RE: Academics against the pipeline rally on Friday at 10:30 am

["Steve Whitmore" <whitmore@sfu.ca>]

Hi Folks,

Like Neil, I too would like to see a discussion that weighs the various sides of the pipeline issue. Unlike Neil, my impression is that the science on global warming has been largely settled, so I doubt that a debate on that would be of much value. But other elements of the issue merit close attention.

My personal views on the subject have recently undergone a bit of a transformation. I originally suspected that Alberta oil was bound to make it to market one way or another and, on balance, I prefer the Kinder Morgan (KM) pipeline to the Northern Gateway pipeline. Similarly, I think we are probably better off using pipelines rather than the rail transport alternative.

However, the recent SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit against Public Participation) by KM has now compelled me to firmly oppose that pipeline. I see this lawsuit as a direct assault on our democratic right to free speech. It appears an all-too-obvious attempt to silence environmental and First Nation opposition to the pipeline. Worse, it appears to be a corporate extension  of the Harper government's muzzling of scientists and weakening of environmental regulations as well as the Clark government's apparent intention to silence various community organizations through proposed changes to the BC Society Act. 

A discussion that looks at the fundamental issues of law, governance, and our rights and freedoms in relation to the politics of oil would prove, no doubt, to be enlightening. I'm not volunteering as I lack the expertise, but perhaps SFUFA could organize something along these lines. These kinds of assaults upon our freedom of speech should concern us all.

Regards,

Steve Whitmore
Engineering Science


-----Original Message-----
From: Neil Abramson [mailto:nabramso@sfu.ca] 
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2014 11:10 AM
To: Nancy Forde
Cc: academic-discussion
Subject: Re: Academics against the pipeline rally on Friday at 10:30 am

Hi Nancy, hi Colleagues;

I respect that many of you, my colleagues, are clearly and evidently opposed to the Kinder Morgan project. I also know that various of my colleagues are actually in support of oil pipelines, and possibly even the Kinder Morgan one in our own backyard.

I remember when we were working on what we thought about the idea of unionizing SFUFA last year. There was a lot of concern from SFUFA members that, as academics, we needed to study the issue from both sides, considering the evidence both pro and con before deciding what our position should be. I remember that the SFUFA executive was expected to make every effort to ensure that both sides had opportunities to express themselves, and the evidence supporting their positions, before members would be willing to commit themselves to a final position. And even though SFUFA made a lot of efforts to fairly balance both sides, in the end those who opposed unionization felt we hadn't done enough. I am a bit surprised that I don't see that analytical attitude in this case.

Myself, I'm not sure what I should think about the Kinder Morgan project. I personally think its crazy to load many many tankers in the Burrard Inlet - sooner or later there will be a spill and we will all be very sorry. I would, however, like to hear both sides but all I hear from "academic-discussion" is opposition, and now the professoriate is being asked to rally at the drilling site to express its opposition. Were there events at SFU intended to help inform the professoriate about this project by presenting the evidence on both sides? All I hear is from advocates opposed to the project that there isn't any valid evidence on the other side but I wonder what the other side would say in return? Its common enough for academics to insist on their own views at the expense of others who also insist in the opposite direction. Its called academic inquiry. And some of what I have read on the subject has argued that while there is evidence of climate change, its not clear that it is the result of human activity. Terrestrial climates have gone back and forth between cold and warm for millions of years with no help from humans. And I gather Kinder Morgan plans to sell this oil to people like the Chinese so they can substitute a less polluting energy source for the coal they now burn. And that sounds rather the same as Premier Clark's desire to sell the Chinese LNG, again to reduce the pollution created by burning coal. 

Anyway, what I am wondering is whether there will be any events in favour of the Kinder Morgan project to balance this demonstration against it? And will there be any events for the SFU professoriate that present both sides of the debate to help people like me to understand the issues better, and come to a conclusion about which way a person like myself should go in my own thinking? I hope it is alright to ask questions like these in our academic community. Presumably we are committed to reasoned analysis of all available evidence, and I am quite willing to support the "anti" side after I have the opportunity to examine the evidence on both sides and find the one side the more persuasive.

All the best
Neil Abramson
Beedie



----- Original Message -----
From: "Nancy Forde" <nforde@sfu.ca>
To: "academic-discussion" <academic-discussion@sfu.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2014 11:15:42 AM
Subject: Academics against the pipeline rally on Friday at 10:30 am

Dear all,

Please read below for information about how to join with other colleagues to demonstrate against the pipeline on Friday morning, 10:30 am.

Best wishes,
Nancy


----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Lisa Craig" <licraig@sfu.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, 25 November, 2014 18:52:14
Subject: academics against the pipeline rally on Friday at 10:30 am

We are planning an "academics against the pipeline" event on Friday morning at 10:30 am at the corner of Centennial Way and Burnaby Mountain Parkway. We are encouraging faculty and students to attend. Bring signs. Bring friends. Show your opposition to the Kinder Morgan pipeline proposal and the failure of our federal government to act on climate change. 

This is a lawful event. The boundaries of the injunction are clearly marked by police tape. We will gather at 10:30, listen to a few speeches then march up to the Kinder Morgan worksite. Every day since the injunction was enforced there have been a handful of brave souls willing to defy the injunction and get arrested. Likely, Friday will be no different. Some of them will say a few words at the rally or at the police line. 

Public transportation is recommended. Parking is very limited - park at the bottom of the hill or at the top of Curtis. Or walk down from SFU. Wear boots - its pretty muddy at the top. 

Kinder Morgan expects to be working on Burnaby Mountain for another week. Protests will continue at the same time every day they are there, so if you can't make it Friday you can go another day. 

Please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested.



-- 
Nancy Forde
Associate Professor
Department of Physics
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Dr.
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
--
nforde@sfu.ca
778-782-3161; 778-782-3592 (fax)
http://www.sfu.ca/fordelab