[All] I'm going to Washington to stop the Keystone Pipeline

Tue Aug 9 13:14:13 EDT 2011

Hi Sandra et al.
Generally I have always had serious concerns with the concept of civil disobedience and the hot headed approaches to politics simply because I had good faith in the existing public processes. Normally these sort of acts are not truly warranted unless the need is there to simply show public support for a cause.  All the marches I've personally arranged previously have been coordinated with police agencies, with the support of local politicians. My nature is to go with the flow, not against it. My objectives have been always been to work within the law and proceed with given public processes afforded to me. I had no reason to believe the need was there to walk beyond that path. 
Having gone through the OMB process for the West Side Lands, I have personally witnessed just how corrupt the system actually is. If the province isn't even willing to enforce their own ruling, what hope is there for the public to stand up for their rulings?
In Canada at this time, industry can afford to break the law and get away with it regardless of the larger economic or ecological or sociological consequences because they can fiscally outlast everyone else in a court of law. The jurisdictional powers of approval agencies are so limited they cannot possibly quantify the true potential impacts of proposals because there is no regard given for long term socio-economic consequences.
The MNR cannot assess long term fiscal risks for communities or even related health impacts of oil extraction because it's not their jurisdiction. Those impacts don't even make it to the economic assessments but taxpayers are still left paying the bill by way of illness costs of smog etc. In the end, industry can afford to go full steam ahead, break every rule simply because they will fiscally outlast us all. That is the reality that exists in spite of the good intentions of our respected elected public leaders. Without any reasonable measure of enforcement our political systems are woefully flawed. As long as industry is responsible for their own data without transparency for others to access it, we are at their mercy. This isn't right. It violates the very principals of democracy which secures the right to debate. 
At this time there is truly no other reasonable way to slow the pace of the tar sands or stop the Keystone pipeline trying to appeal to the Harper government who's leader is clearly an oil lobbyist. The Harper government was already found in contempt of Parliament. His re-election in my view, is a profanity. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit but all levels of government are but branches of this tree we've elected. What fools are we that held the axe in our hands and did not have the courage to cut. I go to Washington because I have no faith left in our government under Steven Harper. 
For the event I signed up for, I will be going to a church to take a one day workshop on our sit-in instructions. As we do our actions, we will participate side by side with scientists and experts including Maude Barlow and David Suzuki, Bill McKibbon, Nasa experts, climate experts etc.  We will wear proper business attire and will proceed with dignity and reverence with utmost respect for all people we encounter. We who are of faith will be praying and I intend to go with my rosary in hand.  I personally know what it is like to walk into the fire alone with only God at your side and faith in law. I've been there before and one cannot survive it without the utmost reverance to the law, science or respect for one's fellow man. I desire to take this same journey with like minded individuals.
This is not an event for radical activists or the faint of heart. This is the journey of educated people coming in from around the world to stand up for the need to have regard to reasonable science and to call on elected leaders to show respect for natural law and social justice. We do this act, potentially sacrificing our own civil liberties in an effort to protect our global community. 
Personally speaking, I have family in the US. I might not be able to return to see them if I get arrested. I don't even know if I'll even make it across the boarder to participate. With this post 911 era there is no saying what will happen but all I know is I cannot take a do nothing approach. It is like the quote from Edmund Burke that states: All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. 
I go here for the same reason I went to the OMB about the West Side Lands. Industry is proceeding with a project based on bad data that will likely ruin the water supplies that multiple communities and economic systems rely on. Food and water resources as well as air quality is at risk in both our nations and those economic variables are not showing up onto the economic analysis for these projects. It is wishful thinking to believe that industry can reasonably police themselves.
GREN members can choose to endorse or not endorse what I do but either way I offer the possibility. 
Lulu

--- On Tue, 8/9/11, S D Lachance <sdlachance at golden.net> wrote:

From: S D Lachance <sdlachance at golden.net>
Subject: Re: [All] I'm going to Washington to stop the Keystone Pipeline
To: "Louisette Lanteigne" <butterflybluelu at rogers.com>, all at gren.ca
Date: Tuesday, August 9, 2011, 6:40 AM

Hi Lulu,
    Unfortunately peaceful demonstrations do not always stay 
peaceful. The well educated, well organized anarchists that travel the world 
creating negative, long lasting mayhem & much structural damage rob these 
events & the well meaning protesters like yourself of the positive attention 
they & their causes deserve. Any high profile event is a likely 
target.
     Two of the anarchists involved in the G 20 event 
in Toronto spoke at a conference at Laurier this year which I attended. Besides 
recruiting new members they were explaining their strategies such as the black 
hood & of course handing out pamphlets of what to do if arrested by the 
police. They were young & smart & not interested in making the world a 
better place. They totally enjoyed the celebrity of their mayhem without the 
hindrance of responsibility for those impacted by the fall out their damages. I 
was able to question them directly as part of the audience participation after 
their presentation.
    Thus I hesitate to  support GREN’s involvement in 
this event. If it goes sour & their is a good chance that it 
will,  GREN will lose its positive influence in the local 
community. I joined GREN to help create a positive, local, 
environmental impact through collective action. Thus, I support people like 
Yvonne who stand up for what they believe by running for local office or Gord 
& Daphne who fight for their neighbourhood by gathering petitions & 
showing up at Council meetings to speak to decision makers in the democratic 
fashion. The radicals have greater short term effect but do not guarantee  
long lasting change. 
Sharing my thoughts,
Sandra Lachance

From: Louisette Lanteigne 
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 8:43 PM
To: all at gren.ca 

Subject: [All] I'm going to Washington to stop the Keystone 
Pipeline

    Hi 
      folks 

      I'm writing this email 
      to notify GREN member that I am going to Washington DC at the end of 
      August to participate in a peaceful civil disobedience to help stop the 
      tar sands. I've discussed the matter with my family, I've registered and 
      it's happening.  I'll be attending a day of training, a day of action with 
      one more day to address any possible legal outcomes that may or may not 
      occur as a result of this event. I am going into this knowing I may be 
      arrested. In good faith I honestly believe there 
      is no other reasonable course of action left to take on this matter. This 
      is the last public process option available for concerned citizens. 
      In my view Stephen Harper is an oil lobbyiest and I 
      have no faith that he will change his course of action but I do have faith 
      in the power of President Obama to effect change since he has the power to 
      Veto. The decision for the Keystone pipeline may happen as soon as Sept. 
      and if it is approved, it will be game over for stopping climate change. 
      That is why I'm going.  This 
      event is likely be the biggest act of civil disobedience in the climate 
      movement history. For more information on this you can visit 
      http://www.tarsandsaction.org

      This event is sponsored by 350.org, David Suzuki, 
      experts from NASA and host of other agencies, NGO's and experts. 

      I would like to ask GREN if they would like me to 
      go as a representative of GREN to this event.  If so I will relay the 
      group's endorsement of my participation with the organizers. What say 
      GREN?

      Lulu

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