By Roy L Hales
Anyone trying to understand the “why?” of some (seemingly stupid) political actions should read David Mason’s recent column in the Globe and Mail. His explanation of the Canadian Government’s approval of the $36 billion (CAN) Pacific NorthWest LNG project, on Lelu Island in British Columbia, boils down to the politics of quid pro quo.
Continue reading The Politics Of Quid Pro QuoBy Roy L Hales
Even Canada’s public broadcaster, the CBC, was critical of the government’s approval of Lelu Island. Environment reporter Margo McDermid called the Pacific Northwest LNG project the “first real test of the Liberal’s approach to the environment and energy.” Her colleague, Chris Hall, added that approving this project “is going to put an enormous amount of pressure on Justin Trudeau to explain how approving a project that will generate millions of tons in greenhouse gas emissions can also help them meet (the) climate change targets they agreed to in Paris.”[1] Few doubt that Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister started out with good intentions. The Globe and Mail recently called Trudeau’s attempt to please environmental groups and the fossil fuel sector “mission impossible.” For many environmentalists, the honeymoon lasted for around three months. This is just the latest example of what many perceive as Trudeau selling Canada out.
Continue reading Lelu Island: Trudeau Selling Canada OutBy Roy L Hales
A dozen creative actions were held in British Columbia Saturday. Most were in Vancouver, where 70 volunteers helped organize events like a “Yoga-thon,” “Guerrilla” Chalk mural and “Drums for the Peace” ceremony. There also events in Victoria, Kelowna and Fort St John. Today, in time for the opening of the West Moberly and Prophet River First Nations’ court case, the solidarity protests against Site C reach Montreal.
Continue reading Solidarity Protests Against Site C Reach MontrealBy Roy L Hales
Rex Wyler spoke of a wolf pack that found a valley full of deer. Initially, they flourished and grew plentiful. Only they were too successful. They eventually ate all the deer and there was no food left for the wolves. Humanity is in a similar situation, overshooting our planet’s resources.
Continue reading Overshooting Our Planet’s ResourcesBy Roy L Hales
In a recent interview with the ECOreport, Simon Fraser University Climate Scientist Dr, Kirsten Zickfeld described Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s idea of fighting climate change while expanding the oil sands and building new pipelines as “delusional.” There is only a finite amount of carbon we can release into the atmosphere and if we hope keep the global temperature rise to 2 degrees C. We are already close to 1.5 degrees and may pass that threshold this year. Even if we do not build any new fossil fuel infrastructure, Canada will exhaust “its’ fair share” of carbon emissions by 2030. These were quite strong statements, so I asked a couple of other scientists – as well as environmentalists, politicians and government spokespersons – Can Canada build more pipelines? Or LNG facilities?
