4 Days of Action
from Protect the Sacred
September 20, 2014 at 6am – September 24, 2014Salish Sea RegionWHERE IS THE SALISH SEA?
The Salish Sea is a network of coastal waterways located between the southwestern tip of British Columbia and the northwestern tip of Washington State. It includes the Straight of Juan de Fuca, the Straight of Georgia, Puget Sound, and all of their connecting channels and adjoining waters. Major port cities on the Salish Sea include Seattle, Vancouver, B.C., Olympia, Tacoma, Bellingham, and Victoria.
INTERNATIONAL TREATY TO PROTECT THE SACREDNESS OF THE SALISH SEA
The Coast Salish Nations have drafted the International Treaty to Protect the Sacredness of the Salish Sea. The International Treaty will enable Coast Salish Nations and their allies, the Nawt-sa-maat Alliance, to speak with one voice regarding tankers, ports, and pipelines. Through the leadership of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the Sacred Trust presentations have been made to over 30 Chiefs and a treaty signing is being planned for September 22 and 23, 2014.
OBJECTIVE OF THE PROTECT THE SALISH SEA 4 DAYS OF ACTION
To mobilize cross-cultural and international action and heighten awareness of the increased risks and threats to the Salish Sea from the proposed Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion in British Columbia.
WHY IS ACTION NEEDED NOW?
The proposed pipeline expansion poses significant risk to the Salish Sea and adjoining communities.- Current oil tanker traffic will increase from 5 to 34 tankers a month (approx. 212 million barrels).
- 52 products would be approved to be transported. All behave differently if spilled.
- Most of the product in tankers would be bitumen components, which are carcinogenic: the composition of diluted bitumen is unknown and proprietary.
- The Hecate Straight – a main body of water for the proposed tanker route-is considered the fourth most dangerous body of water in the world because of quickly changing winds and sea states.
- There are significant negative impacts to the environment, health and economy in the event of a major spill.
- Recovery from a spill would be measured in decades.
- A major spill would have profoundly negative economic impacts for residents and businesses in cities and towns that border the Salish Sea.
- Potential environmental impacts could devastate already vulnerable marine environments.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON THE 4 DAYS OF ACTION?
There will be a variety of actions in communities surrounding the Salish Sea. These will include:- Signing of the International Treaty to Protect The Sacredness of the Salish Sea by Coast Salish Nations and their Allies at Tsleil-Waututh Nations and other locations throughout the Salish Sea
- Oil Spill Drills to highlight the potential impacts of a spill (a major drill is planned by Orcas Island for Sept. 20)
- Community organized educational events
- Awareness building events by supporting organizations
- Training workshops by local experts
- Social media intensive
- Media intensive
- Pilgrimage to Tsleil-Waututh to witness the Treaty Signing
- The 4 Days of Action coincides with the Peoples Climate March on September 20th and 21st in NYC and being organized by 350.org, as well as United Nations International Day of Peace.
PARTNER WITH US TO EXPAND OUR AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AND COLLABORATE ON EVENTS
We welcome your participation to make known the threats to the Salish Sea and engage our communities in understanding the issues and possible solutions. We are looking to educate the general public and the decision makers. There are numerous ways to become involved including:- Create an educational event in your community
- Help to publicize the 4 Days of Action
- Organize an oil spill drill
- Create public art that amplifies the threats to the Salish Sea
- Write and share educational materials
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Help to organize the 4 Days of Action
Encourage Interspiritual engagement with faith communities in fostering opportunities for practical actions of ecological stewardship and ‘Caring for Creation.’
WHO IS THE NAWT-SA-MAAT ALLIANCE?
The alliance is a collaboration connecting the Indigenous Peoples of our region with collaborators in British Columbia and Washington state. The Nawt-sa-maat Alliance is calling for unprecedented unified action to protect and restore the Salish Sea and the communities surrounding it.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:Hereditary Chief Phil Lane Jr. 604 542-8991 [email protected] Ramer 206 972-7356 [email protected]
