St. Paul’s needs stability
Re: Moving St. Paul’s Hospital to involve ‘extensive consultation’, April 16, 2015
Moving a major urban hospital onto a flood plain, which is where they want to move the hospital… Don’t take my word for it; just ask any competent geologist what would happen if a seismic event were to send a tsunami our way. The hospital would be awash if you relocate to the flats. Remember Fukushima? At the very time you need the hospital, it would be compromised. Please reconsider moving St. Paul’s Hospital. –J.C. McElroy
Suzuki blowing smoke?
Re: “David Suzuki: China’s disastrous pollution problem is a lesson for all”, April 15, 2015
An obstacle to rational decision making in climate policy is the confusion between carbon dioxide (CO2) and air pollution. Real air pollution, such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and soot, is important to control and we have done a good job in most of Canada reducing the concentration of these substances. But CO2, an odourless, colourless gas that is an essential to plant photosynthesis, is not pollution.
The poor air quality in China’s cities has nothing to do with CO2. So why would David Suzuki bring up climate change and Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in his article about air pollution in China? It is because of his concern that GHG emissions, primarily CO2 from human activities, will result in climate problems.
After 18 years with no global warming while CO2 levels have risen 10 per cent, GHG-caused climate concerns are becoming an increasingly difficult sell. So Suzuki and many politicians piggyback debatable climate change concerns on top of genuine pollution worries, apparently hoping they can sell the former by associating it with the latter.
While this tactic might succeed for a while from a public relations perspective, it makes no sense scientifically. It is akin to promoting the building of an asteroid defense system, an expensive endeavour of highly uncertain value, by associating it with vitally important cancer research.
Suzuki must help society distinguish between unrelated issues, not confuse us with red herrings.
–Tom Harris, Executive Director International Climate Science Coalition (ICSC)
Sun Ruckus
I’m all for people staying fit and participating in the Vancouver Sun Run, but the route chosen for the race is absolutely stupid! Georgia is the busy street downtown that connects to a very busy Lions Gate Bridge. The traffic was a f-ing nightmare everywhere. Why not shut down the Georgia Viaduct one way. Hell, it was closed for a week when they shot a movie with way less issues than the Sun Run caused. They could start on the Viaduct, to Beatty Street, over the Cambie Bridge, south down the ramp, east to Ontario, u-turn back west on Second, over the Cambie Bridge, north to Pacific to Science World, u-turn, and finish at the Stadium. All the streets I’ve listed were closed anyway with the exception of the Viaduct and Beatty. Get it right next year race organizers.
–Marshall. S
All rants and raves are the opinion of the individual and do not reflect the opinions of Westender. The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity and brevity, so please keep it short and (bitter)sweet. Email your rant or rave to [email protected]
