs includes ished since 2001. The recent dramatic foam carpet pads. Two of the PBDEs cancer and reproductive, changes to environmental protection found are listed under the Stockholm developmental, cognitive and in Canada raises the level of concern Convention. One or both were found behavioural disorders. that POPs elimination in this country in 88% samples of foam padding from can ever be achieved. The Canadian Canada, Hungary, and USA. Half the • Exemptions exist in CEPA government’s attitude towards its in- samples contained PBDE levels ex- for POPs and other toxic chemicals ternational environmental treaty ob- ceeding the hazardous waste limit es- which are “present as a contaminant” ligations isn’t just business as usual tablished by the European Union. in products or if “the substance is in- – it’s business above all else. The con- Canada’s ability to meet its POPs cidentally present.” sequences for Canadians and their en- elimination obligations has in some • The Act fails to define terms vironment – particularly in the Arctic instances been limited by its own such as “contaminant” and “inciden- – could be devastating. principal piece of environmental leg- tally present,” creating a loophole  islation, the 1999 Canadian Environ- which could allow the ongoing use of Fe de Leon is researcher with the mental Protection Act (CEPA). Fol- and discharge into the environment of Canadian Environmental Law Asso- lowing the signing of the POPs treaty many POPs and other toxic chemicals. ciation. Olga Speranskaya is Co-Chair in 2001, no attempt was made to ad- Recent legislation by the Harper of the International POPs Elimination dress the following shortcomings: government calls into question Cana- Network.

POPs Added Since 2004 Substance Use Chlordecone Pesticide Endosulfan Pesticide Lindane Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) Pesticide Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane (AlphaHCH) HCH isomer Beta hexachlorocyclohexane (BetaHCH) HCH isomer Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) Flame retardant Hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromod- Flame retardant phenyl ether, commercial octabromodiphenyl ether (C-octaBDE) Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodi- Flame retardant phenyl ether, commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether (C-pentaBDE) Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and Firefighting foams, textiles, household cleaning products, pesticides perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOS and PSOSF) Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) Industrial compound, fungicide and unintentional by-product of com- bustion

Watershed Sentinel 18 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS

Still Killing Canadians

compensation. As a result, the costs Given that asbestos is a known of these illnesses are shifted onto the carcinogen and killer, why do we still by Mae Burrows already over-burdened public health- produce it? care system. The labour movement in Canada What do you think is the leading Quebec, where all asbestos is has taken a progressive stand. The cause of workplace deaths in Canada? mined in Canada, has the highest rate Canadian Labour Congress and most Falling from heights? Machine-relat- of mesothelioma on the planet. unions have called for the end to the ed accidents? Exposure to toxic ma- The World Health Organization development of the asbestos industry terials? estimates that more than 107,000 in Canada and a transition program The answer is exposure to toxic people die each year from workplace for displaced workers. materials and one material in particu- asbestos-related diseases. The major labour body in Que- lar – asbestos. Many of these deaths could bec, the Confederation of National Many Canadians believe that as- have been prevented if workers were Trade Unions, has passed a resolution bestos is banned in this country. They equipped with protective gear and opposing the production, use, and ex- think the scandal is that we continue took all the right precautions. Unfor- port of asbestos saying, “This would to mine asbestos and export it to India tunately, the majority of exposures honour those who fought and died for and other developing countries where occur in the non-regulated construc- health and safety, and point out that it is handled by – and threatens the tion industry. In a recent case in Van- the life of an Indian worker, just like health of – unprotected workers. Only couver, an owner of a small company that of a Quebecer, cannot be blindly the last statement is actually true. doing asbestos removal was found to sacrificed in the name of a job.” Asbestos is still common in a be recruiting youth from drug recov- And yet the Charest government wide range of industrial products in ery centres, not informing them of continues to pour millions of dollars Canada, including roof sealants, tex- their right to know and be protected, into the industry, while the Harper tiles, plastics, door seals for furnaces, and not even telling them they were government refuses to sign the Rot- caulking, paper, and components for working with asbestos. Although terdam Convention, which merely re- the military. that particular case went to court, the quires that when asbestos is exported Canadian workers are also ex- workplace practices it reflects are all from Canada it is labelled as a car- posed to asbestos in building demo- too common. cinogen. litions and renovations. Since there To reduce these senseless deaths, The thousands of asbestos-relat- are no building registries providing the first priority must be a building ed deaths are preventable. Saudi Ara- inventories of where asbestos is lo- registry which lists an inventory of lo- bia, Japan, the European Union, and cated, workers may undertake a repair cations where asbestos is present. In- Australia have all banned asbestos. in a school, office, or public building, formation and enforcement about cor- Canada should, too. hospital, or private home and sud- rect health and safety practices must Then we can move on to the next denly find themselves surrounded by become part of the culture. Doctors silent killer in the workplace. asbestos. need to ask their cancer patients about  Mesothelioma, the cancer most their occupational exposure history. Mae Burrows is a BC-based en- closely related to asbestos, asbestosis Further, there needs to be a registry vironmental and occupational educa- and related lung cancers take more for workers to cite any exposure they tor. For more information on asbestos lives than any other occupational have had to asbestos. Should they get worldwide, visit the International Ban disease, yet more than 50% of these sick later, there will be a record to aid Asbestos Secretariat website: victims did not or could not apply for them in obtaining compensation. www.ibasecretariat.org.

Watershed Sentinel 19 September-October 2012 The majority of studies on which the guide is based involved testing samples after they had been washed or peeled Emaya with organic peach Photo Paula by RodriguezdelaVega

