CALL TO ACTION WE MUST STAND BESIDE OUR NATIVES ALLIE!!!!

Hi Charles,

Please Attend the Fracking Commission's Press Conference this FRIDAY, FEB. 26th (9:00am-11:30am, Crown Plaza Hotel, downtown Fredericton)

Why are any of us even considering participating in any discussions around the viability of shale gas in this province, even as a counter-voice?

Those discussions were valid initially when we basically had to ‘educate’ government. But that is no longer the case. Coupled with Dr. Cleary’s extensive research, report and recommendations, we have delivered more than enough knowledge/facts to ban the industry. If they were evenly remotely inclined to do so, it would have already happened. While initially productive, we have now reached the point of diminishing returns... more will not be better and we all know that.

There is nothing left to discuss.

There is a basic principle in human interaction that is hard to argue: what you do shouts louder than what you say. The medium is the message; engaging in on-going discussion on a topic sends a clear message that there is still something to discuss. Are we in fact sending the message, albeit unintentional, that shale gas is still on the table?

We must ask ourselves why this Commission was struck in the first place. What was its genesis? Could this Commission possibly have access to better research than Dr. Cleary and others like her have produced? How ludicrous would it be to deny the services of a brain surgeon, preferring instead to ‘do it yourself’? But instead of calling the government out on the ridiculousness of hitting that reset button and repeating its associated societal toll, we continue to discuss. This is our best ever chance... NOW IS THE TIME TO SIMPLY STAND to stand and say “NO... there is nothing to discuss... this is a non-issue” ...and mean it.

We must stand beside our Natives Allies.

Most importantly, our Indigenous Allies have said “not under any condition”. What can be left to discuss? Do we stand with them or do we not? Are we truly Allies or are we not? Tomorrow, Allies will stand shoulder to shoulder, denying the validity of this process. Chief Tremblay has called out to members of the Wolastoq Grand Council, “I urge members from the Wolastoq Grand Council to attend, for our voices need to be heard and our presence to be felt.”. Will you walk right by Grand Chief Ron Tremblay to participate in this event?

We have delivered the knowledge piece in spades, we have stood as Allies on the lines, we have clearly indicated there is no social license for this industry in NB, and our Indigenous Allies have clearly said “No”. What on earth could be left to discuss?

Meanwhile, while we are standing in the middle of the road, distracted by all this discussion and ‘study’, the bus is charging ever closer, at twice the speed we originally anticipated, according to a new study that has just been released.1 A second study 2 released Feb.6 shows a 30% increase in methane emissions above the US in the past decade, likely linking to the 30%-60% growth in global emissions and to the fracking industry.

We are barely going to get off the road in time even if we start running immediately at top speed. It is imperative to dedicate every ounce of energy and brain power to the immediacy of this emergency.

We must focus on getting off the road, not on the debate of whether or not we should.

I know we all want the same result.

In solidarity,

Maggie Connell

1 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/feb/25/fossil-fuel-use-must-fall-twice-fast-thought-contain-global-warming

2 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/feb/25/fossil-fuel-use-must-fall-twice-fast-thought-contain-global-warming