Worrying about grandchildren’s future
As a mother and a grandmother, I continue to remain incredulous and appalled that our federal government would even consider the possibility of building more pipelines when we are clearly already in a full-on climate crisis.
I don’t belong to any political party, but I have voted Liberal in the past. I was particularly proud of the climate promises Justin Trudeau made in the 2015 election campaign. Alas, so many now broken.
I can no longer, in good conscience, vote for a party that does not have realistic and believable plans to take the steps needed to stop loading our atmosphere with carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas.
I can barely look my grandchildren in the eye anymore, because it is their future we are allowing to be stolen by people who care more about making money than about maintaining a habitable planet for future generations.
I can’t bear to see billions and billions of our tax dollars subsidizing the very companies who are driving us all toward climate chaos. We should be investing instead in sustainable energy, and in fairly transitioning workers from the fossil fuel industry into sustainable energy jobs.
Katherine Maas
Victoria
Voted for Liberals, not Trans Mountain
I voted for the Liberals in the last election and while I’m happy about some things they are doing, I am extremely disappointed they are too short-sighted to recognize that supporting the Trans Mountain Pipeline means we aren’t spending money on sustainable energy projects.
At the very least, we should not be transporting oil products to be shipped overseas. Refine it here, if you must, so it can be used in Canada while we switch to solar.
It is not worth risking an oil spill while shipping it overseas.
Also, bulldozing though First Nations land and ignoring their wishes is definitely not what I was expecting from the Liberal government.
It is not too late to back out of this pipeline and help people get jobs that support Canada for the future.
Robin Turnbull
Victoria
A warning about toxic tar
The precious jewel that is British Columbia’s coastline and the envy of the world must not be covered in toxic tar from Alberta. That could happen from an oil spill.
We need to protect this treasure for future generations. We should not betray it for short-term profit from outdated tar-sands operations. During my 15 years managing a local hotel, I was often congratulated by Europeans on how our government cared for and protected nature.
I hope we will continue to live up to their admiration.
Rick Carlson
Victoria
Remember Allied D-Day contribution
Re: “Remember Canadian D-Day contribution,” letter, June 11.
It’s unfortunate and sad that one reader was “appalled” with the Times Colonist using a Second World War photograph “showing American troops landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day.”
On many American-produced war programs, footage commonly used is the iconic photo and film clips of Canadians exiting their landing craft on Juno Beach, under a barrage of explosions and bullets, with the distinct French home in the background.
I have never heard any American or anyone for that matter, complain about using footage of the Canadians landing. We should remember that the waters on Normandy Beach ran red with the blood of Canadian, American, British, Free French, Polish and Commonwealth troops. They were all a part of the Allied invasion.
Liliane Morgan
Victoria
Raging Granny recalls jail time
Re: “New $170M jail for Nanaimo set for 2023,” June 11.
Hurrah for plans to reopen the Nanaimo Correctional Centre to women in 2023. I have great memories of my time as an inmate there, after being convicted of criminal contempt of court for defending the Clayoquot forest against logging companies in 1993.
After being strip-searched and handcuffed, myself and six other women arrived at Brannen Lake just in time for dinner, with 200 male inmates. Every day was a wonderful learning opportunity. We shared meal times and time off, including fierce indoor hockey games.
The inmates had stories about their wicked ways and absolute innocence. Some inmates swooned over my young companions. I seemed to be a mother-figure, which was fine by me.
I worked in the kitchen, library and taught English, where my favourite student, a Vietnamese drug dealer, needed help in planning to be a millionaire.
Even the woman “boss” of the jail said we women were a good influence on the men, though we did get into trouble by petting the enormous Rottweiler guard dog that inmates called “Fluffy.”
Apparently we were ruining government property. Maybe that is why I was sent home early.
As a Raging Granny, I felt privileged for the opportunity to listen to the other side of society and share a little discomfort. I am afraid it did not turn me into an ever-obedient citizen, so it is comforting to know what to expect if I am ever sent back.
Alison Acker
Victoria
Throw the book at cigarette tossers
Re: “Tossed cigarette results in pricey ticket for motorist,” June 11
Cigarette-tossing motorists should be grateful the fine for their abject stupidity doesn’t accurately reflect the costs and damages that come from human-caused wildfires.
If it was up to me, there would be mandatory jail time with an option to join firefighters as they try to save our forests from people such as themselves.
Len Dafoe
Nanoose Bay
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