ECO EXPO CHINA

The people that used to organize Eco Expo in California in the 1990's are now moving their excellent green products exhibition and conference to the China market. Eco Expo China, billed as an historic opportunity for international companies and organizations to impact the world's largest, fastest growing environmental market, endorsed by the Government of the People's Republic of China, will be held in Beijing November 28 - 30, 2006.

Eco Expo was a first class event, about which GL=s editor used to write annually in his Financial Post Business and Environment column. The China event provides an excellent opportunity for Canadian suppliers of environmental goods and services of all kinds to showcase themselves in China=s most important market.

For more information: Eco Expo China www.ecoexpo.com and for special deals for Canadian exhibitors contact Colin Isaacs at colin@cialgroup.com.

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FEDERAL BUDGET ANALYSIS: NO TRANSPARENCY

For seasoned government watchers a set of documents called the Estimates are generally an even more useful tool for understanding government spending than the Federal Budget itself which was tabled May 2.  The Estimates outline departmental spending plans: how much a department is going to receive, which major programs and agencies will be funded, and how this year's spending in that department will compare with last year's spending. The Estimates are never as detailed as GL would like, but at least they give a window into the government's program spending.

This year there will not be any real Estimates until the Fall. The government has introduced Main Estimates, and they have been approved by the House of Commons, but the President of the Treasury Board, John Baird, announced that "the 2006-2007 Main Estimates reflect decisions taken by the previous government rather then the current government." So we can tell you what the previous government would have spent for, say, Environment Canada, but we cannot tell you what this government plans to spend. We cannot tell you whether programs such as green buildings or remediation of federal contaminated sites will continue. Every program, except the very few identified in the budget, is under review to achieve spending reduction objectives of $2 billion this year and a further $2 billion next year. We probably will not know which programs are continuing and which are terminated until Supplementary Estimates are tabled in the Fall.

For a government that says it is committed to immediate action to restore transparency to budget planning and ensure ongoing fiscal responsibility, we suggest that the lack of proper federal spending estimates is about as transparent as a thick pea soup fog. Revamping a government spending plan to meet the priorities of a new government is undoubtedly a big job but we think that three months should be enough to take a stab at it. Failing to table an updated spending plan and to give at least some disclosure of which federal government programs will continue for the year and which ones will be cut seems to GL to be a less than appropriate way to run a government that is committed to transparency.

Without any ability to analyse both new and scrapped government programs, we can only say that last week's federal budget looks to be among the most lacking in environment and sustainable development content of any recent budget. We know the government intends to cut spending by $2 billion this year and next year but we don't know where.

The budget speech promised $2 billion over the next five years for a Made-in-Canada climate change program currently being developed by the Minister of the Environment, but absolutely no additional information on how the money will be spent was provided. How does an organization know how much to spend if it does not know what it is going to be spending it on?

The budget announced $1.3 billion for provinces and territories in support of public transit capital investments, to be spread over three years and in part contingent on a 2005-2006 surplus, and a tax credit for the purchase of monthly or annual passes for local (apparently not inter-regional) transit, effective July 1, 2006. This latter measure is long overdue and we fully support it. Nevertheless it is unrealistic to expect that it will encourage more than a very slow rate of increase in the number of people who switch from automobiles to transit for their everyday travel. Any benefit from increased transit use is likely to be offset by the increased traffic benefitting from funding of $2.4 billion over five years for highway and border services construction, also a part of this budget.

The budget also announced an acceleration of the capital cost allowance for cogeneration systems in the pulp and paper industry that use a biomass residue from the pulping process referred to as "black liquor." The government predicts that this subsidy to the pulp and paper industry will cost $10 million in 2006B07 and $20 million in 2007B08. The budget also promises Government investment in biomass science and funding for a biofuels strategy. However there are no details of these agriculture-related programs.

Finally, in direct environmental initiatives, the budget is exempting donations of ecologically sensitive land made under the Ecogift program from capital gains tax. The program provides non-refundable tax credits and reduced capital gains tax to owners who donate property or conservation easements to federal or provincial governments and certified charitable organizations such as local land trusts, provincial and national conservation charities, and Conservation Authorities.

There are a couple of indirect environmental initiatives in this budget. One is an allocation of $19 million per year to Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada to enhance its capacity to deal with catastrophes and emergencies. This money is likely to do little to address environmental damages resulting from wrecks of trains carrying hazardous materials.

Another very vague commitment is to address the needs of First Nations for access to clean water. The budget states that "it is essential to consider innovative solutions that could help address this chronic situation over the longer term." It goes on to promise that "details concerning initiatives will be provided by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in the coming months."

