(Far left) Assistant District Superintendant for Richmond Wendy Lim, (Third from left) Ian Thom, Student Committee Chair for REaDY Summit. (Credit: Barry Brady)
More than 500 people from Richmond and other Metro Vancouver communities celebrated Earth Day and shared their vision for the future at the Earth Day Youth Summit on April 21, 2012. The four-hour conference, hosted by Steveston-London Secondary School, was more than just a way to celebrate the 42nd Earth Day, it was also a time for REaDY Summit participants to learn and talk about what the future holds for our environment. Their conclusion — the Earth is in worse shape today than 42 years ago and the time to take action is now!
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Students and parents joined DSF Climate Change and Clean Energy Team Lead Ian Bruce to learn what a sustainable neighbourhood and transportation future should look like.
They also shared their thoughts over a sustainable seafood cooking demonstration with celebrity chef Ian Lai...
...and how to make non-toxic soap with Lindsay Coulter, DSF's Queen of Green...
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie opened the Summit with encouraging words for citizens of Richmond, one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Metro Vancouver. He also noted how far the City of Richmond has come in terms of incorporating a vibrant sustainable agenda in city policies.
Participants also got a chance to hear the personal story of keynote speaker Peter Robinson, CEO of the David Suzuki Foundation.
Robinson described his current role as the head of Canada's best-known and trusted environmental organization, the David Suzuki Foundation, as "having come full circle." Robinson grew up in North Vancouver. Unlike some young people who wanted to be doctors or firefighters, Robinson wanted to be a park ranger. He did and was even decorated for bravery by the Governor-General of Canada. Before he joined the DSF, he also led B.C. Housing, a provincial Crown corporation, and the Mountain Equipment Co-op. Robinson said his experience in the private and public sectors provided him with a fresh perspective on the environmental movement.
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2 Comments
3:19 AM
Good to hear. Arrangement of such conferences on green solutions will help boosting up efforts to save Earth. Also more people would aim of becoming Park Rangers like Mr. Robinson. Bed bug extermination nyc
10:12 AM
A point we have made many times is that we could use the foundation's support to halt or reverse residential wood burning. It is not much use having a healthy planet if most of us lead an unhealthy life in cities. There is also the methane and black carbon emissions to be considered when wood is burned. I note encouraging compact cities to end urban sprawl but no one should be living in a compact city where wood is being burned. Our cities are unhealthy enough already. The Swedes suggest 20 metres between homes, assuming low emission wood stoves.
I was troubled to watch David Suzuki's program re. indoor air pollution without mentioning having a wood burning appliance in the home. This seems to be the most dangerous source of indoor pollution, even in the developed world
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