Enbridge’s Northern Gateway proposal involves building a $5.5 billion dollar, 1,170 km dual pipeline to carry 525, 000 barrels of crude oil a day from Alberta to the West Coast of BC, as well as 193, 000 barrels of condensate from BC to Alberta. Included in the proposal is the construction of a terminal with two tanker berths, one for Very Large Crude Carriers and the other for Suezmax-type condensate tankers, in Kitimat, BC. Such a project would introduce, for the first time, crude oil supertankers to the temperamental coastal waters of Northern BC. Each year, more than 250 of these ships would be required to navigate 90 degree turns and narrow channels in Douglas Channel and along the coast of the Great Bear Rainforest, a coastline that is well known to kayakers for its prevalence of wildlife and spectacular wilderness.
Trans CanEAUda is a cross Canada canoe expedition and project being undertaken by 8 friends throughout the spring, summer, and fall months of 2011. They will depart from Ottawa, ON, during the first week of May 2011, and paddle and portage some 7000 kilometers to the Beaufort Sea. Why are they doing this you ask, all in one season too? One of the groups common reasons focuses on the concern of our world’s degrading natural environments, particularly water environments. Their expedition and website promotes and encourages donations to two non-profit organizations which work towards cleaner and healthier watersheds:
