media releases

Media release
B.C. Citizens for Green Energy
www.greenenergybc.ca
June 11, 2008

Anti-run-of-river re-runs
coming to the Kootenays

‘Rivers at Risk’ speeches poised to repeat the same old myths
while avoiding some difficult questions

“Based on past experience, this ‘Rivers at Risk’ speaking tour seems likely to repeat a litany of discredited myths,” said B.C. Citizens for Green Energy co-spokesperson Gene Vickers. “At the same time, they’ll probably be avoiding some difficult questions.” The tour will visit six locations between June 10 and 15: Castlegar, Invermere, Cranbrook, Fernie, Balfour and Nakusp.

“These events will be hosted by the most influential groups in the campaign against run of river,” said Vickers. “But we’re asking people to listen carefully to what they say and consider other information before making up their minds.”

So far their campaign has emphasized a number of outright myths, explained Vickers. “For example the 500 rivers myth claims that 500 B.C. rivers are being sold, stolen, given away or otherwise affected,” said Vickers. “We’ve totally refuted that myth on our Web site, www.greenenergybc.ca/myths.html. Yet Rafe Mair, the celebrity speaker on this tour, has recently inflated the myth to 750 rivers.”

“Some of their other favourite myths are the skyrocketing rates myth, the privatization myth, the American control myth and the myth that we don’t need more electricity. We answer all that on our Web site. But they never seem to tire of repeating this nonsense.”

The groups’ environmental credentials are highly questionable, added Vickers. “The most prominent group has been COPE 378, a BC Hydro union. Last January COPE 378 was campaigning to have the Burrard Thermal plant restored to full capacity. But in the years when the gas-fired plant did run at full capacity, it was one of the region’s worst sources of GHGs.”

That makes COPE 378 a strange bedfellow for the Wilderness Committee, said Vickers. “The WC works very closely with COPE 378 on campaign events. In fact, the WC says it will support run of river if BC Hydro develops it. There’s no reason to think BC Hydro could surpass the environmental standards of independent operators. The WC didn’t oppose run of river until after the NDP left office, even though about half the independent projects now operating were approved during the NDP era. That shows the WC’s opposition is strictly political.”

The same applies to the Council of Canadians. “When the NDP was in office, run-of-river water licences were granted in perpetuity. The present government has limited them to 40 years. Now, for some reason, the Council of Canadians thinks that’s a sovereignty issue.”

Vickers asked who’s behind the Save Our Rivers Society. “Until recently it was entirely anonymous,” he said. “Now, all of a sudden, they can hire a celebrity spokesperson in Rafe Mair.”

As for the participation of NDP MLAs, “that just reinforces the political motivation of this event,” said Vickers.

“We’re asking people to listen carefully to their claims and check out our Web site for more info. These groups seem to have lots of money for public events and they get great press. But we believe an important issue is at stake. We have to develop new sources of electricity for future generations and it has to be clean electricity. Independents are best suited to do this, despite what you hear from a BC Hydro union and its allies.”

Backgrounder
What you will and won’t hear at the “Rivers at Risk” event

What you likely will hear at the “Rivers at Risk” event

“Power Play” — a heavy-handed propaganda film narrated in the tone of a wannabe gangster. B.C. Citizens for Green Energy chose this film for a Relentless Hyperbole Award:
www.greenenergybc.ca/media_160408.html#pphyperbole

The 500 Rivers Myth — they’ll tell you that 500 or more rivers are being sold, stolen, given away or otherwise affected. We refute that myth here:
www.greenenergybc.ca/myths.html#500rivers

The Skyrocketing Rates Myth — they’ll tell you that green energy will cause soaring electricity rates. We refute that one too:
www.greenenergybc.ca/myths.html#rates

The Environmental Desecration Myth — they’ll tell you green energy is bad for the planet unless it’s developed by COPE 378 members:
www.greenenergybc.ca/myths.html#enviro

The We-Don’t-Need-More-Electricity Myth — they’ll tell you we have everything we need for future generations:
www.greenenergybc.ca/myths.html#imports

The Privatization Myth — this one’s actually a conspiracy theory:
www.greenenergybc.ca/myths.html#privatization

The American Control Myth — another conspiracy theory:
www.greenenergybc.ca/myths.html#american

What you won’t hear at the “Rivers at Risk” event

COPE 378’s self-interest and lack of credibility:
www.greenenergybc.ca/cope378.html
www.greenenergybc.ca/cope_ad.html

The Wilderness Committee’s political agenda:
www.greenenergybc.ca/wc.html

How did the Save Our Rivers Society buy its way from anonymity to celebrity?
www.greenenergybc.ca/sors.html

Is the Council of Canadians really nationalist?
www.greenenergybc.ca/coc.html