[All] Closer than we've ever been

Fri Jul 6 11:57:29 EDT 2012

<http://www.dogwoodinitiative.org?utm_source=AdaptiveMailer&utm_medium=email
&utm_campaign=20120701-Info-NT-campaign-update&org=354&lvl=1&ite=4426&lea=38
10210&ctr=0&par=1> Dogwood Initiative

Hi Neil,

We're sending this e-mail because we want to make one thing crystal clear. 

Despite the best efforts of Canada's federal government to fast track oil
tanker and pipeline projects, we're closer to stopping them than we've ever
been. We've got a plan to play political hardball that can finish the job,
and you are a key player. 

To recap, in the last six months Prime Minister Stephen Harper has labelled
opponents of Enbridge's oil tanker project "radicals," gutted protection for
fish, limited participation in future public hearings and given government
the power to overrule a review panel's recommendation.

What does all that mean? Basically, before the last federal election it was
highly likely that Enbridge would receive federal approval, because projects
were rarely rejected. Now, the budget bill means that Enbridge is basically
certain to get the federal approvals they need. 

So that's unfortunate. But does it mean expanded oil tanker traffic is
inevitable? No, because the decision over these projects has never really
been a regulatory decision. It has mostly been, and is definitely now, a
political decision. 

The Prime Minister has made his political decision clear: he wants more oil
tankers on B.C.'s coast. But the government of British Columbia has yet to
make up its mind one way or the other - and has the power to stop this
project. To learn more about how the province can stop Enbridge, check out
this blog
<http://dogwoodinitiative.org/blog/we-can-win?utm_source=AdaptiveMailer&utm_
medium=email&utm_campaign=20120701-Info-NT-campaign-update&org=354&lvl=1&ite
=4426&lea=3810210&ctr=0&par=1> .

We're not going to pretend we can change the Prime Minister's mind, but we
need to make it uncomfortable for him to keep pushing as hard as he is.  At
the provincial level, we need to create and leverage enough political power
to ensure the province of B.C. stands up for itself.
We're not partisans. We don't care what flag a politician flies. We just
want them to stand up for our rivers and coast. And if they don't, we want
there to be consequences. 

Three Paths to Victory

We're mapping out a detailed journey for three paths that you can follow if
you want to create the political power we need to win.

1) Find Allies: The first step is growing the largest network we can of
people of all political persuasions. Size is the first component of
political power.    

Progress: We've finished mapping out this mission in the Find Allies kit
<http://dogwoodinitiative.org/no-tankers/do-more/find-allies?utm_source=Adap
tiveMailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20120701-Info-NT-campaign-update&or
g=354&lvl=1&ite=4426&lea=3810210&ctr=0&par=1> and hundreds of people have
taken it up and are underway right now. Hundreds of new allies are joining
the No Tankers network every day by signing the No Tankers petition.
Currently, we're about 105,000-people strong and more than 200 businesses
have signed our business petition
<http://dogwoodinitiative.org/no-tankers/petition/business-petition?utm_sour
ce=AdaptiveMailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20120701-Info-NT-campaign-up
date&org=354&lvl=1&ite=4426&lea=3810210&ctr=0&par=1> . 

2) Find Leaders: Step Two is where we put the power of the No Tankers
network into action in your local area. You have much more influence over
your local politicians than you do over ministers or the premier/prime
minister. 

Progress: In March, hundreds of you on southern Vancouver Island wrote to
your local representatives asking them to take a stand against the expansion
of oil tanker traffic on B.C.'s coast. Within the next few months, six local
governments passed motions officially opposing oil tanker plans.

To win, we need to replicate these kinds of actions all over the country at
every level of government and that's why a couple months ago we asked for
donations so we could develop a way to put these kinds of organizing tools
in the hands of citizens all over the province. Thanks to your donations,
we're mapping out a kit that will help you team up with others in your
community in a co-ordinated way. There are some technological hurdles to
doing this at scale, and we're working on them as fast as possible. We
anticipate rolling out the Find Leaders kit in the fall.

3) Find Resources: Money keeps the wheels on the bus. And that's why we ask
you to donate your hard-earned cash from time to time (OK, fairly
regularly). In all seriousness, it's the generosity of people like you who
keep this whole thing going. We need to fundraise constantly and creatively
if we're going to pay for everything we need to keep building the power
required to win. 

Progress: For example, the University of Victoria SCUBA Club held a 24-hour
relay and raised $4,000 for the No Tankers campaign. Stay tuned for our
third kit, which will provide the tools for you to raise money to support
the No Tankers cause if you so choose.

The single most powerful thing you can do right now is continue growing the
movement's strength by signing up
<http://dogwoodinitiative.org/no-tankers/do-more/find-allies?utm_source=Adap
tiveMailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20120701-Info-NT-campaign-update&or
g=354&lvl=1&ite=4426&lea=3810210&ctr=0&par=1>  to complete the 30-hour
mission in the Find Allies kit
<http://dogwoodinitiative.org/no-tankers/do-more/find-allies?utm_source=Adap
tiveMailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20120701-Info-NT-campaign-update&or
g=354&lvl=1&ite=4426&lea=3810210&ctr=0&par=1> . 

Believe it or not, the No Tankers movement started in a living room
presentation to 15 people just a few years ago and now we're working with
more than 100,000 Canadians and dozens of amazing groups, following the lead
of dozens of First Nations and cheering on armies of politicians who have
already come onside. 

Most British Columbians understand rightly, in their gut, the folly of
allowing crude oil tankers on our coast. They understood it back in the '70s
and they understand it now. 

Whether or not we succeed depends on people like you. 

Thank you for doing the extraordinary, taking a step outside your comfort
zone and being a vital part of the No Tankers movement.

We're closer than it looks. 

For the coast, 

Eric, Emma, Karl & Celine

P.S. It's quite a journey we're on together and we know many of you have
questions, so we're hosting a telephone briefing for anyone who'd like to
get more of the scoop on our strategy to stop Enbridge and Kinder Morgan. If
you'd like to join, select a time
<http://dogwoodinitiative.org/no-tankers/do-more/rsvp-NT-QA/view?utm_source=
AdaptiveMailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20120701-Info-NT-campaign-updat
e&org=354&lvl=1&ite=4426&lea=3810210&ctr=0&par=1>  that works for you and
we'll get back to you with the details.

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