This is why I investigate environmental injustice

I can still taste the fog that wafted over Pictou County, Nova Scotia. As a little kid, I didn’t know what it was but I did know what it was called: Scott Paper. My brothers and I would sing it out to each other when we smelled the sulphurous clouds rolling past; to us, it was just a gross fact of life. We didn’t know about the links between the emissions from pulp mills and heart and lung disease, multiple sclerosis, genetic disorders and more — just that when the wind blew off Boat Harbour, we had to shut the windows.

Millions of Canadians live in places like this, where governments of all levels have allowed industry to pollute the air, water and land beyond an acceptable tradeoff for shareholder returns.  

As managing editor of Canada’s National Observer, I want to report on the environmental and climate crisis that has become so urgent. That's why I'm reaching out again to you  – we're still $7,000 away from our winter fundraising goal, every dollar counts, and there isn’t much time to go, only 1 day. So please, if you can, donate. The missing $7,000 is critical to our budget. It is what it will take for me to bring you the quality of reporting you deserve.

Journalism that documents these harms, finds those responsible and holds them accountable is more important than ever. That’s the essential work that occupies so much of my time.  

As managing editor, part of my job is to help our reporters focus their efforts, and in our current media environment that’s a process of narrowing, pruning and saying “no” a lot.

But sometimes I like to dream. What if we had another person to dive into data? What if we had a reporter to focus on ways that building cities can make them more climate resilient? What if we could let one more reporter roll with their best idea for 

When we ask ourselves “what should we cover?” and “how much can we dedicate to this?” the answer should be: all of it, and more. Please help make that possible.