This issue of The Surrey-North Delta Leader marks the third year we have dedicated an entire edition of the newspaper to environmental topics.
It’s our way of observing Earth Day – in 2011 falling on Friday, April 22 – when hundreds of millions of people from around the world will celebrate and promote more ecologically friendly practices in order to better preserve the planet.
This Friday marks the 41st Earth Day, and it’s clear from the stories in today’s paper that the health of the environment is top of mind for many, if not most.
Students, having grown up with annual Earth Days, are particularly keen. They are creating thought-provoking eco-art, taking part in global fundraising efforts for clean water, enhancing salmon streams, turning piles of leftover street banners into colourful tote bags, and educating their elders about the merits of recycling.
Cities, including Surrey and Delta, are stepping up by enacting tough new anti-pesticide bylaws and creating innovative organic recycling programs.
Non-profit organizations are educating the public about green gardening techniques and farmers are changing their relationship with the land in order to co-exist with wildlife, rather than ridding their acreage of so-called “pests.”
And green businesses abound, from those promoting cloth diapers over disposable, to mattress recycling firms, to cleaning companies that use only non-toxic substances.
While the newspaper industry could do more to “green” its products (using newsprint with recycled content comes to mind), The Leader is doing its part.
All of our print editions can be viewed online (http://www.issuu.com/
surreyleader/docs, which can be accessed via surreyleader.com).
So can our flyers (flyerland.ca). And customers wanting newspaper tearsheets can sign up for our e-tearsheet service.
But if you do have a copy or two of the The Leader’s print editions, the cold-set inks used in the printing process are 10-per-cent soy-based, meaning the newsprint can be recycled in backyard composters. Or just plain recycled.
Enjoy the fruits of our collective green deeds this Earth Day. The planet is better off thanks to the efforts of us all.
