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It was with great despair that I took my children (seven-year-old, and 15-months-old) to the Etobicoke Civic Centre on Sep 6. for what is loosely called "Environment Day".

This, I believed, was a day where our community was to responsibly dispose of hazardous garbage in our homes like cell phones, batteries, paints, tires. (We are actively caring for our surroundings, our communities and our children?)

Imagine my surprise when, upon approaching the Civic Centre, I see a long row of 25-or-so idling cars being ushered by a policeman on traffic duty into a parking lot set up to receive our toxic waste. In the areas set up as intake points, a car was idling (with air-conditioner going and windows half down) and a regular-looking kind of guy was unloading his paint cans. My bundle buggy was beside his idling car, my seven-year-old beside the buggy, and my 15-month-old not far away with his father in a stroller. I spoke with this man, what was said need not appear here. But my final thought of the day is this...where has our collective awareness gone? Do we not understand that our steps have lasting implications for our future generations? Are small changes important, and can we make a difference? I will always believe that each one of us can.

Irena Magdenko