Action Alerts
- Posted by Grailing Anthonisen
- Hits: 15826
Canada’s National Energy Board is about to review TransCanada’s proposed Energy East pipeline to send toxic tar sands bitumen from Alberta to Saint John – and your help is needed to make sure the government can’t use a sham review process to pass this pipeline.
Energy East would become the biggest pipeline in North America. It would carry 1.1 million barrels of toxic bitumen to the coast every day, threaten communities and waterways in 6 provinces, and pump 32 million tonnes of global warming pollution into the atmosphere every year – that’s more than the total emissions from some provinces.
The rules have been changed so that the National Energy Board hearings exclude climate impacts and many community groups from across Canada. This letter writing campaign calls on the new chair of the National Energy Board, Peter Watson, to choose: either include climate impacts and community voices in his review, or lose all credibility and legitimacy in the eyes of the Canadian people.
Click here to sign a letter. Help stop their plan to use a sham review process to pass the Energy East pipeline.
- Posted by Annika Chiasson
- Hits: 32850
Oceans’ Week starts with call for Gulf-wide moratorium and arms-length review panel
Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada, June 9, 2014 – Fishermen, environmentalists, First Nations, and others kicked off International Oceans’ Week with a demand to the federal, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick and Quebec governments to immediately place a moratorium on offshore oil and gas exploration and development in the entire Gulf of St. Lawrence. They followed up with a call for an independent Gulf-wide review panel with thorough public consultations on whether offshore oil and gas activities should ever be allowed to proceed in the Gulf.
“Since time immemorial, the waters and shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence have been used and occupied by the Innu to the north and the Mi'gmaq to the south, for purposes including fishing, hunting, and travel. Because of these facts, we have rights that are recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and that the federal and provincial governments are obliged to consult and accommodate us in order to avoid any irreparable harm to the exercise of our rights” declared Troy Jerome on behalf of the Innu-Mi'gmaq Alliance for the Protection of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
“Today, the St. Lawrence Coalition is publishing a report on the issue of oil and gas development in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which highlights the fact that the conditions are not in place to allow such activities in this precious and fragile ecosystem. Consequently, a Gulf-wide moratorium seems essential” added Jean-Patrick Toussaint from the St. Lawrence Coalition. “The Gulf is one of the last standing places on earth where no offshore oil/gas activities are underway. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to protect this beautiful ecosystem and try to restore its ecological integrity” concluded Toussaint.
The Gulf of St. Lawrence shores draw millions of visitors a year to the pristine beaches of Prince Edward Island National Park and that of the Magdalen Islands; the majestic vistas of Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail; iconic symbols like Rocher Percé in Gaspé, and the spectacular fjords of western Newfoundland. Fisheries like lobster, eel, and snow crab support thousands of families in all five provinces. Endangered blue whales, bluefin tuna, belugas, the remaining northern cod and many other valued species feed, spawn, mate, and rear young in the waters of the Gulf. All could be at risk from oil and gas exploration and exploitation.
“As recently reported in the May issue of National Geographic, the Gulf is still a bountiful, diverse ecosystem, teeming with life. It could remain so if only we took the time and effort to better understand its complexities, and see it as a whole instead of artificially dividing it into provincial jurisdictions” said Ellie Reddin from the PEI Chapter of Save Our Seas and Shores. “The offshore oil industry already has access to 85% of Canada’s east coast waters. Enough is enough. We must declare a Gulf-wide moratorium on oil and gas activities" concluded Reddin.
“Marine resources have been under various pressures, such as industrial pollution, acidification, hypoxia and climate change over the past decades. Our fishing efforts have been greatly affected and we have been forced to adapt to this reality. Fishermen and fishing associations have made tremendous efforts to sustain this renewable resource and therefore we are saying no to opening the gulf to the oil/gas industry, which would undoubtedly add yet another pressure to this sensitive ecosystem” said Greg Egilsson, Chairman of the Gulf Nova Scotia Herring Federation.
The groups also insist that a review panel and thorough public consultations on this important issue be held across the five provinces to consult with the communities and First Nations about the future of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
“Every year, thousands of residents and visitors to the surrounding communities spend over one billion dollars on recreational and tourism activities focused on the natural and cultural heritage of the Gulf and its scenic shores. Are we willing to risk such national treasures for unproven revenues that aren’t sustainable? That is why it is of utmost importance to us that all communities around the Gulf be consulted on what is a stake here…their future” said John Jacobs from Nature Newfoundland and Labrador.
“We must keep in mind that the proposed oil exploration in the Gulf is not happening in a vacuum” commented Matthew Abbott, Marine Program Coordinator with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. “Canada’s Atlantic coastal waters already face significant stress from climate change, especially due to temperature increases and ocean acidification not to mention existing tanker traffic, offshore drilling in other areas, and a host of other threats. In order to foster resilient ecosystems and maintain critical habitats it is essential that relatively intact regions like the Gulf be left to flourish” concluded Abbott.
The groups are also calling into action communities and citizens from all around the Gulf Provinces and across Canada to ask the federal and provincial governments to establish a Gulf-wide moratorium on oil and gas activities, as well as an independent, arms-length review panel on this issue.
Sign up onto the call to action at: http://action2.davidsuzuki.org/gulf
Download the St. Lawrence Coalition report at: http://bit.ly/1nT5eMT
- Posted by Terry Wishart
- Hits: 15381
http://act.350.org/letter/energy_east/
Stephen Harper and Big Oil have gutted Canada’s environmental review process -- cutting people's voices and climate change out of the National Energy Board review of the largest tar sands pipeline ever proposed.
