Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - December 29, 2008, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page 1 a s members of the organization that is Canadas leading voice for wilderness conservation we dont always find ourselves on the same Side As the Forest Industry. But this time we do. We think finance minister Jim Flaherty would be Wise to heed the Forest sectors Call to invest some Cash in this Industry rather than direct it All towards manufacturers of vehicles. To be sure we have some unfinished business with the Forest Industry. We a vent been great fans of Many companies records in protecting the habitat of endangered species regenerating forests after logging conserving aquatic systems or addressing first nations rights. But we do support the Forest Industry yes efforts to secure investments from the Federal government. Thatus because we truly believe that the Forest Industry could become a Leader in a Canadian Green Industrial strategy. With Over a third of the worlds boreal Forest one fifth of its temperate rain Forest and a tenth of earths Forest cover Canada has the ability to use forests As a Cornerstone of a new Economy. Here is what we should do. Pulp and paper Mills Are Many provinces largest Consumers of electricity. In Ontario a lot of this is dirty and Coal fired. These same Mills produce millions of tonnes of biomass waste. Instead of a disposal problem this waste could be a source of biomass derived heat and electrical Energy. Increased application of this proven technology could replace electricity consumption and turn Mills into Grid contributors. Pulp and paper Mills also create byproducts that can act in Many ways like the organic molecule mix found in Oil. They Are the perfect source for a Host of valuable chemicals and products that Range from ethanol to Rayon. With their existing Industrial campuses and transportation infrastructure Mills Are perfect candidates to become new Bio product facilities. Increasingly customers of paper and Wood products Are demanding that Forest companies prove their operations Are sustainable. This Means showing that the Industry is helping to protect not annihilate endangered species such As Woodland Caribou. The Federal government has the Power and responsibility under the species at risk act to identify and protect the extensive critical habitats of Woodland Caribou across Canada. By implementing a recovery strategy for this threatened species Ottawa can give Forest companies the Opportunity to increase their Green Market share by conserving the critical habitats of this species within their tenures. Some leaders in the Forest sector have made private investments in environmental land use plans to identify habitats to be protected. If Ottawa were to require and invest in supporting the development of such plans for the whole Industry it would level the playing Field and position Canadas Industry As Green. This would give it More leverage to squeeze out unsustainable and illegal producers from the Market. Canadas boreal forests and pea lands store around 186 billion tons of Carbon. These areas play a significant role in mitigating climate change and enabling species to adapt to its growing effects. We need Federal incentives to keep the Carbon where it is and not release it to the atmosphere and we need to enhance the ability of Canadian forests to store even More Carbon. This requires Clear rules that favour Forest conservation and discourage activities that would Lead to greater emissions. The Northern portion of our forests has not been allocated to Industry. Before that happens we need land use plans that address ecological needs first nations rights and the economic potential of these regions. Ottawa has a responsibility for completing these plans in the Northwest territories. It could also invest in ways to support recent commitments by Ontario and Quebec to prepare land use plans that will protect at least 50 per cent of their boreal regions. The outdated Forest tenure system needs to be fixed. In the 1930s Large tracts of Public land were assigned to pulp companies. Industry invested capital and put thousands of people to work cutting Trees and in the Mills. Government collected taxes. But conditions have changed and Industry cant keep up its end of the Deal. Its time to renegotiate contracts and have forests managed by Public not for profit corporations that sell Wood and other products for the highest Price. Forests would become sources of Revenue for communities rather than Cost centres for companies. New industries would have Access to Wood Supply the pulp and paper Industry would have lower costs and the americans would have one less argument against Canadian lumber imports. As minister Flaherty figures out where to Send the stimulus cheques we Hope that he takes time to look up from his desk and glance across the Ottawa River. There he will see forested hilltops and glimpse a key part of Canadas Green Industrial future. We have More forests than any other advanced country in the world. Lets not miss this Opportunity to be smart about How we use them to support our future. Aran Ocarroll is senior staff member of the Canadian Parks and wilderness society. Tim Gray is a member of a paws Board of trustees. Winnipeg free press monday december 29, 2008 2009 Winnipeg free press writers collective non fiction contest winners comment editor Gerald flood 697 7269 Gerald. Flood free press. M. Ca Winnipeg repress. Com a 15 third place up the spout again by Ryan Greenspan t he 99th Brush stroke was the one that always Hurt the most. Thankfully it was always the last. This evening was no different. The Peppermint paste began to Blister my Tongue but Only then after 99 strokes was i allowed to spit it out. The gob of blood and fluoride scuttled Down the Side of the sink to reach the Drain fleeing the torture it