On the environmentally negative side, the budget has reintroduced the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for Flow-Through Share Investors. The purpose of the credit is to increase the availability of investment for, and hence the amount of, mineral exploration.

The budget also promises a $500-million fund that, over 10 years, will be used to support initiatives from local communities to mitigate any negative socio-economic effects arising from the Mackenzie Gas Project, a proposed $7.5-billion natural gas field and pipeline development in the Northwest Territories. GL views this as yet another subsidy to the fossil fuel industry and wonders why these costs should be borne by the taxpayer rather than by those who are owning the pipeline and benefiting from sale of the gas.

Interestingly, the budget also addresses changes at Sustainable Development Technology Canada. While the budget presents the changes as an accounting policy, with the financial statements of the Government of Canada in future reflecting the assets, liabilities, expenses and revenues of SDTC, it seems to GL that it is likely a prelude to the Government taking much closer control of SDTC and the other foundations which were established and endowed by the Liberal government. The four affected foundations, including SDTC, have current assets of $5.5 billion. The government intends to apply those assets to decrease the size of the federal debt. This will mean that SDTC will have no money with which to continue its work of funding development of new sustainable technologies unless the funds are included in future main or supplementary spending estimates. The government promises further information in the Fall.

It is difficult to determine the government's overall direction in areas such as environment, natural resources, and Sustainable Development from the budget documents. One fascinating chart illustrates the government's view of the division of federal and provincial responsibilities. Environment is acknowledged as a shared responsibility but natural resources and municipal institutions are shown as an exclusively provincial jurisdiction. There is an entire section of a budget document which discusses clarity of roles and responsibilities between the various levels of government. Much of this text is reminiscent of the Mike Harris conservative government in Ontario. Under the heading of clarity of roles and responsibilities and "disentanglement", the Harris government conned municipalities into agreeing to a substantial downloading of responsibilities and associated costs. Much of the problem of crumbling municipal infrastructure and inadequate financing in Ontario can be traced back to those downloadings. Canada's current Finance Minister was part of the government that pushed through those downloadings of costs to municipal governments.

Colin Isaacs Editor              

Budget 2006 Focusing on Priorities. Canada=s New Government. http://www.fin.gc.ca/budtoce/2006/budliste.htm

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FABRIC OF SOCIETY

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GL wonders whether it is not language or thinking ability but clothing which distinguishes humans from other species.  In many countries and regions, costumes signify a cultural heritage. Clothing marks significant stages of life from birth to death and is used to reveal many aspects of life such as rank, status, wealth, resistance or conformity, religion, nationality and tribal membership,  humility, gender, jobs, jailed or hospitalized, and attitude. Much significance is in the small details, the extra stripes  or the colour on a  uniform or the direction of the overlap of the buttons on the shirts, for example, in western countries, men and women button in different directions. The need to meet exact and rapidly changing fashion details and requirements means many clothes end up lowered in value, obsolete sometimes even before they reach the marketplace and certainly before they are worn out. Recently someone was talking about yoga saying that yoga is a very simple activity yet there are people who have to have head bands and mats which match. So inevitably due to the chemicals and resources used, processing methods, variety, volume and  sheer ubiquitousness of  clothing, there are significant environmental effects in the long chain from raw materials, fibre and trimmings, fabric, clothing sales, use and re-use of clothing and end-of-life disposal.

When GL's editor was at Pollution Probe, Monica Campbell oversaw the production of Profit from Pollution Prevention: a Guide to Industrial Waste Reduction & Recycling with major input from Bill Glenn and assistance from Linda Pim. Three of the chapters relate to textiles and clothing, Dry Cleaning, Tanning, and Textiles. Although out of print, we still use the information when helping small businesses in countries like Brazil understand the processes and chemicals, the sources of waste and the opportunities for profit because things have not changed as much as one might expect.

Paid subscribers see links to original documents and references here.

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THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY IN CANADA

In 1992,  65% of the clothing  sold in Canada was made in Canada but by 2004 about 62% of the market was supplied by imported goods, according to a Statistics Canada review by Diana Wyman of the International Trade Division.  US imports used to supply 20% of clothing but by 2004 this had dropped to 9%. Much more of the imported clothing comes from China and India. By 2004, clothing imports from China supplied 22% of the total Canadian demand. The main contributor to this shrinking of the domestic textile industry was the dismantling of trade barriers such as import quotas phased in from 1995 to 2005 as agreed to under the Uruguay Round of the World Trade Organization. There are two parts to this industry - the textile industry makes threads, filaments and fabrics as well as felt, carpets, blankets, diapers, hygiene products, fire hoses, ropes and parachutes. The clothing industry make men's, women's and children's wear as well as furs, foundation garments, hosiery, gloves, sweaters and occupational clothing. Employment in the clothing sector dropped to  71,000 in 2004  from 94,000 in 2002.

