Convergence for a Pipeline and Tanker Free BC will be landing June 2 at the Brilliant Cultural Center near Castlegar from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
This event will feature Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs and Joan Phillip, Penticton Band councillor; Gerald Amos, former chief councillor of the Haisla First Nations, Kitimat; Peter Julian MP NDP Energy and Natural Resource critic; First Nations Traditional prayer and singers, Peru, Washington and BC; Alex Atamanenko MP BC Southern Interior; power point presentations by Valhalla Wilderness Society-Wayne McCrory and Kootenays for a Pipeline-Free BC-Keith Wiley; the Doukhobors and Friends for Peace Choir and informational displays.
Everyone is welcome to arrive early to participate in a special Doukhobor prayer meeting, blended with First Nations, with emphasis on prayers for the Earth, led by Ernie Verigin, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
In conjunction with these events, Atamanenko will host an informal panel and round table discussion entitled: Pipelines, Tankers and Energy Policy. It will be held June 1 at the United Church in Nelson from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will feature Julian. Atamanenko and special guests.
“These converged events are framed to clarify the impacts of the proposed Northern Gateway and Kinder Morgan pipelines, omnibus bills, C-38 and C-45, and increased tar sands production, along with options which will best serve BC,” said conference coordinator Nadine Podmoroff.
Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline proposes to ship over half a million barrels of tar sands heavy oil daily from Alberta through northern BC to the coast of Kitimat, where it would be exported in tankers to US and Asian markets. The Kinder Morgan pipeline, which spans from Edmonton to Burnaby proposes to expand transport volume to a tanker per day to US and Asian markets.
Organizers of the event say the pipelines would cross ecologically sensitive areas, including hundreds of rivers and streams, the Great Bear Rainforest and mountainous and landslide-prone terrain. Oil tankers and super tankers are proposed to cross the Burrard Inlet and Hecate and Queen Charlotte straits which are recognized as the fourth most dangerous waters in the world.
Suggested minimum $10 donation and youth are free. To volunteer or for more information please visit usccdoukhobors.org/kruna/krunaevents.htm. or contact 250-825-4517 or nadia@netidea.com
Gathering of Eagles is sponsored by Kootenay Region Branch United Nations Association in Canada, USCC Working Groups, Nelson Chapter Council of Canadians, Valhalla Wilderness Society, Kootenays for a Pipeline- Free BC, Lower Columbia All First Nations, MIR Center for Peace, Eco Society, Regional District of Central Kootenays Area I and Peter Rezansoff.