Setting the record straight on the day’s top anti-oil and gas media stories
ACTIVIST CLAIM: Foreign funded stand.earth accuses RBC of perpetuating climate destruction and violating indigenous rights after RBC teams up with Zoological Society of London.
THE FACTS: Foreign funded Stand.earth will use any excuse to attack the oil and gas industry and speak for Indigenous communities, many of which are partners in natural resource development.
THE SOURCES:
Stand.earth on Twitter: “Classic @RBC greenwashing: touting one-off actions, while failing to mention its bankrolling #CoastalGasLink — *currently* violating Indigenous rights while perpetuating climate destruction.” / Twitter
Here’s some facts and sources to have a reasoned conversation about respecting Indigenous communities:
- Anyone who tries to speak over Indigenous voices instead of respecting them is doing harm.
Opinion: Using Indigenous peoples as political pawns in resource development is simply wrong – The Globe and Mail
- Activists fail to highlight that 100% of elected First Nation councils support the project and have signed benefits agreements for their communities, and these elected officials deserve dignity and respect. It is not the place of activist groups or industry to comment on the internal decisions made within an independent community, but to accept that they are capable of making responsible business decisions without interference or judgment.
https://www.coastalgaslink.com/sustainability/indigenous-relations/
- Many banks choose to invest in Canadian resource development, which operate under some of the most strictly regulated and scrutinized standards in the world. Investment in the Canadian oil and gas industry means supporting the 13,900+ Indigenous workers that directly employed. It is not the place of fringe activist groups, or industry, to comment on how business decisions are made within indigenous communities.
FINAL-Going-Beyond-Supporting-Indigenous-Employment-in-Canadas-Energy-Industry-Dec2020-3.pdf (careersinenergy.ca)
- Indigenous leaders fear that activism from environmental organizations has become a form of “Eco-Colonialism” where many non-indigenous groups claim to represent Indigenous voices. This happened the entirety of the Coastal GasLink protests in winter 2020.
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/what-do-first-nations-really-think-about-trans-mountain
Stories that get it right
Varcoe: Birth of an industry amid race for carbon capture developments | Calgary Herald
Carbon tech continues to be the best solution for reaching net-zero targets, while maintaining a high standard of energy security for Canadians. The carbon capture industry is picking up steam, with the IEA (International Energy Agency) reporting that Canada is a global leader in carbon capture technologies.
