2 February 2010

Writing Letters Won't Help

Helene Skowronski (left), Katie Sales, Cyndi Teichrob, Kelsey Bhatti, and
Jerad MacKay don face masks and placards to get their message across
during Saturday's rally against the Aboriginal Cogeneration Corporation's
plans to open a gasification plant on Mission Flats Road, where
creosote-soaked railway ties will be chipped and burned, in a process
that will create electricity.

Kamloops British Columbia - Editor:
 
The Berlin Wall would still be standing if people only showed their displeasure by writing letters to the editor.
 
Much more has to be done to stop the Aboriginal Cogeneration Corporation's gasification plans in our city.
 
Why move away?
 
Kamloops residents need to show what destiny we want for our city.
 
We don't like blind trust. We are the citizens and we are frustrated.
 
With our public protest, we would give our elected city councillors the right tools to stand up more forcefully and oppose this toxic plant.
 
In August 2009, I wrote an e-mail on behalf of seniors to the Ministry of Environment's Jason Bourgeois, noting we have serious concerns about incinerating creosote-soaked railway ties in Kamloops.
 
In spite of this, the permit was issued.
 
Who will speak out for the children and the rest of the population?
 
It would be nice to see teachers, professors, lawyers, realtors, and business people join the protest.
 
The Save Kamloops group does an excellent job, but much more has to be done.
 
The time to appeal is running out.
 
We have to show ACC president Kim Sigurdson we don't want his cogeneration plant here, even if he has a hard time understanding why people are protesting.
 
G. Gottloeber.