A solar-powered catamaran, driven by some of B.C.’s most passionate environmentalists and anti-tar sands activists, is sailing into Steveston Harbour on July 7 to draw some attention to the “Save the Salish Sea” movement.
“The boat will dock in six communities to speak with people about the threats facing this unique body of water, to share stories and connect with community members interested in taking on the challenge of climate change locally,” said Eoin Madden, climate campaigner for the Wilderness Committee.
The event at Imperial Landing starts at 6 p.m. with live music as well.
Save the Salish Sea is part of the broader TankerFreeBC campaign and is in conjunction with other groups such as the Georgia Strait Alliance, and Friends of the San Juans.
The movement claims a number of proposed fossil fuel projects (namely Kinder Morgan’s pipeline expansion in Burnaby) will add 1,231 more ships on the Salish Sea.
“Historically, the Salish Sea has not been a shipping route for crude oil, a plan that threatens all our coastal communities.Our tour will bring the truth to these coastal communities.
“We believe that when people see and experience what is at stake in the Salish Sea, they will not allow this region to be a sacrifice zone to enrich a few oil barons,” said Madden.
With proposals (all passed by the National Energy Board with no federal environmental review) to build an expanded LNG facility in Delta and a coal terminal in Surrey, as well as the jet fuel terminal for Vancouver International Airport in south Richmond, the south arm of the Fraser River alone could see an estimated 460 Panamax-sized tanker runs per year, where presently there are none.
The groups call the projects a “juggernaut of fossil fuel development.”
