Canada is at a pivotal moment right now in regards to energy sector decisions. It is a hugely polarizing issue and BC has found itself in the middle of the scrum. The tar sands in Alberta are expanding at an alarming rate and a pipeline is proposed to carry the bitumen from the tar sands across BC to the coast where it would be shipped to China. There is also a massive dam being proposed in the Peace River Valley in order to provide power to the expansion of the mining and gas industries in Northern BC. The Sacred Headwaters in the Klappan Valley has been slotted for coalbed methane drilling and the list goes on and on. Because a lot of this is happening in remote areas of BC it has taken some time for awareness and opposition to grow. But grow it has. These are big decisions, with big impacts on BC, and BC residents want in on the debate.
It was so moving being up at the rally in Prince Rupert and seeing community come together with such solidarity against the Enbridge pipeline. Many remote and coastal communities depend directly on the lands and waters for their food, livelihood, and cultural practices. If there was a spill in the area, it would not just be an inconvenience, it would completely desecrate the way of life for thousands of people, not to mention sealife and wildlife. In opposing the pipeline, these communities are fighting for their lives.
One of the reasons I feel so strongly about getting personally involved as a photographer in this issue is the inequality in financial capacities of the opposing sides. On the “for” side we have oil and gas and the majority government. They’ve got a few dollars to throw around. They can pay for primetime ads. They’ve got their voice covered. It is the other side that I worry is being underrepresented. The other side doesn’t have a media budget. They just have a whole lot of passionate people that are willing to fight for what they believe is right. So it will take tenacity, ingenuity, strength, intelligence, communication, sharing, and lots of other good stuff for us to get to a point of open educated debate on these issues (without being overrun by glossy rhetoric). So what I have to offer on this side of the debate is my skills. I don’t have many but I take a decent picture. So that is what I give.
Most major media didn’t go up to Prince Rupert for the rally. Too remote? To expensive to go? Not news worthy? I can only speculate. What I do know is that it was the most powerful display of civil society I have seen in a long while. I personally believe that that needs to be seen, to be shared, and to be considered during the pipeline decision.
If you would like more information on the pipeline and its implications here are some great links :
Dogwood Initiative
Pembina Institute
Ecojustice
Humans are incredibly intelligent, innovative creatures. We have options. The pipeline is not the only option that could provide jobs and economic growth.
If you think this side of the debate needs more air time, please share.













































I took a video of the drumming and dancing on my iphone (that doesn’t do it justice at all!) that you can check out here.
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