No Coal movement gets Municipal Allies!

Latest from Donald Gordon of VTACC:

Our allies against the FSD-Texada coalport keep growing!

You will recall that on Sept 19 we filed our legal challenge to Port Metro Vancouver's approval of the Surrey-end of the proposal.  VTACC did this in partnership with Communities and Coal from Surrey, and two private citizens.  Ecojustice is our legal counsel.  Great people, all of them.

That set the phone lines sizzling, and 5 days later the City of New Westminster applied to the court to join our case alongside us!  Yes, now our legal challenge is being strengthened by having the City of New West join us.  Welcome aboard, New Westminster!

Maybe it IS true that if the people lead, the politicians will eventually follow.

http://www.surreyleader.com/news/276707161.html

Two days later, (Sept 26) more great news!

Chris August of the Sechelt First Nation, and Donna Shugar of the Sunshine Coast led the effort that resulted in the entire UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) passing a resolution calling for environmental and health impact assessments on the US thermal coal rush the Feds and Province are trying to push through BC:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a comprehensive environmental and health impact assessment for the shipment of thermal coal over coastal waters and by rail be conducted;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that an appropriate federal and/or provincial agency be named to monitor barge transfer and transport of thermal coal over coastal waters and by rail to ensure oversight and implementation of environmental and health protection measures.

THIS PASSED ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY BY 190 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND 26 DISTRICTS IN BC!

http://thetyee.ca/News/2014/09/26/BC-Cities-Demand-Review-of-Thermal-Coa...

All over the South Coast, many people are working very hard to sink this project.  Tens of thousands of hours have been donated over the past 21 months.  As you can see, these are not people who will be giving up.

Here is where you come in:

Our legal challenge to the Texada Island approval, filed on June 2 by VTACC, goes to court on October 27.  Up until now, our legal costs have been supported by West Coast Environmental Law, and a small number of dedicated donors.  Blessings to them!

Blessings too, to our incredibly dedicated lawyer Tim Howard who is working for a fraction of real legal wages on this.

We have just been informed that, due to their budget constraints, West Coast Environmental Law cannot financially support our challenge to the extent hoped.  With 27 days left before the beginning of our judicial review, we need $5000 to keep this legal challenge moving forward.

The Province of BC is spending enormous amounts on their legal response to us, as is Lafarge.  It seems like we are all the invasion of wasps at their champagne picnic.  

We are in this for all of us, and for everything else that lives on this coast.  If you are able to chip in to the legal fund at this stage, you could make a huge difference.  Contributions small and large gratefully welcomed!

Please don't assume that someone else will fill the jar.  I will keep you posted on how the jar is filling in the days to come.

Cheques made out to VTACC can be sent to PO Box 74504, Kitsilano RPO, Vancouver V6K 4P4.

100% of anything received goes to the legal fight.  We have no overhead or paid staff.
Feel free to forward this email on to your friends!

Thanks for all your support, and for being one of those wasps!  
Donald Gordon
Director - VTACC