PGAQ #86 by Vic Steblin, Feb 17, 2009

2570 Laurier Crescent, Prince George, BC, 250-564-1123

A decent wind arrives and blows all the wood smoke away. Clean air wipes the slate clean and we start over. Memories of dirty air fade with a fresh start.

But our lungs hold some of the damage. The longer one lives in smoke, the more the damage builds up. Like cigarette smoking the damage increases with exposure. And those who want a healthy life are held hostage by wood smoke.

Does the wood burner secretly enjoy this power over the rest of the community? Does the wood burner justify their smoke by considering it insignificant? Does a truly considerate person continue to burn wood?

Our past habits do set the future. The BC government actually encourages burning wood as a reasonable way to heat homes. Wood smoke will therefore fill the bowl many times unless more of us stop burning. Since the city bylaws come into effect only after the problem gets out of hand, all wood burning should be stopped way before it becomes a problem.

Wood burning must be banned within city limits and Prince George can become a cleaner healthier city.