The Written Word: Rafe Mair Jan18th

By Rafe Mair

    I consider myself an environmentalist. I haven’t done any marches or sit-downs – my role was as a politician or broadcaster/writer. I very much support the groups that have taken a stand on the battlefield and have some times been jailed.

As a bit of background, I served in the Bill Bennett government for five years one of which was spent as Minister of Environment. In that capacity I negotiated the saving of the Skagit River by meeting and doing a deal with the Mayor of Seattle. I emphasize, however, that the ground was laid by a steadfast group who never let up.

Since going into the media I have supported those who fought Alcan over Kemano II, those who fought against a gravel pit on the Upper Pitt River, and against the Atlantic Salmon Fish farms. I believe I’m perceived as an environmentalist. I hope I am.

This is why I  cry and laugh at the same time when I see the environment now seen as the #1 or # 2 issue for Canadians coast to coast. Ten months ago there was a federal election and in the four leaders debate, not one question was posed by the cream of Ontario’s media, on the environment! Now it’s all the rage.

I have some faith in Stephane Dion to broaden the debate past Kyoto into the general environmental problem areas. Kyoto is important but realistically it will take years before any real progress is made. Moreover, they cry will be, if the US and China aren’t involved, why should we?

The fight must be taken in our own background – the oceans, the land and the atmosphere where we can accomplish something. That’s because it affects us of course but it affects other areas as well. An excellent example can be found in the January 5 edition of Science Magazine. The story concerns the Atlantic Ocean off Argentina where there is a very big anchovy fishery, a fishery that has not been scrutinized scientifically. It has now been determined that the depletion of these anchovies has caused grave concern for Southern Whales, Southern Right Whales, Southern sea lions and Magellanic Penguins.  

What’s that to do with British Columbians?

Plenty because those anchovies are ground into pellets to feed the Atlantic Salmon in BC’s fish farms. Quite apart from the fact that it takes 5 pounds of fish pellets for every pound of Atlantic salmon – a ridiculous waste of protein - it shows how large the environmental footprint can be.

As John Donne said, “No one is an Island unto itself”.  

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