Mystery Pellets Need Further Investigation

A letter in The Observer

Sir: The recent article on the mysterious plastic pellets showing up on the shores of Lake Huron provides a mere glimpse into the environmental concerns facing local municipalities. While this is indeed an issue that calls for further investigation, the story focuses on “upstream” concerns, with little regard for the everyday realities of communities who live downstream. In fact, the article states that the plastic pellets “could” be caused by the downstream Chemical Valley.

While the source and content of these mysterious pellets remains unknown, living

with these kinds of fears about the unknown is an everyday reality facing the Chemical Valley’s closest neighbours -The Aamjiwnaang First Nation.

The article states that the “Chemical Valley is around Sarnia.” In fact, it surrounds this First Nations reserve.

Too often, the media focuses its gaze north, without engaging in the tougher questions about effects of plastic production on marginalized communities. Pollutants may be hitting the beach, but for those of us living beside chemical plants, pollutants hit us, and our bodies, every day.

– Mckay Swanson Chair of the Young People’s Council Within Aamjiwnaang and Green Teens Visual Designer

– Sarah Wiebe Collaborative Research Partner and PhD Student, Ottawa University

Mayoral campaign signs

Children’s mental health gets short shrift

In The Observer

Sir: I would like to express my personal gratitude to some very dedicated staff members at Lambton College as well as the administration who took a lead role in hosting a much-needed forum on the state of children’s mental health services in Sarnia- Lambton. As a Social Worker on the front line, I witness the impact on services for our most vulnerable caused by years of underfunding and neglect by successive governments. It was affirming to see so many community members in attendance who share my and my colleagues concerns.

It’s not as though children’s mental health services are asking for excesses during challenging economic times. The fact is, we have not seen an increase in core funding in 14 of the last 17 years. Meanwhile, the costs increase year after year, as does the need.

Did you know that referrals have increased by over 30% at St. Clair Child and Youth Services in the last two years, while at the same time workers are being requested to take voluntary leaves of absence to cover budgetary deficits?

September press release

S.H.A.M.E. (Sarnia’s Hometown Activist Movement Emerging)

To Whom it May Concern:

Last Thursday, September 30, a demonstration against Enbridge took place at the location where the Enbridge pipeline, 6b, enters the St. Clair River. Our message for passersby was simple: ‘S.H.A.M.E. on Enbridge’, and ‘Fix the Pipeline’. We collected signatures here, as we have at numerous events on both sides of the St. Clair River, demanding the following:

Enbridge Pipelines Inc.
Regional Office
801 Upper Canada
Sarnia, Ontario

To Whom it May Concern:

We, the concerned citizens of both the United States and Canada, write to you with urgency and expectation that you will immediately take action on all of our demands.