President’s Message, December 19, 2008
Season's Greetings!
Dear Friend,
You may not be aware that for the past 20 years, I have led the Burns Bog Conservation Society's work fighting to protect Burns Bog. During that time I learned that all peat bogs are important in the prevention of global warming and climate change. I have a critical message for you.
The destruction of peatlands has not been given the attention it deserves in the global fight to stop climate change. Most people don't realize that the burning and clearing of peatlands is responsible for 10% or 3 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases every year.
"Just like a global phase out of old, energy guzzling light bulbs or a switch to hybrid cars, protecting and restoring peatlands is perhaps another key 'low hanging fruit' and among the most cost-effective options for climate change mitigation." Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director UN Environment Programme (UNEP)", December 7, 2007
I have learned that one of the keys to the protection of peatlands like Burns Bog is education. You cannot ask people to save or protect something if they do not know why it is important. That is why I have focused on education from the very beginning.
You can help. Check out our website www.burnsbog.org and then consider joining the Society with a gift of support to continue protecting Burns Bog--and all bogs through our education programs. A gift of $15, or whatever amount you choose goes a long way to raising awareness about our precious peatlands.
Just click on the CanadaHelps.org button on the left hand column after you have reached our website. Decide what you want to give. Type it in with the required information and before you know it, your gift will be working to protect our precious peatlands.
Believe me it is an investment worth making. The destruction of our peatlands is called a "carbon bomb" ready to go off every time a bit is destroyed.
Only 3% of the earth's surface is covered by peatlands. Yet they store twice as much carbon as all the world's forests.
What you do individually is important. But if you want to make a big impact on the world, you need to work with the big players--and the Burns Bog Conservation Society is one of the BIG Players in protecting peatlands in Canada.
The Society brings leaders from governments, corporations and non-profit organizations locally to protect peatlands.
Further, we have the science to back it up. Science is the cornerstone of everything we do as we develop educational material for teachers, give field trips to students and seniors alike or provide a fun-filled week of summer day camp for our young children.
Knowing that you can squeeze water from moss to drink or how to build a shelter of sticks and plants could be the difference between life and death for a lost child.
Today, I ask you to do your part. Your gift can help teachers take their students on a walk in the Delta Nature Reserve or help make sure a budding scientist can spend a week learning about the plants and animals and why they are important.
It is one of the most important things you can do for the future of our planet. Thanks again for all that you do.
Sincerely,
Eliza Olson
Founding President, Burns Bog Conservation Society
P.S. Once you have made your contribution, send this message to a friend and ask your friend to join you in your efforts to save some of the rarest ecosystems in the world--our peatlands. Thanks again.
Happy holidays.
Burns Bog Conservation Society
4-7953 120 Street, Delta, BC V4C 6P6
Tel: 604.572.0373 Fax: 604.572.0374 TF 1.888.850.6264
www.burnsbog.org |
