[All] Waterloo's Costco Debate and the Elevator Pitch

Tue Apr 8 10:08:08 EDT 2014

Good comments Daphne - As you may know there used to be an Air Quality 
committee in Waterloo Region composed of citizens working with various 
councillors, profs, staff and mayors. 
http://www.oen.ca/dir/detail.php?id=1610  We tried to bring the issue of air 
quality forward and did make a few inroads and changes, but bottom line, air 
quality is generally not on the radar for people. Like I said, people can't 
see it, smell it, taste it or make the connection that they are producing 
it/part of the problem. Its an invisible thing that is happening all the 
time and silently it's accumulating tons of dirty deposits in various layers 
of the atmosphere. Its presence in the atmosphere is said to be contributing 
to climate change, changing the way molecules behave in cloud and rain 
formation. Not to mention all the jets flying now compared to 20-30 years 
ago + those emissions. Few want to talk about it who have money to gain 
doing what they usually do eg. developers, because it might cramp their 
style or cost more to do things differently.

Other than a few environmental organizations scattered here and there, it 
has no voice to draw attention to it, to ask for respect, and demand that 
people keep it in mind when planning. Who speaks for the air? It is one of 
the most vital things we need to live, and yet it gets abused, just like our 
natural water systems and land. It is our silent life-support systems that 
need us to speak for them on their behalf. The planet's amount of breathable 
air is also finite, as is the world's water, which is hard for people to 
comprehend. Its not like 'oh well, fresh air will come in from outer space 
or something'. Trees and vegetation are the air's friends/filters.

One good thing that did happen is we joined with other groups in Ontario to 
get coal-burning generating plants to either close or convert to cleaner 
sources for energy production. Coal was said to be very connected to high 
childrens' asthma rates. That got done, but then the gov.'t came  under 
heavy criticism because energy prices went up - but that is a complicated 
business- trying to figure out why electricity prices are where they are. 
People don't make the connection between what comes out of their tailpipes 
and health issues like heart disease-someone needs to step up the education 
on that, so people do things like combine all their errands or walk to get 
things instead of driving. Maybe when the heart and stroke foundation sends 
out their flashy lottery flyers to win fancy cars and luxury trips, they 
should mention that!  How about giving away bicycles, walking + hiking 
shoes, and even Segways (are they still a thing?) instead of making cars the 
desirable objects.

According to the news, the results of the Council meeting sound generally 
positive, although I wasn't there. Its nuts that Ira Needles Blvd. was just 
recently built and already needs to be widened. How come they have all this 
forethought re: growth and the need for LRT but not in road planning?

Lori

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Daphne Nichollls" <gordanddaph at sympatico.ca>
To: "GREN" <all at gren.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2014 8:13 AM
Subject: [All] Waterloo's Costco Debate and the Elevator Pitch

> Hi Grenners,
> Two topics stemming from yesterday: GREN and the Costco debate at Waterloo 
> Council, and an instructive CBC radio issue of Terry O'Reilly's  program 
> about the art of advertising, Under the Influence: the Elevator Pitch.
>
> Topic 1: Waterloo's decision about Costco
> Four GREN members were among the 13 citizens who had signed up in advance 
> as delegates to speak at the Waterloo council meeting. Kevin, Deb, Eleanor 
> and Greg each spoke eloquently about different disadvantages of building a 
> Costco store and gas bar in this location, and without adequate time for 
> careful planning. What a great team!  Kevin shared many of his thoughts 
> with us in advance, so I won't repeat them here. As I didn't take notes, 
> for a change, my comments are going to be general and inadequate 
> summaries....my apologies everyone! Several of the delegates painted 
> detailed pictures to illustrate the importance of this area of 
> country/city interface, with words and photos. Deb spoke about traffic 
> generated by a Costco and its impact on country roads, particularly the 
> steep and scenic Wilmot Line, and the need to protect the environmental 
> features, the ESL.  Eleanor spoke gently about the importance of the rural 
> influence of  the 3 W's, Wilmot, Wellesley and Woolwich on Waterloo, an 
> essence that makes Waterloo distinctive. Greg's research into why the 
> Costco corporation needs a new store, with a 150 km market-base, to boost 
> flagging sales in the US added an important dimension to the issues 
> considered. He also questioned why the city and the Region should choose 
> to subsidize a corporation where non-members (especially the poor, who 
> can't afford the $55 membership fee) are not welcome, a company whose 
> customers will require cars and trucks to transport all their large 
> purchases.
> Jane Schneider, while not member of GREN, needs honourable mention for her 
> years of advocating for the natural environment. She spoke of the many 
> different species who call the area home, and the need to protect their 
> habitat. I wonder if Jane and her late husband, Fred, have ever been 
> honoured for their leadership and generosity.
> Throughout the long evening I became aware that air quality had not been 
> discussed and would be at risk, especially gratuitously from the vehicles 
> idling in queues for the bargains at the 12 gas pumps. Graciously, the 
> chair allowed me to comment as the last delegate.
> Why, I wonder, isn't air quality seen as a significant part of the 
> planning process? Are we collectively choosing to pretend it isn't an 
> issue? At a Heart and Stroke Foundation seminar several years ago, 
> scientists and doctors spoke passionately about the need to reduce air 
> pollution and the costs if we don't to individuals, families, employers 
> and the health care system. Those experts were seriously concerned about 
> the increases in lung disease, asthma, heart attacks and strokes, and yet 
> air pollution doesn't seem to be a significant component in the planning 
> process!
> (At a meeting March 4 th about airport expansion, the GRCA rep who was 
> there to talk about the environment said that air pollution hadn't been 
> considered.
> Good grief!)
>
> I left the meeting slightly after 10, so look forward to hearing the 
> results  of council's debate today!
>
> Topic 2: the Elevator Pitch
> Why should we be excited about a radio programme about advertising? 
> Because we are selling ideas, ideas that may save the world, and O'Reilley 
> shares techniques. The Saturday, April 5, 2014 edition was about Elevator 
> Pitches: how to pitch an idea in the time it takes an elevator to ascend 
> or descend a few floors....a very short time.
> His stories and music add to the experience of listening for half an hour. 
> Listen while you're making dinner, or something.
>
> www.cbc.ca/undertheinfluence/Season-3/
>
> Onward and upward!
> Daphne
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> All mailing list
> All at gren.ca
> http://mail.gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca
> 