[LookOutSugarLake] History was made today!

[handr at telus.net]

Wednesday 23 May, 2007

This morning at 9 a.m., in Vernon, B.C., a new page of history was  
written when the North Okanagan Regional District (NORD) passed two  
new bylaws that prohibit private and commercial developments from  
discharging sewage effluents to water. The long accepted practice of  
discharging effluents to water has now been recognized as no longer  
acceptable in this region of the North Okanagan. Hopefully, all other  
regions will soon follow suit.

This began six months ago, when a group of concerned citizens  
(SLAMSS) came together to oppose a development that proposed to  
discharge close to one hundred thousand liters of effluents per day  
into a pristine lake (Sugar lake) and river (the Middle Shuswap  
River). Between that day and today, numerous scientific studies have  
proven that effluents are causing negative effects on aquatic life  
and milieu, as well as on all beings who drink or swim in water that  
contains effluents. This is due mostly to the fact that effluent  
today contains pharmaceuticals as well as other damaging compounds  
(hormone mimickers) found in personal or home care products.

We now know with certainty that fish populations can become extinct  
from so called "gender benders" and that breast cancer tissues thrive  
in water that contains effluents. It was mentioned today that the  
cancer epidemic we are experiencing may in fact be traced directly to  
water that contains effluents. We know that even drinking water that  
has been treated still contains these compounds. We also know that  
swimming in water that contains effluents, as do most of our lakes,  
can have devastating effects as the skin is the biggest organ of our  
body.

These bylaws were passed unanimously - all directors seemed eager to  
support them and to ensure that they would have the widest possible  
influence. The presence of a scientist who confirmed that discharging  
effluents to water was a practice to be shunned was undoubtedly a  
boost. Today's results are a prime example of the words uttered long  
ago by the cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead who said: "Never  
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change  
the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Hopefully, the world will soon change enough so that we can all look  
upon the days when effluents were discharged to water with shock and  
dismay. Thanks to all who voiced their commitments, showed their  
concerns, and wrote the history our children will be living by.

Huguette Allen.







  
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