Opinion

by Kenyon Bennett

Canadian wildfires are already raging in British Columbia and Alberta, the Associated Press reported May 13. Smoke from the wildfires impacted the upper Midwest, including parts of the Dakotas, Montana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin May 12-13. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources first issued air quality alerts at the “unhealthy” level in the northern two-thirds of the state May 12. People sensitive to smoke were urged to remain indoors. A meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Chicago office said that “smoke could drift as far south as Iowa and Chicago, leaving skies looking milky by late Tuesday or early Wednesday,” May 14-15.

TD Bank Financial Group announced May 7 that it was providing four Canadian organizations with a CAD $250,000 donation to help with “wildfire and disaster relief prevention across Canada, including in British Columbia, Alberta, and Atlantic Canada.” The four organizations receiving portions of the funds are First Nations Emergency Services Society of British Columbia, University of Alberta Wildfire Analytics Team, CLIMAtlantic, and GlobalFire. Sites will eventually arise online that will allow people to donate funds to combat the wildfires.

How can Americans help? Answers remain unclear, but everyone who is able should try to combat climate changes. That is easier said than done. People may search online for charitable organizations assisting with battling Canadian wildfires. To date, none have been posted for 2024. Other tips from the United Nations might help with reducing the negative effects of climate change.

The United Nations recommends the following for improving the planet’s health: Save energy at home; change your home’s source of energy to become more dependent on wind or solar energy; walk, bike, or take public transportation; switch to an electric vehicle; reduce or cancel your travel if flights are required; reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle electronics, clothing, plastics, and other items; eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds to reduce environmental impacts; throw away less food; plant native species; clean up your environment; make your money count by selecting goods and services that reduce the environmental impact; speak up about protecting the environment and take actions. See more information at https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions.