Campagnes, médias et actions

Publié par : Jim Emberger

3 décembre 2013

Affichages : 3053

NBASGA supports Dr. Eilish Cleary and calls for her reinstatement
Public Health needs autonomy and New Brunswicker’s need a voice they can trust

MONCTON, NB (3 December 2013) - The New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance is greatly disturbed with recent news reports speculating that Dr. Eilish Cleary’s leave of absence may be related to her work.

Yesterday, social media erupted with support and indignation when the story became public, and people immediately rushed to her defense, calling for her reinstatement.

Dr. Cleary has won tremendous respect of the people of New Brunswick, who hold her in high standing for her honesty, forthrightness and integrity. And rightfully so.

She has clearly proven herself as a dedicated doctor fulfilling the role of a true health officer, regardless of political influences.

Dr. Cleary’s award-winning 2012 report on the health impacts of shale gas development was balanced and unbiased, her conclusions based on careful research and science. As a result of this, and her subsequent actions, she is held in high esteem among the citizenry, who appreciate her outspokenness in contrast to the undemocratic actions of the previous government, which attempted to hold back the report’s release.

The enthusiastic response from her colleagues, the requests to have her speak on the subject - nationally and internationally - are evidence of the esteem she garnered in her field.

She was awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013 for her services to the people of Canada and earlier this summer honoured with the Dr. Donald Morgan Service Award from the New Brunswick Medical Society. The award recognizes and celebrates the contribution made in education, research, health promotion or humanitarian service.

The esteem with which she is recognized by her colleagues is articulated in this video with Dr. Cristin Muecke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiU29UvWds4

And just weeks before her forced leave of absence, she was further recognized with a Paul Harris Fellowship by the Rotary Clubs of Fredericton for her positive impact.

Dr. Cleary’s selfless and courageous travel to Africa during the Ebola crisis cast a warm light on all of New Brunswick; we were touched by her compassion and proud that ‘our’ CMHO was on the front lines helping others.

Dr. Cleary’s demonstrated professionalism has elevated the entire office of the CHMO, and the hard work that is accomplished under her leadership has earned wide-spread respect. When public health is impacted, this is a department that needs autonomy and a strong voice that people trust.

We were relieved that public health impacts were mentioned in the premier’s five conditions for lifting the moratorium and that she provided input during the recent interviews conducted by the Hydraulic Fracturing Commission.

That people now fear her forced leave of absence is a pre-emptive strike - one that serves multiple interests - is clear evidence of the deep and growing distrust citizens have in the political processes of successive governments that have favoured industry needs above those of the populace. When public health and environmental protection are given precedence, it impacts industry’s bottom line.

This rush of support, perhaps, is the subtext of the story: The way to win the hearts and loyalty of the people of New Brunswick is with consistently demonstrated acts of courage, openness, honesty, integrity and high ethical and moral standards.

It would seem evident that those in government can take a lesson from this and we hold out hope this government will rise to that challenge.

But we ultimately call for this issue to be quickly concluded in-house without further delay, and Dr. Cleary be placed back in her office, again serving her patients – the people of New Brunswick.

Respectfully,

The New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance Website: www.noshalegasnb.ca
Email: shaleinfo.nb@gmail.com

About NBASGA

The New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance represents the interests of New Brunswickers opposed to unconventional gas and oil exploration and development, while promoting a future in clean energy alternatives.

