A major Langley transportation project has captured the attention of the David Suzuki Foundation.
The environmental organization has chosen to feature the 216 Street Interchange project in their video campaign for the Blue Dot Movement as an example of why stronger environmental legislation is needed in Canada.
According to bluedot.ca, around the world, more than 110 nations recognize the right to live in a healthy environment. Canada, however, is not one of them. Because of that, the David Suzuki Foundation is campaigning for all levels of government to legally recognize the right to breath clean air, drink clean water and eat safe food. So far, 155 municipalities in the country have joined, but the City and the Township of Langley have not.
Last weekend, a film crew interviewed Walnut Grove resident Linda Nash, who has been vocal in her opposition to the 216 Street project. They spent an hour speaking to her in her garden, and plan to create a three minute video that will be posted on YouTube in the next few months. This is one of several films the foundation is creating for its campaign.
The intent is that the video will show what “the right to our environment means in a more personal and relatable sense,” said Alan Worsley, communications specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation.
Nash had already been in contact with the foundation, looking for environmental information as it relates to the Langley project, and one of the problems that came up was not knowing which government body to talk to.
Worsley believes if the right to a healthy environment was included in legislation, it may have made this issue easier to address.
Having said that, the foundation is not trying to label Langley Township as particularly bad, Worsley cautioned.
He said it is an example of a situation that could happen anywhere in Canada, and a reason why they want a standalone bill created at the national level.
“Now the Suzuki Foundation is pushing for this long overdue right for all Canadians and I am honoured to be helping them,” Nash said. “One has to wonder how many other towns like Langley somewhere in Canada are experiencing an issue similar to ours in Langley ?”
“My mission is to raise awareness about our issue and how it is just a microcosm of what is happening throughout our beautiful country. I am working for the greater good of not just Langley but for all of Canada’s citizen’s and future generations.”
Below, a Blue Dot Movement promotional video from the David Suzuki Foundation