by Miranda Holmes

For the past eight years, the Envi- these measures to be adequate protec- Organophosphates ronmental Working Group (EWG) has tion from pesticide residues. This year EWG added an extra been analysing the pesticide testing The guide flags the 12 most con- category (Dirty Dozen Plus) for green done by the United States Department taminated fruits and vegetables and beans, kale and collard greens. Al- of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food the 15 least contaminated. Full details though these vegetables did not meet and Drug Administration (FDA). from the 2012 guide are available at the normal criteria for inclusion in the EWG’s annual Shopper’s Guide www.ewg.org/foodnews. top 12, they were flagged as foods to to Pesticides in Produce ranks pes- Amongst the findings of the 2012 avoid because, along with bell pep- ticide contamination for 45 popular guide : pers and nectarines, they showed po- fruits and vegetables, measuring the • 98% of apples sampled had tentially unhealthy levels of organo- contamination in six different ways: detectable levels of pesticides. phosphate (OP) residues. • Percentage of samples tested • Domestic blueberries tested OP insecticides are known neu- with detectable pesticides positive for 42 different pesticide resi- rotoxins. Although their use in agri- • Percentage of samples with dues. culture has decreased in recent years, two or more detectable pesticides • 78 different pesticides were exposure is still widespread. • Average number of pesti- found on lettuce samples. A study by Stephen Rauch of BC cides found on a single sample • Every single nectarine Children’s Hospital (published ear- • Average amount (in parts per USDA tested had measurable pesti- lier this year in Environmental Health million) of all pesticides found cide residues. Perspectives) linked prenatal OP in- • Maximum number of pesti- • As a category, grapes have secticide exposure with lower birth cides found on a single sample more types of pesticides than any oth- weight and shorter gestation. Rauch • Total number of pesticides er fruit, with 64 different chemicals. notes that these pregnancies began af- found. • Thirteen different pesticides ter OPs were restricted for most uses. It is worth noting that the major- were measured on a single sample He also flags other studies linking ity of studies on which the guide is each of celery and strawberries. prenatal exposure to OP insecticides based involved testing samples after • 52 pesticides were detected with abnormal reflexes, reduced cog- they had been washed or peeled – on sampled peaches, including resi- nitive abilities, and attention deficit/ alarming for consumers who believe dues of highly toxic organophosphates. hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Watershed Sentinel 20 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS Dirty Dozen™ Clean 15™ 1 Apples 1 Onions 2 Celery 2 Sweet Corn All of which makes another new Clean Fifteen list) used in baby food 3 Sweet bell peppers 3 Pineapples element of EWG’s annual guide par- had virtually no detectable pesticide 4 Peaches 4 Avocado ticularly alarming. residues. 5 Strawberries 5 Cabbage 6 Nectarines 6 Sweet peas Baby Food How Clean Are the Fifteen? (imported) 7 Asparagus 7 Grapes 8 Mangoes 8 Spinach 9 Eggplant This year, for the first time, the The EWG guide stresses that 9 Lettuce 10 Kiwi USDA also looked at pesticide resi- consumers should opt for organic 10 Cucumbers 11 Cantaloupe dues in baby food. when purchasing fruit and vegetables 11 Blueberries (domestic) Nearly 200 samples each were on the Dirty Dozen list. (domestic) 12 Sweet potatoes 12 Potatoes 13 Grapefruit tested of green beans, pears and sweet The group also emphasizes that 14 Watermelon potatoes prepared and marketed as produce on its Clean Fifteen list are 15 Mushrooms baby food. All the samples dated from not necessarily free of pesticide resi- would not pose a 2010. due. They are simply the least likely health risk to consumers.” Green beans prepared as baby to be contaminated. In announcing the adoption of food tested positive for five pesticides, What they do state is that the the current standards, Health Canada among them, the OP methamidophos majority of these fruit and vegetable said: “Both Health Canada and EPA (found in 9.4% of samples) and the OP samples had no detectable pesticide agree that the OECD MRL Calcula- acephate (7.8% of samples). residues and, of those which did, mul- tor provides statistically robust and According to EWG’s calcula- tiple pesticide residues were extreme- scientifically-defensible MRLs.” tions: “A 22-pound (10kg) child eat- ly rare. ing one four-ounce (113g) serving of Meanwhile in Europe green beans sold as baby food with What Does This Mean in the maximum methamidophos level Canada? Health Canada may consider its found would consume 50% of EPA’s pesticide residue standards defensi- acute risk value, a measure of allow- According to Statistics Canada, ble, but they are certainly not the most able risk. The risks would be higher nearly 60% of our food imports (in stringent. if the beans were contaminated with dollar terms) come from the US, the The MRLs set by the European a second organophosphate, acephate, vast majority of which is fruit, vegeta- Union are often much lower than Can- which causes the same damages to bles and fish. It is therefore reasonable ada’s. Taking just two examples from the brain and nervous system. Lighter to assume that pesticide residues are the pesticides flagged above: babies, those fed more than four ounc- imported with this produce. • At 25 parts per million the cur- es of green beans or those fed green More importantly, in 2010 Health rent Canadian MRL for iprodione beans with organophosphate residues Canada and the US EPA adopted is two and a half times higher than daily would be at even greater risk.” the Organisation for Economic Co- that set by the EU. (The recent CFIA Pears prepared as baby food operation and Development (OECD) survey found iprodione residue on showed significant and widespread standards for maximum residue limits 56 samples of berries – strawberries contamination, with 92% of samples (MRLs) for pesticides in food. So the were the highest at 33). testing positive for at least one pes- allowable pesticide residues for Cana- • The Canadian MRL for the OP ticide residue. More than a quarter dian-grown fruit and vegetables are methamidophos is 10 times higher of samples were tainted with five or the same as those for the US produce than the EU MRL. (CFIA also found more pesticides. The pesticide iprodi- detailed in the EWG report. residues of methamidophos on 12 let- one (identified as a probable human The Canadian Food Inspection tuce.) carcinogen) was detected in three Agency (CFIA) does test produce  samples. for pesticide residues, but only flags EWG notes that iprodione is not for concern the samples which ex- Miranda Holmes is a former registered for use on pears and that ceed their MRL. For example, a May journalist and toxics its presence in this popular baby food 2012 CFIA report on apples, toma- campaigner.She is “constitutes a violation of FDA regu- toes, lettuce and small berries simply now an associate lations and the federal Food, Drug, stated that 99.6% were at or below editor of Water- Sponsored by and Cosmetic Act”. their MRLs. Of the 11 samples which shed Sentinel. Reach for Unbleached! One bright note is the fact that failed, CFIA stated: “Further assess- http://www.rfu.org sweet potatoes (included in EWG’s ment determined that these products

Watershed Sentinel 21 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS Bill C-38 The death of the environment by Darryl Luscombe The Harper Government has decided that pollution and oil are Bill C-38, The Jobs, Growth the route to prosperity for our country. The primary focus of and Long-term Prosperity Act, the attack is to weaken democratic values and enact a policy of received Royal Assent and be- arbitrary exclusion and decision making. came law in Canada on June 29th, 2012. The Omnibus Budg- et bill is the most targeted at- tack on democracy, the environment and environmental If the initial screening determines that a project should advocates by any Canadian government in history. be subject to an Environmental Assessment, the legislation sets only four Responsible Authorities to conduct them: the Greater Power to the Minister Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), the Nation- al Energy Board (NEB), the CEAA, or a Review Panel. The Bill significantly rewrites the Canadian Environ- Under the previous CEPA, more than 40 Federal Agen- mental Protection Act (CEPA) to limit its scope and permit cies could be tasked with this role, depending on the project greater Ministerial discretion over which projects are sub- and where the predominant risk to the environment was ject to review and scrutiny. present in the proposal or various other triggers the project Whereas CEPA required an environmental assessment invoked. Bill C-38 does provide for other responsible au- whenever a federal department exercised a certain range thorities to be designated at the Minister’s discretion, al- of powers or provided financial assistance, the new CEPA though there are no triggers or requirements for any other 2012 only subjects “Designated Projects” to Environmental agencies to be given the lead role in the review process. Review. “Designated Projects” will be determined by regu- lation and at the discretion of the Minister for the Environ- Final Decision to the Minister ment. If a project is “Designated,” the Canadian Environ- If the Minister determines a project should be referred mental Assessment Agency (CEAA) will determine if an to a Review Panel for assessment, the final decision maker Environmental Assessment is required. Projects which will in the process will be the Minister. If any of the three fed- be subject to screening, must be posted to the Agency’s eral agencies or a review panel find that a project may result website within 10 days of the receipt of the project proposal in “significant adverse environmental effects,” the decision and the CEAA must complete its screening within 45 days. must be sent to Federal Cabinet for review and the Cabinet Public input at this stage will be limited to the first 20 days will determine if the project should proceed or not. of the process. This is an incredibly short time frame for the CEAA Strict Time Limits to carry out a screening assessment and it would be naïve to assume that it will be any more than a series of checks Strict time limits are imposed in Bill C-38 for the as- against a standard set of criteria. In fact, the new CEPA also sessment process. If a project is subject to an environmental allows for “Class Screening” to apply to projects that fall review by any of the three lead agencies (CNSC, NEB, or into certain categories or classes of project, although these CEAA), the assessment must be completed within 365 days are not specifically defined in the Act itself. after the project is initially listed on the CEAA website. If It is important to note that one of the criteria in deter- the Minister refers the project to a Review Panel, the time- mining if an Environmental Assessment will be required line is extended to two years for a final decision. is, “s20(1)(c)(iii) … public concerns warrant a reference to One important point is that the time limits are not nec- a mediator or a review panel.” As such, public input at this essarily as strict as they appear. If a Responsible Authority early stage can be seen as critical to ensure projects undergo or a Review Panel requires the proponent of a project to a thorough review of the potential environmental impact. conduct environmental studies, such as collecting baseline

