ts, “By BRUCE HILL. | be ‘RECENT ARTICLES in hig p paper ‘aswell as. others, ‘may be giving. . the i impression ‘that the exploration’. for, and development. off: coal bed | . methane: is a: “clean”. alternative to” other fornis of ofl and. Bas extraction, -., particularly.” offshore - ail: aid: gas. o> While -the United States “cur: renily‘depends on coal ‘bed: methane. Jor approxim-+ately : 10- per cent of, its ‘natural: gas supply, that: 10 ‘per- een has com ne al ain enormous cost. “opposing ‘coal bed. velopment in: -south= ae an needs to understand: “does: come’at‘an ¢normous' environ- ° "mental cost,’ particularly’ resulting: > from: :land” fragmentation: because ~ of: the’ ‘density of necessary infra: ‘stractureé, and. issues’ ‘Surrotnditig othe disposal. of: ‘potentially-. massive “- Quantities of saline, prodaced:water. . ne “northeast « BC: otherwise “So mown asthe “oil: ‘patch’, it-is:nou* just conservation: “organizations: who “have,. expressed “‘scrious . concerns ° © about coal: bed~ Methane” develop- “csmént ‘in’ that region, : but’ a. -broad - group normally. welcoming. most in- “dustrial. development: in; the region... ‘The problem: there: is the. rush by and’support. any and all: development”. “that produces revenues; and d forego: “any-.open’ “pub: oie -process as. “-to-the- possible - “impacts ‘of that development. “While: - the Fisk, “of, both: + onshore . and: “offshore + oil. and” gas” de- , \ ‘velopment ; ate - 5 “3 Wells known, ‘ "amd h! ‘docu- ~ mented, “idgal!. different, « sand: in: rnany~ “cases, grealer. risks associated . with: a “mercially: viable; they “must, be. : “spaced.” “more: * closely than ‘conventional ..g ~ Whereas . Spacing » “for: conven: “tiorial. “Bas: wells “in. BCs | vabout-: “one ‘per 640 acres, B.C,’s. current. ’- -that,coal: bed’ methane’ development + CTOss ” “section. -of- First. ‘Nations and Z ” private property’ ‘owners,: the latter a* “the provin neial government: todpprove . “bed: methane” ‘development ‘has - . mo In. order: for: Avells : to be? com. ogelher: gpg “A CLOSED loop ailing system in Colorado uses isnke instead of pis to store drilling fluids and.wastes. ' “ming. guidelines: indicate: ‘that: ‘boalbed: become dead: zones s froin toxic c pro- oe Bumping coalbed methane 1 means draining water Out. Of. coalfields. SAN JUAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE PHOTO / iuasa uate aidindttes eausispeahe! -ane seeping into peoply’s-baséments. ‘3 Whalever the governnieni might. a claim, coal: bed. methahe isnot: benign way” to-aceess natural gas . 2; This.“ government: :has. ‘system: tically“ ayoided--an.. dpen: “public process: awith “its: constituents,” ex ‘aggerating the ‘benefits of oil: and: “ gas’ development, exag erating’ the. extent “of: Ahe. resource, "especially ie. case -Of. offshore: oil and -gas”. “deposits, and denying: the evidence * Of the. impacts’ ‘of that déveldpinent _ A prime example of ‘that is theif “Secision. “to ignore" the. resuills: of” “methane. ell can be spaced “16 any density” In-some places:in. the US; 2: ~cgalbed methane wells: have. ‘bee +: ‘Placed: al every: 40 or every 80 acres: Wildlife: ‘does - ‘not survive; ‘that’ type. Of developmen Bi . “considered a sub-surface. ‘mineral, os ., land 4 owners and homeowners: have: ms litte or: no. rights i in-fegard to wheih-- "er Ore not: : devélopinent.: can occur. on ‘their properly; or-how: it ovcurs, ; Developers, ° literally,: cai “have, ‘drilled: ‘Wells. :in ‘homeown-_ ers’. front! yards,’ built: valuable .. ‘agricultural’ . otherwise degradéd’ ’ ‘private pi _ ety, Wilk often little or :no: at : pensation’. ns : “2 One ‘of. ite other: of coal:.bed metha “produced, Avaler”, ° “ontinet coal: bed” ‘metha nie, a. ‘com: nl pany. first: ‘has to pump. o out the “alba ‘traps the gas firthe¢ 60 f is, ol ten, “high in 3a ~ thé ~ Backhouse:. Pigieess, group “of ‘citizens + SAME SCX,’ Why: wouldn't we do: this ‘as “ sho ‘uniesnditional love of all, ‘alivable: ane eet on “tine content we th The mostadanant deniers. of: creas. ee Metals. The : d-can contain: heavy : creased & ' pressures “of ‘the. gas. cailse- the" gas-to escape in, “unpredictable ' Ways. ‘In. Wyo- Where . Coal’: bed’ «methane