Building a Sustainable Future Together
Whether you are a diehard, green-curious, or just a fan of politics and/or environment as a discussion topic, join us Friday, October 26, 2018 from 5 pm on, at the Stone Soup Cafe in Pictou. Leader Thomas Trappenberg and Deputy Leader Jessica Alexander will be there, along with other regional members of the party and the party executive. You’ve seen how New Brunswick and PEI have embraced their Green Parties: learn more about yours.
We debut a new feature on our website, Green Voices. We will share opinion articles from our members in this space. We begin with Karin DeVries, who is the Executive Representative for the Minas Basin Region.
Chronicle Herald 5th of July 2018
Premier Stephen McNeil shuffled his cabinet on the 5th of July 2018, saying he wants his Liberal government to focus more of its attention on the province’s mining and forestry industries.
By: Karin DeVries
On the 5th of July 2018, Premier Stephen McNeil shuffled his cabinet, saying he wants his Liberal government to focus more of its attention on the province’s mining and forestry industries. Since then, we have seen more media coverage about mining and specifically about uranium and gold mining.
I believe there are more economically beneficial and environmentally sustainable industries to focus on for our future. Apart from sustainable forestry, the mining and forestry industries damage our health and environment. In addition, these are not sustainable without subsidies and that means taxpayers’ money. It is true that these industries will generate revenue and will create some short-term jobs. After the mines are no longer economically sustainable, all our good quality wood has been consumed, and the remainder of the wood left prone to the diseases and insects that characterize monoculture, then what?
How do I see the future in our province related to industry? In the future, stricter international environmental regulations and emission controls will become effective and I am advocating for more environmental, “health friendly” and sustainable technology. Many companies already acknowledge that this will be the new status quo.
Transforming municipal solid wastes and industrial waste into high value fuels and recyclable materials at lower costs than landfilling is not new but needs to be developed and implemented in Nova Scotia. I believe that this one industry that Nova Scotia should focus on, recycling waste. I do see this as a good start and not the end goal. Reducing waste is the goal. I also realize that certain recycling technologies are not environmental and health friendly, so each technology needs to be assessed before being implemented in Nova Scotia. But there are some really good technologies available that have already proven themselves for many years.
“In the future, stricter international environmental regulations and emission controls will become effective... Many companies already acknowledge that this will be the new status quo.” |
Another beneficial area of focus on is power generation using solar, wind and hydro. I do not consider the mega hydro projects where a tremendous amount of nature, wildlife and human habitat are being destroyed as a proper solution for power generation.
When the renewable power generation is in place, the extra generated power can be stored and used to create biofuels from waste. This to be used when there is not enough generated renewable energy available and there is a need for fuel for engines, gas turbines, or boilers. Also, the extra generated power can be used to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen and use hydrogen as fuel.
I believe that Nova Scotia should invest in the above-mentioned sustainable and renewable technologies and developments. Nova Scotia has focused already too long on the “dirty” industries and with the result of wasting money on waste disposal clean-up, on forestry study after forestry study and paying for health issues caused by environmental pollution.
Attaining 100% sustainable power generation in Nova Scotia, Scotia will take considerable time and resources, but it is better to start working on it now and change our focus to the future and future technologies rather than continuing to invest in the old (dirty) technology that will only offer short-term economic benefits.
The above is all very feasible, it only requires a change of focus and determination to make a change.
I joined the Green Party because I believe in what I have written above and the Green Party most closely aligns with my beliefs.
Last week, Stephen McNeil told the Halifax Chamber of Commerce that he is willing to consider lifting the ban on hydraulic fracturing if a community builds local support for it. His comments are strategic political manoeuvring.
The Liberal party, which introduced the ban on fracking, now wants to make it clear to everyone that maintaining the public will to support the ban is everyone’s responsibility, except perhaps its own.
Justin Trudeau used this approach to justify abandoning electoral reform: blaming the population for not miraculously developing a unified voice. McNeil wants to weaken the ban without taking responsibility.
