To have a complaint is to have a purpose. Many individuals in our society crave for meaning and purpose in an otherwise boring and meaningless existence. Group movements such as unions and environmental movements developed due to abuses of nature and workers. These help society, then begin to act as an anchor to sustainable development.
Environmentalists must create fear to influence the public. For example, with the Grassy Mountain mine proposal we are told that “Access to life sustaining water is at grave risk”.
Is this true?
Southern Alberta is over-allocated and guided by a ‘first in time, first in right’ policy and the Grassy Mountain proposal has a ‘first-in water allocation.’ Coal mines affect a minuscule portion of an ecosystem and their water use can be as low as what it takes to irrigate a quarter section in southern Alberta — which is minimal. Science and technology have advanced and we are not left as pawns quivering in fear.
Alberta has world class legislation and monitoring procedures and creditable individuals within the Crowsnest watershed will be able to take part in environmental monitoring of mining development and operations, overseeing the mining company, just as we see in British Columbia.
All the issues that I have seen raised to instill fear in the general population are being addressed through science and research. We can have both a healthy ecosystem and high paying jobs in Southern Alberta with the Northback Grassy Mountain Mine opportunity.
Tim Juhlin
Crowsnest Pass, AB