Watershed Sentinel 22 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS

Harper has cut the funding for a number of marine research programs, including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) contaminants program.

on forests and ecosystems around the world. The ELA is an unique research facility, which has been able to monitor and eluci- date key environmental impacts on the ter- A New Canadian Flag: by garcilazo restrial environment for over 40 years for a very small cost. Once this facility is closed, the baseline data they have been diligently data, the time limits are extended by the time required to collecting for all those years will be lost. The staff will dis- carry out those studies. The Minister may also extend the perse and go to countries that value knowing about the im- deadline by a discretionary period of up to three months. pact of humans on the environment. However, if the Minister determines that the timeline Similarly, Harper has cut the funding for a number of has been exceeded, the legislation provides for the Minister marine research programs, including the Department of to make a decision based solely on the information avail- Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) contaminants program. This able at that point of the process. effectively eliminates the federal government from any The insidious nature of this rewriting of CEPA does monitoring of toxic pollutants in the marine environment. not stop there. One of the most contentious provisions of Canada has been, up until now, a world leader in monitor- the new Act is the definition of an “Interested Party,” that ing the impact of Persistent Organic Pollutants in marine is, who can have standing to appear before a Review Panel mammals. or present evidence to an Environmental Assessment. The legislation states that, “interested party means, in respect of Fast Tracking Tar Sands Export an environmental assessment, any person or body having an interest in the outcome of the environmental assessment It is difficult not to see the gutting of science in DFO, for a purpose that is neither frivolous nor vexatious.” the changes to CEPA and the major gutting of the habitat [emphasis added] protection provisions of the Fisheries Act in any other way This provision appears to give incredible discretion to than as a means of fast-tracking the export of tar sands oil exclude public participation at the whim of a federal agency from Alberta to Asian markets. or the Minister. Especially given that a common definition After all, if you have no idea what the consequences of of vexatious is, “Causing or tending to cause annoyance, your actions are, what the conditions were before you be- frustration, or worry.” gin, then you have no worries about approving the dirtiest and most destructive projects. Cuts to Core Science Research It is obvious the Harper Government has decided that pollution and oil are the route to prosperity for our country, Equally serious is the Harper government’s attack on and the primary focus of the attack is to weaken democratic science and the ability of the Canadian public service to values and enact a policy of arbitrary exclusion and deci- provide impartial scientific advice in the public discourse. sion making. Through petty and seemingly vindictive and narrow mind- The real question is whether we, Canadians, are going ed ideology-based decisions, Harper has cut funding for to accept this fundamental attack on our values, or whether many of the core scientific research areas in which Canada this is the time to organise and speak out. For me, silence has provided leadership and clarity to the world on key en- is not an option. vironmental issues.  One glaring example is cutting funding to the Experi- Dr Darryl Luscombe has a PhD in Chemistry and has mental Lakes Area (ELA) research station in Ontario. This been involved in toxics issues globally for the past 20 years. He research station was instrumental in proving the reality of lives in rural BC and spends his time working as a short-order acid rain and the devastating effects of industrial pollution cook, a photographer, and as an environmental consultant.

Watershed Sentinel 23 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS

I am not smart enough to know what kind of system will best identify and address the preventable causes of cancer in our environment. I just know that what we have been doing doesn’t work.

by Devra Davis

By the turn of the 18th century, pregnancy or nursing. His theory that man, who warned long ago about the the path-breaking Italian physician something associated with the failure need to curb environmental exposures Bernardino Ramazzini had docu- to bear children affected cancer risk to agents which could promote cancer. mented more than three dozen differ- remains a central tenet of cancer re- At the 1971 launch of President ent cancer-prone professions. At that search today. Nixon’s so-called war on cancer, point the disease was still uncommon Ramazzini believed that those proof that how and where we live and and usually lethal. who learned of workplace hazards work affects the chances we may get Ramazzini did not know which had a simple moral duty to warn cancer was basically ignored. Aston- specific part of the job caused which workers about the risks of their em- ishing alliances between naïve or far maladies, but he knew that people in too clever academics and folks with many different jobs were subject to History has not been kind major economic interests in selling risk, including miners of coal, lead, to scientists like Rachel Carson, potentially cancerous materials have arsenic and iron, metal gilders, chem- Sam Epstein or Janette Sherman, kept us from figuring out whether or ists, potters, tinsmiths, glassmakers, who warned long ago about the not many modern products affect our painters, tobacco workers, lime work- need to curb environmental chances of developing cancer. ers, tanners, weavers, coppersmiths, exposures to agents which could We all know people who lead per- mirror makers, painters, sulphur promote cancer. fectly clean, even exemplary lives and workers, blacksmiths, apothecaries, still get cancer. The first thing most cleaners of privies and cesspits, farm- ploy and urge them to lower those cancer patients ask is: What did I do ers, fishermen, soldiers, printers, con- risks for themselves, their families to make this happen? The answer of- fectioners, carpenters, midwives, wet- and their towns. He offered this mod- ten is: Not a bloody thing. nurses, and corpse carriers. ification of Hippocrates’ ancient ad- We live in a sea of synthetic es- For each of these trades, he ex- vice: “When a doctor visits a working trogens and other hormones and we plained what particular agents or con- class home he should take time for are routinely exposed to materials that ditions he thought gave rise to certain his examination; and to the questions never previously existed. The produc- classes of illness. Those who worked recommended by Hippocrates, he ers of these agents take comfort in the with dust and fire, for example, tend- should add one more – What is your fact that any one of them, tested by it- ed to suffer from weakened lungs, occupation?” self, looks fairly benign when gauged unstoppable coughs and occasionally By the 1930s scientists around by various scientific measures of car- suffocating tumours of the lung. the globe were certain – and were pre- cinogenic potency. Ramazzini was an observant doc- pared to say so publicly – that many Still, it defies common sense and tor with a penchant for record keep- widely used agents caused cancer in basic biology to assume that just be- ing. He noted that nuns tended to be humans, including ionising and solar cause a single agent looks all right free of cancer of the cervix, then one radiation, arsenic, benzene, asbestos, when tested on its own, we can safely of the most common fatal tumours of and synthetic dyes and hormones. encounter hundreds of such materials women. At the same time, those who And yet, since World War II, all at once. You would never take all lived celibate lives were more often whenever and however information on the different pills in your medicine plagued by breast cancers than other the cancer hazards of the workplace chest in one swallow, even though women. Ramazzini speculated that and the environment has been gener- ingesting one or a few is fine. Why, both of these anomalies could be re- ated, it has typically been discredited, then, should we accept that there is no lated to the same cause – nuns didn’t dismissed, or disparaged. History has danger in being subjected to combina- bear children but underwent a lifetime not been kind to scientists like Rachel tions of agents without precedent in of menstrual cycles uninterrupted by Carson, Sam Epstein or Janette Sher- human history?

