"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."-Margaret Mead "The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision."-Helen Keller
Assistant Fruit Picker at Floodplain Fruits
Idle dreamer
Thanks for posting that link. While I agree that the press is giving a lot of play to pipelines these days, that is because so many pipelines are in advanced stages of being planned or approved. The amount seems to be unprecedented in my lifetime. And that, alone, is concerning. I agree that pipelines can transport oil safer than many options...Pipelines certainly are getting all the press these days, but all the various petroleum transport options certainly have their relative pluses and minuses.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."-Margaret Mead "The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision."-Helen Keller
I agree. Any pipelines that should be built would be within the area of production/refining/manufacture. They should not be trans-provincial, transnational, or global in economics. The old pipeline served a purpose for when it was built (1957) before the post oil paradigm was even a thought (let alone setting the global post carbon agenda), and it worked for what it did in the time that it was used. Now, perhaps we should even be considering dismantling that aged system, and focusing on locally appropriate energy projects.If it is for petroleum exports, "none of the above." Exporting petroleum products is not an appropriate means of growing the economy
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."-Margaret Mead "The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision."-Helen Keller
“The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.”― Albert Einstein
Living in Anjou , France,
For the many not for the few
http://www.permies.com/t/80/31583/projects/Permie-Pennies-France#330873
Living in Anjou , France,
For the many not for the few
http://www.permies.com/t/80/31583/projects/Permie-Pennies-France#330873
The female mayor of Fort St John is Lori Ackerman. Fort St John is at the center of B.C. North East's natural gas/fracking sector, (a little piece of Alberta in a way... on the East side of the Rockies) and she is not likely to lose an election for taking this action. Somehow, due to very strange political boundaries, my local Federal Member of Parliament is also from Fort St Jonn, and is very conservative and well entrenched in oil and gas... so petitioning him in any way in this regard is pointless. He doesn't even come down here to campaign. He couldn't care less about us, and neither does she. They have the prime interest in their very local constituents jobs/'economy' and that's it.I found the silent majority argument interesting bollocks of course and the mayor in question should be asked to stand down and stand again on this issue he won't of course because this scare stuff is rubbish and he knows he will loose .
I'm not the lone voice, but I may be one of the few in this town willing to speak truth to power on this issue after that particular editorial. There is pipeline support in this area, including the local First Nation who signed an agreement with Kinder Morgan. I just couldn't let the editorial stand alone as it seemed to be convincing people, in title and content, to allow this to happen, and there are many who don't think it's a good idea, or are sitting on the fence, and they don't need to have that piece stand alone. In addition to me, and many others in the area and the province in general (57%polled against it) there are thousands that hit the streets of Vancouver since the Feds gave conditional approval. The mayor's of Vancouver and Burnaby are set against it, as well. The newspaper who printed that ad, The Vancouver Sun, is owned by conservatives. I'm more of a social anarchist than I am a socialist, but I agree with your sentiments on the united front.As a socialist of longstanding there is one thing you forgot I think in this idea of letter writing . You need to organize find other folks to help you or you help them . Together we are strong
I am considering a column of my own. The paper is locally owned, and run. I know the owners. The other paper in the valley, though, is corporate run, and I often don't even read it, though I should. I'm positive that there is no advertising gains from this editorial. The interesting thing is that I was surprised by the editorial. It wasn't that well written, it seemed to try to give a variety of perspectives, but it was weak on facts and seemed to skew things in ways (i think unintentionally) to create a point of view that didn't look as unbiased as the content could have been had more research been done/utilized.Why don't you write a number of letters or offer to write an opinion piece on this ? Local press are suckers for free content .
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."-Margaret Mead "The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision."-Helen Keller
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."-Margaret Mead "The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision."-Helen Keller
“The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.”― Albert Einstein
Yeah, I was almost in another book, let alone on the right page! Clarity recieved.I may have not made my description clear on this point. What I was envisioning here was Bakken (North Dakota) oil that would be used exclusively in the refinery. And although the argument has been made time and again over the DAPL that it would only be transporting North Dakota oil, I have no idea how long those oil fields would last until completely played out.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."-Margaret Mead "The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision."-Helen Keller
Living in Anjou , France,
For the many not for the few
http://www.permies.com/t/80/31583/projects/Permie-Pennies-France#330873
I do know. Firstly, I have had several communications with the editor since I started this thread, which leads me very much to believe that he is actually on board with this perspective, but failed to get the point out in that particular editorial. Second, I am not isolated from conversation, or the pulse of the valley. I do know that there are some who will have a conversation about it, but who would never write a letter to the paper... about anything, let alone a hot button item like this. Some of these people might post something on facebook, but won't have the conversation in person. There are various combinations of this. Thirdly; because there is an existing Kinder Morgan pipeline, which results in some employees living locally, there are close friendship ties with people who are opposed to expansion, and so they might not speak up, or write a letter because they don't want to offend people in this small community. And Forth; I am part of a local environmental group, and know the voices there well.How do you know this ? you never know reach out to others make new friends .Is the news paper that powerful ? This is the age of the internet . Why would others not speak out ? Ask questions upon questions sometimes you will get answers .
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."-Margaret Mead "The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision."-Helen Keller
I think the information age is a little past. Not exactly past, because we are ALWAYS living in an information age. What I mean is, for the most part we have the information... But this is the decision making age. We are simply making poor decisions because we do not have a holistic framework for making our decisions.I know they call this the "information age", but we all know it is nonsense. 1000 years from now they will look back at everything driven by the almighty gallon of oil and call it the "oil Age" instead.
This is a global problem, Canada has been a raw resource extraction zone since before it was a nation (the Fur trade... the loss to near extinction of beavers). Modern Globalization and Transnational Corporations just makes it that much more extreme, and blatant on a full ecosystem basis (meaning the rape of the old growth boreal forest to get at the Oil Sands, and turn the area instead into a tailing pond wasteland).I believe a given area has certain resources; some more than others, and some different, but those resources should not be exploited. In a simple statement 'some things just are not for sale". Honestly I thought it was just the USA that seemed to sell its soul to the highest bidder, I am so sorry to hear it is happening where you live.
If our paths were ever to cross, I would buy you a...coffee. I don't drink so it will have to do.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."-Margaret Mead "The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision."-Helen Keller
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