News

 

On the 23rd anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill,  the Vancouver Art Gallery square was packed with protesters at the March 26 gathering to hear Bill McKibbon of 350.org speak to the concerns about increasing carbon infrastructure, which a pipeline from the Alberta Tar Sands would most assuredly do. There were other speakers, mostly native who spoke strongly against the pipeline and the oil tanker traffic that would ply our fish-sensitive coastline. We were reminded that these tankers were 1,000 feet long or about the length of three football fields. Hard to imagine.

 

Although not covered by the main media, there were hundreds, probably well over a thousand people who thought this cause important enough to come out on a rainy Monday to object to the Enbridge pipeline and tanker traffic. I was impressed with how well organized the rally was and the leadership by Native groups. The thousand plus people were peaceful but determined as we marched first along Georgia and then down Burrard Street to the Bentall Centre where Enbridge has an office. 

 

The crowd chanted for about half an hour to the sound of native drums. A man dressed in a suit was studiously taking pictures of the crowd. It was great to see so many young people out but discouraging for the protest to not receive the attention it deserved. 

 

Congratulations to the organizers – my guess is that there will be more of these. I wonder when the mainstream media plans to show up? When one lone native voice spoke in favour of the pipeline a few months back, it made front-page news.

 

We’ll have to be our own media. The mainstream media might do well to consider that many regard them as less and less relevant. Maybe they should just cover Sports, Arts and Entertainment and leave the real news to us.