Personal Projects: The power of one
By Sheri Gagnon
Some people go the extra mile when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions — JJ
Hilsinger went an extra 6,835. The Sault Ste. Marie businessman participated in an 11,000 kilometre
bike adventure across the Silk Route in China this past Fall and used his journey to raise
awareness about carbon emissions, aiming to eliminate one tonne of CO2 for every kilometre
biked. Before leaving, he set up a website, www.youbetican.com,
to challenge others to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
“I have a keen interest in sustainable global evolution,” Hilsinger says. “I
was encouraged because it seemed there was finally an awakening with the Al Gore media explosion
(surrounding his documentary “An Inconvenient Truth”) and many other publications
talking openly about the hazards of global warming based on the latest Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change report.”
Though the distance he biked is the environmental equivalent of removing 2,200 cars from the roads for a year, he
has much further to go to reach his goal. So far, only 500 tonnes have been pledged on his
website, but he remains positive.
“I believe if I continue to act as one person who is willing to provide some tools and
education and advice for others, that it is the best I can do,” he says.
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Coal seam: An underground layer of coal.
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