Watershed Sentinel 24 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS

It may shock you to learn that these breakthrough technologies car- with autism or other brain defects, of the 100,000 chemicals commonly ries any long-term hazard. tumours or leukemia, and young men used in commerce, most have not Does the absence of agreed-upon with testicular cancer, lower sperm been studied as to their ability to af- proof of these potential hazards mean count and testosterone are increas- fect our health. In 1983 and again in that they are not dangerous? There’s ing everywhere. Fewer baby boys are 1998, the US National Academy of got to be a better way to build our being born in many industrial coun- Sciences confirmed that we have no world than waiting for enough bod- tries. Are these things coming to light public record of the toxicity of three ies to drop or sicken before we decide only because some people are look- out of every four of the top 3,000 we’ve got a problem. ing for problems? How do we figure chemicals in use today. Despite dec- We’ve got several looming health out whether other parts of the modern larations by industry of their intent to problems that require fundamentally world are placing us at risk for coming close this gap, in reality it would take different solutions than the technolo- down with health problems we could dozens of years and billions of dollars gies that gave rise to them. Why are avoid? to do so. more children developing cancer and It can take three weeks to approve learning problems? Our ability to I am not smart enough to know a new chemical for use and 30 years to know whether unexplained patterns what kind of system will best identify remove an old one. of disease are linked in any way with and address the preventable causes modern technologies and medica- of cancer in our environment. I just Chronic ailments do not con- know that what we have been doing veniently become evident when peo- It may shock you to learn that doesn’t work. ple suddenly succumb to symptoms of the 100,000 chemicals To reduce the burden of cancer neatly in one locale. Instead, cancer commonly used in commerce, today, we must prevent it from arising and neurological disorders arise over most have not been studied in the first place, and we have to find years of time as a result of assorted as to their ability to affect our new ways to keep the millions of can- health. triggers in our lives that may reflect cer survivors from relapsing. No mat- where we have worked, what we have ter how efficient we become at treating eaten, and where we happen to live tions is severely hampered by a closed cancer, we have to tackle those things now and in the past. system that leaves us no independent that cause the disease to occur or re- The difficulties of unravelling means to evaluate such growing pub- cur. I believe that if we had acted on the complex factors that contribute to lic health problems. We are only asked what has long been known about the current patterns of disease cannot be to do so after a pattern of disease industrial and environmental causes overstated. But their complexity does has become so overwhelming that it of cancer when this so-called war first not mean that they need to remain un- makes network news. began, millions of lives could have resolved mysteries. There are some dangerous condi- been spared – a huge casualty rate for We are heavily invested in doing tions or technologies on which we de- which those who have managed the things as we always have, working out pend that can’t be torn down and built war on cancer of places that have just been that way over. We are like the puzzled man in must answer. forever. Entire costly systems are built an old cartoon holding a box labelled on wireless technologies and other “toxic rubbish,” standing by three  electric-powered advances. mail slots: local, out of town, and far We know they work extraordinar- away. We’d like to send all our gar- D e v r a ily well. We live with them, depend bage as far away as we can, but every Davis, PhD on them and can’t imagine life with- day the lonely planet we inhabit seems MPH, is in- out them. We hope they don’t harm to get smaller. ternationally us. We can’t imagine not using cell There is no safe place for some renowned for phones, not ordering diagnostic ra- of our trash. Hermaphroditic polar her work on diation tests to resolve medical prob- bears and gender confused Beluga environmental health and dis- lems or not taking greater numbers whales are being found in the Arc- ease prevention. She is the founder of of drugs to treat disorders that didn’t tic Ocean with levels of pollutants in the Environmental Health Trust, and even exist years ago. At this point, their fat that would qualify them for the author of the acclaimed book The we can’t easily know whether any of burial in a toxic waste site. Children Secret History of the War on Cancer.

Watershed Sentinel 25 September-October 2012 HEALTH & TOXICS

It is estimated that over 22,000 women and by Judy Brady men in Canada will be diagnosed with breast Ever since it dawned on me that cancer this year and Other companies have been quick having been swaddled in a pink blanket nearly ten times as many to jump on the gravy train. A few years set me on a course of considerably more in the United States. ago, the Wall Street Journal ran a story limited choices than those available to Almost a quarter of these with the headline, Linking Products to the baby wrapped in a blue blanket, I’ve people will die. Breast-Cancer Fight Helps Firms Bond been wary of anything that comes in with Their Customers. According to the pink. But in October it’s impossible to article: “Companies are finding out that avoid pink. Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is the pink ribbon, symbol of breast-cancer awareness pat- upon us and millions of little pink ribbons on millions of terned after the red AIDS ribbon, can help them connect lapels exhort us to be “aware” of breast cancer. with female customers.” Awareness aside, the real truth about cancer is out. Lining up behind the big money are some breast can- The vast majority of breast cancers (and other cancers, as cer organizations like the Susan G. Komen Foundation, well as numerous other human diseases) are linked to the which hosts the annual “Race for the Cure” in major US proliferation of chemical and nuclear contaminants in our cities every October. [In January 2012 the Komen Founda- environment. tion entered into a marketing agreement with the Canadian The response from polluting industries to this grow- Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF). - Ed] ing body of evidence has been the creation of BCAM, in- For the past several years, the Komen Foundation has vented to divert public attention from their dirty practices. raised a few extra millions from a partnership with BMW The unremitting message every October is that the an- in a nationwide program called “The Ultimate Drive.” swer to the breast cancer epidemic lies in getting a mam- Their silence regarding the relationship between cancer mogram and raising more money for “cancer research.” and benzo(a)pyrene, one of the chemicals belched from the Nary a word is ever said about why we are getting sick and exhaust pipe of every car, is not surprising. dying in increasing numbers. The Foundation has also received financial support The inspiration for BCAM came from Zeneca, a phar- from organizations like the Chlorine Chemistry Council maceutical/chemical/ biotechnology company, when it was (trade association of the chlorine chemical industry). It’s still a subsidiary of the British company, Imperial Chemi- also not surprising that their literature fails to mention the cal Industries. link between cancer and exposure to dioxin, an ubiquitous Since its inception, BCAM in the United States has chemical largely produced as a byproduct from the incin- been controlled by the now independent and renamed As- eration of any material containing chlorine. traZeneca (the pharmaceutical arm of Zeneca), which has Cancer now gobbles up a full 10% of the total annual become a permanent partner in the cancer establishment. health care budget in the US. It will soon overtake heart AstraZeneca boasts that it has spent “millions of dollars” disease and be the leading cause of death in this country. on BCAM publicity, in return for which they retain the In the meantime, our slim environmental regulations are right to okay or veto every poster, pamphlet, or advertise- being systematically dismantled by an industry-friendly, ment issued under the aegis of BCAM. pro-free-trade government, while we are being drowned in Zeneca is the third largest producer of pesticides in a sea of little pink ribbons. North America, with sales valued in the billions of dol- I hate pink. lars annually. AstraZeneca is the leading producer of tamoxifen, the most widely prescribed drug for breast can-  cer. A few years back Zeneca completed a takeover of Sal- ick Health Care centres which treat cancer patients across Judy Brady is one of the breast cancer activists inter- the US. So AstraZeneca, the wizard behind BCAM, is first viewed in the NFB’s documentary Pink Ribbons, Inc. This contributing to the increase in breast cancer, then profiting acclaimed exposé of “pink washing” is now available for from its treatment with cancer drugs, and finally wrapping rental or download from the NFB website: www.nfb.ca/ it all up by controlling cancer care centres. film/pink_ribbons_inc.

