Why I became an Eco-Leader

by Dr. John Ascah MD, FRCP, MPH

Why do I donate to CAPE? There is more than ample evidence that our health is determined – to a large extent – by the environment we live in. This includes physical, chemical, and biological factors, and the social milieu we happen to be in. As a physician practicing clinical medicine, I deal mostly with ill health, but not the causes of ill health. Assisting CAPE is a way I can contribute to efforts to deal with major causes of disease rather than just their effects. In addition, physicians both have credibility in our society and a duty to be advocates for our patients and community on all issues of health and especially those issues with such profound and far reaching effects as those due to our environment.

Why I became an Eco-Leader

by Éric Notebaert, MD

DEUX DEGRÉS de plus, et 2 à 3 milliards de gens sur la planète risquent fort de manquer d’eau. Deux degrees Celsius de plus et la survie de millions de gens sera menacée car les glaciers des Andes et de l’Himalaya vont disparaître. Deux degrés Celsius de plus et la désertification menacera directement la survie de plus de 2 milliards de personnes dans les 40 pays les plus pauvres de la planète. Deux degrés Celsius de plus et des centaines de millions de personnes de plus souffriront de la malaria dans le monde…Cela est à mon sens la menace la plus sérieuse à la santé et à la vie humaine. Comme êtres humains et médecins, nous avons le devoir d’agir. Dans le futur, l’Humanité devra être plus solidaire, ou elle ne sera plus. Et ceci commence par des gestes au quotidien, petits ou grands, mais sans relâche. Car il y a urgence en la demeure, notre planète.

TWO DEGREES Celsius or more, and 2 to 3 million people on earth may not have enough water. Two degrees Celsius or more and the survival of millions of people will be threatened as the glaciers of the Andes and the Himalayas will disappear. Two degrees Celsius or more and the world’s desertification will threaten the survival of more than 2 billion people in the 40 poorest countries on earth. Two degrees Celsius or more and millions more will suffer from malaria…I think that this is the most serious threat to health and human life. As human beings and physicians, we have a moral duty to do something. We need more solidarity or Humanity as we understand it today will disappear. And I think we have to work on this every day, as there is a real urgency if we want to save our planet.

Why I became an Eco-Leader

By Cindy Tuer

Years ago when I first discovered CAPE and what they had accomplished with their big cred and small budget, I became a huge fan. It’s refreshing to see an organization which marries health and the environment in such a perfect way. They understand the connection between reducing toxins to improve our health and quality of life.

Over the years, I have watched CAPE champion pesticide bans across the country and with their assistance, I am sure that they will help our local health and environmental organizations achieve the same for our city of Calgary.

As a new grandmother, the issue of indiscriminate pesticide use in our city has acquired even greater urgency!

Why I became an Eco-Leader

By Alison Scott Butler QC

I am a long-time advocate for the elimination of cosmetic pesticides, as well as the drastic reduction of toxics from all aspects of human endeavour, and I have been elated at the progress made by CAPE. CAPE is a small organization with only part-time employees, but it has made tremendous strides by promoting pesticide bylaws in municipalities across Canada.
The new Ontario provincial law, together with regulations – effective April 22 – which eliminates cosmetic pesticide use is the culmination of a tremendous effort on CAPE’s part. The power of physician advocacy cannot be underestimated. Physicians who provide care for patients are hard pressed to undertake advocacy individually. But, collectively they can be very effective. They can raise public awareness and change laws to improve our environment and thereby improve our health. Financial resources are essential, and I have not come across any organization that uses its resources more effectively than CAPE.

Why I became an Eco-Leader

By Dr. Raquel Feroe FRCPC

I became an eco-leader because I like to be strategic with my charitable dollars. CAPE has credibility, capacity, and their very existence helps people to link environmental health to personal health. I could have become an Eco-Leader solely based on CAPE's award-winning work on pesticide policy but there is more that attracts me to CAPE. Supporting CAPE is a way for me to practice preventative medicine that has the potential to reach the masses and raise hope for our planet. CAPE's mandate is to promote environmental sustainability and ecosystem health. For those of you, like me, who see patients with chronic illness, the opportunity to be part of an organization that offers such a refreshing and proactive approach to healthcare is very appealing.

I would love to network with other CAPE physicians and particularly those in Edmonton where I live. I hope all doctors reading this article decide to join CAPE’s Eco-Leaders and I look forward to networking and sharing our environmental interests.

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