Am I Anti-Pipeline?
It gets frustrating when I hear people make statements about others being 'pro-pipeline' or 'anti-pipeline', as it's not that cut and dry. Many that argue for the expansion of pipelines often justify themselves by asking if you enjoy your heated home or your car, or they ask if you use plastic. Of course we have benefited from pipelines and have lived and progressed in many ways with the heavy use of fossil fuels. My father helped put in roads and pipelines in the north of Canada. The oil industry provides an income to my nephew and many of my childhood friend's families, as I grew up in Alberta.
Pipelines are not going away overnight, and every so-called 'anti-pipeline person' knows that. However we have to start making a change, and like any other revolution through time, the change will come, one step at a time. Personal choices are key. How we live, what we purchase, what we eat, all affect the whole. We must stop new pipelines to come into balance and make that turn for a greener tomorrow - to begin the reversal from what has wrecked havoc on our environment.
Sure we've seemingly benefited by the use of fossil fuel, but it was at a cost to our environment. Today more and more are divesting and directing their money away from fossil fuels. My brother's company is pioneering in this movement.
Pipeline in the 1950s, Manitoba, Canada (Photo from the Whachell family album)
We have the know-how to go-green through alternate means, and keep fossil fuels in the ground. However we are creatures of habit, who like to cling to the old ways, and ridicule those who take a stand toward change. We are being egged on to remain complacent by those attempting to debunk new ideas, as a financial loss is at stake (for some). In a world where social media has us inhaling ideas like breathing air, we must be mindful.
Here's one case in point: The Wall Street Journal, known to be a highly respected publication has a recent article titled, "What the Dakota Access Pipeline Is Really About" where the writer, Kevin Cramer goes on to say that First Nations were consulted; that it's not about protecting water; etc, etc.
Yet, look at what Wikipedia tells us about the 'writer.' I was shocked to find this: [Cramer has been described by Reuters as "one of America's most ardent drilling advocates." Cramer supports an increase in oil and gas drilling on public lands and supports cutting taxes for energy producers. He is opposed to what he characterizes as overreach by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In May 2016, Donald Trump asked Cramer to draft his campaign's energy policy. He wrote Trump's energy plan, which focuses heavily on promoting fossil fuels and weakening environmental regulation. The plan also vows to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement and repeal U.S. regulations aims at controlling the carbon emissions which cause climate change. Cramer was "one of a handful of early Trump endorsers" among House Republicans."]
Yet the Wall Street Journal just let's Cramer have his way with us...
I encourage everyone to watch the free documentary on National Geographic channel called Before the Flood by Leonardo DiCaprio. American actor DiCaprio admits in the film that he's likely been one of the worst abusers of personal use of fossil fuels. Many will just stop right here, because I've even mentioned his name. That's where we go wrong. We get so narrow-minded and hear one thing that is negative about someone (often from a 'debunker'), and we check them off our credibility list.
First Nations people paddle in front of Kinder Morgan on Burrard Inlet during the Salish Sea Gathering in 2015. (Photo: Robbin Whachell)
Another person I am tired of hearing be bashed is David Suzuki. Suzuki said, "By deciding in favour of the fossil fuel industry, the federal government is rejecting climate science and ignoring overwhelming community and First Nations opposition." This man has given his life to educate us about the preciousness and intricacies of our planet, our bodies and our minds, yet people say he has a 'hidden agenda'. Really? For what? If the man is exposing those that exploit our world's greatest assets, don't you think those that are gaining monetarily will attempt to make him look bad anyway they can, and at any cost?
What irks me most about pipelines like the Dakota Access, and Kinder Morgan is that the very few rich, get richer at the expense of the land, and the people that enjoy or live on that land, in particular the First Nations people. It only takes one (1) spill to ruin an environment, possibly forever.
I am opposed to Kinder Morgan for those same reasons, and because of the expected increase to tanker traffic in an area we hope our future generations can enjoy as much as we do. I personally paddle in that inlet and see firsthand the marvels of nature on land, and in and on the ocean. I also work closely with my local wild salmon sustainability program, and I want my grandchildren to see these amazing fresh and ocean water fish return into our streams like we do today.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs said in a recent letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, "You cannot truly believe that the Kinder Morgan sevenfold increase in tanker traffic is not a real risk to the B.C. coast, to everything that Coast Salish Peoples hold dear, including the fishing and tourism industries, to the orcas, shell-fish harvesting and the dynamic life systems in the ocean and on land..."
Burrard Inlet is enjoyed by the public. People kayak, canoe, row, and dragon boat along the waterway. This is my dragon boat team, the Nothin' Dragon Masters. (Photo: Erica McCarthur))
It's upsetting and just plain wrong that First Nations people of the affected areas are not being consulted in these big pipeline deals and are lied to by our government.
In the end, I have friends (and possibly family) that likely think I am naive and uneducated. Perhaps they are right. I am no economist, scientist or marine biologist, and I don't like labels. I know I lean more toward humanism and naturalism, "Pro-People" or "Pro-Planet."
I am not simply, 'anti-pipeline' because it's more than just about pipelines and profits, it's about people and our planet.
[Focused Fashion: In this photo I am wearing my new Green Embassy sleeveless Organic Alpaca felted jacket made in Australia! This jacket is part of the "Empty Oceans Series" and 1/3 of its purchase goes towards Sea Shepherd Australia. Please support efforts to keep our oceans safe for seals, whales and dolphins.