5 novembre 2013

Affichages : 7533

3 octobre 2013

Affichages : 4845

For Immediate Release: October 3, 2013
Pour diffusion immédiate (French text follows)
Shale Gas Activity is Based on Discredited Dr. Louis
LaPierre’s Report:
Angry New Brunswickers Petition Province’s Ombudsman for
Investigation
A group of twenty-nine (29) individuals representing sixteen (16) rural and urban
communities in southern and central New Brunswick have jointly petitioned the Province’s
Ombudsman, Charles Murray, to investigate the process behind the decision to grant licences
to test for shale gas deposits. “Our natural environment is under attack from so many threats
we simply cannot afford to make any more major mistakes. If invalid research has been used
to make environmental policy decisions, this research must be reviewed immediately and
rectified. We urge your Office to act on this matter at once, for the sake of all future
generations in New Brunswick,” the petitioners said in a joint statement.
The petitioners – all residents, voters and taxpayers of this Province – have made a formal
written complaint to the Ombudsman via registered mail. They have serious doubts about the
merit of Dr. LaPierre's recommendations in The Path Forward, in light of questions about his
integrity, expertise and education. They are concerned about errors of omission and
commission that may have resulted in invalid or biased findings that were used by the
government to formulate policies that may be hazardous to the health of New Brunswickers
and the environment.
The petitioners ask the Ombudsman to protect the public from risk of harm by using his
powers under the Ombudsman Act to investigate the work done by Dr. Louis LaPierre while
he was under contract to Minister of Energy Craig Leonard. As a preliminary measure, the
petitioners have asked Ombudsman Murray to immediately recommend to the Premier and
Government of the Province that an interim moratorium be placed on all activities associated
with the testing for, exploration of, or development of, shale gas and oil, until a full
investigation has been completed.
Media Contacts:
Ann Pohl, 506-785-2998 or upriverwatch@gmail.com
Donald MacDonald, 506-367-2466
Marilyn Lerch, 506-536-4245
Pour diffusion immédiate: 3 octobre 2013
Les activités reliées au gaz de schiste sont fondés sur le rapport du
Dr. Louis Lapierre qui fut discrédité:
Les Néo-Brunswickois pétitionnent l'Ombudsman du Nouveau-
Brunswick pour une enquête.
Un groupe de vingt-neuf (29) individus représentant seize (16) communautés urbaines et
rurales du sud et centre du Nouveau-Brunswick ont conjointement pétitionné l'Ombudsman
provincial, Charles Murray, pour faire enquête sur le processus utilisé afin d'accorder un
permis pour tester pour des dépots de gaz de schiste. “Notre environnement naturel est sous
attaque de tellement de menaces, nous ne pouvons simplement pas commettre aucune autre
erreur importante. Si des recherches invalides ont été utilisées pour prendre des décisions de
politique environnementale, cette recherche doit être immédiatement révisée et rectifiée.
Nous implorons votre Cabinet d'agir sur ce dossier immédiatement, pour le bien des
générations futures du Nouveau-Brunswick“, ont dit les pétitionnaires dans une déclaration
commune.
Les pétitionnaires – tous résidents, électeurs et contribuables de cette province – ont déposé
une plainte formelle écrite à l'Ombudsman par courrier enregistré. Ils ont de sérieux doutes
par rapport au mérite des recommandations du Dr. Lapierre dans 'La Voie de l'Avenir', à la
suite des questions sur son intégrité, expertise et éducation. Ils sont inquiets des erreurs
d'omission et de commission qui auraient pu causer des conclusions invalides ou biaisées, ce
qui pourraient être dangereux pour la santé des Néo-Brunswickois et l'environnement.
Les pétitionnaires demandent à l'Ombudsman de protéger le public contre les risques de
dommages en exécutant ses pouvoirs sous la loi sur l'Ombudsman pour enquêter le travail
accompli par le Dr. Louis Lapierre alors qu'il était sous contrat pour le Ministre de l'Énergie
Craig Leonard. Comme mesure préliminaire, les pétitionnaires ont demandé à l'Ombudsman
Murray de faire une recommandation immédiate au Premier Ministre et au Gouvernement de
la Province qu'un moratoire par intérim soit placé sur toutes les activités associées à l'analyse,
l'exploration ou développement de l'huile et gaz de schiste, jusqu'à ce qu'une enquête
complète soit complétée.
- 30 -
Contact pour les médias:
Ann Pohl, 506-785-2998 or upriverwatch@gmail.com
Donald MacDonald, 506-367-2466
Marilyn Lerch, 506-536-4245

29 août 2013

Affichages : 23495

A delegation representing 27 community groups, organizations and unions publically presented the attached letter to SWN Resources in Moncton on April 30, 2013. It was also sent to all other companies conducting shale gas exploration in New Brunswick. The letter points out that the companies do not have a social license to operate in the province, and advises them to halt their exploration activities.

Since the time of the presentation, two additional groups have signed the letter: Friends of Tantramar Marsh and the Elsipogtog Band Council.

Lire la suite...

29 août 2013

Affichages : 11318

New Brunswick Oil and Natural Gas Blueprint

Wishful Thinking about Our Future

The government’s blueprint is not a plan for the future; it is the history of a past to which we cannot return. It was forged in an alternate reality created by fossil fuel companies, banks and PR firms. No outside information may pass into this reality. How else can we explain the following about the plan?

It ignores the worldwide alarms from scientists, global financial and energy institutions, and the world’s military and intelligence establishments that climate change is the most serious threat to our existence, our financial systems, and our security. Yet, the blueprint bases our future on shale gas and tar sands, two of the worst emitters of greenhouse gases.

It ignores the lack of public health studies about shale gas, and disregards the serious warnings raised from the studies that do exist.

It ignores implementing many of its own Chief Medical Officer’s recommendations for baseline health studies, and relegates others to a ‘will be considered in the future’ status.

It ignores adequately addressing some recommendations by simply claiming they are answered in the ‘Rules for Industry’. Those concerning fracking fluid disclosure, well testing and setbacks clearly are not.

