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Letters to the Editor: April 23, 2014

Water at issue “Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink!” Reading the Peak , March 26, there are a couple of comments in the article “Bursting at its seams” that really make me ask questions.

Water at issue

“Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink!” Reading the Peak, March 26, there are a couple of comments in the article “Bursting at its seams” that really make me ask questions. Additional piping will be required if the city is to use Powell Lake as a backup supply while work is being done.

Tor Birtig confirmed that a catastrophic break in the line would result in restricted flows in some areas, particularly Wildwood and surrounding community.

Does this mean Powell Lake still has pumps after all these years? Are there still pumps for Wildwood as backup? Whatever happened to the West Lake water system?

They were all chlorine-treated until a past engineer decided we needed a new treatment and a multi-million-dollar “tank” when we had a whole lake behind it.

The only steady flow is the high interest payments when council declares we need this or that on borrowed money.

Sewage treatment, I think it is totally stupid to even think about co-treatment with the facts and figures I had read about.

Wildwood has a perfectly good sewage treatment that nobody really talks about. Townsite and Cranberry have a treatment plant that works successfully. No major expenses on these, just maintenance.

Westview treatment plant? Now that thing has cost millions and millions to upgrade. Why, it’s out in public view.

I will admit Westview has expanded a lot more than the other three surrounding communities, but get real.

One more water problem for me is Cranberry Lake. Get rid of those white-flowered lilies.

There is one creek entering the lake, the rest of it must be spring-fed. The outflow creek runs through my property. There is a gravel bar at the lake that maintains the lake within about one foot unless somebody starts messing with it. I have been wrestling with that creek since 1945. I still keep my eye on it.

So, city, clean up the creek through the “sanctuary” and Lot 450. Maybe that will get rid of our flooded property.

KD Scott

Manson Avenue


People’s choice

I‘ve been watching closely the opinions of BC residents regarding tar sands pipelines and supertankers [“MP stumps against northern gateway,” March 26]. Polling indicates two out of three people in BC oppose endangering rivers, streams, communities and coastline.

Over 2,500 Powell River area residents have signed a pledge supporting a provincial vote whether to support the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and oil tanker expansion project. The pledge is online at www.letbcvote.ca. Ecossentials store has pledge sheets for signing at its counter.

I believe we should use our province’s unique direct democracy laws. We have the power to put this to a vote. Pledges to support an initiative process are being collected by Dogwood Initiative and information is available on its website.

In October 2012, this is what Premier Christy Clark said about Enbridge’s proposal: “This project can only go ahead if it has the social licence to do so. It can only get the social licence from the citizens of British Columbia. And that’s what I’m representing as premier.” Do we want her to stand up for our province?

We can have a say about unwanted risky projects rammed through without due process, informed debate, discussion of alternatives, adequate risk assessment. Our own City of Powell River council and Powell River Regional District board are considering making a resolution to register their concerns over tanker and pipeline projects.

Do you have questions about this plan for a citizens’ initiative vote? Dogwood area organizer, Dave Mills, would like to hear them: 1.250.650.3444. We know what we stand to lose. Do we want to risk it?

Mary Ann Lammersen

Sarah Point Road


Time is now: Earth Day

With all of our independent natures and nations, we have only one world to share [“Week of activities celebrates earth,” April 16].

Scientists tell us our climate is changing faster than at any other time in the history of climate change. There are too many variables to pinpoint the exact date of the tipping points that will begin the catastrophic climatic changes. For some on our planet, whose homes and livelihoods were recently destroyed in severe weather storms, it must feel like it has already begun. We are all responsible and the developed nations of the world should take ownership for the severity and rapidity of this problem. Our demand for cheap consumer goods fuels the demand for coal-fired electrical generating plants in China and the Far East to increase their fuel consumption to continue to supply us with cheap goods.

The concern for a financially secure and comfortable retirement has many investing in shares in the fossil fuel and mineral industries which generally have the greatest market returns and the largest detrimental impacts on the environment.

Our governments cannot provide environmental security. We must do that. Our choices must do that. Our market demands must do that. Each and every one of us impacts our environment.

It is time to stop criticizing our neighbours and take a long and careful look at our individual beliefs and lifestyle. It is not about going backwards. I think it is about taking the responsibility to understand and then requiring ourselves to moderate. How often do I need to drive? To fly? What are the environmental costs of my food choices? Of my recreational choices? Of my investment choices? Of my building choices?

We all come from a different starting place and if we all reduce our footprint by 10 per cent, we will still have much much more than many people on this planet. The time is now, a place to begin.

Leslie Goresky

Van Anda, Texada Island