Watershed Sentinel 26 September-October 2012 LETTERS More

Oil and China Information is available at The Independent Thinker’s Chemtrails Fact Sheet, www.About The Sky.com. Recently Russia and China have blocked the UN from Sue Hiscocks, Victoria, BC taking action to stop the human rights abuses occurring daily in Syria. So here we are in Canada about to do busi- Geoengineering Caution ness with China in a big way. They want to increase their I certainly appreciated the update on geoengineering ownership in Canadian tar sands and our “all Canadian in the last issue. The “geoengineers” are a scary lot, pay- government” wants to ship as much oil as we can to Chi- ing scant heed to the laws of unintended consequences, na. Perhaps we need to rethink the whole concept of doing and generally have considerable opportunity for personal business with the supporters of human rights abuses. The profit on the side, such as Mr. Keith with his company, only real meaningful way to deal with the ecological dam- prestigious invites, and a pipeline to Bill Gates’ wallet age from oil emissions is to cap the extraction of fossil for research funds. They are “cornucopians” for the most fuels from the earth. part, believing in near infinite energy resources to fuel Jim Wight, Victoria, BC business-as-usual. Hence the need for a climate “techno- Give Geoengineering a Break fix” which they believe is incredibly cheap compared to doing anything serious about the obvious transgressions My subscription recently lapsed, and while pondering by humankind of ecological and other limits on this planet. whether to renew it, along came Joyce Nelson’s article on Joyce Nelson’s article was balanced and informative Geoengineering to help make up my mind. For starters, – hopefully most of your readers will agree that the gee the article should have been titled Geo-Clique for that is whiz kids should be kept in their conference rooms as op- all it concentrated on. posed to running uncontrolled experiments on our atmos- Naming and finger wagging are poor substitutes for phere and us. evidence-based research. It makes no sense to condemn Dave Hughes, Whaletown, BC geoengineering outright in its entirety or because of those backing it. Rather, as an extension of applied science and technology (which together have given us most everything we value in today’s developed societies), geoengineering must be reviewed as with any other advancement in the sciences. Brian Mason, BC Geoengineering Moratorium Thank you for the the article on geoengineering by Joyce Nelson. It provides context to understand what’s go- ing on in our stratospheric atmosphere and the need for a global moratorium on geoengineering. This research ties in with the comprehensive documentary by Michael Murphy “What in the World are they Spraying?” A local production called “The Chemtrails Conspiracy” recently made by members of the environment community and the organization We are Change Victoria.org documented lo- cal Chemtrail sightings over Victoria. I hope readers will watch these DVDs on YouTube and demand immediate ac- countability from industry and the environment ministers!

For every species other than humans, the biggest envi- ronmental issue on Earth is Humanity. If we don’t change our ways, seriously and thoroughly change, then nature will even- tually leave us behind and carry on without us. —Rex Weyler, “Nature: A System of Systems,” August 22, 2012, www.greenpeace.org

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Watershed Sentinel 28 September-October 2012 WATER

Protect the Watershed, Protect the Lake

by Anna Noble

It is a shock for many people to learn that Comox Lake, Photo by David Stapley the primary drinking water supply for over half the popu- lation in the Comox Valley, is an unprotected watershed. Located within the beautiful Comox Valley on Vancouver As well as increasing drinking water protection for Co- Island BC, the lake and its encompassing areas are ideal for mox Valley residents, adding the Comox Lake watershed boating, swimming, camping, rock climbing, hiking, bik- to Strathcona Park will provide sufficient habitat protection ing and more. However, private land ownership surrounds for wildlife while also creating natural viewscapes and rec- the watershed, and raw water samples are starting to show reational areas. “It is important to acknowledge that in BC increasing indicator organisms for contamination. “Re- recreational use is provided through access to crown land,” moving industrial logging from the watershed would im- explains Stapley, however, “these opportunities do not exist prove water quality and potentially save considerable public on eastern Vancouver Island as there is almost no crown spending on drinking water treatment. Including it as part land.” An increase in park access will result from the ad- of Strathcona Park would allow for better regulation and dition of the Comox Lake watershed to Strathcona Park, control of recreational use,” David Stapley, Project Man- as it is presently limited due to logging company restric- ager of the Comox Valley Conservation Society (CVCS), tions for public access on privately-owned forest land. This declares. Comox Lake has been the pri- is of great interest in order to expand mary drinking water source since 1967, The primary drinking water supply eco-tourism such as hiking, bicycling, and alternate large water supplies have for over half the population in the kayaking and more. yet to be found. Comox Valley, is an unprotected The CVCS is identifying and map- CVCS is working with the Friends watershed. ping important environmental factors of Strathcona Park (FOSP), and mem- such as: sensitive areas, threatened bers of the Courtenay Fish and Game Club, located on Co- animal and plant species and wildlife corridors. In order to mox Lake. Developed by the Comox Valley Land Trust, avoid ethical disputes, the CVCS and the FOSP acknowl- the CVCS is a regional conservation planning framework edge the need to include areas to accommodate off-road initiated to stop the loss of ecological areas in the Comox recreationalists such as ATV’s and snowmobiles, hunting Valley. The initiative to protect the Comox Lake watershed and fishing, First Nations traditional uses and rights, as well was spurred along by the Wilderness Committee (WC). as the equestrian community. The groups also recognize WC hopes to increase the amount of protected ecological that some controlled, small-scale logging could be ecologi- land on Vancouver Island from the existing 12% up to 24%. cally appropriate as it could enhance biodiversity. Several environmental organizations were approached for The CVCS will be proposing various levels of protec- suggestions of areas that currently require some level of tion for areas in the Comox Lake watershed and will use protection, and the Comox Lake watershed and Pearl Lake guidelines to determine whether an area will become an were cited as important areas. expansion of Strathcona Park, an ecological reserve (highly Between 1991 and 2002, Comox Valley experienced restricted access and activity) a conservation area (slightly a dramatic loss and fragmentation of sensitive ecological more flexible than park areas), or a motorized vehicle area lands. Only 13% of the land is now protected, and 90% for off-roading activities. of that land is in Strathcona Provincial Park. “We want to “Now is the perfect time for people who want to see en- see all of Comox Lake watershed protected to varying de- hanced and expanded protection of wilderness and water- grees,” declares Kel Kelly, FOSP. sheds to lobby the provincial and federal NDP caucus. They When the Strathcona Park boundary was originally are the governments-in-waiting, and seeking some commit- created in 1911, the height of land that naturally defines ments from them to include specific protection measures in watersheds was not always used, allowing many of these their policy platforms now would be an important thing to areas to be heavily impacted by logging and intensive rec- do,” Kelly declares. reational use. The CVCS is proposing to expand the park  borders to the adjacent height of natural watershed/tribu- Anna Noble is interning at the Watershed Sentinel for tary boundaries. the summer.

