The Hub August 2015 | Page 17

Blue Dot The Blue Dot movement is a plan to get rights to clean air, fresh water, and healthy food legally recognized in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. More than 110 nations around the world have recognized the right to live in a healthy environment, but not Canada. Blue Dot wants to create lasting change for generations - their right to a healthy environment and a say in decisions affecting them. The movement starts with individuals standing up to say this right should be recognized, forcing local communities to pass municipal declarations. With so many communities calling for action, the provinces will follow suit. “When seven out of 10 provinces representing more than 50 per cent of the Canadian population have recognized our right to a healthy environment we turn toward the ultimate goal: amending the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.” Blue Dot is run by the David Suzuki Foundation, partnered with ecojustice, sponsored by Nature’s Path, Roots Canada, and Ascenta Health, and supported by more than 79, 000 Canadians. Here in Windsor organizers are calling on the Mayor and Windsor City Council to enact a declaration recognizing the Right to a Healthy Environment. The Blue Dot Movement in Windsor is being led by the Windsor-Essex Youth Advising City Councillors group. More than 600 Windsor students have designed postcards to send to Windsor City Council that included a message about why the right to a healthy environment is important to them For more information and to join the Blue Dot movement yourself visit bluedot.ca For information about the Windsor-Essex Youth Advising City Councillors group visit www.youthadvisingcc.com August 2015 - The HUB 17