A huge thank you to Ross Dixon with Raincoast Conservation Foundation for bringing the documentary film “Directly Affected” to our islands June 9-11.

Ross came from Vancouver B.C. to present the film along with his organization’s scientific research on the effects of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion on those living in and around the Salish Sea.

How are San Juan Islanders directly affected by a pipeline in Canada? Millions of tourism dollars in San Juan County are at risk from the threat of an oil spill that would come with the increase of over 800 tanker transits per year carrying Canadian crude to Asia. Compared to only 50 permanent jobs that this new pipeline would offer, islanders have nothing to gain and nearly all to lose should this project be built (80 percent of our county’s total economy relies on our healthy marine resources).

As far as the orca (our icon and our livelihood), there doesn’t even have to be an oil spill to cause them further harm — the noise pollution from these tankers alone would put them closer to peril. Whether Canada listens to us or not, we have the right and responsibility to exercise our democratic voice and say “No” to projects that would do nothing but harm our islands’ economy/environment. Please write to your representatives (from county to federal levels) to ask them to oppose this project — unless there is a complete and transparent examination of the economic, environmental and human-safety impacts to our island community.

Shaun Hubbard

San Juan Islanders for Safe Shipping