Developing countries need to have access to export markets but Canada is missing out by letting this value-added industry decline. GL thinks one ought to have at least the option of buying an off-the-rack Canadian-made shirt or blouse at a reasonable price. Sustainable development means local economic sustainability. This industry could be developed in a sustainable direction, producing clothing from some Canadian-made materials such as fibre crops or synthetic material such as polyester made from recycled plastic combined with the skills of fashion designers trained at Canada's colleges.

Paid subscribers see links to original documents and references here.

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CLOTHES FOR A CHANGE

Clothes for a Change is the name of a current campaign by the US-based Organic Consumers Association. The OCA says that organic cotton avoids the negative health and environmental effects of conventional and genetically engineered cotton. The campaign also promotes Fair Trade to change marketplace conditions which currently support clothing sweatshops.

Major clothing retailers and manufacturers are being asked to:

• Stop using genetically engineered cotton.
• Begin to move to organic cotton by blending certified organic or transition to organic cotton into their clothing.
• Meet verified Fair Labor standard.

The campaign has a label, "Fair Made" which is applied to those in the apparel industry which use both fair labour practices and environmentally friendly fibres. Eligible fibres include 100% organic cotton or some organic cotton blended with other eco-friendly fibres such as recycled conventional cotton from the shop floor, cork, jute, alpaca, wool, and hemp. Among the better known companies participating are Mountain Equipment Co-op (Vancouver) , Patagonia (Reno, Nevada) and American Apparel (Los Angeles, California).

Among the issues relating to non-organic cotton described in the campaign are:

• It takes a third of a pound of synthetic agricultural chemicals to make enough cotton in the US for one T-shirt. Although only 2.4% of the world's agricultural lands are planted with cotton, the crop uses 24% of the world's insecticide market and 11% of the global pesticide market making it the most pesticide intensive crop in the world.
• Methyl parathion, a commonly used chemical, affects children exposed to it with memory loss.
• Industrial agricultural practices have resulted in hundreds of varieties of cotton being replaced with just a few creating a monoculture much more vulnerable to pests and diseases requiring ever more chemical treatment.
• Genetically engineered cotton was grown in about 13 million acres (2000) in the US and in other parts of the world. Two types are available: one is Bt cotton with its own pest control and another is herbicide tolerant so it can be sprayed killing the weeds but not the cotton. One concern is that the engineered genes may also transfer to wild relatives affecting ecosystems. Another is that the organic farmers who use Bt as a natural insecticide on a last resort basis, will lose that resource as the insects exposed to the large pool of Bt engineered plants will become resistant.

Paid subscribers see links to original documents and references here.

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CANADIAN ALPACAS MAKE A FASHION STATEMENT

The Natural Fibre Centre and Testing Lab at the Olds College in Alberta is working with alpaca producers to ensure the natural fibre meets a  high quality standard which will attract demand and premium prices. Ruth Elvestad, Manager of the Centre, says "We've had the advantage of being able to look over the fence at other natural fiber industries around the world, like wool, mohair, and cashmere, to see what they're currently doing."

Producers send fibre samples which are analyzed at the Lab for fibre diameter and curve, uniformity and whether there are stronger fibres such as guard hairs which will end up making the fabric prickly. Research indicates that the producers can improve the fibre through their breeding program.  The Centre is working on best practices also for the processing and manufacturing side to ensure that the quality fibre is turned into quality textiles. For example,  garments may be made from blends of alpaca and wool, alpaca and mohair or alpaca and silk. The other fibre adds strength or some other desirable feature to the clothing. The Centre evaluates how these blends of textiles work, for example whether a pair of socks or a jacket will be durable under normal wear.  The research is ensuring that what the farmers are producing not only meets quality standards but that the buyers know how to maintain that quality and that consumer who buys the clothing will enjoy wearing it.

Paid subscribers see links to original documents and references here.

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GREEN WEDDING APPAREL

Green weddings are the business of Green Elegance Wedding (Bothell, Washington). They provide a web site for planning the celebration and also a section on wedding gowns and wedding apparel.

Eco-friendly wedding garments fit into two categories. One is new garments chosen with environmentally preferable fabrics, homesewn or made in fair trade factories. The other is previously worn clothing.

The advice is that some choices should be avoided including off-the-rack wedding clothes which are made in developing countries with poor environmental and labour regulations. Shopping with a conscience can be guided by such information sources as Sweatshop Watch and the  Responsible Shopper web sites. Other objections are to petroleum-based synthetic fabrics such as polyester and nylon, wood-based fabrics such as rayon and acetone (because of the large amounts of water and chemicals needed to extract fibre from trees), non-organic cotton fabric used for men's shirts (because of heavy use of pesticides in cotton growing) and to dyes and treatments associated with processing which release toxics to air and water.

