OSPE - The Voice - Winter 2021 - 4

ADVOCACY IN ACTION
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
PUBLISHER
Sandro Perruzza
EDITOR
CLIMATE CRISIS
ACTIVISM
This Letter to the Editor was submitted by
OSPE member Geoff Sheffrin, P.Eng.
I consider myself to be a climate activist. While I am not on the streets
picketing, I have and do use other ways to try to move the needle forward.
We have gone from calling it " global warming " to " climate change " . Many are
now calling it " climate crisis " . I like to refer to it as " climate emergency " .
First, let's recap. We have got to a stage where what the scientists had started
to tell us over 40 years ago has now become an overwhelming majority view.
There are virtually no scientists who are in any way involved in this arena that
do not agree with the premise that climate change is due to human activity and
it is getting worse.
Progressively we are all becoming more and more impacted by what is
happening. We still have many climate change deniers, but more and more
people see that this is a real and pressing issue.
Why am I reaching out to engineers and why OSPE? My view is simple. There
is not a single thing on this planet which we need and use within our modern
societies that has not had the hand of an engineer in it - somehow - somewhere.
Globally they may not be registered " professionals " but engineers none the less.
If it exists and does not come about naturally (from mother nature) then there
has been engineering input to put it in place. So, if engineers have had a hand
in everything - who better to help move solutions forward and help develop the
things we need to do to save ourselves and our planet? Engineers.
Where / how do we start to engage the engineers?
I want to start with OSPE. Even though OSPE members consist of less than
a quarter of the over 80,000 professional engineers in Ontario - they are a
collective voice. Also, OSPE is our advocacy arm. We have reach and clout. We
need to use it.
With kind permission and support from OSPE - I have started to write a
series of blogs on the climate crisis, and will be attending OSPE's Climate Crisis
virtual member consultation in the New Year.
I am reaching out to you all (all of us engineers) to think about what can we
each do individually and collectively to move the needle forward? I am looking
for the blog to inform and to create discussion leading to action.
My view is that movers make things happen - everyone else is a spectator. I
want us ALL to be movers. Please watch for my upcoming blog posts as part of
the new 'OSPE Members' Corner' on blog.ospe.on.ca.
4
THE VOICE December 2021
www.fsc.org
Carolyn Skinner
CONTRIBUTORS
Paul Acchione, P.Eng.
Stuart Atkinson
Andrea Carmona
Lisa Del Col
Akira Jones, P.Eng.
David Lapp, P.Eng.
Doug Reeve, P.Eng.
Marilyn Spink, P.Eng.
Jaismine Wadhwa
Lee Weissling, Ph.D.
Sara Mehraban
Eoin O'Grady, Ph.D.
Anum Khan, B.Eng.
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
Dovetail Communications
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES
Jason Di Tommaso, Strategic Partners
jditommaso@ospe.on.ca
647-515-5281
613-986-1437
Jamie Gerson, P.Eng., Corporate Solutions
jgerson@ospe.on.ca
OSPE'S STRATEGIC PARTNERS
PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE
DIRECTOR'S CIRCLE
INFLUENCER'S CIRCLE
SUPPORTER'S CIRCLE
MIX
Paper from responsible
sources
FSC® C103513
http://www.fsc.org http://blog.ospe.on.ca
OSPE - The Voice - Winter 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of OSPE - The Voice - Winter 2021
