After interviewing opponents and anti-pipeline activists along route of the proposed Northern Gateway, academics Paul Bowles and Henry Veltmeyer put together this 143 page volume which includes, word-for-word, the voices of twelve people fighting for greater consultation with First Nations and for cancellation of the pipeline project.
In the book's introduction, the editors say they are certain of one thing: "the Enbridge pipeline will never be built." After reading the interviews, I'm inclined to agree with the editors, but at the same time I also sort of believe the pipeline will be built. Stopping the massive projects of governments and corporations is not an easy task; some would say it's an impossible task.
The Answer is Still No is the first book I've read on pipeline politics, but it won't be the last. Pipelines aren't just about environmental policy. So much more is at stake. If governments and corporations can walk all over First Nations communities and ignore the desires of Canadians, then we have a democratic deficit--a problem. Also worrying is the rhetoric used to brand anyone who opposes pipelines and big oil. The labels of "radical" and "eco-terrorist" are used to discredit even the most mild-mannered and law-abiding protesters.
If you haven't read about pipelines before, The Answer is Still No would be a good place to start.
No comments:
Post a Comment