Have you heard of Clyde River?

The people in the tiny hamlet of Clyde River live on the shore of Baffin Island’s Patricia Bay. As one of the world’s most remote communities, it is challenging the National Energy Board’s decision to approve a five-year search for oil off Clyde River’s coast. The exploration relies on seismic testing, a process of firing explosions through the ocean to find oil. This is a first step towards dangerous oil drilling in the Arctic and a precursor to oil drilling in the Baffin Bay Davis Strait area.

Seismic testing could cause biological damage to dolphins, porpoises and whales.  In fact, 80-90%of the world’s narwhales make the Arctic waters their home. Furthermore, explosions from testing can disrupt the paths of marine animals sometimes causing hearing loss and even death.

The 900 people of Clyde River have the Nunavut Association of Municipalities behind them as they press forward with their legal challenge. Every mayor from Nunavut’s 25 communities has signed on to support Clyde River’s challenge against the Conservative government that deferred the decision to their energy regulator. However, it is disheartening to note that the people who will be affected most and who possess the best knowledge of the region have not been consulted.

Let’s join the people of Clyde River in their fight to protect one of the planet’s most fragile ecosystems. Let’s petition the Canadian government and their National Energy Board to cease dangerous oil exploration in Canada’s Arctic.

To add your voice, please sign the petition in support of Clyde River’s endangered habitat by clicking on the following link:  http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/Blog/inuit-community-battles-big-oil-to-save-prime/blog/51250/

Jean Moylan, CSJ

Be careful we all live down river!

On Saturday October 18^th, we attended a local workshop entitled Down River- Watershed Discipleship--sponsored by KAIROS Canada http://www.kairoscanada.org/

About 50 of us joined together to learn and to affirm our interest in keeping our local watersheds healthy—for our own sakes and that of the generations to come.

Our Aboriginal sister Mary Deleary shared with us the wisdom of the First Nations that the water is a not a commodity.  It is a sacred spirit.  Mary, an Algonquian Anishnawbe mother and grandmother reminded us that we are born through water. Our water has rights.  If it is not well, we are not well.  Our actions impact the health of the water.  Did you know the standards for water consumed by cattle are higher than standards for water consumed by humans?  We were reminded that humankind depends on the birds, the animals, water and the earth; however, these things do not depend on us for their survival. When our settler ancestors came to North America, they called it the “New Land”.  It was not new.  All parts of the earth are the same age.  It just seemed ‘new’ because the Aboriginal people had lived in harmony with the land and did not abuse it.

George Henry, an elder of the Chippewa of the Thames First Nation, talked of the treaties that our settler ancestors signed with the First Nations. Aboriginal people do not believe that the land can be owned by anyone.  When they signed the treaties they agreed to share the land with us.  Many of these treaties are not respected.  There are ongoing lawsuits that will hopefully result in more protection for the land, the water and the Aboriginal people.

Sara Stratton from KAIROS Canada--the Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiative-- showed us a map of Canada that indicated the 5 watersheds of our country. Whatever happens in one watershed—affects oceans that surround us. Did you know that our bodies our composed of 2/3 water and most of that water comes from our local watershed?  She talked of Watershed Discipleship/Reconciliation. She suggested we “decolonize” ourselves and that we “indigenize” ourselves.  We need to learn about the “theology of watersheds”. What is our impact on our local watershed?  What happens upstream effects downstream.

Often economic interests are put before a healthy relationship with water. “You can’t eat money!” says Bryan Smith the chairperson for Oxford People against the Landfill (OPAL). http://www.opalalliance.ca/

He is a strong advocate and educator. OPAL has organized a protest against turning a limestone quarry into a landfill for garbage..This porous quarry is right beside the Thames River and any leaks would cause grave environmental damage. The Council of Canadians  http://canadians.org/public-water   is calling for Direct Action—talking is not enough.  See more at http://thamesriver.on.ca/watershed-health/  and at http://www.kettlecreekconservation.on.ca/

Join us--be a down river disciple!

Sr Mary Boere csj and Associates Jean Bowden and Pat Howe

Energy East is all risk, with few rewards for Canadians

Energy East is a proposal by TransCanada Pipelines to create a network of old and new pipelines stretching over 4,500 km from southern Alberta to New Brunswick. TransCanada wants to use Energy East to ship 1.1 million barrels of tar sands oil a day.

