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Red Head #EndOfTheLine: website + endorsements for May 30th

Today marks the launch of a new website in support of the Red Head event as well as mobilizing against Energy East in New Brunswick overall: www.noenergyeastNB.ca. You can RSVP to the event and receive up-to-date information about the event via email and/or text, to help you plan your participation!

 

And with just over 2 weeks to go before the big march and rally to the #EndOfTheLine in Red Head NB, endorsements of the event and support for the community is piling in.


The latest endorsement comes from the Fredericton and District Labour Council, who passed a resolution this past Wednesday, May 13th declaring their support for the rally on May 30th as well as the issues facing the community of Red Head.

Alex Bailey, FDLC President and a member of Unifor local 2040 and FAUST (Faculty Association of the University of St. Thomas), said of the resolution, “The Labour Council unanimously passed this resolution because we recognize the importance of this struggle in Red Head, where community members are mobilizing against the massive tank farm & marine terminal proposed for their community and potential spills in the Bay of Fundy. Part of our role is to standing up for communities and putting people before profit, and we’ll be there in Red Head on May 30th.”

In other news, another blow to TransCanada and all pipelines came Wednesday when deputy chief of the Burnaby Fire Department, Chris Bowcock, issued a dire warning of a nightmare scenario after completing a risk assessment of Trans Mountain’s proposed doubling of the local tank farm, which would take it to 26 storage tanks. Bowcock’s report indicated if fire erupted at the expanded tank farm, flames could engulf Burnaby Mountain and cause a massive urban evacuation.

Click here to read the full Globe and Mail article about the report.

Given this, what would things look like for Red Head if an accident were to happen at the proposed Energy East (TransCanada/Irving) storage tank farm? Would the Saint John fire department have the capacity and the know-how to deal with or prevent disaster? What would this mean for local residents, for their homes, the air they breathe?

More follow-up is needed, but ultimately no fire department could prevent disaster in this scenario, which is just one of many reasons for everyone to come to the #EndOfTheLine on May 30th! Show your support for the people of Red Head and your opposition to Energy East!

 

Further reading

Saint John neighbourhood of Red Head plans to march against Energy East pipeline (May2015 blog by Brent Patterson)

On May 30th, let’s show Canada and the world that Red Head is “the end of the line” for Energy East (April 2015 blog by Mark D’Arcy)

On the frontlines in Atlantic Canada – what is at risk with the Energy East pipeline (October 2014 blog by Andrea Harden-Donahue)

Council of Canadians stands with Red Head residents opposed to the Energy East pipeline (November 2014 blog by Brent Patterson)