Target: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Goal: Applaud the revocation of building permits for the Northern Gateway Pipeline.
In a victory for the environment and indigenous rights, permits for the Northern Gateway Pipeline have been revoked. A panel of three judges hearing appeals against the project led by First Nations communities ruled that the Canadian government did not do enough to consult the communities. This ruling is one of a series of recent rulings and decisions against proposed oil sands pipeline projects. This victory comes after a international and domestic pressure including petitions such as this one from ForceChange.
In order to avoid catastrophic climate change, 85 percent of proven fossil fuel resources need to remain in the ground. Therefore any move halting further investment in fossil fuel infrastructure is a victory for the environment. This ruling also sets the precedent for a renegotiation of the process of weighing economic considerations and the rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
While previously many of the so called “consultations”–when they actually occurred–were brief and lacked substance, this ruling makes it clear that the Canadian government must fulfill the spirit as well as the letter of the treaties. Sign our petition and applaud the rejection of the Northern Gateway Pipeline.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,
I was pleased to hear of the ruling revoking permits issued to Enbridge. I believe that this ruling is a victory for both the rights of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples in Canada and the fight against climate change.
Moving forward, I urge you to ensure that this ruling marks a shift in government policy toward pipelines. If we are to achieve Canada’s goal of deriving 50 percent of the country’s energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2025, we cannot afford further investment into fossil fuel infrastructure.
The scientific consensus is that we must keep the 85 percent of proven fossil fuel resources in the ground in order to avoid catastrophic climate change. Anything that encourages fossil fuel extraction is fundamentally incompatible with that goal. So again I urge you to make this ruling the start of a new way of balancing short term economic interests, the environment, and the rights of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Mark Klotz
LEAVE ALL FILTHY FOSSIL FUELS IN THE GROUND. FOREVER.
To avert Climate CATASTROPHE due to Rapid Global Warming.
Leave the OIL IN THE SOIL;
Leave the COAL IN THE HOLE;
Leave the TAR SANDS IN THE LAND.
And NO FRACKING ANYWHERE, EVER!
This must be Environmentalists’ MANTRA:
LEAVE IT IN THE GROUND.
STOP THE *SUICIDE ECONOMY*
of GLOBAL CORPORATE CAPITALISM.
Before it kills YOU!