BC govt asking Feds to lift Offshore Oil Drilling ban

[Karlin]

The ban on drilling for oil in the coastal waters of B.C. went into effect about 40 years ago. It was about to be lifted in the 1980s, but the Exxon Valdez ran aground and spilled its cargo...

Now the BC govt is asking the Feds to lift that ban. BCs Resources minister Neufeld says its too good to leave there, there is lots of oil and gas there.

Lots eh? Maybe thats a good reason to leave it there.

Lots means "lots more global warming". The more we burn now, the worse the severity of climate change will be, we are at the tipping poiint and emissions now are "tipping us into intolerable conditions". We can avoid the worst by reducing emissions now.

Lots means many tankers, with only one running aground and spilling its oily cargo that will ruin that remarkable ocean biosphere, which is richer than most ocean areas due to warm waters circulating there.

It is so rich that recreational divers choose to go there rather than elsewhere. But its not them we need to protect, its the biosphere.

One spill in 10 years isn't bad, right? NOT!!! One spill - perioid - is too much, it simply cannot be tolerated there.

But it is obvious that the environmental concerns will not trump the economic desires of wealthy oil corporations.

There is one concern that COULD make a difference though - you and I protesting this push to allow drilling off the coast of BC.
Just answer the poll to show how you feel... its a first step!

 

[Kreskin]

Pretty biased poll you got there. It's bloody time we repealed the ban on offshore drilling.

 

[..35]

Re: RE: BC govt asking Feds to lift Offshore Oil Drilling ba

It's bloody time we repealed the ban on offshore drilling.

Absolutely.

 

[FiveParadox]

Karlin, once again, I am not voting in your poll; I have no idea which means "Yes", and which means "No."

 

[JonB2004]

RE: BC govt asking Feds t

I want the ban lifted on offshore oil drilling. It would be great for BC's economy, especially since BC is having big problems with health care. It would also create lots of new jobs and slightly decrease oil prices.

 

[FiveParadox]

Re: Offshore Drilling Ban

In my opinion, it would not be appropriate to entirely lift the ban on offshore drilling at this time, on the part of the Government of the Province of British Columbia. However, under certain circumstances, it may be appropriate to make exceptions from the ban, for particular purposes that would be in the best interests of the Province of British Columbia.

:arrow: Deterrent From Fossil Fuels

I would suggest that the retention of this ban is going to contribute toward a shortage of fossil fuels, which would lead to the need for persons not only in the Province, but across Canada and in other nations to which Canada might export these fuels, to cut back, or consider ending, their use of these finite resources. This would be a good thing, in my opinion, for the environment (which I would suggest should take precedence over economic considerations).

:arrow: My Recommendation

I would suggest that the Province should adopt a sort of "firewall" adaptation to the present ban; it would be naïve, in my opinion, to assume that it would never be desirable for the Province as a whole to permit, for a limited time or to a particular corporation, the right to engage in drilling off the shores of British Columbia. However, each instance of such authorization should be debated at length, and should not be consented to by the Premier of British Columbia alone.

A limited-time exception should be granted only where Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia orders that such an exception be granted, for no longer than necessary, with the advice of each of the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, the Premier, and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (where the Speaker's advice would constitute a majority of voices in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia).

 

[carole]

I am not in favour of offshore drilling, or otherwise perpetuating the culture of fossil fuels, which anyone must grasp at this point in history is a HUGE dead end.

When will you people realize, we have to develop alternative energies and transportation, that that will be a difficult, even painful transition, but if we get on with it, we can make LOTS of money doing that and selling that to the rest of the world. It is super useless and destructive to keep producing oil economy infrastucture.

Some generations have had to deal with world war or economic collapse or natural disasters. This is our crisis, and too many people are just plugging their ignorant ears on it...........lalalalalalalala.........I can't hear you........

Keep the ban on offshore drilling.