Let’s not dwell on how cynical it is to propose downloading the costs of a referendum or appropriate public consultation to municipalities, especially as McNeil’s own government has already paid for the Wheeler Report. Or, how fracking can release uranium and other radioactive minerals currently in our bedrock, Into our water supply, possibly contributing to our province’s already high bladder and kidney cancer rates.
Let’s instead consider why anyone might want to frack.
Fracking can contaminate groundwater and deplete our freshwater supply. Like coal mining, it is an industry that is dangerous, removes valuable resources from our province and can adversely affect the health of our population. Like coal mining (along with pulp and paper and cod fishing, and briefly, in Halifax, attracting Amazon), it is being positioned as our Last Chance to Get Rich!™
The number “60 billion dollars”, which has been proposed as a value on the natural gas that is embedded in our ground, may sound like a very juicy amount indeed, but that number is extrapolated, and is suggested to be a high estimate. Assume we start by finding a partner through our usual process of offering low to no taxes, payroll rebates, low- to no-interest, often forgivable loans, other subsidies, very favourable locations, plus an offer that we’ll take care of any ‘externalities’ like pollution. That partner will likely be some giant conglomerate with shareholders far afield. The timespan of the project will necessarily be short, as the price of alternative energies drops and the gas gets harder to extract. By the end, the amount generated in revenue to the province dwindles to a much smaller number, if any.
In 2014, the Globe & Mail reported that the number of green energy jobs surpassed jobs in the oilsands. We need to invest our province’s resources into building jobs that are long term and forward facing, instead of propping up dying industries.
Nova Scotia has tremendous natural resources and as we cultivate diverse new industries (like biomedical devices, ocean technology, video game development and nutriceuticals), our rich resources really only help us by staying here.
There are many Nova Scotians looking for natural resources labour jobs like those that fracking might supply. People want to stay in rural Nova Scotia and earn a living. If we assign ap
propriate value to sustainable forestry, organic and sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry, those jobs will be there for more than just a few years. If we build the right infrastructure, more opportunities will open up in these areas. We will find ourselves much better off in the long run. Nova Scotians will be healthier, and the odds are, both our health system and tourism operators will benefit.
As voters, every time you go to the polls, you can choose a same-old cynical party, or a hopeful, healthier future. Expect better of your elected officials. Tell Premier McNeil, frack that.
By Thomas Trappenberg, PhD, Leader, Green Party of Nova Scotia
I listened to Premier Rachel Notley’s strong words yesterday on the radio, and I agree with her that we need a strong leadership. I also understand that the oil industry is currently a strong component of Alberta’s (and hence Canada’s) industry. Where I don’t agree is that this should be the status quo. I do believe it is now time to turn to our future industry in which our kids will thrive; I do believe we should stop making a quick buck on the future of our planet; I do believe that we should listen to the wisdom of our native elders; and I do believe that it is time to give our young entrepreneurs a chance instead of feeding the rich.
In Nova Scotia there is now a new campaign to imply the potential for carbon riches. The federal government approved new drilling off our coast, and we are told that there is lots of potential for fracking here. I do understand how people get excited by this dream of wealth; also, it is easy to be taken by the scare that losing this industry would kill our economy. It is difficult to argue against the powerful lobbies in our society. However, I believe that a government is there to watch out for all of us. I know know the other parties believe that they do their best by helping the big industry. However, and quite frankly, I question their abilities to see the bigger picture.
I believe we should not just think about the current jobs of a dying industry; instead, we need to think about the new jobs they prevent and the opportunities for people outside the lucky 1%. Other economies, specifically in the north of Europe which have climates and population densities similar to Canada, have been turning around their fortunes by moving away from the carbon economy and embracing a vision of a healthy society. Selling out our environmental riches for a bargain price to the pulp industry while poisoning our citizens is wrong. I came to Nova Scotia because I believe it is one of the best places to live, and I will not give up the fight for this to continue to be true for all.