LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- November 21, 2006
Dear Editor
For those still not in the know, S.O.S. stands for Save the Okanagan Similkameen. Our group is less than a month old, but there are many within the group who have been gathering information/data on coal-fired generation for at least a year and are well informed on the issue.
As a group we oppose a coal-fired generating plant in Princeton because of health and environmental concerns. We also feel that the government should implement studies done on alternative sustainable, renewable energy such as, wind, water, and solar. We would strongly support such endeavours.
Because time is short, we are doing everything possible to stop the government process until citizens have had the opportunity to give their input and to further educate themselves on the process. To that end, S.O.S. hosted a forum of three individuals, Karen Campbell and Matt Horne from the Pembina Institute, and Casey Brennan from Wildsight. They gave unbiased information on legal, technical, and health concerns, plus useful strategies to employ. We also urged residents to attend a NDP information meeting to learn more about the political process, to ask questions, and to voice concerns. All meetings have been well attended.
S.O.S. is circulating a form letter addressed to the Premier with copies to other interested parties for residents to sign. These letters are available at Ounce of Prevention and at Lorianne's Unique Alternatives (both on Vermilion Avenue). If you support our stand and haven't already signed this letter, visit one of these shops and do so. To date we have over 500 signatures which were collected in one week's time! These letters will be presented to Environment Minister, the Hon. Barry Penner, at his constituency office in Chilliwack on November 23.
To run an organization costs money, and we have already started to incur expenses. Any donations are greatly appreciated. Donations can be made at the shops mentioned above.
To reiterate, S.O.S. supports CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, CLEAN SOIL and good health but not COAL-FIRED GENERATION.
Sincerely,
M. Masiel (S.O.S. member)
To the Editor: Re: NDP MP Alex Atamanenko's recent comments about Afghanistan
Mr. Atamanenko: I am one of your constituents in the Southern Interior. You have been going around this riding saying how Canadians are desperate to see our troops withdrawn from Afghanistan, and you criticize the federal government for keeping our troops there, to support the US-led war. I have to wonder if you really are that naïve and foolish or if you are just repeating NDP rhetoric.
First, it is not a US-led war; it is a NATO-led war. Canada is a member of NATO. There are also British, Dutch and several other armies posted in Afghanistan.
Second, you neglected to mention the majority of Canadians who want to let our troops do their job. Canadians are proud of what our troops are doing over there. We realize that as distasteful as war may be, it is sometimes necessary and our troops are doing what they are trained to do protect Canada.
If you were to ask any soldier posted in Afghanistan whether he thinks they should be there you would get an unqualified Yes. Every wounded Canadian soldier I've seen interviewed on the news wants more than anything to get back to Afghanistan and finish the job.
You cannot sit down and hammer out a long-lasting peace with someone who has planted a bomb under your chair. Canadian troops are defending our country from terrorist attacks. Canada cannot call itself a true nation unless we are able and willing to defend it from those who want to destroy our way of life.
You have talked about how most women and girls in parts of Afghanistan are afraid of being kidnapped or worse, raped and that human rights violations
are running rampant with little hope of reprieve.
As a matter of fact, world intervention has brought Afghan women out of the dark and has introduced human rights to Afghanistan.
Do you honestly think that removing our troops from Afghanistan would improve the prospects for women afraid of being raped?
Or that human rights would be respected once were gone?
If you read a little history you would know that every nation on earth became a nation through battle and death.
As much as you would like the world to function on peace and love, it does not and it never will.
If you want to maintain peace in your nation you must be prepared to defend it with force at all times. If you are not willing to defend it then you do not deserve it.
- Alison Gilmour, Osoyoos
To The Editor:
In recent months, I have wondered how we got to the point where Compliance Energy is able to have their proposal to burn waste coal near Princeton with its adverse effect seriously considered.
In All the Presidents Men, Deepthroat advised Woodward and Bernstein that they needed to follow the money to understand what was going on. So did I. I was shocked by what I found.
