Unwelcome party for BP responds to imminent plans for Nova Scotia offshore drilling
[ https://canadians.org/media/unwelcome-p ... e-drilling ]
Media Advisory / Photo Op April 10, 2018
What: With news that the BP-commissioned West Aquarius rig is in en route to Nova Scotian waters in preparation for offshore drilling, Nova Scotians are headed to BP’s office to let them know they are not welcome. The ‘unwelcoming’ party will feature some short statements and compelling visuals.
When: Wednesday, April 11, 1:00 p.m. AT
Where: Gathering outside Founder’s Square, BP’s Halifax office (1701 Hollis Street)
Why: The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) just approved the West Aquarius rig entering Nova Scotia waters. The rig was on the move even prior to receiving this approval, underscoring concerns with regulatory capture and CNSOPB’s conflicting mandate to both promote the oil and gas industry and protect the marine environment.
Many residents, fishers, and tourism operators were not aware of the federal environmental review of BP’s proposal to drill up to seven exploratory wells and are now expressing alarm at the federal approval of the project despite the significant risk it presents to sustainable jobs in fishing and tourism, marine waters, and our climate.
The recent CNSOPB approval came shortly after a well-received coastal speakers’ tour on the risks presented by the BP proposal. The tour underscored numerous concerns drawing on the experiences of the BP Gulf Coast spill, including the lack of a capping stack onsite (the closest one is almost two weeks away in Norway) and there not being a requirement to drill pre-emptive relief wells. Critics further note the proximity of drilling to Scotian Shelf fishing waters, Sable Island and the Gully Marine Protected area.
Who: The Council of Canadians is organizing the unwelcome party along with the Campaign to Protect Offshore Nova Scotia (CPONS) and will be joined by fishers, tourism operators, and treaty rights holders. -30-
For more information or to arrange interviews:
Angela Giles, Atlantic Regional Organizer, Council of Canadians, 902-478-5727, agiles@canadians.org
Robin Tress, Atlantic Regional Organizing Assistant, Council of Canadians, 902-223-8526, rtress@canadians.org
BP: UNwelcome party on April 11 . . .
3 posts
• Page 1 of 1
BP: UNwelcome party on April 11 . . .
by Oscar » Wed Apr 11, 2018 10:50 am
- Oscar
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Re: BP: UNwelcome party on April 11 . . .
by Oscar » Fri Apr 13, 2018 1:16 pm
BP, you have been officially unwelcomed from our waters
[ https://canadians.org/blog/bp-you-have- ... our-waters ]
April 11, 2018 - 11:36pm
(Photo credit: Monica Phung)
Despite the sombre tone and the reality that BP’s Seadrill-commissioned West Aquarius arriving in Nova Scotia waters, people came out ready to party and really let BP know they’re unwelcome to exploit our offshore. Unwelcome to threaten Mi’kmaki with another potential catastrophic Gulf of Mexico-style disaster. Unwelcome to destroy our marine ecosystem. Unwelcome to risk the fishery and tourism industries, also known as the backbone of our economy.
We found out last week that the West Aquarius had begun the trip from Bay Bulls NL to our waters, a bold move at 260,000$/day without the approval from the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (read our response here). Unsurprisingly, that approval came on Saturday.
So, with party plans including black balloons, an unwelcome card and wilted flowers, we threw down outside BP's offices at Founders Square in Halifax today. Our attempt to hand-deliver the card and balloons was denied so we stuck to the lobby with security and police watching on, we sang, drummed, prayed, and wrapped up with a toast to protect the waters and to remind BP they are very unwelcome to the territory.
And then we danced.
Angela Giles's blog
Council of Canadians' Atlantic regional organizer
[ https://canadians.org/blogs/angela-giles ]
[ https://canadians.org/blog/bp-you-have- ... our-waters ]
April 11, 2018 - 11:36pm
(Photo credit: Monica Phung)
Despite the sombre tone and the reality that BP’s Seadrill-commissioned West Aquarius arriving in Nova Scotia waters, people came out ready to party and really let BP know they’re unwelcome to exploit our offshore. Unwelcome to threaten Mi’kmaki with another potential catastrophic Gulf of Mexico-style disaster. Unwelcome to destroy our marine ecosystem. Unwelcome to risk the fishery and tourism industries, also known as the backbone of our economy.
We found out last week that the West Aquarius had begun the trip from Bay Bulls NL to our waters, a bold move at 260,000$/day without the approval from the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (read our response here). Unsurprisingly, that approval came on Saturday.
So, with party plans including black balloons, an unwelcome card and wilted flowers, we threw down outside BP's offices at Founders Square in Halifax today. Our attempt to hand-deliver the card and balloons was denied so we stuck to the lobby with security and police watching on, we sang, drummed, prayed, and wrapped up with a toast to protect the waters and to remind BP they are very unwelcome to the territory.
And then we danced.
Angela Giles's blog
Council of Canadians' Atlantic regional organizer
[ https://canadians.org/blogs/angela-giles ]
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9100
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: BP: UNwelcome party on April 11 . . .
by Oscar » Fri Apr 13, 2018 3:01 pm
We threw BP an "unwelcoming party"
[ https://canadians.org/blog/we-threw-bp- ... ming-party ]
April 13, 2018 - 11:06 am
(PHOTO: BP unwelcome party)
On Wednesday, Council of Canadians supporters joined with local residents and other concerned groups at BP’s office in Halifax where we threw the Big Oil company an “Unwelcoming Party.” [ http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1 ... esters-say ]
As we told you last week, we learned that Big Oil giant BP is in the process of moving a massive oil rig to offshore Nova Scotia where the Trudeau government has given approval for the corporation to begin drilling exploratory wells.
