Our Community's website and forum

that attempts to reconcile Toxic Waste to Energy fantasies

with the likely community impacts.

 

WE WON!

On an April day at an APC meeting that will be remembered for a long time in this region, the will of the people won. It was not an 'us against them' victory, as much as it was a victory for the democratic process as a whole. Following an 18-month show of a community exercising their right to self-determination and their right to be heard on an issue that affected us all directly ... we won. Whether the end result was determined by vote or the proponent withdrawing the proposal, the end result was what the overwhelming majority of the community wanted.

In a country that has fought wars to protect our rights to be heard and speak out, whether against or for a given proposal; this community was a shining example of what can be accomplished when people choose to be heard.

From here the people that represent the community have taken on the job of revisiting the regulations surrounding industrial development proposals and how they are handled. Say thank you to them for this, and give your constructive input in order to help facilitate a final outcome we can all be proud of. By working together in the future, we will continue to Protect Christina Lake for future generations.

 

 

 

 

 

The next big decision will be made in Christina Lake on Tuesday April 6th 6:30 pm, at the Christina Lake Community Hall on Park Road. The Advisory Planning Committee of Area 'C' RDKB will be making a recommendation to the RDKB Board on the Aquilini proposal concerning the amending of our Official Community Plan and Zoning By-Laws to allow the construction of a Hazardous Waste Factory.

This could be one of the most important decisions ever made for the community of Christina Lake, the Regional District Kootenay Boundary, and our US neighbours to the south in the Kettle Valley. Come to the meeting to support your committee. Let your friends and neighbours know that they should also attend the meeting.

After 19 months and the COMMUNITY having that time to EDUCATE themselves, over 85% of the COMMUNITY says "NO" to this facility. We need you there to voice your opinions and ensure this proposal is not deferred for another 18 months or more. The COMMUNITY has suffered enough. Both mentally and economically.

Everyone's support will be VITAL in the coming weeks to end this and ensure the APC and RDKB comply with and respect the public will. We fully expect nothing less of them.

The Aquilini Group of Vancouver applied to build a hazardous waste gasification/distillation plant at Christina Lake.  Aquilini plans to transport to our community thousands of tons of toxic industrial wastes a week, from as far away as southern California and Alberta.  Local residents are opposed to this outrageous, dangerous proposal.

Christina Lake and other Kootenay/Boundary citizens must convince our elected Regional District directors to reject Aquilini’s application.  We have had quite a battle, and need your help to avoid a hazardous nightmare.  

Please continue to visit our Web site to stay informed, and learn why we oppose this threat to our community’s local economy, environment, and well-being.

Global TV and Aquilini’s John Negrin recently painted a rosy picture of the proposed Tswwassen gasification factory as a "safe," sustainable solution to Metro Vancouver's municipal waste.

Read more about why their proposal is anything but safe.

 

Below is a short, 9-minute video of our Area Director below. Please take special note of the comments made after the 6-minute point! As a COMMUNITY, we need to remember these words and REMIND our representative of them. They are just as true and valid today concerning Aquilini as they were then.

Move your curser over the screen to access the video controls.

For those wishing to look up the RDKB Directors Responsibilities there is a link in the left column. Please take special note of:

* page 8 paragraph 2 "Membership in the Board arises through the political process and therefore the primary role of Directors is to meet political responsibilities as representatives of those areas for which they have been elected or appointed.

* page 8 paragraph 4 'Once in office, one of the basic duties of the Director is to determine the wishes of the people that he or she represents before voting on matters......."

 

August Community Presentation Update Below.

If you missed the presentation, do not despair. The full video of the August 20th presentation, along with the speakers' slides, are now available for your viewing pleasure by clicking here. Bear with us, as this is a working copy that still needs some audio cleanup.

In the meantime, we can honestly say the presentation was a rousing success and great educational experience for many, thanks to the professional speakers. The community hall was filled to capacity and the crowd spilled over into the parking lot, where extra chairs were set up. A video screen and speakers were also added, so those who could not be seated inside could partake in the presentation. For those who live close to the event, we are sure they heard the deafening cheers from the audience at many junctures. At this point it cannot be denied that the community is firmly behind the Protect Christina Lake group, which is opposed to the hypocrisy of allowing this facility to exist here or anywhere in the region. "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" are not just empty words in the Kootenay Boundary, and to allow a project that would add more pollutants to the water and air goes against the very nature of the word Reduce. This community firmly believes in finding ways to create its employment through solutions that will truly Reduce pollutants in the region; and we fully expect the RDKB and our elected representatives to honor that commitment, which they regularly recite and promote in the local media.

For more information on the speakers click here

Dilution is the solution?

Dilution is the solution: A common little rhyme used in corporate back rooms and boardrooms these days. One would ask what this means to us. The answer is EVERYTHING! Everything from the air we breathe to the water we drink and the resultant damage to our health and quality of life. Industry players and their brethren commonly talk about "safe levels" of their outputs and are quick to point out their P.P.M. (parts per million) outputs are drastically less than a few years ago, less than the competition, or less than other technologies. While on the surface this appears a good thing for all of us, we commonly miss the insidious nature of this shell game. What it really means in many cases is the industry in question has been able to DILUTE their toxic outputs with enough water or air that they meet or exceed industry standards. This does not mean they are spewing out less toxins, this does not mean the technology is greener or cleaner. It means they are smarter about hiding the pollutants they produce. It means it will take longer for the damage to air, water and health to become obvious to us. When Industry experts try and dazzle us with technical terms and P.P.M. outputs, our answer should be "Dilution is NOT the solution."

 

At this point we need YOUR HELP.

We are at a very important point in our battle and know this is far more than a local issue; it is regional, if not provincial. When we win here, we have little doubt that Aquilini Energy will be trying to place this facility somewhere in the region. It is vital that our elected representatives (RDKB and Provincial) along with the APC (whose contact information is listed in the links on the top left of this page) receive letters from EVERYONE! It does not matter where you live. Everyone who enjoys this area, whether year round or just for a few days, needs to speak out now!

If you do not have a flair for writing we have made it easy. Just right click this link and click save on your computer. The file contains a preformatted letter that you just have to sign and mail.

If you live in the region, you can help by downloading our call to action poster and posting it on bulletin boards throughout the region. Right click here and select save.

With your help we will keep toxic waste from being transported into the region, retain the natural beauty of the region, and remain an internationally renowned year round retreat and home for thousands. Thank you in advance for you help and donations, and thank you to those who have spent thousands of man-hours already on this battle.

There are so many reasons why a toxic waste gasification plant is wrong for Christina Lake, that it is difficult to know where to begin. Click here to read why we oppose this threat to our community’s local economy, environment, and well-being.

 

"A lie unchallenged is very soon stronger than a truth unsupported."
Reginald Hill in Death Comes for the Fat Man

Rock Creek Fall Fair September 19 and 20.

Was great! Over 700 concerned citizens from our region signed the petition and some valuable allies where gained.

Grand Forks Fall Fair September 12th and 13th

Was a resounding success! Thank you to the hundreds who signed our petition. TOGETHER we will win this battle!

Please take a few minutes to view this well composed video from our local youth. . Click here