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The Environment & Wildlife Cause
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Loading...Harper Government’s War on Environmentalists
This week, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver lashed out at environmentalists opposing the Northern Gateway pipeline as “billionaire socialists from the United States who are trying to undermine the Canadian economy.” In an open letter, he wrote that “environmental and other radical groups” are trying “to hijack our regulatory system to achieve their radical ideological agenda.”
Mr. Oliver’s tirade is just the latest in a series of moves intended to squelch opposition to the Conservative government’s determination to ignore environmental concerns if they slow its economic agenda. In a democracy, power rests in the hands of the people. An informed electorate will examine, question and challenge. The Harper government paints those who take that responsibility seriously as a lunatic fringe of “left-wing ideologues.”
Environmentalists and Radical Groups on the Chopping Block
The Harper government is using its majority to stifle opposition from an informed electorate. By limiting debate, threatening funding cuts and reducing staff that produce reports independent of corporate influence, they clear the path for their pro-industry agenda.
Environmental artist Franke James discovered the consequences of objecting to government policies when her international tour had to be canceled because of the Canadian government’s pressure on her sponsors. Apparently the Harper government was sensitive about her questioning Canada’s environmental record. In Dear Prime Minister she had posed questions a lot of Canadians are asking, such as, “Why are you making us choose between the economy and the environment?”
The Canadian Environmental Network also experienced the government’s intolerance of “environmentalists and radical groups.” Last fall Environment Canada pulled more than a half million dollars in funding from the 34-year-old national organization that has been instrumental in drafting significant environmental legislation. They were notified in May 2011 that they could expect funding to be renewed. In October 2011 funding was denied, and Canadians lost the networking link between 640 small environmental groups and the federal government.
Read more: canada, climate change, conservative party of canada, Enbridge, Environment Canada, environmental issues, Franke James, harper government, Northern Gateway pipeline, stephen harper
Photo 1 from Thinkstock; Photo 2 from Dogwood Initiative via Flickr Creative Commons
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Wasn't it Jamie Oliver who once showed children exactly what went into all the junk food they were eating?…
So sad!!
Very well written. All brave people involved here. It never ceases to amaze me how most people become…
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+ add your ownCanadians brothers and sisters,
It's all our fault!!! Less than 60% of the people voted in the last election. Shame on us!!! I just can't get over this one: Less than 60% Canadians actually voted!!! We're becoming a country of idiots!!! In a democracy, people get the governement that they deserve. We deserve Harper... as a punishment!
The result of the poor turn-out at the election: Harper is in charge, and we all know his motto "If people voted for me, it means that they're OK with absolutely everything I do." Then, he goes ahead and thrashes nature.
Yes I do realize that the majority of people WHO VOTED didn't vote for him... I didn't vote for him... But I still feel guilty. Maybe I could have done a little more to make sure EVERYONE I KNOW goes to vote. Maybe I could have been a little less sarcastic, when talking about canadian politics, because being sarcastic make people around me even more unconcerned about the election. Maybe... I don't know... But we got to do somethign about this!
We have to realize, as a country, that we are very lucky to live in a democracy. Just think about the long list of people who were molested, jailed, even killed to have that right. Think about Nelson Mandela, about Aung San Suu Kyi, about Liu Xiaobo, and all the others... Think about their struggle, and VOTE!!!
"Money talks and here I always thought that Canada was more moral that the U.S in it's corruption." - Deborah L. -
Deborah, please realize that Canada is currently governed by the Canadian equivalent of the saner elements of the American Tea Party. They call themselves Conservatives, but they really aren't - they hijacked the *real* Conservative party many years ago, in a series of shady, backstabbing backroom deals when they used to be the Reform/Alliance Party. The *real* federal Conservative party is pretty much extinct. Our only hope was the New Democratic Party, but sadly the leader died last year and who knows if the new leader (whoever that turns out to be) can rally enough votes to defeat Stephen Harper - at least enough that he only gets a minority government next election (it's gonna be a long four years!).
The majority of Canadians *are* moral. We dislike corrupt politicians and are desperately hoping the Americans will re-elect Obama because when there is both a Republican President and a right-wing Prime Minister, bad things tend to happen... like this war in Iran some Republicans are itching to start. In tonight's CBC newsfeed, Stephen Harper is quoted as saying "Iran frightens me." He's been squandering $$$$$$$$ on fighter jets, and the only logical explanation is that he expects them to be used in war. So please don't tar us all with the same brush - we'd happily run Harper out of the country on a rail if we could!
I used to think of moving to Canada when things get worse down here as my dads family came from Canada and I always wanted to visit. Looks like I may have to rethink that. The pipeline they want to force across America to Texas was denied being built across Canada to the coast. It had ad something like 12 pipeline accidents in 14 months and what spills from these pipelines cannot be cleaned up if at all. The toxins are extremely bad and these mega corps have the politicians in their pockets so deep, the majority of people have no voice even though we are the majority. Money talks and here I always thought that Canada was more moral that the U.S in it's corruption. Thanks for the info.
Joe Oliver is just an ignorant puppet to money.
Harper is worse than the Taliban. He is stupider than George Dubbya Bush and more power hungry than the worst billionaire. He makes Hitler cringe to be compared to him.
It would do a lot more economically in the long run to subsidize the development of oil from algae than to build a pipeline to transport petroleum that is very much the dregs at the bottom of the barrel. Why can't conservatives look more than one or two years into the future in making economic decisions. Algae multiply very quickly, so we will never run out of algae--we are already getting close to running out of petroleum.
Steven Harper is a megalomaniac. He doesn't care a whit about the environment. In fact, many of us who fight to protect the planet for future generations are convinced that the prisons he is building are intended for people like us. Since when is it a crime to love your community, your country and your planet? Well, at least we will be in good company! It is a crazy world, and we need to stand up for our rights to live in a democratic society which values our water, our air and our children and future generations.
Harper and his gangs of ministers should be recognized for what they are.. global terrorists worse than Hitler. Hitler killed a lot of people, but Harper and his annoying "ministers" are scum that want to destroy the eath and all life.
Thank you!
economic gain and development should never come before the protection of our environment. Today we have enough resources to find alternatives and do not have to destroy what has been here for generations.
I'd like to ask those supporting the Pipeline. If it does spill, how are we going to make it OK again? We have NEVER fully recovered from ANY oil spill. As important as jobs are what good are they if our planet is destroyed?
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