The health of our earth is linked to the health of its inhabitants. This fact is no more evident than in communities affected by environmental disasters and destruction. Clayton Thomas-Müller, a campaigner with the Indigenous Environmental Network, discovered this intricate linkage in his work campaigning against Canada’s tar sands.

Production of oil in the tar sands means acres of deforestation and water pollution; producing 1 barrel of oil requires pollution of 2 to 5 barrels of fresh water. It is also the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.

After discovering the devastation in front-line communities downstream, affected by health risks such as cancer, Clayton decided to speak up for the right for all people to live, work, and play in a healthy environment.

As a voice for front line communities, Clayton actively vocalizes for the rights of indigenous communities and those affected by environmental racism, communities uprooted by industrial displacement, corporate exploitation and the resulting toxic contamination. You too can be a voice, asking for healthy environments for all. Act now.

“What we need to do as humanity is re-evaluate our life, our relationships with the sacredness of mother earth, our relationship that has been devastated by industrial gain”
– Clayton Thomas-Müller

Remember – in the battle to save the planet, healthy communities matter. Share your story of how you are affecting the health of your neighbours and your local environment, by entering our contest, and you'll be eligible to win a prize, including being featured on TV as our next GreenHero!

TAKE ACTION

• Host a screening of H2Oil with family and friends to learn more about the impacts of Canada’s tar sands or screen Living Downstream to better understand the links between health and environment
• Get informed and build a coalition to protect your community from dirty polluters
• Organize your friends creatively using this helpful toolkit and campaign against expansion of the oil sands, or host a community meeting to plan for a healthier local environment
• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper

2. SOCIAL MEDIA

• Follow Indigenous Environmental Network on Twitter
• Become a fan of Indigenous Environmental Network on Facebook

3. SIGN ON

• Write to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to put a stop to dirty oil in the tar sands, and ask companies to reduce their reliance on fuel from the tar sands for shipping
• Donate to the Indigenous Environmental Network to continue their campaigning for safe and healthy communities
• Join the Canadian Cancer Society in asking for a stop to asbestos mining in Canada
• Leave a comment here and on Clayton’s webisode

4. SPREAD THE WORD

• Tell 10 friends that all people have the right to live, work and play in a safe and clean environment, and that extraction of oil from Canada’s tar sands is the second largest source of toxic emissions in North America.
• Share Clayton Thomas-Müller’s GreenHeroes webisode using our neat Sharelizer widget. You can post GreenHeroes.tv videos on your blog or website by simply following the directions on our site