We wanted BP to know that we will not stay silent about the risks this reckless plan poses to our coasts, fisheries, livelihoods, and climate.
About 60 people joined the party, bringing a giant “unwelcoming” card, balloons, wilted flowers, and a serious message: “BP, get out of here!”
BP has federal approval to drill nearly twice the depth of the Deepwater Horizon well – the well that ruptured in the Gulf of Mexico resulting in the largest marine spill ever recorded.
For us, the risk is even greater offshore Nova Scotia, where stopping and containing a ruptured well is made more difficult by virtue of the harsher conditions of the North Atlantic.
Time is of the essence. BP could start drilling just days from now – and the risk of an environmental disaster is simply too great for you and me to ignore.
Despite all the lessons learned from the Gulf of Mexico disaster, BP is not applying those lessons to their Nova Scotia drilling project. For example, did you know:
• The Nova Scotia rig won’t have a capping stack on site which would help stop the flow of oil in the event of a spill.
• BP said it plans to use the toxic dispersant Corexit in the ocean to address a spill.
• BP won’t preemptively drill relief wells before a blowout happens.
Offshore drilling has been proven to be dangerous and destructive time and time again, and the risks to Nova Scotia’s fisheries, tourism and climate are just too high. The project will also infringe on Indigenous rights.
You and I can’t sit by and let BP start drilling with so much at risk. Join the fight for our ocean and our climate. If you haven’t already, please add your voice to our national petition calling on Prime Minister Trudeau to step in and stop this reckless project.
Sign the petition:
[ https://secure.canadians.org/page/20746/petition/1 ]
If you will be in Halifax on April 20, please join us at the Liberal Party of Canada's National Convention tell the entire Liberal Party to reject Bill C-69, a bill that would hand even more power to the unelected, industry-laden Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, which has approved BP’s rig to enter Nova Scotia waters and is expected to provide outstanding permits to drill in the coming weeks. [ https://www.facebook.com/events/200021557269099/ ]
The Council of Canadians South Shore Chapter members and our Atlantic staff have been leading voices in this fight since we first learned of BP’s plans. With the help of our generous supporters like you, we plan to hire an independent expert to provide evidence about the risks of offshore drilling in Nova Scotia and directly challenge the government’s approval of the project.
Help us say: “BP: Get out of Nova Scotia waters!”
Angela Giles's blog
Council of Canadians' Atlantic regional organizer
[ https://canadians.org/blogs/angela-giles ]
[ https://canadians.org/blog/we-threw-bp- ... ming-party ]
April 13, 2018 - 11:06 am
(PHOTO: BP unwelcome party)
On Wednesday, Council of Canadians supporters joined with local residents and other concerned groups at BP’s office in Halifax where we threw the Big Oil company an “Unwelcoming Party.” [ http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1 ... esters-say ]
As we told you last week, we learned that Big Oil giant BP is in the process of moving a massive oil rig to offshore Nova Scotia where the Trudeau government has given approval for the corporation to begin drilling exploratory wells.
We wanted BP to know that we will not stay silent about the risks this reckless plan poses to our coasts, fisheries, livelihoods, and climate.
About 60 people joined the party, bringing a giant “unwelcoming” card, balloons, wilted flowers, and a serious message: “BP, get out of here!”
BP has federal approval to drill nearly twice the depth of the Deepwater Horizon well – the well that ruptured in the Gulf of Mexico resulting in the largest marine spill ever recorded.
For us, the risk is even greater offshore Nova Scotia, where stopping and containing a ruptured well is made more difficult by virtue of the harsher conditions of the North Atlantic.
Time is of the essence. BP could start drilling just days from now – and the risk of an environmental disaster is simply too great for you and me to ignore.
Despite all the lessons learned from the Gulf of Mexico disaster, BP is not applying those lessons to their Nova Scotia drilling project. For example, did you know:
• The Nova Scotia rig won’t have a capping stack on site which would help stop the flow of oil in the event of a spill.
• BP said it plans to use the toxic dispersant Corexit in the ocean to address a spill.
• BP won’t preemptively drill relief wells before a blowout happens.
Offshore drilling has been proven to be dangerous and destructive time and time again, and the risks to Nova Scotia’s fisheries, tourism and climate are just too high. The project will also infringe on Indigenous rights.
You and I can’t sit by and let BP start drilling with so much at risk. Join the fight for our ocean and our climate. If you haven’t already, please add your voice to our national petition calling on Prime Minister Trudeau to step in and stop this reckless project.
Sign the petition:
[ https://secure.canadians.org/page/20746/petition/1 ]
If you will be in Halifax on April 20, please join us at the Liberal Party of Canada's National Convention tell the entire Liberal Party to reject Bill C-69, a bill that would hand even more power to the unelected, industry-laden Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, which has approved BP’s rig to enter Nova Scotia waters and is expected to provide outstanding permits to drill in the coming weeks. [ https://www.facebook.com/events/200021557269099/ ]
The Council of Canadians South Shore Chapter members and our Atlantic staff have been leading voices in this fight since we first learned of BP’s plans. With the help of our generous supporters like you, we plan to hire an independent expert to provide evidence about the risks of offshore drilling in Nova Scotia and directly challenge the government’s approval of the project.
Help us say: “BP: Get out of Nova Scotia waters!”
Angela Giles's blog
Council of Canadians' Atlantic regional organizer
[ https://canadians.org/blogs/angela-giles ]
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9100
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
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