Letters to the Editor: September 25, 2013

Snail mail

This week I will be mailing a thank you card to a friend who has a mail box in the main Canada Post office. I will place it in the red box at the front entrance which is less than 10 feet from her mail box [“Postal change creates delays,” May 15]. The card will be boxed, shipped to Vancouver, taken to a row of machines and sorted. It will then be packaged up and shipped back to Powell River and delivered to the main post office. It will take four days to go 10 feet.

This is economical? Is this timely customer service?

Robert Woods

Padgett Road

I would like to comment on the cartoon that Wendy Brown created on Colin Palmer, Powell River Regional District board chair [September 18]. I found the cartoon was very offensive in nature showing Palmer suggesting that everyone in his family liked black lung and that Texada Island deserved it as well.

I believe the cartoon crossed the line of fair editorial content in which Brown was using her own words that the family of Palmer liked black lung disease. No one likes that disease at all. It is the scariest of well-known diseases on this planet that was found in coal miners in the early 1940s and 1950s.

Brown’s assertion that black lung was good for the Palmer family members is totally absurd and offensive.

She should write a letter to the editor apologizing to Palmer and his family for her portrayal of him.

If there is no letter of apology forthcoming from Brown, I will have to go to the BC Press Council with a complaint.

Ken White

Harvie Avenue

I am appalled that the Powell River Regional District board has made a motion to support the expansion of coal storage and export capacity on Texada Island.

CaroleAnn Leishman’s viewpoint [“Coal storage and export irresponsible,” September 18] clearly points out many of the reasons why this application should not be supported. We need to say no to “supporting the supply and transport of the dirtiest thermal coal on the planet.”

The reason none of the coastal ports in the United States will ship this coal is because of strong public concerns about health risks. They know that coal dust contains toxic heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, sulphur) and has been linked to lung problems and asthma.

The potential negative environmental impacts are also huge. Our air, land, food and fish would be in danger of coal dust contamination. In addition, massive single-hulled freighters coming through our waters, carrying large amounts of fuel, would bring increased risk of fuel spills. If only one of these ships runs aground in our waters, our community’s economy and pristine beauty would be devastated.

As Leishman points out, it is not realistic to think that a “vague disclaimer” is going to protect us. This issue is big and it is bad, and no pretty sounding disclaimer is going to change that. We need to send a loud and clear message to our politicians that this is not what we want for our community—this is not the legacy we want to leave for our children.

Kaia Sherritt

Abbotsford Street

My husband Dave and I worked at the Willingdon Beach Campsite for nine years. We enjoyed the job and we really miss the friends we made. We have been keeping in touch with what is happening in Powell River through the Internet—I must say, what a wonderful tool the Internet is.

I can now voice my opinion on the Powell River Public Library proposal since we are not employed by the City of Powell River [“Study documents opposition to library,” September 18].

I feel that progress is a wonderful thing, but I do not like it when progress takes away more than it gives back. Once that site is given to the library it is taken away from all the residents of Powell River. Such a beautiful site I feel should be given to as many residents of Powell River as possible. The library is not as active as it was and with all the Internet cafés it will be used even less.

There are more churches than pubs in Powell River which was a great plus when we moved there. So why not keep that proposed area as a more sacred area to honour the past and the future. My suggestion would be a labyrinth, a “walking prayer circle.” What a perfect place for all residents of all faiths. I think it would help those who are in all sorts of mind sets: grieving, worrying, happy times, sad times, all communicating with God.

I hope city officials think about my proposal and reserve a beautiful area that God gave us all by bringing it back to its natural beauty.

Sheryl Clark

Blackfalds, Alberta

Have you noticed that those supporting the expansion of coal storage on Texada Island avoid any discussion of the potential consequences involved with the handling of coal? Their sole argument is that it was good enough for my grandpa so what’s the problem [“Rural directors support coal expansion,” September 18]?

Well, things change. We don’t think the same way we did 20 years ago and a good thing too. Things like the environment are viewed way differently today. Consider that your grandpa’s car probably didn’t have a catalytic converter for emission control, for example.

To say that protests opposing the Texada coal storage should target the Chinese and Indian consulates because the issue is beyond “our” level is bizarre. Isn’t this all about coal being sent by barge through our pristine local waters, stored on Texada then shipped to China? What is more on our level than that? Fortunately, unlike China or India, Canadians can and should say no to potential long-term negative environmental projects. This is a global issue we can have a say on.

Colin Palmer and other Powell River Regional District directors would be wise to drop their preconceived bias, listen to their constituents and look closer at the issue and the increasing global awareness of the consequences of handling, storage, transport and use of coal. Ask yourself, why is everyone else saying no to this?

John Hollo

Van Anda, Texada Island

I understand Powell River Regional District will be voting on the Lafarge Canada Inc. proposal to expand its coal facilities on Texada Island on September 26 and that the planning committee has already lent its approval to this application [“Rural directors support coal expansion,” September 18].

I oppose this application. By approving this application, the directors are also approving climate change and global warming. The Sustainability Charter the board agreed to in 2010 has a vision far greater than the immediate environment of Powell River. It has a vision of sustainability for the planet. Our elected officials cannot stop climate change with words on paper unless they truly have the conviction of those words and are willing to make the tough decisions.

Worldwide, we are being subjected to the effects of our continued use of fossil fuels. We no longer have a “fuel” crisis for lack of, we have a planetary crisis with the overuse of fossil fuels. Please put the interests of the people and the planet before the financial interests of this corporation.

To say that someone will ship coal to China so it might as well be us, is like saying someone will throw garbage out of the window so it might as well be me. It only adds to the problem. There are contradictions from Lafarge about the number of Texada jobs that would be provided by this expansion. I am truly dismayed by the lack of respect being afforded to the “word” these days. The emphasis is on spin and convincing instead of truth and integrity. Are we to believe the Lafarge corporate executives in their office or the Lafarge workers on the ground floor?

I oppose the expansion of the coal facilities at Lafarge and I support jobs in sustainable industries.

Leslie Goresky

Van Anda, Texada Island

Powell River Regional District board chair Colin Palmer is so far out of touch with modern day reality that it is actually majorly embarrassing [“Rural directors support coal expansion,” September 18]. This sentiment extends to the entire board of directors.

Signing on to a Sustainability Charter and then turning the other cheek by supporting an archaic and destructive proposal, is akin to being an impaired designated driver. The Emergency Measures Act should be invoked in this situation and the entire board should be removed for dereliction of duty. They are doing a complete disservice to our community by exhibiting willful negligence in their duty to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire regional electorate.

Requesting all the monitoring in the world is not enough. Once Pandora’s box is open there is absolutely no chance of even closing it slightly, let alone slamming it shut.

Steve Perkins

Blair Road, Texada Island

Please note that it is only still September and there is fresh snow on the mountains. Does anyone in Powell River have snow tires on their car? I doubt it. So those who propose a road to Squamish: how many people will use this road when there will be snow on it from now until May [“Highway across to Squamish visionary,” August 14]?

The road looks nice on a map. In reality it will resemble the fast ferries, a great idea at the time but a big mistake in reality. Some solutions to problems are better kept on paper.

Peter Behr

Highway 101