Earth Day 2012 has special meaning for people throughout B.C.
By Bruce Fuhr
Earth Day is a day set aside each year on which events are held worldwide to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment.
The West Kootenay Coalition for Jumbo Wild wants to focus on the “natural environment” when the coalition joins with the rest of the Kootenays for a Pipeline-Free BC during the Earth Day Rally Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Nelson City Hall court yard.
“This is the day to stand up for our wild places whether it is mountains, northland or coastline,” Jumbo Wild organizer K. Linda Kivi said.
“We teamed up with Pipeline Free BC for this gathering because, really, it’s all the same issue: what is our vision for our land and our future?” Kivi adds.
“We believe there is an economy of the wild. Democracy matters.”
The Earth Day Rally will focus on concrete actions people can take including a postcard campaign aimed at the party looking to construct a ski resort on Jumbo Glacier — French investors, Compagnie des Alpes.
People attending the rally are urged to bring your toonies to help pay for stamps and cheque books to help build campaign momentum.
“If all we care about is dollars, then we should realize that there is more money to be made by keeping Jumbo Wild,” said Kim Kratky, spokesperson for Jumbo Wild.
“That’s why people come to BC, for the wilderness.” Kratky continues.
“Our main focus is to let Jumbo’s French investors know there is a reason why the proposal was on the books for 20 years. Local people don’t want it.”
Kratky said it’s not only the fact that the French investors want to construct a ski resort right in the middle of the glacier, but other concerns need to be addressed — like the Grizzly Bear population.
“Back country closure is high on the list,” he said.
“Jumbo Glacier Resort’s Master plan calls for ‘grizzly habitat enhancement such as access management’ and that means they are planning to keep us out of certain areas we love and use.”
Not lost in Earth Day 2012 is the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Project proposal to construct twin pipeline from Bruderheim, Alberta, to Kitimat, British Columbia.
The pipeline would carry crude 1,200 kilometres from Alberta to the B.C. coastline where the oil would be loaded onto tankers and shipped to Asia.
Billed as the “wild-est, jumbo-est” rally yet, a car will be turned into an animal and music, art and celebration will mark this Earth Day.
The public is asked to bring Teddies for the ‘Bears for Jumbo’ wall of fame.
And the Jumbo Jester invites you to come in costume.
Comments