Login / RegisterMark Jaccard: Why I'll be blocking BNSF coal trains on Saturday
Environmental economist Mark Jaccard, a professor in SFU's School of Resource and Environmental Management and the former chair of the B.C. Utilities Commission, released the following public statement today (May 3) in support of British Columbians for Climate Action's plans to stop BNSF coal trains at White Rock this Saturday (May 5):
This Saturday, May 5, at dawn I'm joining other British Columbians in White Rock at the pier to stop Burlington Northern Santa Fe coal trains from reaching our ports. Like others, I'm willing to engage in civil disobedience and risk arrest on Saturday to emphasize how important it is that we take urgent action to stop the actions that cause climate change.
The window of opportunity for avoiding a high risk of runaway, irreversible climate change is closing quickly. Within this decade we will either have steered away from disaster, or have locked ourselves onto a dangerous course. Our governments continue to ignore the warnings of scientists and push forward with policies that will accelerate the burning of fossil fuels. Private interests -- coal, rail, oil, pipeline companies and the rest -- continue to push their profit driven agenda, heedless of the impact on the rest of us.
This has to stop. We can't comfort ourselves by thinking "if it were really that bad, government would do something about it." It is that bad, and what government is doing in response is entirely inadequate.
Putting myself in a situation where I may be accused of civil disobedience is not something I have ever done before. It is not something I ever expected to be doing or wanted to do. But the current willingness of especially our federal government to brazenly take actions that ensure we cannot meet scientifically and economically sound greenhouse gas reduction targets for Canada and the planet leaves me with no alternative. I now ask myself how our children, when they look back decades from now, will have expected us to have acted today. When I think about that, I conclude that every sensible and sincere person, who cares about this planet and can see through lies and delusion motivated by money, should be doing what I and others are now prepared to do.
I pledge, along with everyone else taking part on Saturday, that my actions will be peaceful, non-violent and respectful of others. There will be no property damage. We will conduct ourselves in a safe, open and transparent manner. We are putting ourselves on the line Saturday because our future is at risk and we have to stand up for it.
Who appointed you the saviour of the world and one of the chosen few that should determine the quality of life for the rest of us? Forward into the srone age.
Make sure you don't go off the rails Mark. My money's on the choo choo puffer.
I think I'll catch up on some shut eye tomorrow.
Why are they blocking trains in Whiterock? They should try blocking the CP coal trains as well going to Robert's Bank. That would be a site to see.
We have no need to bring extra coal into Canada & pollute our enviornment. The tracks are dangerous enough. To use the tracks for passenger service makes perfect sense, but freight trains with goods which are bad for our enviornment, not so much.
If citizens do not go out & protest the government & the multinationals will think we as Canadians, will role over for whatever it is they want to do. The picketing in WhiteRock makes sense. Most of the particpants will be people living in the area who will be impacted by these trains. Its think globablly, act locally. Good on Mr. Jaccard & the others at the protest.
I doubt very much if it is the intent of the protesters to actually stop the train because it if extremely difficult to stop these heavy trains. Another thing actually to be concerned about. People are there to protest them going through the area. When people get to the point they actually want to stop the trains they will find ways. As to being killed by a train, to protest, for some it will be a way they wish to proceed.
The enviornment is all important. We don't need to damage/destroy our Canadian enviornment so multinationals & Asian countries can make profits. We choke on the coal dust & the Asian countries make the profits. We also need to look at what happens to the coal in other countries. When this coal is processed in other countries it pollutes the air. That air will eventually find its way to B.C. where we get to breath it. Not a good thing. The number of children with asthma is increasing at a steady rate. Why should Canadian children become more & more ill so China & multinational corporations get rich.