Please sign the petition at bcoilslick.org
The threat of coastal oil and gas development looms over BC's wild and beautiful Pacific coast. For over thirty years there have been both provincial and federal moratoria in place to protect Canada's Pacific coast from oil and gas development. Currently, the BC government is intensively pressuring the federal government to lift their moratorium in order to open up the Pacific coast to oil and gas development by Chevron and Shell.
Coastal oil and gas development would seriously harm our marine ecosystems, fishing and seafood industry, and whale-watching industry through pollution and seismic testing (sonic blasts in the ocean that kill and harm marine life). At stake is the ecological integrity of our Pacific coast and the livelihoods of thousands of BC citizens that depend on these traditional coastal assets. We need your help to protect Canada's wild Pacific coast from inappropriate, dirty development.
More than seventy different interest groups ranging from tourism and fishermen to First Nations and environmental groups have joined together in the Oil Free Coast Alliance, and are on the provincial and federal governments to maintain the moratoria on any coastal oil and gas development off BC's coast. Here are some of the reasons:
75% of the respondents to the federal government's own public input process in the spring of 2004 supported keeping the moratorium in place.
The environmental and economic consequences of a major oil spill or blow-out in Canada's most earthquake prone region would be devastating to coastal communities, as was the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska. Earthquakes 8.1 (1949) and 7.0 (1970) on the Richter Scale have occurred in the Queen Charlotte Islands region. Also, the fiercest winds in Canada, recorded at almost 200 km/hr and the resulting giant waves there could demolish oil rigs and tankers.
Major oil spills aside, inherent in coastal oil and gas production is daily chronic pollution, including the discharge of toxic drilling fluids and muds, chronic oil leakages, and small oil spills that are unavoidable. Toxic drilling fluids and muds include mercury and heavy metals like chromium and lead that contaminate fish and invertebrates.
In order to locate oil and gas deposits, seismic tests must be done using air gun blasts that send shock waves through the ocean that deafen whales, kill fish and invertebrates, and drive fish and whales long distances away from their feeding areas and migration routes.
Coastal oil and gas development runs counter to Canada's Kyoto Protocol commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrocarbon extraction and production accounts for almost 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.
Few direct jobs would be created for coastal communities. Foreign work crews with the necessary specialized skills would be brought in from around the world, as is normally the case. Oil rigs would be constructed where labour is cheapest and the facilities exist, likely in South Korea or China. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) forbids any laws that give first dibs on jobs to local people.
Federal Government Under Pressure to Lift Moratorium
The BC Liberal provincial government started the process to lift the moratoria when they were elected in 2001. Prior to the January 23, 2006 federal election, the Federal Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn stated his interest in allowing for oil exploration off BC's coast, which would require lifting the moratorium. It's important to let the new Conservative government know whether or not you want them to maintain the moratorium on coastal oil exploration, drilling, and transportation in BC right now!
It is vitally important that we flood the Prime Minister's office with letters of concern about offshore oil and gas development. Each letter counts for hundreds of people who feel the same way but didn't send in a letter. This is an issue that affects all Canadians.
» Take Action Now!! «
For further information please contact:
Western Canada Wilderness Committee - Victoria chapter
651 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1M7
Phone:(250) 388-9292
Fax: (250) 388-9223
Email: wc2vic@island.net
Website: www.wildernesscommitteevictoria.org
posted by:
|
Canada
|
-
I work in seismic. Everything that was said in this article about it is completely unfounded and not true. There have been no statistical evidence that seismic harms marine wildlife whatsoever, it is considered the most non-invasive measurement in geophysics. The amplitudes of the frequencies which whales and other marine wildlife use are not great enough for any long term damage. At worst it will annoy them, and if you have a problem with that, then I think there are much greater issues to worry about. Say, suburban sprawl removing natural habitat for animals? Or the use of oil in transportation?
Acquiring new oil deposits are a natural consequence of our economic system and society. It is the most abundant and efficient natural resource that we have, it is easily transportable, easy to use and most importantly efficent in use. Solar and wind power have very low net gains in terms of their overall efficiency, how do you think we build them? Oh with oil. Every time you use a plastic, that is oil. Every time you go on the internet, what do you think your computer components are made of? What do you think powers 90% of all power plants? That's right, hyrdocarbons. Look at every single object in your house, in some step of the process (probably every step) oil was used in it's production or how to get it there.
Canadians are among the highest consumers of oil in the world, so why should we think that we are immune from having to acquire it ourselves. If we want to continue using oil, then we will have to get it somehow. Oil companies do not want to pollute, in fact there are strong economic incentives for them to be environmentally friendly and they bring money to the regions they work in. Being in a service company, oil companies will award contracts to the companies which have highest health, safety and environmental standards. Similarly, with proper government regulations and taxation, BC could ensure the safety of it's natural habitats while providing an economic boom along its coastal region. Not only that, it would diversify their market from pure logging and fishing, both of which are subject to cyclical industries.
All in all, oil development is necessary and it's idealist to think that you can prevent it from happening. However, we can be smart about it and create enough regulation to do it in the best possible way. Breaking it down into yes and no, is simply childish. There is no black and white, only shades of grey.
