Dear Editor:
Re: City council united in stand against coal plan, The Record, May 31.
So, despite our city council (rightly) coming out strongly against the Fraser Surrey Docks coal port proposal, the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce has come out in support of it? Well there's a surprise.
The health concerns of residents, not a consideration, that coal is a major contributor to climate change, didn't raise an eyebrow.
What was important to them obviously is commerce and making money at whatever human cost. It only matters that 25 jobs are being created here, while this low-grade coal from the United States is shipped from here to be burned in China into our atmosphere.
I trust they do understand that people in many low-lying areas of the world are losing their land to rising sea levels.
We now have an infestation throughout Canada of pine beetle because our winters are not as cold; our glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, we are seeing increases in precipitation throughout the globe.
Tornadoes in Oklahoma are stronger than ever; flooding, fires, drought, and on and on the list grows as we collectively start to experience the effects of climate change and this type of callous decision that has brought us to this point.
Shame on you, chamber of commerce, but thank you for informing us of what really matters to you.
Make sure and proudly tell your grandchildren of your decision, that making money now comes before their future.
Gavin Wishart, New Westminster