Watershed Sentinel 29 September-October 2012 Approval of the Jumbo Glacier Resort came as a surprise in BC, but, even more surprising, the Jumbo deal and the Canada-EU trade deal could both expire together

Where Even the Politics are Wild

Photo by Lucas Jmieff

by Joyce Nelson

Ever since the BC Liberal gov- agreement with the government with development. The ability of the pro- ernment surprised residents of BC’s respect to developing alpine ski lift posed Jumbo Resort, and other poten- Kootenays with its March 20, 2012 operations, year-round recreational tial developments, to bypass the land approval for the controversial Jumbo facilities and commercial overnight use process and get their own munici- Glacier Resort, people have been ask- accommodation within the area…” pality status without residents is an ing: Why now? After all, the Jumbo Just days later, on May 16, Bill 41 affront to local communities. This is Resort proposal has been around passed third reading. far beyond a bad idea. The loss of de- since 1989 and has been successfully Invermere Mayor Gerry Taft re- mocracy is a slippery slope, even slip- opposed by local people for more than cently told East Kootenay News On- perier than some land speculators and twenty years. line Weekly, “Developers who wish to receding glaciers.” Then, on May 1, the Liberals in- rezone land have to follow a process Columbia River-Revelstoke troduced Bill 41, which included an that includes public hearings and a MLA Norm Macdonald said in a re- amendment to the Local Government final decision by officials who are ac- cent press release, “Despite the fact Act buried in a miscellaneous list. countable to the residents who elected that the majority of residents in the That amendment allows for the “in- them. This legislation would empower area do not support the development corporation of a new mountain resort a [cabinet] minister to give develop- of a ski resort in the Jumbo Valley, the municipality…whether or not there ers a special status that bypasses the BC Liberals are determined to push are residents in the area,” as long as democratic process and undermines ahead. And they are willing to go to in- the proponent “has entered into an the ability of local citizens to control credible lengths to make that happen.”

Watershed Sentinel 30 September-October 2012 SOCIETY

Photo by Doug Pyper Photo by Lucas Jmieff

So, to the question of “why now?” An amendment CETA negotiators and policy mak- we can add: Why quickly enable what ers.” Along with the EU, the sponsors Michelle Mungall, NDP MLA for to the Local for the ICCC-West’s EU-Canada Part- Nelson Creston, calls a “ghost-town nership project include the Canadian resort municipality,” whose mayor Government federal government, the government and council would be appointed by of British Columbia, the government provincial cabinet to “govern no one Act, buried in a of Alberta, NCTM – a large Italy- and be accountable to no one as they miscellaneous based law firm, the Italian Chamber [make] land use decisions impacting of Commerce in Brussels, and the an entire region”? list, allows for the PostMedia Network (which owns newspapers across Canada). Slippery Slopes “incorporation of One answer to those questions a new mountain CETA is revealed here for the first time. A Calling CETA “a de facto cor- director of Glacier Resorts Ltd., the resort municipality… porate bill of rights,” Paul Moist, na- proponent for Jumbo, is directly in- tional president of the Canadian Un- volved in promoting the controversial whether or not ion of Public Employees (CUPE), on Comprehensive Economic and Trade there are residents July 10, 2012, released a legal analysis Agreement (CETA), being negotiated of leaked CETA negotiating texts and in secret between Canada and the EU in the area” said the trade deal would “trump pro- since May 2009, with the goal of sign- vincial powers over natural resources ing it in 2012. and public services” and “override Celso Boscariol, a Glacier Re- Boscariol’s advocacy efforts for areas of provincial jurisdiction set in sorts Ltd. director since at least 2008, CETA are in part funded by the Eu- the Constitution.” Moreover, CETA has, as President of the Italian Cham- ropean Union through three grants for would undermine provincial and mu- ber of Commerce in Canada-West the ICCC-West’s EU-Canada Partner- nicipal powers to ensure that local (ICCC-West), been a primary advo- ship project, which not only promotes public procurement contracts go to lo- cate for CETA since at least 2011. “the enhanced EU-Canada Economic cal businesses. Boscariol, who ran unsuccessfully in Partnership,” but (according to its By July, more than 40 municipal- New Westminster-Coquitlam-Burn- website, http://eu-canada.com) is also ities – including Victoria, Burnaby, aby in the 1997 federal election, has “working with local business organi- North Vancouver, Saskatoon, Toron- long been a BC Liberal Party insider. zations and involving the provincial Continued on Page 32 

Watershed Sentinel 31 September-October 2012 SOCIETY

Jumbo continued opposing CETA – a vote that mostly went unreported by the media.” CUPE, the Council of Canadians, to, Mississauga, Hamilton, Ottawa, the CAW, the Canadian Centre for and Montreal – have formally asked Policy Alternatives, the Trade Justice to be excluded from CETA, especially Network and others have been trying from its restrictions on public spend- to alert Canadians to the dangers of ing and delivery of public services. CETA since at least 2010. Apparently, Blair Redlin, a Burnaby-based it was because of this activism that the researcher with the Canadian Union ICCC-West’s EU-Canada Partnership of Public Employees, last year told initiative was launched. the Georgia Straight (July 7, 2011), Their website states: “Media cov- “What the Europeans want is just erage of the CETA negotiations in simply an open-tender, free market Canada has been mixed with increas- approach,” noting that CETA would ingly negative viewpoints appearing give the EU access to federal, pro- in proportion to coverage of recent vincial and municipal procurements political and financial crises in some worth more than $100 billion per year. [European] member states and of vo- “What that means,” Redlin said, “is ciferous lobbying by a few anti-CETA that they want to prohibit local gov- groups. By undertaking a media cam- ernments from being able to prefer paign in partnership with Postmedia local suppliers and local businesses.” Newspaper Network, ICCC will en- Redlin also said that CETA could sure objective coverage.” All this has been provide an opening for huge European On March 7, 2011, Boscariol unfolding against water companies, like French multi- hosted and moderated a discussion on nationals Suez and Veolia, to push for “EU-Canada Relations: Recent De- the backdrop of the the privatization of Canada’s public velopments” at the Vancouver Club, Harper government’s water system. with the EU Ambassador Matthias As a European organization Brinkman, Canada’s Deputy Chief Bill C-38, which called Corporate Europe Observa- Trade Negotiator Ana G. Renart, gutted the Fisheries tory has revealed, by 2009 the EU and a provincial official. By Novem- was asking that 72 countries would ber 2011, Boscariol was hosting In- Act, repealed and have to “liberalize” their public water ternational Trade Minister Ed Fast rewrote the Canadian services and give unlimited market for a Vancouver speech on CETA at access to European companies in or- the ICCC-West, with Boscariol tell- Environmental der to trade with the EU. According ing Fast, “Our members welcome the Assessment Act, to the Council of Canadians, after government’s efforts to strengthen the Mexico signed a comprehensive trade transatlantic linkages that make our and passed most deal with the EU, it saw the takeover economies stronger.” environmental of electricity and water utilities by EU Meanwhile, thanks to “bank- companies, as well as the doubling of ster” bailouts and other factors, Italy’s responsibilities to the its bilateral trade deficit. economy was starting to spiral into provinces. The CETA Calling the scope of CETA crisis, along with much of the EU, “mind-boggling,” the Globe & Mail’s with unemployment levels skyrocket- would then, in turn, Gary Mason wrote (July 15, 2011) that ing to record levels. trump provincial and “60 per cent of municipalities in BC have economic-development strate- Junket to France municipal regulation – gies that include local procurement Then, in February 2012, even leaving the corporate and hiring. This is why the Union of before the approval of Jumbo’s Mas- BC Municipalities passed a motion ter Plan was announced, a junket of sector fully in charge. at its annual meeting last year [2010] Jumbo backers, led by Kootenay East