s- high! y developed, - ‘many -stock “* “ponds are now: fenced off-as meth= :’ “how: an: ‘Open ube process: lo. de- “ ‘liberate. on the - offshore’ ‘oil -and:: Gas - issue could.:-be’ put, into: plac Clearly, . they. did: not. segs il in “their: ‘partisan interest. to callow. that to happen,‘ after all-the ‘public is-un- “ predictable. They. Cait: lay: as miich “the” ponds; and. the” “dae * ger, is of ihe pond: ‘catching’ on’fire. In parts of the U.S.,'streams have: emment,. but, the: facts are. liere fore there. was an“Open and.” ” dive Tse process in place for northern” 1. ‘the need: to slow.down.:: We ave ‘ tuaial the’ world, ie "and the especially ‘the U,S.,des-. “peralely- ‘needs. ° - eomrimunjties dnd: First. ‘Nations, to” “need ‘to. Bel: it all. out ‘of the ground ak 5-,., dS. Soon: as possi ble, or-in. sways that: suc: and they arial desired hreaten. other. vahies and 1 resources. a “agenda of the: any. ‘ind: the. en for: “short term’. -corporate -profits. -~ ~ Why wouldn'tive do this as Gare- ing to. convince an increasingly less © naive public: of the: ‘benefits, ‘while - touting absurdly: ‘stupid. timelines: of ‘fully and: thoughtfully: ag. We possi- “|. lighting. the Olympié’ Torch in 2010” bly. could; and” bring. communities: =| ‘ together‘around-a.vision of sustain-. | ‘ability, rathér- than’ ‘divide’ ‘aiid* po: “} "darize as ‘this government, Is doing? a) an . cf. technology equipped military forces do their ‘thing, - ‘with: leaving a “few choices to: ‘Gur - ee “government that is doing everything. “grandchildren, ‘or -a, little’ wealth .. in its power ‘to force a:bad. choice. "Last year, the Cana Wilderness. Society provided the .re- sources for ten First ‘Nation: leaders, - with offshore’ gas from northern’ B.C. Not “to: mention: funding’ wildzeyed * Pproponenis of oil and gas develop: ‘ment.* This is not'a government: that.” . wants tomake awise-choice; this is a e:-ground.: as their’ heritage? = _dndeed he: valte.. Of this. te“ ; “only: ‘increase ~~: one’ cynical appr>ich | is. hal. we ‘should -, ian “Parks and methane exploration this summer, . The: ‘province - signed, an eight - 412,000' heciares of lank known as - the: Klappan: area. “Basin, a avast: t semimentary: ‘basin ~ “war of words. - “The government sees big. imioniéy "and new jobs: from coalbed Methane, ‘a natural: gas found | In coal 7 B.C. has ‘Jots. of. ‘eoal, ‘and low’ ‘of: coaibed. ~ methane: = perhaps’ enough to equal - 100 ‘years’ worth of current natiral gas’ production. “So the Liberals have ‘been continuing the: ftort > begun, ating the ‘NDP years ‘to. explo! “the ‘gas Q La _ deposits. i OTHE i NORTEIWEST being one: : > of B.G.’s: newest. ‘areas, for: coalbed 3 eae exclusive -deal--witl Shell to... explore f for coalbedl ‘methane : under: ~ Us near Iskut, within: the Bowser to A RIAL view. ot a ‘closed: ‘loop. coalbed ” methane d . New Mesic 0. ‘SAN JUAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE PHOTO. . . BC. HASN? T -even tapped into: is. tiewest : 7 energy. resource, and already: the Province | is in. a who a aré-deating with coal bed meth- " ane issues within. their territoriés,, to" “only be worth: tmore-in ‘the: future: visit the: ‘Wyomning, coal bed methane os be’ waiting: to access. it, as: it ‘will : : ‘We, as, citizens, ideserve the ops fe portunity to make informed: choices; ye “and: hot be" ‘bullied into “bad: ones:* oll There’ ‘Mays well. bela way. eke “extract resources” frorn’ these ‘ar-" eas, minimize the. impacts to. Our. “natural heritage “and atthe same <7. Aime. honor. the: ‘unique, righis’ of ° -/Shelt sisciaGn 4 Said ‘up mn Tour = exploratory swells: eould be: geile 6 “the ‘north: of here! It’ 5. kiown 0: -contain.coal ‘and is believed lo have. significant reserves: “of ‘conventional wf Oil anid. natural gas asavell?) o Shell will pay theB, Cc. governmeni. . nearly $9.5 million for thé coal bed’. : methane: ‘rights: in the. Bowser and, ™: “must Spend a minimum: of. clsosc't $12 millian in actual. work on ath . wound: But that. won't: happen follow. i the - ‘present course, It. fan coe ; : “2” «|. perspective God, and reality is infinite, | °*” Bruce Hill is. “the northern b co " coilservation - cdordinator--for” the: - “Canadian: Parks aiid Wildérness Sar. elely (CPAWS). He lives | in 1 Terrace: : ~ That ‘would. wake it’ ths first time m enerey companies: -have “the: Bowser. since. 