On October 4, 2014,  group of Lasqueti Island residents joined with kayakers and boaters in a nautical response to the proposed expansion of Texada Island’s coal port. In the interview that follows one of the organizsers, Andrew Fall, explains how and why they decided to blockade the Sabine Channel.

Blockade the Sabine Channel

“The provincial government and the Port of Metro Vancouver have recently approved coal transit permits that would allow dusty thermal coal to be brought in by train from Wyoming and Montana, from the Powder River basin t=in the U.S., into Surrey. Up to two trains per day, each train being up to one kilometre long. After arriving in Surrey, the coal would be reloaded onto open top barges, then transported down the Fraser River, through the Fraser Estuary – an important bird area – up the Salish Sea, into and through Sabine Channel, to the north end of Texada Island. The open top barges would then be offloaded by conveyor at the Lafarge Limestone quarry site … stockpiled, and then reloaded onto bulk cargo carriers for export,” Fall explains.

In the podcast above, he explains why they believe the risks are too high.

• BC’s coal port expansion;
• the potential impact on Texada Island and the surrounding area; Blockading the Sabine Channel;
• What can we do next?;
• BC’s coal emissions

Video courtesy Eoghan Moriarty of  ReelPortHearings.org 

Broadcast on Cortes ( CKTZ, 89.5 FM) Powell River (CJMP, 90.1 FM) and Salt Spring Island ( CFSI, 107.9 & 102.1 Green FM) Community Radio Stations.