Enviromental issues
Enviromental issues
On this page:
Vote for wild salmon
Saving birds from cats
Ocean plastic trash
Oil spills and the destruction to the economy when they occur
Federal Conservative Party ignores the environment
The proposed coal mine at Fanny Bay, Vancouver Island
Energy
Private forest lands versus public interest
Illegal dumping of garbage in rural areas
The full version of Alexandra Morton's film Salmon confidential can viewed online by visiting SalmonConfidential.ca The film describes her problems in trying to save the wild salmon and frustrations she has had with the Canadian and BC governments. She hopes that some day that the Atlantic salmon farmed fish ocean pens will be removed from the close proximity to the wild salmon routes so that they can avoid the virus infections.
Your voice matters more than ever before the BC election is over. Please take action by voting for wild salmon:
1. Call or email your MLA candidates & party leaders ask them to protect & restore BC's wild salmon economy by removing salmon farms from the wild salmon routes. Visit SalmonConfidential.ca for links to your MLA contact info.
2. Share this film link SalmonConfidential.ca with your friends.
3. Write letters to the editor of local papers.
4. Boycott feedlot salmon.Message from Alexandra Morton in Norway, disease and sea lice are not under control in Norwegian salmon farms and BC stands to lose all
VIDEO: Everyone loves wild salmon, don't they?
Salmon Farms Break the Natural Laws that cause Wild Salmon to thrive
The Dawn of a New Era in Fisheries Management in Canada - Lets Make it Happen
Saving birds from Cats
Leash and licence all house cats, say B.C. wildlife groups
A new study shows cats are responsible for many more animal deaths each year than previously believed, killing as many as 3.7 billion birds and up to 20 billion mammals in the U.S. alone. Please read more by clicking on title.
Ocean plastic trash
Midway film
Chris Jordan explores the plight of Layman albatross plagued by the ingestion of plastic trash on Midway Island. This trailer is part of a feature film which he plans to finish in 2013.Top of page
Oil spills and the destruction to the economy when they occur
Citizen Marsh calculates the odds of a Northern Gateway oil spill
That is why, in a healthy democracy, it's important for citizens to challenge the influence of elites who seek advantage and to keep nudging the process back to transparency and accountability.And this is why we should all be grateful to Kelly Marsh.
On June 25, he presented the pipeline panel with his calculations for the probability of an oil spill at sea, at the Kiti-mat terminal or in the six geo-logical regions traversed by the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline route.
Coast oil spill will be 'catastrophic'
It's not if but when a spill will happen as a result of the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline from the Alberta oil sands to BC's west coast, Marine Operations and Guide Outfitter Brian Falconer, from the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, told a crowd at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre Saturday.
"By playing fast and loose, Enbridge has vastly under-represented the risks," he said. Read more by clicking on title.
Alberta should refine the oil themselves
If the Alberta oil sands Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and oil tankers project is allowed I, as a British Columbian, fear the ultimate damage of an oil spill to our beautiful coastline and wildlife.
A fisherman has said that if an oil spill occurred near Kitimat, where some of the worst storms occur, it could pollute beaches as far as Campbell River or further south into the Georgia Strait. (letter to the editor)
Read more by clicking on title.
Prevention key to tanker safety
Our coastline is a hazardous place for ships and mariners. Disaster is always one human mistake away. Please read more by clicking on title.
Politicians cancel oilsands pollution probe, tear up draft reports
Please also visit News and concerns
Bill C-38: the Environmental Destruction Act
The misnamed Budget Implementation Act, Bill C-38, brings in sweeping changes to Canada's environmental laws. Fully 30% of the 420 page bill is actually not about the budget at all.
Instead, it attacks environmental legislation, repealing the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and introducing an entirely new approach to environmental assessment. It also re-writes the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act, and the Navigable Waters Protection Act. It also repeals the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act, and cancels outright the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy.
This will forever change Canada's natural environment with devastating effects on our future, and that of our children.
Please read more by clicking on title.
The Top 5 Reasons why C-38 will devastate Canada’s environment
- It repeals the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and introduces a weaker version, without a single day of hearings before the environment committee.
- It removes protection of endangered species and their habitat, when approving pipeline projects, by amending the Species at Risk Act and the Navigable Waters Protection Act.
- It guts the Fisheries Act by removing provisions for habitat protection.
- It repeals the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act.
- It eliminates the National Round Table on Environment and Economy.
This bill passed on June 15, 2012
The Proposed Coal Mine at Fanny Bay, Vancouver Island
For more information visit CoalWatch. ca website or see below.
Raven Underground Coal Project
The proposed project at Fanny Bay just north of Qualicum on Vancouver Island will cover 3,000 acres, but the enviromental damage could be large.
Compliance Energy Corporation is a coal exploration and development company with an interest in over 75,000 acres of coal and mineral rights on Vancouver Island BC -- What will happen next?The Folly of Coal Mines on Van Isle
There are many compelling financial reasons to say no to the Raven coal mine. These include the potential loss of tourism, the increased cost to taxpayers of maintaining public roads, the health impacts of coal dust and associated costs, the possible loss of the thriving Baynes Sound shellfish industry which employs more than 500 people, and the impacts on salmon and habitat from the Raven mine and port activities. And then there is one more worrisome reason. Read more by clicking on title.
Coal mine a disaster
Recently I attended a Coal Watch meeting in Courtenay and learned in advance the effects of allowing Raven coal mine to become a reality. It will bring some 300 new jobs to the area and in the process of washing the coal with water from local streams running through their property, they will poison the waters of Baynes Sound, kill the shell fish industry and in the process destroy over 700 existing jobs. Read more by clicking on title.Top of page
Energy
Energy in BC & beyond
Run-of-River Hydropower in BC (pdf)
A Citizen’s Guide to Understanding Approvals, Impacts and Sustainability of Independent Power Projects
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Private land versus public interest(pdf)
Logging operations on privately managed lands near protected parks was a hot button issue in 2009 and there’s no sign relations between the forestry companies and activists intent on protecting remaining old growth forests will improve anytime soon. See full article.
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or report illegal dumping call the Ministry of Environment's hotline at 1-877-952-7277.
The time it takes for common items to decompose when dumped in the environment.
- Glass bottle: 1 million years
- Fishing line: 600 years
- Aluminum can: 80-200 years
- Disposable Diapers: 450 years
- Styrofoam cups: 50 years
- Rubber boot sole: 50-80 years
- Tin cans: 50 years
- Plastic bag: 10-20 years
- Cigarette butt: 1-5 years
- Plywood: 1-3 years
SOURCE: U.S. National Parks Service
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Please also see:
Sierra club media releases
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