On July 26th, listening to the evening news on the car radio, I was elated to learn that the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that sonic testing by oil companies must cease on the waters in the Arctic. This decision is the result of a hard- fought battle by the people of the tiny hamlet of Clyde River in Nunuvut. Now, marine mammals like beluga, bowhead and narwhals will be protected from deafening seismic blasts. The decision goes against National Energy Board’s agreement to allow 3 Norwegian companies seeking to fire air guns into the waters of Baffin Bay and Davis Strait. As part of the ruling, the Inuit community of Clyde River received long term assurance that their culture and way of life will continue. Most importantly, the ruling stated that the federal government must ensure that Indigenous concerns are heard and treaty rights are honoured. There must be honest consultation.
Throughout the last three years, the Greenpeace Canada website had been collecting online signatures from the public to support the Inuit community’s local efforts to stop the underwater testing which would wreak havoc on marine life.
Of all the online appeals for signatures to support various causes that pop up on my computer screen, I felt compelled to add my signature to Green Peace Canada to support the people of Clyde River in their quest to halt the big oil Goliath. As Green Peace regularly reported, the online signatures grew steadily to an astounding over 400,000 advocates petitioning the federal government to stand up for Indigenous rights and stop seismic testing. Finally, after much work by the Clyde River Inuit and supported by signatures and interventions, justice prevailed. Clyde River WON their case at the Supreme Court of Canada. I felt that my signature played a tiny part in that victory.
As to becoming involved in various online pleas for support, it is easy for me to give a cursory glance at the issue presented and press “delete”. Presto! I have one less thing to consider on a busy day. However, I’m learning to take a second look and put some time into researching various causes and choose initiatives where my support might make a difference.
I’m proud that I supported the fight to halt a dangerous oil exploration project that threatened the Canadian Arctic. All it took was some time and effort --- and pressing “click” on the Green Peace website.
Jean Moylan, CSJ