Enbridge opponents lay groundwork for next weekend's rally to defend the climate

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      Young activists, led by Ben West of ForestEthics Advocacy, were handing out leaflets at Science World in advance of what could be the largest anti-Enbridge rally in Vancouver history.

      West told reporters that he expects thousands to show up at the same location at 2 p.m. next Saturday (November 16) to voice opposition to Enbridge's proposed pipeline.

      If the federal Joint Review Panel approves the Northern Gateway Project, it would bring tar-sands oil to Kitimat, where it would be shipped through Queen Charlotte Sound on tankers bound for Asia.

      "This has really become a conversation about a gateway to global warming, about a symbol that represents a fight that's so much bigger than any one particular pipeline," West told reporters. "[It's] really part of a much bigger conversation about the tar sands, about climate change, about indigenous rights, about the power of corporations—and the strength of citizen movements to do something about it."

      The anti-Enbridge rally will include music, art shows, numerous speakers, and even some laughs, according to West.

      "It's going to be a fun event," he promised. "Rallies in and of themselves aren't what make the difference. These are moments that bring us all together and kick-start larger organizing efforts, where change comes from."

      It's part of a national day of action to defend the climate, which includes demonstrations in cities across the country.

      West urged people interested in learning more about the rally to use the #noenbridge hashtag on Twitter.

      He also unveiled new signs—inspired by the movement against the proposed Keystone XL pipeline—offering average people a chance to fill in a personal description in expressing their opposition to the Enbridge project.

      "We'll post it on social media," he said. "The idea is we're hoping this will go viral and people will start actually printing these themselves, at home, posting them on the Internet, sharing them around to really spread the word. We're never going to have as much money or as much resources as big oil companies, but we do have people power."

      One of those promoting people power is Sam Harrison, a 17-year-old organizer of Kids for Climate Action.

      He was the first to fill in the new sign, writing the words "future voter".

      "My generation doesn't want to be the ones left behind with an outdated fossil-fuel economy," Harrison told reporters. "B.C. has been a leader on climate change on our domestic policy. We're one of the few jurisdictions in North America with a carbon tax. We have some progressive goals. But that will go to waste—all that leadership will be rendered useless—if we become a carbon corridor to the Pacific."

      Sam Harrison was the first to sign a new card opposing Enbridge.
      Charlie Smith

      He emphasized that if all the planned export infrastructure is built for proposed oil, coal, and natural-gas projects, B.C. will export 10 times more carbon emissions than are generated within the province.

      "That's not the economy we want for our future," Harrison said. "We can have a stronger, more resilient, better economy if we invest in clean energy and transit. That's the kind of thing my generation wants."

      Harrison said that Kids for Climate Action has 10 "core organizers" in Lower Mainland high schools and a mailing list of over 2,000 names.

      "We're trying to get high school students more involved in viewing environmental issues through a broader lens," he said. 

      That also includes ramping up pressure on Port Metro Vancouver officials over proposals to export millions more tonnes of coal annually from the Lower Mainland.

      "I know for sure they don't have broad public support, especially with young people," Harrison declared. "And they're not having due process to make these decisions. Their board is decided by the industry that uses the port. How can you expect that to be impartial?"

      Expect to see lots of these posters around the Lower Mainland.
      Charlie Smith

      Comments

      20 Comments

      DavidNutzuki

      Nov 9, 2013 at 6:20pm

      We the “former believer” voting majority believe that 30 years of science only agreeing on nothing beyond just; “could be” a crisis prevents you remaining believers from saying it “WILL be” a crisis when science has never said any crisis WILL happen, only could. But if 30 years of “maybe” is good enough for YOU doomers to say a crisis WILL happen………well then who’s the neocon here?”
      And get up to date:
      *Occupywallstreet does not even mention CO2 in its list of demands because of the bank-funded and corporate run carbon trading stock markets ruled by trustworthy politicians.*
      *Canada killed Y2Kyoto with a freely elected climate change denying prime minister and nobody cared, especially the millions of scientists warning us of unstoppable warming (a comet hit).*

      Martin Dunphy

      Nov 9, 2013 at 7:51pm

      I love how climate-change deniers insist on scientists being able to give them 100-percent, everyone-in-agreement, irrefutable PROOF--yet almost all of them happen to believe in sky pixies.

      Denise Dufault

      Nov 9, 2013 at 10:20pm

      At present B.C. & Canada sucks, look to Germany for leadership changing from Fossil fuels and Nuclear to benign Solar power etc. their cold, grey, country twice the population of Canada! Come on Canadians let us become progressive once again and help save the planet for future generations...

      z lopez

      Nov 9, 2013 at 11:15pm

      CO2 Cools -- but only slightly

      Summing the effects of atmospheric composition.
      New Concept -- Atmospheric Thermal Enhancement (ATE)
      "Greenhouse gases cool planets: Volcanos warm them"

      "Nikolov and Zeller’s ‘Unified Theory of Climate ...
      ATE factor is completely explained by
      variations in mean surface pressure"

      Get your head out of the tar sand , it will kill you

      Nov 10, 2013 at 7:38am

      For all you with your head in the tar sand pretending nothing is wrong , fuck you . We need to stop this insanity of trying to produce oil from tar . Not only is that insane ( just the waste of fresh water alone ) , but you also want to then send it through our most precious pristine jewel the great bear rainforest where the ignorance that made this corrosive death molasses will spill it , they always do . Such fucking ignorance !!!

      And they call youth apathetic....

      Nov 10, 2013 at 9:26am

      The environment is one of the few things I've seen my generation be passionate about. In the past year, I've seen multiple events and rallies be flooded by youth in support of protecting the waters and land (and sky). So LISTEN TO US. Politicians are in government for one reason: to serve the people. Sadly, their agenda has been twisted to serve corporations and anyone powerful enough to put money in their wallets.

      But we are committed to this cause so get your priorities straight and don't let Enbridge pass, or gtfo out of government.

      Ben Sili

      Nov 10, 2013 at 9:44am

      @ Martin Dunphy, another PhD in television watching who does not have the background to understand and discuss climate science but who votes for the activist/scientists who appeal his own political bias. So much for informed decision hey...
      Denise, Germany is building new coal plants... thanks for getting up to date whenever... LOL

      Me

      Nov 10, 2013 at 11:14am

      Hey Harper: We will stop you. Bc doesn't want this. Period.

      keith cummings

      Nov 10, 2013 at 12:12pm

      good luck to the youth of Canada, may the world you inherit be better than the world our generation was given.

      Forward Thinker

      Nov 10, 2013 at 4:12pm

      Time for a recall of Liberal MLAs if they do not clearly state their opposition to these pipelines.