Go to the homepage for the Sylva Herald and Ruralite

Editorials - 03/01/01

Canary Coalition deserves our support

With the advent of the Canary Coalition, Jackson County and Western North Carolina have a local advocate for cleaner air, a concern mentioned at every Smart Growth meeting held so far.

Local businessman and environmental activist Avram Friedman will coordinate the group's efforts to focus attention on the growing air pollution here in the mountains.

Our region is experiencing serious problems that can be traced directly to air quality. WNC has soaring incidences of child asthma attacks and other pulmonary diseases that can be linked to ground level ozone and particulate matter inhalation.

Trees are dying by the thousands in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and along the Blue Ridge Parkway due to weaknesses brought on by sulfur dioxide emissions and the acid rain that results. Air pollution is endangering hundreds of rare plant species that exist in this region and nowhere else on earth.

We'd like to add our own written endorsement to those the Canary Coalition has already received. Groups such as the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Travel and Tourism Authority and Sylva Partners in Renewal have all lined up behind the grassroots clean air advocacy movement, and they are right to do so.

People in other regions don't realize the gravity of the problem in WNC. The Canary Coalition will center its efforts around coordinating public events to promote increased awareness of the air quality problems that are currently being experienced by our region.

"Focusing national attention on the danger to health and the environment due to our poor air quality in the Smoky Mountains is important as a first step in solving the problem. That's what the Canary Coalition is all about, and it's going to take as many people as possible to help get the message out," Friedman said.

Named for the canaries used in coal mines to determine when air became too toxic for men to work, the Canary Coalition hopes to serve a similar function for our region.

"But unlike canaries, we're not locked in a cage, and we can do something to help ourselves," Friedman said.

Let's all give the fledgling group our support. It's working to protect us - and our mountains.

Editorial policy

The opinions expressed on this page are those of the Sylva Herald Editorial Committee. Opinions are derived independently and owe no allegiance to any group, organization or political party. We welcome opposing views.

Back to Top Stories.

Back to Archive: 03/01/01.