By Roy L Hales
The construction you see above occurred because the government refused to intervene after the owner took out the right permit. It was built on Grace Islet, a recognized First Nation’s burial site in Ganges Harbour, Salt Spring Island. This could not have happened in a white graveyard. It is only possible because British Columbia’s Cemetery Act descends from an era when First Nations were regarded as savages.
By Roy L Hales
This mornings interview is with Simon Fraser Biology professor Lynne Quarmby, who recently came to the media’s attention because of her stand against Kinder Morgan on Burnaby Mountain. She had not fully realized the extent to which Canadians are disenfranchised. Though 70% of the population were opposed to this project, they had no voice in the matter. This led to her decision to “enter the belly of the beast.” Lynne Quarmby seeks the Green party nomination for the new riding of Burnaby North – Seymour.
Continue reading Lynne Quarmby Seeks The Green Party NominationBy Roy L Hales
There are many reasons to oppose the proposed Site C dam. It will flood what is reputedly some of the province’s most promising farmland. Most of the inhabitants of the Peace River Area, where the dam would be built, oppose the project. There are alternative energy sources, such as geothermal, which BC Hydro has not explored. The most serious objection, however, is BC may break a treaty if they build the Site C Dam.
According to treaty #8, the local First Nations can continue to use that land “for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow.”
Continue reading BC May Break A Treaty If They Build The Site C DamBy Roy L Hales
Western Maryland sits on top one of the most controversial shale deposits in North America. There were 245 cases of water contamination in the neighbouring state of Pennsylvania and reports from West Virginia as well. Maryland’s Departments of Environment and Natural Resources have been studying fracking operations in these two states for over three years and just released a draft report (p 2 of attached) on how fracking “can be accomplished without unacceptable risks of adverse impacts to public health, safety, the environment, and natural resources.” These proposed rules are the strongest in the US and, using them as a criteria, I decided to grade the LNG development in my province. British Columbia gets a conditional “F” in Fracking.
Continue reading British Columbia Gets a Conditional “F” in FrackingBy Roy L Hales
Last week the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) released a report stating BC could develop geothermal for half the cost of hydro. That’s only the first of a series of benefits, that include little environmental impact, more jobs and energy that costs less to produce. CanGEA claims there is a sufficient geothermal potential to meet all of British Columbia’s future power needs. (p 7) Geothermal could supply the 1,100 MW of capacity and 5,100 gigawatt hours per year (GWh/yr) of energy that the proposed Site C dam offers, but an officer of BC Hydro says it is not likely they will switch to Geothermal.
Continue reading BC could develop Geothermal for half the cost of Hydro, report says
