Greenpeace suggests new names for Asbestos to celebrate biodiversity

As the town of Asbestos winds down its renaming process, an environmental group is hoping the town will consider putting the names of six endangered species on the short list for its new name.
The mayor of Asbestos announced last fall the plan to change the name, claiming investors were shying away from doing business with the town because its name evokes toxicity and disease. Members of the public were invited to submit suggestions online last month and the town is in the process of whittling the hundreds of suggestions down to a shortlist. The shortlist will be put to public consultations next month, and the final decision will be made by city council vote in May...The Greenpeace environmental group has submitted six suggestions — all inspired by the names of endangered or vulnerable species common in the eastern townships area where Asbestos is located. The group has launched a video campaign to encourage the town to consider its suggestions, which include Bicknell (after a bird called Grive de Bicknell), Lamproie (Lamproie du Nord, a fish), Listère (Listère du Sud, a plant), Blongios (Petit Blongios, a bird), Chevalier (Chevalier de rivière, a fish) or Apalone (the Spiny softshell turtle)...MORE