Recommended fabrics include silk, hemp grown without pesticides, linen which is made from flax, organic cotton for shirts and summery dresses, fine wool and Tencel, a wood based fabric said to be produced with less pollution than rayon and to be fully biodegradable. Natural fibres for the accessories such as veils, purses, gloves and shoes are also recommended. For those avoiding animal products, the choices for products such as shoes may have to be synthetic to avoid leather.

Recycling the wedding gown from mother or grandmother's wedding is another option if it fits and is of the right fashion. Borrowing from family members or friends who have had more recent wedddings can also be considered or buying or renting. Thrift shops sometimes have wedding dresses as do consignment clothing shops. Some organizations even lend wedding and prom wear for charitable purposes; the deposit is returned after the event with perhaps a small cleaning charge made. Tuxedos are more commonly available for rental. It is suggested that if the rental company uses commercial dry-cleaning that one ask for a rebate so as to get the clothes cleaned at an green dry cleaner before returning them (a link is provided to the Canadian Pollution Prevention Centre for information about green dry-cleaning).

Paid subscribers see links to original documents and references here.

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TAKING CARE OF CLOTHING

Greener shopping and caring for clothing can reduce global warming and some other environmental impacts. Some ideas from Bill McKibben author and member of the Kansas-based Land Institute, and from Procter and Gamble:

• Choose higher quality materials and better made clothing. This may cost more initially but means the item wears better and the dyes don't fade.
• Minimize the number of fashion fad selections which have a short life because they go out of fashion fast.
• Especially for children's clothes, buy items with extra material at hems and seams. This only works if one is willing to make or pay for later adjustments.
• Hang laundry on a clothes line or laundry rack to reduce wear on the clothing, though it may cause fading of darks.  Air drying also saves energy but GL notes that some municipalities ban the hanging out of clothes on outdoor lines. A US based campaign called Project Laundry List is working to stop the bans. McKibben wrote in an article called Warming the World to Dry Our Socks that 5% of the electricity used by an average American family is for clothes drying. He recommends, "Buy 50 feet of clothesline and a $3 bag of clothespins and become a solar energy pioneer."
• Use cool or cold water to reduce colour loss and to save substantial amounts of energy. Proctor & Gamble is "committing significant marketing weight"  to Tide Coldwater "a laundry detergent to help consumers reduce their energy bills while delivering deep clean in cold water." Unfortunately the Tide does not claim to be environmentally preferable in other aspects.
• Washing clothes inside out helps reduce abrasion.

Paid subscribers see links to original documents and references here.

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SECOND-HAND WOES

According to a book by Georgetown professor Pietra Rivoli called the The Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy, Americans toss 250,000 tons of clothing a year. Some of this goes to charity groups, some to second-hand shops, some to landfill and some is exported to the poorest countries in the world where the clothes are resold. Rivoli does not buy the idea that this export is somehow illicit or that selling waste clothes is unacceptable.

Rivoli=s view stands in contrast to that of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF) which identifies trade in used clothing, "the disease of the century." They have a campaign which calls for donated used clothing to be given away free to the poor and they target charities which distribute used clothing and hence damage the economies of developing countries. The union approves of recycling but not resale.

Although the lifting of trade barriers in industrial countries assisted most textile producers in developing countries, certain very poor countries such as in Sub-Saharan Africa lost the preferred status they had with the European Union, the US and other Western buyers. According to a paper presented at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Economic Association, University of Toronto economist Garth Frazer concludes in a preliminary overview on used clothing donation that:

• Used clothing helps the poor in Africa because the garments are at a lower cost. The merchandisers get the clothing for free and pay only for transportation.
• However, the textile and apparel production system in sub-Saharan African countries is adversely affected by these used clothing imports. The excess supply of imported donated clothing reduces both price and demand.

Frazer=s paper provides details on some of the trends in donation of used clothing.  Most charities sell the majority of the donations received to exporters, who in turn send most of it to developing countries, mostly Africa. Used clothing is one of the top ten exports to Africa from the US (2003). Most people giving clothing have no idea that  almost all of it ends up across the world.  Frazer makes the argument that food aid has similar effects on the food production within poor countries but one of the differences with used clothing is that while it might have had a short life in the Western countries it can last for decades and hence can affect the textile and clothing industry for a long time. During Frazer's study the average annual increase in the per capita used-clothing stock was 11.2%, contributing to a roughly 5% drop in per capita clothing production and a 3.5% drop in per capita textile production annually.