Harper and Big Oil know they can only build this pipeline if they ignore the facts and ignore the people. It's time for a People's Intervention... Read more
- Posted by Terry Wishart
- Hits: 29493
PROPOSAL: Community-organized 'All Candidates Meetings'
in ridings around the province prior to the election
Proposal from: Council of Canadians – Fredericton Chapter
To: All NBEN member and associate groups and all interested individuals
We are asking groups and individuals to host all-candidates meetings in their ridings. This is easy to do!
Citizen engagement is the key to these meetings, where the citizens in the audience ask the questions. The public meetings provide constituents with an opportunity to publicly ask questions of their MLA candidates on issues which concern them. These meetings will be citizen-led and non-partisan.
These meetings are extremely easy to organize. We simply need an individual, a community group, or a union to book a venue in their riding for the first week of September. Invitations would then be delivered or e-mailed to all the candidates [see sample letter below that was used in Fredericton South] at least two to three [2-3] months in advance of the meeting.
For the meeting, only one moderator is necessary to introduce the candidates, and also to keep track of the time limit that candidates have to answer each question from the audience. A donation jar can be circulated at the meeting to pay for the cost of the venue plus advertising posters.
Here is the simple outline of the meeting:
• At the start of the meeting each candidate will have 3 minutes to introduce himself/herself to the audience.
• Following these introductions, the main portion of the meeting will give an opportunity for constituents to ask questions directly from the floor.
• After each question, each candidate will have 2 minutes to respond.
• At the end of the meeting, each candidate will have 2 minutes to address the public with closing remarks.
The best time for the meeting in each riding would be the 1st week in September, after people return from vacation, and before the advance polling starts. According to the Elections New Brunswick website - FAQ Information, it says that "The first advance polling day is 9 days prior to the election. The second advance polling day is the Monday, 7 days prior to the election." This means that the advance polling for the Sept. 22nd election will start sometime in the 2nd week of September.
Where possible, we would like to have All Candidates meetings broadcast live [live streamed] on the Internet. Each meeting would be saved and archived on YouTube for future viewing, to allow as many people as possible an opportunity to view proceedings and hear the candidates’ positions on the issues.
SAMPLE INVITATION ONLY
April 30, 2014
To [MLA Candidates in Fredericton South]:
RE: INVITATION TO ‘MEET THE CANDIDATES Q&A’, THURSDAY, SEPT. 04, 2014
As citizen organizers of the Voice Of The People tour, we are pleased to offer a valuable opportunity for all candidates in the upcoming provincial election to engage and interact with their constituents. Meet the Candidates Q&A town hall meetings will be organized for a number of ridings around New Brunswick, where candidates from each political party will have the opportunity to present their positions prior to the elections. These citizen-led meetings will be non-partisan and described as a “Meet the Candidates Q&A – A Town Hall Meeting”.
For Fredericton South, the Meet the Candidates Q&A will be held on September 4, 2014 at Christ Church Memorial Hall, 168 Church Street from 7:00-9:00 pm. This event will be well advertised in advance as a chance for the public to clarify each candidate’s perspective on a variety of issues, to better inform their decision later that month in the provincial election.
This is a formal invitation for you, as the announced candidates for Fredericton South, to attend and participate in this debate. Invitations will go out to all other candidates for Fredericton South when they are announced.
At the start of the meeting each candidate will have 3 minutes to introduce himself/herself to the audience. Following these introductions, the main portion of the meeting will give an opportunity for constituents to ask questions directly from the floor. After each question, each candidate will have 2 minutes to respond. At the end of the meeting, each candidate will have 2 minutes to address the public with closing remarks.
All candidates are asked to confirm attendance at this event by May 15, 2014 by sending a reply to [Email Address]. We trust that you will appreciate the generous lead time to prepare for this event.
Respectfully,
____________
Fredericton NB
Member Council of Canadians-Fredericton Chapter
Constituent Fredericton South
Print friendly version - English
http://nben.ca/en/get-involved/action-alerts/item/download/122_f8d61ef9633b7f24ad5518d665827564
Print friendly version - French
http://nben.ca/en/get-involved/action-alerts/item/download/123_d89eb9485acb1b42501e2d9b3eceebd6
- Posted by Terry Wishart
- Hits: 58275
Download and Distribute the Poster Today!
BONUS Flyer Template: Saint John Meeting April 5th!!
Voice Of The People Tour Poster - Colour Large Size PDF
http://nben.ca/en/get-involved/action-alerts/item/download/109_569fc958f53149a6a2ec2f5823a82601
Voice Of The People Tour Poster - Colour Letter Size PDF
http://nben.ca/en/get-involved/action-alerts/item/download/108_bea20c7b685c94fa96c84d2fea88c02b
Voice Of The People Tour Poster - Colour Large Size JPEG
http://nben.ca/en/get-involved/action-alerts/item/download/110_f827df93d253a4e5b8c162bc38978303
Voice Of The People Tour Poster - Colour Letter Size JPEG
http://nben.ca/en/get-involved/action-alerts/item/download/112_0e5ea893ce209ec28069613cf704da8b
Voice Of The People Tour Poster - Black and White Letter Size JPEG
http://nben.ca/en/get-involved/action-alerts/item/download/113_63918c09277a26ad10af051e51b2d75c
Voice Of The People Tour Poster - Black and White Large Size PDF
http://nben.ca/en/get-involved/action-alerts/item/download/114_90299c876658569c93acfea6a569adb6
Voice Of The People Tour - Saint John April 5th Flyer
http://nben.ca/en/get-involved/action-alerts/item/download/116_5a10b31d31412247084a1e92a3d62a52