To the Editor,
I think Nanaimo should be aware of the dangers of the Northern Enbridge Pipeline project, and the super tankers that come with it.
Though the port is 606 kilometres away in Kitimat, a super tanker spill could easily cover an area three times that of the Exxon Valdez, meaning 6,300 kilometres of coastline, including our beloved harbour city, would be covered in slick.
Some people might think that the probability of a spill is small and that it is worth the risk for our bottom line, but this is not true.
The massive tankers would have to go through what are considered the hardest navigational passes in the north Pacific. These waters are the same ones that claimed the Queen of the North in 2006 and caused a tanker to run aground in 2009.
The effects of a spill would be detrimental to both our marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Not only would massive amounts of animals (including seabirds, harbour seals, sea otters and orcas) die, but infected salmon would be dragged onshore and poison the delicate nitrogen cycle of our ancient and pristine forests, causing them to die.
With such dangerous environmental and economic deficits (the short and long term affects of a spill can be billions of dollars) I urge Nanaimo citizens to think carefully about their stand on this issue.
To any who are opposed, signing the online petition against the tankers at www.dogwoodinitiative.org will help show your support.
Together, we can stop these tankers.
Caitlin Jakobsen
Nanaimo