A series of events is planned from October 2-4 responding to the Maritime Energy Association’s Core conference on Canada’s East Coast energy future. Protect Offshore Nova Scotia: Creating Offshore Resistance Everywhere will include a rally, two public panels, and two flotillas sending a clear message that offshore drilling needs to be part of our past, not our future.
October 2 – Rally
- 4:30 p.m. outside the Neptune Theatre, 1593 Argyle Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- As participants in the Core energy industry conference finish their day, the rally will take place outside reminding them that offshore drilling puts marine life, climate justice, and good jobs at risk.
October 3 – South Shore Public Panel
- 7:00 p.m., Mahone Bay Centre, 45 School Road, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.
- Featuring: Maude Barlow, Honorary Chairperson, the Council of Canadians; Chelsea Fougere, Campaign to Protect Offshore Nova Scotia (CPONS) member; Mayor of Mahone Bay David Devenne; and Melissa Labrador, traditional knowledge keeper and artist.
October 4 – Peaceful Paddling Flotillas
- 10:00 a.m., 2017 Lower Prospect Rd., Lower Prospect and Mahone Bay Civic Marina 681 Main St., Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.
- There will be two non-motorized paddling flotillas raising awareness about BP drilling offshore of Nova Scotia. These events are organized in partnership between CPONS, the Council of Canadians, local Cape LaHave Adventures (Bells Cove), Pleasant Paddling (Blue Rocks), and East Coast Outfitters (Lower Prospect).
October 4 – Halifax Public Panel
- 7:00 p.m., Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, 1675 Lower Water St, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- Featuring: Maude Barlow, Honorary Chairperson, the Council of Canadians; Marilynn-Leigh Francis, Indigenous fisher from the Yarmouth area; Chelsea Fougere, CPONS member; and Dorene Bernard, grassroots grandmother and water protector.
WHO: Organized by the Campaign to Protect Offshore Nova Scotia and the Council of Canadians.
WHY: The Core regional energy industry conference this year is focussed on Atlantic Canada’s Energy Future. While government officials meet with representatives of fossil fuel and clean energy industries and First Nations leaders, these events will send a clear message that offshore drilling needs to be part of our past, not our future. BP has re-started drilling its first exploratory offshore well near Sable Island National Park (after a forced pause due to a spill of synthetic drilling mud), and is a ‘silver sponsor’ of the Core conference.
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For more information or to arrange interviews:
Dylan Penner, Media Officer, Council of Canadians, 613-795-8685, dpenner@canadians.org. Twitter: @CouncilOfCDNs
