Warrior Up: Thousands Protest Northern Gateway Pipeline in Victoria

Enbridge Rally Not Yet Out of Fuel

Image courtesy of Defend Our Coast

If anything the increase of media coverage for both sides, those for and against the Northern Gateway pipeline project and the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project, will give citizens the opportunity to learn more.

For those wanting to aid the province and coast fight pipeline expansion, Weyler has some advice:

First off: inform one’s self. Learn about the impact of carbon in the atmosphere and oceans. Learn about the frequency and devastation of oil spills in all pipelines and oil ports. Learn about renewable energy. Secondly: practice conservation. Buy less stuff, use less energy, and learn to live better lives by living more simply. Also, support the groups who are fighting this battle every day: The Wilderness Committee, Tanker Free BC, Greenpeace, and others. Support the First Nations. And finally, speak out in one’s own community, in newspapers, on radio, in public meetings, in schools. Let one’s voice be heard.

The protest in Victoria is not the final chapter for the Defend our Coast coalition. Organizers hope this will help gain the momentum needed to force politicians and rule-makers to listen. They are vowing to keep up the pressure until the pipeline plans are scrapped.

The next step was another day of action on Wednesday October 24, 2012. More than 60 anti-pipeline demonstrations at MLA’s headquarters of both the Liberal and NDP parties have thus far taken place across the province. And a group of more than 100 marched from UBC to Christy Clark’s West Point Grey constituency office.

Along with the desire to stop Enbridge from building the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline was the cry to stop the doubling of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline, which stretches 1,150 kilometres between Edmonton and terminals in the Vancouver area and Washington State. It carries heavy and light crude oil, as well as refined products such as gasoline and diesel.

The day of action was widespread: from Kelowna to Kamloops to Fort St. James and Bella Bella, British Columbians came out in droves to remind their politicians who they are elected to represent.

Back in Victoria, the banner has been taken down and the Legislative building’s front lawn picturesqueness has resumed. But if anything has resonated from the day of action, it is the people’s collective voice as well as the fact that the Northern Gateway pipeline project and other pipeline expansions are not issues Canadians are willing to stay quiet over.

List of Sources:
Northern Gateway
Defend Our Coast
Vancouver Sun
Wikipedia
Facebook page: Defend Our Coast
Interview with Rex Weyler October 23, 2012.

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