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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER -
This information and research which is intended to be reliable, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All material in this article is provided for information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this newsletter/website. Readers should consult their doctor and other qualified health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information and opinions provided in this newsletter/website are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the authors. Readers who fail to consult with appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries. The publisher is not responsible for any errors or omissions.
OK in Health is not responsible for the information in these articles and for any content included on this article is intended as a guide only and should not be used as an to seeking professional advice from either your doctor or a registered specialist for yourself or anyone else.
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ENVIRONMENT INFORMATIONThis page is designed to help share information about small or big changes we can make in our daily lives that can help protect and enhance this beautiful place we live. By educating our selves and sharing information with each other, we can help makes some changes so that we and our children can breathe and live in a less toxic world. We have special events, workshops, interesting articles and information on how to try and protect or improve our environment. Often, it is the small changes we make that can make the biggest changes. Workshops and EventsSee more Workshops & Event on the directory page or Calendar
Okanagan Environment - NEWS UPDATE
Here are some shots taken this Spring of a Lynx at the Oliver Landfill. Take note of the big feet on this guy! It is not often ones see this rare cat so close to this type of human activity. Environment NEWS UPDATE from David Suzuki Here today...extinct tomorrow Canada is known throughout the world for its wildlife. Even our coins feature iconic Canadian animals such as the beaver, caribou, loon, and polar bear. It's sad to think that some of these very same animals are at risk of extinction. In May of this year, the federal government’s Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) announced that more than 500 Canadian species are now at risk of extinction. Dangers such as climate change and habitat destruction are putting our animals at risk. Each species plays a role in nature. When wildlife goes extinct, it harms the Earth’s ability to provide the natural services we depend on. Urban development on the range. Imagine if you came home on afternoon and discovered your neighborhood had been razed to make room for a shopping mall with acres of parking lots. That’s exactly what’s happening to Canada’s animals each day. Habitat loss is the biggest challenge faced by Canadian wildlife. And it comes in many forms. Urban sprawl encroaches into areas where plants and animals make their homes, and in many cases limits access to food. For example, in B.C. and Alberta, land development is closing in on traditional grizzly bear turf. This isn’t safe for the bears who need homes, or humans who face an increased likelihood in discovering hungry bears sniffing around their garbage. Another problem faced by some of Canada’s most iconic species is global climate change. Researchers are already seeing the impacts of melting ice on polar bears. Polar bears are losing weight because sea-ice breaks up earlier in the spring than it previously did, reducing the amount of time they can spend hunting on the frozen sea-ice each year. Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) was designed to protect Canadian wildlife at risk, and it’s automatically applied to federal land. Sounds good, right? Trouble is, SARA doesn’t apply to most public lands since they fall under provincial jurisdiction. This means that only a small portion of Canada’s biodiversity is protected. Another problem with SARA is that the federal government has failed to follow up by protecting the habitat of at-risk species officially listed under the act. The David Suzuki Foundation wants the federal government to enforce SARA so Canada’s species will be protected from extinction. And you can help. Learn more Don’t just sit there—you can do something! Here are some ways to protect Canada’s biodiversity for the future: Support stronger legislation to protect Canada’s species at risk. One of the most important ways to protect our animals is to strengthen and enforce existing laws. SEND AN EMAIL Leave your car at home. Polar bears in northern Canada have less and less habitat each year due to global warming caused by the greenhouse gas emissions from our vehicles. Reducing dependence on cars also sends a powerful message for legislators to limit urban sprawl. Our food choices affect animals in some surprising ways. For example, eating locally grown food that doesn’t need to be shipped long distances reduces greenhouse gases that are warming animal habitat as far away as the Arctic. Stop using pesticides in your garden and lawn. The chemicals can harm small children and pets who play in your yard. The runoff from rainwater may also contaminate drinking water. Plant trees in your yard that support native birds, and grow native plants that encourage pollinators such as bees and butterflies. For more information: http://www.seeds.ca/proj/poll/ Next time you’re out shopping, say no to plastic bags. Many marine animals and birds eat plastic bags littering the sea and die. Volunteer and work with wildlife in your area. Wildlife centres may be in need of volunteers, and working for a good cause may be the perfect way for your family to spend time together: September News Update from David Suzuki: www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge Local Environment NewsOkanagan Wild Birds Need Help! SORCO has been operating since 1987 as a non-profit registered society. SORCO is a clinic and rehab facility for injured and orphaned birds of prey (Raptors). Our purpose is to treat and release all birds of prey. These include: Owls, Hawks, Eagles, Vultures, Falcons, and Osprey. which are returned back into the wild whenever possible. Centre is located just one kilometer south of Vaseux Lake near the town of Oliver in the South Okanagan Valley of BC. SORCO is not a zoo. Due to government restrictions, no public visitation at the facility is allowed at this time. 98% of all orphaned chicks are able to be released back into the wild and the Public may attend these event. The key to dealing with western pine beetle, which attacks only ponderosa pines, is early detection. Look for these signs:
