March 20, 2010

It seems fitting that on this week when we were all Irish for a day, a green column should follow.

Two governments did their part by making head-scratching, anti-green decisions that might lead us to believe their approach to the environment is lip service or downright short-sighted and potentially dangerous.

It’s as if the powers either don’t get it or know something the rest of us don’t, which wouldn’t be a complete shock.

I know, “It’s the economy, stupid,” and that’s not insignificant. It’s also not the end all and be all. Health care and education are vital as well. But, isn’t the environment?

Consider that the province is providing $5 billion in subsidies of various kinds to oil and gas companies, according to the Parkland Institute. As well, the government slashed royalties that oil and gas companies pay for a public resource. Then, the Conservatives cut funding for water monitoring in remote areas.

It’s like they’re rubbing our faces in it.

So, let’s get this straight: we all need water to survive. Our source starts in remote areas. Is it that simple to shrug off? Should we not be concerned? Are we numbed by government? How many efforts do pro-conservationists advance in favor of the environment only to get rebuffed or ignored before they fade away?

Stephanie Palecheck, executive director of the Oldman Watershed Council says, “Any cut to monitoring water is a bad thing.”

The OWC will release its State of the Watershed report next month following an exhaustive process involving a lot of dedicated people who have no doubts about water’s importance. Planning goals for water quality will be difficult to set and track without monitoring.

Stephanie sees an ebb and flow in attention to the environment, based partly on how much energy those concerned with it can muster to keep it on public and government agendas.

“We continue to harp on it,” she says. “We’ve written letters expressing our disappointment.”

Maybe we could all do that. And while we’re at it, we could send a note to the federal government about cutting funding to a foundation doing climate research, which it also did this week.

The Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences "funds research that improves the scientific understanding of processes and predictions, provides relevant science to policy makers and improves understanding of the ways in which these challenges affect human health and the natural environment.”

Where most countries continue to invest in research that can help us understand and even prepare for what may be a more difficult future, our government will have us believe it remains committed to basic climate change research. With no funds.

Maybe what governments seem to know is that it takes work to be a good citizen, to actually push for what you know is right, but that not everyone has the perseverance to keep up the fight in the face of indifference, hypocrisy, powerful lobbyists, injustice and just plain spin.

When it comes to the air we breathe and the water we drink, giving up shouldn’t be an option.