Our Canadian neighbors are in a showdown with Kinder Morgan and they could use our help.
Remember Kinder Morgan? It’s the biggest pipeline company in the US and it wants to build another pipeline in Canada. This time it will be 3x bigger so it can get the Alberta Tar Sands bitumen to a port in Vancouver BC, put it on tankers that will travel through our waters, and ship it out to the world markets.
Before Kinder Morgan can build their pipeline, they need a permit from the Canadian government. To determine if a permit will be issued, Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) is hearing from the public (but only from a “chosen few”. Fortunately, islanders — including our County Council — get to have a say. The deadline is March 16, 2015).
Apparently Kinder Morgan doesn’t think it needs to wait. In their big bully arrogance, they insist on doing exploratory surveying right now, and one of these survey spots is on public lands, Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. The Burnaby City Council said, “Leave our park lands alone”, but Kinder Morgan appealed and the NEB said, “Go ahead.”
Understandably, Burnaby citizens are not happy about this, so when Kinder Morgan trucks and equipment came in to do their survey (which included cutting down trees), the people exercised their rights and used the means they have left — civil disobedience. They spoke out, they blocked the roadways, and they used their bodies to stop the trucks. Kinder Morgan didn’t like that, so they asked for an injunction against any citizens getting in the way of their survey, and served papers to four individuals and a citizens activist group, claiming “millions in lost revenue for each month the pipeline project is delayed”.
If they can stop this pipeline, then we islanders and our Salish Sea won’t have to suffer the risks that come with the 408 more oil tankers a year that this pipeline would bring; and the planet will not have to suffer from the additional CO2 that burning this oil would produce.
Here’s how we can help:
The court hearings run today through Friday.
http://www.gofundme.com/gkxn9o
http://burnabypipelinewatch.ca
Thank you!
https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/stopkindermorgan
Read more about it in the newspapers:
Trans Mountain: Derek Corrigan says fight over cut trees not a tactic to block pipeline
Kinder Morgan and City of Burnaby are at odds over access to and use of Burnaby Mountain park lands
Sep 12, 2014, James Keller, The Canadian Press
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/trans-mountain-derek-corrigan-says-fight-over-cut-trees-not-a-tactic-to-block-pipeline-1.2763943
National Energy Board ruled last week that Kinder Morgan can access Burnaby Mountain
Oct 28, 2014, Vivian Luk, The Canadian Press
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kinder-morgan-pipeline-burnaby-to-appeal-neb-decision-1.2816020
Kinder Morgan slaps Burnaby residents with multi-million-dollar lawsuit
“I feel outraged politically that this could happen in a democracy – that a foreign massive company can accuse you of trespassing on a park” – SFU professor Stephen Collis
Oct 31, 2014, Mychaylo Prystupa, Vancouver Observer
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/kinder-morgan-slaps-burnaby-residents-multi-million-dollar-lawsuit
Kinder Morgan goes to court to stop pipeline protesters
Lawyers for Trans Mountain pipeline seek injunction and file lawsuit claiming millions in lost revenue
Oct 31, 2014, CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kinder-morgan-goes-to-court-to-stop-pipeline-protesters-1.2820579
Kinder Morgan serves legal papers to pipeline opponent via Facebook
The battle over Burnaby Mountain heated up in a Vancouver courtroom. Several residents were hastily served with legal notices claiming they have been interfering with Kinder Morgan’s survey work.
Nov 1, 2014, Mychaylo Prystupa, Vancouver Observer
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/kinder-morgan-serves-legal-papers-pipeline-opponent-facebook?page=0,1
Squamish Nation makes case to National Energy Board
Local First Nation argues against Kinder Morgan project
‘We are not radicals’ – Kinder Morgan lawsuit defendants speak out
“They’re trying to attack us and it’s backfiring. In fact, they’ve brought us more support – ten fold,” said one of the Kinder Morgan lawsuit defendants.
Nov 5, 2014, Mychaylo Prystupa, Vancouver Observer
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/we-are-not-radicals-kinder-morgan-lawsuit-defendants-speak-out
Kinder Morgan lawsuit to stop Burnaby Mountain pipeline protesters gets underway
Lawyers for Trans Mountain pipeline seek injunction, file lawsuit claiming millions in lost revenue
Nov 5, 2014, CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kinder-morgan-lawsuit-to-stop-burnaby-mountain-pipeline-protesters-gets-underway-1.2824453
Pete McMartin: When Big Oil acts like a big bully
Kinder Morgan’s lawsuit against pipeline protesters is an affront to free speech and idealism
Nov 4, 2014, Pete McMartin, Vancouver Sun
http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/Pete+McMartin+When+acts+like+bully/10350407/story.html
San Juan Islanders for Safe Shipping 