Dear PM: Destruction of our atmosphere undermines Canada's security
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 18 March 2015 16:30
- Written by editor
r1 March 2015 | r44 | Donate | Leave a Legacy 
In this issue: Our atmosphere is critical infrastructure | RCMP inflammatory anti-environmental rhetoric does not make us safer | Blueberry River First Nations launches landmark case against BC | Perspectives from LNG community dialogues | Join us for an evening with Sarah Harmer and friends! | What's new at West Coast?
Dear PAOV,
If the Prime Minister can call the fossil fuel industry "critical infrastructure", then...
what about the air we breathe? We've published a hard-hitting open letter calling on Stephen Harper to declare our atmosphere as critical infrastructure. Join us by sending a letter of your own, here!
This month's issue is concerned with voices speaking up for sustainability, democracy and justice: Whether it's a First Nation filing a landmark case against the Province or BC communities coming together to grapple with the cumulative impacts of multiple LNG projects.
Dear PM: Destruction of our atmosphere undermines Canada's security
In this era of heightened concerns about national security, West Coast staff counsel Andrew Gage has written an open letter to Prime Minister Harper making a simple point: Our global atmosphere is “critical infrastructure” and disruption of it “undermines the security of Canada".
- If you agree, join us in calling on the Prime Minister to declare the global atmosphere as critical infrastructure necessary for Canada’s security.
RCMP inflammatory anti-environmental rhetoric does not make us safer
A recently-released RCMP memo blasting First Nations and Canadian environmentalists, including West Coast, as part of a harmful “anti-Canadian petroleum movement”, does not make Canadians safer. The blatant bias of the memo undermines “the principle of legitimacy” – the idea that fair, credible law enforcement agencies are important for securing legal compliance.
- Read about how the RCMP memo undermines the principle of legitimacy and leaves us less safe.
A "Duty to Conserve?": Blueberry River First Nations launches landmark case against BC
Blueberry River First Nations has launched a landmark case against the Province of BC for failing to manage the cumulative impacts of industrial development on their territory, resulting in interference with their constitutionally-protected treaty right to hunt and fish.
- To read more about the lawsuit and West Coast's work in advocating for legal reform around cumulative impacts management, click here.
Perspectives from LNG community dialogues
West Coast is co-facilitating a series of community dialogues that brings project-affected communities together to talk about the things they value and how these values may be impacted - positively or negatively - by proposed LNG development.
- Click here to read about visiting law student Holly's take on why these dialogues are so important and impactful.
Join us for an evening with Sarah Harmer and friends!
West Coast invites you to join us at an important concert and fundraiser featuring Sarah Harmer and other Canadian artists! Taking place on March 24, the evening is hosted by Pull Together, a community campaign formed to raise funds for First Nation legal challenges against Enbridge. We encourage you to attend and help support First Nations in a crucial fight for land, water and rights on the anniversary of the Exxon Valdez disaster!
- Click here for more information and online ticket sales.
What's new at West Coast?
New faces at the West Coast office signal exciting developments in our work! Megan Rector has joined us as our new Donor Relations Officer, and brings her passion for protecting ecosystems along with an East Coast flair!
A familiar face comes full circle: Linda Nowlan, former Executive Director of West Coast, has rejoined us as staff counsel to work on marine and water law issues for the next six months.
- For Megan's bio, click here.
- Read Linda’s bior0
