Comments for Moon Willow Press http://www.moonwillowpress.com Helping to sustain renewable, arboreal ecosystems while celebrating the written word Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:29:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Stephen Colbert taping in Vancouver, February 18 by Moon Willow Press http://www.moonwillowpress.com/2010/02/stephen-colbert-taping-in-vancouver/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Moon Willow Press Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:29:45 +0000 http://www.moonwillowpress.com/?p=534#comment-3 I should add that I'm aware of the controversy of the Olympic Games and Vancouver's overspending during an economic downturn, which has cut out necessary funding for many beneficial programs in BC. I do not like the corporate overlay of today's Olympic Games, nor do I agree with that aspect of the games. On the other hand, I can appreciate international peaceful competition and funny men like Stephen Colbert! There simply is a portion of this overspent, corporate atmosphere that has another side. As I have traveled downtown this week, I have been struck by the prospect of many different people from all over the world congregating in Vancouver. I have seen blocks-long lines for Japadogs, church choirs on street corners, smiling people everywhere, and a lot of patience and goodwill. Further, another issue of this year's Games is one that has fallen by the wayside. This Olympics was supposed to be the greenest ever. I like what the <a href="http://www.thestarphoenix.com/sports/Vanoc+green+games/2584516/story.html" rel="nofollow">Calgary Herald</a> said: It's clearly not easy being green, but at least Vancouver is trying -- bit by bitumen. Another issue not yet picked up by the international press is Fraser Riverkeeper's study of the water surrounding Olympics Village -- water that the <a href="http://www.journalofcommerce.com/article/id36581/watersewer" rel="nofollow">Journal of Commerce</a> referred to as safe enough for children to wade in, in order to examine marine life. I contract with Fraser Riverkeeper, and therefore saw how this issue has so far been ignored by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and others. <a href="http://www.fraserriverkeeper.ca/features/false-creek-contains-dangerous-chemical-contamination-near-olympic-village/" rel="nofollow">Fraser Riverkeeper's study</a> found elevated levels of PCBs, PAHs, copper, lead, and other heavy metals in the waters near Olympic Village, in False Creek -- levels that surpass BC's own set chemical parameters for the protection of marine and aquatic life. There is no way children or anyone should be wading in this water! I should add that I’m aware of the controversy of the Olympic Games and Vancouver’s overspending during an economic downturn, which has cut out necessary funding for many beneficial programs in BC. I do not like the corporate overlay of today’s Olympic Games, nor do I agree with that aspect of the games. On the other hand, I can appreciate international peaceful competition and funny men like Stephen Colbert! There simply is a portion of this overspent, corporate atmosphere that has another side. As I have traveled downtown this week, I have been struck by the prospect of many different people from all over the world congregating in Vancouver. I have seen blocks-long lines for Japadogs, church choirs on street corners, smiling people everywhere, and a lot of patience and goodwill.

Further, another issue of this year’s Games is one that has fallen by the wayside. This Olympics was supposed to be the greenest ever. I like what the Calgary Herald said: It’s clearly not easy being green, but at least Vancouver is trying — bit by bitumen.

Another issue not yet picked up by the international press is Fraser Riverkeeper’s study of the water surrounding Olympics Village — water that the Journal of Commerce referred to as safe enough for children to wade in, in order to examine marine life.

I contract with Fraser Riverkeeper, and therefore saw how this issue has so far been ignored by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and others.

Fraser Riverkeeper’s study found elevated levels of PCBs, PAHs, copper, lead, and other heavy metals in the waters near Olympic Village, in False Creek — levels that surpass BC’s own set chemical parameters for the protection of marine and aquatic life. There is no way children or anyone should be wading in this water!

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