The money trail starts with $900,000 contributed to the B.C. Liberal party by the coal and coal-fired generation industry between 1996 and 2002.
After their election in 2001, the Campbell government wasted little time paying off on the favours they owed industry.
In 2002 the Environmental Assessment Act, which was only 8 years old, was repealed and Bill 38 took its place.
Among the provisions of the new Act was a requirement that government policy is to take precedent over environmental concerns. This means that since the B.C. Energy plan states that the provincial government is in favour of coal-fired power plants, then that is more important than the adverse health effects or environmental damage caused by such a power plant.
The B.C. Energy plan, adopted the same year, restricted B.C Hydro from building any new electricity generation facilities. They could only maintain existing ones. B.C. Hydro had served the province well for many years, keeping electricity costs low while contributing to the general revenue of the Province. No more; private industry would provide any power needed. There was no public consultation over this fundamental change to the power system in B.C. For good measure the Protection of Public Participation Act was repealed.
In 2003, Bill 75, The Significant Projects Streamlining Act became law. A cabinet minister can now declare a project significant and set aside any Act or local bylaw that is in the way. The only exceptions were the new watered down Environmental Assessment Act and the Agriculture Land Commission Act.
Any other Act such as the Park Act or the Waste Management Act can be dismissed with a wave of the Ministerial pen.
The same year, new Guidelines for power plant emissions were introduced. Some of the least stringent in North America, they are to be enforced by the Conservation Officer Service which is primarily responsible for the regulation of hunting and fishing. Just to be sure that they couldn't do much in the way of inspection, the number of officers was cut.
In 2006, B.C. Hydro put out a Call for Power. The present market price of power at the B.C. - Washington border heading south is $50 to $55 per Megawatt hour. The average price B.C. Hydro is to pay to the independent power producers (IPP) is $87.50.
Section 56 of Bill 30 passed in May of this year further restricted the power of local government to have a say in the approval of any IPP project in their jurisdiction.
The pattern is clear. The fix is in. Gordon Campbell and his gang have hijacked the democratic process.
Gordon the Pirate promised that his government would be the most open, accountable and democratic government in Canada. You must be joking Mr. Campbell! One can only hope the Campbell government will be held to account for their CRIMES AGAINST DEMOCRACY one day.
It is important that the people of the Okanagan and Similkameen let their Town Councils and Regional District Directors know of their opposition to this coal fired plant. Call or write your local government officials today.
They're the only thing standing between us and potentially devastating effects on our health, environment and community.
- Dan Pippin, Princeton
Editor:
With Remembrance Day services only days past, it is regretful that Dawn Johnson wrote a tirade on mens inadequacies even if it was concerning home life. The column is oozing with bitterness and conflict.
It is also disappointing that a veteran reporter clumps virtually all men as next to worthless as fathers or husbands and a burden as well. Under those circumstances I suppose it's good riddance to bad rubbish if a husband dies first.
Her radical simplification of the problem of men not pulling their weight on the home front is hardly worth consideration. The so-called solution is a recommendation that women don't marry or have children and it's better they live alone. The maternal instinct is a powerful force and most men cannot duplicate a similar intensity of devotion. Unfortunately, the same is often true in domestic matters. Men are becoming more adept at sharing the load, but often it doesn't come naturally.
Answers won't come easily, but I found Dawn's column discriminatory and mean spirited, making me more sad than guilt ridden. The solutions proposed would drive a bigger wedge between men and women, and an ominous future for mankind.
In my humble opinion, Dawn Johnson needs to be much more balanced and broad minded if she wishes to be taken seriously as a problem solver.
- Monty Raine, Princeton
(Note from the Publisher: We blame it on all the coal dust she has been subjected to over the years. Please read her article titled, "Am I a victim of coal?" for a clearer picture of the circumstances. Thank you. - the Publisher).
