Toxics Watch Society of Alberta

June 26, 2002

If I start with the end in mind, as good planning practice dictates, I should start with the book review.

I imagine Martha's Story to be reminiscent of Brian Fawcett’s late work: openly didactic, intended to educate. The writer could even separate the pages so that the meaning and the subtext of the stories could be explicitly stated, like a running colour commentary on the narrative above.
   

The Alberta Government needs to hear from you about its climate change plan.

Through its website, the government is soliciting comments from the public on what should be included in its new plan. Here are a few things you can do to make sure the Alberta government knows that the public demands action on climate change.

1. Fill out the online climate change workbook before April 25th to make sure that the government hears your views on how it should tackle climate change. Don’t have time to fill in the workbook? Just download an already completed workbook and email it in.
2. Write directly to the Minister of the Environment to make sure that your views are heard. Don’t have time to write a letter? Attached is a sample letter to help you out.
3. Contact your MLA directly, and let him or her know how you feel about what the government needs to do to address climate change.

The Alberta government has developed a climate change plan... unfortunately, the plan as it stands will not result in the real reductions necessary to protect our climate. YOU can call for changes to make the plan more effective.

Alberta Environment is currently holding public consultations on its climate change plan and they will be in Edmonton on April 18th from 6pm – 9pm at the Westin (10135 100 Street)

Media Release

Mar 30, 2007

Sierra Legal, on behalf of a coalition of environmental organizations, filed an application yesterday for a Federal Court judicial review of the Joint Panel report assessing the Imperial Oil Kearl Oil Sands project north of Fort McMurray, Alberta.

The Pembina Institute, Sierra Club of Canada, the Toxics Watch Society of Alberta, the Prairie Acid Rain Coalition and Sierra Legal will argue that the Joint Panel failed to properly do its job, and that a proper environmental review must take place before the federal government can decide whether to allow the Kearl Oil Sands project to proceed.

Toxics Watch's membership has varied dramatically depending on its activity. As I mentioned in my introduction, we co-founded the Toxic Round-up and at that time had over 100 members. Our emphasis on membership declined as we focused resources on policy development and we currently are a volunteer board of 7 with a full-time staff of 2. We employ summer and contract staff on an opportunistic basis. While our group is currently small, our policy work is informed through our membership in the Alberta Environmental Network which is a provincial network of environmental organizations of 70 grou

In 1985, a young man named Brad Wylynko proposed a new project to the Environmental Resource Centre in response to the growing awareness that not all toxic chemical pollution is caused by industry.

The average North American household contains 25 kilograms/55 pounds of chemical products which, if released into the environment by a regulated company, would be considered hazardous waste. But households are not regulated and these substances are contained within familiar household products: paints, cosmetics, home, hobby and garden supplies, automotive supplies, batteries, and are all too often mixed with the household garbage. In another example of cumulative incrementalism, the relatively harmless actions of one person, multiplied by a thousands of people, creates unacceptable impacts to ground and surface water supplies.

• Introduction
  • Conrad Nobert, President, TWS
  • TWS
  • since 1986
  • Among our accomplishments, we started the first Toxics Round-up in Western Canada, and advocated for the founding of the eco-stations in the city of Edmonton
  • Since 1995, as a member of the Oil Sands Environmental Coalition, Toxics Watch has participated in the regulatory approvals process for oil sands projects, and in the efforts towards
    regional environmental management under the Cumulative Environmental Management Association.
  • Also relating to oil sands development, Toxics Watch works on provincial air quality issues through Clean Air Strategic Alliance
• Vision - 1 (General)