Northern Gateway feeding into our addiction for oil
The proposed Northern Gateway pipeline is going to go in, according to the Federal Government.
I have to ask our government: Can we drink oil? What about our right to vote?
It seems every time the government really wants something we don’t get to have a voice.
B.C. has some of the last pristine, natural areas left in the world. The west coast of B.C. is unique on earth. Every year thousands of people come here to observe the impressive natural beauty of our amazing province.
They say the pipeline will be safe. Right! So therefore no tanker is unsinkable and no pipeline is unbreakable, dream on.
We all know the disastrous effects would be irreparable.
The unique features of the northwest coastline would make an oil spill cleanup extremely difficult.
The profit we will gain from this project is short term and small in comparison to the long-term effect of the damage to our environment and the precious natural resources that will be wiped out in the process. We as a country should invest heavily in renewable energy resources to protect the environment and the resources we have left.
This can also create jobs and stability to our economy not just a pipeline.
I really hope we can find a way to break free from our addiction to oil, and I use it too, just like you.
The Northern Gateway Pipeline is not going to make up for the damage it will cause, just putting it in alone is going to destroy beautiful natural areas that are irreplaceable and that is before an oil spill.
There has to be another way! I really hope the government will reconsider.
Annemarie Krenger
PentictonFarm owners inhumane
Is there any creature more docile than a cow? It certainly must be a close runner-up.
Given that view of bovine behavior, what would entice anyone to commit and/or allow anyone to commit such unspeakable atrocities upon creatures that do nothing to you but make you money?
Shame on you.
You claim that you are devastated about what has happened. What happened is you got caught.
Don’t you dare hide behind the lie that you didn’t know. As an employer you are responsible for the conduct and actions of your employees. As an owner you are responsible for the safety and the protection of the creatures in your care.
Is the only thing that you understand dollar signs? You have $1.25 million of business a year. Maybe the only thing you understand is cash flow. If that is the case, maybe the Canadian public should all stop buying Dairyland products and stop your cash flow.
My family and friends and anyone I can share this with will never buy your product again. Sincerely disgusted,
Walter H. Morgan
Merville
Cost of living should be fine for teachers
Cost of living should be fine for teachers
I have settled for a 0.9 per cent raise for my Canada pension for 2014. I actually had no choice, but do expect to hear any day now about my request to the government for a $5,000 signing bonus.
B.C. teachers are also trying to settle a contract dispute. They do deserve a raise and can happily have the 0.9 per cent that I also got. If they want to do a longer term contract, then 0.9 per cent x 5 = 4.5 per cent over five years.
They can also have a $5,000 signing bonus as soon as I get mine.
Class sizes, however, can’t be left up to the teachers’ union. Mathematically, smaller class sizes mean more teachers which eventually means more money for the union.
The class sizes should be determined by reconciliation.
John McLeod
Okanagan Falls
Calling all youth
It was a no-brainer to think that yes-man Prime Minister Stephen Harper would reject the Enbridge Northern Gateway application.
After all, when has this guy and his squad of rejects ever been right? Some time ago I asked MP Dan Albas if he was for or against this future Enbridge nightmare and he chose not to give his opinion which told me his answer would be yes.
My suggestion is that all Canadian youth unite and join the growing force opposed to this future tragedy that will occur when — not if.
Then there is the Christy Clark fantasy of giving B.C. a good fracking in the hunt for LNG which unfortunately is just another future nightmare that may implode as the planet tells them to go frack themselves.
The dumber than dumb that live in ivory towers only see the world in dollars and don’t care if the devastation of forests, lakes, rivers, streams, wildlife and the sea lead to the end of mankind after they have gone.
All young Canadians in every province please get it together before it’s too late as the future of human life and a planet that provides for all creatures depends on you.
Tom Isherwood
Olalla
Oil could cause crash
Everyone remembers the crash of 2008, the sub-prime mortgage fiasco and the bailouts to the big banks.
But what doesn’t receive any attention is the pin that popped the bubble. High oil prices. In 2008 oil climbed to above $140 a barrel the cost was passed on down the supply chain, people stopped buying things and the global economy teetered on brink of collapse.
Fast forward to the situation in Iraq. As I write this ISIS, an Iraq militant group, is attacking Iraq’s largest oil refinery. There are now grumblings in the financial and military sectors of the possible return to historic high oil prices, at or beyond $140 a barrel.
If oil does climb that high again and is sustained at that price point, we may be looking at another economic crisis.
Cody Young
Penticton
Thanks from children’s festival
On Behalf of the 2014 Okanagan International Children’s Festival board of directors, staff, and thousands of very excited and appreciative children we would like to thank local businesses and community groups for their generous donations and support of this years children’s festival.
Without the generous contribution of both businesses and community we would not be able to bring the quality entertainment and educational activities to the children of the South Okanagan and beyond.
Key support from the Canadian Heritage Arts Council, the Province of British Columbia, Prospera, Telus, RDOS, and the City of Penticton was integral to the sustainability of the festival.
We would also like to thank all in our community who joined us and supported the 2014 festival.
A special thank you to the hundreds of volunteers co-ordinated by Judith Bowes who worked tirelessly to ensure our festival ran smoothly.
Thank you to the many teachers, administrators and parents that appreciated the festival’s unique range of educational, entertaining and engaging experiences that the children and parents were able to participate in.
We are already working on next year’s festival and we look forward to continuing on bringing world class performing arts to the Southern Interior in 2015.
Barb Haynes
Executive Director
Boonstock ignorance
(re: Boonstock causes concern on council, Western News, June 25)
I’m intrigued as to the specific qualifications Ms. Haynes thinks she has to say categorically that “there’s lots and lots of wildlife out here.”
There’s nothing like a display of profound ignorance such as this to indicate where at least part of the problem lies. Knowing little about the land and its wild inhabitants, she very likely was ignorant about the destruction of wildlife habitat caused by the land clearing for Boonstock.
If she has read Laure Neish’s letter and mine on what was destroyed, however, she might at least have the honesty and humility to admit that perhaps an error was made, whether by her or others. As to her question about the validity of the data, Laure Neish, a trained nature interpreter of many years standing and a highly qualified nature photographer, just happens to have the qualifications on that score, as opposed to Ms. Haynes.
Eva Durance
Penticton
