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The Defend Our Coast Rally in Davis Bay was the largest of the 65 actions around BC on October 24th reported Jef Keighley of Alliance 4 Democracy. " I was told that some were surprised to hear that our little community was Number 1! I said 'I wasn't. We do things with style on the Coast!' Congratulations to all who helped spread the word and participated in what was a great event." [watch the video]
An estimated 500 people participated in the No Tankers! No Pipleline! Defend Our Coast!protest at Davis Bay from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. There were families, First Nations members, government representatives, union and environmental organizatons and all ages present. A visual line of 1,540 feet following the esplanade down Davis Bay helped people to understand just how huge the tankers are that will try to manoeuvre through BC's coastal waters.
There were signs, drumming and music, speeches that contibuted to a very positive event. See image gallery of photos by Sarama.
REPORT FROM JEF KEIGHLEY
Despite overcast skies and an on-and-off drizzle, 500 dedicated Sunshine Coast residents came out to Defend Our Coast in Davis Bay on October 24 th , from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. With signs, singing, drumming and the non-stop cacophony of honking horns from passing motorists the message was clear: No Pipelines, No Tankers, No Way!
Coastal Defenders lined 1,540 feet of the Sunshine Coast Highway in Davis Bay, with widest vista of the Georgia Strait, to illustrate the enormous, unwieldy size of the Very Large Crude Carriers that could potentially traverse Douglas Channel, in and out of Kitimat, should Enbridge’s Northern Gateway project receive the go-ahead. Kinder Morgan’s diluted bitumen pipeline project to their Burnaby loading facility in Burrard Inlet also took well deserved heat.
With advance newspaper coverage prior to the October 24th event, extensive postering, handbilling, electronic communication and word of mouth the Sunshine Coast was abuzz with anticipation leading up to the October 24th action, and the day did not disappoint. Few actions on the Sunshine Coast in recent memory have received as broad a base of public support as Defend Our Coast has. First Nations, seniors, labour, environmentalists, teachers, religious communities, civic politicians and the general public were joined in common cause to Defend Our Coast and committed to defeat both proposals for diluted bitumen trans-shipment across BC’s rugged landscape via BC ports and along our beautiful, but frequently treacherous coastline. The gathering recognized that the export of raw bitumen puts our environment at extreme risk and is very bad for the economy, in BC, Alberta and across Canada. What we need is responsible leadership to refine raw product in Canada creating Canadian jobs and build a green economy for our future, our children’s and our grandchildren’s future.
The Davis Bay Defend Our Coast action was organized by the newly formed Alliance 4 Democracy – Sunshine Coast in cooperation with Leadnow, The Dogwood Initiative and Defend Our Coast. The Alliance 4 Democracy – Sunshine Coast (A4D) is an outgrowth of the Leadnow’s inspiring national campaign opposing Harper’s omnibus budget last spring and summer. A4D is committed to ongoing work here on the Sunshine Coast in cooperation with provincial and national organizations aimed at restoring Canadian democracy and bringing about fairer, more democratic and environmentally responsible governments at the municipal, provincial and federal governmental levels.
For more information visit alliance4democracy.ca