Health professionals come together to support wind and solar power

The story below appeared in the EMC Sittsville/Richmond.

Doctors and nurses in Ontario are as concerned about the health of the environment as they are the health of the individual.

Earlier this year, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) launched a campaign in support of green energy. Now, in the midst of the provincial election campaign, CAPE is kicking things into high gear in an effort to educate both politicians and the public about the dangers of coal as a source of energy.

"This group is the first of its kind in Ontario," explained CAPE executive director Gideon Forman.

As a membership organization for health professionals, including doctors, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and Asthma Association of Canada, Cape's primary objective is to protect the environment in order to protect human health.

"Our first step was to come together in an effort to do something about Ontario's coal firing plants," Forman said. "So far, we've advertised our message in about 30 newspapers across the province. We have to let people know coal has got to go. Yet, on the other hand, we need to make up for the energy loss this would cause through such means as conservation, as well as wind and solar power."

Forman reiterated his earlier point that this is the first time Ontario's health professionals have made an active effort to become involved in a cause such as this, adding that this was the best time to start spreading the word.

"We're doing this now partly because it's a provincial election and the politicians are listening and partly because of the ongoing controversy surrounding wind and solar energy," he said. "We want people to know that coal is much more harmful to people and the environment. It's one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases and it contributes to acid rain, so there is the climate change issue. But, there is also the serious human health issue because burning coal releases many toxic materials and carcinogens. It is the source of a lot of human health risks."

According to CAPE, close to 150,000 Ontarians were made ill by coal in 2010 (many as a result of respiratory issues) and close to 300 deaths per year can be attributed to the burning of coal as an energy source.

"We're a non-partisan organization - as doctors and other health professionals, CAPE members are simply concerned about the health of people and of the environment," Forman remarked. "Having a large group of health professionals supporting this also adds a lot of credibility to the cause."

He added that all political parties in the province are now claiming to be on side with closing coal plants throughout the province. However, he said there is a lot of work to be done to ensure a better future for the people of Ontario.

"After the provincial election is over, we will absolutely continue to push this," Forman noted. "We have been meeting with MPPs over the last few months and will continue to do so no matter which party forms a government (after Oct. 6). During these meetings, we will be bringing in doctors and nurses, and will show the MPPs the science behind why coal is bad for the environment and bad for human health."

For more information about CAPE, visit www.cape.ca.