Oil Free Coast Alliance rally in Vancouver, October 2001. For more info about the alliance visit www.oilfreecoast.org. Photo credit: Ivan Bulic
massive support for continuing the moaratorium
The Oil Free Coast Alliance consist of over 70 diverse groups including fihers' groups, many First Nations, social justice groups, tourism organizations and non-profit environment and conservation societies. Together they represent tens of thousands of citizens who are united in their stand against the exploration for and development of BC's offshore oil and gas reserves. Join with these groups and make YOUR voice heard!
FIRST NATIONS Take a Stand Against Offshore Drilling
To date, the BC government has completely ignored First Nations' opposition to lifting the moratorium on offshore oil and gas exploration and development. The Tsimshian and Haida, whose traditional territories include the inshore and offshore waters most sought after by oil and gas developers, issued this joint press statement in May, 2001.
"The Tsimshian Nation and the Haida Nation continue to support the Moratorium on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration. The Tsimshian and Haida have examined the issues and determined that the reasons for initiating the Moratorium have not changed. "The petroleum interests that are being promoted are within the territorial seas of our people," says Deborah Jeffrey, President of the Tsimshian tribal Council. "Our culture and identities are integrally tied to our land and seas, including the marine resources." The cultures of Northwest Coast peoples are derived from their relationship with their lands. The marine environment is amongst the richest on the planet while the coastal rainforests attract visitors from around the world. "The risk of harm from an accidental spill or from allowable discharge is not acceptable and they expect us to bear the risk,"says Guujaaw, President of the Council of Haida Nation. "We intend to pass on a life and culture to the following generations which includes fish and birds." The position of the Tsimshian and the Haida is consistent with the position of the federal government. The Environment Minister David Anderson stated previously in the media dated August 9, 2000 "I am not going to in any way support the lifting of the moratorium until it's clearly shown that the reasons for having it in the first place are no longer valid." He stated interested parties would have to satisfy concerns about the environment, the fishery, earthquakes and aboriginal involvement in any proposal. Deborah Jeffrey, President of the Tsimshian Nation and Guujaaw, President of the Haida Nation, are united in their statement to the federal and provincial governments, "The Moratorium on Offshore Oil and Gas Explorations must remain in place."
The undersigned urge the BC and Canada governments to continue to maintain their moratoriums on offshore oil and gas exploration and development in British Columbia:
Alaska Centre for the Environment, Alberni Environmental Coalition, Alberni Social Justice Group, Beecher Bay First Nations, Beyond Expectations, Bluewater Adventures Ltd, British Columbia Wetlands Society, Broughton Archipelago Stewardship Project, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Check Your Head, Citizens' Council on Corporate Issues, Clearwater Biodiversity Project, Comox Indian Band, Cook Inlet Keeper, David Suzuki Foundation, Eastern Canada Chapter of the Sierra Club, Ecosummer Expeditions, Environmental Commission of the Anglican Diocese of BC, Environmental Youth Alliance, Friends of Boundary Bay, Friends of Clayoquot Sound, Friends of Cortes Island, Friends of the Tlell, Forest Action Network, FORPA Forest Protection Allies, Georgia Strait Alliance, Green Party of BC, Greengrass Institute, Greenpeace, GSX Concerned Citizens Coalition, Haida Gwaii Marine Resources Group Association, International Fund for Animal Welfare, International Network of Forests and Communities, International Year of the Tiger, Intervention Coalition on Sable Gas Project, Letters for Animals, Living Oceans Society, Malcolm Island Environmental Protection Society, Mayne Island Naturalists, Mississippi 2020 Network Inc., Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal Council, MV "Orca Song", Nelson EcoCentre of British Columbia, North Graham Island Streamkeepers, North-west Environmental Advocates, Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society, Oceans Blue Foundation, Ocean Conservancy Alaska, Oilwatch Europe, Oilwatch Mesoamerica, Out of the Clamshell, Pacific Biodiversity Institute, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Pacific Orca Society, ORCALAB, Peoples Action for Threatened Habi- tat, Prince Rupert Environmental Society, Puget Sound Gillnetters Assoc., Qualicum Beach Streamkeepers, Raincoast Conservation Society, Raincoast Research Society, Rainforest Relief, Reach for Unbleached, Save Our Mother Ocean, Sierra Club (US), National Marine Wildlife and Habitat Committee, Sierra Club of BC, Sierra Club of South Carolina, Sierra Legal Defence Fund, Society Promoting Environmental Conservation, Songbird Project, Students for Environmental Awareness, Sustainable Communities Consultancy, Surfrider Foundation, T Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation, The Edmonds Institute, TREES-Temperate Rainforest Environmental Education Society, Tropico Verde, United Fishermen and Allie Workers Union, UVIC Chapter of the Society For Conservation Biology, Valhalla Wilderness Society, Voice For All Animals, Watershed Sentinel, Watershed Watch Salmon Society WaveLength Paddling Magazine, West Coast Environmental Law, Western Canada Wilderness Committee.
