Dear Editor,
Barely an issue of the Undercurrent newspaper goes by without more dire warnings of the disastrous events that are about to befall our population.
So that the outside world doesn’t think that we are all retrogressive thinkers I would like to balance the scales a bit.
Let’s examine the suggestion that we are told is going to occur when a tanker carrying LNG crashes against the shores of Bowen Island killing us all. What is going to happen to cause that tanker to veer off course, crash into the island and kill us all? Believe it or not there at least 3,000 large vessels passing Bowen Island every month, and probably more. To the best of my knowledge not one of them has ever crashed into our island. So why would a tanker carrying LNG operated by very skilled and highly experienced marine workers escorted by a flotilla of tow boats crash into our island?
Canada, and in particular British Columbia, has prospered over the years by exporting natural resources on large ocean-going vessels, carrying lumber, minerals, gas, oil, (every day 5 million barrels of oil are exported from Canada), wheat and fish to overseas buyers. Why are LNG tankers any more likely to veer off course and crash than any of the vessels?
If our overseas trade is interrupted by the doomsday crowd what will happen to our working population in those industries that rely upon jobs and pay cheques? Jobs create income. Income creates prosperity.
This is not to deny the benefits of renewable energy, and hopefully, the cleansing of the environment, but renewable energy is not going to be able to heat the homes and workplaces of millions of people here and around the world or supply enough energy to meet the demands of factories, heavy industrial and commercial vehicles, airplanes, ships, trains, etc.
Let’s not allow the naysayers to destroy the quality of life we enjoy by trying to frighten us with preposterous statements.
Respectfully,
R. Gerry Sear
