Skip to content

Clean environment, a Charter right

The Richmond Blue Dot organization’s pitch to council for a civic declaration is being held in conjunction with the launch of David Suzuki’s upcoming nation-wide Blue Dot Tour
Bue Dot
Ellen Niemer, core member of the Richmond Blue Dot organization, stands in front of Science World which was transformed into a giant blue dot, an homage of sorts for the group seeking official recognition that citizens have a right to a healthy environment. Photo submitted

Every citizen of Richmond has a right to a healthy environment, according to a group of local volunteers. Moreover, they want city council to recognize that right in some official manner.

Exactly what that means ... well, they haven’t got that far, says Ellen Niemer, senior editor at Alive Publishing Group and one of eight core members of the 30-member Richmond Blue Dot volunteer organization.

The Richmond Blue Dot organization’s pitch to council for a civic declaration is being held in conjunction with the launch of  David Suzuki’s upcoming nation-wide Blue Dot Tour, in which the iconic environmentalist will touch down in 20 cities across Canada with the penultimate goal of amending Canada’s Charter.

The amendment: to include access to a clean environment, fresh air, water and food, as a Canadian Charter right.

Richmond was selected as one of five cities across Canada to kick off the tour. (The others: Waterloo, Winnipeg, Montreal and Halifax).

The goal of the local chapters is to do a similar thing, at the civic level -— push for some kind of recognition that Richmond citizens have a right to fresh air, safe and available food and clean drinking water.

“That may come as an official declaration. But we’re not sure exactly where this is going,” admits Neimer.

But, it is going. 

Carolyn Quirt, another core member of the group, says the plan is to put together a presentation for Richmond council some time before the upcoming municipal election.

Currently, the focus is on their Steveston Postcard Campaign, which is the same as signature-gathering for a petition, just in postcard form, explains Niemer.

The aim is to have at least 1,000, hopefully closer to 2,000 signatures on individual postcards to hand to council as part of a general presentation and tangible underpinning of the cause’s support.

“A physical stack of (signed) cards just carries more emphasis,” says Niemer.

“So far it seems to be going well,” adds Quirt. “Very good reception.” Though no official tally was relayed.

A dialogue with the city has been initiated, according to Quirt and Niemer, with councillor Harold Steves reportedly in support of the initiative, at this stage.

Steves could not be reached for comment.

Quirt says a door-to-door campaign may also be in the works, but added it is too early to tell. The group will continue to canvass Richmond public spaces such as parks and the beach in search of local support.

To get better acquainted with the local movement, readers are encouraged to view the organization’s Facebook page (tinyurl.com/p6dhjh9). 

Quirt says they are also looking for more volunteers so don’t hesitate to reach out. Details are available on social media.

Regarding Suzuki’s national tour, the plan is to sweep across Canadian communities to affect local decision-makers, in hopes of inspiring provinces and the federal government to pursue a constitutional amendment, or at the very least, a new environmental policy (or policies, if province by province).

This will be Suzuki’s last national tour with the first date set for Sept. 24 in St. John’s, Nfld. 

Three B.C. dates are scheduled for early November, with the final celebration set on Nov. 9 at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver.

And Suzuki won’t be alone; an all-star cast of Canadian talent — from rock legend Neil Young to poet, Raffi, and painter Robert Bateman — are part of an eclectic mix of performers and artists to help amplify the cause.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Blue Dot website or Ticketmaster. Prices range from $39 ($29.50 for students) to $250 for premium seating. Presale VIP tickets can be bought for $500.

Supporters can also log online to sign the petition, which, at the time of this writing, has accumulated just under 26,000 signatures.