Bill McKibben, a renowned U.S. environmentalist, is credited with writing the first book on global warming intended for a general audience. End of Nature, published in 1989, was followed by more than a dozen other books,
His visit to Vancouver this weekend was in part, to bolster the opponents of the Trans Mountain pipeline and to help raise money for their legal defense fund. But McKibben also toured the Kwekwecnewtxw, or First Nation watch-house, in Burnaby, B.C The watch-house is adjacent to the Kinder Morgan tank farm.
He told CBC Canada he was “impressed with how committed and calm protestors were” and applauded their vowing to keep the pipeline from being built.
McKibben, the founder of 350.org, took some questions from CBC News Vancouver on Sunday. One of the things he was asked was why it was important for him to come to Vancouver?
“People all around the world are watching what’s going on on Burnaby Mountain right now. The key issues for most people here are, what will happen when the oil spills into Burrard Inlet and what does it mean for … Native sovereignty?” McKibben said.
“For the world, there is also the dimension of, we need to keep that carbon in the ground. The climate crisis has reached the point where we just don’t have room for huge new flows of carbon into the atmosphere.”
But amid all the things Mr. McKibben said, one thing stood out – “The only thing that worries me is what a short period of time we have. Climate change is the first really timed test that humans have come up against. If we don’t solve it soon, we won’t solve it,” he said.
Kinder Morgan barge blocked
Greenpeace International is reporting that Greenpeace USA and activists from the Seattle group Mosquito Fleet blocked a barge from entering Kinder Morgan’s Seattle facility by locking themselves to the pier.
Greenpeace USA activist and Seattle resident Samantha Suarez said, “Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline tramples on Indigenous rights, threatens communities and their access to clean water and the increased traffic from the pipeline could decimate marine wildlife including the 76 remaining Southern Resident orcas.”
“Taking action today is my ancestral responsibility so that the next generations know what an orca looks like. We have to stand up to these companies and say enough is enough,” she added.
All this activity is ramping up to the decision Kinder Morgan expects from the Trudeau government by May 31. And despite Alberta Premier Rachel Notley’s threats and intimidation, there is still a certain amount of uncertainty over the pipeline’s future, especially in face of opposition by the British Columbia government.
And all this is interesting for another reason, too. CTV News is reporting Justin Trudeau was in Calgary today to announce transit funding, where he was met by a pro-pipeline group who chanted “Build KM,” and “build that pipe.” Trudeau thanked the protesters for their “support.”
But when asked by the press for an update on what the government was doing to address the pipeline opposition, and whether the deadline will be met, the answer Trudeau gave was rather vague.
“We continue to work very very hard, both visibly and behind the scenes,” said Trudeau. He said “all necessary parties” are “extremely engaged.”People will remember that after Trudeau met with the Alberta and B.C. premiers, he said financial talks were being initiated and pledged legislative measures, but they have yet to be tabled.
“Everything is on the table as we reflect on how best to move forward in a way that is right for Albertans, right for Canadians, and right for our responsibilities towards the environment,” Trudeau said. But you might notice he didn’t mention British Columbia.
