March 24th is No Tankers day!

Watch this.....and remember the devastation....if we lift the moratorium, like the Campbell Government wants to do, we will be reliving this nightmare.

http://www.dogwoodinitiative.org/notankers

From The Oil Free Coast Alliance......

www.oilfreecoast.org

In 1988, beaches along the west coast of Vancouver Island, between Uclulet and Tofino, were contaminated when oil swept north from a spill in Washington State after the fuel barge Nestucca collided and ruptured sending 890 tonnes of heavy bunker C oil into the ocean. Then, in 1989, one of the worst spills he world has seen occurred in Alaska when the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, spilling approximately 11 million gallons of oil - roughly equivalent to 125 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Unprecedented levels of public outrage in B.C. and beyond, and fear of future disasters, led the federal government to leave the moratorium in place.

British Columbia’s offshore area includes four key basins: Georgia, between the east coast of Vancouver Island and the mainland; Queen Charlotte to the north, between Haida Gwaii and the mainland; and Winona and Tofino, off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

While the federal government has been considering lifting its moratorium in the north, on the Queen Charlotte Basin, the province wants the blanket moratorium lifted, which would allow offshore oil and gas in the Strait of Georgia and off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

A number of oil companies, including Chevron, Shell and ExxonMobile, hold leases to the seabed in these basins, which were issued by the federal and provincial governments before the moratorium was instituted. One of the great unknowns is just how much oil and gas would be found in B.C.’s offshore seabed. In order to find out, ecologically destructive seismic testing and exploratory drilling must take place. Risking damage to an exceptional marine environment with untold numbers of plant and animal species as well as jeopardizing ancient First Nations cultures and jobs is nothing more than reckless.

In 2004, the federal government asked British Columbians their views on the moratorium by conducting public hearings and First Nations interviews. The public review involved the participation of 3,700 individuals, many of who work and live on the B.C. coast. Seventy-five percent of the participants told the federal government that they wanted the moratorium maintained. The First Nations review, which involved 70 nations, found 100 percent support for maintaining the moratorium.

The B.C. government is ignoring the views of B.C. residents and First Nations by pressuring the federal government to lift the moratorium and open the coast to offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction. We must work together to protect the B.C. coast and coastal economy from this threat.

Offshore oil and gas development starts with seismic testing, a process used to find oil reserves, which comes with significant risk. This testing requires shooting high-pressure sound waves into the ocean. Impacts from such extreme pressure include the destruction of eggs and larvae, damage to fish with swim bladders, such as rockfish, and disruption of migratory paths of marine mammals. For more info on the impacts of seismic testing click here.

Oil spills continue to be one of the greatest threats from offshore oil and gas development. Research has shown the Exxon Valdez spill of 1989 is still impacting the marine ecosystem. In addition to spills and blowouts, the industry produces drilling muds and produced waters, which flush poisons directly into the ocean. A single production platform can drill 50 to 100 wells and discharge over 90,000 metric tons of drilling fluids and metal cuttings directly into the ocean. What’s more, one offshore rig emits the same quantity of pollution as 7000 cars driving 50 miles a day.

Developing offshore oil and gas reserves will perpetuate our dependence on fossil fuels, which is contrary to Canada’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. It’s time to invest and encourage the development of alternative energies, such as wind and solar power.

When will they learn?

The BC Liberal government promised to reduce class sizes and improve support for students with special needs but they never provided the funding to get the job done. Instead, they downloaded additional costs onto local boards. As a result, 177 schools closed.

Last year, there were thousands of classes across the province that exceeded the government's own legislated requirements. There were more than 10,000 overcrowded classes that violated standards for students with special needs.

The mantra from the education minister of "highest ever" funding does not stand up to scrutiny. Data on inflation versus funding tells a different story. Compared to other provinces, BC is way behind. The numbers tell the story.

Improving the lives and education of children must be a priority. Read more in the BCTF Education Funding Brief.

When will the provincial government learn?

Look at www.bctf.ca/WhenWillTheyLearn.aspx

Our BC Education advocates are worried......

Jerry Oetting, president of CUPE Local 2081 representing staff at Camosun Community College and Paul Waterlander, a teacher in the Sooke School District,Lana Popham NDP Candidate Saanich South, Dr. Paul Shaker, former Dean and Professor at Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Education

Monday, March 9, 2009

Education advocates host forum on public education

VICTORIA—Come and find out why B.C. education advocates are worried about our public education system – from K-12 through to university – at a free public forum for residents of Greater Victoria. The forum is sponsored by the BC Coalition for Public Education.

Join us to hear Dr. Paul Shaker, former Dean and Professor at Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Education. Dr. Shaker will be joined by students, teachers and staff from the public school, college and university sectors.

Elsie McMurphy, trustee for the Saanich Board of Education (School District 63), Jerry Oetting, president of CUPE Local 2081 representing staff at Camosun Community College and Paul Waterlander, a teacher in the Sooke School District, and a representative of the UVic Students’ Society will offer brief comments on a range of education issues.

What: Free public education forum

When: March 10, 2009 7–9 pm

Where: Spectrum Community School Theatre

957 Burnside Road W. Victoria

The Coalition for Public Education supports and promotes universally accessible, quality public education and includes students, community organizations, and the people who teach and work in B.C.’s schools, colleges, institutes and universities.

Making the connection!

http://blip.tv/play/Ad3WG5HTXg

CFAX 1070 News Release

NDP NAME SOUTH SAANICH CANDIDATE

Mar 8, 2009

THE PROVINCIAL NEW DEMOCRATS ACCLAIMED LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTIVIST LANA POPHAM AS THEIR CANDIDATE IN THE SAANICH SOUTH RIDING FOR THE UPCOMING PROVINCIAL ELECTION.

POPHAM SAYS BECUASE SHE IS FROM SAANICH SHE HAS THE EXPERIENCE TO IDENTIFY KEY ISSUES AND TO BRING THEM TO THE FORE.

"I think that's what people want. I don't think people want an MLA who is elected thats going to be bringing messages from the government to the community. I'm the type of MLA that will be bringing messages from our community to the government."

IN THE LEAD UP TO THE MAY 12 ELECTION, POPHAM SAYS SHE IS PLANNING THE MOST DYNAMIC CAMPAIGN SOUTH SAANICH HAS SEEN. SHE FACES ROBIN ADAIR, THE LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR THE RIDING.

- LIZ MCARTHUR

What a party!!!!

What a great night we had on Saturday! Over 150 volunteers joining our dream team that night and many more wonderful people who contacted us to attend our next volunteer party . This was the first of many thank-you parties we will be having as we move towards May 12th! It was so nice to see our community represented by our guests. We had people from business to agriculture and everywhere in between. A great big slice of Saanich South, and a great big thank-you to all of you!