It ignores the fact that insinuating the newly created Energy Institute into matters formerly handled by health professionals will only deepen public mistrust.

It ignores the calls from New Brunswick health professionals, including doctors, nurses and cancer and lung associations, for a moratorium until studies can be done.

It ignores the extensive record of air and water pollution that has occurred everywhere shale has been produced, regardless of regulations, including ignoring data from industry’s own records showing a high frequency of well failures.

It ignores the facts that alternative energies such as wind and solar are the fastest growing parts of the energy sector and are supplying increasing amounts of energy and good long-term jobs at competitive costs - everywhere else in the world but here.

It ignores the growing number of economic studies that show that local communities do not profit from shale gas, and that most fare worse than similar non-shale communities on virtually every socio-economic measure.

It ignores the growing number of financial and petroleum analysts who have taken the measure of shale gas through industry records and judged it to be a bubble that will soon burst. They question its longevity and its business plan.

It ignores the growing number of countries, states, provinces, regions and municipalities (including many in New Brunswick) that have instituted bans or moratoriums on shale gas.

And, most troubling of all, it has ignored the voices of its own citizens.

It ignored a 2011 petition with 20,000 signatures, and a recent letter from groups representing more than 50,000 people calling for a halt to shale exploration.

It ignores the growing number of diverse social, labor, professional, environmental, health, political and citizen groups that continue banding together to oppose shale gas.

It ignores its treaty duty to do real consultation with First Nations, and ignores its own call for public meetings. It even ignores the well-researched public comments from the alleged ‘listening tour’ conducted by Dr. LaPierre.

Instead it has listened to the shale industry exclusively, and kowtowed to its needs, whether by not punishing lawbreakers like Windsor Energy, or by improperly granting license renewals to SWN on the flimsiest of excuses.

It has listened to industry trade groups like the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, whose language, deceptive advertising, disinformation, and meaningless phrases like, ‘best practices,’ show up in the government’s blueprint and website.

It has listened to Dr. LaPierre, a biologist with no demonstrated expertise on shale gas, who sits on the board of NB Power and channeled their wishes in his report. In return he was rewarded with the patronage job of chairmanship of the publicly funded Energy Institute that he, and he alone, had proposed – a new government entity that will cost taxpayers a million dollars in its first year.

It has listened to the self-interested banks via former premier Frank McKenna, who represents TD Bank – a major investor in Transcanada’s pipeline business, and a bank that makes fortunes from oil and gas mergers and acquisitions.

It has listened to Hawk Communications, a public relations firm it hired with at least $200,000 of taxpayer money, not to improve communications, but to help sell the LaPierre report.

In short, to govern in New Brunswick is to live in a self-contained universe with no links to the outside world. Only in such a place could the government’s blueprint be deemed a serious approach to the issues facing both New Brunswick and the earth.

Therefore, we call again for a halt to any exploration and production of shale oil or gas, until such a time that the citizens have had a chance to examine in depth all the factors surrounding it. Only then can they explicitly reject it, or proceed with it after understanding all of its implications.

29 août 2013

Affichages : 18701

First Response to NB Business Council Report on Shale Gas

[In response to Shale Study Finds Opportunities for NB and report comissioned by the New Brunswick Business Council: nbbc-cenb.ca/en/blog/shale-study-finds-opportunities-for-nb]

 

Fredericton NB - The communications committee for the alliance of community groups opposed to shale gas asked Jim Emberger for a first response to the NB Business Council Report on Shale Gas.

 

Jim Emberger, a resident of Taymouth NB and a retired software developer says: “The most striking point is that this report proves that if you pay a consulting firm they will produce a positive report for you regardless of how weak and conditional the conclusions are. “

"Below are my first comments to the questionnaire that was used, the supporting data they used, the conclusions that were drawn, and their review of current regulations and their lack of assessment of costs incurred by road damage” Mr. Emberger continues.

Lire la suite...

28 août 2013

Affichages : 8378

New publication from CCNB Action - Nouvelle publication  d'action CCNB

27 août 2013

Affichages : 7544

Here is a summary and associated links for the Maude Barlow Grassroots Guardians event at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton on August 6. Feel free to share.

Grassroots Guardians:  Why Protecting New Brunswick from Shale Gas Development is Everyone’s Responsibility
 
On August 6, Council of Canadians National Chairperson, Maude Barlow spoke to over 500 people at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton, New Brunswick on the need for all people and cultures to come together in a quest to protect our land, air and water. 
 