The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy : An Economist Examines the Markets, Power, and Politics of World Trade (Hardcover). Pietra Rivoli. John Wiley & Sons. 2005

Paid subscribers see links to original documents and references here.

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TEXTILE RECYCLING

Textiles are beginning to be added to municipal recycling programs in the US, according to the California Integrated Waste Management Board. About 4-6% of the waste stream is textiles including not only clothing but drapes, blankets, belts, shoes, purses and so on.  Only about 15% of textile materials are estimated to be diverted from landfill to recycling. If textiles enter into the textile recycling industry system, about 90% are recycled.

Sales of this industry which includes used clothing, industrial wipes, fibres and other materials is about $700 million per year with 2,000 companies diverting 2.6 billion pounds of postconsumer textiles from landfill. About 60% of this material is exported. Used clothing is the US's 8th largest export just after automotive parts and wheat.

Tougher recycling goals for cities means that textiles are being added to the curbside recycling collection because of the relative high value of the recycled goods (about $80-100 a ton) and the demand. The collection has to ensure that the clothing is dry and uncontaminated because wet clothing quickly becomes mildewed and useless or can even cause fires as it decomposes.

If clothing is not usable, it can be cut into industrial wipes or, if not suitable for that, converted back into fibre which is used for carpet underlay, mattress and pillow stuffing or insulation. A typical automobile contains 80 pounds of sound-deadening material made of recycled fibre such as in the door panels and trunk.

Examples of Municipal Textile Recycling

In Carroll County, Iowa, residents may bring clothing and textiles including paired shoes and socks to the landfill, "Items much be dry, clean and free of odor. Place textiles in a clear plastic bag." Residents are encouraged to donate to local non-profit organizations first.

In St. Paul, Minnesota, clothing and household linens are accepted but only if they are in good condition. Residents are asked to put clean reusable clothing in a plastic bag and label the bag "Clothes and Linens" for pickup with the weekly curbside recycling. Rags are not picked up.

In the City of San Jose, California, residents are encouraged to donate textiles to charity and recycle if that is inappropriate. The instructions are to put the fabrics in a clear, plastic bag; buttons and zippers can stay on, no soiling by chemicals, oil or paint. Acceptable items includ clean cotton, linen, polyester, rayon and wool fabrics in such items as blankets, clothes, cloth diapers, rags and sheets. Not acceptable are boots and shoes, carpets and rugs, disposable diapers, down filled items, leather, accessories such as belts and earrings, nylon, pillow, rubber, stuffed toys and vinyl.

Seven years ago, Haldimand County, Ontario, where GL is published, collected textiles for recycling but that item just disappeared in one of changes to the local recycling instruction sheets. It appears that the disappearance of textile recycling in many parts of Ontario, Canada, is yet another consequence of the Ontario government=s environmentally backward approach to recycling.

Paid subscribers see links to original documents and references here.

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THE WORLD'S GREENEST SWIMSUIT?

"This remarkable swimsuit is ultra comfortable (in fact you can not wear a better fitting or feeling swim suit ever). It looks great on all ages, sizes, and races, has a lifetime guarantee, is stain resistant, and cleans very easily (in fact you=ll never put it in the laundry!). This swimsuit gives you a greater feeling of freedom both in and out of the water. It allows all of your body to dry at an even rate after coming out of the water, rather than leaving part of you cold and damp as most swimsuits do. It doesn't leave unsightly tan lines and when worn with nothing else it helps you overcome destructive, unhealthy feelings of insecurity and shame. It is so perfect for swimming and sunbathing why would you ever want to wear anything else??"  Besides, it's free.  This "Shopping for a new swimsuit? Shop no more!" is the advice of Clothes Free International.

According to the Federation of Canadian Naturists FCN, most people have heard of nude beaches in Europe, the Caribbean and Florida but North America's second largest nude beach is Vancouver's Wreck Beach at the edge of the University of British Columbia attracting 300,000 nude people annually. The FCN says skinny dipping has other advantages such as "It doesn't cost a lot." In a brief to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. House of Commons, Judy Emily Williams on behalf of FCN explained that naturists is "a way of life in harmony with nature, characterized by the practice of communal nudity: with the intention of encouraging respect for oneself, for others and for the environment." Naturism is a moral and ethical lifestyle. Naturist resorts strictly control voyeurism and inappropriate touching and many offer and encourage family participation. Williams reported that in 2001, naturists and naturist travellers contributed between four and seven billion dollars in goods and services to the North American economy. GL thinks that the airlines should welcome the trend to reduce fuel use: imagine how much smaller and lighter is the luggage of those travellers.

Paid subscribers see links to original documents and references here.

