No, To Earth Hour

In this household, we recycle, compost and try to practice conservation as much as possible. We have also planted a few trees on our property. But last week I heard the chainsaws at work once again and several more healthy mature trees came tumbling down. In the about a dozen years that we have lived here, that must make more than thirty large trees that have been destroyed in this area. Unlike Toronto, Brantford has no rules governing trees on private property. People buy a house and it seems that the first thing that they do is remove all the trees on their new property affecting the natural balance of the neighbourhood. And in a few years they have moved on to do the same elsewhere, leaving their destruction behind. Sort of sounds like our City Councils.

Turning a few lights off for an hour once a year, might make these people feel good about themselves, but hardly makes up for the permanent harm that they have done. And people are encouraged to come down to Harmony Square to celebrate Earth Hour(many coming by car causing more pollution) , where they can look over and see the 41 buildings that will soon be taking up space in the local landfill supported by a councilor who fancies herself a champion of environmental causes. Sort of like Al Gore and David Suzuki who constantly fly around the world exhorting others to follow their words, but certainly not their examples.

So enjoy yourself celebrating Earth Hour, whether downtown or sitting in your back yard around a roaring fire burning the former homes of birds and squirrels. I'll be in that house with the lights on and the tree in the front yard.