Letter to Premier Christy Clark  Re: proposed coal mining on Vancouver Island

Writing this letter is an act of faith – you see, I have been feeling somewhat disillusioned lately with regards to the effects of taking up the pen and writing to those who “wield the power”.

After many years of activism, of writing to various Ministries, organizations and individuals, and of organizing and participating in rallies and educational events, I have come to the conclusion that disappointment unfortunately outweighs small victories when it comes to the success or failure of citizen groups to sway political opinion.

Still, I feel moved to write to you today – not in my usual academic style, filling pages with statistics and research. Instead, a more personal letter comes your way, as I have chosen to dispense with numbers and the persuasive style that years of academic study have taught me are successful tools.

Because I have decided to have faith. Faith that you already know the statistics associated with mining coal, statistics that clearly show how many millions of tonnes of toxic waste will be produced every year by the proposed Raven and Bear coal mines, and faith that it makes you just as angry as it makes me to think of that waste not only polluting pristine Baynes Sound waters, but entire watersheds and public drinking supplies as well.

I have faith that you are already aware of the toxic contaminants contained in the massive waste rock piles that result from this type of mining, aware that no one can prove that these contaminants will not leach into local aquifers (which have not even been mapped by the government or the proponent), and that this makes you as sick as it makes me to think of future generations with no guarantee of clean drinking water – a human right.

I have faith that you understand the economic consequences of non-domestic ownership of these mines, of the fact that BC mineral taxes are not payable by these owners and that taxpayers will not benefit from this undertaking, and I have faith that this makes you worry as I do about our children’s economic future in a province which is increasingly coming under the ownership of outside interests.

I have faith that you have read and understood the statistics with regards to the emission of greenhouse gases, the production of airborne pollutants and the vulnerability of non-human species that grace us with their presence and are already at risk due to human negligence on the environmental front, and I have faith that it makes you want to stand up and demand, as I have done, that we focus on supporting and investing in alternative, green technologies rather than inviting big money to bring their dirty activities to our province and then leave the mess for future generations to deal with.

I for one cannot live with the shame of leaving this kind of legacy to my children. And I have faith that you would rather be remembered as the one leader of BC who had the courage to say “no” to big business and “yes” to a cleaner, brighter future for our kids.

Marie Gaudreau, Comox Valley Record, March 01, 2012

Dear editor:

Nov. 5 at around 5 p.m., two locals witnessed three people in a truck taking “no coal mine” signs down from along the Island Highway.

I have been told that during the ensuing altercation they managed to get the truck’s make and licence plate number and reported it to the RCMP.
My first reaction was anger at these people, whoever they are. Then I started to wonder whether they might possibly represent the “silent’ majority” of my community?

I wondered whether or not I could accept an in-favour decision by the majority of Fanny Bay/Ships Point residents to build the Raven underground coal mine? Then I realized there is no democratic mechanism in place to find the answer.

Under the current system, locally affected communities have no political power in these decisions. We have no say and no legal right to find out what the majority actually want by voting on the issue.

You are a NIMBY if you oppose it, basically selfish for caring about the long-term health of your community.

The communities most affected by Raven coal mine should have the right to vote on whether a massive coal mine will be built next door to them. One cannot know whether the community is truly for or against something without a vote. I have no faith in the current process.

So what to have faith in and how to proceed?

Initiate true democratic action, because I know we can do better than we’re doing. There doesn’t seem to be a ‘unifying purpose’ in the Comox Valley, and increasingly Courtenay/Comox politics remind me of the U.S. — completely polarized.

I will never see a time when people all share the same ideology, religion, values, but true democracy, where citizens are equal, responsible for their actions, care about their communities and have a duty to participate in them and support one another, I can find no lasting argument against.

The Occupy movement stems from this very fact, there is no real democracy, it is a sham. We can do better; we have to do it ourselves.

If there are benefits to having this mine in Fanny Bay beyond the few jobs that may be available to local people then I want to hear what they are from the people who live in my community. With a vote I would know, one way or the other whether the residents of Fanny Bay and Ships Point support this mine, and so would the provincial government.

As it is, our system works to silence the voices of its citizens in favour of making them merely consumers, which further works to alienate us from our civic responsibilities.

I want to know what this community wants instead of just hearing the vocal minorities (on both sides). I think I know how it would turn out, but in case I’m wrong I am willing to suffer the consequences of my decision to live in Fanny Bay.

Marie Gaudreau,
Fanny Bay

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