In case you missed it this past Saturday, here is our article which appeared on page 3 of the Hamilton Spectator:
It should also be noted however that the article did contain a mistake. Please note that the picture being used by the postcards is NOT 3 years old. It was taken on December 11th, 2008 at 2pm well after the pollution repairs took place. This incorrect fact was provided by the company. We have contacted the paper to resolve the issue.
Be a Good Neighbour
Campaign aims to persuade steelmaker to cut emissions faster
March 20, 2010 Eric McGuinnessThe Hamilton Spectator(Mar 20, 2010)
Katie Stiel is taking on Big Steel in Hamilton.
The recent Environment Hamilton recruit is co-ordinator of the non-profit organization's new Good Neighbour Campaign, with the stated aim of persuading steelmaker ArcelorMittal Dofasco to cut air emissions of cancer-causing chemicals faster than the company now plans.
"The overall goal is to open lines of communication between industry and the community," Stiel said in an interview this week. "One reason for the campaign is that a lot of volunteers and area residents coming to us expressed concern about industrial pollution -- black fallout, smell and noise.
"We decided we needed a different approach and adopted this idea originated by Ohio Citizen Action (an 80,000-member pollution-fighting group). Instead of using an iron fist, we are saying: 'We need jobs. We want you to be there, to be our neighbour, but we want you to be as good as you can be.'"
She explained that ArcelorMittal Dofasco is being targeted first because it is seeking Environment Ministry exemption from tougher air pollution limits through what's called the alternative standards process. Environment Hamilton sees it as an opportunity to convince the company to expedite cleanup of its coke-oven emissions.
U.S. Steel Canada is applying for similar exemptions, but the process has been slowed by plant shutdowns.
The Good Neighbour Campaign funded by Ontario's Trillium Foundation began with a door-to-door canvass of streets close to the steel mill, then two community meetings "to get people talking," according to Stiel. Dofasco neighbours were urged to write personal letters to CEO Juergen Schachler.
"Not cut and paste," said Stiel, "but personal experience and testimony, because the company may not know how it is affecting individual families."
Campaigners have since distributed thousands of postcards with a three-year-old photo of dirty smoke coming from Dofasco's melt shop where molten iron and scrap metal are turned into steel. The scene is not typical of Dofasco emissions and occurred before a pollution control system was repaired.
The text side, addressed Dear Mr. Schachler, says in part: "I am urging you to take stronger measures! A plan that will only achieve a 27 per cent reduction in cancer-causing benzo-a-pyrene is not good enough. We are counting on you to do the right thing and protect the health and well-being of the community you and your company are a part of. We deserve to have good neighbours."
Stiel said the plan is to turn over the letters when the ministry holds a meeting to present the second draft of proposed interim standards for the Hamilton plant. No date has been set, so campaigners are holding the letters and pushing the postcard plan.
While she intends to bring them to the public meeting, Stiel says, "We would like to sit down with him (Schachler) and present them personally."
Andrew Sloan, general manager of public affairs at ArcelorMittal Dofasco, said he hadn't heard from Stiel or seen any letters.
He said Schachler met with Environment Hamilton executive director Lynda Lukasik last fall, community members sit on a company environmental stakeholder group and "we are always looking to hear from the community on how we can continuously improve.
"We haven't received any postcards, but will continue to hold meetings to discuss our plans and the investments we are making with our Blue Skies Air Quality Action plan."
Stiel studied philosophy at McMaster University and is now working, mainly online, toward a master's degree in environmental education and communication from Royal Roads University. She said she's had Greenpeace training and organized gatherings for the Sierra Youth Coalition. She also served as director of the Mac Green group last year.
"Targeting a global steelmaker is much different from dealing with composting and other campus issues," she said.
No comments:
Post a Comment