If these signs are evident, the tree should be removed and properly disposed of before beetles are allowed to reemerge. The next major reemergence isn’t expected until Spring, but there may still be activity in the winter if temperatures stay warm. For Kelowna Area - Recent infestations have killed hundreds of trees in some areas of Kelowna. The City is asking all property owners with pine beetle infestations to fill out a pine beetle form. This form will help determine the scope of the problem in Kelowna and establish criteria for developing a removal program{more details} Call the Pine Beetle Hotline for more information: 1 250 469-8457 Environment ArticlesNew Article October 16th - 22nd - Is Waste Reduction Week! - Provide a Chemical-Free Safe Home for You and Your Family! Is your home a toxic dump? According to the Canadian Cancer Society and the David Suzuki Foundation, almost one in two Canadians will get cancer at some point in their lifetime. One in two of us! What's going on here? It's time to clean house. Topics include: 150 Organic and Natural Garden tips - read some useful way to help keep your Garden organic and natural Saving Water with Rain Barrels Capture rainwater for your garden. The water you use for your lawn doesn’t have to come from a tap. A cistern or a rain barrel will capture and store rainwater for irrigation. Make sure your barrel is covered with a tight-fitting lid or screen to keep disease-carrying mosquitoes from breeding there...[More details]
Composting and Natural Yard CareComposting is as Easy as 1,2,3... Wouldn't you prefer to see your garden grow instead of local landfills? Composting can reduce your household waste by more than 30%. Composting not only helps to reduce the amount of waste going to local landfills, but by adding compost to your garden, flower beds, lawn and trees you improve soil fertility and texture and reduce watering. Best of all, your plants will love it! The 3 easy steps to composting - More DetailsNatural yard care information - More Detials More DetailsCompost bins can be purchased at most local nurseries and hardware stores. Compost is sold at the Campbell Mountain Landfill and most local Landfills and nurseries.
ENVIRONMENTAL TIPS AND SUGGESTIONSTaking Action for our Environment Home & Garden -
PREVIOUS EVENTS ON THE 'OK In Health' ENVIRONMENTAL PAGE'Environmental Mind Grind and Fair The Environmental Mind Grind competition encourages students to learn about the local environment while participating in a stimulating and fun educational event. The Environmental Fair will increase awareness of environmentally-conscious products and services in the North Okanagan so residents can make positive choices for the environment. Businesses are selected for commitment to the environment. Environment tables available. Help clean up the shorelines of Okanagan River! September 30th is BC Rivers Day/World Rivers Day Okanagan River: Awareness & Celebration of this Endangered River. The Okanagan River is considered to be the third most endangered river in B. C. Puddles for Peepers' - Free Summer Events SORCO's Annual Public Open House and Volunteer recruitment day The Great Okanagan Wood Stove Change Out Program If you’re in the market for a new wood burning appliance, March is a great month to retire your old, smoke-belcher! 1st Annual SPCA Dinner and Date Auction, Kelowna Help support the SPCA Cruelty Investigation Division "Future of Food" The Movie There is a revolution happening in the farm fields and on the dinner tables of America -- a revolution that is transforming the very nature of the food we eat. THE FUTURE OF FOOD offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade. From the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada to the fields of Oaxaca, Mexico, this film gives a voice to farmers whose lives and livelihoods have been negatively impacted by this new technology. The health implications, government policies and push towards globalization are all part of the reason why many people are alarmed by the introduction of genetically altered crops into our food supply. Shot on location in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, THE FUTURE OF FOOD examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multinational corporations seek to control the world's food system. The film also explores alternatives to large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic and sustainable agriculture as real solutions to the farm crisis today. If there is interest we can hold a screening at one of your events, for your group or we can set up a public screening at a date that’s convenient for you. The South Okanagan Rehab Centre for Owls- We will be releasing our two Pygmy Owl chicks this coming Sunday July 9, Earth Day Event 'Gardeners Festival' live music, garden workshops, vendors, worm farm tours. World of Worm Castings, Kelowna, BC. Sunday, April 23rd The Skaha Lake Clean-Up - Ogopogo Power & Sail Squadron June 25, 2005 At Skaha Lake. Over the decades Skaha Lake has been subject to debris, dumping and boating abuse. One June 25th you have the opportunity to show your community spirit by helping clean up our lake. It’s time to bring back the clean water that we drink, swim and enjoy all year. Skaha Lake, an Okanagan Treasure we can’t afford to lose. Volunteers and captains are needed to assist for clean-up crews…get your family, co-workers, sports team or neighborhood involved! OK In Health Home | Privacy Policy | Conditions of Use | Contact Us | Copyright © 2004 OK In Health. All rights reserved.
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Healthy Homes 101
The few cases of tick paralysis in the Okanagan and B.C. Interior are generally related to the bite of the Rocky Mountain wood tick although there are dozens of varieties of ticks around the world with varying degrees of toxicity. "A cluster of tick paralysis cases does not make an outbreak and it has nothing to do with Lyme disease!" So says Dr. Rob Parker, a medical health officer with the Interior Health Authority. He recommends removing the tick with a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. “Don’t burn it off or put alcohol on it. If you damage it, it may regurgitate more material into the body,” he advised. “Gently grab the tick at the base where it attaches to the skin and pull it directly upward.” Precautions for avoiding tick bites include wearing light-coloured long sleeved shirts and long pants when hiking in forested areas and grasslands. “Do a check along the hairline which is where they tend to gravitate,” advised Parker. “Check your kid’s hairline and do a thorough comb-out of your dog.” 