1975. began: sunder- the. NDP. in “2000: ‘and - accelerated when’ ‘the: Libefals: were “Bue ‘here's sa - problém, ‘Coalbed: méthan” development is untested. in B.C., and a relatively, . “new industry in ‘North America. ‘That means some “people. are bound, to be, nervous: about Simoge to: “the: environment. 2" " “Conventional : hatural, gas: is : usually: found. in -Jarge pockets, tinder pressure. Companies driltas ‘Well,-the gas "flows out'and. when it’s, gone they cap | the fell a and move on, It's'rela ely ‘and And. the. methane | is; s igually trapped. beneath ae “underground, waler hat; “MUSt- be ‘pumped out . before.the gas’ will. How. : ; mae Some, early development: ‘lfons in the v. Sas Dee * did: ‘significant: ‘ehyirontental «, ae “coalbed. inethianie’ now niakes’ up about five: per: mo “cent of. U.S; gas" production, and the: companies: 1 “hi e-aboiit 20 years “of. experie nce ‘Wilh care and. address ts 32/0 Clinton: St. Terrace, B.Ce-V8C ° You -can- fax -us:-at -250- 638-8432 dr: ‘e-mail us at. “newsroom @terracestahdard.com. ‘No attachments, please, 7 Nanie, adaless anidphonenumberrequired for ver fication, , Sal Editoral The Conia Vale Recon . Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - A5 __ CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD _The Mail Bag | ~-There’ S no choice - “Dear Sir: : eam. writing in’ response: to Briaa Grega’ s ‘hate mai “about his-belief that homosexuality i is a choice: : _) Who in:théir right mind would: choose a lites é. that oy “is riddled with nothing ‘but difficulty, 4 condemnation, and. Judgement? lf. honiosexuality: isa. “ehotce’ ‘then, that must” make> 7 ‘heterosexuality’ 2 a “choice”. Do you remember Mri Grees, _-that-enlightening: moment when’ you consciously: chose © ‘be fieterosextial? I-doubt it. é - I believe the: choice hdividsextal ‘people’ inake is very "difficult but it was not a choice to be homosexual, ‘Instéad,. ~ the choice they made. was fo step fo vard in: a ah: ile world « “and. Say who. they ares > ; They’ make: the ‘ch ice" to tell others, to. 0: shai their | ” feelings and to ‘live ‘their lives. knowing people. like you. are oul there weady to hang: them from the ‘cross. and burn ‘them. cos I consider that to ‘be very: brave’ and [ certainty ‘coftsidier- -you: to be'a coward: afraid of difference and afraid: to. po... against a. narrow-minded: belief: that ¢ even’, Jesus: would ~ disagree with: 7m . Did the 13-year-old girl, attracted ta her. ‘best friend wake ‘up: one morming and. say,: “Gee: I: “choose to be | -altracted to my best friend?”:Or, perhaps there is a-natural , 7 and innalé desire to.be intimate: with that’ ‘best friend?:: - Indludirig - pedophilia” alongside’ ‘homosexuality is a. demonstration - “of * Brian: Gregg’s ignorance, anger. and: ; intolerance of difference. Homoséxuality’, involves two. parties Corisenting to be, with one another. Pedophilia inyolvesc one ‘party exploiting . an, innocent: victim. Wake up| Mr. Greg. Like it of not; difference’ ‘exisis in . the world. and your fighting it is ‘only creating, more hate, 1 and intolerance, ° a . , “: .bvregard to the: deinonstration of gay) men dressing like “nuns,. ‘and. gay. women dressing like priests, all Ihave to: 2] say-is ‘tasteless’ mockery” ‘exists everywhere, and. what 1 ‘is’ wat on fun for.one.is not fun for-another, °° _devotopmenis ands see, : forthemselves i just What is involved. No preaching, : “no diré warnings of calastrophe, Just. a-faith thal théy needed to'see’it for . ; “themselves, and have.asmucti ability. . an ‘as ‘anyone, and more'legal.aiid moral. | sauthourity than. most of-us, td make” : informed choices ‘abou their: future: What they sawinformedthem, and: | ‘disturbed them:; As it would-anyone: “experiencing: dhe: reality of coal bed: _ methane, as opposed to the propagan- * da of ‘the government ‘and ‘industry, . Casa society;-are-tasked with’ ‘ing decisions’ now : that will af. feet our. ‘descendants’ far. into the 7 “Fl ulure,. “On! ‘coal, béd- ‘methane, ‘On offshore’ oil: and: gas,-cn-: preserving -. “some wilderness areas for the future.. “We, know the’ world; and: -especial-: ° : yithe'U: S.,istinning out, of easily or. _Saplysesssbiohytrosatonfur ve need to. transition: to ~ “1 don’t agree -with this: behaviour. sither but: it will not. make. me: condenin. the entire group,” nor -will ‘T-make. a “ judgnient that this is ‘hateful actio * but who am I to judge? iT think: it is tasteless . / F wouldtremble at. the idea of actually judging. two - ‘people i in love as * ‘perverted’ hist hecause they are of the” Tam rat homosexual and: to be honest, if 1 actually had. ae choice Lvould:be. : Lwould suggést: to. Mr. Gregg that: “perhaps he dught-to-invéstigate,-research: arid explore the ‘history of the church he so readily ¢ defends... ‘Somehow. Jesus. ‘and. chis: Love. are: missing. from it far too ‘often,; with the “believérs’,.The . Christian © ~., | :church,, ‘historically has brouight rothirig’ but. Judgment, - annihilation: ‘of’ culture’ and: differente, death, disease, “exploitation and: ‘cruel acts; 7 - .. There ‘ate, many. wonderful; brave: and loving people inthe: church and thank goodness. -for, that: Your ‘anger,:. B intolerarice and. unloving attitude is very sad Teally because: * Satis a beautiful: word, and: we can stlebrate: difference if 7 we choose. - " God bless” you: Mr. Gress a and my you ‘wake up ‘to. | ‘Watch school zones. Dear Sirs: we “\ Thank-you.to the tocal RCMP for patrolling the school ae ‘zones during: the. ie rst. week. of ‘school, And. hopefully “current high p prices. of ; uel are sony aol : “small taste of the‘future,. that hydto-.. | “arbor resources. will: ‘become more © : beyond, ° v7 My moming commute to ‘war: takes ime é through ‘up to. ‘five schoal zones; and Tyvas happy to seé the RCMP pulling ° over. vehicles and: reminding dri ers of. the i importance of “As a parent Whose child: somtimes walks, it readgured © me: “greatly. It also reminded: meé-to.check my own speed. - ‘| We're all ‘responsible for the: safe: Of all of the, shildren. oe RCMP, Keep up! the great work, Virginia Rego ‘New York, then their: ‘madness | is no less. prevaleni, Poe ~Withsome difficulty” we try'to comprehend the utter, and historically ‘unprecedented. cowardice with which modern . . They will wage and create war and then strive.to avoid - “combat, they: avill rain “bombs arid. missiles ‘on people coe «from many miles and at a very. safe distance. ‘Chances are Without. a. doubt these modern. cowaids:will be honored as. heroes. ; "While. human beings: al. the’ receiving ‘erid of these’ cowardly perpetrators are: having. thier lives‘and. bodies torn.and. shattered; the overfed ' killers ‘are. ‘lounging in: - ” ‘comparative’ ‘safety, Such are: more deserving of the uimost | condemnation. “We:have now the two great | evils | in confliet— “one ‘being Q the fundamentalist Islamic. instillers.of i insanity, enslaving. -|.the masses, ‘versus the U.S: military machine, supposedly * proclaiming the virtues of theinGod.. =.» “The chasm between these two colossal evils and their At ‘the. Pentagon | the uniformed military - ‘sony faced” = brass ‘piously- ‘porlray- the. events: ‘steeped “in: deception - _ and: oozing. arrogance. Beneath, these'uriiforrhs :exists © a& semblance of a humanity that. has long: lost: its hatural ~ being: : Obviously Ametican adiminislration, JincludingtheClA, - “s have excelled in.being fiurtured in the art of deception, With’ some preat difficulty. those ‘accusers “of others being evil eventually t must realize that they: themselves are ; existing. in the forest of grealer evil. D. L, Bulleid. “About the. Mail Bag The. Terrace - ‘Standard <: welconies +: ‘letters, “Our - 8G. “SRI. The ruihless indiscriminate murderers piloting the U, s- . B52. bombers: ‘should, be- required: to: get ‘onto the ground: and face the people’ they are trying lo obliterate. : Tf authorities involved ‘should-consider these’ insane - activities. to be of a lesser evil-than those committed on os Had America. not. received: ihe. hontific destiiiction’ on” “New York City, many Americans may never have’ realized “ithe. humah havoc: their. own: military ‘have inflicted on. e many peoples: ‘around the’ earth. . Terrace B. Cc. . . 7 ‘