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Politicians must take stand

Editor: I attended the recent information meeting regarding saving the environment from the dangers of escalating coal transportation.

Editor:

I attended the recent information meeting regarding saving the environment from the dangers of escalating coal transportation in our area and the hazards to the environment.

It was indeed informative, as it reinforced what everyone probably knows already, but also pontificated on the subject of the dangers of coal transportation. Three very knowledgeable and dedicated men came from across the border to explain and demonstrate the devastation of our ocean and fisheries, not to mention the pollution that would be so hazardous to everyone’s health and the general decline of our well-being as we know it.

I was very impressed and glad that I had attended. However, I was hoping that there would be more involvement on the part of politicians.

While there was some local representation, it is imperative that provincial and federal representatives take a stand on this issue.

But there was no mention of this, in fact, it was mentioned that the BNSF is planning to invest many more millions of dollars into escalating their amount of trains to ship coal and other hazardous materials through this area.

In Frank Bucholtz’s column last week (Coal key to railway profits, July 25), he pointed out that the BNSF is owned by Warren Buffett, who is a well-known billionaire and philanthropist, who at his age, is probably more concerned with the legacy of accomplishment that he leaves behind.

Which brings me to our own British Columbian billionaire and philanthropist, Jimmy Pattison, who owns the largest coal storage at Roberts Bank in B.C. and the largest coal-trading facility on the west coast of America. Do I need to say more?

Recently on the news, Mr. Pattison was in Victoria donating $5 million to a hospital (I hope it was the heart and lung ward), and I couldn’t help thinking of Jean Fisher’s letter (Why can’t we just say no? July 30) referring to “collateral damage.”

D. Barros, White Rock