The article on Nov 21st stating the viewpoint of the sports groups who want to build a sports complex on the 118 acres of farm land on Aberdeen Road is very concerning. They state that "the debate on this issue has overshadowed our view that this proposal is an opportunity for our community to come together as families, young and old, in a healthy and positive environment." It's been said before and I'll say it again. Nobody has missed that viewpoint. Not one letter or piece of information that I've read nor any person I've heard has missed that viewpoint. So let's put that invalid argument to rest. The environmental cost of doing this is the point of contention.
A recent report on November 17th by International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sponsored by the United Nations has some very alarming information about our environment. The information is based on 6 years of research resulting in thousands of pages of evidence and the conclusion is that evidence of climate change is "unequivocal". It said the trend could lead to "abrupt" changes to the planet, cause human suffering and threaten some species with extinction. "Slowing and reversing these threats is the defining challenge of our age,'' UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said as he unveiled the report in Valencia, Spain. “It’s extremely clear and is very explicit that the cost of inaction will be huge compared to the cost of action,” said Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of Columbia University’s Earth Institute.
The UN's Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-4) makes it clear why we, the residents of Coldstream, should care about this. The report states there are too few acres of cropland feeding too many mouths. Too many pipes sucking up or spilling into too many rivers. Ecosystems are shattered and overstretched, triggering the sixth major wave of extinctions in our planetary experience. The report concludes that "Our common future depends on our actions today, not tomorrow or some time in the future" and we need to think hard and act fast.
The 23-page summary said climate systems unquestionably have already begun to change and that human activities since the start of the industrial age have contributed to the problems. And this is where we, as citizens of Coldstream, have the opportunity, right now, to get involved and do our part to help with this immense problem that we all face.
The farmland in the ALR is graded on a scale from class 1 to 7, class 1 being the very best land. In British Columbia, all prime agriculture land within the ALR (our best crop land) accounts for only about 1% of the BC land base. Prime is referring to classes 1 to 3 according to the Canadian Land Inventory classification. The 118 acres on Aberdeen Road is class 2 on that scale meaning it is among the very best farm land available anywhere in the country. Knowing this information why would anyone contemplate turning this particular land into a sports complex when there are other lands available for the same purpose?
There's a word from the ancient Greek language "Akrasia" and it means knowing the right thing to do but not doing it. People don't choose to act poorly or against better judgment so actions that go against what is best are only a product of being ignorant of facts or knowledge of what is good or best. I believe the people attempting to destroy the farmland on Aberdeen Road must be unaware of the implications of what they are proposing or they wouldn't be doing it.
So we have a choice. We can sit back and rely on governments or industry or people in the UN to come to our rescue and implement the necessary changes that will save us from drastic environmental consequences. Or we can say "no" to this proposal to destroy valuable farm land in our community. By doing this we'll be sending the message that we are no longer going to be part of the problem. We are going to be part of the solution.
Terry and Mickie Sexsmith
Coldstream, BC
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