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US EPA: P3 AWARDS

An apparel project under the US Environmental Protection Agency P3 (People, Prosperity and the Planet) program has been looking at how to reduce the many environmental problems of the garment industry. P3 is a Abeyond pollution prevention@ program.

The faculty from Oklahoma State University overseeing the project, Huantian Cao, Cheryl Farr and Lauren Heine, teach and lecture on design and merchandising of textiles and clothing including sustainability.  Using the cradle to cradle model, the apparel design and production conceptual framework (C2CAD) can provide designers with a methodology to eliminate environmental problems by designing out chemicals and materials which pose risks for occupational health and create air, water and solid waste problems. With materials recycling back into the system at the end of life of the product, the resource demand of the apparel industry is also reduced.

The study is applying C2CAD to knitwear. Research includes environmental and economic aspects of producing the knitwear, evaluating performance such as colourfastness and abrasion resistance. The knitwear case study will become part of a core course Mass Production of Apparel and Related Products which will help to ensure that apparel design students become aware of the importance of reducing environmental impacts in the apparel industry.

Paid subscribers see links to original documents and references here.

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NANOPARTICLES IN CLOTHING AND MANY OTHER PRODUCTS

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars recently released the world=s only public directory of consumer products containing nanoparticles. The number of products on the list is 212, greatly exceeding the US government=s estimate of 80. In releasing the report,  Andrew Maynard, science advisor of the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, said Aour ability to reap the long-term benefits of nanotechnology B in areas from energy production to medicine B will depend on how well industry and government manage the safety and performance of this first generation of products.@

The director of the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, David Rejeski, told a US Senate Committee that AWe are about to be inundated with hundreds, if not thousands, of new products, but governments are not ready. Industry and trade groups are not prepared. A research strategy for addressing possible human health or environmental risks is not in place, and the public is not informed.@

The current list of consumer products containing nanoparticles includes face creams, bandages, sporting goods, stain-resistant clothing, paints, cleaners, appliances, electronics, computers, and many more. Research on the effects of nanoparticles is underway in Britain following a caution-urging report from the Royal Society last Fall. The Royal Society continues to be concerned about the potential health effects of nanoparticles, including such questions as whether such ultra small pieces of material might penetrate the skin.

Paid subscribers see links to original documents and references here.

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PRODUCT RECALL IDENTIFIES INACCURATE LABELLING AND MSDS

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission is evaluating two Canadian boot sealant products after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 150 cases associating use of shoe or boot leather protection or sealant aerosol products with human respiratory illness.

According to CDC, two products manufactured in Canada were primarily associated with the 150 cases of human illness. Use of Jobsite Heavy Duty Bootmate was cited by patients in 126 (84%) cases. Rocky Boot Weather and Stain Protector was named in seven (5%) cases. The two products consist of 45% heptane, 20%-30% petroleum distillates, 25%-30% isobutane propellant, 5%-10% propane propellant, 0.33% fluoropolymer, and 0.33% silicone. Neither the product labels nor the material safety data sheets for the products list fluoropolymer or silicone. Previous outbreaks of acute pulmonary illness associated with exposure to waterproofing agents have implicated fluoropolymer/hydrocarbon-based products.

This is by no means the first time that respiratory illness has been associated with aerosol footwear protection products. At press time we could not determine whether these or similar products are sold in Canada.

Paid subscribers see links to original documents and references here.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Subject: Re: Where Did We Go Wrong?  Re: GL V11 N4

Dear Colin Isaacs,

Where did we go wrong? You put a very good question to the environmental community in the April 6 GL, but you did not even begin to answer it. Instead, you described where the Chrétien government went wrong. I agree with your assessment, but that was easy to do.

Few members of the environmental community may have grasped the real depth of the issue, concentrating instead with glib optimism on promoting the essential, but totally inadequate roles of energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy. The real issue is the path of development that Canadian society has followed and is continuing to follow. And unlike acid rain and destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer, climate change does not require action by governments and industry alone: it is everyone's business.

I know from my work with the Energy Council of Canada in 2000 and 2001 that one in 10 Canadians has some grasp of the issue of climate change, another one in 10 think they do but have it wrong, and the other eight freely admit their ignorance. You are right to stress the importance above all in a parliamentary democracy of enabling a critical mass of the electorate to understand the fundamentals of the issue. And I agree with you that our federal government has failed in this respect. This is where the environmental community should put its biggest effort.

Best wishes,

John Hollins Ottawa, Ontario

Subject:                       Earth Day Fiesta  Re: GL V11 N5

I am glad that you sounded a cautionary tone on the Mulroney award too, as too much cheerleading is not good for anyone.

