The Political

This past week I sent out an email asking friends and family to please sign a petition in the hopes that it would hold some sway in the B.C. government's possible plan to allow big pulp paper mill company Catalyst build a toxic waste dump in the beautiful rural neighborhood of Wildwood in Powell River B.C. What is disgusting about this particular proposal is the way in which the company is using its political power in this small community to attempt to bypass zoning restrictions and plough ahead with its plans, despite the fact that there are several homes within a few hundred meters and an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL downwind within five hundred meters. Sometimes when I think we have progressed so much as a society, I realize that we truly have not. To me this is such an obvious fight with a plot as old as the bible. Good versus evil, the quintessential fighting for what is right scenario that has played out time and time again. Or is it? Who knew it could spark so much controversy?

Shortly after I sent out that email I received a letter from my father, which, while cold in demeanor, raised a few valuable points. (As an aside, my decision to publish this letter was not an easy one, it is personal and I don't mean to push buttons or be a complete bitch but I think it is important to the point I am trying to make in this entry and as such, it follows..)

"....Anyway would just like to say that dumping crap into the environment is nothing new for Pulp mills and in particular the Powell River Co. If anything Catalyst probably runs a cleaner operation than old M and B that paid the bills around the Hammond residence for many years. Probably also kept your grammy Hazel in cash as well thru Toms pension funds, all from working at a polluting pulp mill. Anyway M and B used to dump tons of crap - liquor etc. out into the straits around P.R. - you could see it from the air in those days - 70's. Suggest you get a bit more technical info. on just what Catalyst is trying to do with this toxic waste dump, what are the companies alternatives. I know Catalyst has been adjusting to new gov't. requirements for some time and continues to do so. They are just a Co. trying to do business as cheaply as possible. Perhaps their engineering dept. would contact you and provide facts and figures. Remember PR needs the pulpmill to survive as a community they are the largest tax payers in town. Anyway good luck with your cause, hope it all works out in Mother Natures favour."

M and B in this situation of course refers to MacMillan Bloedel, the even bigger Goliath that has been polluting little Powell River since the 60's or perhaps earlier. What my father couldn't resist reminding me was of the fact that much of my families money (on my mothers side, of course) comes from a polluting pulp mill, and in fact, my grandmother still receives a pension from MB, and isn't it quaint and ironic how you have latched onto this issue when in fact, you are indeed very much a part of this viscious little cycle?

Well this is my response. The 70's were the 70's and now it is 2007. There was a time when there was a seemingly endless supply of natural resources and a small population. Now, the opposite is true and we have to guard with a vengeance that which is still left. Maybe we didn't know better then, but now we do and when you know better, you do better. Yes, things are changing, governments are moving (slowly) to recognize this fact but to disregard zoning laws and to EVEN CONSIDER placing a toxic wastedump within a few hundred meters of a school, well, we all know that this is wrong. Yes, it is true I do not know all of the details and it is complicated, that has become apparent. But continue to disregard what has become painfully true in the past twenty years, that nothing, NOTHING is more important on this planet right here and right now than working in tandem with nature and preserving what is left and valuing that gift which surrounds each and every one of us every day: LIFE! Ignore this fact and we WILL go the way of the dinosaurs.

Finally, I would like to comment on one more thing. Out of curiosity, I looked on the list to see how many of my friends had taken the time to sign the petition. What I found most surprising was that out of all of my friends, almost ALL of my Toronto friends signed it AND forwarded it on to other people even though most of them HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. NONE of my B.C. friends took the time - probably didn't even read the email - even though they are the ones most likely to claim their deep connection to the land, most likely to call themselves environmentalists, most likely to bitch about the B.C. government. Well, here is your opportunity to redeem yourselves, you can still sign the petition here.

7.5.07 02:17