like i had just endured. I hurriedly flooded my Mouth with water using my cupped hands not once but 27 times. Then i fumbled for the mouthwash took a swill and counted one two three. One two three. One two three. As it began to work i Felt a sudden Rush to my brain As if a Bayonet had been jammed through the roof of my Mouth. It was As if hot and cold sensations were waging an epic Battle and my Oral cavity was Omaha Beach. Then i lost count and i began to sweat because i knew i would have to Start Over nine sets of one two three. One two three. One two three. Before i continue and in an Effort to get away from All this talk of gobs and Oral cavities let me take you Back to a moment in my childhood that might explain All this counting nonsense. My mom was cooking her special Chicken soup on the stove and my younger brother and i had our hands glued to the paddles of a hungry hippos game. Then above the furious ruckus of Marble guzzling plastic beasts i heard a scream from the Kitchen. It was my mom. I raced Over and found her fighting flames that were dancing up unrolled paper towels Over the stove cackling As they were crackling. As fast As my Little nine year old brain could react i took the lid from the pot and smothered the flames but not before one lashed my wrist. Thinking Back now that lick of fire was less of a goodbye sucker than it was a Well meet again. So after the War in the bathroom i crept Down the stairs into the darkened living room and Felt around for the Light switch. Even though i could probably have done this process blindfolded having completed it every and let me emphasize every Day for 15 years i needed to turn the lights on because i had to be the one to turn them off three times. The next destination was usually the microwave but i got distracted by something unusual. There was a Complex spiders web hanging from the ceiling in the Corner of the room. I immediately thought of my Mother who was afraid of anything with More than two legs. With a Broom from the closet i cleared the web away As Well As i hoped whatever had made it. Then i was nagged to continue the routine of securing the downstairs. To the tune of the Itsy Bitsy spider which became lodged in my head i did my checks. I made sure that the microwave was off the toaster was unplugged the stove elements were switched off nothing was smouldering in the garbage the Heaters were All off and finally that the lamps were off and the plugs were secure. Then i started from the beginning and did it All again twice More. When satisfied i was granted the pass to my room to get some much needed sleep. I Lay Flat in bed with my Blanket pinning me Down but the annoyance a snot gone. Then i heard a noise from downstairs. It was a fleeting sizzling sound like fizz you hear when you put your ear to a Glass of freshly poured soda. My heart pummelled my rib Cage. Then the anxiety manifested itself into a familiar voice. Did you make sure the stove was off the voice in my head asked. It was As always the same harsh male voice. I thought i had triple checked everything but i recall for sure. Go Down and Check everything again the voice ordered. I sighed and tried to quickly figure out some Way to avoid going Back downstairs. I reassured myself that i had done the routine accurately. I turned Over to my Side to try and sleep. The voice did not approve. It was now clamouring in my brain playing my dendrites like a harpsichord. It was incensed and started to threaten harm to those i love. The House will Burn it warned. Everyone will die i stared at the ceiling and took a deep breath. I reasoned with myself. I tried to use logic. I thought about How silly it was that i was being controlled by empty threats from a wayward psychological impulse. I just wanted to go to sleep then the scent of smoke tickled my nostrils. I alertly sat up As if cranked by a lever. I inhaled deeply trying to validate or invalidate what i thought i smelled. I got out of bed and rushed Over to the stairwell and sniffed like a dog in its Yard. The smell was gone. A feeling of Relief briefly swept through me. I started to head Back to my room. Go Down the voice echoed Between my eardrums. I turned Back toward the stairs. I fought to ignore him and swivelled again toward the escape of my comfy bed. Whats the harm in just checking one More time the voice said in a different tone this time like a real estate agent trying to close a Deal. Back and Forth i went about half a dozen times. It was As if my head was playing tug of War with my body. To an outside observer it looked As if i was losing my mind. If Only that were the Case finally there was a Winner. What would be the harm in checking just one More time it won yet again. I went downstairs. I could just As Well have been sleepwalking. I was worn out. My legs carry me to the Kitchen. Instead i plopped Down on the Couch in the living room with the darkness surrounding me. I was panting and tasting sweat. The voice was now that of a spoiled nine year old brat throwing a Tantrum. The anxiety mounted but As i sat there for a moment something caught my Eye. It was shimmering in the Streak of Moonlight hitting the Corner of the room. My heart instantly went from being in my Throat to melting on the floor. I saw the makings of a new spiders web and its creator meticulously working to get it right natures obsessive compulsive. Had i turned the stove off As of this moment i still believe i did. I cant say for sure though because i was inspired to write this Story and have yet to Check. The voice was still upset but i appeased it by agreeing the word count of this Story would be a multiple of three. Tomorrow the Gamble the Challenge this year was to write 1,200 words on the theme i was never so scared. Heed Forest sectors Call to invest in Industry by tim Gray and aran Ocarroll a 15_ dec 29 08. Ind 1 12/ 28/ 08 5 36 54 pm ;