In the article that goes with the award that was distributed to all press and is online at CK, I made the point that history would temper Mulroney's tangible accomplishments because of the unfunded greenplan, free trade,and his legacy of executive federalism. Maude latched onto the free trade, but I was surprised no one made reference to his style of executive federalism, as that was driven more by him than the currents of history, which is, in my view, not the the case with free trade.

Below is an excerpt from the article:

"For all he got done on the environmental file, Mulroney's ultimate environmental legacy will be tempered by three things: His ambitious Green Plan for a Healthy Environment was never fully implemented, in part due to his Liberal successor who chose to focus on deficit reduction at the expense of many programs, including enforcement of environmental policies. Second, the Free Trade Agreement brought many unintended consequences for the environment. Some argue that because of our raw material-focused economy, increased trade has accelerated the depletion of Canada's resources and many of the provisions in the FTA and NAFTA frustrate industrial policy tools that could be used to promote sustainability such as price and tax policies to internalize environmental costs, according to Bruce Campbell of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Third, under Mulroney's style of executive federalism, devolution of power to the provinces picked up steam, a hindrance when it comes to enforcing national environment standards."

It was a pretty bizarre and human night though. I can't imagine a better teacher for the subject [sustainable development] and a student more in need than the combo of Mulroney and Harper on Thursday, April 20. I was watching Harper take it all in when Mulroney made the point about when his government went about cutting SOX by half and how Inco had claimed it would usher them to bankrupcy, but ended up instead creating a profit centre out of it.

Anyways: I am glad you sounded a note of caution and I look forward to reading your excellent Gallon Letters.

Toby A.A. Heaps Editor, Corporate Knights 215 Spadina Avenue, Ste. 121 Toronto ON M5T 2C7

tel: 416 203-4674 fax: 416 979-3936 http://www.corporateknights.ca http://www.global100.org

Subject: Observations                       Re: GL V11 N5

The following is a copy of an email sent by Charles Caccia To: 'info@corporateknights.ca': This note is for Toby A.A Heaps

Dear Toby,

We met in Montreal at the Climate Change Conference. There are two reasons for writing you this note.The first is this : the environmental record of Pierre Elliott Trudeau is the best compared to any other Prime Minister of Canada..The difference is in the fact he never boasted or publicized his achievements. Here are just a few facts: he created the Environment Department in l971. He had Canada sign the UN Law of the Sea, amongst the first nations. He had superb legislation to protect the Great Lakes approved by both Canada and the US, including the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in l972. He had lead removed from gasoline in l984, despite corporate ranting. He had the federal-provincial acid rain reduction  program launched in l984 when Canada went ahead without the US, but with  7 European countries as allies. He had the Canadian Forest Service incorporated within Environment Canada, which meant a far wiser approach to forestry than under his successor who swiftly moved it where it is now, under Natural Resources, a department  oriented towards exploitation of resources. Trudeau gave Canada an enviable range of beautiful National Parks..He pioneered environmental assessment as a federal responsibility for Cabinet and Parliament. And so on...

Evidently Athe jury@ suffered a serious bout of amnesia in deciding the way it did. You may want to pass this message to them. Thanks.

The other reason for writing you has to do with Corporate Knight=s apparent belief that the CBI (Canadian Boreal Initiative) is the cat=s pajamas, judging from your volume 4.4, Forestry issue, 2005 . The Boreal Forest deserves a thorough discussion at the federal as well as provincial level. Its role in capturing CO2 ,in water retention, in protecting  diversity, in permitting aboriginal lifestyles, deserves much greater attention than given so far. In addition, there is the naïve belief held by some that the corporate sector can be  held responsible in perpetuity to limited, agreed-upon cutting limits, a belief which is at  the basis for the CBI and which is as illusory as seeing water at noon in the Sahara desertY

Hope you and the Knights are doing wellY.look forward to reading your comments on the softwood lumber Aagreement@, which gives free trade a new definition ?

Best wishes,  Charles Caccia

Subject: Re: GL V11 N5

Colin B thank you so much for this edit on [Elizabeth] May's colossal bad judgment. My thoughts precisely but more eloquently. I'm afraid my first reaction was "I'm going to throw up."

Re simple things B I think the other simple thing we could all do is Fly Less, if at all. Take an extra day for the Earth (and yourself!) and take the bus or train. It's one of my resolutions this yearY.. Traveling slowly can be fun and relaxing if you just look at it as necessary "down time."

Further comments B to the best of my knowledge neither the House of Commons NOR any government departments including Environment use 100% pc PCF copy paper like Cascades, so as far as I'm concerned the whole "green" thinkie is a bit of a sham, since recycled fibre should be the first and easiest thing to do. Oh sure B most "ecofriendly" offices use Weyerhauser's 30% recycled (70% boreal forest) stuff bleached to kingdom come, but that is NOT really the height of green paper purchasing. This report only references "EcoFair 2003" paper, which does not show up on a Google search and is unknown to us so who knows what the specs are?

