Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Showing posts with label Fraser Declaration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fraser Declaration. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Alberta and N.W.T. First Nations sign Fraser Declaration against Enbridge and Kinder Morgan pipelines

Last week's signing of the Fraser Declaration on the part of First Nations in Alberta and the Northwest Territories marks a high point in a series of actions directed at the National Energy Board hearings in Edmonton.

As described in the below press release, the Fraser Declaration was led by the Yinka Dene Alliance; it is a formal declaration opposing the Enbridge Gateway project and supertankers on the B.C. coast.

Over 130 First Nations chiefs have now signed the declaration to ban crude oil exports through their traditional territories. This past December 1st saw a celebration of the Declaration that included an expansion of the breadth of the document which now includes all crude oil exports across B.C. This includes Kinder Morgan's attempts to turn Vancouver Harbour into a tar sands shipping port.

The signing demonstrates further unity and solidarity from Indigenous communities opposed to pipelines that will facilitate further unsustainable expansion in the tar sands and pose significant threats to land, water and communities.

The Council of Canadians is committed to our opposition of the Enbridge Gateway pipeline as well as the Kinder Morgan expansion and Pacific Trails pipeline. Over the coming weeks and months we will roll out an ambitious campaign working with communities, chapters, individuals and allied organizations to stop these pipelines, including an "Earth Day No Tankers No Pipelines!" call to action.