Watershed Sentinel 32 September-October 2012 SOCIETY

MLA Bill Bennett, flew to France to gether Canadian and European SMEs ing his fellow corporate lawyers on discuss possible investment in Jumbo [small and medium enterprises] in CETA, the Harper government dis- (and another ski resort planned for the environmental sector to discuss patched 18 cabinet and deputy minis- Valemont) with European compa- the state of the industry and develop- ters to hold press conferences across nies. The junket members reportedly ments arising from the Comprehen- the country on the “benefits” of met with France Neige Internation- sive and Economic Trade Agreement CETA; it also created a new webpage al – a ski resort association repre- (CETA) currently under negotiation about the deal. senting dozens of ski resorts in the by Canada and the European Union.” Then on May 9, ICCC-West an- French Alps; Compagnie des Alpes Giving the Welcome Remarks nounced that it “is organizing an – a French government-controlled ski were Celso Boscariol (as President 18-month long programme of busi- resort operator for resorts in France, of the ICCC-West), Anna Biolik, Re- ness forums, seminars, conferences Italy and Switzerland; and the Caisse gional Director for Foreign Affairs and convivial events across Canada des Depots et Consignations (CDC). and International Trade Canada, and and in Europe to promote business The CDC describes itself as “a Janet Quiring, Director of Interna- opportunities for SMEs and the crea- fully French state-owned financial in- tional Trade at BC Ministry of Jobs, tion of a platform for cooperation in stitution” with $322 billion in assets. Tourism and Innovation. anticipation of CETA’s finalization.” It invests in some 400 private equity The event was co-sponsored by Just days later, the controversial funds and is a major shareholder in the Government of British Columbia Bill 41 was passed, creating the op- a variety of multinationals, includ- (which has subsequently been hosted portunity to incorporate mountain re- ing (according to one of its websites) by the EU-Canada Partnership project sort municipalities with no residents. “the following companies which fo- at an event in Milan touting the prov- All this has been unfolding cus on construction of infrastructure ince’s “opportunities” for investment against the backdrop of the Harper for transport, water and environment: in areas such as “green energy, con- government’s Bill C-38, which gut- Veolia, Eiffage, Vivendi and France ventional and offshore oil/natural gas, ted the Fisheries Act, repealed and Telecom.” Clearly, the Caisse des De- coal and coal-bed gas”). rewrote the Canadian Environmen- pots et Consignations is one of the Less than a week later, on March tal Assessment Act, and passed most most powerful financial institutions 20, the BC government announced its environmental responsibilities to the in all of Europe. approval for Jumbo Resort. provinces. The CETA would then, in When the junket returned to BC, turn, trump provincial and munici- Glacier Resorts Ltd. vice-president Trade Barriers pal regulation – leaving the corporate Grant Costello told the Invermere The busy Celso Boscariol then sector fully in charge. Valley Echo (Feb. 23), “In a short pe- went to Montreal. From April 13-17, No wonder it’s being called “a riod of time we were able to build new the 2012 World Summit/National corporate bill of rights.” relationships with a diverse group of Spring Conference of the Canadian Continued on Page 34  French government officials, mayors, Corporate Counsel Association met in entrepreneurs, and corporate execu- Montreal to discuss “how global legal tives all of whom are interested in ex- issues will influence domestic cases porting their knowledge and experi- and vice-versa.” ence to North America through the Celso Boscariol gave a major gateway of the Kootenays.” power-point presentation called “Bi- lateral Ambition: Canada, the EU and Business Forum the Comprehensive Economic and Just days later, March 14-16, the Trade Agreement (CETA)” where he GLOBE 2012 businessfest met in spelled out the “current obstacles” to Vancouver. Part of the conference in- a successful trade agreement and to cluded the “EU-Canada Business Fo- fully liberalized trade: provincial reg- rum on the Environment,” which the ulations; public procurement; supply EU-Canada Partnership website calls management; market access; intellec- its “very first event.” tual property; monopolies and state The description of that event enterprises, among others. reads: “The business forum brings to- While Boscariol was enlighten- Photo by Lucas Jmieff

Watershed Sentinel 33 September-October 2012 SOCIETY

Jumbo continued One of the reasons tors, why would Glacier Resorts Ltd. need the approved 20 litres per second the Harper of water? “Capital Flight” The answer may lie with the Oberto Oberti, the President and government is CETA trade deal, and with that CEO of Glacier Resorts Ltd., kindly “mountain resort municipality” status emailed to me the names of Glacier’s pushing for CETA to that Jumbo, and other BC ski resorts board of directors (The list with other be signed in 2012 being planned, can obtain. details about the Board of Directors According to the New York Times is available at www.watershedsenti- is that it fears the (June 10, 2012), the EU is currently nel.ca). Oberti also emailed “Quick experiencing “capital flight,” with Facts” about Jumbo, including this results of provincial money leaving the region. “From Ita- statement: “Employment Equity Plan elections in BC and ly, Greece, Spain and other countries has been proposed to ensure prefer- in the European currency union, the ential treatment of local residents and Quebec. affluent these days are moving money First Nations members.” into hard assets valued in something But according to the Calgary just like Panorama has now after 40 other than euros, which have been Herald (June 14, 2012), CETA would years.” plunging in value.” What better “as- “enable trained professionals and It’s hard to interpret the word set” than water? tradespeople to cross borders and “handful” here, but it’s a very curi- Having an incorporated munici- work.” ous statement, given that Jumbo’s pality with no residents, the proponent Indeed, Glacier Resorts Ltd. di- government-approved water supply and its investors, under CETA, could rector Celso Boscariol specializes in from groundwater sources amounts do just about anything they want with immigration law at Vancouver law to an “ultimate extraction rate” of 20 the groundwater – privatize it, form a firm Watson Goepel Maledy LLP. litres per second. That works out to private utility, sell the water by pipe- Oberto Oberti also emailed a 1,728,000 litres per day. line across the border. What’s to stop document that shows how relatively Assuming a generous 250 litres them? And if somehow they were small in size Jumbo would be by per person per day, by my calcula- stopped, under CETA they could sue: comparison to other BC ski resorts tions 1,728,000 litres is sufficient to not just for compensation, but (poten- like Panorama, Sun Peaks, Whistler, provide the daily needs – drinking, tially) for compensation for lost future and a second document containing a bathing, laundry, cooking, washing profits. 2007 published statement by Glacier’s the limousine – of some 7,000 per- Grant Costello: “At build-out, in 20- manent residents. But if there are to Stopping CETA & Jumbo 30 years, the [Jumbo] resort will have be only “a handful of permanent resi- Oberto Oberti told the Times only a handful of permanent residents dents” at Jumbo, and 3,000 daily visi- Colonist (March 21), “My hope is we will see the opening day for Christ- mas 2014.” Ktunaxa First Nation Apply Business In Vancouver (April for Judicial Review 10, 2012) reported that Grant Cos- In late July the Ktunaxa Nation an- tello “doesn’t expect any brush to be nounced their formal decision to apply for cleared to make way for the project judicial review of the BC Government’s re- until mid-2013 at the earliest. He said cent approval of the Jumbo Glacier Resort. the company’s environmental certifi- The resort would be built in the heart of what cate [which expires in 2014] has 195 the Ktunaxa call Qat’muk (GOT MOOK), conditions, some of which are precon- the home of Grizzly Bear Spirit. The First struction requirements.” Nation has opposed the resort since it was Opponents to Jumbo – including first proposed. the Ktunaxa First Nation, Wildsight, and many others – have clearly drawn —e-Know.ca, East Kootenay Online a line in the snow on this project. If Photo by Lucas Jmieff Weekly, July 2012 they were to team up with CETA op-

