YOUR ENDORSEMENT is WANTED for the following Call for Action:
WESTCOAST WATER AND OIL DO NOT MIX: That is the message
the BC Alliance for the Preservation of the Offshore Oil and Gas Moratorium
want to tell government and industry.
This Alliance has put together the following Call for Action urging the
federal and provincial governments not to lift the offshore oil and gas
moratorium and we would like to get as much support from groups and
individuals as possible.
If you would like to attach your name or the name of your organization to
this Call for Action please contact Jennifer Lash of the Living Oceans
Society at 250-973-6580 or by email at jenlash at livingoceans.org.
Members of this Alliance include the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, Living
Oceans Society, Greenpeace, T Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation, United
Fishermen and Allied Workers Union, Georgia Strait Alliance, Society
Promoting Environmental Conservation, Reach for Unbleached, and the
Canadian Parks, Green Party of BC and Wilderness Society.
We look forward to hearing from you.
CALL FOR ACTION
WESTCOAST WATER AND OIL DO NOT MIX
Group and individuals pledge their support to
maintain the moratorium on offshore oil and gas development.
THE BIODIVERSITY IN OUR MARINE WATERS IS SPECTACULAR. The Pacific Ocean
within the 200-mile limit of British Columbia and Canada is rich in marine
life with several hundred species of fish, thousands of species of
invertebrates, 26 species of marine mammals, and a myriad of seabirds.
These waters are home to the largest species of octopus, fastest growing
plant , and greatest number of sea stars in the world. The ocean has
provided sustenance for First Nations for centuries and plays an integral
role in native culture. Presently the ocean is of great economic and
cultural importance for all coastal communities.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSERVE THE HEALTH OF OUR OCEAN AND OUR COASTAL
COMMUNITIES. Unlike many places around the world that live in fear of an
oil spill, we can greatly reduce this threat by maintaining the moratorium
on offshore oil and gas development. This moratorium, in place for over 25
years, has prohibited oil and gas development on Canada’s Pacific coast and
ensures that oil tankers do not travel through our inside waters.
OIL SPILLS THREATEN MARINE LIFE: Seabirds, fish, shellfish, and eggs and
larvae of all marine species are extremely vulnerable to oil spills and,
despite advances in technology, in 1997 there were 351 spills worldwide
from oil tankers and exploratory drilling. A blowout during exploratory
drilling in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in the worlds largest oil spill,
gushing crude oil into the ocean for 9 months before it could be contained.
10 years after the Exxon Valdez dumped 10 million gallons of oil into
Prince William Sound the herring stocks have not recuperated and intertidal
areas remain impacted by oil.
OIL SPILLS THREATEN COASTAL COMMUNITIES: The work and sacrifice that
fishermen have contributed to help rebuild our fish stocks could be wiped
out by one large oil spill, causing even further economic turmoil in our
coastal economy. Tourism, one of the fastest growing industries in coastal
BC would be devastated by an oil spill. Our coastal communities could be
further shattered by an increase in divorce and suicide rates similar to
what occurred in communities affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTES TO CLIMATE CHANGE: Expanding the oil
and gas industry, instead of investing in alternate energy sources, will
perpetuate the dependence on fossil fuels for energy. Burning fossil fuels
such as oil and gas produces carbon dioxide, one of the greatest
contributors to climate change. This contravenes the commitments Canada
made at the international Climate Change Convention in Kyoto Japan in 1997
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change will result in reduced
fish stocks, increased rainfall in Coastal BC, drought in the Interior of
BC, and increased forest fires.
OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT PROVIDE MANY JOBS TO THE NORTH
COAST: Exploring and drilling for oil requires highly specialized and
technical workers. Therefore few, if any, opportunities will available to
unemployed loggers and fishermen and minimal benefits will be gained by
coastal communities.
THEREFORE THE UNDERSIGNED URGE THE FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS TO
MAINTAIN THE MORATORIUM ON OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT:
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS)
Georgia Strait Alliance (GSA)
Greenpeace
Living Oceans Society
Reach for Unbleached
Sierra Legal Defence Fund (SLDF)
Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC)
T Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation
United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union (UFAWU)
Jeff Ardron, Program Assistant
Living Oceans Society
e: jardron at livingoceans.org
t: 250 973-6580
f: 250 973-6581
snail: Box 166, Sointula, BC, V0N 3E0, CANADA
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