Rivers at Risk

The Western Canada Wilderness Committee (WCWC) has recently published a new paper (tabloid size brochure). This is a "must read" and as noted in their memo below can be ordered from them at no charge.

If you're concerned about the corporate takeover of our rivers you may wish to order some and distribute copies throughout your community.

You can view and read the publication by clicking on the graphic illustration below and then clicking on the PDF file in the upper left corner.

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Hello friend of BC Rivers

Our latest paper just arrived. It’s called BC Rivers at Risk, and is a successor to our Power Grab paper from last year. It looks at the threats to BC’s rivers caused by privatized hydropower projects. All around British Columbia people are concerned about the rampant privatization of our rivers. This newspaper gives people a way to channel their concerns into action.

It sheds light on how the BC government, through the 2002 BC Energy Plan forbade our profitable Crown corporation, BC Hydro, from competing with the private sector by barring Hydro from producing new sources of electricity. At the same time, it directed BC Hydro to meet future projected electricity needs by purchasing from private power developers. Since that time, there has been a phenomenal 1140 percent increase in these so-called “independent power project” (also known as IPPs) applications throughout BC.

The paper shines a spotlight on two large and extremely unpopular proposed projects: Bute Inlet (150 km north of Powell River) and Glacier/Howser (in the West Kootenays). It also points out breaking news that the BC government is finally admitting what we’ve accused them of all along: that this private power would not be generated to serve British Columbians, but rather is intended for export. The newsletter also shows how we can do green power right: in a way that respects local communities, promotes conservation, fights against climate change, has real environmental oversight and benefits the public - not just corporations.

Here’s where YOU come in. Due to popular demand for our last IPP paper, we’ve printed 75,000 copies of this latest education report, and we want to get them to as many folks as we can to your local coffee shop, Doctor’s office, or friends, family and co-workers. If you can help, please e-mail us at rivers@wildernesscommittee.org or phone us at 604-683-8220 (1-800-661-9453 outside the Lower Mainland), and we’ll send you reports right away!

Sven Biggs
Outreach Assistant
Wilderness Committee