Part 1:  Patricia Leger, of Memramcook Action, speaks to the intensive work and solidarity of many groups and volunteers across the province of New Brunswick, who are collaborating in opposition to hydro-fracking for gas and oil. Deborah Carr of Water and Environmental Protection for Albert County spoke to the situation in the Moncton area and the potential for developments in south-eastern New Brunswick, giving the reasons why this is not just a rural issue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NS6hp5d4Y4
 
Part 2 – Ron Tremblay, of Maliseet First Nations, begins speaking in his native tongue because his grandfather always told him to speak first in his own language when he talks.  Then, in English, using the stories of his culture, he explains the need for all people to take a stand to protect our shared Mother Earth. He talks about polluted rivers and his arrestas he stood at the junction of Routes 116 and 126 to block seismic thumper trucks. He shares the prophecies of the elders that the people will reach a crossroads and if we advance beyond, there will be no turning back. We are at that crossroads; it is the time for rising up of all people to protect our future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqghaT-oJFQ
 
 
Part 3 – Maude Barlow, National Chairperson for the Council of Canadians, speaks on the environmental protection work being done throughout the world, and here in New Brunswick, where our opposition is inspiring other provinces, states and countries.  She paints a grim picture of the state of our environment, but shares optimism inspired by the very large successes of dedicated people and groups, among them our First Nations communities. She encourages the financial support of legal injunctions to stop the government from proceeding with the exploitation of our natural gas. (see www.knowshalegasnb.com). 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_olltI2Qgk

Deborah, WEPAC
http://protectalbertcounty.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/wepacnb

25 juillet 2013

Affichages : 3106

25 juillet 2013

Affichages : 4271

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        PRESS RELEASE                        APRIL 3, 2012

 

FREDERICTON SHALE GAS PARADE LAUNCHES MUNICIPAL BLUE RIBBON CAMPAIGN

Fredericton, N.B., Canada - The movement against shale gas development is moving into the municipalities. Citizens in Fredericton are asking their municipal candidates for Mayor and Councilors to take a stand on protecting the city’s air and water.  To launch this election initiative, a parade of cars and trucks, followed by bicycles and pedestrians, will travel through downtown Fredericton this Thursday, April 5th at 12 noon.

People will gather at the parking lot beside the Old Burial Grounds at 51 Woodstock Road. The action will begin at 12 noon. The route will proceed down King Street, around the New Brunswick Legislature, and then up Queen Street to Fredericton City Hall. Vehicles and people will be decked out in blue balloons, blue ribbons, blue streamers, blue water jugs, and lots of signs. This parade will be the official launch of the Blue Ribbon Campaign here in Fredericton.

The Blue Ribbon Campaign is a grassroots action that is spreading to villages, towns, and cities across New Brunswick. With the growing enthusiasm of this campaign, organizers foresee similar actions throughout New Brunswick during the lead-up to municipal elections. The colour blue symbolizes that citizens will be voting for the Mayor and Councilor candidates who include in their platform a Ban or Moratorium on shale gas development.  On May 14th we will be voting for change.  Elected representatives and candidates will be invited to join the parade and publicly demonstrate that they will stand up to protect our air and water.

“The cost to human health, our air and water, our global climate, and our local economy are simply too great to remain quiet. Regulations are unable to protect us from the certainty of air pollution in the low-lying valley of Fredericton. And the aquifer from which we draw our drinking water extends far outside the Fredericton city limits into large tracts of shale gas exploration areas”, says Fredericton resident Sarah Boucher. “It is time for health and business organizations, churches, and politicians to speak up and join the largest grassroots movement that New Brunswick has ever seen.”

“Politics has no place in human health and safety. Almost all municipalities in New Brunswick have not taken an official stand on shale gas.  Pressure from citizens has caused Minto, Hampton, Sackville, and Sussex Corner to hold Council votes and all four now have a moratorium or ban in place. It is time for Fredericton to do the same”, says Fredericton resident Caroline Lubbe-D’Arcy.

Low turnout in most municipal elections means that seats can be won or lost by only a few hundred votes or less. Many seats are won by acclamation.  In the last Quadrennial Municipal Elections on May 12, 2008, the average voter turnout was forty-eight percent for contested municipal and rural community elections (a low of twenty-eight percent and a high of seventy-seven percent).  One hundred and seventy candidates (170) ran for one hundred and four mayoral (104) positions; Eight hundred and eighty-nine (889) candidates ran for five hundred and thirty-seven (537) council positions; Fifty-three (53) mayors and one hundred and ten (110) councilors were elected by acclamation.

“Let's put our local councilors on notice that they need to speak up and protect our air and water,” says organizer Mark D’Arcy. “Election date is May 14, 2012.”

Media Contacts:

Mark D’Arcy
Tel. 506 454 5119
markandcaroline@gmail.com">markandcaroline@gmail.com

Terry Wishart
Tel. 506 238 4001
t.wishart@banfrackingnb.ca">t.wishart@banfrackingnb.ca