Elana Wright

For three days in January in Montreal, scientists, researchers, educators, health professionals, and activists from all over Quebec — and a few from around the world — came together to learn more about the links between women's health and the environment at "Éco-défi 2005." The first of its kind in Quebec, this symposium was organized by the Réseau québecois des femmes en environnement (RQFE), a growing organization devoted to creating links between women interested in environmental issues.

A vast spectrum of issues were presented and discussed in workshops, allowing in-depth discussion on the themes of major environmental impacts, including air and water pollution and climactic change; aggressive sources of environmental damage, such as pesticides and heavy metals; effects on health, including cancer, and damage to respiratory, reproductive, and immune systems; global action, including education, citizen involvement, and law and policy change; and finally, practical action, including sustainable transportation, responsible consumption, and healthy eating.

At the workshops, facilitators and panellists discussed each topic based on their background and experience, bringing extremely diverse perspectives to the discussions.

Plenary sessions offered an opportunity to hear recognized leaders in various environmental fields discuss issues they are passionate about.

The opening session began with a speech by provincial environment minister Thomas Mulcair, which bore witness to the support of the Quebec government to the event. It also featured a celebration of twelve Quebec women who have accomplished great things related to the environment, thanks to their passion and devotion. The women honoured included Donna Mergler, Edith Smeesters, Louise Vandelac, and the colourful Monique Fitz-Back, who tragically passed away just two weeks after the conference of complications from a heart attack. All of these women had contributed to the environmental movement in Quebec, as researchers, educators, or activists.

At the closing panel of the symposium, Monique Fitz-Back stated how lucky we are in Quebec to have better environmental regulations than many places. At the same time, however, we are among the biggest consumers in the world. She pointed out that 17% of the planet use 93% of its resources. This statistic was illustrated in the presentation by Esther Hinostroza Ricaldi from an activist community organization in Peru called Association Filomena. Her organization publicized the fact that miners and residents in their communities had extremely dangerous levels of lead in their blood due to the operations of an American mining company in their town, which flagrantly disregarded the health of its workers and the community surrounding it, in order to provide minerals for American companies. Without global environmental regulations, companies who wish to pollute merely have to move their operations to countries whose governments have not enacted environmental protections.

In the organization of the conference, the RQFE committed itself to respecting certain principles, including avoiding over-consumption, using local, environmentally-friendly products, and transportation with decreased greenhouse gas emissions.

Éco-défi 2005 was ambitious in its scope, and overwhelmed participants with information about the amount of work that needs to be done. However, the large number of participants at the conference, and the involvement of so many Quebec community associations, including Eau Secours, the Coalition Against Pesticides (CAP), and the Canadian Women's Health Network, showed that women are organizing and building coalitions to effect change. At the closing session, many panellists expressed a desire to hold another Éco-défi in a few years, to evaluate progress, and to come together again to show support for those who are working to improve the health of women by protecting the environment.

Here's to another Éco-défi in the future!