10 w = = a = DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com | Thursday, April 21, 2022 Earth Day Canada is # calling on Canadians feel- = ing eco-anxiety to call in 2 sick on April 22 (Earth Day) = and take action fo pele . themselves and the p! 2 Representatives men he © not-for-profit organization unveiled eco-anxiety as the theme of the 2022 media paign during a news conference on Thursday, April 7. They said 200 co-anxiety can manifest a: omnia, stress, depression, p panicat- tacks, shortness of breath or anger and comes from a deep concern about the fu- ture of the planet. Earth Day Canada Exec- utive Director Valerie Mal- said _ eC0- -anxiety worsening environmental EARTH DAY 2022 situation. However, she said there is hope. “Eco-anxiety is anormal feeling, and it can be atten- uated by connecting with community and act- Mallam “around the “pend of April, thousands of people from one ocean to the other will be participating in ac- tivities to take care of the planet. Walks, cleanup ac- tivities for the neighbour- hoods, tree plantings and webinars on eco-anxiety will be just some of the things we will be able to do to take care of ourselves HEARING AIDS that connect you and your loved ones, no matter where you are! and the planet." Isabelle Beliveau, co- founder of the not-for-prof- it organization Eco-motion, which is dedicated to erad icating eco-anxiety, children are panvdaity that, child, she was so consumed with fear for the future of the planet that she became aclimate change activist. Looking back, she now realizes she was not alone in feeling this anxiety and says it is good to be talking about it. Former federal NDP leader and chair of th Earth Day Canada board, Tom Mulcair, said it's the work of grassroots organi- zations that give him hope. He said that while the Government of Canada is doing things, like approv- ing a $12-billion offshore oil project off the coast of New- foundland, Earth Day Can- ada and groups like it are working to help the envi- ronment by doing things charging sta- tions for electric vehicles. "That has always been Earth Day’: 's claim to fame," said Mulcair. "We actually get things done. Mallamo noted that since the point of the cam- paign is to relieve anxiety, she cautioned against peo- ple calling in sick on April 22 if doing so will cause them problems at work and therefore more anxi¢ works for your work sched- ule," she said. Residents interested in april-: 22/campaign/’ ‘reme- dy-together/. A 2019 article about eco- anxiety on the Canadian Mental Health Association Earth Day Canada image Canadians are urged to call in sick on April 22 to combat eco-anxiety. (CMHA) website said id being incontrol of yor mment footprint can counter the feeling of pow- erlessness climate change can bring. CONSIDER CALLING IN SICK APRIL 22 T0 COMBAT ECO-ANXIETY Other recommenda- tions included: + talking about climate change to diminish fear of it coming an activist to see you are not alone in your concerns + demanding govern- ments and businesses take action + demanding health pro- fessionals and even teach- ers know how to recognize and respond to eco-anxiety in children. one went on fo tremely troublin; bling, consult a health pro. fessional. SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT THEIFP.CA ry HALTON ry AUDIOMETRIC CENTRE HEARING AIDS & AUDIOMETRY Mountainview Residence by the Glen The eonly family owned & operated retirement home in Halton Hills. You've worked hard to enjoy ina famil st time of your lif of food choices), along being. Call now for a preview of the next generation of Mountainview Residents See our new suite plans earing aid technology! receive the vaccine booster online as we grow to Georgetown’s trusted choice for hearing care dose and are enjoying meet the needs of our residents and community! 905.877.8828 —— 360 Guelph St., Unit 44 Georgetown (In the Knolcrest Centre) THE INDEPENDENT l Hy Amstang Ave READERS’ | =e CHOICE 2021 | ““” Ek Delrex Blvd AU i [ i Located on the cusp > of the Hamlet of Glen Williams 222 Mountainview rth, Georgetown theifp.ca wresidence.com www.mounta