Media Room
January 23rd, 2012
Earlier this month, Minister Oliver made headlines by suggesting that opponents of the Enbridge project were “radicals” funded by foreign “socialist billionaires” and hinting that the Government might deny some people who signed up for the Community Hearings their chance to speak out against Enbridge. When a government attempts to shut its own citizens out of the democratic consultation process, it raises serious questions about whose interests they serve.
Ironically, Minister Oliver’s attempts to silence opposition to this project backfired, as the incredible turnout for this rally shows. An incredible range of people came out. Two middle school students came down with their dad. Three people took a ferry from Victoria to be there. Dozens had made homemade signs. The energy was electrifying. Afterwards, a flood of people approached me and asked how they could get involved and volunteer with ForestEthics.
It was inspiring. In the year ahead, Big Oil will spend millions of dollars trying to punch this pipeline through, but if we continue building momentum, we will stop this project.
Vancouver, BC: protesters challenge Joe Oliver's attempts to silence pipeline opposition at early morning rally
January 23rd, 2012
People do not stand outside before dawn in the rain without good reason.
Early this morning I was one of more than 75 protesters who braved Vancouver’s winds and rains to gather outside a Chamber of Commerce breakfast where Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver was speaking. We were there to let Minister Oliver know that British Columbians’ concerns about Enbridge’s proposed pipeline and tanker project cannot be silenced; that we will never accept a the risk of a catastrophic oil spill.
 |
| ForestEthics' own Jolan Bailey getting the crowd fired up |
Earlier this month, Minister Oliver made headlines by suggesting that opponents of the Enbridge project were “radicals” funded by foreign “socialist billionaires” and hinting that the Government might deny some people who signed up for the Community Hearings their chance to speak out against Enbridge. When a government attempts to shut its own citizens out of the democratic consultation process, it raises serious questions about whose interests they serve.
Ironically, Minister Oliver’s attempts to silence opposition to this project backfired, as the incredible turnout for this rally shows. An incredible range of people came out. Two middle school students came down with their dad. Three people took a ferry from Victoria to be there. Dozens had made homemade signs. The energy was electrifying. Afterwards, a flood of people approached me and asked how they could get involved and volunteer with ForestEthics.
It was inspiring. In the year ahead, Big Oil will spend millions of dollars trying to punch this pipeline through, but if we continue building momentum, we will stop this project.
FAIR USE NOTICE. This document may contain copyrighted material whose
use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner.
ForestEthics is making this article available in our efforts to advance
the understanding of environmental and social issues. We believe that
this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided
for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this
copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,'
you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