Watershed Sentinel 34 September-October 2012 SOCIETY

ponents, they would be even more for- midable. CETA NDP MLA Norm Macdonald told (Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) The Tyee (March 21) that if the NDP wins the election scheduled for May “One of the aspects of CETA most worrying for local leaders is the 2013, it would be possible to reverse deal’s potential to undermine public control over water and other key the decision on Jumbo. municipal services. The leaked initial offer showed that the EU companies One of the reasons the Harper want access to contracts in Canadian local government services, going so government is pushing for CETA to far as to name specific local utilities, public transit agencies, and other be signed in 2012 is that it fears the re- public services in dozens of municipalities across the country… It’s inter- sults of provincial elections in BC and esting to note that many EU municipalities have taken their own water Quebec. As Sean Smith, a communi- back under public control after problems with privatized water systems ty-based organizer with the CAW, has (often privatized under the same EU firms that are trying to get into the written (CCPA Monitor, Sept. 2010), Canadian market).” “…before CETA can be officially — Rob Duffy, Director of the Columbia Institute, signed and sealed, it requires the ap- CCPA Monitor, June 2012 proval of every provincial govern- ment. So it is particularly vulnerable “The Harper government sees CETA as a way to further deregu- to public pressure – just one Premier late and privatize the Canadian economy while increasing corporate can derail it.” power and undermining our democratic options for the future. The EU Similarly in Europe, 27 member- trade deal could: unfairly restrict how local governments spend money nations of the EU would have to ap- and [could] ban ‘buy local’ policies; add up to $3 billion to the price of prove CETA. Currently, the leaked drugs; increase Canada’s trade deficit with Europe, leading to significant chapter on intellectual property is job losses; empower European corporations to attack environmental and causing controversy because of po- health measures; undermine protections for health care and culture in past tential threats to internet use, privacy, trade deals; create pressure to increase privatization of local water sys- free speech and other issues. tems, transit and energy; strip farmers of their rights to save seed.” The same CETA chapter pro- — The Council of Canadians poses to raise pharmaceutical drug costs in Canada by $3 billion per year, “With most of our private sector already owned by US corporations, which reportedly bothers some Cana- the planned privatization and sale of much of our public sector to Euro- dian premiers. pean business firms will complete our country’s transformation into a Sean Smith puts it well: “Canadi- foreign-controlled vassal-state.” ans need to learn that the CETA talks — Sean Smith, CAW activist now with Trade Justice Network, have nothing to do with giving Cana- CCPA Monitor, September 2010 dians a good alternative to American markets and forging closer ties with happy Swedes and Danes and other progressive Europeans. That mythi- CETA and cal EU is disappearing faster than a Jumbo Glacier Re- Greek pension and is being replaced sort could expire by a corporatist continent that thrives together. The next on things like Bulgaria’s minimum few months will be pay of 97 Canadian cents an hour. crucial. (No, that’s not a typo.) It’s up to us  to break through the veil of secrecy Joyce Nelson is and fantasy that has been thrown over an award-winning these trade talks, expose the deceptive freelance writer/re- spin, and tell Canadians what CETA searcher and the au- is really about.” thor of five books.

Watershed Sentinel 35 September-October 2012 Iwona Erskine-Kellie

by Joe Foy

If you want to know about some- one, you have to come inside their home and hang out. It’s the same with Mother Nature. You can’t just stand out on the front porch – you have to come inside nature’s home and stay a while. That’s what brought a friend and me to the wilds of Garibaldi Provincial Park this past August. We had sought a valley with no park trails or direction signs. With a pencil we circled the map at Snowcap Creek on the east side of the park. denly slipped, and pushed down by my ernment’s Timber Supply Review Panel Our first day of backpacking pack, I toppled over into the creek on – a committee made up of MLAs from brought us to a good place to camp be- the upstream side of the log. I clung to both the governing Liberals and the op- side the creek on a sand bar. Fresh bear the log for a split second, but the current position NDP. The panel was looking at tracks meandered down the riverside. In tore me loose and forced me under. ways to deal with a timber supply short- the evening the howling started. Wolves Time slowed right down. I kicked fall brought about by the record break- – calling to each other. They sounded down hard and hit bottom. When my ing pine beetle epidemic of the past few mighty close to us. Several hundred me- head broke the surface I could see I years. tres perhaps. We didn’t know. Whenev- was close to the river bank, so I kicked I and other conservationists had er I have tried hollering in the forest my bottom again and grabbed a hold of the recommended that the amount of log- voice pretty much disappears amongst shore. Six seconds. From the moment I ging be decreased, that raw log exports all that wood, moss, stone and rushing fell in to the moment I grabbed the shore be banned, and that the protection of water. Those wolves sounded clear and was six seconds. I had thought I was a wilderness and old growth forests be in- close – like they were just beyond the goner. I hauled my pack onto the shore, creased, to protect both the environment tree line that bordered the sand bar. We and celebrated being alive. and woodworker jobs. stared into the darkening forest trying However the panel didn’t see it that to discern any movement. Eventually We were less than a day’s travel from way and came out with a recommenda- the howling stopped and the stars came our city homes – but our camp was a tion to allow logging in some previously out. room with a different view protected old growth forests. We were less than a day’s travel So what did my Snowcap Creek from our city homes – but our camp was For eight days, my friend and I experience teach me? I believe we are a room with a different view. backpacked the Snowcap Creek Val- going to have to kick like hell to get that A couple of days later, while cross- ley. We wandered amongst huge old recommendation quashed so those old ing Snowcap Creek on a log, I slipped growth Douglas fir and red cedar trees. growth forests, and the wildlife that de- and fell in. I remember thinking before I We drank from quiet mountain streams pends on them can survive. started the log crossing that if I fell into and were awed by thundering falls and the torrent, swollen with summer snow rapids. While in the high country we  melt, I’d risk being swept over a water- sheltered in our tent as lightning flick- Joe Foy is Campaign Director for the fall just a bit downstream. To be extra ered and flashed and thunder boomed, Wilderness Committee, Canada’s largest careful, I had decided to crawl across echoing from peak to peak. citizen-funded membership-based wil- the log. However, I had almost made it Only a couple of weeks earlier I derness preservation organization. to the other side when my left hand sud- had made a presentation to the BC gov-

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Watershed Sentinel Box 1270, Comox BC Canada V9M 7Z8