To the editor:
Tom Fletcher had it all wrong when he declared in his column that the “protest industry” was going to war against Alberta oil. No, it is not “manufactured people power” at work fighting for environmental protections, it is ordinary citizens, like myself and my husband, who are on a “mission” to protect our common property; the oceans, the air and the forests. And, no, Mr. Fletcher, we’re not part of any “industry” at all. The fact is the petroleum industry, with its deep pockets and paid lobbyists, is the real “industry” at work here.
Yes, as private citizens with no memberships in “hive’ organizations, we are going to attend the protest in Vancouver – at our own expense. It’s because we are among a growing number of people world-wide who are looking to a better, more just national and world economy which will gradually move away from fossil fuels and toward sustainable, clean energy sources.
Environmentalists are often derided as being naive about the reality of our dependency on fossils fuels. But, in fact, those that are not in favour of the Kinder Morgan expansion, for instance, realize that a transition period away from these energy sources is realistic. What is not, is to continue on a path of growth and expansion of the production in polluting fuels. There are other, better ways of growing our economy.
The real money, power and influence today exists in the hands of the corporations, who have historically directed public policy by their well-funded and savvy use of the media and unfettered access to politicians.
Linda Grant
Saanich