Cement B this use of fly ash in cement really worries me, because the source of the fly ash determines the toxic load, and the type and use of the cement (concrete) determines just how soon some poor young lad is going to be out there with a jackhammer "recycling" it and the toxic burden. Given our governments these days, I am not sure there is sufficient definition or supervision on this process.

Tipping point B indeed B I was thinking this morning that perhaps we had started to slide into the good side B where the enviro movement is increasingly irrelevant because a lot of the mainstream is "on the case," as indicated both by products and all the greenwash. Not that we aren't still needed, but as outriders, or scouts, rather than foot soldiers. The people, as always, ARE the army.

Thanks for a great issue,  

Delores Broten

Senior Policy Advisor, Reach for Unbleached! and Editor of the Watershed Sentinel

 Ph: 250-935-6992  c/o Box 39, Whaletown BC V0P 1Z0

http://www.rfu.org "Clean Water, Clean Air, Clean Paper" and http://www.watershedsentinel.ca      

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NEW ENVIRONMENT DEPUTY: AN AGENDA?

Last week Prime Minister Harper appointed Michael Horgan to replace Samy Watson as Deputy Minister of the Environment. Horgan has some interesting credentials for the job.

First he is an economist with two graduate degrees. He has experience heading the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. With ACOA he showed some interest in community economic development initiatives.

Second, he has worked in the Department of Finance, one of the most effective past roadblocks to environmental initiatives. For four years in the 80's Horgan was an energy economist with the Department. More recently, from 2001 to 2003, he was senior associate deputy minister.  Someone who knows their way around Finance should be very useful to Environment Canada.

Third, most recently he has been Deputy Minister at Indian Affairs and Northern Development. In that job he undoubtedly learned of the importance of real consultation in solving tough policy challenges. He knows about the impact of environmental issues on First Nations communities and peoples: water and sanitation, land claim issues including access to forests, fisheries and natural resources; substandard housing affected by leaky pipes and toxic mould; changes in traditional diets leading to health problems; and the damage to ecological systems such as mercury contamination from industrial sources and global warming that today threatens the food supply, livelihood and health of Inuit communities. Recently Horgan had a period of intense involvement in the Mackenzie Valley Gas Pipeline. In that role his mandate was to negotiate between the parties to make sure the pipeline gets built. Environment Canada=s role is to make sure that the environment of the Mackenzie Valley is adequately protected. It will be interesting to see how he interprets his new role. 

Horgan does have some first hand experience at Environment Canada. From February 1990 to February 1991 he was Director, Economic and Policy Analysis for the Department. Not a lot of time but an interesting period, when Mulroney was busy being the greenest Prime Minister Canada has ever known (joke!). From Environment Canada the Mulroney government promoted Horgan to Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Priorities and Planning). Perhaps foremost among his varied experience is that he knows his way around the Privy Council Office, having stayed there well into the Chretien years.

GL will be watching carefully. One thing is certain: there is an agenda in play and the agenda is fulfillment of the Conservative party=s election mandate.

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FEDS SCRAP ENERGY SAVINGS PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME CANADIANS

Last issue we listed the fifteen climate change programs scrapped by the federal government. Now there is a sixteenth, a program that a Conservative spokesperson endorsed when the Party was in opposition and that is very close to a program that the Conservative Party promised in its 2006 election platform.

The now scrapped program was called EnerGuide for Low-Income Households, a $500 million over 5 years program to help about 130,000 low-income Canadians make energy-efficiency retrofits. One objective was to help make low-income housing more affordable by reducing energy costs. Another was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Funding was to be delivered through approved home renovation companies and service providers and implementation of the program was well advanced when the plug was pulled..

In their 2006 election platform, the Conservative Party of Canada promises that Aa Conservative government will work with the provinces and municipalities to develop tax incentives for private-sector builders so that low-income city dwellers will have improved access to affordable housing. Specifically, on an experimental basis to supplement existing programs we will establish a low-income housing tax credit program. Beginning in 2007-08, we will set aside $200 million annually in the form of federal tax credits to encourage developers to build or refurbish affordable rental units in which at least 40 percent of the occupants earn less than 60 percent of the local median income.@

It seems that Conservative slash and burn policies apply to any federal program that has any association with climate change, even if that is not its major purpose, even if it is entirely made in Canada, and even if it is almost identical to a program promised by the Conservatives.

No links on this article because essentially all Canadian government web sites about the EnerGuide for Low-Income Households have been taken off line.

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BOOK: GOD LAUGHS AND PLAYS