Local environmental advocates celebrate Earth Day

For local environmental advocates, April 22, 2011 is not only Good Friday, it’s ‘Earth Day’

Eric Swanson with the Dogwood Initiative marked Earth Day by speaking out on the issue of tanker traffic off BC’s Coast

“the future of our coast really does hang in a balance with this election. This has been an issue for over 40 years in British Columbia. The health of our coast and the threat of oil spills, and protecting everything that our coasts and our salmon rivers provide. So this election is going to mean a lot for our coast and we have been very diligent about letting it be known where the local candidates stand on this issue of oil tankers and spills”

Swanson says if you are concerned about oil tanker traffic off BC’s coast people should see where their choice of candidates stand on the issue before they go to vote.

Swanson was speaking with CFAX 1070’s Adam Stirling

Ken Wu with the Ancient Forest Alliance, meanwhile spoke on behalf of old growth forests.

Wu says protecting old growth forests doesn’t just have environmental benefits.

“the vast majority of the land base is second growth now, in Southern British Columbia, we have very little old growth left, and in fact many of the tourism businesses are rallying to ensure that the last old growth remnants are protected for tourism, for example in the Port Renfrew area we have been working with the Chamber of Commerce”

Port Renfrew is located near the now famous ‘Avatar Grove’

Wu was also a guest on CFAX 1070 with Adam Stirling Friday

Earth day is celebrated every April 22nd in Canada and other parts of the world, and is aimed at raising awareness for local environmental issues.