Oil Sands Export Ban: BC First Nations Unite to Declare Province-Wide
Opposition to Crude Oil Pipeline and Tanker Expansion
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VANCOUVER, COAST SALISH TERRITORIES, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Dec 01, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --
First Nations, whose unceded territory encompasses the entire
coastline of British Columbia, have formed a united front, banning
all exports of tar sands crude oil through their territories, and
effectively all of BC - whether by Enbridge in the north or
Kinder-Morgan in the south.
Several new First Nations signed the Save the Fraser Declaration in a
Vancouver ceremony, expanding First Nations opposition in western
Canada to more than 130 Nations. These First Nations form an unbroken
wall of opposition from the U.S. border to the Arctic Ocean. This is
the first time that First Nations have come together publicly to
declare a ban on oil tankers and pipelines on both the north and
south coasts.
"North or south, it makes no difference. First Nations from every
corner of BC are saying absolutely no tar sands pipelines or tankers
in our territories," said Chief Jackie Thomas of Saik'uz First
Nation, a member of the Yinka Dene Alliance. "We have banned oil
pipelines and tankers using our laws, and we will defend our decision
using all the means at our disposal."
It is impossible for oil pipelines to go around opposed First
Nations, and their consent to pipelines and tankers in their
territories is required by international law... |