If approved, Energy East would be the largest oil pipeline project in North America. It would even be larger than Keystone XL, another controversial TransCanada proposed pipeline. This mammoth pipeline would put over 125 communities, including 52 First Nations and Métis communities, at direct risk of an oil spill. And, it would put the water of millions of Canadians at risk.

Energy East is not a made in Canada oil solution. Most of the oil would be exported. Energy East is expected to export between 800,000 - 1,000,000 barrels of unrefined oil out of Canada every single day. That’s the equivalent to filling nearly 50 Olympic-sized swimming pools with oil – every day.

TransCanada will try to convince Canadians that this risky project is in Canada's interest. To help provide the public with insight on the truth about this project, Environmental Defence has put together this handy poster to show how Energy East is all risk, with few rewards for Canadians.

Help Environmental Defence spread the word about the risks of Energy East. Share the link to the poster on Facebook and Twitter. Print it out and put it up in your workplace, local businesses and libraries. And if you haven't yet, raise your voice about the risks of Energy East. Take action here.

To learn more about Energy East, and the work of Environmental Defence, visit: www.RejectEnergyEast.ca

Guest Blogger: 

Liza Smithies
Senior Development Officer

116 Spadina Avenue, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2K6
Tel: 416.323.9521 x260 | Toll Free: 1.877.399.2333 | Fax: 416.323.9301
web: environmentaldefence.ca | twitter: @envirodefence | facebook: EnvironmentalDefenceCanada

We are Canada's most effective environmental action organization. We challenge, and inspire change in government, business and people to ensure a greener, healthier and prosperous life for all.

Environmental Defence is 30! To kick off our anniversary year, check out this special blog and this video about our dedicated team.

Food for Thought: Our Endangered Neighbour

My fascination with bees began at the early age of five when I started school. In our small unfamiliar library, perched on a top shelf, was a grey massive empty hive. I had to face the reality of this strange form whenever I reached up for a book. I was reminded over and over again that the hive was indeed empty. Over time I learned to respect bees. I got to love them. I was assured that they wouldn’t bite me unless I disturbed them. I discovered bees were amazingly hard workers and creators of beauty. En masse, they cooperate so well with each other in achieving their goal of making honey to my amazement. In my later years I became aware that honey bees account for 80% of all insect pollinators. They play a vital role in our food chain.

Bees have been very much in people’s minds, hearts and prayers these days because of their high rate of death over this past winter. I cannot imagine life without bees for they have been with us for 10 million years. The Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists identified three causes: starvation from lack of food caused by our past cold winter, parasites (mites), and primarily exposure to pesticides (neonicotinoids).

Neonicotinoids, a family of pesticides typically applied as a seed coating, help to protect plants from insects and in Ontario are used primarily in corn and soybean crops. Believe it or not, they are used in greenhouses! Neonicotinoids are banned by the European Union, but Canada is awaiting an interim report to come out next spring before considering a ban. Meanwhile, extra precaution will be taken to prevent neonicotinoid dust getting into the soil or air during planting season by the introduction of a new seed lubricant. As well, farmers and beekeepers will have access to an app that will notify each other when fields close to bee hives are about to be planted.

Sadly, beekeepers, farmers and seed-sellers are all impacted by the increasing annihilation of bees. These three entities need to work with each other to achieve a fair but successful outcomes - one that would have bees as the first priority, not putting self- interest or the economy first.

To learn more about the challenges facing honey bees and what you can do to protect them, please visit www.panna.org under Issues, - Pesticides 101 A Prime – Food & Agriculture – and scroll down to find the booklet Bee the Change.

Rita Godon, CSJ
On behalf of the Ecology Committee

In the CSJ spirit to live one with our neighbour, let us ‘bee friendly”.

Straight-talk on Climate Change

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has released a hard-hitting video that calls for the end of the fossil fuel era. He makes important links between climate change, damage to the earth, human rights and poverty. And in true Tutu fashion, he locates the source of hope within us – in our capacity to respond collectively to this decisive moment in human history.

Sue Wilson CSJ