Peter spent his formative years living in the beautiful English countryside. His love for Nature has grown continually from that time.
Peter has been a family physician for over 30 years, most recently on Pender Island. He considers himself fortunate to have loved the practice of medicine for all that time and to have experienced the splendour of the outdoors—like the Orcas swimming off Pender Island.
He first practiced medicine in coastal and central Newfoundland, experiencing firsthand one of the natural wonders of the world-jigging for cod from the giant cod schools off the Grand Banks. A few years after moving to Vancouver Island, Peter learned that overfishing, as the old-timers had predicted, had caused the fishery to collapse. It hardly seemed possible, yet the cod are unlikely to ever recover.
Peter has two sons in their late 20s with whom he often spends time on Vancouver Island. It was when they were small boys in Port Alberni that Peter realized that there was a serious crisis in our way of life that threatened their safety and future. He felt that to be father he had to become an activist. He joined the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, lecturing and writing on the extreme and unpublicized dangers of the nuclear arms race.
For over 20 years now, Peter has been involved actively in peace and disarmament, sustainable development, and environmental issues, especially as they relate to children’s health. After moving to Prince George, Peter, together with another physician, provided the medical lead of the Nechako Environment Coalition in the fight to stop pulp mill emissions of highly toxic dioxins. He also fought against clearcut logging, Alcan’s claim to the Nechako River and a Canfor plan to build a formaldehyde-emitting mill within city limits.
In the local media and before review boards, the environmental fights were tough but respectful. In time it became clear both environmental and economic gains had been made. He met many great caring people. They were good times.
As a founding director of CAPE (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment), Peter has presented and submitted papers on sustainable development, endangered species, and health issues in Canada and the United States.
While living on Pender Island, Peter has discovered enjoyment in writing and sharing poetry, which he has had fun recording on three CDs. He has been a frequent contributor to local newspapers for over twenty years, writing articles on social and environmental justice issues. Most recently and frequently, assisted by the superb editing skills of his partner, Julie Johnston, this has been for the Island Tides.
He greatly appreciates the encouragement and the critique he has received from readers. It is a rewarding experience. Island Tides, he considers, if not unique, is second to none of its kind. He views newspapers like Island Tides, which mix local news and local perceptions of global news, as essential alternatives to the narrow sound-bite type reporting in mainstream media. He is pleasantly amused that the Island Tides has broken several important stories missed by the mainstream media.
Finding himself having to take time out from the world of medicine for his health, he has written two books (unpublished) and is now working on Legacy, a wide-ranging, audio-visual project (to be posted at www.greenhearted.ca). It is intended to provide insight, from both scientific and social perspectives, into the disastrous direction the legacy of our Euro-American culture is headed. He sees this as the best way he can help both people and Nature in his autumn years.
At times he anguishes over the disappearing natural wealth and wonders of the world that his grandchildren will inherit. Then he meets great young writers and activists and is tempted to put down his (electronic) pen—but not just yet.
