(Photo: Caroline Dostie Photographie)
Bernie Shalinsky, a Blue Dot volunteer for a year and a half.
Living with cancer for several years pushed me to completely change my lifestyle. Once I started making big changes to my everyday habits, I noticed a definite improvement in my health allowing me to better navigate my day-to-day life with the illness. This experience convinced me that our health is closely related to the quality of our environment, and that is why I actively fight for the recognition of the right to a healthy environment for every Canadian.
The well-being of all species, ourselves included, depends greatly on our ability to protect access to clean air, drinking water and healthy food for everybody. In 2014, during the Canadian tour of the Blue Dot movement, I was deeply inspired by David Suzuki’s passionate lectures. This man of conviction dedicated his life to the fundamental cause, and I believe we should follow his lead to build a better future for the generations to come.
I think it is our duty to get different generations together with the shared objective of preserving our environment. For that very reason, I decided months ago to become actively involved in the Blue Dot movement of the David Suzuki Foundation, and to build awareness in my community in Montreal, outside of political offices.
The fundamental right to healthy environment should be recognized by all the countries that signed the Paris Agreement in 2016. I strongly believe that our survival depends on our willingness to ensure a healthy environment for everyone, as well as our ability to act together.
Blue Dot relies on the efforts of dedicated citizens taking action in their local communities. Humans of Blue Dot is an attempt to capture the unique stories of some inspiring volunteers who have generously given their time to advancing the environmental rights movement in Canada.
