Letters Jan. 17: Helping neighbours; evidence of climate emergency; an app for prescriptions

See if frail neighbours need your help

For those of us who enjoyed a snow day on 91原创 Island, please remember to check on frail seniors in your neighbourhood who might need help, as they may not be receiving a home-care visit, meals on wheels, medication pickup, and may need their sidewalk and their driveway cleared. While this is a rare event for us, we need to pull together as neighbours, neighbourhoods, and communities. As B.C. seniors advocate Isabel MacKenzie said recently: 鈥淚n these situations a helpful neighbour is more useful than a family member living far away.鈥�

For seniors and folks that need help with the activities of daily living, have a backup plan. Know your neighbours and have their contact information. The same is true for any type of disaster. We all need a 鈥減lan B鈥� for when we can鈥檛 depend on health services and local governments to perform their usual services.

Rick Robinson
Co-chair, Sooke and Juan de Fuca Health Foundation

Whether shovelling snow makes sense

Most of us are aware of the recent massive snowfall in Victoria. Upon looking out my window Wednesday morning, it looked like we had about a foot of snow. As a good citizen, I went out into the dark to shovel our sidewalks. I try to see shovelling snow as an opportunity for exercise.

As an aside, I was greeted by the Times 91原创 carrier who cheerfully handed me my morning paper.

I may be just a complainer, but it seems to me that scraping the sidewalk down to the pavement is not a good idea. Often what happens is the melting snow freezes overnight and creates a skating rink where we least expect one. On Thursday, in fact, the streets and sidewalks are really more slippery than they were Wednesday. I dutifully sprinkled salt on the sidewalk in front of our place, but I really wonder why we scrape to clear the sidewalks in the first place. It was actually easier on Thursday to walk on areas where there is still snow.

David Pearce
Victoria

There鈥檚 plenty of evidence of a climate emergency

Re: 鈥淐limate ideology trumping common sense,鈥� comment, Jan. 12.

The commentary makes the argument that there is no climate emergency 鈥� and even if there was, Canada鈥檚 1.6 per cent of global emissions is so low that any effort to reduce them is somehow wasted.

If you believe there is no climate emergency 鈥� and you don鈥檛 have time to research droughts, fires, storms, floods, sea-rise, spill pollution, health impacts, biodiversity loss, food costs and forced immigration 鈥� take a quick look at a couple of videos on YouTube: a timelapse of the melting Arctic over that last 20 years, and a video of the smoke coming off the continent of Australia.

If you agree that Canada鈥檚 contribution is too small to matter, consider that there are about 200 countries in the world. Canada is one of the top 10 emitters of greenhouse gases. Combining the emissions of all countries having less than two per cent produces a sum rivalling the combined emissions of China and India. Giving all these countries a pass from contributing to a climate solution is ecocide.

The commentary鈥檚 suggestion that children such as Greta Thunberg should ignore a crisis that could ruin their lives is out of touch. Is this girl鈥檚 call for scientific decision-making really so perplexing?

Pipelines, fracking and LNG are unnecessary, harmful and they are quickly becoming unprofitable without taxpayer support. Solving the climate crisis is more of an economic opportunity than a 鈥渟acrifice.鈥� Each month, Canada wastes before joining the European Union and other climate leaders increases its risk of being left behind.

Bob Landell
Victoria

Also pay attention to today鈥檚 problems

Re: 鈥淢ayor Lisa Helps: A plan to make Victoria future-ready,鈥� comment, Jan. 16.

Congratulations Mayor Lisa Helps. Sounds like you have a well-thought-out plan for the聽future of Victoria that was developed with input from various sources and stakeholders.

It鈥檚 unfortunate that while planning for the next 20-40 years you are not focusing on many of the problems that exist in the city today. We have businesses in our downtown core that are planning on hiring private security because you and the council refuse to give the police the resources they need to do their job. Our beautiful city is plagued by the dirtiest sidewalks and streets that I have ever seen. It鈥檚 not only the bird population that defecates on them.

I鈥檇 really like to see council working on today鈥檚 issues as a priority.

Ron Sleen
Victoria

Health app an alternative for prescriptions

Re: 鈥淩epeat prescriptions from your pharmacist,鈥� letter, Jan. 14.

I tried to get in to 鈥渕y鈥� walk-in clinic for a prescription renewal. I tried for 21脷2 weeks. There was either a three-hour wait or it was closed or at capacity.

I then tried Telus鈥檚 Babylon health app.

I emailed my question, received an answer and booked an appointment with a doctor. She called on my smartphone, we had a video conversation and my renewal was there an hour later. I chose my pharmacy and picked the prescription up the next day.

Heather Gilker
Victoria